Friday Round-Up
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Afeaki to retire: Chiefs prop Ben Afeaki has announced that he is to retire from the game immediately. The 27 year old suffered a concussion in February in Round 1 of Super Rugby and has not played since, upon medical advice he will now retire from all rugby. The prop featured for the All Blacks once against France in 2013 and has played 36 times for the Chiefs. Afeaki received a very emotional haka from his team mates after informing of them of his decision with coach Dave Rennie saying it was one of the most passionate and emotional haka's he had ever seen.
Burger banned: Saracens' Jacques Burger has been given a one week ban from the EPCR after his hit on Maxime Machenaud in last Sunday's Champions Cup game in Paris. Burger pleaded guilty to the offence of striking with the disciplinary panel saying Burger was reckless and the incident warranted a red card, hitting him with a two-week suspension. However, it was reduced by a week on account of his guilty plea and early expression of remorse. Burger will now miss Saracens crucial tie with Leicester at the weekend but is free to play in Saracens' European semi final against Clermont Auvergne.
Dan Hayes