Monday Evening Round Up
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Halfpenny considered retirement after recent concussion
Local talent Kibirige pens new Falcons deal
Flying winger Zach Kibirige has nailed his colours to Newcastle Falcons’ mast, the Teesside try machine signing a new two-year deal with the Kingston Park club.
The 24-year-old came through the Falcons’ academy and has become renowned for his ruthless finishing, scoring 10 tries in nine games this season.
Brits' fate to be decided on Tuesday
Akker van der Merwe had his mid-range entry suspension of six weeks cut in half after he pleaded guilty and due to his good judicial record.
Brits, on the other hand, might not be as lucky. Brits might not get his suspension cut in half even if, which he is likely to do, pleads guilty.
Confirmed: Dan Leavy has been ruled out of the World Cup
Leinster have confirmed that openside flanker Dan Leavy will miss the Rugby World Cup in Japan after suffering a serious injury in the Champions Cup victory over Ulster on Saturday.
Champions Cup Team of the Week
2⃣X Ulster
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) April 1, 2019
3⃣X Toulouse
3⃣X Munster
3⃣X Leinster
4⃣X Saracenshttps://t.co/j9HoCeQYib
Tanielu Tele'a suspended for 4 weeks
The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee has accepted a guilty plea from Tanielu Tele'a of the Blues for contravening Law 9.17: A player must not tackle, charge, pull, push or grasp an opponent whose feet are off the ground, after he was Red Carded during a Super Rugby Match at the Weekend.
Tele'a has been suspended from all forms of the game for 4 weeks, up to and including 4 May 2019.
Stormers trio join tour
Wing Seabelo Senatla and utility forwards Johan du Toit and Ernst van Rhyn are flying out to join the Stormers on tour in Australia.
The Stormers are in Brisbane preparing to face the Reds on Friday, but will be without Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth and Dan du Plessis for the rest of the tour.
Taqele Naiyaravoro's hit leads to a penalty try, yellow card and sparks a scuffle
Top 14 sides Clermont Auvergne and La Rochelle got the better of Premiership rivals Bristol Bears and Northampton Saints to move into the last four of the European Challenge Cup on Sunday.
High-flying Clermont produced a stunning late show as they had too much for Northampton, accelerating out of sight to run out 61-38 winners.
However, one of the pivotal moments was when Taqele Naiyaravoro sparked a melee, earned 10 minutes in the sin-bin and conceded a penalty try after barging Arthur Iturria into touch with a no-arms tackle.