Author: Zeb Holmes
Thursday’s rugby news has the Brumbies in a funding battle, Robinson giving props, some NZ encouragement and a massive hit from an overseas Wallaby. [one_half last=”no”] Brumbies in ACT battle With the expansion of the GWS AFL team, the Brumbies have a fight on their hands to retain their current share of ACT government funding. The GWS Giants have a 10-year, $23 million deal with the government to play four home games per season, with ACT Brumbies chief executive Michael Jones emphasising that the Super Rugby franchise must work hard to justify a bigger slice of funding. “I’d like to get more…
Wednesday’s rugby news has Quade looking overseas, Hodgson staying put, Tahs sweating on Potgieter’s health and some Welsh coaching uncertainty. [one_half last=”no”] Quade linked with Top 14 Quade Cooper is reportedly being aggressively courted by Toulon, with his rugby future set to be decided in the next two weeks. Cooper is currently sidelined for eight weeks with a shoulder injury, and he will use the opportunity to visit Toulon with his manager, Khoder Nasser. It seems like Cooper’s recurrent injuries and uncertain Test standing have contributed to his desire to leave. “When there are so many things in limbo, then you have…
Tuesday’s rugby news has Cheika cleared of wrongdoing, a lengthy injury stint for key Brumbies, McCalman earning a flexible contract and New Zealand sharing the pain of a player exodus. [one_half last=”no”] No evidence against Cheika SANZAR boss Greg Peters has roundly dismissed cheating claims against Waratahs coach Michael Cheika after an investigation into an illegal half-time chat between Cheika and referee Jaco Peyper. SANZAR found no evidence that the Australian coach was trying to cheat when he inquired about scrum interpretations during the round seven clash with the Blues last month. Peters has been forced to answer claims out of New Zealand that Cheika…
Monday’s rugby news has the Tahs playmakers under pressure, the Brumbies injury toll mounting, Horwill returning and Burgess switching positions. [one_half last=”no”] Foley and Beale to step up Waratahs playmakers Kurtley Beale and Bernard Foley have faced criticism for the team’s lack of attacking spark against the Stormers this weekend, with the pair told to lift their play against the Hurricanes next match. Centre Adam Ashley-Cooper said the Waratahs did not play “smart enough footy,” against the Stormers, saying that when their primary offence was stifled the team’s directors did not do enough to “change up the point of attack.” The defeat has…
Thursday’s rugby news has Folau cleared for the Wallabies midfield, Cheika warned for his ref dealings, a shifting Reds backline and an All Blacks legend retiring. [one_half last=”no”] Folau could be pushed to centres Wallaby coach Michael Cheika has asserted that he is very much open to picking Israel Folau in the centres for the World Cup. While Cheika emphasised that Tevita Kuridrani has excelled in the Test 13 jersey, he added, “Everyone’s seen at the Waratahs he’s spent much more time in the front line, getting more involved. You’d have to think there is a possibility he might do that [for the…
Thursday’s rugby news has the ARU confident of keeping Folau, no Aussie refs at the World Cup, a struggle to organise the ANZAC test and England picking from overseas. [one_half last=”no”] Folau set for long-term The ARU are confident that they will be able to hold onto star Wallaby Israel Folau over the next three years despite the intense interest from NRL clubs. Folau will be a prime candidate for the new flexible contract models announced by the ARU which would allow for continued Test eligibility, diffusing much of the threat from overseas rugby markets. A possible three year deal could see Folau…
Wednesday’s rugby news has a boost for the Tahs, the Brumbies looking abroad, the Reds’ World Cup worries and a Sharks flanker receiving an extended ban. [one_half last=”no”] Stars add depth for Tahs The NSW Waratahs have been greeted with some positive injury news in preparation for their match against the Stormers, with Adam Ashley-Cooper (knee) and Wallaby hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau (concussion) completing a full contact training session and cleared to return to the field. Coach Michael Cheika is still taking the conservative route, with both players coming back from the bench, with Tolu Latu at no. 2 and Matt Cararro at no.…
Tuesday’s rugby news has Japanese rugby touted the lesser of the overseas exodus evils, Big Benn dismissing rest weeks, a foreign scrum warning and an All Black heading to Ireland. [one_half last=”no”] Japanese exodus the least harmful Matt Carraro has emphasised that the spate of signings with Japanese rugby offers the best scenario for Australian rugby in the face of the upcoming post-World Cup mass exodus. While saying that any movement overseas is not ideal, Carraro highlighted that the Japanese Top League is less physically demanding than other competitions and is played outside of Super Rugby and The Rugby Championship schedules. “It would be…
Monday’s rugby news has Quade’s World Cup under threat, Horwill in the doghouse, Moore giving another perspective on sabbaticals and a poor result in the Tokyo Sevens. [one_half last=”no”] Injury threatens Quade’s RWC push Quade Cooper will now be in a race against the injury clock after fracturing his right shoulder blade making a tackle in Queensland’s loss to the Rebels. Cooper has been ruled out for eight weeks, meaning that there will be only two games of Super Rugby left when he returns with the Reds out of the finals hunt. After missing the first seven rounds of the competition with an AC joint…
Friday’s rugby news has Genia’s departure confirmed, Gibson officially Tahs coach, Hunt returning to the Reds and the Crusaders resting their stars. [one_half last=”no”] Genia to French rugby Will Genia has confirmed that he will join Top 14 side Stade Francais on a three year contract after the Rugby World Cup. Genia has played for the Reds throughout his 8 year career, earning 58 Test caps in the process. “It’s a great signing and one which will strengthen our squad in a vital position,” Stade Francais president Thomas Savare said, revealing the news. The 27 year old had been linked with a move to…
Thursday’s rugby news has some Wallaby optimism, more Brumbies staying on, Richard Graham safe for now and a serious lay-off for George North. [one_half last=”no”] Wallabies on track, says Hooper Michael Hooper has emphasised that in the wake of the squad’s three-day camp in Brisbane, the Wallabies have been instilled with a firm belief that they can win this year’s Rugby World Cup. Although Australia has slipped to sixth in the world, the Wallaby captain believed his team was on the right track. “[The camp] has been a monumental move forward for us,” he said, adding, “Looking around the room at…
Wednesday’s rugby news has some Reds reinforcements, the Rebels losing Weeks, the Wallabies trying to fit David Pocock in and an exciting Six Nations suggestion. [one_half last=”no”] Gill and Hunt back at Reds The struggling Reds will be boosted by the availability of Liam Gill and Karmichael Hunt for this weekend’s match against the Rebels. Gill received a two-week ban following his wrestling-style tackle on Nic White in the team’s 29-0 loss to the Brumbies, while Hunt’s club-imposed suspension for cocaine possession has expired. Rob Simmons will also be fit for Queensland’s upcoming tour of South Africa, having recovered from a shoulder nerve injury that…
Tuesday’s rugby news has the Brumbies pleasing fans, the Tahs facing a horror schedule, ACT showing a bright future and another Wallaby heading overseas. [one_half last=”no”] Brumbies tickets go half-price The Brumbies will try to draw fans to the traditionally lowly-attended matchup with the Cheetahs this Easter long-weekend with half-price tickets. The Brumbies average almost 1000 fewer fans than their 13,387 per game average when hosting South African teams, with management hoping to offset this ambivalence with their price-cut. The preperation of the Brumbies will be hampered by the 12 missing players in camp with the Wallabies until Tuesday night. “We have…
Monday’s rugby news has the Wallabies squad meeting, Cheika scrambling for more staff, a loss in the Sevens and a major injury for the English team. [one_half last=”no”] Wallabies group meet The Wallabies squad have converged for the first formal gathering in this World Cup year. Test coaches Michael Cheika, Stephen Larkham and a 51-strong group of Australian players met in Brisbane until Tuesday for the first “Wallabies workshop”. While no training will take place, Cheika described the workshop as “mental prep.” “There’s nothing like having a sit down and having a meal together and getting to know each other and respect and obviously some…
Friday’s rugby news has a rugby code of conduct shift, changes to the Rebels, the Reds with a new attitude and O’Driscoll concerned with the World Cup officiating. [one_half last=”no”] Rugby looks to NRL for discipline The ARU is planning to institute vastly reformed disciplinary processes and is looking to rugby league as a surprising source of inspiration. The national body have been in talks with RUPA to draft a new code of conduct. The RUPA proposal purports to introduce a new charge of “bringing the game into disrepute” along with spelling out clearly defined offences and potential penalties. The ARU, on…
Thursday’s rugby news has a revised Wallabies squad, Higginbotham keeping his options open, a strange Sevens qualification situation and a confident Hurricanes side. [one_half last=”no”] Cheika revising Wallabies squad With less than six months until Australia play their Rugby World Cup opener, Michael Cheika will be forced to revise his train-on squad in light of the opening six rounds of the Super Rugby competition. Cheika will have a preliminary 50-man squad assemble in Sydney next week before taking 30 players to the UK. “The challenge is getting a good balance between giving some players who you know will be there some certainty…
Wednesday’s rugby news has a new Waratahs coach, Queensland receiving reinforcements, Cheika backing Pocock and Messam spared suspension. [one_half last=”no”] Gibson to be named head coach Daryl Gibson is expected to be promoted to the NSW head coaching job to replace Michael Cheika at the end of the current Super Rugby season. Gibson has had two successful seasons at the Waratahs, and also benefited from rival candidate Nick Scrivener’s decision to take a job offer in Japan. The Waratahs will host the Blues this Saturday, with the New-Zealand side failing to notch a victory yet this season. Wallabies Tatafu Polota-Nau will rejoin the…
Tuesday’s rugby news has a Waratah fined, Kuridrani injured, Dean Mumm coming home and Bismark suspended. [one_half last=”no”] Potgieter fined for slurs NSW forward Jaques Potgieter has been fined $20,000 by the ARU for using homophobic slurs in the match against the ACT Brumbies. The Waratahs import has apologised for the incident, saying that it was “an off-hand remark made without thought.” The ARU deemed Potgieter was in breach of the their inclusion policy and he will undergo educational and awareness training. “We take the issue of homophobia in sport seriously and want to provide a positive environment for everyone involved in rugby. Comments of…
Monday’s rugby news has a David Pocock allegation, Fardy calling for changes to video ref involvement, Quade hoping to kick the Reds into gear and a spectacular Six nations finish. [one_half last=”no”] Pocock alleges homophobic slurs Former Wallabies captain David Pocock has slammed the use of homophobic slurs in the Brumbies’ blockbuster derby against the Waratahs, alleging that “pretty aggressive” use of the word f—– was employed to sledge two different ACT players in the second half. Pocock pleaded with Joubert to take action after the separate occasions were reported to him by other ACT players. He later said that he was not interested in…
Friday’s rugby news has Cheika playing it cool, an injury blow for the Tahs, Quade back in business and a pioneering concussion study. [one_half last=”no”] Cheika unconcerned by rankings Coach Michael Cheika is not worried that the Wallabies have slipped to their lowest ever world ranking, moving to sixth with the Welsh win over number 3 Ireland over the weekend. “I will be honest: I don’t know how the ranking system works,” Cheika said. “At the end of the day, the matches are played on the day. You are ranked on the day.” In other Wallabies news, Cheika announced that he…