Nicky Smith, Muliaina, Super Series, Currie Cup, Africa Cup, USA Rugby and World Rugby News

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NEW YORK, NY – Now that we’ve accounted for the entire RWU Staff surviving another 3-day, holiday weekend, we can dive into the latest news from around the world.

News & Transactions:

Top 14: Montpellier announced the arrival of Australian Scott Wisemantel as backs coach.

Guinness Pro 12: The Neath-Swansea Ospreys announced that 21-year old loosehead prop Nicky Smith (Our 2015 Wales player to watch) signed a new four-year contract that ties him to his home region until 2019. The Ospreys also announced the signing of Scarlets wing Kristian Phillips on a one-year contract.

Former All Blacks and current Zebre full-back Mils Muliaina has been charged with sexual assault, according to a report. A statement from South Wales police to the New Zealand Herald on Friday said: “Mils Muliaina has been charged with sexual assault on a female aged 16 or over. Muliaina was originally arrested following a Challenger’s Cup match while he was playing for Connacht against Gloucester. Muliaina was taken in for questioning then released on bail without charge. The alleged sexual assault occurred in March when Connacht were in Cardiff to play the Cardiff Blues in a Pro12 match. He was arrested by Gloucestershire Police on behalf of the South Wales Police, who then met with Muliaina. He has now been charged with sexual assault.

Super Rugby: The Lions announced the contract extensions of Currie Cup Pumas duo Faf de Klerk and Corné Fourie for the 2016 season… The Sharks announced the signing of Reds lock David McDuling, who will join the franchise immediately in the Currie Cup and play with them until the end of 2016.

USA Rugby News/Updates: USA Men’s Eagles Sevens Head Coach Mike Friday has selected a squad of 12 for the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games. For the full squad list, click here… Taranaki Rugby announced a new partnership with USA Rugby to help continue to grow rugby stateside and provide international opportunities for both organizations. It is a really great story and congrats to USA rugby for securing it. There may finally be help on tightening up the scrum, click here for the full story… Our friends at Stars Rugby announced their roster for the 2015 Stampede Sevens Tournament. We will get back to you as to how they did this weekend.

World Rugby News: World Rugby confirmed that there are only four countries in the running to host Rugby World Cup 2023. The national unions for France, Ireland, Italy and South Africa have all confirmed they intend to bid for rugby’s flagship tournament.

As for the weekend’s fixtures:

As always ladies first,

Women’s Rugby Super Series – The third biggest series in Women’s rugby, behind the Rugby World Cup and the 6 Nations, is the Super Series. The Super Series is a four-team match between the USA, Canada, England and New Zealand. It is being held in different cities in the Alberta province of Canada from 27th June to 5 July. Match Day 3 saw the Black Ferns easily defeat the USA making New Zealand, the Super Series Champions. Meanwhile hosts Canada finished winless as they lost by the slimmest margin possible against England.

Here are the results:
Sun – 5th Jul 15
New Zealand 47 – 14 USA
Canada 14 – 15 England

Super Rugby: It is officially over. The 2015 Super Rugby season is over and the winners are from the southern part of New Zealand’s south island. The Highlanders are the new kings of Super Rugby having won three the hard way. Our Super Rugby expert Kiwi Jamie Wall, may need a hug as his team lost the final but he produced a great recap of the match, in case you missed it so just click here for the fantastic review.

Exhibition Match: It has been demanded for years. After a big campaign, the All Blacks are finally playing Manu Samoa. What is disappointing about this test is that it is on a Wednesday afternoon and not a Saturday like most tests. Not to mention how Samoa has squandered a large amount of the goodwill from rugby fans by their horrible treatment of their players. Either way that is no longer a concern and we all look forward to the big midweek clash.

Here is the schedule:
Wed – 8th Jul 15
Manu Samoa – New Zealand

2015 Currie Cup Qualification: This tournament is a competition between seven teams and will be played between 12 June and 25 July 2015, with the winner qualifying for the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division. The remaining six teams will play in the 2015 Currie Cup First Division. In round 4, Border Bulldogs fell short by the smallest margin possible against Falcons, SouthWest District Eagles and Boland Cavaliers fought to a stalemate and finally Griquas ran rampant in the second half to defeat Griffons.

Here are the results:
Sat – 4th Jul 15
Falcons 13 – 12 Border Bulldogs
SWD Eagles 28 – 28 Boland Cavaliers
Griquas 47 – 20 Griffons

Africa Cup: The Africa Cup 2015 will be the fifteenth edition of the continental tournament that involves the best African national teams, organized by the Rugby Afrique , formerly known as the Confederation of African Rugby (CAR). Given their superiority, the South African national team has rarely participated in most tournaments. The four times the SARU has participated, they sent either a U-23 team or amateur side, and went on to win it. Beyond South Africa, there are up to 27 rugby countries in the Cup with the national participants in the two divisions with each division divided into three groups (1A, 1B, 1C, 2West, 2SouthEast, and 2South), with promotion and relegation. Tournament Divisions 1A and 1B’s games often double as qualification games for the Rugby World Cup. In 1A action, Zimbabwe won a tough contest against Tunisia. Division 1B’s championships is being held in Uganda from 5 July to 11 July. The matches began with Madagascar taking down Botswana, Senegal trounced Mauritius, and finally Uganda dominated Cote d’Ivoire.