Weekly Round Up

New coach to be appointed at London Scottish

London Scottish have confirmed that they will appoint a new Head Coach to take over from Peter Richards at the end of the season.

"After a happy three years here, I felt it was time for a new challenge,” said Richards who confirmed he is looking at a number of offers from within English and from abroad.

The former England scrum-half and London Irish Academy coach joined Scottish in 2014 as Backs Coach and  took over as Head Coach a year later.

London Irish trio sign new deals

 

London Irish back row Conor Gilsenan is among three players to renew their contracts with the Championship club.

Ex-Leinster man Gilsenan, 24, captained the club in their run to the British & Irish Cup semi-final this season.

Hooker Todd Gleave, 22, and prop Harry Elrington, 23, - both academy graduates - have also committed their futures.

All three have signed undisclosed contract extensions with the league leaders.

Danny Qualter signs for Nottingham

Nottingham Rugby have confirmed the signing of lock Danny Qualter from PRO12 side Connacht, on a one-year deal.

The 25 year-old Irishman has made 14 appearances for the Connacht across the last five seasons.

Johan Ackermann named as Gloucester Rugby Head Coach

Gloucester Rugby have today confirmed the appointment of Johan Ackermann as the club's new Head Coach ahead of the 2017-18 season.

The 47-year-old former Springbok will take up his new position following the conclusion of their Super Rugby campaign.

Read more here

Gloucester duo Joe Latta and Joe Batley sign to join Bristol Rugby for 2017/18

Bristol Rugby have confirmed the signing of Gloucester second row duo Joe Latta and Joe Batley as the squad continues to build ahead of the 2017/18 season.

Read the full article here

 

Noa Nakaitaci ruled out for the rest of the season

France and Clermont wing Noa Nakaitaci has been ruled out for the rest of the season after rupturing ligaments against Toulon on Sunday.

Read more here

New Zealand centre Shaun Treeby joins Stormers on short-term contract

Stormers Rugby have confirmed that New Zealand centre Shaun Treeby has joined the club on a short-term contract as injury cover.

Treeby made his Super Rugby debut for the Highlanders in 2011 and has amassed 50 caps.

See the full story here

Jonathan Faauli suspended for 4 weeks following high tackle

Chiefs Super Rugby centre Jonathan Faauli has been slapped with a four week suspension for a dangerous tackle in his team’s victory over the Bulls.

Read more here

Saracens sign Wallaby lock Will Skelton

Saracens have confirmed the signing of Wallaby and Waratahs lock Will Skelton who will re-join the club on a permanent deal.

The 24-year old who has been capped 18 times by the Wallabies, will head back to Saracens for the beginning of the 2017/18 season.

Read more here

Check out our Super Rugby Round 6 Top Performers here

Mike Ford to leave Toulon by mutual agreement before the end of the season

After Toulon’s 29-9 Champions Cup quarter-final defeat to Clermont Auvergne on Sunday, head coach Mike Ford will not be finishing the season with the Top 14 club.

Ford's current deputy, Richard Cockerill, will be in charge of the first team. He will be assisted by Marc Dal Maso while Matt Giteau has agreed to take over the backs while continuing to play.

Ford joined Toulon initially as assistant to head coach Diego Dominguez at the beginning of the season, and was promoted to the top job in October, where he has guided the three-time European champions to fourth in the top 14.

Rob Evans signs extension at Scarlets

Homegrown talent Rob Evans has signed a contract extension with the Scarlets that will see him remain  in West Wales, for the foreseeable future.

He has won 17 international caps, named in the starting line-up on 12 occasions, after making his debut against Ireland two years ago. 

Read more here

Ihaia West ruled out for four weeks with an ankle injury

The Blues will be without fly-half Ihia West following an ankle injury that he sustained in the win over the Western Force on Saturday. 

Bryn Gatland has been called in to replace West and will provide cover for Piers Francis against the Highlanders this weekend.

 

Greig Tonks signs London Irish extension

Greig Tonks is the latest player to commit his future to London Irish, the 27-year-old has been capped six times by Scotland and is closing in on 100 points for Irish having made 38 appearances for the club since moving from Edinburgh in 2016.

Read more here

Sean Scanlon signs two-year deal at Nottingham

Nottingham Rugby have today announced the signing of full back Sean Scanlon, on a two-year deal, from Championship neighbours Doncaster Knights.

Read more here

Sam Stuart signs for Falcon

Newcastle Falcons have signed their 8th player for next season with the news that scrum-half Sam Stuart will join the club.

The 25-year-old is currently playing for Championship side Richmond and has been a regular starter, playing in all 18 of their league fixtures this season.

Read the full story here 

Bulls injury update

Conrad van Vuuren injured his ankle in training and will return home. He will be replaced by Martin Dreyer.

Arno Botha is out with a knee injury and will be replaced by Jacques Potgieter, who missed the tour due to concussion. 

Read the full injury update here 

Ojo extends contract with London Irish

Club record try-scorer Topsy Ojo has extended his contract at London Irish.

The 31-year-old, who has notched up his 80th career try and 400th point for Irish, is the first of a series of players to have penned new deals.

Full article here

Brendan McKibbin pledges his future to London Irish

London Irish have confirmed that scrum-half Brendan McKibbin has signed new terms with the club. 

The 31-year-old has scored three times for his team so far this season and admits that is was an easy decision to re-sign with the Exiles.

Read more here

Matt Faddes re-signs with the Highlanders

The Highlanders have confirmed that versatile back Matt Faddes has signed a new deal with the former Super Rugby champions.

Read the full article here

Josaia Raisuqe suspended for 10 weeks

The Stade Francais Paris wing, Josaia Raisuqe, has been suspended for 10 weeks following an independent Disciplinary Hearing in Paris on Wednesday, 5 April 2017, arising from his club's European Rugby Challenge Cup, quarter-final against the Ospreys at the Principality Stadium.

Read the full report here

 

Alex Tait has pledged his future to Newcastle Falcons

Alex Tait has pledged his future to Newcastle Falcons by signing a new long-term contract, in the week in which he hopes to play his 200th game for the club.

The 29-year-old versatile back, will reach his double century of competitive appearances if he features in Friday's Premiership match against Gloucester.

Read more here

Three Ulster youngsters commit future to club

Jacob Stockdale, Ross Kane and Rob Lyttle have all committed their futures to Ulster.  

"Jacob, Ross and Rob are outstanding talents who, even at a young age, have demonstrated their qualities for our senior team."

Read more here

 Ben Ransom commits to London Irish

London Irish's top try-scorer this season, Ben Ransom, is the latest player to have signed a new deal with the club.

The  25-year-old joined the Exiles from reigning Premiership Champions Saracens last summer having helped the north London club to three Premiership titles and a European Rugby Champions Cup.

See the full story here 

Mark Bennett ruled out for 12 months as Josh Strauss returns in 6 weeks

Mark Bennett is expected to be out of action for 9-12 months following a injury he sustained against England last month.

Josh Strauss will require a further 6 weeks of non-contact training before he can return to full training.

Read more here

 

Leinster Rugby Confirm 13 Contract Renewals for 2017/18

Leinster Rugby Head Coach Leo Cullen has confirmed that 15 players have signed new IRFU contracts with the province for 2017/18 and beyond.

Having already confirmed Jamie Heaslip and Devin Toner contract renewals, Cullen confirmed that an additional 13 contracts have been signed.

See the full list here 

Ally Miller returns to Edinburgh

London Scottish have confirmed that Ally Miller has signed a contract with Edinburgh Rugby for the 2017/18 season.

Miller has represented Scotland at age grade level from Under 16s to Under 20s, as well as featuring for Edinburgh's Under 20 side before heading down to the Richmond Athletic Ground.

Read the full article here

Lovejoy Chawatama signs extention with London Irish

Lovejoy Chawatama is the latest player to commit his future to London Irish.

The Zimbabwe-born ,24, tight-head initially joined Irish earlier this year from London Welsh until the end of the season, but has now agreed a new deal following a series of impressive performances.

Read more here

Josh McNally re-signs with London Irish

Josh McNally, 26, has signed a new contract with London Irish after initially joining until the end of the current season.

A Corporal with the Royal Air Force, McNally was an integral part of the RAF Rugby Union 1st XV, which won the Inter-Service Championship for the first time in 24 years in 2015.

Read more here

Blues sign Lee Dickson

Bedford Blues have confirmed the signing of England international scrum half Lee Dickson as a player/coach for the 2017/18 Championship season.

Dickson, 32, makes the move to Goldington Road having played 250 games for Northampton Saints since joining from Newcastle Falcons in 2008.

Read more here

SB Williams, Luatua, Gibson to return to Blues line-up against the Highlanders

The Blues have named a team that will feature the long-awaited return of Sonny Bill Williams.

Steven Luatua ,Blake Gibson  and Black Rieko Ioane all earn recalls to the starting line-up.

Read more here

Leinster re-sign entire coaching ticket ahead of 2017/18 season

Leinster have re-signed their entire coaching ticket ahead of the 2017/18 season.

 

Stuart Lancaster will remain for two more seasons as senior coach under Leo Cullen, who was reappointed head coach rather than the director of rugby title used by Ulster and Munster as Guy Easterby fulfills many of the off-field duties in his capacity as Head of Operations.

 

Scrum coach John Fogarty was rewarded with a two-year deal, while backs coach Girvan Dempsey is believed to of only signed a one-year extension.

 

Saracens performance director Phil Morrow to join Lions tour

Saracens’ performance director Phil Morrow has been recruited by Warren Gatland for the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand this summer.

Read the full article here

Glasgow Warriors have signed Bath fly-half Adam Hastings

Bath fly-half Adam Hastings will join Glasgow Warriors for the 2017/18 season. 

The 20-year-old will return to his native Scotland after two seasons with the Bath Rugby Academy, having made 15 appearances to date for the senior team.

Read more here

Glasgow Academy duo sign professional contracts

George Horne and Paddy Kelly have signed professional contracts with Glasgow Warriors, having made their senior debuts earlier this season, coming off the bench in a home game against the Ospreys. 

Both players have signed one-year deals that will see them stay at Scotstoun from next season through until at least May 2018.

Read the full article here

Ealing Trailfinders re-sign James Cordy-Redden and Luke Daniels

James Cordy-Redden and Luke Daniels commited their futures to the Ealing Trailfinders for next season.

Read more here

Super Rugby team announcements

Cory Jane returns for the Hurricanes while the Savea brothers are ruled out through injury. Sonny Bill Williams set to make his debut for The Blues, Scott Fardy leads the Brumbies in Carters abence.

Nicolas Sanchez starts on his return from suspension and the Beast back for The Sharks.

See all the line-ups here