Monday Afternoon Round Up

Israel Dagg commits to New Zealand

All Blacks outside back Israel Dagg has confirmed that he has re-signed with New Zealand Rugby, the Crusaders and Hawke’s Bay Magpies through to 2019.

“There’s no doubt that there were some attractive offers to consider,” Dagg said, “but at the end of the day I love my life here in New Zealand with my family, friends and team mates and I’m not ready to give that up.

"I still feel blessed every time I pull on the jersey for the All Blacks, Crusaders or Magpies so I consider it an honour to be able to keep working hard to earn that right for the next three years,” he concluded.

Dagg is All Black No 1101 and has played 61 Tests for the All Blacks, scoring scored 128 points. 

Taniela Tupou receives two-week ban for head butting

'Tongan Thor' has been given a two-week suspension for head butting Liam Messam at the Brisbane Tens.

"The judicial officer determined the event was a red card event," a statement read.

"Tupou accepted a head contact occurred. The decision was a lower entry level (four weeks), discounted 50% for an unblemished playing record and extenuating circumstances in the incident, hence two weeks."

He is suspended up to and including all matches until February 25.

Mujati signs for Ospreys

Ospreys Rugby have announced the signing of former South Africa tight head prop Brian Mujati on a short term contract.

“This is an important signing for us given the injury situation with Dmitri and Ma’afu," commented Ospreys Head Coach, Steve Tandy.

"Our performances this season have put us in a really strong position but we still have eight PRO12 games to go, and a Challenge Cup quarter-final in April.

Brian has proven quality at the top level and will add so much experience to the squad, particularly over the coming weeks when we are missing our international players and carrying so many injuries."

Mujati’s first Springbok cap came in June 2008, when he started for South Africa in a 43-17 win over Wales in Bloemfontein. He won a total of 12 caps that year, also featuring in a 20-15 defeat of Wales at the Millennium Stadium, before opting to move north the following year, signing for Northampton Saints in 2009.

Jono Kitto signs new Leicester Tigers deal

Scrum-half Jono Kitto has agreed new terms with Leicester Tigers to stay beyond the end of this season.

"I've felt very honoured to be part of a club as prestigious as the Leicester Tigers and to be able to represent what the club stands for as often as I have is great. I was very happy to agree a new contract and remain part of that,” said Kitto.

The 24-year-old Kitto, who is English qualified, joined Tigers in the summer of 2015 and has made 24 first-team appearances, including Saturday's Premiership win over Gloucester Rugby at Welford Road.

Mike Fitzgerald agrees new contract at Leicester Tigers

Versatile forward Mike Fitzgerald is the latest member of the Leicester Tigers squad to agree new terms on extending his stay with the club.

"Mike is a very good man to have around the squad," commented Tigers head coach Aaron Mauger.

 "He has a great work ethic in training and on the pitch. With the experience he has gained in the last 18 months in English rugby we believe he will get even better in this environment.”

 The 29-year-old Fitzgerald joined Tigers in the summer of 2015 and has made 44 appearances playing at lock and flanker, scoring four tries.

Brendon O'Connor commits to Tigers

Back-row forward Brendon O'Connor has agreed new terms to extend his stay with Leicester Tigers.

 Tigers head coach Aaron Mauger said: "Brendon is a quality operator in the back row and he settled in well at Tigers when he arrived during last season.
 
"We feel that Brendon brings a high-quality continuity game to our team and suits the style of rugby we want to play due to his support lines and skills with ball in hand. He has also developed a more physical side to his game over the last six months which has been good to see.
 
"We believe that his best years are right in front of him so we look forward to working closely with him during this period.”

The 27-year-old flanker arrived at Welford Road in the autumn of 2015, scoring a try on his debut in a European Champions Cup win over Stade Francais, and has now made 29 appearances for the club.

Jono Gibbes to become Ulster Head Coach

Ulster Rugby has today announced that Jono Gibbes will join the Province as Head Coach ahead of the 2017/18 season, having signed a two-year contract.

The former New Zealand player is currently Forwards Coach at French giants Clermont Auvergne and he previously held a similar position at Leinster Rugby.

"The respect that I have for Les (Kiss), as a coach and as a person, was one of my main reasons for making this decision," said Gibbes.

"He really sold his vision of where he wants to take Ulster over the next few years.

"With 6 years at Leinster and 3 years at Clermont in the Top 14, I've been afforded many different experiences, working with some very talented coaches and players. I hope to apply what I've learned to the role at Ulster and my family and I are looking forward to integrating into a strong community in Belfast."

Gibbes joined Leinster in 2008, helping the squad to win three Heineken Cup titles during a six-year spell in Dublin. The first of those successes came under the stewardship of Michael Cheika in 2009, before he assisted Joe Schmidt in the 2011 and 2012 triumphs.

He moved to France in 2014 and was part of a coaching set-up that guided Clermont to the Top 14 and Champions Cup finals in his debut season.

Simmonds signs new Chiefs deal

Exeter Chiefs forward Sam Simmonds has signed a new two-year deal with the Premiership club.

The Chiefs academy product has spent time on a dual registration deal at Championship side Cornish Pirates this year.

He will make his first Premiership appearance for Exeter against Wasps on Sunday.

Harlequins sign former Exile Ryan Hodson

Harlequins can announce today that former London Welsh flanker Ryan Hodson has joined the Club with immediate effect as short-term injury cover for the back row.

Confirming the news Harlequins Director of Rugby, John Kingston said: “Due to the combined injuries to Luke Wallace and Chris Robshaw, and Jack Clifford’s commitments with England, we need some short-term cover in the back-row area.

“We are lucky to be able to bring someone of Ryan’s experience and leadership qualities at such short notice. I look forward to seeing the impact he will make during his time with us.”

Hodson, who joined London Welsh in 2015 from Jersey, captained the Exiles to the British and Irish Cup title in 2016 and made a total of 38 appearances.

Chiefs Rugby injury update

After the Chiefs' outstanding performances at the Brisbane Global Tens this past weekend, the team's medical staff have sent the following injury update:

Brad Weber has fractured femur (thigh bone) which required surgery. His estimated recovery is a minimum of 6 months.

Mitchell Graham fractured tibia and fibula requiring surgery, with his estimated recovery is a minimum of 6 months.

Fin Hoeata suffered ligament damage to ankle which required surgery. Estimated return to play is 2-3 months.

Scotland squad update after loss to France

The Scotland medical team issued the following squad update after yesterday's 22-16 loss to France in Paris:
 
Captain and scrum-half Greig Laidlaw injured his ankle in the 24th minute. As an exile player, he now returns to his club, Gloucester, for further assessment during the fallow week of the RBS 6 Nations.
 
Back-row forwards John Barclay, and his replacement John Hardie, both sustained head knocks in the game and are subject to the completion of the HIA process.
 
Barclay also requires further assessment on a shoulder injury, the management of which - this week - will take place at his club, Scarlets.
 
Centre Alex Dunbar passed his HIA 1 during the match but developed some symptoms, possibly in keeping with concussion, after the match. Hooker Fraser Brown also came off for a HIA and didn't return field of play.
 
Both players will now be treated as a concussion and will be subject to the graduated return to play protocol.
 
Josh Strauss sustained a heavy blow to his flank and will require further care and assessment.

Tom Arscott found guilty

Tom Arscott has been found guilty of leacking information to Bristol, following The Rugby Football Union's (RFU) investigation. 

 Arscott was accused by Sale suggesting that he leaked information to his brother Luke Arscott the night before Sales clash with Bristol on the 1st of January 2017.

 It was also suggested that the information was passed on to the coaching staff of Bristol and that they had used it to their benefit.

It was alleged this conduct was in breach of RFU Regulation 17 (Anti-Corruption and Betting).

RFU concluded the following report:

Following receiving Sale’s letter of complaint on 16 January 2016, the RFU interviewed 25 individuals from both clubs and inquiries were made with various betting operators in order to determine whether there had been any breaches of any RFU rules or regulations, in particular RFU Regulation 17.

 Following the investigation the RFU has concluded the following:

• Tom Arscott discussed tactical information with his brother Luke Arscott ahead of the match. This information related to Sale using some backs in their lineout on occasion and that another back would be defending in a different position at times.
• The RFU has determined that this information, while at the lower end of the scale of seriousness, falls within the definition of inside information (as per Regulation 17.2).
• But in the absence of any evidence of betting or fixing, there had not been a breach of RFU Regulation 17.
• However, the RFU has deemed that Tom Arscott’s behaviour was inappropriate and the player has received a written warning for his conduct and he will be required to undertake a relevant World Rugby education module.
• Information that was passed from Tom Arscott to Luke Arscott regarding the proposed defensive structure in the Sale backline was provided to two Bristol coaches.
• However, in the absence of any evidence of a suspicion of fixing/betting etc., the RFU has determined that Bristol did not fail to comply with the relevant reporting requirements in relation to the inside information that the club received.
• There was no evidence to demonstrate that Bristol changed any of their game strategy to deal with Sale’s defensive positional changes.

"In determining what action should be taken following the investigation we have taken into account that Tom Arscott has already paid a heavy price for his conduct in having been dismissed from his employment by Sale Sharks," said Gerard McEvilly, RFU head of discipline.

“These issues have arisen because of the inappropriate sharing of information while players were socialising in the same hotel before the match.

"Therefore, the RFU is strongly recommending to both clubs that all their players are reminded of their contractual and ethical obligations to their employing clubs and of the problems that may arise should confidential/inside information be passed between individuals.

“I would like to thank both clubs for their significant assistance in this investigation"