News & Transactions:
Top 14: Toulon have confirmed the signed Cheetahs fly-half Willie du Plessis on a short-term deal during the World Cup… Clermont have been dealt a major blow with the news that Ludovic Radosavljevic will be out for two months with an abductor injury.
Super Rugby: The Chiefs have added another winger after announcing with the signing of New Zealand Warriors (Rugby League) wing Glen Fisiiahi.
USA Rugby News/Updates: In Greeley, Colorado players competing at the second National All-Star Competition (NASC) to be Women’s Eagles wrapped up. At the Winter NASC, we will see 200 players invited for competitions at the senior, collegiate, and under-20 level. In conjunction with the 15s priorities, Women’s Eagles Sevens Assistant Coach Richie Walker was scouting athletes that can help the team at the Rio 2016 Olympic Summer Games… Insite Insoles, an insole designer and manufacturer that specializes in high performance insoles for athletes, has announced a multi-year partnership with USA Rugby, the national governing body for the sport of rugby in America. The agreement will support all USA Rugby teams in future competitions.
At the Serevi Rugbytown Sevens, in Glendale, Colorado, some great rugby was played. The tournament is probably the most high quality rugby tournament outside of the Las Vegas 7s. The results were as follows
Champions: Denver 7s All-Stars
Third Place: Upright Rugby Rogues
Bowl: Atlantis
Plate: Northeast ODA
Shield: Bermuda
World Rugby News: World Rugby has announced that enhanced video replay and review technology will operate at Rugby World Cup 2015 following successful trials. Hawk-Eye’s SMART Replay technology will be used to strengthen the accuracy and efficiency of the Television Match Official (TMO) decision-making process, while providing invaluable support for medics in the area of identifying and reviewing head impacts… World Rugby has announced the three players that have been nominated for Women’s Player of the Year 2015. New Zealand scrum-half Kendra Cocksedge, France captain and hooker Gaëlle Mignot and Ireland second-row Sophie Spence have made the shortlist for the prestigious award, with the winner to be announced at the World Rugby Awards in London on 1 November.
The weekend’s fixtures:
The Bledisloe Cup: The Bledisloe Cup is one of the most important trophies in the history of rugby. It goes to the winner of the yearly series between New Zealand and Australia. Oh wait, I mentioned New Zealand and an All Blacks game, that means it is time to hand the baton off to our expert Kiwi so click here. for his fantastic review.
World Cup Warm-up: As teams gear up for the World Cup, it is important to get in some good matches to aid coaches in trimming their roster. This weekend that means we saw Ireland edge out Scotland, England sneak by France and South Africa outperform Argentina. Tier 2 nations also got their warm-up matches in as Namibia destroyed Zimbabwe, Romania tie Yorkshire Carnegie and the World XV dominate Japan‘s second side.
Here is the schedule:
Sat – 15th Aug 15
Ireland 28 – 22 Scotland
England 19 – 14 France
Argentina 12 – 26 South Africa
Namibia 80 – 6 Zimbabwe
Romania 10 – 10 Yorkshire Carnegie
World XV 45 – 20 Japan
ITM Cup: For our preview of the season, CLICK HERE. The 2015 ITM Cup kicked off on Thursday night as Auckland and Southland fought to a thrilling draw. The next night would see Tasman continue their great form from 2014 against Waikato and Bay of Plenty take down North Harbour. Over the weekend we saw Taranaki fall short against Wellington, Otago go down against Canterbury, Counties Manukau win by the slimmest margin possible against Manawatu and Hawkes Bay thump Northland.
Here are the results:
Thu – 13th Aug 15
Southland 23 – 23 Auckland
Fri – 14th Aug 15
Waikato 20 – 35 Tasman
Bay Of Plenty 20 – 11 North Harbour
Sat – 15th Aug 15
Taranaki 14 – 19 Wellington
Otago 24 – 38 Canterbury
Sun – 16th Aug 15
Counties Manukau 36 – 35 Manawatu
Hawkes Bay 39 – 10 Northland
Currie Cup: The 77th edition of the Currie Cup kicked off last weekend and you can find our preview here. As for round 2, this weekend, we have already seen the Bull Bulls dominate Griquas and the Golden Lions cruise by Pumas. In matches still to come, defending champs Western Province won a kick fest against the Free State Cheetahs and the Natal Sharks were too much for the Eastern Province Kings.
Here are the results:
Fri – 14th Aug 15
Blue Bulls 36 – 12 Griquas
Golden Lions 44 – 27 Pumas
Sat – 15th Aug 15
Western Province 9 – 3 Free State Cheetahs
Sharks 33 – 25 Eastern Province Kings
That’s it for now! Feel free to comment below, look for and “Like” our Facebook Rugby Wrap Up Page and follow us on Twitter@: RugbyWrapUp, Junoir Blaber, James Harrington, Jamie Wall, Nick Hall, DJ Eberle, Jake Frechette, Scheenagh Harrington, Jamie Loyd, Cody Kuxmann, Karen Ritter, Audrey Youn, Akweley Okine, Rocky Brown and Declan Yeats, respectively.
And as always, stay low and keep pumping those legs.
