Rugby Banter Page weekly round up

Monday 23rd February

Scottish Rugby Union Approach Former Kiwi League International, Locke, Regarding Code Switch:

The Scotland Rugby Union are reportedly chasing former Warriors and Kiwis fullback Kevin Locke in advance of this year's World Cup.

Locke now plays for the Salford Red Devils in the English Super League after moving there early last May .

Salford owner Marwan Koukash has given Scottish rugby bosses approval to speak to Locke, according to the Manchester Evening News.

Mark Dodson, the chief executive of the SRU, told the newspaper they planned to take up that offer.

There is speculation an offer is imminent to switch codes.

"An opportunity to speak with Kevin to discuss a move to union has merely presented itself," Dodson told the paper.

"We are now following up this opportunity. We plan to have a chat with Kevin and are ready to make him an offer if he wants to move to rugby union.

"It is down to him to decide what he wants to do. If he does, then we will take things from there."

Waratahs Hire New Chief Executive:

Waratahs chairman Roger Davis announced on Tuesday morning that Rugby Union Player's Association CEO, Greg Harris, will take up the role as Chief Executive Officer of the Waratahs.        

"The Waratahs' Board are delighted to make this announcement and welcome Greg to the Waratahs family," Davis said.

"Greg has a wealth of knowledge accumulated through an extensive set of experiences in both the sporting and business worlds - it would be fair to say that his skills, networks and previous roles are unique in the broader Australian sporting landscape, but particularly with respect to rugby.

Tuesday 24th February:

Heinz Signs With Gloucester:

Crusaders halfback Willi Heinz will be the latest New Zealander to head to England, when links up with Gloucester at the end of this year's Super Rugby season.

Heinz, 28, will join fellow Kiwis Jeremy Thrush, Tom Marshall and John Afoa at the club.

French National Team Was Embroiled In a 1980’s Drug Culture, According To New Book:

France's national rugby union team was a vast consumer of amphetamines in the 1980s including in a famous win over the All Blacks, according to a new book, "Rugby a Charges, l'enquete choc", written by investigative journalist Pierre Ballester.

"They each had their little pill in front of their plates for the meal before the match," French team doctor of the time, Jacques Mombet, is quoted as saying in the book.

Mombet said the drug taking was most obvious when France played New Zealand at Nantes in 1986, in a match called 'the battle of Nantes' for its ferocity which resulted in All Black legend Wayne Shelford being knocked out and losing several teeth in the process, and beat the All Blacks 16-3.

"The Blacks realised that their opponents, unrecognisable from the previous week, were loaded," Mombet said in the book by investigative journalist Pierre Ballester.

Wednesday 25th February:

Worcester Fear Losing Argentinian Duo, Senatore & Creevy:

With the inception of an Argentinian Super Rugby franchise in 2016, Worcester will find it difficult to retain their Argentinian duo, Augustin Creevy & Leonardo Senatore, admits the Sixways’ sides Director of Rugby, Dean Ryan.

In 2016, a Super Rugby franchise will be created in Argentina which is set to attract the country’s best players who are looking to strengthen their chances of representing Pumas.

“We have got Argentinians here who are patriotic and are caught a little bit in the middle,” Ryan said.

“You have got to understand what they are doing and you have got to understand the power of playing for your country, so it is something which is playing out at the moment.

Thursday 26th December:

Premiership Consider Scrapping Relegation:

According to reports in The Telegraph, England’s leading clubs are proposing a radical plan to expand the Premiership for the start of the 2016-17 season and then scrap promotion and relegation – which would be the biggest overhaul of club rugby since the game went professional.

It is understood that the proposal is to increase the top flight from 12 to 14 teams by a meritocratic process before dispensing with promotion and relegation, which have been a bedrock of English rugby since leagues were introduced in 1987.

The fine details of how the new league structure would come into existence and how the new fixture schedules might work have yet to be ironed out. But it is understood that the concept has the support of the majority of the Premiership clubs following a meeting of owners and shareholders on Monday.

Newcastle Falcons Sign Tongan International Takulua From Northland:

Northland halfback Sonatane Takulua has been announced as the Newcastle Falcons’ latest signing..

The 24-year-old Tongan international has been signed by the Newcastle Falcons on a deal that covers the remainder of the current English Premiership season, and the full duration of next season.

Takulua has been a key part of Northland's domestic resurgence, with the side finishing third in last year's ITM Cup.

Friday 27th February:

Wasps Announce Double Short Term Signing:

World Cup-winning scrum-half Piri Weepu and Martyn Thomas have signed with Premiership side Wasps until the end of the season.

Wasps have eased their injury worries with the signings of New Zealand World Cup winner Piri Weepu and Martyn Thomas.

Weepu was part of the All Blacks side that clinched the 2011 World Cup on home soil and has 71 Test caps to his name.

The 31-year-old will compete with Joe Simpson at scrum-half, following injuries to Charlie Davies and Jack Moates.

Weepu had been playing for fellow Premiership side London Welsh, but was released from that contract and will join Wasps ahead of his move to Oyonnax next season. 
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