Super Rugby 2017

Lol, I have forgotten about the original naming scheme. The founding name of the Super Rugby franchise for Western Province was the Western Stormers in 1997. DanDango is correct, thanks!
 
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/u...es-forward-lopeti-timani-20170110-gtp9t9.html

Super Rugby 2017: Melbourne Rebels re-sign Wallabies forward Lopeti Timani

Wallabies backrower Lopeti Timani has knocked back interest from cashed-up European clubs to remain in Melbourne for another two Super Rugby seasons.

Timani's contract extension will keep him in Australia up to the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

The 26-year-old made his Wallabies debut from the bench against Argentina in September on the back of 12 appearances for the Rebels last year.

The Tonga-born forward, who can also play lock, has since earned five caps for Australia having been selected for the spring tour in a breakout 12 months.

The powerhouse ball-runner has the potential to lock down the Wallabies No.8 jersey in coming years.
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The Rebels and Wallabies must be happy, Timani had a great 2016 season and pro career up to this day. They were speaking about him leaving in 2016 already, now with Amanaki in the squad they do have the extra depth, it is only that Amanaki might be side-lined or be the dedicated bench-sitter as with most Japanese-sided players. The Rebels has good depth between the loosies, some being utilities which may supersede the need to play Amanaki regularly in the 23.

Oh well… at least the Rebels will be a strong team, on paper.
 
Rugby: Sunwolves gain 3, lose 1 for 2017 Super Rugby season

The Sunwolves named three more players to their squad Thursday for the 2017 Super Rugby season.

Lock Naohiro Kotaki from Toshiba Brave Lupus, who has won seven caps for the Brave Blossoms, gets a recall having played three games for the franchise last year.

NTT Communications Shining Arcs No. 8 Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco and Canon Eagles utility back Michael Bond are also named, both eligible to play for Japan once they have completed their three years' residency.

The franchise also announced that Canon prop Kanta Higashionna has withdrawn from the squad due to injury.
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Good news and bad news.

They do not have many conditioned props, losing Higashionna is a blow to their depth. He is also a Cherry Blossom which will put them a bit back on preparation.

They have retained Kotaki which has little experience playing Super Rugby, but there are only that many ethnic Japanese locks in Japan. Good to have him back.

Warren-Vosayaco, a player the Australians have missed, a recent addition to the NTT Shining Arcs, but have shown to be a more than capable Amanaki substitute. The Shining Arcs are well known to have the best loosie combination in Top League rugby where Warren-Vosayaco didn’t disappoint. I did not expect to see him play Super Rugby now, at 20 years old he has much to learn…

I do not know much about Michael Bond other than him being Australian.

The Sunwolves still lack huge depth in their backline, expect more signings.
 
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...-richie-mounga-locked-in-at-crusaders-to-2019

First five-eighth Richie Mo'unga locked in at Crusaders to 2019

Crusaders first five-eighth Richie Mo'unga has re-signed with the franchise through to the end of the 2019 Super Rugby season.

He had a standout debut season in 2016, playing in every game and ending the year as the competition's fourth highest points scorer.

Crusaders coach Scott Robertson was impressed with how Mo'unga grew in to his role in 2016 and is looking forward to seeing his game develop over the coming seasons.

"Richie is one of Super Rugby's most exciting young stars. He has talent to burn, is composed under pressure and has a mature head on such young shoulders.

He exceeded expectations in his debut season and has the ability to be an important player in the future of Crusaders rugby. We have a proud history of producing exceptional first five-eighths at the Crusaders and Richie has the potential to be among them."

Mo'unga has made quick progress through the rugby ranks, going straight from schoolboy rugby to the Canterbury provincial team in 2013, and then making his Super Rugby debut last year at just 21 years of age.
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http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/ru...-warm-up-matches-ahead-of-Super-Rugby-season1

Lions confirm three warm-up matches ahead of Super Rugby season

The Golden Lions confirmed their pre-Super Rugby schedule on Thursday‚ with a warm-up match against a Barbarians team at Ellis Park‚ another against the Bulls in Harare as well as a game against the Stormers in Cape Town on the schedule.

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The SupaBarbarian team‚ as they are named‚ competes as a Supa Rugby XV team in the Raikes Memorial against Wits annually.
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http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/waratahs-training-with-13-players-20170112

Waratahs training with 13 players

Cape Town - Waratahs defence coach Nathan Grey has revealed his squad is training with 14 men to prepare for playing under the stricter laws this year.

Grey told The Sydney Morning Herald they've even dropped their numbers to 13 in order to become familiar with the probability of cards.

"In terms of management from a coach's perspective, you've got to prepare a bit more for having 14 guys on the field because it's going to happen," he said.

"They've said those accidental things that happen you're going to get carded for, so you need to prepare that way to have 14 or 13 guys on the field a little bit more. You've got to make sure you're ready for that."
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http://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/super-rugby/stormers-sign-five-but-no-big-names-7400761

Stormers sign five, but no big names

After the hullabaloo about the company’s liquidation over the festive season, the Stormers announced that they have signed five players for the new Super Rugby season.

But if we are to be honest, they’re not exactly going to have fans queuing up at the Boundary Road ticket office.

Former Lions Ramone Samuels (hooker) and Stefan de Wit (flank), Pieter-Steph du Toit’s younger brother Johan (loose forward), and Bulls duo SP Marais (fullback) and Dan Kriel (centre and twin brother of Jesse) have joined the Cape outfit, and have been hard at work in pre-season.

But will be of far greater importance to the Stormers and coach Robbie Fleck will be to secure the short-term futures of a number of top performers. The likes of Springboks Eben Etzebeth, Nizaam Carr, Siya Kolisi and others such as Cheslin Kolbe, Scarra Ntubeni, Rynhardt Elstadt and Oli Kebble have all been rumoured to be looking elsewhere after the Super Rugby season, and losing all of them in one go would be a mortal blow to the team’s chances of becoming serious title contenders.

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Their first game of the year is against the Cheetahs in Harare, Zimbabwe on January 28, after which they travel to George to face SWD (February 4). They finish off their preparations against 2016 finalists the Lions at Newlands on February 11.
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http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/bulls-to-lose-botha-to-ulster-20170113

Bulls to lose Botha to Ulster?

Cape Town - The Bulls might be facing a huge setback ahead of their upcoming Super Rugby campaign, with reports that Irish club Ulster are interested in skipper Arno Botha.

According to the independent.ie website, Ulster are "close to capturing" the Springbok loose forward.

If the club do succeed with the signing, Botha will be the second South African flank to join their ranks after they secured the signature of Marcell Coetzee.

The Irish club, however, will need to be granted permission by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) in order to sign Botha.

According to the report, sources suggest that the Bulls are "resigned to losing him" since his contract expires in October this year.
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Jaque Fourie has retired, played his last game with the Kobelco Steelers against the Suntory Sungoliath.

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Just a reminder that the Southern Hemisphere will also play under the revised tackle laws,

http://rugbyreferee.net/2016/12/30/new-high-tackle-laws-from-3-january-2017/

New high tackle laws from 3 January 2017

World Rugby has announced a number of changes to the Laws of the Game to help eliminate the high tackle and reduce the risk of serious injuries.

- Law changes globally from 3 January
- Changes effectively lower the acceptable height of a rugby tackle
- Approach informed by largest-ever study identifying most common situations leading to head injuries
- World Rugby data shows 76% of head injuries are caused in the tackle
- Players, coaches and match officials urged to be proactive in changing culture

[video=youtube;p6SKgwx7syo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6SKgwx7syo[/video]

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The new laws

From 3 January 2017, two new categories of dangerous tackles within Law 10 will carry penalty offences to deter and eradicate high tackles:

Reckless tackle

A player is deemed to have made reckless contact during a tackle or attempted tackle or during other phases of the game if in making contact, the player knew or should have known that there was a risk of making contact with the head of an opponent, but did so anyway. This sanction applies even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders. This type of contact also applies to grabbing and rolling or twisting around the head/neck area even if the contact starts below the line of the shoulders.

Minimum sanction: Yellow card
Maximum sanction: Red card

Accidental tackle

When making contact with another player during a tackle or attempted tackle or during other phases of the game, if a player makes accidental contact with an opponent’s head, either directly or where the contact starts below the line of the shoulders, the player may still be sanctioned. This includes situations where the ball-carrier slips into the tackle.

Minimum sanction: Penalty
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The law -> http://laws.worldrugby.org/index.php?domain=9&language=EN
 
Sunwolves:

Ed Quirk and Harumichi Tatekawa has been named co-captains. Shota Horie, due to being overplayed will set his captaincy aside.

The UK media has reported that Tony Brown will replace Pat Lam as Connacht’s director. Tony Brown has dismissed these reports and stated that he is dedicated to the JRFU until he is concluded with the 2019 RWC.

The JRFU is also in the process to restructure (and shorten) the Top League to be in schedule with the Super Rugby campaign.
 
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