Monday Morning Round Up
- 2522
Ryan Crotty confirms move to Kubota Spears
Crusaders centurion and 44-Test All Black, Ryan Crotty, has announced he will leave New Zealand rugby at the end of the year, and link up with Japanese club Kubota Spears.
The long-serving Crusaders midfielder confirmed the news on Monday in Christchurch. Full story
Diaz Bonilla Ruled Out For Three Weeks
Joaquín Díaz Bonilla has been ruled out for three weeks. The starting Jaguares was injured in the home Super Rugby match against the Chiefs in Buenos Aires, being replaced in the second half by Santiago González Iglesias. Read more
Seattle Seawolves sign Joey Iosefa
The Seattle Seawolves have confirmed the signing of former NFL running back Joey Iosefa.
The 27-year-old played for the Houston SaberCats during the 2018 Major League Rugby season and appeared during the preseason for the Seawolves but most recently has been running out for the Seattle Saracens in the CDI Premier League. Full story
Saber Cats sign loose forward Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz
The Houston SaberCats have bolstered their loose forward stocks with the addition of Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz.
A blindside flanker or No8, the 22-year-old arrives from Japan where he has been playing for the NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes in the Japan Top League.
The most capped All Black halfback ever pens new deal
In a major coup for New Zealand Rugby, the All Blacks most capped number nine and second most capped Highlanders player, halfback Aaron Smith, has put pen to paper - and signed a new two-year deal with NZR and his Super Rugby side through to 2021.
30-year-old Smith made his All Blacks debut in 2012 and has been a mainstay in the national side ever since, playing 82 Tests to date. He made his Highlanders debut in 2011 and has pulled on the southern team's Super jersey 129 times. Full story
Champions Cup Team of the quarter-finals
After a sensational weekend of #ChampionsCup action, here is our team of the quarter-finals 📋 https://t.co/j9HoCeznqD
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) March 31, 2019
World Cup-winning Bok set for homecoming
World Cup-winning Springbok Francois Steyn is set to make an unprecedented move back to South Africa next season bringing an end to his stay in France. The former Sharks utility back left South Africa in 2009 to link up with Racing 92 before returning to South Africa in 2013 to rejoin the Sharks.
He would leave South Africa once again linking up with Japanese side Brave Lupus before he signed up with Montpellier joining fellow Springboks, Bismarck du Plessis, Ruan Pienaar and Jannie du Plessis. Full story
Leavy's season is over and is in doubt for the Rugby World Cup
Leinster have confirmed that openside flanker Dan Leavy will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a serious injury in the Champions Cup victory over Ulster on Saturday.
The 24-year-old was a second-half replacement for Sean O'Brien, but his outing was cut short after just 11 minutes, as he appeared to suffer a significant knee injury.
Springboks Legend Appointed Head Coach of India
Former Springbok flyhalf Naas Botha has been named as the new head coach of the India national team.
Botha is helping India to prepare for the third division Asian Rugby Championship in Indonesia, where India have been grouped with the hosts and China.
Champions Cup Top 10 | Hodgey's Howitzer!
