Weekly Round Up
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Southern Kings stun the Waratahs in Sydney
What an upset as the Kings secure a 26-24 away win over the Waratahs in round 9 of Super Rugby. The Waratahs built up a 17-0 first half lead through three tries, but the Kings hit back with a score of their own to stay in it at the break as they trailed 17-7. An early second half try for the Kings cut the gap to just five points. With just over 10 minutes to play, the Kings took the lead for the first time in the encounter through a converted try at the back of a rolling maul. A dominant Kings scrum then all but wrapped up the match as they were awarded a penalty try with just 4 minutes to play to lead 26-17. The Waratahs did, however, secure a losing bonus point with a try after the siren, but it was the Kings who were left celebrating a historic victory.
See the full match highlights, stats and more here
England name squad for World Rugby U20 Championship
All but two players featured in England’s recent Six Nations Grand Slam, with Ali Crossdale and Will Evans the additions.
Evans, along with Sam Aspland-Robinson, Theo Brophy Clews, Zach Mercer, Harry Randall and Max Wright were involved in last year’s successful campaign when England lifted the World Championship trophy in Manchester.
Ollie Curry signs for Ealing Trailfinders
Rotherham TitansLock Ollie Curry has signed for Ealing Trailfinders ahead of the 2017/18 season. He has scored one try in his 19 appearances for the South Yorkshire side.
Read the full story here
Will Hooley and Howard Packman join Bedford Blues
Bedford Blues have continued to add to their squad for the 2017/18 season by signing Exeter Chiefs fly-half Will Hooley and Northampton Saints winger Howard Packman.
Read more here
Hurricanes sink the Brumbies in a second-half surge
Six 2nd half tries by the Hurricanes not only blew the half-time deficit out the water but the Brumbies too. The visitors put in a great quarter to end the 1st half but never came out the blocks in the 2nd half allowing Beauden Barrett to dictate things. Jordie Barrett with a 100% kicking record as he nailed every conversion from all over the park.
See the full match highlights, stats and more here
Rohan Janse van Rensburg out for 12 weeks with injury
Lions Rugby centre Janse van Rensburg, who was injured in the Super Rugby match against the Stormers on Saturday, will undergo an operation and will be out for approximately 12 weeks.
The team confirmed in a statement that he has a lateral collateral ligament tear and posterolateral corner injury.
Read more here
Sam Whitelock commits to Crusaders and All Blacks through 2020
The 28-year-old has played 84 Tests for the All Blacks since making his Test debut back in 2010 against Ireland. He made an immediate impact, scoring two tries in that first Test.
He’s a world-class lock and together with Brodie Retallick forms one of the best international locking partnerships in world rugby at present,” Hansen said.
Cian Healy to miss Champions Cup semi-final
Cian Healy will miss Leinster’s European Champions Cup semi-final against Clermont on Sunday after being handed a two-week ban in his side’s win over Connacht last weekend.
The 29-year-old was cited after an incident in a ruck with Connacht’s Sean O’Brien, and the panel has decided the act was worthy of a red card.
See the full report here
Eddie Jones announces 31-man squad for Argentina Tour
The squad includes 15 uncapped players and will be captained by Dylan Hartley.
The uncapped players are:
Forwards: Will Collier, Harry Williams, Nick Isiekwe, Sam Underhill, as well as brothers Ben and Tom Curry.
Backs: Jack Maunder, Piers Francis, Alex Lozowski, Harry Mallinder, Marchant, Sam James, Denny Solomona, Nathan Earle and Joe Cokanasiga.
View the full squad here
Handre Pollard out for 8-10 weeks
The Bulls announced that flyhalf Handré Pollard has injured his right ankle (Syndesmosis) during training on Thursday morning.
The Bulls pivot is seeing a specialist regarding a surgical procedure and is expected to be out of action for 8 to 10 weeks.
Read the full article here
Thierry Dusautoir to retire at end of season
Toulouse skipper and former France captain Thierry Dusautoir has announced that he will retire at the end of the season.
The 35-year-old captained France a record 56 times and won three Top 14 titles and a European crown with Toulouse, as well as two Top 14 titles with Biarritz in a career that last 12 years.
Read more here
Castres are in action tonight against Stade Francais follow all the action here
British & Irish Lions 41-man squad revealed
Sam Warburton has been announced as the Lions captain for the 2017 Tour to New Zealand this summer, he will lead a Lions team that consists of 16 England players, 12 Welshmen, 11 Irishmen and two Scots in wing Tommy Seymour and full-back Stuart Hogg.
Read more here
Jaco Kriel's citing dismissed
A SANZAAR Judicial Committee Hearing has found Jaco Kriel not guilty of contravening Law 10.4(o) Late charging the kicker.
No further sanction has been imposed on the player and he will be available to face the Jaguares this coming weekend.
Read more here
Liam Squire re-signs with Highlanders
Loose forward Liam Squire has re-signed with the Highlanders and New Zealand Rugby for two more years.
The man with the mullet; LIAM SQUIRE has re-signed for TWO MORE years! See him in action in Invers this weekend! pic.twitter.com/NceACrr4oE
— The Highlanders (@Highlanders) April 18, 2017
Nasi Manu leaves Edinburgh Rugby for Treviso
Benetton Rugby confirmed the signing of Edinburgh back-row Nasi Manu for the 2017/18 season.
Benetton Treviso director of rugby Antonio Pavanello said: "It is very important for us to be able to bring in a player like Nasi Manu. I remember three years ago watching the final won by the Highlanders and I saw him play. This year, we can only be glad of his arrival in the Green and whites."
The back-row joined Edinburgh Rugby from Super Rugby side Highlanders ahead of the 2015/16 term, making his debut against Leinster at Meggetland in the season opener.
He has made 16 appearances for PRO12 club.
Nick Evans to retire at the end of the season
Evans has today announced that he will retire from rugby at the end of the season.
“I thought leaving New Zealand was hard, but leaving the game I've played since I was eight years old, and professionally for 17 years, is tough. But when you know, you know," commented the former All Black. Read more here
Thank you Rugby.
— Nick Evans (@nick10evans) April 18, 2017
For everything........ πβ€οΈ pic.twitter.com/h13Bs3UAXC
England’s Joe Launchbury and Jonathan Joseph set to miss out on Lions squad
Warren Gatland is expected to leave out a host of England's Six Nations champions when he announces his British & Irish Lions squad at midday tomorrow, with Joe Launchbry and Jonathan Joseph among the big names to miss out.
Joseph's omission would be a shock to many pundits who have regarded the Bath centre as a shoe-in for the starting 13 jersey.
Launchbury excelled for England throughout the 6 Nations tournament but faces a stiff challenge up against AW Jones, who captained the Lions in the final test in 2013, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, Iain Henderson and Donnacha Ryan, as well as the fit-again George Kruis are expected to be the five second rows chosen for selection. Read the full article here
Ealing Trailfinders have confirmed the signings of Mark Tampin and Lewis Robling from Jersey Reds for next season.
Centre Robling spent three years at Jersey Reds, where he has played 60 matches and scored 36 points.
Prop forward Tampin played for Rotherham Titans, Yorkshire Carnegie and Wharfedale before he joined Jersey Reds in 2016, since then the 25-year-old has played 10 times for the club.
Read more here
Brian Alainu'uese signs two-year deal with Glasgow Warriors
Glasgow Warriors have secured the services of second rower Brian Alainu'uese for a further two years, subject to visa.
The 23-year-old joined the Warriors from New Zealand Mitre Cup side Waikato last October on a short-term deal until the end of the season and has now signed a deal that will see him stay at the club for a further 2 years. Read more here
Drew Mitchell to retire at the end of the season
Australia and Toulon wing Drew Mitchell has announced that he will be retiring at the end of the season.
The former Wallaby revealed the news through his Twitter account, bringing his illustrious 13-year spell to an end.
He received his first cap for Australia in 2005, Mitchell went on to make 71 appearances for his country, playing in three Rugby World Cups, scoring 34 tries.
Mitchell made the switch to France after the 2013 Super Rugby season, winning two Champions Cup with Toulon in 2014 & 2015 along with a Top 14 title in 2014.
So it's my turn to call time on my rugby career!
— Drew Mitchell (@drew_mitchell) April 17, 2017
I've been very lucky to have had the experiences I've had in our great game.
Thank you
Social Media Round-Up:
#WARvKIN FT: @SouthernKingsSA shocked the @NSWWaratahs & picked up their 2nd win of the season
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) April 21, 2017
MATCH REACTION β‘οΈhttps://t.co/g41DgAvk7h pic.twitter.com/ZElIGD9tn4
Here are the starting line-ups for the Champions Cup Semi's! ππ#MUNvSAR #ASMvLEI pic.twitter.com/sii4nIez6n
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) April 21, 2017
And upfront it is Abbott's skills and tries vs Arnold's high work load in the forwards head to head https://t.co/PrPS6JhyiB #HURvBRU pic.twitter.com/8LzQcmAl9k
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) April 21, 2017
