Monday Afternoon Round Up

Damian de Allende ruled out for 3 months

Stormers centre Damian de Allende has been ruled out of action for up to three months due to an ankle injury.

De Allende sustained the injury in the second half of the Stormers 37-24 victory against Bulls at  Newlands on Saturday.

The midfielder joins the likes of Scarra Ntubeni (achilles), Leolin Zas (leg) and Juan de Jongh (knee) on the Stormers injury list.

Rory Clegg signs long-term contract at Ealing

Ealing Trailfinders can confirm that Rory Clegg has joined on a long-term contract from Glasgow Warriors ahead of the transfer deadline last Friday.

"Rory is someone we have been following for some time and it is great to bring him in at this stage of the season,” Director of Rugby Ben Ward said.

The fly-half has played for the current Pro 12 champions since the start of the 2015-16 season and scored 95 points in 14 appearances. He also has appeared for Harlequins, Newcastle Falcons and England Saxons.

Yorkshire Carnegie captain Ryan Burrows to join Newcastle Falcons

Yorkshire Carnegie captain Ryan Burrows has become Newcastle Falcons’ latest signing as the club continues its recruitment for next season.

Newcastle Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards commented: “Ryan is an experienced performer who has played to a consistently high standard in the Championship over a number of years now, and really deserves this chance to step up.
 
“His ball-carrying, leadership and work rate will all be major assets when he joins us in the summer, before which time I know he is completely committed to helping Yorkshire Carnegie finish their season strongly.”

The 28-year-old has scored 28 tries in his 138 appearances for Carnegie since joining them in 2011, having also made more than a century of appearances for Rotherham.

7 members of the Leinster Academy awarded senior contracts

Ahead of next season, Leinster Rugby and the IRFU can confirm that seven members of the Leinster Academy have been awarded Senior Contracts. 

Ross Byrne, Joey Carbery, Nick McCarthy, Rory O’Loughlin, Andrew Porter, James Ryan and Peadar Timmins are the seven players that will join up with the Leinster Senior squad.

Commenting on the news Leinster Rugby Head Coach Leo Cullen said:

“We invest a huge amount of time and resources into our Academy system in Leinster and we very much see these players and this model as the future of this club. I am excited by the challenge that lies ahead of them as they look to kick on in their careers.”

Between them, they have played 55 times for Leinster in the Champions Cup and Guinness PRO12 this season, contributing 15 tries and 142 points.

Saints sign Springbok scrum-half Cobus Reinach

Northampton Saints has today announced the signing of Cobus Reinach ahead of the 2017/18 season.

“Cobus is an excellent player and we’re looking forward to having him at Franklin’s Gardens next season,” said Director of rugby Jim Mallinder. 

“We have been watching him for some time and he has proven time and again what a quality player he is. His set piece skills are excellent and he is a very opportunistic scrum half."

The 27-year-old scrum-half joins the Saints from Durban-based team, The Sharks, where he has played his entire career to date. His senior debut came in 2011 and the first of his 10 caps for South Africa following in 2014.

Wasps sign Fijian international Gaby Lovobalavu

Wasps have announced that Fijian international centre Gabiriele Lovobalavu will join the club ahead of the 2017/18 campaign.

Lovobalavu, who has won 22 caps for his country and represented Fiji in the last three Rugby World Cups (2007, 2011 and 2015), is currently playing for Bayonne in the Top 14, having joined them from Toulon in 2012.

He will head to Wasps over the summer when Samoan international centre Alapati Leiua moves to Bristol Rugby.

UCT Ikeys Vs Stellenbosch Maties match Round Up

Ikeys and Maties met for Round 5 of Varsity Cup at Groote Schuur Rugby Field this afternoon.

Maties ran in 7 tries as they beat their cape rivals Ikey Tigers at the Green Mile. Stellenbosch had a clear cut plan into the wind in the 1st half and took a 7 point lead at the break. The 2nd half saw UCT struggle to get into the game as they made a number of errors after the 2nd strategy break.

Final score: Ikeys 16 - 47 Maties.

Kings announce 25-man squad for Singapore trip

Southern Kings Head Coach Deon Davids has announced his 25-man squad that will travel to Singapore. 

Lock Irne Herbst, who sustained a concussion against the Jaguares, misses out on the Asian trip and has been replaced with Thembelani Bholi.

Fullback Chrysander Botha has not been included in the travelling squad, with Pieter-Steyn de Wet replacing him. 

The travelling Southern Kings squad is:

Forwards: Schalk Ferreira (captain), Martin Bezuidenhout, Thembelani Bholi, Chris Cloete, Justin Forwood, Ross Geldenhuys, Kurt Haupt, Chris Heiberg, Ruaan Lerm, Andisa Ntsila, Tyler Paul, Schalk van der Merwe, Michael Willemse, Stefan Willemse, Mzwanele Zito.

Backs: Masixole Banda, Lionel Cronje, Pieter-Steyn de Wet, Malcolm Jaer, Berton Klaasen, Makazole Mapimpi, Waylon Murray, Louis Schreuder, Rudi van Rooyen, Luzuko Vulindlu.

SA Rugby confirm coaching structures with Coetzee remaining Head Coach

The Executive Council of SA Rugby reaffirmed its support for Allister Coetzee, as they announced the coaching and management structure for eight national teams.

46 individuals were named, Franco Smith is one of the notable additions to the senior Springbok team as well as the announcement of Chean Roux as the Springbok U20 coach.

SA Rugby National team coaching and management staffs

Springboks

Head Coach: Allister Coetzee. Assistant Coaches: Johann van Graan, Matthew Proudfoot, Franco Smith. Team Manager: Ian Schwartz. Conditioning Coach: Warren Adams. Team Doctors: Jerome Mampane and Konrad von Hagen. Physiotherapists: Vivian Verwant and Tanu Pillay. PR Manager: Annelee Murray. Logistics Manager: JJ Fredericks. Media Manager: Rayaan Adriaanse. Defence coach: TBC.

Springbok Sevens

Head Coach: Neil Powell. Team Manager: Ashley Evert. Team Doctor: Leigh Gordon. Physiotherapist: Hugh Everson. Conditioning Coach: Allan Temple-Jones.

SA ‘A’

Head Coach: Johan Ackermann. Assistant Coaches: Abe Davids, Chumani Booi. Team Manager: Willem Oliphant. Team Doctor: TBC. Physiotherapist: Basheer Mohamed. Conditioning Coach: Andre Smith.

Junior Springboks (Under-20s)

Head Coach: Chean Roux. Assistant Coach: Mzwandile Stick. Team Doctor: Jerome Mampane. Physiotherapist: Karabo Morokane. Technical Analyst: Hayden Groepes.

Sevens Academy

Head coach: Paul Delport. Academy Manager: Marius Schoeman.

Springbok Women’s Sevens

Head Coach: Renfred Dazel. Physiotherapist: Reagan Cele. Conditioning Coach: Johno Meintjies. Logistics Manager: Michele English.

SA Schools

Head Coach: Lance Sendin. Assistant Coach: Ruan Bezuidenhout. Team Manager: Relton Hermanus. Team Doctor: Gerhard Coetzer. Physiotherapist: Kim Naidoo. Conditioning Coach: Andre Smith.

SA Schools ‘A’

Head Coach: Sean Erasmus. Assistant Coach: Mzwakhe Nkosi. Team Manager: Ofentse Moeng. Team Doctor: Gerhard Coetzer. Physiotherapist: Wernick Smit. Conditioning Coach: Ghafoer Luckan.

Coetzee announce squad for Springbok training camp

Having received the backing of the Executive Council of SA Rugby, Allister Coetzee named a 41-man list for his first training camp of the year.

The likes of Handré Pollard, Siya Kolisi, Frans Malherbe and Jaco Kriel are all included having returned from injuries.

Seabelo Senatla, the current World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year, has also been included in the training camp, that will take place in Johannesburg.

1	Nizaam Carr	Number 8	DHL Stormers
2	Uzair Cassiem	Flank	Toyota Cheetahs
3	Damian de Allende	Centre	DHL Stormers
4	Lood de Jager	Lock	Vodacom Bulls
5	Faf de Klerk	Scrumhalf	Emirates Lions
6	Ruan Dreyer	Prop	Emirates Lions
7	Jean-Luc du Plessis	Flyhalf	DHL Stormers
8	Pieter-Steph du Toit	Lock	DHL Stormers
9	Joseph Dweba*	Hooker	Toyota Cheetahs
10	Eben Etzebeth	Lock	DHL Stormers
11	Warrick Gelant*	Fullback	Vodacom Bulls
12	Lizo Gqoboka	Prop	Vodacom Bulls
13	Hanro Liebenberg*	Number 8	Vodacom Bulls
14	Travis Ismaiel	Wing	Vodacom Bulls
15	Rohan Janse van Rensburg	Centre	Emirates Lions
16	Elton Jantjies	Flyhalf	Emirates Lions
17	Siya Kolisi	Flank	DHL Stormers
18	Jaco Kriel	Flank	Emirates Lions
19	Jesse Kriel	Fullback	Vodacom Bulls
20	Wilco Louw*	Prop	DHL Stormers
21	Frans Malherbe	Prop	DHL Stormers
22	Lionel Mapoe	Centre	Emirates Lions
23	Malcolm Marx	Hooker	Emirates Lions
24	Bongi Mbonambi	Hooker	DHL Stormers
25	Teboho Mohoje	Flank	Toyota Cheetahs
26	Franco Mostert	Lock	Emirates Lions
27	Ox Nche*	Prop	Toyota Cheetahs
28	Sikhumbuzo Notshe	Number 8	DHL Stormers
29	Trevor Nyakane	Prop	Vodacom Bulls
30	Rudy Page	Scrumhalf	Vodacom Bulls
31	Sergeal Petersen	Wing	Toyota Cheetahs
32	Handré Pollard	Flyhalf	Vodacom Bulls
33	Raymond Rhule	Wing	Toyota Cheetahs
34	Seabelo Senatla	Wing	DHL Stormers
35	Jan Serfontein	Centre	Vodacom Bulls
36	RG Snyman	Lock	Vodacom Bulls
37	Jamba Ulengo	Wing	Vodacom Bulls
38	Armand van der Merwe	Hooker	Emirates Lions
39	Piet van Zyl	Scrumhalf	Vodacom Bulls
40	Francois Venter	Centre	Toyota Cheetahs
41	Warren Whiteley	Number 8	Emirates Lions