Weekly Round Up
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Fia and Giles ruled out
Ospreys pair Ma’afu Fia and Keelan Giles have both been ruled out of action after picking up injuries in last Sunday’s Challenge Cup win over Lyon at the Liberty Stadium.
Tight head prop, Fia, suffered knee and ankle ligament damage, while winger, Giles, injured his hamstring.
Chris Towers, Medical Performance Manager at the Ospreys confirmed the news today, saying:
“Ma’afu pulled up with ankle and knee damage on Sunday. Although the knee injury is minor and recovering well, the ankle is more of an issue. At this early stage of his recovery we are optimistic that he can be back available for selection in around four or five weeks, in a best-case scenario.
“Keelan pulled up with a hamstring injury in the same game. We’ve assessed it closely and had test imaging to fully confirm the extent of the damage. At this stage we are predicting a recovery period for Keelan of approximately four weeks.”
Sale Sharks sack Arscott
Sale Sharks have terminated the contract of Tom Arscott with immediate effect following a disciplinary investigation and hearing.
Arscott was disciplined by the club earlier this month for allegedly leaking information about the side’s tactics to opponents Bristol before the Sharks’ 24-23 defeat.
“Senior players came to me and said they’d heard that information had been passed from one group to another," said Sale boss Steve Diamond at the time the news broke.
"We set a disciplinary up and, in order to do that, we informed the RFU.
“...All we have done is asked him why he has done it. He has replied and we now have to go through a formal disciplinary process.”
Ireland Squad Announcement Update
The Ireland squad for the 2017 Six Nations has been put back to Monday, January 23rd following a request from the RWI.
Stormers to lose Huw Jones?
Glasgow Warriors are set to offer a contract to Stormers centre Huw Jones at the end of the season.
Jones's contract with the Stormers runs out in October, and he is the second Stormers player to be targeted by an overseas club this week.
Full-back Cheslin Kolbe has signed for French club Toulouse and will leave Cape Town at the end of the Super Rugby competition.
Jones has been included in Scotland coach Vern Cotter's Six Nations squad.
Cardiff Blues sign Franco van der Merwe
Cardiff Blues have announced the signing of Ulster second-row Franco van der Merwe ahead of the 2017-18 season.
“Franco is a quality player, who will bring physicality and experience to the pack. He’s been a standout leader and performer for Ulster over the last two seasons," commented Head Coach Danny Wilson.
“The average age of our pack is currently just 25 and part of Franco’s role will be to help develop our younger forwards whilst bringing physicality and a lineout presence on game day.
The former South Africa international joined Ulster in 2014 and has gone on to make 68 appearances for the Irish province.
Willem Nel ruled out of 6 Nations
Scotland and Edinburgh Rugby prop Willem Nel has been ruled out of the forthcoming RBS 6 Nations with a neck injury it was confirmed today.
An MRI scan revealed that the tighthead prop damaged an intervertebral disc in his neck during a significant collision in his club's European Challenge Cup win over Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop on Saturday (14 January).
Nel will now have a second specialist assessment at Spire this Monday (23 January) to consider his programme of recovery, including whether corrective surgery is required.
Stormers Rugby re-signs key players
Western Province Rugby Group CEO Paul Zacks has confirmed that Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi is among a host of key players that have committed their future to WP Rugby by signing long-term contracts.
Mbonambi made his test debut in 2016 following an impressive Super Rugby campaign with the DHL Stormers and has signed a new three-year contract with the union.
He is joined by the likes of backs Jean-Luc du Plessis, Dan du Plessis, EW Viljoen, Grant Hermanus, Justin Phillips and Brandon Thomson, and fellow forwards Chad Solomon, JD Schickerling and Kobus van Dyk, in signing long-term contracts.
“It is vital to retain talented players such as these who have signed new contracts, if we are to move forward and evolve," commented CEO Paul Zacks.
“Of course there are many others who are on existing contracts that will also play a big role in what we have planned for the future.”
Brumbies legends return for 10s
Stephen Larkham and Andrew Walker will step out of retirement and make a return to Brumbies in February as the former backs duo are set to figure in the global Rugby Tens to be held in Brisbane.
Larkham, who played for the Brumbies between 1996-2007 winning 116 caps, is scheduled to take part in the Brumbies matches against the Bulls, Highlanders and Toulon at the rugby extravaganza in Brisbane alongside former team mate Walker who scored 246 points in 47 appearances.
"I am looking forward to putting the boots back on in a competitive match environment and playing alongside Andrew at the Global Rugby Tens," Larkham commented.
"It’s great that Andrew is able to commit to represent the Brumbies in the tournament as he was a firm fan favourite during an incredible career at the franchise.
"We will be selecting a strong squad to travel to Brisbane to compete in the tournament and the inclusion of Andrew will augment what we are sure will be a competitive team as we prepare for the first round of Super Rugby."
The Brumbies pair will feature along with Chris Latham of the Reds and Jerome Kaino of the Blues.
The Brumbies Global Rugby Tens competition will see the team play three matches on Day 1 of the tournament as they face the Highlanders, Toulon and Bulls.
Eddie Jones names his England squad ahead of the 2017 6 Nations
Jones has named three uncapped players in a squad made up of 20 forwards and 14 backs. Back-row forward Mike Williams (Leicester Tigers) is included alongside prop Nathan Catt (Bath Rugby) and back Alex Lozowski (Saracens).
There are also returns for James Haskell (Wasps), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Jack Clifford (Harlequins) and Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs) who were unavailable for selection during the autumn.
See full squad here
3-week ban for Hayden Triggs
The Leinster second row has been banned for making contact with the eye area of Montpellier's Nick White last week-end during their Champions Cup match at the RDS.
The Committee deemed that the offence was at the low end of World Rugby's sanctions and selected four weeks as the appropriate entry point.
Taking into account Triggs' guilty plea and his expression of remorse, the Committee reduced the sanction by one week before imposing a three-week suspension.
Toulouse announce signing of Cheslin Kolbe
Toulouse have announced the signing of Stormers utility back Cheslin Kolbe, who will join them for the start of the 2017/18 season.
"I spotted this unusual player in South African rugby at the U20 World Cup held in France and during which Cheslin had blitzed many opponents," said Toulouse sporting director Fabien Pelous.
"Since then, with his experience in Super Rugby, he will be complementing our team as a finisher from deep and out wide.
"Undoubtedly, his qualities of speed, his stepping, his excellent kicking and his ability to contest in the air will be assets in the game of movement that we practice," said Toulouse sporting director Fabien Pelous.
Kolbe was part of the South African Sevens team who won a bronze medal 2016 Rio Olympics.
France announce Six Nations squad
Head coach Guy Noves has included the uncapped Geoffrey Palis, Fabien Sanconnie, Arthur Iturria and Mohamed Boughanmi in his group, along with Toulouse centre Yann David, who earned his most recent cap eight years ago.
France squad for Six Nations:
France: Forwards: Cyril Baille, Eddy Ben Arous, Uini Atonio, Rabah Slimani, Mohamed Boughanmi, Guilhem Guirado, Camille Chat, Clement Maynadier, Julien Le Devedec, Yoann Maestri, Arthur Iturria, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Damien Chouly, Fabien Sanconnie, Loann Goujon, Kevin Gourdon, Louis Picamoles, Raphael Lakafia.
Backs: Baptiste Serin, Maxime Machenaud, Jean-Marc Doussain, Camille Lopez, Gael Fickou, Yann David, Wesley Fofana, Remi Lamerat, Djibril Camara, Yoann Huget, Geoffrey Palis, Noa Nakaitaci, Scott Spedding, Virimi Vakatawa.
The French begin their campaign with a trip to Twickenham on February 4th, while they must also travel to Ireland and Italy either side of home games with Scotland and Wales.
Vern Cotter has announced his Scotland rugby side for the Six Nations
Head Coach Vern Cotter today named a 37-man Scotland squad for the forthcoming RBS 6 Nations Championship.
Among the group is 37-times capped Gloucester centre Matt Scott who – after missing out on selection in the autumn – has earned a recall thanks to a number of impressive performances for the Kingsholm club, scoring 12 tries in 18 games this season.
See full squad here
Calum Clark signs for Saracens
Saracens have announced that flanker Calum Clark will join the club after putting pen to paper on a three-year deal.
“I feel very privileged to have been given an opportunity at Saracens. They are always a difficult side to play against and I’m looking forward to taking on a new environment and getting a fresh start in the summer," commented Clark on his signing.
The 27-year old back rower has carved out a reputation as one of the league’s finest back row forwards since making his Premiership debut for Leeds in 2007 as an 18-year old.
He moved to Northampton Saints in 2010 and has gone on to represent England Saxons and England during his time at Franklin’s Gardens.
He will move to Allianz Park from Aviva Premiership rivals Northampton Saints from the beginning of next season.
Alun Wyn Jones to captain Wales in the 6 Nations
Wales have named seven uncapped players for their 2017 Six Nations squad.
Five of the seven uncapped players, Olly Cracknell (Ospreys), Thomas Young (Wasps), Owen Williams (Leicester Tigers), Ashton Hewitt (Newport Gwent Dragons) and Steffan Evans (Scarlets), feature in a Wales senior squad for the first time.
Jones, who became Wales' 127th captain when he first took on the duties back in 2009 (against Italy in Rome, Wales' first opponents in this year's competition) and has led Wales on a total of five previous occasions, is joined by Jake Ball, Luke Charteris, Cory Hill and Thornton.
See full squad here
Toulon sign Alesana Tuilagi
Toulon have signed Samoan winger Alesana Tuilagi to cover for injured fellow veteran Vincent Clerc, who has been ruled out for 5 months after rupturing his left Achilles tendon.
The 35-year-old Tuilagi, one of six rugby-playing brothers including England international Manu, was an integral part of the Leicester team that won the Premiership in 2007, 2009 and 2010.
He also previously played for Newcastle Falcons and Japanese club Shining Arcs de Chiba.
Ulster confirm John Cooney signing from Connacht
Ulster have just confirmed another new signing - scrumhalf John Cooney will join the club from Connacht on a two-year contract and will move to Kingspan at the end of the season.
Director of Rugby, Les Kiss, said:
"Having searched domestically and abroad for the best available Irish-qualified scrumhalf, John was undoubtedly our number 1 target and we're delighted that he'll come on board from this summer.
"...He is a great talent; threatening in attack, strong in defence, has a good kicking game and excellent game management skills. I think he will really suit the style of play that we will play next season, with a strong mobile pack and an exciting backline."
The 26-year-old started his career with Leinster, making his competitive debut in September 2011 in an away fixture versus Ospreys. He then made his European bow later that season when Leinster beat Ulster in the 2012 Heineken Cup Final.
He made 27 appearances for the RDS club before moving to Connacht for the 2014-15 season, where he has amassed 30 caps.
Bath Rugby contract extensions for front row duo
Bath Rugby has announced that hooker Ross Batty and prop Max Lahiff have signed contract extensions that will see them both remain at the Club for at least a further two seasons.
Batty is one of the longest serving players currently in the Bath squad, having joined from Rotherham Titans in 2010.
Since his debut, he has made over 130 appearances for the club.
Fellow front row Lahiff has been a first team regular since his arrival from Australia at the start of 2015.
Sean Cronin to miss Six Nations with a Grade Two hamstring
Leinster have confirmed that Sean Cronin has been ruled out for ten weeks with a Grade Two hamstring tear and will miss the Six Nations.
Cronin suffered the damage in the Pro12 clash against Zebre ten days ago.
“It’s quite a significant hamstring injury,” Stuart Lancaster said this afternoon.
“It’s a real shame for him as he’s actually playing great rugby but it’s a good opportunity for us to get him right and make sure we don’t get a recurrence of this because it must be hugely frustrating for him.
“He’s got himself into great form and now he’ll miss the Six Nations. He went to push-off and accelerate around the corner and saw it go. He’s deeply disappointed but he’ll be back a better player.”
Cronin’s unavailability will open the door for the likes of Niall Scannell, Dave Heffernan and James Tracy to push for a place in Schmidt’s squad behind captain Rory Best.
Ulster confirm Arno Botha signing
Ulster Rugby has today announced the capture of South African international Arno Botha, who will move to Belfast following the conclusion of the 2017 Super Rugby campaign. He will join the Province on a two-year deal.
"Arno was tipped to be a future Springboks captain from a young age but his career was somewhat curtailed by injuries after he made his international debut in 2013," commented Director of Rugby Les Kiss on Botha's arrival.
"His leadership and abrasiveness will be key attributes for us over the next couple of seasons. He is very aggressive in attack and his ability to get over the gainline will be especially good for us."
Botha captained South Africa U20s in the 2011 World Championships in Italy and was also named as their Player of the Year after a string of impressive performances.
The 25-year-old has made 46 Super Rugby appearances for the Bulls.
