dillyboy
Colin Windon (37)
When are we marching??So that's three of us and a couple of interns. You could nearly call that a groundswell of support! Get on board folks!
#SackDick
When are we marching??So that's three of us and a couple of interns. You could nearly call that a groundswell of support! Get on board folks!
#SackDick
Kane Douglas will be winging his way home from Ireland today as his new Super Rugby club, the Queensland Reds, moves to sort out finally who will be coaching it next season.
A tug of war between the Reds and Irish club Leinster over the Wallabies lock erupted when he requested compassionate leave to return to Australia because his fiancee was due to give birth to their first child in Brisbane. The situation became complicated when Irish rugby’s high performance director, David Nucifora, intervened but eventually permission was granted.
It is understood a contract with the Reds is yet to be signed but the QRU certainly can be thankful Douglas dropped into their laps for next season solely because his fiancee lives in Brisbane. Had she been, say, a resident of Melbourne, it would be the Rebels now celebrating signing the 14-Test lock as the star attraction along with their other key signings for their pack, All Blacks flanker Adam Thomson, Irish prop Jamie Hagan and Blues lock Culum Retallick.
The old Brisvegas Honey Trap.Key reds recruitment strategy moving forwards. Find more Brisbane based fiancés!!
> Morgan Turinui a declared candidate for Reds HC.
'Interesting' new news snippets overnight:
> Morgan Turinui a declared candidate for Reds HC
> Toulon's owner threatens to sue ARU for 'many millions of Euros' if QC (Quade Cooper) signs new deal with ARU and reneges on deal with Toulon
Keeps us amused between Tests.
The Reds yesterday decided to advertise at home and internationally for final expressions of interest for the positions of head coach and attack and defence coaches.
A decision is expected to be made in a fortnight but even so the Reds are still dragging the chain. They are the only club in Australia or New Zealand not to have made a coaching appointment for next season.
Incumbent head coach Richard Graham said he was fully across the findings of the wide-ranging review of the Reds conducted by former Wallabies second-rower Damien Frawley and would be applying. “I intend to be a part of the process for the role of head coach,” he said.
It is understood the other leading contenders are Ewen McKenzie’s former defence coach, Matt Taylor, former Leinster coach Matt O’Connor, former Lyon coach Tim Lane, and Graham’s current senior assistant coach Nick Stiles, although former Reds, Waratahs and Wallabies centre Morgan Turinui is believed to be stirring some late interest.
If the Reds are intent on keeping Graham, or indeed on letting him go, the process of calling for expressions of interest is tailor-made for making the appointment with a minimum of fuss.
Intriguingly, the head coach will be answerable to a high performance manager, so it remains to be seen exactly how the power structure will evolve.
> Morgan would be a very smart attack coach
> So Toulon's owner is threatening to sue a third party for damages (what damages? what actual loss can be claimed?, a few jersey's printed with Coopers name on the back?) over an employment contract dispute (and the contract hasn't even started yet), good luck
Toulon boss threatens to sue Australian Rugby Union over Quade Cooper's U-turn
July 23, 2015 - 6:51AM
Outspoken Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal has accused the Australian Rugby Union of dirty tactics and is threatening to sue them over Quade Cooper's U-turn with the French club.
The Reds and Wallabies No 10 was set to join the European champions after the World Cup in a lucrative deal.
But the controversial Cooper turned his back on the deal to sign a fresh four-year contract with Australia, with a clear aim to make the sevens side for next year's Rio Olympics.
Toulon are adamant Cooper had a contract with them and Boudjellal says if he doesn't honour that deal compensation could run into "millions of euros".
He accused Australian bosses of negotiating with Cooper after he had already signed with Toulon.
"They have played dirty. They are speaking to a player who they know has signed. So there is collusion there and I might sue the Australian federation to ensure our rights are respected," Boudjellal told Sud Radio.
"If Cooper doesn't come, the compensation will be in millions of euros."
"He was our first choice. The damage to our image is significant. He took a photo with us, we centred our season ticket campaign around him, his jersey is on sale. What's more, we passed on other fly-halves to get him."
Toulon have already been stung by Australia this year. They signed Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell to deals believing their international careers were over.
But Australia's decision to allow certain players based offshore back into the selection mix has seen Giteau and Mitchell return to the Wallabies squad and looking at another World Cup campaign that will eat into their availability for Toulon.
Key reds recruitment strategy moving forwards. Find more Brisbane based fiancés!!