Monday’s Rugby News features more Super expansion, Jarryd Hayne fulfilling his lifelong dream of making the most headlines out of anyone ever, the Rebels sweating on putting together a squad after so many injuries, and Joe Tomane getting ready to return before he buggers off to France.
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Islands Super
After Super Rugby’s solid debut in Fiji on Friday night, chatter has returned about introducing – or re-introducing, if you’re older to remember a Fiji team playing in very earliest of Super competitions a Pacific Islands team to Super rugby.
According to Gregor Paul of the NZ Herald, new Sanzaar chief Andy Marinos (appointed late last year) has set his sights on the Pacific Islands.
“The Pacific Islands have been discussed at length,” Marinos says. “We just cannot ignore that from a high performance perspective. They tick every box and, yes, very much so.
“They are part of the thinking going forward. We have got to get the Pacific Islands included into the structure. How or what it will look like, I can’t say right now. But we know there is quality there. They are almost set up and ready to go and get in there and play.”
Paul goes on to layout Marinos’ vision where a Pacific Islands team could split their time between Fiji, Samoa and possibly Auckland or somewhere in Australia.
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Hayne Plane on Tahmac?
Despite being in Tokyo the past weekend, there’s been some more chat of Jarryd Hayne joining the ranks of Australian rugby.
The chatter has erupted, mainly from the self-flagellating rugby league press, since Friday, after Hayne arrived back in Sydney on the same flight as fellow possible future rugby player Semi Radradra.
Having played for Fiji, according to both the SMH and the Daily Telegraph the Waratahs and ARU are still interested in signing the man of a thousand ambitions despite the fact he can’t turn out for the Wallabies.
Given his international status, both papers report, Wallabies players wouldn’t be happy if Hayne received top-ups from the ARU if he were to sign. In addition, if he were to play Super, Hayne would receive a measly $300,000 a year, $1 million less than he would receive if he returned to league.
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Rebels Injuries
After they collected another raft of injuries in their loss to the Stormers on Saturday, the Rebels may not have enough men to fill out a squad of 23 this coming weekend against the Crusaders.
In the past week, including the Stormers game, the Rebels have lost six players in just the past week. Nic Stirzaker (ankle), Mike Harris (ankle) and Adam Thomson (back) hurt themselves during the week, while locks Luke Jones and Lopeti Timani (both concussion) were forced off before half-time against the Stormers, with Sefa Naivalu also coming off with a case of the dastardly cramps later on in the game.
That list joins four other Rebels already out with season-ending injuries.
According to The Age, coach Tony McGahan said “We already had thin stocks going in to this game, so if we take a couple more knocks we’ll be right on [the limit] in terms of fielding 23 next week”
On a positive note, the newly re-laid AAMI Park pitch held its own, even receiving praise from Stormers captain Schalk Burger.
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Tomane Off To France
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham won’t rush Joe Tomane back from his injury layoff, with Tomane only being considered for the round 17 clash and not for the Canberrans upcoming game against the Blues this weekend. Tomane has been out for eight weeks after injuring his knee against the Crusaders.
Despite not having Tomane and fellow Wallabies winger Henry Speight for much of the season, Larkham believes the fill-in wingers – Nigel Ah-Wong, James Dargaville and Lausii Taliauli – have all shown good form, earning their place in the team.
Said Larkham: “James Dargaville was superb [against the Reds] with ball in hand, Nigel Ah Wong again had a really strong game, Lausii Taliauli came on and scored another try. There’s good depth in the wing position at the moment, these boys are doing a fantastic job.”
In other news, citing French media as well as local sources, the Daily Telegraph are reporting that Joe Tomane has chosen to represent Montpellier next year. Tomane will link up with old coach Jake White, the incoming Nemani Nadolo and as well as old pals Nic White and Jesse Mogg.
The move is still unconfirmed by the ARU or the Brumbies.
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