Thursday Morning Round Up

Thursday Morning Round Up

Cardiff Blues duo pen new deals

Cardiff Blues dou Harri Millard and Garyn Smith have both signed new deals to remaing at the Blues.

Dynamic centre Harri Millard,  who made his regional debut against Ulster in 2016, has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Wales’ Capital Region, in which he has made 13 appearances.

Smith, who has made 81 appearances, has also signed on the dotted line, the 23-year-old has become a regular first-team member since making his debut in 2014 and played a crucial role in last season’s European Challenge Cup triumph.

Three All Blacks return for Hurricanes


Hurricanes record points scorer Beauden Barrett  is among a trio of front line players who will return to the starting line-up for Saturday's New Zealand Super Rugby derby match against the Chiefs in Wellington.



Sale Sharks sign Springbok international Lood de Jager

 

 

Sale Sharks have announced the signing of South African International Lood de Jager from the Bulls. 

Lood will join the club on a three-year contract and will arrive in Manchester ahead of the 19/20 Premiership season or if selected, after the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Read more

Chiefs front row boosted by All Black returnees

Chiefs head coach Colin Cooper has reshuffled his twenty three ahead of this weekend’s derby match against the Hurricanes at Westpac Stadium on Saturday. A new front row of Atu Moli, Nathan Harris and Angus Ta’avao will start, with Moli at loosehead shifting Ta’avao to tighthead.

 

EPCR European Player of the Year 2019 shortlist announced




The final five include players from Leinster Rugby and Saracens, who have been rewarded for the outstanding performances that have brought their clubs to next month’s Champions Cup decider in Newcastle.

Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong and Garry Ringrose are aiming to match the achievements of Leinster teammates Sean O’Brien and Rob Kearney, who won the prized individual accolade in 2011 and 2012, while Saracens’ Alex Goode and Mako Vunipola are looking to follow in the footsteps of Maro Itoje and Owen Farrell, winners in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

Ben Te'o to the Sunwolves?



Southern Kings sign Jerry Sexton

The Southern Kings have made a giant leap in their efforts of building a competitive team with the signing exciting Irish lock, Jerry Sexton.

Sexton joins the joins the Port Elizabeth-based franchise ahead of the 2019/20 season and will remain at the side at least until the end of the 2021/2022 season.

Topsy Ojo to retire at the end of the season

 
 
 
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London Irish winger Topsy Ojo is to retire from professional rugby at the end of the 2018/19 season after 16 years with London Irish.

Ojo, who this season made his 300th appearance for the Exiles against Yorkshire Carnegie, will make his farewell home appearance at the Madejski Stadium this weekend against Ealing Trailfinders. Read more

Lions CEO admits to deliberately misleading the Chiefs with late changes

Former Springbok and now Lions CEO Rudolf Straeuli has revealed to Netwerk24 that the Lions intentionally named Springboks Malcolm Marx and Elton Jantjies on the bench but they had no intention of not starting the international duo.

“It was a tactical move to announce the team like that because we wanted the Chiefs to believe they were not going to play,” Straeuli said.

“With Malcolm on the bench, the Chiefs opted to rest some of their heavy forwards. With him in the starting team we could take them on at scrum time and it worked well. The foundation for our victory was laid up front.” Full story

Munster 2019 Award Winners

Peter O’Mahony was named the Munster Men's Player of the Year at the annual Munster Rugby Awards on Tuesday evening.

The event took place at the University Concert Hall in Limerick with 11 awards presented to worthy recipients involved in professional and domestic rugby in Munster.

Centre Dan Goggin was named as Young Player of the Year and the John McCarthy Award for Greencore Munster Rugby Academy Player of the Year went to Craig Casey. Read more

Hurricanes trio pen new deals

The Hurricanes have continued to position their squad well for the future by adding three more promising players to their roster for at least the next two seasons.


Lock Liam Mitchell (23), fullback Chase Tiatia (23) and utility back Danny Toala (20) are the latest group to have signed with the club until 2021.

 

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