NEW YORK, NY – Here is the a Global Rugby Update of all the events that you might have missed, starting with the Amlin Cup.
Amlin Challenge Cup: In all the noise and talk of the Heineken Cup Final, it may have been forgotten that Leinster won the Amlin Challenge Cup. Leinster defeated Stade Francias, as our experts predicted, 34-13. This is technically Leinster’s 4th European title in 5 years. Their victory means Connacht qualifies for the Heineken Cup next season. There is a long list of how that is possible but Connacht’s qualification, via ERC policy, is the final result.
ERC Player of the Year: To no one’s great surprise, this award went to none other than Mr. Jonny Wilkinson himself. He and his club are having a fantastic season.
RPA Awards: The Rugby Players Association of the RFU handed out their end of the season awards. Christian Wade of London Wasps managed and unprecedented double. Here are the results.
Players’ Player of the Year 2013: Christian Wade – London Wasps
Young Player of the Year 2013: Christian Wade – London Wasps
England Player of the Year 2013: Joe Launchbury – London Wasps
England Sevens Player of the Year 2013: Dan Norton
England Women’s Player of the Year: Emily Scarratt
RFU Championship Player of the Year 2013: Tim Streather – Nottingham Rugby
The RPA Hall of Fame Induction: Ieuan Evans (Wales and British & Irish Lions)
Special Merit Award: Geordan Murphy ( Leicester Tigers, Ireland and British & Irish Lions)
RPA Blyth Spirit Award: Michael Lynagh (Saracens and Australia)
Try of the Year: Ben Youngs – Bath Rugby v Leicester Tigers, Round 21, April 20 2013
RFU Championship: The Bedford Blues are scheduled to play the Newcastle Falcons in the RFU Championship final beginning this Thursday night (GMT time) and next Wednesday. The club stated that ” they didn’t want to get ahead of themselves but they say should they qualify, they are ready to go through the courts to be allowed promotion regardless of Premiership Rugby’s promotion criteria.”
Brewing giant Greene King are set to become the first title sponsor of the RFU Championship in a three-year deal believed to be worth £1.2m (1.97 million USD) beginning in the 2014 season.
Pro D2: Brive won the Pro D2 final to win the second and last promotion spot in Top 14.After only one season in Pro D2, Brive easily dismissed Pau as the never trailed in the match. Final score was:
Brive 30-10 Pau.
Super 15: In case you didn’t see the scores from this past weekend of Super Rugby. Chiefs edged out the Hurricanes and the Rebels upset the Stormers. Sharks outlasted the Force and the Crusaders smothered the Blues. Waratahs shocked the Brumbies, Bulls beat the hapless Highlanders and Cheetahs were to much for the Reds. Here are the results:
Hurricanes 12 – 17 Chiefs
Melbourne Rebels 30 – 21 Stormers
Western Force 13 – 23 Sharks
Crusaders 23 – 3 Blues
Waratahs 28 – 22 Brumbies
Bulls 35 – 18 Highlanders
Cheetahs 27 – 13 Reds
This means with only a few more matches left in the season, every game counts more than it did before. Here are the standings heading into the weekend.
Pos Team Pts
1 Chiefs 48
2 Bulls 46
3 Brumbies 46
4 Reds 44
5 Crusaders 42
6 Blues 41
7 Cheetahs 40
8 Waratahs 38
9 Hurricanes 34
10 Sharks 33
11 Stormers 30
12 Melbourne Rebels 28
13 Southern Kings 24
14 Western Force 19
15 Highlanders 16
USA Sevens: There was big news out of Chula Vista this week. It appears USA Eagles 7s stars Zach Test and Carlin Isles have both signed with US sneaker and sports giant Nike. The fact that these players have won these contracts can only mean good things for USA Rugby.
Due to a violation of university policy, Army Rugby has been forced to withdraw from the College Rugby Championship 7s, happening in Philadelphia on June 1-2. Army has been replaced by Villanova University.
The 2014 Vegas 7s have been moved to Jan 24-26. No more clashing with Valentine’s weekend. We hope the tournament continues to grow.
That is it for now, feel free to comment below, look for and “Like” our Facebook Rugby Wrap Up Page and follow us on Twitter @RugbyWrapUp, @JunoirBlaber, @Declan Yeats, @Mathew Drew Turner and @Ebstide52, respectively. And until the next time… stay low and keep pumping those legs.
