NEW YORK, NY – The year is officially coming close to an end with the first weekend in December wrapping up. This weekend we say the kickoff of the World 7s circuit as well as lots of news, transactions and games from all over Europe and the world. With that said, lets get into the Global Rugby Recap.
News & Transactions:
Aviva Premiership: Exeter and England center Henry Slade will be out until April after he sustaining a broken leg and ankle damage against Wasps on Saturday… Leicester Tigers were busy the last few days as 4 players re-signed with the club. The players are England international scrum-half Ben Youngs, fly-half Freddy Burns, club captain and lock Ed Slater and finally the much speculated about center Manu Tuilagi… Harlequins director of rugby Conor O’Shea has dismissed rumors that he will become Italy head coach, saying he is happy at Harlequins.
Guinness Pro 12: The Irish Times state that the two French clubs, Bordeaux-Bègles and Montpellier, are pursuing Ireland fly-half Ian Madigan‘s signature, joining English sides Harlequins and Bristol as possible suitors for the 26-year-old… Ospreys and Wales fly-half Dan Biggar has become the first player to re-sign a National Dual Contract (NDC) after committing his future to his region and in Wales... Munster and the IRFU (Irish Rugby Football Union) have confirmed that flanker Tommy O’Donnell has signed a three-year deal that will see him remain with the province until at least June 2019.
Top 14: Georgia second-row Konstantin Mikautadze will leave Toulon at the end of the season to join Top 14 rivals Montpellier. Mikautadze’s arrival compensates for the upcoming departure of Wallaby lock Sitaleki Timani to Clermont Auvergne.
Super Rugby: The Reds signed Canterbury lock Ben Matwijow as injury cover for Kane Douglas for the upcoming Super Rugby season… Brumbies playmaker Christian Lealiifano is set to receive a flexible contract from the Canberra-based franchise in a bid to keep him in Australia. The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) introduced flexible contract arrangements which will allow players an option to maximize their earning potential during Australia’s off-season without jeopardizing their chances of representing their country… Former Australia head coach Robbie Deans has ruled out the prospect of him taking over the Japan national side or the Super Rugby franchise… Cwengile Jadezweni of Western Province is the latest addition to the South African Referees Elite Panel, where he will replace Jason Jaftha… New Zealand’s five Super Rugby franchises have revealed their new jerseys for the 2016 season (see left). The strips were designed in conjunction with Maori All Blacks Kaumatua Luke Crawford and renowned local artist Dave Burke.
USA Rugby: Americas Rugby Championship announced the schedule for the 2016 inaugural competition featuring six of North and South America’s top-ranked international rugby union teams. The United States’ Men’s National Team, known as the Eagles, will play three consecutive home matches in Houston, Texas; Austin, Texas; and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida against Argentina, Canada and Chile, respectively. Initially agreed to between executive members of the respective unions under the guidance of the Americas Rugby Association, the groundbreaking Americas Rugby Championship will provide Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, the U.S., and Uruguay with five additional rankings tests annually. Please CLICK HERE for the full schedule of matches, including dates.
It was fall championships weekend for USA Rugby with 3 divisions between men and women decided at Furman University in Greenville, S.C. Davenport defeated Winona 27-22 to win the 2015 USA Rugby Women’s Division II College Fall Championship and Bloomsburg beat Vassar 43-22 to secure third set for . Reigning National Champion Minnesota-Duluth defeated Wisconsin-Whitewater 25-19 to win their third title in 4 years at the 2015 Men’s Division II National Championship. For the Women’s Division I Fall Championship Air Force fell to University of Connecticut 19-12.
World Rugby: Thom Evans came through his first bit of competitive rugby since 2010 with a try-scoring return at the Dubai International Open. Evans scored two tries in the first two minutes of a 45-0 win for the UR7s Wanderers. The Scotland international was forced to retire in 2010 after suffering a serious injury playing in the Six Nations against Wales, where he almost broke his neck… The latest edition of the World Rugby national rankings are out. VIEW THE FULL RANKINGS HERE.
The weekend’s fixtures:
Dubai 7s Womens: The 2015/2016 HSBC World Rugby Womens 7s Series kicked of in Dubai. Please CLICK HERE for our review of all the action.
Dubai 7s Mens: The 2015/2016 HSBC World Rugby Mens 7s Series also kicking off this weekend in Dubai. For a look at the tournament from a USA perspective and review of the tournament CLICK HERE for our review
Aviva Premiership: The 2015/2016 Aviva Premiership is moving on at an impressive pace. This weekend began with Gloucester edging out Sale. Saturday saw Harlequins smashing an out of form London Irish, Worcester Warriors fell to Leicester, Bath came up agonizingly short against Northampton in the game of the weekend and Wasps fell big to Exeter. Finally game of the weekend saw an over-match Newcastle go down to Saracens.
Here are the results:
Fri – 4 Dec 2015
Gloucester 23-19 Sale Sharks
Sat – 5 Dec 2015
Harlequins 38-7 London Irish
Worcester Warriors 20-29 Leicester Tigers
Bath 11-13 Northampton Saints
London Wasps 27-41 Exeter Chiefs
Sun – 6 Dec 2015
Newcastle Falcons 3-38 Saracens
Top 14: The 2015/2016 #Top14 is also hitting its stride with the importance of matches only growing bigger. It was Friday night lights as Pau drew with Racing 92. Saturday saw Toulon dominated against Agen, Castres surprised Montpellier, La Rochelle won big at home against Grenoble, Stade Francais were shocked at home by Bordeaux-Begles and David fell to Goliath when Oyonnax lost to Toulouse. Final match of the weekend will saw Clermont move back to first with their win over Brive.
Here are the results:
Fri – 4 Dec 2015
Pau 15-15 Racing Metro
Sat – 5 Dec 2015
Toulon 53-23 Agen
Castres 34-19 Montpellier
La Rochelle 33-16 Grenoble
Stade Francais 21-24 Bordeaux Begles
Toulouse 27-3 Oyonnax
Sun – 6 Dec 2015
Brive 21-26 Clermont Auvergne
Guinness Pro 12: The Pro 12 season will not be lacking in intensity either as its season gains momentum. This weekend saw Cardiff shock the in-form Connacht, Edinburgh fell on the road at Ulster to begin the weekend. The weekend proper saw Treviso almost take down Scarlets and Glasgow against Leinster was postponed due to torrential rains courtesy of Storm Desmond. The final matches of the weekend saw Ospreys in Italy cruising by Zebre and Newport-Gwent had surprisingly easy time against Munster.
Here are the results:
Fri – 4 Dec 2015
Cardiff Blues 20-16 Connacht
Ulster 14-7 Edinburgh
Sat – 5 Dec 2015
Benetton Treviso 20-22 Scarlets
Glasgow Warriors 0-0 Leinster (postponed)
Sun – 6 Dec 2015
Zebre 22-39 Ospreys
Newport Gwent Dragons 22-6 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 just did enough to beat Costa Rica and El Salvador were no match for Panama.
Here are the results:
Sat – 6 Dec 2015
CONSUR C: Guatemala 19-17 Costa Rica
CONSUR C: El Salvador 0-32 Panama
The midweek will see Guatemala play Panama and El Salvador face Costa Rica.
Here is the schedule
Wed – 9 Dec 2015
CONSUR C: Guatemala – Panama
CONSUR C: El Salvador – Costa Rica
Tour: Germany ‘s tour of Brazil ended undefeated as they easily handled the host in front of a record crowd.
Here are the results:
Sat – 6 Dec 2015
Brazil 7 – 31 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, Kyle Phillips, Rocky Brown and Declan Yeats, respectively.
And remember to stay low and keep pumping those legs!
