Thursdays Rugby News sees Caslick commits to Sevens, NRC Rising Stars, Wells splits his time and the All Blacks mix things up.
[one_half last=”no”]
CASLICK COMMITS
Aussie Sevens star Charlotte Caslisk has signed a new deal with Rugby Australia that keeps her in the Sevens fold until 2020, the Tokyo Olympics.
Caslisk, who won the Women’s Player of the Year in 2016, had been the target of many NRLW teams in recent months, but the lure of another Olympics and helping to grow Women’s Sevens was more than enough for the 23 year old.
“The friendships I have created with them would be really hard to lose,” Caslick said via SMH
“On that front it was super easy. I’ve also got so many more things I want to achieve with rugby sevens and goals that I really want to tick off, so I don’t think I’m finished with what I want to achieve here and that made my decision pretty easy.
“Rugby sevens is still that pinnacle of women’s contact sport … and the setup for the moment is too good to pass up on.”
Caslick has been tipped to become the captain in the near future, in particular by the time the next Olympics comes around.
“She is becoming a more complete player and we are expecting her leadership in the group to continue to rise,” Women’s Sevens coach John Manenti said.
“She got to captain the team last year in one of the tournament. And the better she goes, the better team goes around her.
“She is definitely a candidate to take over one day, and hence why we gave her a taste of it I suppose.”
The signing of Caslick comes after the re-signing Emilee Cherry and Vani Pelite, who have also committed until after Tokyo. It is expected many more stars of the Sevens team will re-signing to the program too.
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
NRC RISING STARS
As the NRC enters if fifth season, Rugby.com.au has taken it upon themselves to create a Rising Star Award, as a way to highlight the bright young talent coming through the NRC.
Over 60 Super Rugby players who started in the NRC have gone on to earn Super Caps, and even a few have gone on to play for the Wallabies. The competition allows for young development players to have a chance to have a proper hit out against Wallabies and Super Rugby Players.
This year the stars of tomorrow will be recognised through the Rising Star Award hosted by Rugby.com.au.
At the end of each round a Risig Star is nominated; and at the end of the season a panel made up of players, coaches, and media will come together and assess all the eligible players and vote on the 2018 NRC Rising Star.
To be eligible, a player cannot play any more than three Super Rugby matches. There is no age limit or a limit on number of NRC games played.
Members of the Fijian Dura can also be considered, after an agreement with Fijian Rugby Union agreed that players would be eligible if they played less than three tests for the Flying Fijians.
The nominees are announced on Wednesday, and the Round 1 nominee was Western Force fly half Andrew Deegan.
Deegan has quite an impressive Rugby resume but hasn’t actually debuted for a Super Rugby side. He was the leading point scorer for Randwick (and not a in Cheika’s squad?), played for the NSW Country Eagles, was a member of the Waratahs squad in 16-17 and spent time playing in Ireland. This year Deegan has been a strong performer for the Western Force in the WSR competition.
Maybe after his performance on the weekend he might earn a call up to the Spring Tour.
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”no”]
WELLS TO SPLIT SUPER AND SEVENS
Keeping with the Aussie Sevens, it was announced today that Waratah and former Aussie Sevens player Michael Wells has inked a new deal that will see him split his time between XVs and Sevens in the upcoming season.
Wells was a member of the Australian Sevens program during 2014-15 seasons, before he decided to chase a Super Rugby dream with the Brumbies. He has spent the last two seasons with the Waratahs, and has been an inform player this season, pushing for a Wallaby call up.
This deal was set in an effort to hopefully see more cross over between Sevens and XVs in both the Men’s and Women’s. Previously Henry Speight had juggled both in the lead up to the Rio Olympics.
Wells was initially going to play NRC this season, but it is understood he has now joined the Sevens team in their training camp.
Men’s coach Tim Walsh was impressed with the ball carrying ability of the 25-year old and is said to have actively sought to bring Wells back as he came off contract this year.
In 2015 Wells was tipped to be apart of the Rio Olympics team before he decided to sign with the Brumbies. At the time he said it was a long term decision that felt like it was once in a life time.
“It was a long term decision,” Wells said.
“Everyone looks at the Olympics and says it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity but I saw getting a Super Rugby contract as an equally once in a lifetime opportunity.”
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
AB MIX IT UP FOR THE PUMAS
When you are the best team in the world you are afforded the luxury of being able to rest your best players, and give some less experienced players some game time to help them improve.
That is exactly what All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has done.
In a move that would please the keyboard warriors of Reddit, Richie Mo’unga will start at 10, giving Beauden Barrett a much deserved rest after setting a try scoring record two weeks ago.
Scott Barrett comes into the second row for Sam Whitelock, Karl Tu’inukuafe will replace the injured Joe Moody, and TJ Perenara comes in to the starting 9 Jersey. Shannon Frizell and Ardie Savea get a starting spot in the back row and Ben Smith has been moved back to the 15 spot.
Head Coach Steve Hansen said: “While we’ve made a number of changes from our last outing, this is not a reflection on Argentina but rather a desire by us to grow the experience and depth of our squad. Secondary to that, we also know that if we don’t use the whole squad across a long season, we’ll run out of steam later in the year.
“In making these changes, it also needs to be said that the high expectation we place on ourselves remains the same, regardless of who we’ve selected. The All Blacks jersey demands this.”
1.Karl Tu’inukuafe (5) 2. Codie Taylor (34) 3. Owen Franks (100) 4. Brodie Retallick (70) 5. Scott Barrett (21) 6. Shannon Frizell (1) 7. Ardie Savea (27) 8. Kieran Read – captain (111) 9. TJ Perenara (47) 10. Richie Mo’unga (1) 11. Waisake Naholo (21) 12. Ngani Laumape (7) 13. Jack Goodhue (3) 14. Nehe Milner-Skudder (11) 15. Ben Smith (70)
16. Nathan Harris (15) 17. Tim Perry (1) 18. Ofa Tuungafasi (17) 19. Samuel Whitelock (101) 20. Luke Whitelock (5) 21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi * 22. Damian McKenzie (17) 23. Anton Lienert-Brown (26)
[/one_half]
