Super Rugby 2017

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...d-to-mount-credible-Super-Rugby-title-defence

Hurricanes working hard to mount credible Super Rugby title defence

Never mind Christmas; it's January 30 the Hurricanes coaches are counting the sleeps till.

That's the day the team's All Blacks return from holiday and Chris Boyd and company can really start plotting the defence of their Super Rugby title.

Fifteen of the 38-strong 2017 squad reported for pre-season duty, three weeks ago. By January 9 only Dane Coles, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Julian Savea and Ardie Savea will remain unsighted.

Boyd's job is to make sure the quintet walk into an environment that invigorates them.

"Everybody's in this together and we know that if we can get a groundswell of standards and enthusiasm from the young guys, hopefully when the older guys come back they'll just be swept along by what's going on," Boyd said.

That's easier said than done. For the players who have taken a full part in the pre-season, the torturous conditioning work might be more bearable if there was some reward for it.

Instead they'll have the honour of standing aside for players who've now climbed the Super Rugby mountain and could be forgiven for being more enthused by the prospect of the British and Irish Lions, than round one against the Sunwolves on February 25.

It's going to take some skill to cater to everyone's conflicting aspirations.

"It's really important that we don't rely on them to pull us along," said Boyd of the team's late-returning stars.

"We need to operate independently of our All Blacks and our best players and, when they come back, if we've got a real purpose and a real determination and a real set of standards that these guys have adhered to, then they [can] get swept along."

For those who have been training, this week will be marked by skinfold tests and weigh-ins, which will be repeated when they reassemble from their Christmas break on January 9. By then New Zealand Maori players such as Matt Proctor and non-playing All Blacks tourists Vaea Fifita and Jordie Barrett will be ready to make their first appearances of the pre-season.
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http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...uys-joins-southern-kings-for-2017-super-rugby

Tasman Makos prop Ross Geldenhuys joins Southern Kings for 2017 Super Rugby

Ross Geldenhuys is heading home to continue his Super Rugby career in South Africa before returning to the Tasman Makos.

The 33-year-old prop has joined the Southern Kings after spending the past two seasons with the Highlanders, having won the Super Rugby championship in 2015.

Geldenhuys made his debut for the Lions in 2008 but it was a move to New Zealand in 2014 that reignited his professional career, going on to play 21 times for the Highlanders after making a name for himself as an experienced scrummager with Tasman in the Mitre 10 Cup.

Not re-signed by Tony Brown's side for 2017, Geldenhuys has instead opted to pursue an opportunity with the Port Elizabeth-based Kings.
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The Sunwolves are still waiting on players to be released by the Kintetsu Liners, Munakata Sanix Blues, Toyota Industries Shuttles and Toyota Verblitz. Apparently, they are still in negotiations. These players are likely to include Taiyo Ando, Katsuyuki Sakai and Karne Hesketh. There is also rumour that more Panasonic, Kobe, Suntory and Yamaha players will be made available.
 
Toulon boss calls any president who signs Goosen a ‘bastard’
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Spri...president-who-signs-goosen-a-bastard-20161221

Cape Town - Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal has called any other club president who signs Johan Goosen, a "bastard".

Springbok fullback Goosen announced his shock retirement from rugby last week, reportedly to take up a commercial director’s job in South Africa.

Goosen's French club, Racing 92, were left fuming and threatened the 24-year-old with legal action.

Goosen signed a contract extension with Racing 92 earlier this year, increasing his salary to €500 000 (R7.27 million) per year.

It has widely been speculated that Goosen made the move in an attempt to get out of his contract with Racing 92.

However, on Tuesday there was a twist to the Goosen saga, when he was reportedly linked with a move to English club, Gloucester.

It was reported by the French website Midi Olympique that Goosen could join the English club and has held discussions with Mohed Altrad, who is the owner of French club Montpellier and who is set to become the English club's majority shareholder.

Boudjellal wasn't impressed by Goosen's behavior and was quoted by Rugby Rama website as stating, "Whichever club president signs Goosen next is a bastard."

"What he does is a breach of his contract. When a player has such an attitude, he must find closed doors everywhere."

"If a president signs, it puts all the other presidents of the Top 14 in danger. When you sign a contract with a player, you already do not have many rights but many obligations. If a president recruits him, there will be even fewer rights."

Goosen was named Top 14 Player of the Season for 2015/16 after helping Racing 92 to the French title and reaching the European Rugby Champions Cup final.

Goosen has 13 caps for South Africa since making his debut in 2012, and started at fullback for the Springboks in their most recent Test defeat against Wales.

Goosen moved to France in 2014 after beginning his career with the Cheetahs in Super Rugby
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Goosen should not be allowed to play for any other pro team ever again. Who the hell does he think he is? Does work contracts somehow not apply to him. Terrible, just terrible.
 
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rug...rfu-give-green-light-to-munster-35321907.html

Jaco Taute signs a six-month extension as IRFU give green light to Munster

Munster received a big double boost last night as they headed into the second half of the Guinness Pro12 season top of the table and having signed South African centre Jaco Taute on a six-month extension.

The popular Springbok has been a leading light in the province's revival this season and was an influential figure in their comprehensive, bonus-point win over rivals Leinster last night as Simon Zebo, Ronan O'Mahony, Tommy O'Donnell and CJ Stander crossed for tries in a 29-17 win.

The Irish Independent understands that the province have agreed a deal with the player to remain and have been given approval by the IRFU who have looked favourably on their situation despite New Zealand centre Francis Saili's return from injury last night.

An announcement is due in the coming days. Taute was initially signed as injury cover for the All Black and his initial contract expires on New Year's Eve, but his remit could extend to covering across the backline in the coming months as injuries mount.
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Well then, the Stormers must look deep…
 
It is too bad for Japanese rugby that a team does not consist of just 15 scrummies.
 
http://www.skysports.com/rugby-unio...olavola-joins-melbourne-rebels-in-super-rugby

Fiji fly-half Ben Volavola joins Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby

Fiji international fly-half Ben Volavola has signed a one-year contract with the Melbourne Rebels following an unsuccessful stint in New Zealand with the Crusaders.

The 25-year-old, who started all four of Fiji's games at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, had joined the seven-time Super Rugby champions Crusaders from the Waratahs to help fill the void left by the departure of Dan Carter.

However, he struggled to get regular playing time in Christchurch where local lad Richie Mo'unga was preferred ahead of him.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue my career in Melbourne," said Volavola.
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http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/u...bal-10s-to-provide-spark-20170106-gtmwiu.html

Sponsor drought hits 2017 Super Rugby but Sevens, Global 10s to provide spark

The Australian Rugby Union is still searching for a major sponsor for Super Rugby less than seven weeks from the start of the new season.

Administrators remain confident they can avoid a fire sale of the world's best-known provincial rugby competition, which has been plagued by confusion over the current format and doubt surrounding a strategic review.

ARU chief operating officer Rob Clarke said the union was in talks with "two or three" international brands over Christmas and expected to finalise a deal before the competition kicks off on February 23.
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http://www.skysports.com/rugby-unio...uares-name-six-new-faces-in-super-rugby-squad

Los Jaguares name six new faces in Super Rugby squad

The Jaguares have named six newcomers in their 44-man squad for the 2017 Super Rugby season.

Among the new faces are backs Bautista Ezcurra and Santiago Alvarez, who played for the Pumas Sevens team at the Rio Olympics, and back-rower Benjamin Macome, who has returned home after playing for Bayonne in France.

The Argentine franchise also welcome back three players who were injured last year, missing several matches for the Pumas national team - forwards Tomas Lavanini and Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro and full-back Emiliano Boffelli.

...

Veteran back Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino has been dropped, having also been overlooked for the Pumas' November test tour of Japan and Europe.
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http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/38523682

David Ribbans: Western Stormers lock joins Northampton Saints

Premiership side Northampton Saints have signed lock David Ribbans from South African club Western Stormers.

Ribbans, 21, made his debut for Stormers in 2015, and was part of the squad which reached the quarter-finals of Super Rugby in 2016.
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Not only are the Stormers losing their starters, but also their depth…
 
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