NEW YORK, NY – Hello fellow ruggers! Happy Mother’s day, yes it was yesterday but nothing wrong with still recognizing mom an extra day. With that lets get you all caught on the weekend’s events.
London 7s – New Zealand won their 11th Sevens World Series title this past weekend in London. New Zealand had won it on series points before they played the final but defeated Australia in the final for good measure. Hosts England placed third by defeating Kenya. The USA played its third straight plate final and lost against Fiji. Though the lost was disappointing, US Eagle Zach Test was named player of the tournament, combine this with his all Tournament team selection in Glasgow and he really has been in great form. In fact the whole USA 7s Mens team have been in good form finishing in the top 6 in the last 3 tournaments. We will look to follow-up with Matt “Polar Bear” Hawkins and Coach Alex Magelby on their thoughts on this season and the progress the US has made. Wales defeated France for the shield. In the promotion/relegation battle for the 3 core spots between 8 countries that occurred alongside the tournament, Spain, Portugal and Scotland retained their core status. In the Womens tournament that is not on the Womens Series, the US women finished 4th. Here are the Mens results:
Cup Final: New Zealand 47 – 12 Australia
Third Place: Kenya 19 – 26 England
Plate Final: Fiji 14 – 5 United States
Bowl Final: Wales 19 – 7 France
Core Qualification: Spain, Portugal and Scotland
Aviva Premiership: The final match-up of the season is set. Leicester won in the semi-final against a Chris Robshaw-less Harelquins that put up a brave fight but just couldn’t stop a Leicester side in good form and playing at home. Northampton shocked loads of experts by going on the road and defeating Saracens convincingly with a much less heralded line-up. Here are the results:
Leicester 33 – 16 Harlequins
Saracens 13 – 27 Northampton
RFU Championship: After the two game home and home series, the final teams for the RFU Championship has been decided. The final will be between Newcastle who got by Leeds on points difference after splitting the 2 games 1-1 and Bedford who defeated Nottingham in a series sweep.
1st Game:
Leeds Carnegie 24 – 19 Newcastle Falcons
Bedford Blues 26 – 17 Nottingham
2nd Game:
Newcastle Falcons 15 – 6 Leeds Carnegie
Nottingham 21 – 23 Bedford Blues
Top 14: The Top 14 have completed their first round of playoffs, Toulouse proved too much for Racing Metro and Castres put an end to Montpelier‘s season. In the Semi-final Toulouse will face Toulon who had a bye as the 2nd seed and Castres will face Clermont who also had a bye as they finished top of the table in the regular season. Here are the results:
Toulouse 33 – 19 Racing Metro Paris
Castres 25 – 12 Montpellier
Pro D2: Oyonnax have captured the automotic promotion slot by finishing first in the regular season. The second slot will be decided through playoffs. The semi-final round was completed over the weekend with Pau defeating La Rochelle and Brive beating up Aurillac. Here are the results:
1st Game:
Pau 30-16 La Rochelle
Brive 30-14 Aurillac
RaboDirect Pro 12: The Final match will be an an All-Ireland affair. Ulster carried their regular season form into the playoffs as they outclassed Scarlets. Leinster needed every bit of luck to get past a feisty Glasgow side. Here are the results:
Ulster 28 – 17 Scarlets
Leinster 17 – 15 Glasgow
Super 15: The Chiefs scrapped by the Force, the Reds dominated the Sharks scoring arguably the try of the year in the process (click here). The Hurricanes upset the Cheetahs, while the Blues got by the Rebels. The Waratahs took down the Stormers and the Highlanders returned to their losing ways by going down to the Kings. Here are the results:
Chiefs 22 – 21 Western Force
Reds 32 – 17 Sharks
Cheetahs 34 – 39 Hurricanes
Blues 36 – 32 Melbourne Rebels
Waratahs 21 – 15 Stormers
Southern Kings 34 – 27 Highlanders
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.
