Monday Round-Up
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Stander favours Ireland: Munster No.8 CJ Stander intends to represent Ireland instead of his home country South Africa. Stander, who was crowned Munster's player of the year on Thursday, qualifies for Ireland the day after the 2015 Rugby World Cup final and after another impressive campaign for Munster, he is setting his sights on Ireland. Stander has previously captained South Africa's Under-20 side and was called up by the Springboks in 2012 but failed to make his Test debut. "I will have to decide [between South Africa and Ireland] but I think I have set my sights on Ireland and I think that is what I'm going to pursue," he told PRO12rugby.com.
Kaino & Piutau out: Blues have announced that Jerome Kaino and Charles Piutau will miss the rest of the Super Rugby campaign after sustaining injuries. The Blues confirmed on Monday that Kaino had sustained a compound fracture to the ring finger of his left hand that would sideline the player for eight weeks, while announcing that Piutau had sustained a grade two medial cruciate tear that would sideline him for six weeks. The Blues also announced after their 41-24 win over the Force, that Luke Braid had suffered another concussion, and said that Dan Bowden would miss the match against the Rebels in Melbourne on Friday with a groin strain.
Dan Hayes