Top Stories of the Week
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SANZAAR to axe Sunwolves from Super Rugby?
SANZAAR are considering reverting back to a 14-team Super Rugby competition and doing away with the tournament’s conference system from 2021.
According to a Sydney Morning Herald report, the Sunwolves are the team in the firing line as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina battle to reach consensus about a tournament format which suits all unions. Full story
Piutau's Tongan Rugby World Cup dream dashed
Former All Blacks outside back Charles Piutau's Rugby World Cup dream has been ended for a second time.
Tonga Head coach Toutai Kefu told confirmed that Piutau would not be available saying "He got ruled out a couple of months ago,"
"We were actively exploring a group of players, not just Charles, that were in the same boat and whether we could qualify them before the World Cup, and we can't.
"First of all they've got to sit out three years, which Charles has, and a group of other guys have.
"The next process is we have to qualify them in an Olympic qualifying Sevens tournament and the only one that's available to us is after the World Cup.
"We looked into trying to move that tournament to before the World Cup and were unsuccessful in doing that." Full story
Ted Hill signs on first-team contract at Worcester
The 19-year-old back row, who is a product of the Warriors AASE programme and the Three Pears Warriors Academy made his full England debut in November – just eight weeks after appearing in the Gallagher Premiership for the first time.
Coventry Rugby have announced that Harlequins prop Josh McNulty has joined the club on loan for the remainder of the season.
The 24-year-old joins his brothers Isaac and Sam in the blue-and-whites’ squad and goes straight into the selection mix for this Saturday’s Championship Cup fifth round clash with Doncaster.
Victor Vito re-signs with La Rochelle
La Rochelle captain has continued his commitment to the Club until 2022, the club today confirmed.
The former All Black has already played 66 games in the colors of La Rochelle since his arrival in 2016.
Top Auckland School Excluded From Top 2019 Rugby Competition
St Kentigern College have been excluded from the prestigious 1A Auckland 1st XV schoolboy competition following the recruitment of a number of players who have played 1st team rugby for other schools.
A number of rival schools have joined forces and will boycott playing St Kents as they feel the moral and ethical boundries have been crossed with this recruitment. Full story
Eastmond suspended for 4 weeks
Kyle Eastmond has been suspended following a dangerous tackle against Bristol Bears, on Ian Madigan, this past weekend. Eastmond was given a red card in the 25th minute for his actions.
Independent panel chair John Brennan said: “The player accepted the charge and accepted through his representative that the entry point was mid-range due to there being direct contact to the head of the opponent.
“The panel acknowledged his plea, his remorse for the incident and his apology but could not give the player full mitigation of 50% due to his having been sanctioned for dangerous tackling last season.
“As such, the entry point was reduced by two weeks rather than three.”
Ben Te’o to be unavailable for Worcester Warriors’ next two games
Centre Ben Te’o will be unavailable for Worcester Warriors’ next two games after flying to New Zealand for a “break”, confirms Worcester News.
Director of rugby Alan Solomons confirmed he held discussions with England boss Eddie Jones and felt it was an “appropriate” time for Te’o to “rest” before coming back ahead of Warriors’ festive fixtures. Full story
Wasps Set To Lose 3 International Players
The Daily Mail has reported that Elliot Daly, Willie le Roux and Nathan Hughes are all set to leave Wasps at the end of the season.
Daly is set to move to Saracens with Hughes on the radar at Bristol and the Premiership could lose le Roux as he looks set to make a move to Japan.
Guinness announced as new title sponsor of the Six Nations
Global brand GUINNESS has today been announced as the new title sponsor of the Six Nations, with the Championship to be known as the GUINNESS Six Nations from 2019.
The new sponsorship is a six-year deal and considerably strengthens GUINNESS' commitment to rugby, adding to an already extensive portfolio that includes the Guinness PRO14, and partnerships with the four Home Unions and leading European clubs Leinster and Munster. Full story
Maro Itoje to be sidelined following knee injury
It has been confirmed that Maro Itoje will be sidelined for a number of weeks after suffering a knee injury.
The 24-year-old took a knock whilst on international duty with England and scans have revealed a chip in his patella.
