Rugby Banter Page Weekly Round Up

Monday 24th November:

Barbarians Confirm 2015 Dates with Ireland & England:

The Irish Rugby Football Union and The Barbarian Football Club confirmed that they will play a match at Thomond Park, Limerick on Thursday, May 28, next year.  

The fixture forms part of the Barbarians' mid-year tour, which also features a game against an England XV at Twickenham on Sunday, May 31.

The year 2015 marks the 125th anniversary of Barbarian rugby, making its mid-year tour fixtures against the Ireland XV and England XV even more special.

Aaron Mauger to coach Leicester Tigers next season:

Aaron Mauger will be the latest New Zealand rugby coach to head offshore with the Crusaders assistant being named as the new head coach at the Leicester Tigers.

Mauger, 33, who will complete his third Super Rugby season as assistant coach with the Crusaders next season, played 53 games for the Leicester Tigers between 2007 and 2010 and captained the side for much of the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

The former All Blacks said it is a dream opportunity to return to a club that he is so fond of, in a head coach capacity.

"I have awesome memories of my time at Leicester as a player and it is a place I will very happily return to," said Mauger.

Tuesday 25th November:

Montpellier Sign Ben Lucas on Temporary Deal:

Montpellier have signed Queensland Reds utility back Ben Lucas as medical cover for injured France international fly half Francois Trinh-Duc. The French Top 14 side made the move as Trinh-Duc is out for between three and four months with a broken leg, suffered last weekend in a league match against Oyonnax.

Hika Elliot Rejoins The Chiefs:

Hika Elliot will re-join the Chiefs as a pre-season replacement for Nathan Harris when the side officially assembles on Thursday. Harris, who was initially signed to replace Elliot at The Chiefs, picked up an ankle injury in the All Blacks’ recent spring tour that will require surgery and the hooker will be expected to miss up to six months.

Wednesday 26th November:

Crusaders Versus Hurricanes Could Be Hosted in Fiji:

THE Pacific Islands may yet get a taste of Super rugby with the Crusaders considering shifting their home match against the Hurricanes to Fiji next year.

The Fiji Village website reported that planning was under way for the seven times Super Rugby champions to play the Hurricanes in Suva after a sponsor came forward to underwrite the move.

A Crusaders spokesman could not confirm the switch on Thursday, saying there were a number of options under consideration with their usual second-choice home venues of Nelson and Timaru also in the mix.

Wasps’ Daly Hit With Three Week Ban:

Wasps' Elliot Daly has been banned for three weeks for verbally abusing referee Ian Tempest in his side's 31-15 Aviva Premiership defeat at Exeter Chiefs on Saturday.

The 22-year-old centre pleaded guilty to the charge of acts contrary to good sportsmanship at an RFU hearing at London Bloomsbury Holiday Inn on Wednesday.

Daly was cited for his actions after Wasps' Sandy Park loss, and the England Under-20s will now  not be free to play again on December 16.

Thursday 27th November:

Matthew Tait Linked With Move to Bayonne:

Leicester full-back Mathew Tait will join Top 14 side Bayonne on a two-year deal at the end of the season, according to reports in France.

The World Cup finalist is being earmarked as a replacement for Scott Spedding, the newly-capped French international who is expected to depart at the end of the campaign, with Montpellier favourites for his signature.

Burgess to make Bath debut on Friday Night:

Sam Burgess is poised to make his Bath debut in Friday's Premiership clash with Harlequins at the Recreation Ground.

The 25-year-old has been named among the Bath replacements after recovering from a fractured cheekbone sustained in the NRL Grand Final last month.

All eyes will be on Burgess, who has been billed as a contender to force his way into the England squad for next year's World Cup on home soil after switching codes.

Friday 28th November:

Bath Youngster, Woolstencroft, Joins London Irish:

Bath academy hooker Tom Woolstencroft has joined London Irish on a short-term loan.

The England youth international is expected to be on the bench for the Exiles when they take on Gloucester in the Premiership on Sunday. The 20-year-old, who impressed when helping England capture the Junior World Championship title in New Zealand this year, will act as cover for London Irish, who have a hooker shortage.