Wednesday Evening Round Up

Daly, Fitzgerald & Lloyd the latest to sign contracts with Connacht

Connacht Rugby have announced that Tom Daly, Stephen Fitzgerald and Angus Lloyd have all signed contracts with the province ahead of 2019/20 season.

The trio had all featured for Connacht on loan periods during the current campaign and have impressed Andy Friend and his coaching team. Full story

Paul Grant to join Ealing Trailfinders at the end of the season

Bath Rugby can confirm that Paul Grant will join Championship outfit Ealing Trailfinders at the end of the season.

The 31 year-old back-rower joined the Club from New Zealand provincial side Otago in November 2016, and has made 46 appearances for the Blue, Black and White.

Tom Williams to leave Harlequins at end of season

Harlequins can today announce that current Academy Transition Coach and former player Tom Williams will leave the Club at the end of the current season to pursue a career outside of rugby.

Tom retired from playing after the 2014/15 season and joined the coaching set up to help develop and mentor talent coming through Harlequins Academy.

Aaron Smith set to return ahead of schedule

All Blacks and Highlanders scrumhalf Aaron Smith is on track to return against the Sunwolves in a fortnight.

Smith injured his ankle in round six against the Blues at Eden Park and had initially been ruled out for six weeks but looks set to beat that timeframe. Full story

12 Super Rugby players included in Junior Wallabies squad

Junior Wallabies Head coach Jason Gilmore has included 12 contracted Super Rugby players in his 32-man squad for the Oceania U20 championship on the Gold Coast.

Promising Reds utility Isaac Lucas is among the standouts in the squad that will head into camp next week in the lead-up to the Championship at Bond University with their first match against Japan kicking off on April 26. Full squad

Rugby Championship fixtures confirmed

SANZAAR has confirmed the abbreviated six-match schedule for this year's Rugby Championship including all match venues and kick-off times.

As it is a Rugby World Cup year (the tournament kicks-off in Tokyo on 20 September) The Rugby Championship is shortened to a three-round, six-match tournament from the traditional six-round, 12-match tournament with each team playing each other home or away this year. Read more