Monday’s rugby news has the Tahs dealt an injury blow, Larkham promoted, Lachlan Mitchell retiring and SBW set for an earlier than expected union return.
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Tahs suffer big injury in big win
The Waratahs will be without captain Dave Dennis for the rest of the season after scans on Sunday confirmed that the NSW captain will need surgery this week after rupturing his ACL during the 36-8 thumping of the Brumbies. Mitchell Chapman will be drafted back into the side after his return from an ankle injury, with Stephen Hoiles another likely candidate to fill the gap in the Tahs lineout. Wallabies captain Michael Hooper is an obvious choice as replacement skipper.
Dennis believes that the team will be able to keep their focus despite the setback, saying, ”I’ll expect the attitude of the guys when they come in again on Monday to be as good as it has been over the last couple of months around performance and doing everything we can to win on Sunday.” [/one_half]
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Larkham re-signs with Brumbies
The Brumbies will re-shuffle their coaching staff next year, with Stephen Larkham signing on to lead the team for another three years, while forwards coach Laurie Fisher will be leaving the club to pursue opportunities in Europe, with reports linking him to the vacant head coach job at Gloucester Rugby. “I’ve had a long history with the Brumbies with some success, but the idea of new challenges has made this really exciting for me and my family,” Larkham said.
The Former Wallaby has been essential in retaining many big-name Brumbies players despite pressure from overseas clubs, with ACT re-singing leading figures Matt Toomua, Nic White, Joe Tomane, Henry Speight, Jesse Mogg, Scott Fardy, Scott Sio and Christian Lealiifano. [/one_half]
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Lachlan Mitchell set to retire
Winger Lachlan Mitchell has decided to retire at the end of the year rather than sign with another Super Rugby Club after his release from the Melbourne Rebels. Mitchell, who has played 50 matches for the Rebels but was sidelined in 2014 through injury, has been pushed out of a spot by new arrivals Cam Crawford and Dom Shipperley.
Mitchell revealed that he has decided to focus on life after rugby, saying, “I’m quite a passionate guy and I’d rather play for a team that I believe in – and that just didn’t come up this time.” [/one_half]
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SBW looking at early rugby return
Sonny Bill Williams has revealed that he intends to play for Counties Manukau in the back end of the ITM Cup in order to be available for selection on the All Blacks’ end of year tour. SBW, who is currently playing for the Sydney Roosters in the NRL, will be trying to squeeze in as much rugby as he can to push for a position in the New Zealand 2015 World Cup team.
Counties coach and former All Blacks centre Tana Umanga made it clear that he would do his best to create playing time for SBW, who will be hoping that Counties qualify for the finals to satisfy eligibility criteria for All Blacks selection. [/one_half]
