Wednesday Evening Round Up

Matt Healy extends his contract with Connacht

Connacht Rugby have confirmed that record try scorer Matt Healy has extended his contract with the province up to the end of the 2019/20 season. 

Healy recently became Connacht’s top try scorer when he ran in two tries against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. Full story

Lawes and Hughes to go undergo knee surgeries

Nathan Hughes (Wasps) and Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints) will both undergo knee ligament surgery this week following injuries sustained during England’s Six Nations fixture against France.

Hughes is expected to be out for 12 week while Lawes will require 14 weeks of rehabilitation.

Monty Ioane re-signs with Benetton

Benetton have announced that Monty Ioane has signed a new two-year deal with the club. 

The Melbourne-born flyer has scored 9 tries in 10 appearances since signing with the side from the Bay of Plenty Steelers. Read more

Six Nations: Scotland make 5 changes to starting team to face Italy

Wing Tommy Seymour has recovered from the back injury that ruled him out of last weekend’s loss against Ireland, to replace Blair Kinghorn (who returns to the bench).

Nick Grigg also comes into the backline for his first Six Nations start, alongside club mate Huw Jones, in place of Pete Horne who also joins the replacements.

Townsend has made three further changes to the pack, with hooker Fraser Brown, prop Willem Nel and lock Tim Swinson all promoted from the bench in place of Stuart McInally, Simon Berghan and Grant Gilchrist.

Roberts to join Bath Rugby at the end of the season

Harlequins & Wales centre Jamie Roberts will join Bath next season after turning down a move to the Japanese Top League in order to keep his 2019 Rugby World Cup hopes alive.

Capped 94 times by Wales, Roberts featured in the 2009 and 2013 British & Irish Lions tours and will arrive in the West Country following three years with Harlequins. Full story

Crotty & Whitelock in doubt for Highlanders clash

The Crusaders are sweating on the fitness of Sam Whitelock & Ryan Crotty to come through concussion protocols ahead of Saturday's game with the unbeaten Highlanders in Dunedin.

The All Blacks duo both left the field early on in Wellington as Scott Robertson's men suffered their first defeat of the season against the Hurricanes. Full story

Harlequins sign Nick Auterac

Harlequins have announced that Bath prop Nick Auterac will join the south-west London club at the end of the season.

The 25-year-old loosehead will add further strength and depth to front row options at The Stoop, which already include England props Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler and Will Collier, plus the up-and-coming Lewis Boyce – who received his first call up to the England senior squad earlier this year.

Kwagga quits Blitzboks to chase Springboks dream

Kwagga Smith has put his sevens career on hold in order to pursue his ambition to play for the Springboks.

Smith played for the Blitzboks in the first four tournaments of the World Rugby Sevens Series before returning to the Lions for Super Rugby duty. Full story

Blair Kinghorn on his first 6 Nations

Dream Team: Vancouver