NEW YORK, NY – It is the first weekend of the last month of the year. That makes it just another weekend in rugby world. We do have the kickoff of the World 7s circuit though. We also have lots of news, transactions and games from all over Europe and the world to cover. With that, lets dive into the Weekend Rugby Preview.
News & Transactions:
World Rugby: Springbok head coach Heyneke Meyer has stepped down from his international position, it was confirmed by the South Africa Rugby Union. Meyer has told SARU that he no longer wished to be considered as a candidate to coach the Springboks. He communicated his desire to stand aside to SARU following a recent meeting with Oregan Hoskins, SARU president, and the CEO, Jurie Roux.
Aviva Premiership: Having been linked with the Scarlets earlier this week, Wasps have now entered the frame as a possible destination for Toulon fullback Leigh Halfpenny… London Irish completed the signing of second-row Will Lloyd, who will join the club from Auckland for the remainder of the season… Sale Sharks are reportedly facing stiff competition from Wasps to sign in-form Sale hooker Tommy Taylor to a new contract… Worcester Warriors announced that experienced scrum-half Jonny Arr has signed a new contract with the club… Bath head coach Mike Ford believes forwards coach Neal Hatley should stay with the club even if England came calling with a job.
Guinness Pro 12: Ulster announced that hooker Rob Herring has signed a new two-year contract, keeping him at the province 2017/18… Munster and the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) announced that CJ Stander has signed a two-year contract extension beginning the end of this season through to June 2018.
Top 14: Clermont and France scrum-half Morgan Parra has signed a huge four-year contract extension with the Top 14 giants… Toulon announced that France outside centre Mathieu Bastareaud has inked a five-year contract extension. Toulouse announced the signing of France international Sofiane Guitoune to a three-year contract from his club Bordeaux-Bègles. Guitoune can be used at center, wing or full-back and is set to join the club at the end of this season.
Super Rugby: Brent Janse van Rensburg will no longer operate as the head coach of the EP Kings, as confirmed by Eastern Province rugby earlier this week.
USA Rugby: This weekend, Four championship-caliber rugby programs advanced to the 2015 USA Rugby Women’s Division II College Fall Championship Semifinals, set for Furman University in Greenville, S.C., Dec. 5-6. For more info click here. Reigning National Champion Minnesota-Duluth Minnesota-Duluth will take part in a rematch of the 2013 DII title game when they tangle with Salisbury and Towson St. will contend with Wisconsin-Whitewater in the 2015 Men’s Division II National Championship Semifinals. For more info click here. Unlikely programs will play on Dec. 6, for the Women’s Division I Fall Championship when Regional Playoff winners Air Force and University of Connecticut also do battle at Furman University.
The weekend’s fixtures:
Dubai 7s Womens: The 2015/2016 HSBC World Rugby Womens 7s Series kicked off in Dubai this morning. It was filled with disappoint for USA fans, see Jake Frechette‘s article for details. The USA’s disappointing performance was matched in excitement by the play of upstarts Russia and Japan. To your left is a look at the quaterfinal match-ups and below is a look at all the highlights from day 1.
Dubai 7s Mens: The 2015/2016 HSBC World Rugby Mens 7s Series is also kicking off this weekend in Dubai. For a look at the tournament from a USA perspective and projections, check out our preview.
Aviva Premiership: The 2015/2016 Aviva Premiership is moving on at an impressive pace. The matches only pick up more significance the closer we get to Christmas This weekend will begin with Gloucester hosting Sale. Saturday sees Harlequins facing an out of form London Irish, Worcester Warriors will clash with Leicester, Bath will face Northampton in the game of the weekend and Wasps do battle with Exeter in a tasty affair. Finally game of the weekend will see an over-match Newcastle go up against Saracens.
Here is the schedule:
Fri – 4 Dec 2015
Gloucester – Sale Sharks
Sat – 5 Dec 2015
Harlequins – London Irish
Worcester Warriors – Leicester Tigers
Bath – Northampton Saints
London Wasps – Exeter Chiefs
Sun – 6 Dec 2015
Newcastle Falcons – Saracens
Top 14: The 2015/2016 #Top14 is also hitting its stride with the importance of matches only growing bigger. It will be Friday night lights as Pau host Racing 92. Saturday sees Toulon welcome Agen, Castres and Montpellier, La Rochelle will roll out the welcome mat for Grenoble, Stade Francais will be challenged by Bordeaux-Begles and David meets Goliath when Oyonnax plays Toulouse. Final match of the weekend will see Clermont travel to Brive.
Here is the schedule:
Fri – 4 Dec 2015
Pau – Racing 92
Sat – 5 Dec 2015
Toulon – Agen
Castres – Montpellier
La Rochelle – Grenoble
Stade Francais – Bordeaux Begles
Toulouse – Oyonnax
Sun – 6 Dec 2015
Brive – Clermont Auvergne
Guinness Pro 12: The Pro 12 season will not be lacking in intensity either as its season gains momentum. This weekend sees Cardiff host Connacht, Edinburgh travel to Ulster to begin the weekend. The weekend proper kicks off with Treviso playing Scarlets and Glasgow against Leinster. The final matches of the weekend will have the Ospreys in Italy playing Zebre and Newport-Gwent versus Munster.
Here is the schedule:
Fri – 4 Dec 2015
Cardiff Blues – Connacht
Ulster – Edinburgh
Sat – 5 Dec 2015
Benetton Treviso – Scarlets
Glasgow Warriors – Leinster
Sun – 6 Dec 2015
Zebre – Ospreys
Newport Gwent Dragons – Munster
Sudamerica Rugby: Formerly the SAMC now just Sudamerica Ruby is the same as the ENC – except it’s South America, a minor detail – and that it has 4 divisions featuring 15 teams. It is the battle to find the 2nd best team in South America with Argentina the firm number 1. The top division is called the CONSUR division and features Argentina’s B team, Uruguay and Chile. Speaking of the CONSUR, there is a B and C division and the C division is playing this weekend in El Salvador. Guatemala play Costa Rica and El Salvador will take on Panama.
Here is the schedule
Sat – 6 Dec 2015
CONSUR C: Guatemala – Costa Rica
CONSUR C: El Salvador – Panama
Tour: Germany ‘s tour of Brazil continues as they face each other in the second test of the tour. a
Here is the schedule
Sat – 6 Dec 2015
Brazil – Germany
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, Ronan Nelson, Kaitlin McCabe, Rocky Brown and Declan Yeats, respectively.
And remember to stay low and keep pumping those legs!
