Author: Zeb Holmes
Thursday’s rugby news has big money on the table for Pocock, Cheika confident of keeping the number 7, Gill offered a flexible contract and McCaw named New Zealander of the year. [one_half last=”no”] Pocock offered massive contract David Pocock’s consideration of a one-year sabbatical from Australian rugby has been made tougher with Wasps offering the 27-year-old a lucrative multi-million-dollar deal. Pocock could become the highest paid rugby player in the world if he signs with the English side, surpassing Dan Carter. The Premiership club have contacted Pocock’s representatives with a package in excess of the £1.4 million ($Aus2.82 million) a season that Racing…
Wednesday’s rugby news has Jones going overseas, Lachie Turner switching clubs, Sean O’Brien injured and NZ and Ireland playing in the US. [one_half last=”no”] Luke Jones joining Top 14 Bordeaux-Bègles have announced the signing of Australia international second-row Luke Jones on a two-year deal. The 24-year-old will link up with the ambitious Top 14 side after the 2016 Super Rugby season, teaming up with two other Wallabies in centre Adam Ashley-Cooper and prop Sekope Kepu. Jones has won three caps for the Wallabies since making his Test debut against France in June 2014. A key figure for the Rebels in 2015, Jones was…
Tuesday’s rugby news has Folau happy to play anywhere, Goru not going overseas, Hooper’s workload questioned and England impressive. [one_half last=”no”] Folau staying at 15 The much-debated Waratahs outside centre battle is set to be won by Rob Horne, with Kurtley Beale at 12. Folau has only just returned from an ankle injury in the World Cup and will play his first match since the World Cup final when NSW take on defending champions the Highlanders in a trial on Friday at Queenstown. “At this stage I haven’t really spoken in-depth to Daryl positional wise, so I think at this stage No.15…
Monday’s rugby news has the Waratahs staying in NZ, Gill eventually making his way back to Super Rugby, Pocock not distracted and a French victory. [one_half last=”no”] Waratahs withstand earthquakes The NSW Waratahs plan to continue their Super Rugby pre-season camp on the South Island of New Zealand despite an earthquake which hit nearby Christchurch on Sunday. Coach Daryl Gibson’s side were climbing Little Mount Peel – about a two hour drive from Christchurch – when news came through of the earthquake. No serious injuries were reported this time and early reports suggested the city’s infrastructure has mostly held up. “We didn’t feel anything…
Friday’s rugby news has New Zealand off the hook, the Brumbies trying to win Pocock over, the Waratahs at full strength and mass changes for France. [one_half last=”no”] NZ Sevens go unpunished New Zealand will face no disciplinary action despite fielding eight players when the team scored a game-tying try against Australia in the Sydney Sevens. Shortly after the game, World Rugby released a statement saying the result would stand despite footage clearly showing eight players on the field at the start of the move that levelled the game at the death. “World Rugby’s misconduct process caters for unsporting actions, cheating…
Thursday’s rugby news has Pocock deciding next year in 10 days, Kurtley Beale considering overseas rugby, Foley not worried about burnout and England’s fitness challenged. [one_half last=”no”] Pocock gives short deadline Wallabies superstar David Pocock is expected to decide within the next 10 days whether to take a sabbatical from Australian rugby in 2017 to study, with ARU boss Bill Pulver saying that option is in the mix. The Brumbies’ back-rower is locked into an ARU contract until the end of this season, but is said to be weighing up a year-long move overseas to in order to study in England. Brumbies CEO…
Wednesday’s rugby news has Pocock possibly taking a year off, Gill moving to France, the Reds playing their star recruit and O’Connell retiring. [one_half last=”no”] Pocock worrying the ARU The ARU and Brumbies appear to be facing a battle to keep David Pocock as he is considering a year off from the game. Apparently the international star is looking to study in England for twelve months, which has alarmed the ARU. Pocock’s current deal expires on December 31 and with the Brumbies wanting him to remain with the franchise, some intriguing decisions await. “It creates all sorts of problems if Poey takes…
Tuesday’s rugby news has Cooper confident in his Toulon plan, the ARU looking to expand the Sydney Sevens, Dennis injured and a Six Nations update. [one_half last=”no”] Cooper aims for Las Vegas Quade Cooper is confident that he will be able to participate in the Las Vegas Sevens next month, hoping to expand upon his agreement with Toulon and the ARU. Cooper flew from France only to watch the Australian Sevens team put in a much-improved performance to narrowly come second. The agreement between Toulon and the ARU has the timing of releases to the sevens program organised so that he can also…
Monday’s rugby news has the Aussie Sevens earning a second place finish, the Women’s team defeating Ireland, the Reds losing heavily and a good start for England under Eddie Jones. [one_half last=”no”] Sevens team finishes second New Zealand has beaten Australia 27-24 in a dramatic Cup final to win the inaugural Sydney 7s title at Sydney Football Stadium. Henry Hutchinson scored two first-half tries for Australia, but in a see-sawing game the New Zealand side grabbed a late win with Rieko Ioane scoring in the corner after time had expired. Earlier, Australia qualified for the Cup final after beating England 12-7 in…
Friday’s rugby news has the Rebels defeated, Cubelli raring to go, Guilford starting for the Tahs and Ashton to miss the Six Nations. [one_half last=”no”] Rebels lose first trial The Auckland Blues have beaten the Melbourne Rebels 59-7 in the first trial match of the year at Bell Park, Auckland, on Thursday. The Blues capitalised on an inexperienced Rebels line-up with four tries in the final 20 minutes putting the game beyond doubt. Rebels coach Tony McGahan was fulsome in his praise of the Blues, saying the scoreline was a fair reflection of how they had performed. Costly errors and turnovers stifled any…
Thursday’s rugby news has Cooper on the sidelines, the Force impressive, more stringent drug testing and an All Black heading to France. [one_half last=”no”] Cooper remains a spectator Quade Cooper will reportedly be overlooked for this weekend’s Sydney Sevens tournament, with the coaches being concerned that the 58-Test Wallaby is not physically ready for the shortened form of the game. Cooper completed his first training with the Sevens squad just a few hours after his flight from France on Wednesday. In line with his current agreements about availability with Toulon, Cooper will have just two more chances to play for Australia in…
Wednesday’s rugby news has another rule change, SANZAR defending bonus points, Speight back for five games and Eddie looking for an attitude shift. [one_half last=”no”] New rule offers late drama SANZAAR’s Executive Committee has approved a number of law changes and among those long-expected will be the opportunity for teams to kick for touch after the full-time siren and take a line-out. Previously if a side opted to kick the ball out of play after the hooter, the game automatically ended. The change is one of the many new rules which attempt to continue the evolution of rugby towards a more attacking product. “Permitting…
Tuesday’s rugby news has Dennis going overseas, Cooper in contention for the Sydney Sevens, Smiler staying put and Women’s rugby rankings introduced [one_half last=”no”] Dennis signs with Exeter Waratahs captain Dave Dennis has joined Aviva Premiership title contenders Exeter Chiefs for the 2017 season. The Australia international follows Greg Holmes to Sandy Park after the Queensland Reds prop signed in December. The Chiefs announced that Dennis, who has 18 Test caps and 93 Waratahs’ caps to his name, has agreed a three-year deal. The 30-year-old has played all of his Super Rugby games for NSW since debuting in 2007 and emphasised, “I could…
Monday’s rugby news has New Zealand triumphant in the Sevens, the Aussies coming fifth, the Brumbies hit by rule changes and a poaching allegation against the NZRU. [one_half last=”no”] SBW helps NZ to Sevens win Sonny Bill Williams helped New Zealand Sevens to a 24-21 over South Africa in Sunday’s final of the Wellington leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series, defending last year’s title. New Zealand beat Kenya 33-0 in Sunday’s quarterfinals and England 22-5 in the semifinals while South Africa defeated Australia 26-14 and World Series leaders Fiji 31-0. South Africa seemed on course for victory when they led 21-7…
Monday’s rugby news has Moore clearing the air, added prop depth for the Brumbies, Stirzaker staying grounded and an update on Australian players overseas. [one_half last=”no”] Moore speaks after signing Stephen Moore has broken his silence after his surprising signing with the Reds to a three-year deal extending through to the World Cup. At the time, chief executive Michael Jones issued a critical statement that said the club moved “heaven and earth” to retain the 32-year-old. Moore admitted the chance for his children to be closer to the rest of the family in Queensland convinced him to make the move. He also decided on the…
Friday’s rugby news has Moore controversy, expectations rising for the Rebels, the WRU giving away more dual contracts and Robshaw regretful. [one_half last=”no”] Moore’s IRFU move stymied IRFU Performance Director David Nucifora has insisted that he did not block a move to Munster by Australian captain Stephen Moore and that he is not “against” the signing of foreign players in general by the provinces. Nucifora did question the signing of Test stars but said that he permitted Munster to offer Moore a contract that was turned down.”Having a player that’s still eligible to play international rugby, that’s going to cost a province a lot…
Thursday’s rugby news has a new coach for Samoa, 6 point tries confirmed at the NPC, a Sevens dilemma and Chris Robshaw ready to give up his captaincy. [one_half last=”no”] New head coach of Samoa Samoa have hired Alama Ieremia to replace coach Stephen Betham, who resigned following the World Cup. The former All Black midfield back has been appointed to lead the side after the last 18 months as an assistant including the side’s erratic World Cup campaign. Samoa were one of the top eight seeds when the draw was made for the World Cup but they managed only one win in Pool…
Wednesday’s rugby news has Pulver wary of the Argentinians, a Reds signing, Eddie Jones considering an unconventional choice for captain and Halfpenny given a contract ultimatum. [one_half last=”no”] Pulver worried about Jaguars ARU boss Bill Pulver has admitted that he is nervous of Argentina’s Jaguares, who will join the expanded Super Rugby competition next year. Argentina performed well in this year’s Rugby World Cup in England where they claimed fourth spot and many of the squad will feature for the Jaguares. “We’re nervous that Argentina could win the damn thing,” Pulver said. “They have a lot of their Test players in this Super Rugby…
Tuesday’s rugby news has a Wallaby prop leaving Super Rugby, Larkham investing in junior development, the Sunwolves getting their act together and Richie McCaw making a movie. [one_half last=”no”] Holmes heading overseas Exeter have signed Queensland Reds’ Australia prop Greg Holmes on a two-year contract from the summer of 2016. The 32-year-old has spent his entire career at the Reds, playing 130 times for the club in 11 years, while also earning 24 Test caps. “Greg has been one of the Reds’ unsung heroes over the last decade and holds a special place within Queensland Rugby,” Queensland’s Executive General Manager Daniel…
Monday’s rugby news has Moore looking at another World Cup, Giteau to lead Toulon, Burgess back at league and new statistical analysis of the RWC just passed. [one_half last=”no”] Moore sets sights on World Cup Stephen Moore has said that he is aiming for another World Cup appearance after signing a three-year deal with the ARU, commencing in 2017. The 32-year-old said that his age may be a factor in future Test inclusion but he emphasised his desire to be part of a revival of Australian rugby under coach Michael Chieka that saw the team narrowly miss out on a World Cup…