NEW YORK, NY – It has been another busy week for us at RWU. We don’t have much time to get into anything but the real deal. So let’s get into The Weekend Rugby Preview:
News & Transactions:
Aviva Premiership: Sale Sharks announced the signing of former South African international tighthead prop Brian Mujati on a two-year deal… Newcastle Falcons announced that lock/backrow Sean Robinson has signed a three-year contract extension with the club… New Zealand winger Charles Piutau will join Wasps next season before heading to Belfast to link up with Ulster. The 23 year-old full-back/wing/centre will join Wasps on a one-season-deal for the 2015/16 season, having already signed for Ulster for the following season, and will arrive at Wasps after his ITM Cup commitments.
Pro 12: Glasgow Warriors boss Gregor Townsend hopes to have Australian wing Taqele Naiyaravoro available for selection as soon as possible. Townsend revealed that the visa process was underway and hopes to have Naiyaravoro involved with the Glasgow squad before the fixture against Munster at the end of the month.
USA Rugby: Our friends at Stars Rugby, announced that their Elite Women 7s side are set to return to Australia’s Central Coast 7s 24 & 25 October, 2015. After reaching the Bowl Finals in their debut in 2014 the team is looking forward to stronger showing deep into the Cup Round. For more info click here.
World Rugby News: World Rugby committed to closing the performance gap, the global governing body has injected approximately £34 million for the period 2012-15 directly into the 10 tier two nations (Canada, Fiji, Georgia, Japan, Namibia, Romania, Samoa, Tonga, Uruguay and USA) participating in Rugby World Cup 2015… World Rugby targets next generation of players with a hard-hitting message about the pitfalls of drug use and its zero-tolerance approach click here… World Rugby confirmed details of a package of law trials that will be trialed domestically within the current quadrennial law review process. Trials will take place in national competitions during 2015-16 season with the successful ones taken forward to global trial from 2017. The full package of law trials can be viewed here… South Africa are Commonwealth Games rugby sevens champions at both senior and under-18 level after the young Blitzbokke beat Australia 31-20 in the final of the 2015 Youth Commonwealth Games in Apia, Samoa… RWC 2015 announced a disciplinary team and process for naughty boys. World Rugby confirmed an experienced disciplinary team for Rugby World Cup 2015, underscoring its commitment to the clear and consistent application of the disciplinary process and rules at rugby’s showcase event. Selected on merit, the team – representing 11 nations – comprises 11 citing commissioners, 10 judicial officers and four appeal officers, who will preside over all disciplinary matters concerning on-field acts of foul play and any misconduct matters that might arise… Global luxury Swiss watchmaker Tissot has been named as official timekeeper of RWC 2015.
The weekend’s fixtures:
Top 14: The 2015/2016 #Top14 is slowing building momentum. Our Ligue Nationale de Rugby expert has put together a great preview of the season if you Click here. Castres were able to keep their good form and take down Oyonnax. Set to meet this weekend are Toulon and La Rochelle, Racing will play Grenoble, Montpellier against Stade, Clermont battle Bordeaux, Brive will battle Agen and Pau will tackle Toulouse.
Here are the results:
Fri – 11th Sep 15
Castres 35–26 Oyonnax
Here is the schedule:
Sat – 12th Sep 15
Toulon – La Rochelle
Racing – Grenoble
Montpellier – Stade Français
Clermont – Bordeaux
Brive – Agen
Pau – Toulouse
Guinness Pro 12: The Pro 12 is back and just had its kickoff weekend. Our newest expert and Pro 12 correspondent has a season preview, if you click here. As for all the round 2 action, Dragons blanked Zebre, Glasgow scraped by Connacht. Fixtures yet to come are Scarlets play Ulster, Treviso challenge Edinburgh, Leinster play Cardiff and Ospreys will welcome Munster.
Here are the results:
Fri – 11th Sep 15
Newport Gwent Dragons 13 – 0 Zebre
Glasgow Warriors 33 – 32 Connacht
Here is the schedule:
Sat – 12th Sep 15
Scarlets – Ulster
Benetton Treviso – Edinburgh
Leinster – Cardiff Blues
Sun – 13th Sep 15
Ospreys – Munster
European Nations Cup:The ENC, or the 6 Nations “B” , is the premier tournament for the second-tier nations of Europe. Believe it or not, the ENC consists of seven divisions, each featuring between four and six teams. The matches played will determine who will get promoted and relegated from groups 1B, 2A – 2D, and 3A over a two-year cycle. Division 1A aka the 6 Nations B is where the six best teams in the rest of Europe reside and there is no promotion to the Europe’s premier international rugby competition, only relegation back to 1B… In 1B action, Sweden will play Poland.
Here is the schedule:
Sat – 12th Sep 15
1B: Sweden – Poland
ITM Cup: We still have a preview of the season available, CLICK HERE to check it out. The fifth round began with Auckland easily beat Manawatu, Waikato edged out Southland and Tasman easily defeated Wellington. Set for action this weekend are North Harbour against Counties Manukau, Bay of Plenty play Taranaki, Canterbury host Hawkes Bay. On the short turnaround are Auckland to play Otago and Manawatu play Northland.
Here are the results:
Wed – 09th Sep 15
Auckland 45 – 28 Manawatu
Thu – 10th Sep 15
Waikato 30 – 25 Southland
Fri – 11th Sep 15
Wellington 17 – 36 Tasman
Here is the schedule:
Sat – 12th Sep 15
North Harbour – Counties Manukau
Bay Of Plenty – Taranaki
Canterbury – Hawkes Bay
Sun – 13th Sep 15
Auckland – Otago
Manawatu – Northland
Currie Cup: The 77th edition of the Currie Cup is covered in our season preview, HERE. As for round 6, this weekend, we have seen the Eastern Province Kings down a man yet still win against the Free State Cheetahs . We will see the Griquas host the Pumas, Western Province travel to the Natal Sharks, and the Golden Lions are on the road against the Golden Lions.
Here are the results:
Fri – 04th Sep 15
EP Kings 32 – 24 Free State
Here is the schedule:
Sat – 05th Sep 15
Griquas – Pumas
Sharks – Western Province
Blue Bulls – Golden Lions
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 Brisbane City dominated against the North Harbour Rays. Over the weekend, we will see the NSW Country Eagles take on the Sydney Stars, the Greater Sydney Rams will host QueensMujati, Naiyaravoro, Law Trials, Top14, Pro 12, USA Rugby and World Rugby Newsland County and Perth Spirit welcome Canberra Vikings.
Here are the results:
Thu – 03rd Sep 15
Brisbane City 55 – 29 North Harbour Rays
Here is the schedule:
Sat – 05th Sep 15
NSW Country Eagles – Sydney Stars
Greater Sydney Rams – Queensland Country
Sun – 06th Sep 15
Perth Spirit – Canberra Vikings
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!
