Monday’s rugby news has a huge Pacific Island farewell to Jonah Lomu, Wallabies returning to Toulon duties, Eddie Jones warned of central contracts and a recap of Australia’s flair during the RWC.
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Pacific communities mourn Lomu
Thousands of people gathered in Auckland on Saturday for a Pacific island farewell for late rugby legend Jonah Lomu. The 40-year-old Lomu died suddenly on November 18, prompting a huge outpouring of messages from around the world for the All Black great.
Former All Blacks Tana Umaga and Michael Jones led mourners at the service which Queen Elizabeth II’s representative in New Zealand, Governor General Jerry Mateparae, said was a celebration because “Jonah’s life is worth celebrating”. “He impressed us with his courage, his humility, his grace under pressure,” Mateparae added.
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Wallabies shake off RWC defeat
Australian players Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell and James O’Connor have returned to their duties in the Top 14, with Giteau emphasising that he will be engrossing himself in Toulon’s campaign to shake off the disappointment of losing the Rugby World Cup final to the All Blacks.
“It was good experience, sad, but beautiful,” he said. “I needed a few weeks off afterwards, however. The problem was in my head.” While various international players were on World Cup duties, Toulon slumped to fourth on the Top 14 ladder, behind Clermont, Toulouse and Racing 92
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Jones warned of central contracts
Richard Cockerill has dismissed the idea of central contracts being established in English rugby. While the Leicester’s director of rugby said that Eddie Jones was the right man for the England job, on this concept, Cockerill said, “it ain’t going to happen in our lifetimes.”
Jones had previously expressed his opinion that the RFU must establish central contracts for its marquee players, similar to the Welsh rugby model. “How can you manage your players when they are controlled by other organisations?” he said in Cape Town. “In my opinion, that is the single greatest task ahead of whoever is going to be appointed as the next England coach.”
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Australia’s World Cup tries
Although the Wallabies just missed out on lifting the Webb Ellis trophy, Australia were one of the entertainers in the tournament with 28 tries. Sit back and enjoy the rejuvenated Wallabies attack.
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