Wednesday Afternoon Round Up

Injury Blow For Nowell

England star Jack Nowell is likely to miss the start of the new 2016/17 season.

“Jack Nowell is out after an operation on an injured thumb so he is going to be out for a while,” said Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter.

“It is potentially something like an eight-to-10 week injury. Other than him though, we are looking pretty good and have a pretty good squad for the start of the season.”

The 23-year-old, who was part of the victorious England side that won 3-0 against Australia this summer, recently underwent surgery on a thumb injury.

SBW will miss rest of Rio and Rugby Championship

Sonny Bill Williams will miss the All Blacks’ entire Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup series after being ruled out for up to nine months with an Achilles injury.

“He has a partial rupture of his Achilles tendon, which means he will be out of rugby for six to nine months,” confirmed New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive, Steve Tew.

The centre Williams was taken to hospital in an ambulance after being taken from the field in New Zealand’s opening Olympic rugby sevens loss to Japan in Rio.

Ospreys add McCusker

The Ospreys have added former Scarlets captain, Rob McCusker, to the squad on a short-term contract to provide back row cover as preparations for the new season step up a gear.

Capable of playing right across the back row, McCusker joins the Ospreys after Sam Underhill underwent surgery on his shoulder that will sideline him for four months.

Stevenson signs for Connacht for the 2016/17 season

Connacht Rugby and the IRFU have announced the recruitment of lock Lewis Stevenson for the 2016/17 season.

The 32-year-old from Co. Antrim joins Pat Lam's squad on the back of his second stint with Exeter Chiefs having played with the Premiership side in the 2008-09 season before a two-year spell with Harlequins.

He joined up with the Connacht squad in Dublin last night prior to today's departure for France.

Lewis Evans appointed Newport Gwent Dragons Captain

Lewis Evans has been named Newport Gwent Dragons Captain ahead of the 2016/17 season.

As he prepares for his 11th season in Dragons colours, 29 year-old Evans takes over from Thomas Rhys Thomas who captained the side last season.The popular flanker, who has made over 175 appearances for the Men of Gwent, has a wealth of experience which will add to this key role.

London Welsh name Ben Pienaar as club captain for 2016/17

London Welsh have named Ben Pienaar as club captain for the 2016/17 Greene King IPA Championship season.

Pienaar, 29, joined the Exiles in 2013 and helped the club to Championship success in his debut season, as well as playing a leading role in Welsh's British and Irish Cup success in 2015/16.

The experienced back row forward has made 59 appearances for the club, scoring five tries, since joining from Moseley.

Connacht squad depart for pre-season camp in France

There are six Academy players included in the traveling squad as well as new recruits Eoin Griffin, Cian Kelleher, Conor Carey, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Josh Rowland and Lewis Stevenson.

See traveling squad here: http://bit.ly/2b6elIW