Thursday Afternoon Round Up

Cornal Hendricks joins Bulls for medical and fitness testing

The Blue Bulls have announced that former Springboks and Springbok Sevens winger, Cornal Hendricks, has joined the Bulls for medical and fitness testing.

Hendricks will train with the Pretoria franchise and undergo a number of medical tests and if all results are positive, will possibly join the Bulls for the upcoming Super Rugby season.

The winger, who played Super Rugby for the Cheetahs and scored five tries for the Springboks in 12 tests, has been inactive since a medical condition was diagnosed early in 2016.

Ospreys lose Walker for the season

Ospreys Medical Performance Manager, Chris Towers, has confirmed that Wales and Ospreys winger Eli Walker will be out for the rest of the season due to injury. Walker sustained a foot injury in the Anglo-Welsh Cup win against Cardiff Blues in November and a back injury has delayed his return. 

Towers made this statement concerning Walker:

“The back injury Eli sustained at the end of December has failed to settle and, as a result, the decision has been made to proceed, and manage him, surgically.

“As a result, he will take no further part this season.”

Nonu extends Toulon stay

New Zealand centre Ma'a Nonu has signed a one year contract with French club RC Toulon. His contract will now keep him at the club until June 2018.

Nonu has played for the All Black 103 times and joined Toulon in November 2015 having won back to back World Cups with the All Blacks.

Nonu's form has improved this season in France compared to last and has scored three tries in 19 games in all competitions for Toulon. 

Mermoz joins Falcons

Newcastle Falcons have announced the short-term signing of French centre Maxime Mermoz. 

Mermoz joins the Flacons on the back of a short-term deal at Leicester Tigers, he has 35 test caps behind his name and has played top flight rugby for over a decade.

Dean Richards, Director of Rugby, had this to say following the capture of the experienced Frenchmen: 

“We have been working hard over a long period of time to make this move happen and we are delighted that a player of such proven calibre is keen to play a key role in the ambitious plans we have for the club.

“The fact that he will spend the back half of this season with Leicester Tigers is ideal in the sense that he will already be accustomed to Aviva Premiership rugby by the time he arrives with us in the summer, and we are excited by what he will bring to the group.”

“He is a very intelligent centre who runs great lines, he has fantastic handling ability and his understanding of the game is first class.

 “It is no coincidence he has won major trophies with every club he has been at, and the fact we have been able to attract a player of his standing in the game says a lot about the regard in which the Falcons are held at the moment.”

Mermoz had this to say on his arrival:

“I am really happy to join the Falcons and I have been attracted by the ambitious plans of this historic club, which was the starting point of my former team-mate and legend Jonny Wilkinson.

 "I expect to share my experience and bring my contribution to achieve the ambitious goals of the team. But I also come to learn and experience something new, and to enjoy my passion in an environment and culture deeply different from what I have known in France.

 "This is a big challenge, but really exciting and motivating. I love it, I feel grateful and want to pay back the trust shown in me by Newcastle Falcons.”

 

Louis-Benoît Madaule joins Toulouse

Toulouse have confirmed that 28-year old Bordeaux-Begles captain, Louis-Benoit Madaule, will be joining them at the end of the season.

Madaule will bring some versatility to the Toulouse pack as he can play in the second and back row. 

Toulouse have added Madaule  to the list of players that will join them next season, which includes Zack Holmes (La Rochelle), Antoine Dupont (Castres), Cheslin Kolbe (Stormers) and Charlie Faumuina (Blues).

Lionel Beauxis released from Bordeaux contract

Lionel Beauxis has been released by Bordeaux with immediate effect to join the Lyon, where he signed for the next two seasons from July 1, 2017.

"We have a lot of injuries this season and have been looking for a medical joker a long time ago," said the Lyon team.

 ''It was clear that we had to seize this opportunity and sign Lionel for the end of the season."

 The 31-year-old will participate in his first training next Tuesday at the club.

Damian Welch signs for Cardiff Blues

Cardiff Blues have confirmed the signing of Damian Welch ahead of the 2017-18 season.

His signing comes just a day after Cardiff Blues brought Jack Roberts back to Wales from Leicester Tigers and he is the second second-row to join, following Franco van der Merwe.

“I’m really looking forward to going back to a club which pretty much started my professional career," said Welch.

“It’s great to be heading back and Danny had a big bearing. He was my coach at Cardiff RFC so I’m really excited about working with him again."

The versatile forward came through the ranks at Wales’ Capital Region and worked with Danny Wilson at Cardiff RFC before making his name at the Scarlets.

Schalk Ferreira to skipper the Southern Kings in 2017

Southern Kings coach Deon Davids has announced the side’s team captain for the upcoming Super Rugby season. Davids named the experienced prop Schalk Ferreira as the captain for 2017.

The prop has previously featured for French club, Toulouse, between 2013 and 2015. He also represented the SA Schools team in 2001, SA under-19 and under-21 sides in 2003 and 2004, and also gained a cap in a World XV side in 2014.

The Southern Kings begin their Vodacom Super Rugby clash with an encounter against Argentinean side, the Jaguares, on 25 February 2017.

Tom Brown re-signs with Edinburgh on a two-year deal

Edinburgh Rugby cap centurion Tom Brown has re-signed with the club on a two-year deal, which will see him remain in the capital until at least May 2019.

“My focus has always been on playing for Edinburgh, and it’s a privilege to represent my hometown each time I take to the field," said Brown.

“The club has come a long way since my first cap in 2010 in terms of development both on and off the field. There’s a strong team culture within the group just now and we are all determined to continue taking the club in the right direction."

The 26-year-old signed his first professional contract with the club in 2010, making his debut that same year against Cardiff Blues.

He has since amassed 104 Edinburgh Rugby caps, scoring 85 points through 17 tries.

Jonathan Hill has been banned for two weeks

Exeter Chiefs lock Jonathan Hill has been banned for two weeks after he plead guilty for striking Wasps hooker Ashley Johnson in the Aviva Premiership match between the two. 

“The contact to Ashley Johnson’s head was reckless but caused no injury. In line with the new sanction table Judicial Officers are required to apply a mid-range entry point," said Daniel White, the Judicial Officer. 

Hill was given credit for his guilty plea and clean record and will be available to play again on the February 28.

Saracens sign Tom Lindsay on short-term deal

Saracens have confirmed the signing of former England Saxon hooker Tom Lindsay,29, from Gloucester. Lindsay will provide depth in the absence of Scott Spurling , who has a knee injury and is ruled out for the rest of the season.

Lindsey is a former Wasps player and recently played for London Scottish in the Championship.

Saracens Director of Rugby Mark McCall said:

“With Scott Spurling’s injury and having Jamie George away on international duty we’re low on hookers, so we’re very happy to bring Tom into the group. Tom is an experienced Premiership player and he’ll provide quality back up to the likes of Schalk Brits and Jared Saunders.”

Robson to retire as Saints chief executive at end of season

Northampton Saints has today announced that Allan Robson will be retiring as the club’s chief executive at the end of the 2016/17 season.

“Allan has been an excellent chief executive,” said Saints chairman Tony Hewitt.

“As a club we have been reliant on generating our own income to grow our operations. Year after year we have grown our turnover and when you consider that his time as chief executive also included a significant recession and a relegation a decade ago this has been a significant achievement."

Robson has been at Franklin’s Gardens for nearly two decades, joining as commercial director in 2000 and then stepping up to chief executive in 2006. In that time he has led the most commercially successful organisation in the Premiership, one which recorded profits for 16 successive seasons.

THe Saints have already begun the recruitment process for a new chief executive.

Reece Hodge re-signs for Australian Rugby until the end of 2020

Reece Hodge has re-committed to Australian Rugby and the Melbourne Rebels, signing through until the end of 2020.

“There were a few factors in the decision but the young tight knit playing group we have down here (in Melbourne) was definitely one of the reasons why I re-signed with the Rebels,” Hodge said.

“Being a part of the 2016 Wallabies squad with so many new faces felt like the start of our journey towards 2019 and it’s something that I really want to be a part of going forward.

“I know it will take a lot of hard work and consistent form to get there but just to have the opportunity to be playing rugby in Australia and striving towards that goal of playing for the Wallabies at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan is awesome.”

Hodge started nine of his 10 Tests in 2016, notching up two tries as well as two monster penalty kicks from his renowned booming right boot.

The versatile back now becomes the first Wallaby to re-sign beyond the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Sharks announce Super Rugby squad & touring squad

Sharks Head Coach Robert du Preez has announced his final 45-man Super Rugby squad as well as a 27-man touring squad, who will leave for Australia on Saturday afternoon.

Du Preez selected four uncapped Super Rugby players to join the touring squad, namely Stephan Coetzee, Jean Droste, Sbu Nkosi and new signing Jacques Vermeulen.

Joining them in the touring squad are the other new signings Kobus van Wyk, Jeremy Ward and the highly experienced French international Clement Poitrenaud.

Sharks’ 27-man touring squad

Forwards: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Coenie Oosthuizen, Etienne Oosthuizen, Franco Marais, Jacques Vermeulen, Jean Droste, Jean-Luc du Preez, Juan Schoeman, Lourens Adriaanse, Philip van der Walt, Ruan Botha, Stephan Coetzee, Stephan Lewies, Tendai Mtawarira, Tera Mtembu, Thomas du Toit

Backs: Andre Esterhuizen, Clement Poitrenaud, Cobus Reinach, Curwin Bosch, Jeremy Ward, Kobus van Wyk, Lukhanyo Am, Lwazi Mvovo, Michael Claassens, Pat Lambie (captain), Sbu Nkosi

Sharks’ 45-man Super Rugby squad

Forwards: Beast Mtawarira, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Coenie Oosthuizen, Daniel du Preez, Etienne Oosthuizen, Franco Marais, Francois Kleinhans, Hyron Andrews, Jacques Vermeulen, Jean Deysel, Jean Droste, Jean-Luc du Preez, John-Hubert Meyer, Juan Schoeman, Keegan Daniel, Khaya Majola, Lourens Adriaanse, Philip van der Walt, Ruan Botha, Stephan Coetzee, Stephan Lewies, Tera Mtembu, Thomas du Toit

Du Preez concluded by stating: “There are a lot of players in our 45-man squad who are definitely going to be in the mix going forward. There is great depth, but unfortunately only 27 players can tour."