Friday’s rugby news has Moore controversy, expectations rising for the Rebels, the WRU giving away more dual contracts and Robshaw regretful.
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Moore’s IRFU move stymied
IRFU Performance Director David Nucifora has insisted that he did not block a move to Munster by Australian captain Stephen Moore and that he is not “against” the signing of foreign players in general by the provinces.
Nucifora did question the signing of Test stars but said that he permitted Munster to offer Moore a contract that was turned down.”Having a player that’s still eligible to play international rugby, that’s going to cost a province a lot of money. Is that the best use of the funds available, where he’s going to be missing for a large portion of the season? Probably not,” Nucifora affirmed.
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Rebels under pressure
After a franchise-best 2015 season, expectations of the Rebels are high for the upcoming Super Rugby season. Young flyhalf Jack Debreczeni has emphasised that the team is blocking out external expectations and focusing on the consistency of their 2016 performances.
“We’re not really looking that far ahead,” Debreczeni said. “I guess in the short history of the franchise I think it was our most successful year, but in the schemes of things we finished 10th, so there is still a lot to build on and we’re still a long way away from where we want to be.”
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WRU giving more dual contracts
WRU chairman Gareth Davies is hopeful that more players will sign national dual contracts, with this set-up designed to prevent Test stars from playing their rugby overseas. Leigh Halfpenny is rumoured to be in talks about returning to Welsh rugby on a dual deal while both Alun Wyn Jonesand Rhys Webb are renegotiating their contracts which expire at the end of the season.
“If there’s a chance to get players like Leigh Halfpenny or if we have to look to keep players like Alun Wyn Jones in Wales, then we have to consider that seriously,” Davies said. Dual contracts are 60% funded by the WRU and 40% by the regions, currently accounting for 17 Welsh players.
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Robshaw regrets penalty decision
For the first time since the Rugby World Cup, England captain Chris Robshaw has reflected on his bizarre call in what would become the home nation’s pivotal loss to Wales. Trailing 25-28 in the final minutes of the pool match, Robshaw ignored the opportunity to tie the game with a potential three points, instead using the penalty to kick for the corner to set up a line out and the win.
“If you had a time machine you’d go back, but unfortunately we don’t and you just have to get on with it,” Robshaw said, emphasising that he was still lamenting England’s World Cup exit months later and knows that some of the hurt will always linger.
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