Friday’s rugby news has SBW’s return to rugby, the Brumbies saving their financial skin, two ACT players awaiting career-changing medicals and the fans name their world XV.
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SBW returning to Chiefs
Sonny Bill Williams will leave the Roosters after the 2014 NRL season and return to the Chiefs ahead of the 2015 World Cup. Williams has signed a two-year deal with the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU), also making him eligible for selection in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where rugby sevens will make its debut.
NZRU chief executive Steve Tew was delighted by the deal, asserting, ‘Sonny showed in his two years with New Zealand rugby that he is an outstanding talent and was a real asset to our game.’ Williams rejoined the NRL in 2013, winning a premiership with the Roosters before just missing out on becoming the first person to win a World Cup in both rugby codes. [/one_half]
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Brumbies almost bankrupt
The ACT Brumbies were on their way to being broke by the end of this year had the controversial sale of their Griffith training site been blocked by the ACT government, says chairman Sean Hammond. Despite their recent on-field success, the Brumbies have reported losses of $141,085 this year and $346,198 last year. Hammond said that the Brumbies may have needed to borrow funds from the ARU but thanks to the $11.375 million sale of the training site, they now have equity of more than $9 million.
But Hammond also saw that the Brumbies must return to a sustainable operating profit. The financial losses in 2013 were mainly due to a drop in Brumbies crowds and corporate hospitality on match days. [/one_half]
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Brumbies awaiting medical results
The ACT side are also hopeful that today’s medical results for Pat McCabe and Ita Vaea will deliver positive news. McCabe is on the mend after two broken neck injuries since last year. If cleared, he will return to contact training when the Brumbies resume training on January 6, making him available for the team’s pre-season games. Brumbies head coach Stephen Larkham said McCabe had been nevertheless training well. ‘His fitness, his speed, his skills have really progressed in this pre-season,’ Larkham said.
As for flanker Ita Vaea, the team are awaiting heart scans to see if he can begin training. Vaea hasn’t played since life-threatening blood clots were found in his calf before this year’s Super Rugby season. [/one_half]
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Two Aussies in fan XV
Tens of thousands of rugby fans around the world have named their 2013 IRPA Rugby World XV of the Year, featuring Wallabies Will Genia and Israel Folau. Fans voted via the Ultimate Rugby app as part of the International Rugby Player’s Associations’ first annual awards ceremony.
Fans’ World XV of the Year: Alex Corbisiero (ENG), Bismarck Du Plessis (SA), Adam Jones (WAL), Eben Etzebeth (SA), Alun-Wyn Jones (WAL), Liam Messam (NZ), Richie McCaw (NZ), Kieran Read (NZ); Will Genia (AUS), Dan Carter (NZ), George North (WAL), Jean de Villiers (SA), Conrad Smith (NZ), Israel Folau (AUS), Leigh Halfpenny (WAL).
Were the fans right? Let us know in the comments below. [/one_half]
