Thursday’s rugby news has Gill supporting Graham, Eddie Jones coaching rumours, SBW joining the Sevens and McCaw reconsidering retirement.
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Reds stand behind Graham
Reds flanker Liam Gill insists that the Brisbane-based franchise’s players are backing the reappointment of Richard Graham as the team’s coach. There has been plenty of criticism of Graham’s reappointment with former Wallaby full-back Greg Martin saying the Reds were ‘accepting mediocrity’, predicting one of the worst crowd seasons ever.
Despite finishing in 13th position in 2015 and 12th in 2014 under Graham’s guidance, Gill emphasised that the players must support their coach. ‘Richard Graham is our coach next year and the players will be in full support of that,’ Gill said at the launch of the NRC on Wednesday. ‘We can’t afford to waste another year.’
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Eddie returning to S15
Japan coach Eddie Jones is in negotiations with the Stormers to take over as their head coach for the 2016 Super Rugby season. A report in Monday’s Cape Times revealed that the former Wallabies coach will be unveiled as the new Stormers boss next week on a two-year contract.
Jones has denied the finality of these reports, as it was believed that he was going to lead hosts-Japan to the 2019 Rugby World Cup. “I am chatting with (the Stormers) but that’s the extent of it,” the 55-year-old Jones said. “I am off contract in 2015 and I’m looking at my options.”
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SBW going for gold
Sonny Bill Williams will join New Zealand’s initial rugby sevens squad for next year’s world series with designs on being part of the New Zealand Rio Olympics team. Williams is joined by All Blacks and Chiefs team-mate Liam Messam in coach Gordon Tietjens’ 16-strong squad.
Players trying to make the Olympic squad will not be expected to be involved in Super Rugby next season due to their sevens commitments, where they will be expected to play at least four of the 10 tournaments on the World Sevens circuit. All Blacks Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett and Ben Smith have also expressed interest.
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Richie weighs up retirement
New Zealand captain Richie McCaw has hinted that he might not retire after this year’s Rugby World Cup, saying “the door is open a little” to continue. The 34-year-old openside flanker, who has been carefully managed over the past two campaigns, enters the tournament on 142 Test appearances.
On the back of the Bledisloe Cup, McCaw admits that if he feels mentally and physically fresh after the 2015 World Cup, he could play on. “I haven’t shut the door totally because I wasn’t sure how I’d feel come the end of October,” he said.”There’s no doubt when you start having to watch a few games, I’ll miss it like hell.”
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