Friday Morning Round Up

Jason Ryan appointed to Crusaders coaching team

The Crusaders have completed their coaching roster for 2017, appointing Jason Ryan as the Assistant Forwards Coach.

“We are really pleased to that Jason has signed up with the Crusaders through to 2019," said Crusaders CEO Hamish Riach.

"He has been doing excellent work with the forwards in the Canterbury team for the last five years, as well as for the Black Ferns and New Zealand Under 20 teams, so we are sure that he will make a valuable contribution to the Crusaders as well.”

Ryan will work alongside Scott Robertson as Head Coach, Brad Mooar as Assistant Coach and Leon MacDonald as Assistant Coach Backs.

His contract begins at the end of the Mitre 10 Cup season and is for three years.

Brumbies sign Australian U20 representatives

Brumbies have today announced that 2016 Australian U20s representatives Jordan Jackson-Hope and Faaleleli Sione have both signed on with the club's Extended Playing Squad for 2017.

"We saw this year that they are up to the challenge of Super Rugby,” Brumbies Head Coach Stephen Larkham said.

“We’ve been very impressed with their performances at training and on the field all year and we are looking forward to seeingtheir games develop to another level here at the Brumbies in 2017.”

Jackson-Hope represented the ACT Griffins in 2015, before linking with the Super Rugby outfit for pre-season training. 

Sione represented Australian at the 2016 Under 20s World Championships in Manchester earlier this year after a standout season for the Brumbies U20s Colts sides in the inaugural Super U20s.

Agen proves dominance over Biarritz

13-man Agen beat Biarritz by a point with 77th minute try at the Stade Armandie on Thursday. They move joint top of the Pro D2 table at the start of Round 4.

Mark Cueto and Hugh Vyvyan to be honoured by Premiership Rugby

Two more rugby legends are being honoured next month by being inducted into the Premiership Rugby Hall of Fame.

Mark Cueto and Hugh Vyvyan will join Rugby World Cup winners Mike Tindall, Richard Hill and Neil Back by being inducted at a glittering event on 13 October at the HAC in London.

Cheetahs remain unbeated

The Cheetahs’ 37-29 win over defending champions the Lions on Thursday night in Bloemfontein leaves them unbeaten at the top of the log after six matches, while the Lions’ third defeat – all in away matches – have left them stranded in fifth spot and just two matches left to recover.