Friday’s rugby news has Beale injured, Speight appealing his suspension, the QRU delaying their review and an RFU betting scandal.
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Beale ruled out
The Waratahs will be without star Wallaby midfielder Kurtley Beale for their Super Rugby semifinal against the Highlanders on Saturday. Beale failed to complete training on Thursday due to a quadricep injury and will be replaced by utility back Matt Carraro who will reprise the role he took at short notice against the Reds a couple of weeks ago.
Jono Lance has been included into the reserves, with Tahs halfback Nick Phipps emphasising that the team was confident in Beale’s replacements. Phipps explained that by having Carraro at No. 12, “we would be able to play quite strongly around that centre field” while with Beale in the side “we would be able to expand a bit more.”
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Speight set to appeal
The Brumbies are considering appealing the severity of Henry Speight’s five-week suspension, in the hope it will help his chances of playing for the Wallabies at the Rugby World Cup. The Brumbies suspension is based on two grounds – the severity of the punishment and the incident’s classification as a lifting tackle.
“Even though there’s a statement that we’re trying to discourage this, why is he the guy who seems to have been singled out for what’s a particularly cruel and unusual punishment?” chief executive Michael Jones asked. Lausii Taliauli has been named as Speight’s replacement on the wing in the only change to last week’s side.
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QRU delay review
Richard Graham’s position at the Reds remains in limbo, as the QRU have failed to complete their review of the franchise. The QRU originally said the recommendations of the review would be revealed “in the second half of June”.
“I’ve not been sat down officially and told what my role is or isn’t for next year,” Graham said. “At this point of time, it’s business as usual and I’ve a contract that runs until August 31.” The calls for Graham’s dismissal have been deafening after a nine-from-32 winning rate with the Reds over the past two seasons.
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Betting scandal at Leicester
Leicester defence coach Phil Blake has been suspended for six months after being found guilty of two breaches of England’s RFU’s betting regulations. The two matches in question were Leicester’s Champions Cup game against Toulon in December and a Premiership match with Newcastle in March.
“We have imposed a sanction which we consider fair and proportionate to what he did while having due regard to the proper consideration of deterrence,” RFU disciplinary panel chairman Christopher Quinlan said. Blake was also fined 669 pounds ($1,052), the profit made on the bets placed, and an appeal against the length of his ban was dismissed.
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