Wednesday’s Rugby News sees no sanctions on Izzy, a new addition to the Womens World Series leg, the Ireland series and the Super W grand final.
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A lucky escape
Yesterday, Rugby Australia handed down it’s verdict on Izzy Folau‘s gay comments, and have decided to not impose any sanctions.
Izzy published an article on PlayersVoice yesterday, titled ‘I’m a Sinner Too’, where he aimed to set the records straight. However, in doing so he admitted that he was prepared to walk away from the sport if his position was considered to be untenable by RA and his sponsors.
“I understand a lot of people won’t agree with some of the things I’m about to write,” he wrote.
“That’s absolutely fine. In life, you are allowed to agree to disagree.
“But I would like to explain to you what I believe in, how I arrived at these beliefs and why I will not compromise my faith in Jesus Christ, which is the cornerstone of every single thing in my life.
“I do not know the person who asked the question, but that didn’t matter.
“I believed he was looking for guidance and I answered him honestly and from the heart. I know a lot of people will find that difficult to understand, but I believe the Bible is the truth and sometimes the truth can be difficult to hear.
“I think of it this way: you see someone who is about to walk into a hole and have the chance to save him.
“What do you do?
“That aside, I hope Raelene and Andrew appreciate my position, even if it differs with theirs,” he added.
“I love rugby union. It has allowed me to travel all over the world and meet some fascinating people along the way.
“It is one of the best things about the game in my opinion.
“I do not want to bring hurt to the game and want as many people playing it as possible, so when I spoke to Raelene about walking away, it was to help the game, not harm it, in the event we couldn’t come to an understanding.
“I used to believe I was defined by my actions on the footy field, but I see now that’s not true.”
Raelene Castle fronted the media today in response to the article and the decision to not sanction him, and echoed his rights to free speech.
“In his article, Israel clearly articulated his religious beliefs and why his faith is important to him and has provided context behind his social media comment,” said Castle.
“In his own words, Israel said that he did not intend to upset people intentionally or bring hurt to the game. We accept Israel’s position.
“Rugby Australia will use this experience as an opportunity to remind all employees of their obligation to use social media in a respectful way.”
All of this is continuing while Israel is in contract negotiations, and Daryl Gibson made it no secret that he wants the marquee player to stick around. Things have been reportedly calm at Tahs HQ, with the team even being notified of the article before it was published.
“We want Israel to stay in rugby, he enjoys the game and so our immediate concern is making sure he stays in rugby,” he added.
“That’s not for me to decide (whether he walks away).
“I know those discussions are ongoing and the dialogue between Rugby Australia and Israel are continuing.
“There hasn’t been a timeframe put on those discussions. Those are questions for Rugby Australia.”
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A Handy Leg Up
The Commonwealth Games, the World Series Sevens, the Super W, the AON Uni Sevens… let’s face it, the last eight months have been a watershed moment for Womens rugby in this country.
And it looks to have caught people’s attention.
As the Womens game grows evermore popular, organisers of the World Seven Series met on the Gold Coast, and announced that they will unveil an extra Women’s Sevens World Series leg for future seasons of the competition.
World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont and head of competitions Mark Egan made it no secret that they were excited about the new leg when they announced it to the media.
“It reflects the contribution that women make to our game and always have made to our game,” Beaumont said.
“I want to use the (Commonwealth Games) and the Olympics as the catalyst to drive more participation by girls and by women.
“You come here to watch a game of rugby – you don’t come here to watch women playing rugby – because the standard is absolutely excellent.”
Currently, the Womens Sevens Series has five tournaments, (in Dubai, Sydney, Japan, Canada and France). So, it is no secret about where the future leg of the series is going to take place.
“With five World Series tournaments, plus the Commonwealth Games, plus the Rugby World Cup Sevens this year in San Francisco, in July, the Women have seven tournaments this year,” Egan admitted.
“We’re going to expand the World Series to six tournaments and we will make an announcement shortly about a new addition and ideally, we’d like to go to eight.
“New Zealand are very interested in hosting a combined Men’s and Women’s event, as are other tournaments.
“The more that are combined the better as it gives a better profile to the Women’s side but we have to also look at it operationally, as we don’t want to diminish what we currently provide for the men and the women by combining the two together.”
The Womens World Sevens Series continues in Japan this weekend. Australia have won the first two events of the year, and are currently defending their title crown.
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Squeaky clean Irish
It’s getting close the Irish series. So close in fact, that we can hear Hugh’s cries of ‘RIIINNGGROOSSEEE’ echoing across Sydney.
There are many nervous Wallaby fans waiting for June to come around though. Ireland are the Six Nations champions, and Michael Cheika has never beaten them during his tenure as coach.
However, this series marks the first time Ireland will be playing in Australia during the Cheika era. They haven’t won a match against the Wallabies in Australia since 1979, but this Irish team is no ordinary Irish team. And records are made to be broken.
And one of the biggest things that is being talked about is their ‘squeaky clean discipline.’
During the entire Six Nations, the Irish were only penalised 34 times. Compared that to the Wallabies, who in their last six tests were penalised 62 times. Add the that, the last time they played, the Wallabies were on the receiving end of a 13-3 penalty count.
“They’re playing a really good effective style of rugby that’s reaping rewards for them,” Wallabies defence coach Nathan Grey said to rugby.com.au.
“They’ve got a few key features of their game that they’re exceptionally good at.
“They’re a very clean, squeaky clean side. They’re very frugal in terms of their discipline and that’s a really good sign.
“They obviously have a real clear understanding of how they want to play and go out and do it.”
However, while many are already writing the Wallabies off for this season, Grey pointed out that there was one big difference this year, being that the coaching programs in place between the national and Super Rugby level are much more aligned.
And, for all the criticism people (including myself) have given Cheika, I personally think that his organising of coaching programs off the field could be very beneficial for Aussie rugby in the long run.
All of the Wallabies assistant coaches have been rotating between the provincial sides over this season to ensure that their efforts match up with the national game plan. It’s a move that was universally approved by the Super Rugby sides, and has helped them be more on the same page leading into the test season.
“(We’re) significantly ahead of where we were this time last year, which was needed,” Grey said.
“The fact that Steve [Larkham] and myself have got the ability to focus on just the Wallaby program, as well as keeping an eye on the teams in Super as well has been a real positive for us.
“(We’re) enjoying doing that, but licking our lips and looking forward to getting into June.
“The guys have a really clear understanding of what we do and the Super Rugby coaches understand that as well, so we’re very diligent in making sure that everyone was aware of that and we’re not saying that the way the Wallabies defend is the only way.
“I know from what all other teams are doing, we’re all aligned, which is fantastic, so the players have a real clear understanding of what’s expected of them and that’s a great thing, to have that clarity and consistency across all teams.”
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Super Close
It’s fair to say that the first season of the Super W has felt a lot like the NRC: great quality games, damn entertaining to watch, but the season is over in the blink of an eye.
The inaugural grand final will be played out this coming Friday between NSW and Queensland, kicking off ahead of the Waratahs match against the Lions.
Fans should really get along to this match. The competition started with a low-scoring arm-wrestle between these two, so it makes sense that the season ends with these two getting into each other once again.
NSW are favourites to take the title, and coach Rob Baumann admitted that there is a sense of expectation on the team to perform.
“They’ve been a pretty successful group,” he said to rugby.com.au.
“Last year, when we were playing the nationals format, Sydney have won that competition for a few years.
“This year it’s a different format but teams are certainly gunning for us.
“The pressure’s always there for them.”
Queensland barely put a foot wrong all tournament, with the one exception being when they lost to NSW in that first game. Now, with three wins under their belt, NSW expects a much stronger outfit will take the field against them on Friday.
“They’ve got some great backline players, they got some talented forwards,” Baumann said.
“There’s threats all over the field, they’re hard on the ball, they certainly make you work when you’re in possession, so they’re a good well-balanced side.
“They’ve got some great backline players, they got some talented forwards.
“There’s threats all over the field, they’re hard on the ball, they certainly make you work when you’re in possession, so they’re a good well-balanced side.
“I think the crowds are getting bigger each week, I think it’s a good product, the rugby’s been great.
“From week one, right through to now, all the teams have been improving.
“Certainly, from our perspective, teams seemed to lift against us, so I think the competition’s got some good momentum and it’s a great product.”
The grand final will be played out on Friday afternoon at 4:45pm at Allianz Stadium.
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