NEW YORK, NY – Every member of the RWU staff was active this weekend trying to watch and cover all the action that was occuring all over the globe and across several different times zones. We covered international rugby in the form of the Sao Paulo 7s, the Under 20s 6N, the Womens 6N, the Mens 6N, and the 6N B. Our European staff members were covering the Aviva Prem, le Top14 and the Pro12. Meanwhile, the Southern Hemisphere had Super Rugby action to cover. On top of all of this, there was the USA Rugby National Development Summit, transfers and other news. With all that action, lets just dive into the Weekend Wrap.
As usual, Ladies First…
Sao Paulo 7s: New Zealand‘s run of tournament victories in the IRB Womens 7s World Series was stopped by Australia at the Sao Paulo 7s in Sao Paulo, Brazil.The USA started slow and finished as we expected. While Canada‘s woman’s program continues to show great form and have really begun to ascend to the top tier of women’s 7s.
Here are the results:
Cup: Australia
Second: New Zealand
Third: Canada
Plate: Spain
Bowl: USA
Women’s 6N: This is the tightest race in years. The English ladies victory over Ireland means both sides are are tied at 2-1 while France is 3-0 after blanking Wales. Ireland must now defeat France to have any chance of winning the whole title. Italy thumped Scotland to assure Scotland will win the wooden spoon.
Here are the results:
SAT – 22ND FEB 14
England 17-10 Ireland
SUN – 23RD FEB 14
Wales 0-27 France
Italy 45-5 Scotland
Under 20 6N: Italy thoroughly dispatched Scotland as the future of Thistle is not looking too good. France just managed to survive Wales while the reigning Junior World Cup Champions England made light work of what was expected to be a feisty Ireland side.
Here are the results:
FRI – 21ST FEB 14
Italy 32-13 Scotland
SAT – 22ND FEB 14
Wales 10-16 France
England 33-9 Ireland
6 Nations: The two matches, France vs Wales and England vs Ireland had huge impact on the standings. Nick Hall has a great review of all the action. Later in the week, we will review the Six-Pack’s picks and see the new standings for our somewhat reliable experts.
6N B: The European Nations Cup (ENC), formerly known as the 6N B has been doubling as Rugby World Cup 2015 qualifiers. As a result, top two sides Georgia and Romania have secured their places at RWC 2015 following victories in the FIRA-AER ENC Division 1A. They match-up later in the tournament will determine which pools they go into for RWC2015 and of course, tournament bragging rights. The remaining four teams will battle it out for third place which will confirm a spot in the RWC2015 qualification play-off process
Here are the results:
SAT – 08 FEB 14
Georgia 36-10 Russia
Romania 32-6 Spain
Belgium 6 – 19 Portugal
Top 14: Our Top14 writing machine, James Harrington has a great review of all the action. CLICK HERE.
Aviva Premiership: Nick Hall, our East Midlands Machiavellian rugger will be back later in the week with a looking at the weekend’s talking points. In the meantime, Sale doubled up Worcester, Gloucester just struggled by Quins, Bath were too much for Wasps. Leicester just managed to get by London Irish, Northampton handily defeated Newcastle, while Saracens made light work of Exeter.
Here are the results:
SAT – 22ND FEB 14
Worcester 12 – 24 Sale Sharks
Gloucester 25 – 20 Harlequins
Bath 32 – 25 Wasps
SUN – 23RD FEB 14
London Irish 15 – 20 Leicester
Newcastle 16 – 22 Northampton
Saracens 23 – 10 Exeter
Rabodirect Pro12: The Pro12 continues to play out it string of matches as most teams play for pride and players play to secure jobs for next season. Leinster had a solid win over Cardiff, Scarlets did just enough to get by Edinburgh, Ulster continue to push to secure the 4th and final playoff spot with a tough win over Treviso while their main rival for that spot, Glasgow lost to Newport by the slimmest margin possible. Munster continue to cement their place at the top over third place Ospreys and Connacht outplayed Zebre.
Here are the results:
Thu – 20nd Feb 14
Cardiff Blues 22 – 34 Leinster
Sat – 22nd Feb 14
Scarlets 25 – 21 Edinburgh
Sun – 23rd Feb 14
Benetton Treviso 12 – 14 Ulster
Newport-Gwent Dragons 24 – 23 Glasgow
Ospreys 11 – 25 Munster
Zebre 19 – 27 Connacht
Super Rugby: The RWU Super Rugby Superman Jamie Walls, has watched all the matches and has a great review of all the action. CLICK HERE.
Penalty Kick:
Signings/Player Moves: London Irish bolstered their backline for next season by signing centre Eoin Griffin from Connacht on a two-year contract. Harlequins have re-signed 4 young Englishmen Sam Stuart, Sam Twomey, Harry Sloan and Jack Clifford to new contracts until at least 2016. Exeter Chiefs have re-signed scrum-half Haydn Thomas and back-row forward Kai Horstmann until at least the end of 2014/15. Munster have signed former Canterbury, Tasman and Blues hooker Quentin MacDonald on a 3 month contract. Duncan Bell, former Bath, London Wasps and England prop has shockingly announced a return to pro rugby with the Dragons at the age of 39. French ProD2 side Lyon have signed Australia flanker George Smith for next season as they push for promotion. Scrum-half Rory Kockott has committed his future to Castres, and Grenoble have confirmed the signing of scrum-half Charl McLeod on a two-year contract from the Sharks following the Super Rugby season. Mssr. Harrington will have more on these Top14 transfers.
USA Rugby National Development Summit: This weekend in Philly was the the USAR NDS. The NDS is designed to be a meeting of the minds between, youth development officers, administrators, coaches, players and parents. It is an exchange of ideas and a 360 analysis on how to successfully grow the game in the USA. In attendance was one of the rugby rain men, Alexei Rugbycheckov and he has an upcoming report on the summit and its achievements. Not at the summit but mentioned was our very own, Karen Ritter and her mumscrum blog by Rugby Indiana. Very glad and proud to have RWU present and represented at such a big event.
New Euro Deal imminent: According to the president of Ulster Rugby, regardless of ERC members voting to delay member appearance payments last week, a new Euro deal is imminent and will be signed within the next month.
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And until the next time… stay low and keep pumping those legs.
