Wednesday Morning Round Up

Tongia to join Bayonne

Hawke's Bay and Highlanders wing Ryan Tongia has arrived in Bayonne ahead of signing a contract with the Top 14 outfit as a medical joker.

The 26-year-old Brisbane-born back, who played rugby league in 2011 for Wakefield, is set to come in for the injured Martín Bustos Moyano, who has been ruled out for 3  months with injured wrist.

Fitzpatrick signs Waratahs deal

Hooker Damien Fitzpatrick has signed a two-year contract with the Waratahs from Lyon in the Top14.

“Damien returns from France a much improved player,” Waratahs Head Coach, Daryl Gibson said.

“His return increases competition for the hooking spot next season, which will challenge all three players to new heights.”

Fitzpatrick represented NSW at the Australia Schools Championships, before taking up the opportunity to lead his country as Captain of the Australian Schoolboys in an undefeated campaign in 2008 against England, Samoa and New Zealand.

Dave Ellis returns to Blues

Dave Ellis has taken up a fulltime role as skills coach at the Blues after coaching at Connacht who won the Pro12 title for the first time last season.

He was a member of the coaching staff at the International Rugby Academy in New Zealand for 11 years and was a resource coach for the NZRU. He worked with the Black Ferns, USA, the Rugby Academy in South Africa, Hong Kong Rugby and with several clubs in Argentina.

Ellis completes the Blues coaching group that is led by Umaga who will take charge of attack, Alastair Rogers (defence), Steve Jackson (forwards) and Kylie Wilson (mental skills).