Wednesday Afternoon Round Up
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Wednesday Afternoon Round Up
Chris Cusiter announces retirement
Sale Sharks scrum half Chris Cusiter has announced his retirement from professional rugby.
“As far as my rugby career goes, I considered myself privileged to receive a Scotland ‘A’ cap in 2002. If it had ended there at that point then I would have been happy.
"I could never have imagined all the experiences I would be able to have over the next 14 years through rugby...Playing for Scotland 70 times was more than I could have dreamed of growing up learning how to play rugby at Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen."
The 33-year-old joined Sale in 2014, after spells with Glasgow Warriors, Border Reivers and Perpignan. He is shifting his focus and will be venturing into a Scotch whisky business in Los Angeles.
"I've been fascinated by the Scotch whisky industry for the past few years and firmly believe that it is Scotland's finest and greatest export and something to be very proud of."
Cusiter was part of the Scotland side which reached the quarter-finals of the 2007 World Cup in France, and later won the Top 14 title with Perpignan in 2009.
Ben Botica is leaving Harlequins for Montpellier
Harlequins have announced that fly-half Ben Botica is to join French Top 14 club, Montpellier.
Botica will move to Montpellier - who happen to be Halequins' European Challenge Cup final opponents in Lyon on May 13 - this summer as replacement for Toulon-bound Francois Trinh-Duc.
The 26-year-old joined Quins in 2012, and has made 93 appearances and accumulating more than 500 points.
"I have been given a new and exciting challenge in France with Montpellier, but my immediate focus is to help Harlequins finish in the (Premiership) top six and win European silverware."
Quins, announced the signing of Wasps' Scotland international fly-half Ruaridh Jackson for next term.
Michael van Vuuren to join Bath Rugby
The Club can confirm that South African hooker Michael van Vuuren will join Bath Rugby next season.
Sale Sharks scrum half Chris Cusiter has announced his retirement from professional rugby.
“As far as my rugby career goes, I considered myself privileged to receive a Scotland ‘A’ cap in 2002. If it had ended there at that point then I would have been happy.
"I could never have imagined all the experiences I would be able to have over the next 14 years through rugby...Playing for Scotland 70 times was more than I could have dreamed of growing up learning how to play rugby at Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen."
The 33-year-old joined Sale in 2014, after spells with Glasgow Warriors, Border Reivers and Perpignan. He is shifting his focus and will be venturing into a Scotch whisky business in Los Angeles.
"I've been fascinated by the Scotch whisky industry for the past few years and firmly believe that it is Scotland's finest and greatest export and something to be very proud of."
Cusiter was part of the Scotland side which reached the quarter-finals of the 2007 World Cup in France, and later won the Top 14 title with Perpignan in 2009.
Ben Botica is leaving Harlequins for Montpellier
Harlequins have announced that fly-half Ben Botica is to join French Top 14 club, Montpellier.
Botica will move to Montpellier - who happen to be Halequins' European Challenge Cup final opponents in Lyon on May 13 - this summer as replacement for Toulon-bound Francois Trinh-Duc.
The 26-year-old joined Quins in 2012, and has made 93 appearances and accumulating more than 500 points.
"It was a very hard decision for me to leave Harlequins," Botica said.
"The last four years, in terms of my development as a player, have been priceless. Being around such a great group, in playing ability and as people is something you can't buy.
"I have been given a new and exciting challenge in France with Montpellier, but my immediate focus is to help Harlequins finish in the (Premiership) top six and win European silverware."
Quins, announced the signing of Wasps' Scotland international fly-half Ruaridh Jackson for next term.
Michael van Vuuren to join Bath Rugby
The Club can confirm that South African hooker Michael van Vuuren will join Bath Rugby next season.
"This is a great
opportunity for me to compete for a place in a team that is really
going places and I'm really thankful for the opportunity Bath have given
me," said Van Vuuren.
"I've had a taste of English rugby recently and I'm looking forward to playing in one of the toughest leagues in rugby. Bath focus on the individual development of players, and that appeals to me, so I'm excited to get started."
The 24-year-old moves to the West Country following a stint at Leicester Tigers. In South Africa, Van Vuuren represented Free State Cheetahs and Eastern Province Kings, in between which he played for Stade Francais in the Top 14.
Ospreys and Wales winger Dafydd Howells signs new contract
The Ospreys have confirmed Wales wing Dafydd Howells has become the latest to commit his future to the region.
“I’m really excited and I just want to get into next season now and hopefully have a great season, injury-free,” said Howells, who has been out injured since last November with a hamstring problem.
"If I can pick up where I left off against Exeter, that’ll be a good starting point for me."
“It’s not going to be easy as there are good players here in my position but that’s the challenge I’ve got to take on over the next two seasons.”
The now, as of six weeks ago, 21-year-old has signed a two-year deal, tying him to the Ospreys until at least summer 2018.
"I've had a taste of English rugby recently and I'm looking forward to playing in one of the toughest leagues in rugby. Bath focus on the individual development of players, and that appeals to me, so I'm excited to get started."
"Michael will add to our competitive options at hooker," said Head Coach Mike Ford.
"He is a talented player, with a lot of potential to continue improving as a player, and we're looking forward to helping him do that."
"He is a talented player, with a lot of potential to continue improving as a player, and we're looking forward to helping him do that."
The 24-year-old moves to the West Country following a stint at Leicester Tigers. In South Africa, Van Vuuren represented Free State Cheetahs and Eastern Province Kings, in between which he played for Stade Francais in the Top 14.
Ospreys and Wales winger Dafydd Howells signs new contract
The Ospreys have confirmed Wales wing Dafydd Howells has become the latest to commit his future to the region.
“I’m really excited and I just want to get into next season now and hopefully have a great season, injury-free,” said Howells, who has been out injured since last November with a hamstring problem.
"If I can pick up where I left off against Exeter, that’ll be a good starting point for me."
“It’s not going to be easy as there are good players here in my position but that’s the challenge I’ve got to take on over the next two seasons.”
The now, as of six weeks ago, 21-year-old has signed a two-year deal, tying him to the Ospreys until at least summer 2018.
