Friday’s rugby news has Moore switching clubs, the Brumbies disappointed, a breakdown of the ARU deal and new laws trialed in NZ.
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Moore signs with Reds
Australia captain Stephen Moore will join the Reds at the end of the 2016 season. Moore, who has 102 Wallabies caps to his name, was linked with at least five clubs overseas, including Gloucester and Munster, but he has opted to stay in Australia and has re-joined the franchise he played for from 2003 to 2008.
Moore was eligible under new ARU rules to play abroad without sacrificing the right to play for Australia. Brumbies head coach Stephen Larkham says the departing hooker will give his utmost for the franchise in his final season and has identified Josh Mann-Rea, Robbie Abel and Albert Anae as players who can step into Moore’s shoes come 2017.
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Brumbies disappointed
ACT Brumbies chief executive Michael Jones has expressed his frustration with the move, saying that negotiations with captain Stephen Moore and his management left a “sour taste” after they were prepared to lose “six players” to hold on to the Wallabies skipper beyond the 2016 season.
“We moved heaven and earth to basically get them a deal and it’s very disappointing,” Jones said. “We did everything they asked for, got them the offer against an incredibly tight time frame that was imposed by them.” Jones also said it would be up to coach Stephen Larkham whether Moore would retain the captaincy.
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ARU spreading the wealth
ARU CEO Bill Pulver said the revenue from the new AUS$285 million broadcast deal would filter down to all levels of rugby in Australia. Pulver was frank about the financial state of Australian provinces, committing $10 million a year over the next five years to help improve their positions.
“The key beneficiaries of this will be the Super Rugby clubs,” Pulver said. “They have been the recipients of slow declines in their funding in recent years and we need to direct that to them.” Broader funding details will be released with the ARU’s strategic plan in the new year, although Pulver promised to also double the funding into community rugby.
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New laws in the NPC
Rugby’s governing body, World Rugby, are planning to trial rule changes in New Zealand’s national provincial championship, with two referees one of them. The second on-field official is likely to focus on a new offside line, which will be one metre behind the hindmost foot of the breakdown.
Some of the most drastic changes will come at the breakdown, where ‘the gate’ – which prevents players entering rucks at the side – is being done away with. Further, under the new laws, a breakdown will now be formed when just one player from the attacking side is over the ball.
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