Tuesday’s Rugby News has some more pressure on Link, the IRB in the sand, Mike Phillips drunk and Nonu speculation finally over.
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European tour ‘incredibly important’
After a shambolic home season where the Wallabies failed to defeat either New Zealand or South Africa for the first time since 2005, ARU boss Bill Pulver has labelled the upcoming northern tour as ‘incredibly important’ and a ‘key milestone.’ The three wins from 10 Tests in 2013 have further highlighted the game’s precarious financial position, and Pulver believes that success in the coming matches would renew public interest in the code, similar to the 1984 grand slam.
McKenzie has conceded that there is a lot of pressure on himself and the team after the Bledisloe whitewash. ‘I judge myself on winning, so I don’t sit here comfortably and say that it’s been easy, or relaxed at all. Far from it,’ McKenzie recently said. [/one_half]
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IRB still denying concussion risk
Chris Nowinski, president of the Sports Legacy institute established to study the effects of brain trauma in athletes, claims that the IRB’s denial of a proven link between brain trauma and chronic traumatic brain dysfunction (CTE) is being ‘driven by lawyers.’ Possible financial ramifications of accepting the link have emerged following a recent lawsuit involving 4,500 former American football players and a $US765million settlement for concussion-related brain injuries.
While Nowinski, a former American college football player and professional wrestler who has battled post-concussion syndrome, understands this pragmatism, he also asserted, ‘To try to tell people not to worry about CTE, or wait longer before you start actively protecting players, is the wrong message if they’re the people who are putting themselves at risk.’ [/one_half]
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Phillips in trouble
Welsh halfback Mike Phillips is facing disciplinary action from his club Bayonne following allegations that he was drunk during a video analysis session. Along with team-mates Dwayne Haare and Stephen Brett, Phillips turned up intoxicated the morning after Bayonne began their Amlin Challenge Cup campaign with a 37-6 victory over Grenoble. Phillips and Haare were left out of the Bayonne squad for last Thursday’s defeat to the London Wasps.
This incident could not come at a worse time for the club, who are currently ranked 13th in the French Top 14 table, and threatened with relegation. As a result, inside sources say that Phillips is unlikely to be sacked despite also having been fined and suspended for 10 days by Bayonne for a drunken night out last year. [/one_half]
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Nonu deal finally done
Yesterday’s rumours have been confirmed, with Ma’a Nonu finally signing with the Blues for the 2014 Super Rugby season. Many pundits were forecasting that Nonu would sign a lucrative deal with a French rugby club, despite the fact that this would make him unavailable for the All Blacks. While the Blues and the Chiefs made late bids, all five Kiwi franchises had previously stated that they did not want the 85-Test player, who is a noted non-performer at Super Rugby level and has also had a number of contract disputes.
Notably, Blues coach Sir John Kirwan was upset when Nonu reneged on a deal to play there last season, instead switching to the Highlanders at the last minute, before being forced out of his third Super Rugby team. [/one_half]
