Monday Afternoon Round Up
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Connacht injury update
Ahead of Friday’s Guinness PRO12 round 11 game away to Ulster, the Connacht Rugby medical team have provided the following update:
Conor Carey sustained an injury to his foot in the Wasps game and is awaiting the results of a scan to determine the extent of the injury.
Dominic Robertson McCoy sustained a shoulder injury in training last week and is awaking the results of a scan to determine the extent of the injury.
Jake Heenan sustained knee and ankle injuries in the round 3 game v Wasps and is continuing his rehabilitation under the supervision of the medical and fitness team. It is hoped that he will be available for selection next week.
Stacey Ili sustained ankle injuries in the game vs Wasps and will be unavailable for up to 6 weeks.
Ealing bring in Kieran Murphy and Barney Maddison on 18-month deals
Kieran Murphy and Barney Maddison head to Vallis Way from London Welsh after agreeing contracts through to the end of the 2017-18 season.
Murphy is a Number 8, who played for the Exiles for 18 months, scoring nine tries in 31 appearances, while Maddison was in his first season with Welsh and had scored one try in 13 matches since joining from Rotherham Titans. He featured in both matches between Titans and Ealing Trailfinders in 2015-16 and captained the Yorkshire outfit at Vallis Way.
Aled Brew extends with Bath
Winger Aled Brew has signed a new contract extension that will keep him at Bath until the end of the 2017-2018 season.
The 30-year-old, who has won nine caps for Wales, spent two seasons with French side Biarritz in between three successful spells with Newport Gwent Dragons, where he amassed over 200 points for the Welsh side.
Tom McCartney signs 3-year extension with Connacht
Hooker Tom McCartney has agreed a new three-year deal that will see him play at the Sportsground until at least the summer of 2020.
Commenting on the deal, Connacht Rugby CEO Willie Ruane said: “This is a hugely positive move for Connacht Rugby and a big statement from Tom highlighting the belief and confidence he has in the future of the club.
“Tom came to Connacht from overseas and in a short time he has made a very positive impact on our environment here. He is an important member of the squad and very popular among our supporters. We are thrilled that he sees his future with Connacht.”
McCartney recently celebrated his 50th Connacht appearance with a Man of the Match performance and will qualify to play for Ireland in October 2017.
Kieran Read ruled out until April
All Black captain Kieran Read has undergone surgery on his wrist and is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines. He is expected to join the Crusaders' Super Rugby campaign in April.
The incoming Crusaders coach Scott Robertson revealed the timeline for Read's recovery on Monday before Sam Whitelock was officially unveiled as the franchise's captain for 2017.
Read wore a brace on his right hand during the end of year tour to the Northern Hemisphere - he had an operation last week and is now working through the rehabilitation process.
Robertson hoped Read would be available for selection in early April, the loose forward will miss at least five rounds of Super Rugby.
A return in April would give him a maximum of seven games before the British and Irish Lions tour gets underway - the Crusaders also play Warren Gatland's Lions team on the 10th June 2017, two weeks before the opening match of the three-test series in Auckland.
