Monday Morning Round Up

Monday Morning Round Up

Joseph drops out of All Blacks race & re-signs with Japan

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The Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) has today announced that coach Jamie Joseph has signed a new deal with Japan, taking him through to the end of 2023 and another World Cup cycle.

The former Highlanders coach had been considered a frontrunner for the All Blacks coach role but the JRFU made their desire to keep Joseph public, declaring they had an offer to table for him. Full story


Ireland set to reshuffle coaching ticket in new era


Ireland look set to reshuffle their coaching ticket in the new era under Andy Farrell following Joe Schmidt’s departure as head coach.

 
 

Andy Farrell has been working as Ireland’s defence coach since arriving back in 2016 but he looks set to give up his defence duties in order to fully focus on his new role as the new man in charge.

According to The42, Farrell will no longer be a “hands-on defence coach” with forwards coach Simon Easterby set to fill that role going forward, allowing the former Rugby League man to focus “more broadly” on running the entire ship. Full story

O’Shea steps down as Italy coach

Conor O’Shea has officially brought his stint in charge of Italy to an end after Italian Rugby announced that he would vacate his role with immediate effect.

The Irishman was appointed as Italy head coach in 2016 on a four-year-deal which should have seen him through until May 2020.

However, Italian Rugby Federation president Alfredo Gavazzi informed the federal council that O’Shea would be leaving with immediate effect. There are rumours that O’Shea has a new role line up with the English RFU. Full story

 

Welsh international linked with Bristol Bears - reports

Pat Lam is looking to build a squad which can compete in the Premiership and Champions Cup and is reportedly looking into Wales and Lions flanker Justin Tipuric.

The Bears might already have one of the best backrows in the Premiership but the latest reports from the Rugby Paper suggest that director of rugby Pat Lam is looking to add one of the top opensides flankers in the world to his squad next season. Full story

Samu Kerevi wants to ditch Wallabies and feature for a Pacific Island side in 2023

Wallabies vice-captain and star centre Samu Kerevi has made the bombshell revelation that he wants to play for Fiji at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

The Fijian-born centre was speaking at a lunch in his homeland and his comments were reported by the Fiji Sun .

Kerevi is about to take up a three-year contract with Suntory Sungoliath in Japan which makes him ineligible to play for the Wallabies under Rugby Australia’s current rules, something Rugby Australia are reviewing and could change. Full story

Saracens set to accept 35-point deduction and £5-million fine - reports

Saracens won’t prolong the salary cap scandal by appealing their sanctions, according to the British media reports.

The Daily Mail and The Sunday Times have reported that the Sarries are set to accept their 35-point deduction and the fine of over £5-million (US$6.5-million) for breaching the Premiership Rugby salary cap for the last three seasons. 

This means if Saracens accept the 35-point deduction they will now be left on -22 points on the log, 26 points away from the Leicester Tigers, who are currently bottom of the Premiership table. Full story

 

Champions Cup Team of Round One

After a pulsating opening round of the Champions Cup, we have selected our team of the week.

   



All Blacks 7s stars sign back on

Dylan Collier, Tone Ng Shiu and Andrew Knewstubb have all recommitted until 2021.
 
 
 
2019 John Eales Medallist: Marika Koroibete
 
 
 
 

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