Tuesday Afternoon Round Up
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Nel sidelined with neck injury
Edinburgh have announced that Scotland international tighthead prop WP Nel has been ruled out for at least four weeks with a neck injury.
“Tighthead prop WP Nel exacerbated an ongoing neck complaint during Edinburgh Rugby’s European Challenge Cup victory over Harlequins on Saturday at BT Murrayfield Stadium,” read a statement from the PRO12 outfit.
“Following specialist review, it has been advised Nel commence a four-week rehabilitation programme before further assessment.
“He will be unavailable for selection and remain in the care of the club’s medical team during this period.”
Zirakashvili extends his Clermont stay
Clermont have announced that experienced tighthead prop Davit Zirakashvili has put pen to paper on a new contract with the Top 14 side.
The 33-year-old, who has been in great form for the club since joining in 2004, signs an extension that ties him to Stade Marcel Michelin until 2020.
Zirakashvili has 53 caps for Georgia and has featured in three Rugby World Cups (2007, 2011 and 2015).
Ollie Lindsay-Hague joins England 7s
Ollie Lindsay-Hague has been added to the England Sevens squad for the 2016/17 World Rugby Sevens Series.
"It's great to have Ollie joining us full time for the season," said England Sevens Head Coach Simon Amor.
"He was outstanding during the GB preparations and in Rio as well. Ollie is a superb player, who has exceptional feet and on his day he is un-defendable. Everyone is excited to see what he can bring to the group on a permanent basis."
Having recently left Premiership club Harlequins in August, the 26-year-old was also part of the Team GB sevens squad that won a silver medal at the Rio Olympics in the summer.
Chris Ashton to join Toulon next season
Saracens can confirm that wing Chris Ashton will join Toulon next season.
The 29-year old England international will link up with the Top 14 outfit for the 2017/18 campaign after five seasons with Saracens where he became the club’s leading try scorer and won two Premiership titles and a European Champions Cup with the Men in Black.
On leaving Saracens at the end of the season, Chris Ashton said: “I’d like to put on record my thanks to Mark McCall, our Chairman Nigel Wray and the whole team at Saracens for the manner in which they have dealt with my request to join Toulon next season. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Allianz Park and I have made so many special memories on and off the field.
“I have developed as a player during my time with Sarries but more importantly I have developed as a person, and I will always be indebted to the Club for that.
“There is a tremendous culture at Saracens and the bond between everyone here is very tight. It will be a real wrench for me to leave all that behind at the end of the season but I’m looking forward to a new challenge at Toulon next year. My focus now is helping the squad prepare for Leicester Tigers on Saturday, contribute to the side when I return to action later this year and hopefully make a few more memories together in a black and red shirt.”
Aki & Dillane sign contract extensions with Connacht
Head Coach Vern Cotter today named a 31-man Scotland squad for the forthcoming 2016 Autumn Test matches against Australia, Argentina and Georgia next month.
Prop Zander Fagerson and Olympic silver medal winning centre Mark Bennett join the group, having represented Scotland U20 and Team GB during the summer.
The group is completed by the inclusion of uncapped 24-year-old Edinburgh Rugby prop Allan Dell after it was confirmed that club mates Willem Nel and Rory Sutherland have both been ruled out of the forthcoming Autumn Tests.
See full squad here
Wallabies 32-man squad for 2016 Spring Tour
Wallabies Coach Michael Cheika has named a 32-man squad for the Spring Tour for Tests against Wales, Scotland, France, Ireland and England.
Marika Koroibete, who has joined the Melbourne Rebels on a two-year deal, has been named alongside fellow uncapped players Kyle Godwin and Tolu Latu, who were both standouts in the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship for NSW Country Eagles.
Koroibete could become the first player since Tatafu Polota-Nau in 2005 to play for the Qantas Wallabies before making his Super Rugby debut.
Nine of the 11 debutants from 2016 have made the squad, although powerful centre Samu Kerevi has been forced out of the tour after undergoing surgery for a syndesmosis injury suffered during the Wallabies' 37-10 defeat to New Zealand in Auckland last Saturday.
See full squad here
