Thursday Evening Round Up

Edinburgh sign Jaco van der Walt

Edinburgh Rugby have signed South African playmaker Jaco van der Walt.

The 23-year-old former Lions star will join the squad before they set-off for Bloemfontein and will be available for selection immediately having signed a two-and-a-half-year deal.

Tom Croft Hangs Up His Boots

Tom Croft has confirmed his retirement from professional rugby with immediate effect.

The Leicester Tigers, England and British & Irish Lions forward has been forced to retire on medical grounds.

Rieder extends Wasps stay

Alex Rieder has joined Ashley Johnson and Tom Cruse in re-signing with Wasps.

Rieder enjoyed a standout 2016/17 campaign, making 20 appearances and scoring his first try for the club against Exeter Chiefs in the 35-35 draw at Sandy Park in February.

Springboks make 10 changes for French Test

Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has made 10 changes to the match-23 for Saturday’s second Test in the Outgoing Tour against France in Paris, which include starts for experienced No 8 Duane Vermeulen and flyhalf Handré Pollard.

Coetzee also handed a first Test start to prop Wilco Louw, while Francois Venter has been selected at inside centre. The Springbok coach also made several positional changes to the match day squad that lost to Ireland in Dublin last weekend.

Guy Noves names an unchanged starting XV to face South Africa

Guy Noves has retained his starting XV that played against the All Blacks last weekend to face South Africa on Saturday. 

Uncapped loosehead prop Sébastien Taofifenua takes his place on the bench after Raphael Chaume was ruled out through injury.

Scotland make two changes to face New Zealand

The changes come in the forward pack, where prop Zander Fagerson and back-row Cornell du Preez have been promoted from the bench in place of injured pair WP Nel and Ryan Wilson. It will be du Preez’ first start for Scotland.

Nel was ruled out of the autumn series at the beginning of the week, having fractured his arm in Saturday’s win over Samoa (44-38), while Wilson has failed to recover sufficiently from a shoulder injury sustained in the same game.

Wallabies squad to face England

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has named an unchanged team for Saturday's clash with England at Twickenham.

Lopeti Timani is the sole addition to an extended bench with the reserves to be finalized on Friday. 

England Team to Play Australia

Eddie Jones has named his side to face Australia in England’s second game of the Old Mutual Wealth Series (KO 3pm, Sky Sports).

Jones has made four changes to the side that defeated Argentina 21-8 on Saturday.

Ireland make 13 changes to face Fiji