Atlanta 7s, European Rugby Peace, Aviva, Top 14, Pro 12 and More

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NEW YORK, NY: The rugby action was coming thick and fast on this long weekend (in the USA), despite there being no 6 Nations action. The European domestic leagues, Aviva Premiership, Top 14 and Rabodirect Pro 12 were joined by the southern hemisphere’s major international provincial tournament, Super Rugby, kicking off. There was also the inaugural Atlanta 7s being played and major ginormous news regarding the future of the Heineken and Amlin Cups. plus we have our weekly transfer market updates and other news. With all of that said, let’s get into the Weekend Wrap.

Ladies First:
Atlanta 7s: The second leg of the Womens 7s World Series was in Atlanta this weekend. New Zealand continued to show their dominance as they cruised to victory in the final against all comers including Canada in the final. The USA respectably won the Plate while the Netherlands, though losing their core status going into the season, won the bowl.

Here are the results:
Cup: New Zealand
Second: Canada
Third: Australia
Plate: USA
Bowl: Netherlands

Top 14: Our Top14 writing machine, James Harrington has received a clean bill of health and is back with a review of an incredible weekend of rugby including the FFR and LNR dispute over playing French national team players. CLICK HERE to read more.

Aviva Premiership: The one and only Nick Hall, our East Midlands Machiavellian rugger, will be back later in the week to discuss the weekend’s talking points and preview the upcoming weekend clashes. As for the matches, Saracens snuck by Sale in a tight match, while Northampton trumped Worcester. London Irish barely escaped cross city rivals Wasps with a win. Harlequins struggled past Newcastle while Bath took down Exeter in an exciting affair as did Leicester in a similarly tight yet much more low scoring affair.

Here are the results:
FRI – 14TH FEB 14
Sale Sharks 10 – 15 Saracens
SAT – 15TH FEB 14
Northampton 30 – 14 Worcester
Wasps 20 – 23 London Irish
Harlequins 18 – 14 Newcastle
Exeter 23 – 27 Bath
SUN – 16TH FEB 14
Leicester 11 – 8 Gloucester

Rabodirect Pro 12: The action this weekend really saw the top sides get stronger as they feasted on the weaker sides. Leinster took down Newport-Gwent, Connacht edged out Edinburgh, Glasgow took down Cardiff in a tense affair, Munster took apart Zebre with ease and apparently someone forgot to tell Treviso that just because you are leaving the Pro 12 doesn’t mean you don’t have to show up. The side was annihilated by Ospreys.

Super Rugby: Our Super Rugby Guru, Jamie Walls, has got review of the weekends matches, just CLICK HERE. We will also be back with a RWU staff preview of each of the conferences including finishing positions.

Drop Kick:

Signings/Player Moves: Exeter Chiefs have signed Scottish international prop Moray Low on a two-year deal from Glasgow Warriors next season.Staying in Glasgow is flanker Chris Fusaro as he has signed a new two-year deal staying until May 2016. Newcastle have signed  Munster second-row Ian Nagle and rugby league wing Lee Smith from Leeds Tykes. The two new players have already joined their new club as the deal is effective immediately. Nagle will be a replacement for Falcons second-rower Carlo del Fava, who has been forced to retire with immediate effect due to a neck injury. Bath have announced that captain Stuart Hooper has extended his contract for a further year with the club. Exeter Chiefs second-row Romana Graham will leave the club at the end of the season to join up with French side La Rochelle.  Nick Hall will have more information about a supposed injury to Dan Cole that may keep him out of the 6 Nations.

European Rugby Peace Accord: RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie is in the middle of a negotiating a peace more delicate than neurosurgery. Ritchie is close to negotiating a shared coverage agreement between Sky Sports and British Telecom (BT) for the coverage of European Rugby. The deal includes both the Heineken Cup, Amlin Cup, Pro 12, Top 14 and Aviva Premiership so there is a lot at stake.

Radical changes planned for Super Rugby:  SANZAR(South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby) are reportedly considering a huge league restructuring. There will be 4 conferences which will include 6 South African teams, 1 Argentine side and another side TBD. Jaime Wells will touch on this later on this week.

Feel free to comment below, look for and “Like” our Facebook Rugby Wrap Up Page and follow us on Twitter @: RugbyWrapUp, Junoir Blaber, DJ Eberle, Nick Hall, James Harrington, Cody Kuxmann, Jaime Loyd, Jamie Wall and Declan Yeats, respectively.

And until the next time… stay low and keep pumping those legs.