Monday Afternoon Round Up

Tom Varndell commits future to Bristol Rugby

Tom Varndell has committed his future to Bristol Rugby until the end of the 2017/18 campaign.

“I’m delighted to extend my contract with the Club – there’s a great deal of momentum with us at the moment and everybody wants to keep pushing forward,” Varndell commented.

"I want to continue to represent Bristol in the top flight in the fantastic surroundings at Ashton Gate. We have a job to do to keep this Club in the Premiership and I’m confident that we can achieve that with the quality and belief we have here.”

Varndell has notched five tries in seven Premiership outings, earning player of the month in December 2016

Dave Lewis signs for Harlequins from Exeter Chiefs

Harlequins have confirmed today (Monday 6th February) that scrum-half Dave Lewis will join the Club from the 2017/18 season after signing from Exeter Chiefs.

“Dave is an extremely experienced Premiership operator,” said John Kingston, Harlequins Director of Rugby. “He is perfectly suited to the type of game we like to play.

“On top of that, he is an extremely personable guy who will fit into, and enhance, the environment that we are looking to build within the squad.”

Born in Manchester, Lewis progressed through the Exeter Chiefs Academy system and joined Gloucester Rugby in 2007.

Spending six years with the Cherry and Whites, he made 88 appearances, before returning to Exeter in 2013.

In his four years with the South-West side, he has made 79 appearances.

Glasgow Warriors sign Huw Jones from the Stormers

Scotland international Huw Jones will leave Newlands at the end of 2017 to join Glasgow Warriors on a two-year deal.

“It felt like the time was right to join Glasgow, having enjoyed my time in Cape Town playing Super Rugby. Obviously playing for Scotland, it makes a lot of sense to be playing in Scotland and I was ready to make the move,” Jones said.

The athletic midfielder started his professional career in Cape Town after coming through the amateur ranks, playing Club Rugby for False Bay and University Rugby for UCT before making his mark for both Western Province and the Stormers.

The 23-year-old is committed to the Stormers and Western Province for their respective 2017 Super Rugby and Currie Cup campaigns.

England Rugby squad update ahead of Wales

32 players assembled at Pennyhill Park this evening to train for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations game against Wales at Principality Stadium (4.50pm, BBC 1)

George Kruis (Saracens) will undergo surgery on Tuesday 7 February for a knee ligament injury sustained in training earlier in the week. It is expected that the second row will require a 10-12 week rehabilitation period.

Mako Vunipola (Saracens) will join-up with England this week and will continue his rehabilitation from injury.
 
Forwards (18)

Jack Clifford (Harlequins)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Teimana Harrison (Northampton Saints)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (Wasps)
Nathan Hughes (Wasps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Matt Mullan (Wasps)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Tommy Taylor (Wasps)
Mike Williams (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)

Backs (14)

Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Elliot Daly (Wasps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Bath Rugby)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Alex Lozowski (Saracens)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Ben Te'o (Worcester Warriors)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Marland Yarde (Harlequins)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Scotland squad update after win against Ireland

The Scotland medical team issued the following squad update after the 27-22 win over Ireland in the opening round of the RBS 6 Nations.

Stand-off Finn Russell left the pitch in the 45th minute for a precautionary HIA (head injury assessment) and – on review – was fit to return to the field of play.

He continued to progress through the HIA process after the match, with the final assessment to confirm his return to full training taking this morning (Monday 6 February).

The eye contusion suffered by Fraser Brown in the first half – that ultimately ended his part in the match in the 25th minute – has been resolved. The hooker will take full part in training this week.

Several other players are showing the signs of a physical test match and will be managed accordingly by the squad's medical team, however they are not considered an immediate concern for the next test against France in Paris this Sunday (12 February).

Springbok legend Joost van der Westhuizen loses battle to Motor Neuron Disease

The J9 foundation, the charity founded Joost van der Westhuizen, has formally confirmed the passing of the Springbok rugby legend at 14:28 (South Africa time) today.

The 45-year-old ex-scrumhalf has been fighting with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a form of Motor Neurone Disease (MND), since 2011. He recently required an oxygen tank to assist his breathing on occasion and was rushed to hospital early on Saturday morning in critical condition.

A member of the victorious 1995 World Cup Rugby winning side, van der Westhuizen had a long and celebrated rugby career. Before joining the national side, he spent his entire club career at the Super Rugby side Blue Bulls, debuting in 1992.

A unusually tall scrum half (6 ft 1 ins or 185 cm), van der Westhuizen was largely credited with the Springboks’ success in 1995. His ambitious and aggressive tackles prevented many an opposition try and his talent for spotting even the tiniest gaps in their defence made for a true rugby legend. He played in 89 Test matches for the Springboks and scored 38 tries before retiring from rugby in 2003.

Apart from 89 Tests, Van der Westhuizen played a further 22 tour matches for the Springboks for a total of 111 appearances in Green and Gold. He scored 56 tries in total for the Springboks, which was finally overtaken by Bryan Habana in 2014. He also captained the Boks in 10 Tests.

Van der Westhuizen first experienced the symptoms of the debilitating disease towards the end of 2008. He was formally diagnosed in 2011 and given a maximum of two years to live.  

When asked how he kept going after his diagnosis, van der Westhuizen replied: “I had a choice. Either I stay at home and die or I live my life.”  

And so he did. He dedicated his remaining years to his children, Jordan (13) and Kylie (10), and to his non-profit project called J9, which helps those living with Motor Neurone Disease.

“Joost will be remembered as one of the greatest Springboks – not only of his generation, but of all time,” said Mr Mark Alexander, President of SA Rugby.