Tuesday’s rugby news has Saia Fainga’a going back to the Brumbies, Jarrad Hayne declared eligible for Rio, Beale’s surgery successful and Japanese club Suntory sign a trio of Aussies.
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Brumbies Sign Fainga’a
Reds hooker Saia Fainga’a has announced he will be returning to the Brumbies next year on a one year deal in replace for Stephen Moore who will return to the Reds.
Fainga’a made 27 appearances for the Brumbies between 2006-2008 where he played alongside current coach Stephen Larkham.
“It’s very pleasing that Saia wants to return to the Brumbies,” Larkham said.
“When he was a teenager, he had all the characteristics of a world-class player and after more than 120 Super Rugby games he is still playing with that level of intensity which is great to see.
“With Stephen Moore returning to the Reds next year there was obviously a gap we needed to fill in our squad and I think Saia is a perfect fit.
“His aggression, low tackles and fervour at the breakdown will definitely be of great benefit to us next season.”
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Hayne Cleared
World Rugby has released a statement declaring Jarrad Hayne eligible to compete in the Rio Olympics.
There was speculation that Hayne would be ineligible to compete due to his time in the non-WADA compliant NFL.
World Rugby says that Hayne would be subject to the rules of a new player rather than a retired player returning to the game.
“This position is entirely consistent with World Rugby’s approach to other crossover athletes, including other ex-NFL athletes coming into rugby.”
Meanwhile Australian Sevens coach Andy Friend has doubted Hayne’s ability to walk into the Fiji team.
“Quade Cooper is a good footballer and there are other blokes who are good footballers who tried to make the transition across and it’s taken those guys three or four tournaments to try and work the game out,” Friend said.
“Especially with a nation like Fiji who are phenomenal footballers and they grow up on the game of sevens, to think a bloke like Jarryd is going to walk in and take one of those spots blows my mind to be honest.”
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Beale Surgery Successful
Kurtley Beale’s surgery to re-attach his patella tendon back onto the patella bone was a success.
Beale is still expected to be sidelined for four to six months and he will spend the next six weeks in a range of motion braces.
Meanwhile, Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson will need to reconfigure his backline to replace Beale.
“We get an opportunity to experiment with the options post-Kurtley,” Gibson said.
“We get five games to really try to gather our thoughts around that. We’ve got some selection combinations that we could potentially go with. I’m going to have a good look over this week and just look at what is the best configurations for us in making sure we get our best players on the park.”
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Suntory Sign Aussies
Japanese club Suntory have announced the inclusion of George Smith, Christian Lealiifano and Nigel Ah Wong in their 2016/2017 squad.
The Brumbies are yet to officially confirm that Lealiifano and Ah Wong will be on Suntory’s player roster.
Lealiifano secured a flexible contract earlier this year allowing him to play in Japan and return to the Brumbies, however, Ah Wong’s future in Canberra has not been confirmed beyond 2016.
Highlanders lock Joe Wheeler was another player announced in the 2016-17 squad.
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