Blackadder, IRFU, Teichmann, 6N, Rugby Europe Sevens Grand Prix

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Toddy Blackadder's been frowning a lot lately — *Todd Blackadder*

NEW YORK, NY – I don’t know how we are at this place again?! I am confused too, but instead of trying to make sense of the world that seems to be going madder every time you turn around, we will continue to do the only thing we know how to do, report rugby news. As we said on Friday, this is how we refuse to yield to the madness.

For rugby fans, the dog days of July are here. The fixture schedule for international matches becomes lighter and so does the fixture list for club competitions. That doesn’t mean there is not plenty to report on. We have another quality Weekend Rugby Preview for you, with news re: Todd Blackadder, IRFU funding, Gary Teichmann, Moving the 6N In April, the 2016 Rugby Europe Sevens Grand Prix and more… so without delay, let’s begin.

News & Transactions:

Aviva Premiership: Bath are reportedly negotiating with former Super Rugby Crusaders head coach Todd Blackadder and his assistant Tabai Matson about taking over the coaching reins at the club.

Pro 12: Philip Browne, Chief Executive of the Irish Rugby Football Union, has warned that the IRFU can no longer be the “lender of last resort” for the professional game as the governing body does not have the capacity to absorb ever-increasing player wage inflation… Edinburgh have confirmed the signing of Tongan international back-row Viliami Fihaki, who will join from Sale Sharks on a two-year deal.

Super Rugby: Dean Mumm and Tatafu Polota-Nau are still weighing up their options for 2017 following the end of the Waratahs Super Rugby campaign and cannot confirm they will return to the franchise… Reports reveal that former SA Rugby Springbok skipper Gary Teichmann is in pole position to take over the reins at the Sharks. According to the Sunday Tribune newspaper, the former Sharks captain could replace current CEO John Smit, who will leave his post in October.

USA Rugby: The Team USA 2016 Olympic 7s teams roster for both the men and women have been released. The 29 man touring side for the 2016 USA Rugby AIG Men’s Collegiate All-Americans Tour to Queensland sponsored by WellDog has been announced. The list features players that have been capped with the Eagles in 15s and 7s, a Pro Rugby player, and players from the D1A and Varsity Cup final. For the full list, click here.

World Rugby: The northern hemisphere’s premier international tournament is set for major changes, according the Welsh Rugby Union chairman Gareth Davies. The Six Nations organizers are set to meet in the coming weeks with many issues to be discussed, including the potential moving the tournament to April, Promotion & relegation and more according to Davies… The latest movers and shakers in the world of Rugby has been confirmed with the latest version of the World Rugby Rankings released; View the full rankings

The weekend’s fixtures:

PRO Rugby: Round 14 of the inaugural season of PRO rugby just finished and it was a home team sweep. San Diego had no answer to their hosts, San Francisco‘s attack in a California derby match. While Sacramento were thrashed and left Denver empty-handed. For analysis and review, Luke Bienstock will be publishing a piece later in the week.

Here are the results:
Sat – 16 Jul 2016
San Diego 26-50 San Francisco
Sun – 17 Jul 2016
Sacramento 13-59 Denver

Super Rugby: This weekend concluded the 20th regular season of competition for Super Rugby. The last round of fixtures started with the Blues being too strong for the Waratahs in Auckland. Across the Tasman, in an Aussie derby, the Reds fell to the Rebels and the Sharks roughed up the Sunwolves. Saturday kicked off with two Kiwi derbies that had playoff position and qualification on the line with the Crusaders falling to the Hurricanes and the Highlanders being to strong for the Chiefs. The Brumbies secured1st place in the Aussie conference by defeating fellow Aussies, the Force. The Stormers thrashed the Kings, the Cheetahs never forced the Bulls out of 1st gear and the Jaguares won against a Lions “B team” as the Lions looked toward the playoffs.

Here is the schedule:
Fri – 15 Jul 2016
Blues 34-28 Waratahs
Reds 28-31 Rebels
Sharks 40-29 Sunwolves
Sat – 16 Jul 2016
Crusaders 10-35 Hurricanes
Highlanders 25-15 Chiefs
Brumbies 24-10 Force
Stormers 52-24 Kings
Cheetahs 17-43 Bulls
Jaguares 34-22 Lions

Rugby Europe Sevens Grand Prix Series: The 2016 Rugby Europe Sevens Grand Prix Series consists of 3 legs, Moscow, Russia (4/5 June), Exeter, England (9/10 July) and Gdynia, Poland (16/17 July). England and Wales have been replaced as Great Britain 1 (Royals) and 2 (Lions). This weekend they were in Gdynia battling it out. It was an all-Great Britain final in the third and final round, with the GB Royals overcoming the GB Lions 26-14 in a hotly-contested final on Sunday. The win makes the GB Royals, the 2016 Rugby Europe Sevens Grand Prix Series champions. Here are the final standings for the round and series.

2016 Rugby Europe Sevens Grand Prix Standings
Final Standings for Leg 3 (Gdynia)
1. Great Britain Royals – 20 points (Cup)
2. Great Britain Lions – 18
3. Russia – 16
4. Spain – 14
5. Italy – 12 (Plate)
6. Georgia – 10
7. France – 8
8. Germany – 6
9. Belgium – 4 (Bowl)
10. Portugal – 3
11. Poland – 2
12. Lithuania – 1

Overall Standings
1. Great Britain Royals – 52
2. Russia – 50
3. France – 44
4. Great Britain Lions – 46
5. Spain – 38
6. Germany – 30
7. Georgia – 26
8. Italy – 24
9. Portugal – 13
10. Belgium – 10
11. Poland – 6
12. Lithuania – 1

Africa Cup: The Africa Cup 2016 will be the sixteenth 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, 2 West, 2 East, and 2 South), with promotion and relegation. In the 1C, there is a three team, week long tournament between Morocco, Mauritius and Nigeria. to determine the division’s winner. In the 1A this weekend, Namibia soundly defeated Kenya while in 1C, Morocco crushed Nigeria to win the 1C division and are up for promotion.

Here are the results:
Sat – 16 Jul 2016
1A: Namibia 61-15 Kenya
Sat – 16 Jul 2016
1C: Morocco 53-10 Nigeria

2016 Currie Cup qualification: The tournament is a competition between which will be played between 9 April and 23 July 2016. It will feature all fourteen South African provincial unions plus the Welwitschias from Namibia and will also serve as a qualifying competition for the 2016 Currie Cup, the 78th edition of South Africa’s premier domestic rugby union competition. Nine teams from this competition will play in the 2016 Currie Cup Premier Division, while the remaining six teams will play in the 2016 Currie Cup First Division. Round fourteen’s fixtures began with the Sharks losing to the Falcons, Eastern Province fell to the Griffons and the Pumas narrowly edged out the Leopards in a cat fight. Saturday began with Western Province dominating Border, a depleted Golden Lions side were still able to defeat SouthWest District, the Blue Bulls romped over the Welwitshias and finally, Free State came up short against Boland.

Here is the schedule:
Fri – 15 Jul 2016
Sharks XV 10-26 Falcons
Eastern Province Kings 24-32 Griffons
Pumas 29-27 Leopards
Sat – 16 Jul 2016
Western Province 52-26 Border Bulldogs
Golden Lions XV 35-29 SWD Eagles
Blue Bulls 95-12 Welwitschias
Free State XV 17-24 Boland Cavaliers