Thursday’s rugby news has a new overseas-player policy, Hunt’s court case approaching, Burgess a World Cup underdog and an old doping allegation against the French.
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Cheika changes overseas policy
Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika has overturned the previous Test-selection policy, asserting that Australian players heading overseas will still be considered. “I just think that’s normal,” Cheika said. “It doesn’t matter if they’re contracted for one year, or three years or 10 years, if they are contracted here and contracted until the end of December, I don’t see any reason why you wouldn’t [select them].”
This will mean that many soon-to-be overseas based Wallabies such as Will Genia, Adam Ashley-Cooper, James Horwill, Sekope Kepu and potentially Bernard Foley will be available, with Cheika saying that he was not worried the change would compel an accelerated mass exodus.
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Reds supporting Hunt
Reds coach Richard Graham has emphasised that Karmichael Hunt is coping well as Queensland’s Crime and Corruption Commission have started face-to-face meetings with some of the footballers facing cocaine charges. Hunt is expected to appear in Southport Magistrates Court on March 5 and has been stood down from Super Rugby duties, also unable to train with the Reds squad.
New recruit Adam Thompson has praised his team-mates for their performance in last week’s win over the Force, despite the off-field distraction. “t’s a real test of a team when you come under heat and pressure is applied to you,” he said. “You find out really quickly what group you have.
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Burgess given outside chance
English coach Stuart Lancaster has characterised Sam Burgess’ World Cup dreams as an outside chance after three months in the 15-a-side game. “Realistically the Six Nations was always going to be a push. And the World Cup would be too, but never say never,” Lancaster said.
The national coach is also currently dealing with the serious matter of assault charges against Toulon player Steffon Armitage, who could be included in Lancaster’s World Cup squad as an overseas exception.
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French team doping in 1980s
It has been revealed that the French Test team of the 1980s were frequently taking drugs prior to matches, with the most notable example being the infamously ferocious ‘battle of Nantes’ where the All Blacks lost 16-3.
The French team doctor at the time, Jacques Mombet, has told investigative journalist Pierre Ballester that the French players were using amphetamines at the time. All Black legend Wayne Shelford, who was concussed and lost several teeth in separate incidents, said that he was not surprised by the fresh allegations.
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