Monday Afternoon Round Up

All Blacks squad for Argentina and South Africa

The All Blacks squad to tour Argentina and South Africa for the last two Tests of the Rugby Championship has been finalised.

Loose forward Sam Cane and first five-eighths Aaron Cruden will stay in New Zealand as they recover from injury.

Meanwhile, loose forward Jerome Kaino, who hurt his shoulder in the Test against South Africa on the weekend, will miss the Argentina leg of the trip to continue his rehabilitation in New Zealand, and will join the squad in South Africa.

See full traveling squad here

Ashton faced with biting accusations

Saracens winger Chris Ashton has been accused of biting the hand of Northampton prop Alex Waller in Saturday’s game.

The incident was not reviewed at the time but replays showed the clash between the two players.

“I haven’t seen the incident. These things will run their course. I suppose there is a good chance that Chris will be cited as a result, so we will see what happens,” said Saracens rugby director Mark McCall when asked about the incident.

5 Springboks released for Currie Cup duty

Allister Coetzee has announced that 5 Bok players will be released to the provinces this week.

Malcom Marx, Lwazi Mvovo, Rudy Paige, Trevor Nyakane and Bongi Mbonambe will all return to their Currie Cup sides this week. 

Faf de Klerk, Juan de Jongh, Oupa Mohoje & Vincent Koch were requested not to be considered for Currie Cup action this weekend citing high work load.

The updated Springbok Squad for the remaining Rugby Championship games will be announced later this week.

Top League Round Up

Panasonic Wild Knights’ hopes of making it four straight Top League titles took a big hit Saturday as they fell to their second defeat of the season.

The Panasonic pack were shattered by Suntory Sungoliath, who ran in six tries to win 45-15 for their fourth straight victory of the season.

Suntory is one of just two teams yet to face defeat this season, the other being Yamaha Jubilo, who top the standings with 19 points, one more than Sungoliath.

See full results here

Jordie Barrett joins Hurricanes

Jordie Barrett has signed a two-year deal to play for Hurricanes and will join his brother Beauden in Wellington for the 2017 and 2018 Super Rugby seasons.

The 19-year-old will become the third member of the Barrett family to play for the Hurricanes after his father Kevin and older brother.

He was a member of the New Zealand Under 20s team at the 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championships in England and will again be available for the national age grade squad in 2017.

Niall Morris Retires from Rugby

Leinster Rugby have confirmed that utility back Niall Morris has been forced to retire from the game due to injury.

"Unfortunately my ankle, which I fractured and dislocated in an incident against Bath in May 2015 and have rehabbed for 15 months wasn't right after the Gloucester game, so I decided to seek further opinion and in the end I've been left with no choice but to retire from professional rugby.

"While at 28 I'm disappointed that my rugby career has come to an end, having completed a degree in Business and Legal Studies at UCD and recently passed CFA Level 1, I feel I am well positioned to make what is a difficult transition and I am excited about what lies ahead," commented Morris.

Before re-joining Leinster in the summer Morris played 75 times for the Leicester Tigers scoring 18 tries in his five seasons.

The former Blackrock College student joined the Premiership side from Leinster in 2011 having played on eight occasions for his home province scoring three tries in four starts in the Celtic League.