Tuesday’s rugby news has Ita Vaea retiring, Andy Friend makes three changes for Singapore Sevens, Dennis calling for Waratahs to establish an identity and Stuart Lancaster opens up about England’s World Cup.
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Vaea Retires
Brumbies Number 8 Ita Vaea has announced his retirement from Rugby, effective immediately, due to ongoing health issues regarding his heart.
Vaea left the field in the Brumbies match against the Chiefs, and after doctor’s recommendations, has today ended his career to concentrate on his health.
“I am extremely disappointed to be retiring today, under these circumstances,” Vaea said.
“It has truly been an honour to represent the Brumbies over the past five years.
“While my playing career has now ended, I consider myself extremely fortunate to have met and shared experiences with special players and coaches who I can call lifelong friends.
“It will be hard watching the boys run out, but I know that this is the best decision for myself and my family.
“Coming back from this last time was something I never thought I could achieve. I am so blessed that I was given a second opportunity. Now I have to concentrate on the next chapter in my life.
“While I am not sure what is in store for the future, I know that the lessons I have learnt in rugby will serve me well.
“It is an incredible game, has given me so much more than I could have ever dreamed and I will miss it immensely.
“Thank you to everyone who has made it such a special journey.”
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Friend Makes Changes
Aussie Sevens coach Andy Friend has made three changes to the squad for this weekend’s Singapore Sevens.
Forwards Sam Figg and Pat McCutcheon and Warringah scrum-half Josh Holmes who hasn’t played Sevens for Australia since 2007.
Friend has ten players ruled out through injury with Tom Cusack (wrist), Pama Fou (shoulder), Nick Malouf (knee), Tom Lucas (knee), Simon Kennewell (ankle), Holland (foot), Cummins (ankle), Greg Jeloudev (foot), Henry Hutchison (foot) and Henry Speight (eye) all unavailable for selection.
James Stannard will captain the side in the absence of Jenkins.
“I think we have chosen a squad that has plenty to prove,” Friend said in a statement.
“Sam [Figg] hasn’t played too much football since Wellington and Josh Holmes has been a form player on the local circuit for quite a while now.
“We’re getting used to making Cup semi finals now but we’re a hungry and ambitious group and want more than that.”
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No Identity at Tahs
Waratahs Club Captain Dave Dennis believes that the Waratahs leadership group is responsible for not establishing a clear identity for the team in 2016 which has resulted in poor performances.
Previously, under Michael Cheika, the Waratahs had a clear purpose to attack with ball in hand and defend furiously.
“It was always going to be a challenge, it was a significant three years with Cheik, we had great success here, learned a lot about ourselves, really came up with a clear way of how we wanted to play rugby,” Dennis said.
“I think we are more than capable of still doing that, it’s just taking longer than we would have liked.
“The leadership group can be better at driving that, I’ll put my hand up and say it’s a challenge, but we’ve just got to keep working hard.
“Daryl’s always had the respect of the playing group and he’s doing a great job, it’s probably more on the players to step up and really keep driving the standard and performance, and really keep searching for that consistency in our game.”
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Lancaster Opens Up
Former England coach Stuart Lancaster has opened up about England’s World Cup disaster. Lancaster revealed he still thinks about England’s World Cup campaign “every minute of every day”.
“You think about it every minute of most days, or every day really,” Lancaster told BBC Radio Five.
“A lot of things have happened since then but equally it’s still very fresh in my mind.
“It’s been a tough six months.”
Lancaster also opened up about his controversial decision to include Sam Burgess.
“I don’t think there was any winner in the end … If I’d known he was going to go back to rugby league then my decisions would have been different. But we didn’t know that at the time.
“He was a great and positive influence in the group. He worked hard and earned the right in our minds to be in the World Cup squad. “It’s a shame the whole thing played out the way it did.”
