Monday Round-Up

Metro sign Tales: Big spenders Racing Metro have continued their recruitment drive ahead of the coming years, with the announcement that French flyhalf Remi Tales will link up with the Top 14 outfit as of next season. Tales, currently plying his trade at Castres and earmarked as many people’s no.1 candidate to direct French operations from the 10 jersey at next year’s World Cup, has put pen to paper on what is a three year deal with the Parisian outfit. After much speculation, local radio stations and press outlets confirmed the move late last night, with Tales set to take over following the impending departure of Jonathan Sexton, who returns to Irish province Leinster after the current Top 14 and European season. Once he links up with the Jacky Lorenzetti funded outfit, Tales will become the latest in a long line of Castres players bound for Racing Metro, following in the footsteps of the likes of Marc Andreu, Brice Dulin and Antonie Claassen, all of whom left the 2013 Top 14 champions in favour of Racing. Tales is currently on international duty, as French head Philippe Saint-Andre looks to prepare his side for the november internationals.

Hansen sweats on Retallick: All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen may well be without the services of outstanding lock forward Brodie Retallick, after the Chiefs man picked up a knock to the head during New Zealand’s comprehensive 34-13 victory over Argentina in La Plata. Retallick, who has been a standout performer right throughout the Rugby Championship to date, took a significant blow to the head against the Pumas, raising concerns about his availability ahead of next weekend’s final encounter of the Championship. Head coach Steve Hansen said Retallick will be given all the recovery time necessary, before undergoing routine tests to determine his fitness ahead of next weekend’s clash with the Springboks in Johannesburg. 

Ryan Sheady