Tuesday Morning Round Up

41 players named for All Blacks foundation day

All Blacks have announced forty-one players who will attend the day which is aimed at allowing the All Blacks management team and top players to lay the foundation for the international season ahead.

Loose forward Akira Ioane is the only uncapped player named on Tuesday in New Zealand coach Steve Hansen's first extended squad of the Rugby World Cup year.

Ioane was named along with winger and brother Rieko Ioane in a 41-man squad which will assemble for the first time in 2019 at a one-day camp in Wellington next week. Full squad

Crusaders Forwards Coach Jason Ryan signs through 2020/21 seasons

Crusaders Forwards Coach Jason Ryan has confirmed his coaching future is with the club, signing with New Zealand Rugby and committing to the Crusaders through the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

2019 is Ryan’s third season with the Crusaders, having helped guide the team to consecutive Investec Super Rugby titles in the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Full story

Seven Blues players extend their stay at the club

Blues have announced that seven players, with 218 Super caps between them, will extend their stay at the club.

The Super Seven comprise James Parsons, TJ Faiane, Sione Mafileo, Otere Black, Tom Robinson and Stephen Perofeta, who will continue at the Blues until 2021, while young star Caleb Clarke has signed until 2022. Read more

Bill Meakes issued a Warning

A SANZAAR Judicial Committee Hearing has found Bill Meakes of the Rebels guilty of contravening Law 9.13: A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously, after he was cited during a Super Rugby match at the weekend. 

The Judicial Committee did however find that the Red Card threshold had not been met for the offence, and subsequently issued a Warning.

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