Rugby Banter Page weekly round up

Monday 2nd February:

London Irish Sign Harlequins Back-Row Trayfoot:

London Irish have announced the signing of flanker Joe Trayfoot from their Aviva Premiership rivals Harlequins.

Trayfoot, 23, was capped by England at under-16 and under-18 levels, joining Quins' academy system in 2008 and has made almost fifty appearances for Harlequins.

Conrad Smith Linked With Pau Switch:

According to reports in France, stalwart All Blacks centre Conrad Smith will be the latest Southern Hemisphere player to defect to the Northern Hemisphere after this year’s World Cup

French biweekly rugby publication Midi Olympique reported that runaway Pro2 leaders Pau were closing in on the prized signature of Smith as they look to bolster their squad for their tilt at next season's Top 14.

Tuesday 3rd February:

Stormers Lock Grobler Accepts Two Year Doping Ban:

Stormers lock Gerbrandt Grobler has accepted a two-year ban following a positive test for the banned steroid Drostanolone.

Grobler signed an admission of guilt on Tuesday morning, admitting to the use of the steroid which was picked up through an in-competition test during last year's Currie Cup.

According to supersport.com, Grobler was set to sit out the entire 2014 Currie Cup season with an ankle injury before the coaching staff called him into action for the final regular-season game. He appeared to have "bulked up considerably" while out injured.

Genia Move To Stade Francais Appears Certain:

Wallabies scrum-half Will Genia has reportedly signed a deal with French side Stade Francais and will join following the 2015 World Cup.

According to a report in RMC Sport, Genia has signed a three-year deal with the Top 14 club despite being heavily linked with English side Bath over the past few weeks.

Wednesday 4th February:

Dom Walbouck To Leave Northampton Saints:

Northampton Saints centre Dom Waldouck is set to leave the club at the end of the season upon the expiration of his contract

The 27-year-old has spent three years at Franklins Gardens since his 2012 move from Wasps, with Saints paying a transfer fee for the England Saxons back, but he is now set to move on according to the Northampton Chronicle and Echo.

Waldouck has been heavily linked with a move to Premiership club London Irish.

Thursday 5th February:

Argentina Contract Five More Players To Represent Their 2016 Super Rugby Franchise:

The Argentina Rugby Union UAR continue to sign up players for the 2016 Super Rugby season and they now have 13 contracted players for next season.

The newest signings include Tomas Cubelli, Javier Ortega Desio, Gabriel Ascarate, Matias Orlando and Tomas Lezana who have all signed for three years.

Scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli who played for the Pumas in last year's Rugby Championship as well as forwards Javier Ortega Desio and Thomas Lezana, along with backs Gabriel Ascarate and Matias Orlando have all committed to Argentina rugby with the goal of playing in the Rugby Championship, the Rugby World Cup as well as Super Rugby next year.

Wales Prepare Dossier On England’s Illegal Tactics:

Wales have prepared a dossier on alleged illegal tactics employed by England ahead of a meeting between Warren Gatland and match referee Jerome Garces.

The Wales boss wants the French official to clamp down on Stuart Lancaster’s charges if they attempt to obstruct Welsh defenders during the big Six Nations opener at the Millennium Stadium.

Wales coach Gatland and his defensive guru Shaun Edwards are concerned England were allowed to get away with law-breaking during autumn internationals against New Zealand, South Africa, Samoa and Australia.

And they were set to bring up the contentious issue with Garces during a routine pre-match meeting coaches have with the referee ahead of a Test.

Friday 6th February:

The Waratahs have confirmed the signing of Japanese centre Kotaro Matsushima for the new Super Rugby Season.

Matsushima, who turns 22 later this month, has agreed to a short-term contract with the defending champions and will join the Waratahs' squad from March through to August.

The South African-born Matsushima is fast developing a reputation in Japan and South Africa for his pace and agility on field as well as his versatility as a winger, centre or full-back.