Tuesday’s Rugby News has some huge club rugby and third tier developments, the Wallabies considering changing tactics, Clermont offering Nonu a home and biting charges for Leicester prop Dan Cole.
[one_half last=”no”]
Massive club rugby changes
The ARU are considering widespread reforms to return club rugby to its amateur traditions. The ARU wants to make its funding levels consistent at around $60,000 for each premier club, contingent on eliminating player payments which can currently reach up to $10,000 a season. Under these reforms, Sydney clubs will have their funding cut if they continue to pay players. The ARU will also solidify the separation of contracted players, who will not be able to return to their clubs during or after the Super Rugby season.
These changes are part of a new third-tier plan based on a ‘national club championship’ featuring the top club rugby teams and an amalgamation of others. This would run from August to October, after the club competition. Additionally, each Super Rugby franchise would field an academy development team which would play in a competition at the start of the regular Super season. [/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
Wallabies debate ‘dumbing down’
Despite widespread criticism, Wallabies centre Christian Leali’ifano insists that the team can execute Ewen McKenzie’s game plan without ‘dumbing down’ tactics ahead of their fourth Rugby Champinship match. ‘It’s more about playing a smarter game, making better decisions and executing,’ Leali’ifano said.
There is a growing urgency to match McKenzie’s lauded attacking style with results. While the Wallabies have dominated territory and possession stats in their three opening matches, all have ended in significant losses. Back rower Ben McCalman sees that the ability to play running rugby must be predicated on strong forward play, asserting, ‘We don’t want to change our style. We just have to earn the right to go wide.’ And in a quick squad update, the Wallabies have added NSW Waratahs trio Sitaleki Timani, Bernard Foley and Dave Dennis. [/one_half]
[one_half last=”no”]
Nonu to Clermont?
Ma’a Nonu has been the subject of persistent rumours linking the All Blacks centre to French rugby club Clermont. The NZRU has been unsuccessful in finding Nonu a Super Rugby franchise and it appears that another overseas sabbatical is the only way to retain the 31-year-old’s services for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
This weekend sports daily L’Equipe confirmed the interest from Clermont after initial rumours, reporting that Nonu was awaiting an official letter of release from the NZRU and that the centre would be consulting with his lawyers at the end of this week. If the move goes through, Nonu will join fellow New Zealanders Sitiveni Sivivatu, Mike Delany, Benson Stanley and Regan King in the Clermont side. [/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
Leicester prop faces biting charges
Leicester Tigers prop Dan Cole could face a lengthy stint on the sidelines after he was alleged to have biten Worcester fly-half Ignacio Mieres over the weekend. Footage appeared to show Mieres with his hand in the mouth of Cole, with blood later visible from the fly-half’s fingers. BT Sport analyst Austin Healey suggested any bite would have been an accident, commenting, ‘You don’t put your fingers in a dog’s mouth.’
This sentiment was not shared by others with England winger Jon Sleightholme writing on Twitter, ‘Has to be banned in my view. #unacceptable.’ Former English hooker Brian Moore also rightly pointed out that the incident has a precedent with Dylan Hartley’s eight-week ban in last year’s England-Ireland clash, where the hand-in-mouth excuse was not accepted for leniency. [/one_half]
