NEW YORK, NY – What a busy weekend we have ahead. There is loads of international action and club action to cover. On top of all that action there is loads of news and transactions to cover from the week. We have to discuss the match results, team news and transactions as we prepare for The Weekend Rugby Preview:
News & Transactions:
Top 14: Clermont have rewarded full-back Nick Abendanon for his excellent form over the 2014/15 season with a three-year contract extension at the club. Springbok lock Flip van der Merwe is heading to Clermont after being granted an early release from his contract at the Currie Cup Blue Bulls.
Aviva Premiership: New Wales international prop Tomas Francis has extended his contract with Exeter Chiefs. His contract extension was for a further two seasons through to 2017. Joining Francis in extending his contract is promising center Sam Hill, who has signed through to 2018… Worcester completed the signing of veteran Ireland international second row Donncha O’Callaghan from Munster... Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill revealed that the club will not be signing South Africa captain Jean de Villiers. The Leicester Mercury reports that talks between the two parties have ended.
Pro 12: Ospreys confirmed the signing of ighthead prop Oliver Tomaszczyk from the Newcastle Falcons on a short-term contract.
Super Rugby: The Reds have completed their coaching staff for next season with the appointment of former Leinster boss Matt O’Connor as attack coach… Arch-rivals The Waratahs confirmed the re-signing of their assistant coach Nathan Grey, finalising the coaching structure ahead of the 2016 Super Rugby season… South African Loosehead prop Francois van Wyk has signed for another two seasons until the end of 2017 with the Western Force,… The Brumbies announced that wing Lausii Taliauli and tighthead prop Ruan Smith have both signed contract extensions with the franchise… Argentina secured two big names for their Super Rugby team in form of veteran loose forward Juan Manuel Leguizamón and Juan Martin Hernandez as both signed for the new Super Rugby franchise on two-year deals.
USA Rugby: Originally named to the 31-player U.S. roster for Rugby World Cup 2015, US international forward Scott LaValla was replaced by Matt Trouville in the USA Rugby RWC squad Thursday due to a fractured elbow…. AIG Men’s Collegiate All-American head coach and Dartmouth head coach Gavin Hickie is now an author with the release of his first book, “Rugby Revealed.” The book is a great guide for coaches featureing advice from more than 100 international players and coaches on the responsibilities and key skills for each position and demonstrates how these work together to form a successful team in defense and attack… The first Men’s Eagles Sevens High Performance Camp of the 2015-16 cycle has begun at the United States Olympic Committee’s Olympic Training Center. Eleven young athletes traveled to southern California to join 11 residency players and members of the World-Class Athlete Program, as Eagles Head Coach Mike Friday and Assistant Coach Chris Brown look to prepare for the 2015-16 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. Click here for a look at the roster… Chris Wyles will captain the Men’s Eagles in his 50th international test Saturday, Sept. 5, a 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff against Australia at Soldier Field. Wyles becomes the ninth eagle to amass at least that many caps. Teammate Mike Petri was the most recent eagle to cross the 50 cap threshold earlier this summer.
World Rugby News: Earlier this week, World Rugby gave Japan Rugby 2019 — the local organizing committee of the 2019 Rugby World Cup — until the end of September to produce a revised venue plan and “appropriate financial security,” following the loss of Tokyo’s National Stadium as a venue for the tournament… World Rugby Fans are reminded to only buy from official sources after the discovery of counterfeit Rugby World Cup 2015 tickets in circulation. … Kane Thompson (Samoa) has been suspended for two weeks (two matches) after being ordered off by referee John Lacey for striking an opponent, Saia Faingaa, in Samoa’s match against the Barbarians at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, on 29th August… Tickets have gone on sale for the HSBC Sydney 7s, round four of the 2015-16 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series on 6-7 February at Allianz Stadium… The Asia Rugby Sevens Series gets underway this weekend with Hong Kong and China looking to defend their respective men’s and women’s titles. Click here for the World Rugby press release on the tournament.
The weekend’s fixtures:
Top 14: The #Top14 is back and is getting ready for round 3. Our Ligue Nationale de Rugby expert will likely have a recap of the round next week, but do take time to check out the great preview he has put together and Click here. The schedule for this weekend will see Oyonnax face the aforementioned Clermont Auvergne, La Rochelle against Brive, and Grenoble play Pau. Agen will welcome Racing 92, Toulouse will travel to Castres, Bordeaux and Montpellier clash, and finally in a clash of titans Stade Francias meet Toulon.
Here is the schedule:
Sat – 05th Sep 15
Oyonnax – Clermont Auvergne
La Rochelle – Brive
Grenoble – Pau
Agen – Racing 92
Toulouse – Castres
Sun – 06th Sep 15
Bordeaux Begles – Montpellier
Stade Francais – Toulon
Guinness Pro 12: The Pro 12 is back getting ready for its kickoff weekend. Our newest expert and Pro 12 correspondent begun his reign with an exciting preview of all the round 1 matches. To check out his preview, please Click here.
World Cup Warm-up: This weekend is the final week of RWC warm-up matches before the World Cup. The final tune-up matches began with Canada edging out Georgia on Wednesday. On Saturday, England face Ireland, Wasps play Samoa, and Leicester Tigers are against Argentina. Japan will tackle Georgia, Wales and Italy will tangle, Romania will face a stern test from Tonga, France meet Scotland, and of course the big USA versus Australia match finishes off Saturday. Uruguay‘s final warm-up will be against a Basque Selection side and Canada will suit up against Fiji.
Here are the results:
Wed – 02nd Sep 15
Canada 16 – 15 Georgia
Here is the schedule:
Sat – 05th Sep 15
England – Ireland
Wasps – Samoa
Leicester Tigers – Argentina
Japan – Georgia
Wales – Italy
Romania – Tonga
France – Scotland
USA – Australia
Sun – 06th Sep 15
Uruguay – Basque Selection
Canada – Fiji
ITM Cup: We still have a preview of the season available, CLICK HERE to check it out. The fourth round began with Taranaki taking down Counties-Manukau, Canterbury completely destroyed Manawatu, Tasman doubled up Otago. The upcoming matches will see Waikato take on Auckland, Southland face Wellington, and Hawkes Bay will welcome North Harbour. On Sunday we will see the two clubs from Wednesday have a quick turnaround as Taranaki travel to Northland and Counties will host Bay of Plenty.
Here are the results:
Wed – 02nd Sep 15
Taranaki 17 – 10 Counties-Manukau
Thu – 03rd Sep 15
Manawatu 7 – 57 Canterbury
Fri – 04th Sep 15
Otago 17 – 34 Tasman
Here is the schedule:
Sat – 05th Sep 15
Waikato – Auckland
Southland – Wellington
Hawkes Bay – North Harbour
Sun – 06th Sep 15
Northland – Taranaki
Counties Manukau – Bay Of Plenty
Currie Cup: The 77th edition of the Currie Cup is covered in our season preview, HERE. As for round 5, this weekend, we have seen the Blue Bulls fight off the Free State Cheetahs . We will see the Natal Sharks will host the Pumas, Western Province tackle Griquas, and the Golden Lions will face the Eastern Province Kings.
Here are the results:
Fri – 04th Sep 15
Blue Bulls 24 – 17 Free State Cheetahs
Here is the schedule:
Sat – 05th Sep 15
Sharks – Pumas
Western Province – Griquas
Golden Lions – Eastern Province Kings
Aus. NRC: Australia’s third tier competition goes into its second year as the National Rugby Championship has kicked off. We took the time to provide a preview and explain the competition, just CLICK HERE. Those with New York Rugby Club ties like me, will be supporting the defending champs Brisbane City since one of their feeder clubs, is New York’s sister club West (Brisbane) Bulldogs. To kickoff the weekend, in a Thursday match, the Melbourne Rising won a shootout against the North Harbour Rays. Over the weekend, we will see the Canberra Vikings welcome the Greater Sydney Rams, the Sydney Stars will host the Perth Spirit. Sunday will see the second installment of the Queensland derby as Queensland Country welcome their city cousins, Brisbane City, to Toowoomba.
Here are the results:
Thu – 03rd Sep 15
North Harbour Rays 40 – 45 Melbourne Rising
Here is the schedule:
Sat – 05th Sep 15
University of Canberra Vikings – Greater Sydney Rams
Sydney Stars – Perth Spirit
Sun – 06th Sep 15
Queensland Country – Brisbane City
That’s it for now! Feel free to comment below, look for and “Like” our Facebook Rugby Wrap Up Page and follow us on Twitter@: RugbyWrapUp, Junoir Blaber, James Harrington, Jamie Wall, Nick Hall, DJ Eberle, Jake Frechette, Scheenagh Harrington, Jamie Loyd, Cody Kuxmann, Karen Ritter, Audrey Youn, Akweley Okine, Rocky Brown and Declan Yeats, respectively.
And as always, stay low and keep pumping those legs!
