Wednesday Afternoon Round Up

Ole Avei boosts UBB squad

Bordeaux-Bègles have announced that Samoan international hooker Ole Avei has signed a contract extension at the Top 14 club.

The 33-year-old, who has claimed 24 caps for his country, puts pen to paper on a new two-year deal that will keep him in France until 2019.

Henry Purdy signs new Gloucester deal

Gloucester Rugby are delighted to confirm that versatile back Henry Purdy has agreed a new deal with the club, beginning from the 2017/18 season.

The Oxford-born flyer,  who joined the Cherry and Whites from Leicester Tigers in the summer of 2014, has gone on to become a key part of the squad, impressing greatly in 45 first team appearances to date.

Humphreys pens new Warriors deal

Young back Perry Humphreys has committed his future to Warriors by signing a new deal with the Club.

After joining the Warriors Academy in 2014, the 22-year-old burst onto the first-team scene as he was handed his debut on the wing against Rotherham Titans in the Championship.

The paceman continued his growth in the 2015/16 campaign, featuring in the European Challenge Cup and was once again a key member of the Cavaliers squad, scoring six tries before being rewarded with a first-team contract in February 2016.
 

Gloucester confirm new contract for Billy Burns

Gloucester have confirmed that fly half Billy Burns has agreed terms on a new deal with the Cherry and Whites, extending his current contract which was due to expire at the end of the current season.

Since his debut five seasons ago, the young playmaker has made over 50 appearances in the Cherry and White jersey, starting the first five Premiership games of the current season.

Craig Willis banned for 4 weeks

Newcastle Falcons fly-half Craig Willis has been handed a four-week suspension by the RFU disciplinary panel after he was found guilty of 'tip-tackling' Saracens centre Nick Tompkins during their recent Anglo-Welsh Cup clash.

"The tackle started off legitimately, it being a technique he is specifically coached to carry out, however it did not end up as intended and having lifted the player off the ground the first point of contact between the Saracens player and the ground was the top of the shoulder. There was no injury caused," read the RFU discipline panel statement.

"The panel followed the World Rugby memoranda for tackles of this nature and increased the low end entry point of 4 weeks by 1 week. A number of mitigating features enabled the panel to reduce the sanction by 1 week but not 2 as he did not accept the referees award of the red card."

Mano Lemeki ruled out of Wales test

Winger Lomano Lemeki has pulled out of Japan's squad for their remaining internationals in November with an unspecified injury.

Lemeki scored two tries in Japan's 28-22 victory over Georgia in Tbilisi last weekend and will miss matches against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday and against Fiji in France on Nov. 26.