Monday’s rugby news has a new Rugby 10s tournament, Foley injured, Cooper still a Kiwi and Kaino suspended.
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Rugby 10s coming to Brisbane
Plans are well advanced for a million-dollar 10-a-side rugby tournament to be launched in Brisbane from next year, with all 10 provinces from the NZRU and ARU agreeing in principle to the tournament. At this stage, South African provinces will not be involved.
The remaining teams will be invitational outfits from the Asia-Pacific region, most likely from Japan, Tonga and Fiji. Matches would be 10-a-side played over 10-minute halves, and be staged at Suncorp Stadium, with the winner will pocket around $250,000 in prizemoney and all teams receiving a $100,000-plus windfall just for taking part.
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Foley injures shoulder
The Waratahs have suffered a major blow ahead of next weekend’s Super Rugby kick-off, with five-eighth Bernard Foley ruled out for up to a month with a shoulder injury. Foley, playing his first trial for NSW this year after returning from a stint in Japan, was hurt in a tackle against the Highlanders in Queenstown on Friday night.
Foley’s injury rules him out of the first two games against Queensland and Brumbies, and potentially the crucial round four clash against the Highlanders following their third-round bye. Kurtley Beale will take over at No.10 for NSW in place of Foley, with Matt Carraro likely to partner him at inside centre.
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Cooper has passport issues
Quade Cooper’s dream of featuring in the Rio Olympics may be in jeopardy after it emerged that he still travels on a New Zealand passport. Australia’s strict immigration laws means the he has apparently only just qualified to apply for citizenship.
Under Olympic qualification regulations, all athletes chosen to represent a country must be a citizen of that country. “He needs to sign those documents to become an Australian citizen and get an Australian passport. Once he’s got that, then he is eligible,” Australian Sevens coach Andy Friend said.
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Kaino suspended
The Blues will start the Super Rugby season without their captain, Jerome Kaino. The NZRU has not made a formal announcement yet, but the Kiwi media reports Kaino will be suspended for a week for striking Chiefs prop Pauliasi Manu in their pre-season match in Pukekohe last Friday.
Kaino received a red card for the incident in the 50th minute of his team’s 24-12 win. Kaino claimed he was just trying to free his arm, while being boxed in a maul, but the All Blacks flank and two-time World Cup winner connected Manu flush on the jaw.
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