Thursday Evening Round Up

Harlequins extend Coaching Team contracts

Harlequins has today announced contract extensions for Director of Rugby John Kingston, Head Coach Mark Mapletoft and Forwards Coach Graham Rowntree.

In his first season as Director of Rugby, Kingston lead Harlequins to the Club’s highest Premiership finish in three years and secured European Champions Cup rugby at The Stoop for the first time since the 2014/15 season. Full story

Sharks injury update

Sharks prop Coenie Oosthuizen is set to miss the entire Super Rugby season because of the knee injury he suffered during the Springboks' end-of-year tour. 

The 28-year-old tore ligaments in the Springboks' match against Ireland in November. Oosthuizen will also be unavailable for the June international window when England visit South Africa for three Tests. Full story

8 uncapped players named in England Squad for Six Nations opener

 
Jones has selected 8 uncapped players while there are 898 caps between the other 27 players in the squad.
 
21-year-old Harlequins prop Lewis Boyce is called up for the first time following club teammate Joe Marler receiving a six-week suspension last week. The 2016 World Rugby U20 Championship winner is in his first season at the west London club having signed from Yorkshire Carnegie.

Gary Graham (Newcastle Falcons) is retained having been involved in the England setup for the first time earlier this month in Brighton and Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs) recieves his first call up into the senior squad.

Chiefs duo sign new deals

Mitch Lees and Ian Whitten have committed their futures to the Exeter Chiefs.

Just days after long-serving fly-half Gareth Steenson put pen to paper on a new three-year contract, two of his club-mates have followed suit by agreeing similar terms that will keep them at the club until 2021. Full story

Olly Cracknell signs new 2-year deal

Ospreys have announced that flanker Olly Cracknell has signed a new two-year deal with the club.

The 23-year old is one of the PRO14’s in form back rowers this season has agreed a deal that ties him to the Liberty Stadium until summer 2020. Read more

Duane Vermeulen to leave Toulon

Duane Vermeulen will leave Toulon at the end of the season and return to South Africa with the Stormers reported to have secured his services ahead of the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

Club owner, Mourad Boudjellal, confirmed the departure and the influential No. 8 is now expected to sign a dual contract with SA Rugby and WP Rugby. Read more

Ireland Squad Revealed for 2018 Six Nations

The uncapped Jordan Larmour has been named in the 36-man squad which also includes Chris Farrell and Bundee Aki, who won their first caps in the Guinness Series in November.

There are a number of players unavailable through injury: Finlay Bealham, Jamie Heaslip, Sean O'Brien, Rhys Ruddock, Tommy O'Donnell, Luke Marshall, Garry Ringrose, Jared Payne and Craig Gilroy as well as Niall Scannell who is due to return to action in the coming weeks. Full squad

Jones excited by England potential