Super Rugby 2018

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/11/19/rebels-continue-super-rugby-signing-spree

Rebels continue Super Rugby signing spree

Melbourne Rebels are continuing to bolster their squad with fly-half Jono Lance and hooker Anaru Rangi joining their Super Rugby ranks.

Experienced playmaker Lance will join the Rebels after stints with the Western Force.

He also won Super Rugby titles with the Queensland Reds in 2011 and NSW Waratahs in 2014.

The 27-year-old is currently on a short-term contract with English Premiership side Worcester.

Late bloomer Rangi, 29, earned his first Super Rugby deal in 2016.
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OT:

Eddie Jones will only consider selecting Brad Shields once Hurricanes flanker arrives in England

England head coach Eddie Jones has said he will monitor the progress of blindside flanker Brad Shields when the Super Rugby player completes a move to the Aviva Premiership next year.

Telegraph Sport revealed on Saturday that Shields, a world champion with New Zealand’s Under-20s side, will join Wasps next season. He qualifies for England through his parents.

“Players that I can’t select I’m not concerned with,” Jones said after England’s win over Australia. “But, obviously if he comes over and he starts playing then I will have a look at him.”

Shields has, however, had no encouragement from England nor been given any guarantees.

As revealed by Telegraph Sport the uncapped Hurricanes captain Shields was asked to join the New Zealand tour party and play against France in Lyon last Tuesday.

It has since emerged that Shields did not snub the call-up, but the offer was withdrawn when he admitted that he will be playing in England after the completion of the Hurricanes’ 2018 Super Rugby campaign and therefore unavailable for New Zealand’s 2019 World Cup campaign.

As a result Shields was ruled out of consideration by head coach Steve Hansen, with Crusaders back-row Luke Whitelock instead called up to the squad.
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By the way, if you run Outlook with Calendar on your mobile (Android, iOS, Win Mobile), you can add all the fixtures to your calendar in four taps. Just select Add Calendar, and tap the Sport and Tournament (and then All or specific teams). Done. Have just done it on my phone.
 
The Sunwolves made some announcements today, they appointed a new brand manager to grow the brand. This involves a 5-year plan continuing on 2019 RWC. 1 Key element is to redevelop the current home ground, Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground at Chichibunomiya, and to occupy since they don’t have an actual home ground. The new National Stadium is also under construction here, but precedence is given to the new baseball stadium to be constructed and then to redevelop the existing rugby ground.

Reading this, looking at 2024/25, they must better be Super Rugby contenders next year, seeing that the new slogan is, “5 Beyond 2019”…

I watched the Brave Blossoms game against Tonga, they did much more with the ball than they did against the Wallabies as they kicked nearly everything away against the Australians. Will have to see how they play against France and how that will translate to the Sunwolves.
 
OrbitalDawn said:
That would be a fascinating appointment.
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It happened.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-un...-ronan-ogara-will-join-super-rugby-champions/

Racing 92 confirm Ronan O'Gara will join Super Rugby champions Crusaders in January

Racing 92 have confirmed that their coach Ronan O'Gara will be released from his current commitments to take up a contract with the Crusaders on January 1, 2018 - in time for the start of the Super Rugby campaign.

Racing published a statement this morning explaining that they did not wish to deprive the former Munster, Ireland and British and Irish Lions fly-half of a "fine opportunity for his development" with the New Zealand franchise.

O'Gara, a veteran of 132 Test matches and two Heineken Cup triumphs, has been part of Racing's backroom staff since 2013, the same year he retired from playing.

His time in French club rugby coincided with Racing's thrilling Top 14 victory in 2016, something this morning's statement also outlined.

However, they also acknowledged that this chance to join Scott Robertson's team and contribute to their defence of the Super Rugby title they won at the start of August would provide scope to "enrich his rugby knowledge and perfect his training methods".

Découvrez le communiqué de Presse du Racing 92 concernant Ronan O'Gara, entraîneur Adjoint dans le staff technique. https://t.co/ujUwojkLqN pic.twitter.com/sqn1mc9DgL

— Racing 92 (@racing92) November 22, 2017
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Although O'Gara had been contracted to Racing until 2019, president Jacky Lorenzetti agreed to let him go and, along with club managers Laurent Labit and Laurent Travers, wished him well.
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Moore has retired.

https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2017/11/21/stephen-moore-to-retire-from-all-rugby

Moore calls time on career in all forms of the game

After 15 years and more than 300 combined Test and Super Rugby caps, Stephen Moore has announced he will step away from all forms of the game.

Moore had planned on playing one more Super Rugby season with the Reds, after announcing his international retirement in July, but he has decided the Wallabies' clash with Scotland on Sunday morning (AEDT) will be the final time he laces the boots up, ending an illustrious career.

Murrayfield was always going to be the scene for Moore's Wallabies finale but he said some exciting post-rugby opportunities helped him make the call to leave Ballymore a year earlier than planned.

"I’d started planning for life after rugby since announcing my retirement from the international game back in July this year and the opportunity that I was exploring materialised probably six months earlier than I had expected,” Moore said.

"So I have made the decision, in conjunction with the QRU, to finish my rugby career now and take up a new opportunity.

"This also allows Brad (Thorn) and the Reds coaches to move forward with their planning for 2018 and beyond.

"Someone once said to me that ideally you want something to retire to, and not from, and I think those are really wise words."

With 128 Test caps and 177 Super Rugby matches next to his name, Moore will go down as one of the all time Wallaby greats.
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http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rug...alise-super-rugby-roster-20171121-gzptwk.html

ACT Brumbies recruit Chance Peni from Western Force to finalise Super Rugby roster

Chance Peni always thought he would end up in Canberra when the Western Force was axed from Super Rugby.

But the former NRL prospect almost landed at the Canberra Raiders when his junior rugby league mentor called him to see if he wanted to join the Green Machine next year.

Instead, Peni says he has unfinished business in Super Rugby and wants to use his move to the ACT Brumbies to launch his hopes of playing for the Wallabies in the coming years.

Peni has signed a two-year deal with the Brumbies and was unveiled as the club's last recruit on Wednesday, becoming the 39th and final player on the roster for the 2018 Super Rugby campaign.
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OT:

The battle continues...

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/newlands-sale-wp-tactics-queried-20171121

Newlands sale: WP tactics queried

Cape Town - Aerios, the commercial partner at legal loggerheads with WP Rugby over advertising rights, has released a statement questioning statements made by the union’s president, Thelo Wakefield.

This comes after Sport24 reported last week that WP Rugby intended to sell its home ground, Newlands.

Wakefield subsequently denied the claims in media reports over the weekend.

He made the comments after sending an email to the union’s almost 100 clubs, claiming that a sale was never on the cards.

This urgent denial came after Aerios, one of the union's creditors, advised the clubs that a sale of the stadium may already have been concluded.

"Newlands will never be sold, nor will any other property of Western Province be sold. That is a decision we took, it is a principled decision. It is not even on the table for discussion, it is absurd. How can we sell a property like Newlands?” Wakefield was quoted as saying.

...

Aerios CEO, Costas Constantinou, said the secrecy regarding the move to the Cape Town Stadium and the negotiations regarding the sale of the Newlands should be cause for concern to the clubs that are part of the union, and to the sponsors and supporters of rugby in the Western Cape.

“Given the current political climate in which we find ourselves and the liquidation of Western Province Rugby (Pty) Ltd, I would have expected a new culture of transparency and inclusivity within WPRFU”.

Constantinou also said that the clubs, sponsors and supporters of the union and the city’s rate payers are being kept in the dark and that he was “looking forward to receiving the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) documentation from the City of Cape Town; that will clear up a lot of the confusion”.

Despite Wakefield’s claims over the weekend that “there are contingencies in place to repay debtors, the only one being Remgro”, the WP president refused to explain what these strategies were and what the financial status of the union was.

“Mr Wakefield’s distrust of the people of the Western Cape and his covert decision-making style has certainly played a role in the exponential decline of supporters attending fixtures at the Newlands Stadium," Constantinou continued.
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Though I still believe that the agreement between WPRU and Aerios is dubious due to the outright exclusive marketing terms and possession, I do agree with Aerios on Newland’s sale. Yeah, I know many here are supporting it, but the whole thing between CoCT and Cape Town Stadium and their urge to recuperate losses and tactics by going so, pressuring WPRU, are even more dubious. Besides, Newlands are owned by the WPRU, has been expanded and upgraded, and can be contributed to the union’s rugby clubs.

What must be repaid to Remgro?
 
The Sunwolves has announced today that their entire team, management through to players, will be announced on Monday, 4th December. A much earlier announcement than with the previous 2 seasons.
 
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/former-stormers-prop-named-in-reds-squad-20171129

Former Stormers prop named in Reds squad

Cape Town - Former Stormers prop JP Smith has been included in the Reds’ squad for the 2018 Super Rugby season.

The Reds squad features 10 new signings, seven of which have been selected from Queensland Country following their grand final win in the National Rugby Championship, including Wallabies development player Liam Wright and NRC leading try-scorer Filipo Daugunu.
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http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/reds-confirm-super-rugby-squad-for-2018-20171129

Reds confirm Super Rugby squad for 2018

2018 Reds squad:

Forwards: Sef Fa’agase, Harry Hooper, James Slipper, JP Smith, Taniela Tupou, Markus Vanzati, Alex Mafi, Andrew Ready, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Blyth, Kane Douglas, Harry Hockings, Izack Rodda, Lukhan Tui, Michael Gunn, Reece Hewat, Scott Higginbotham, Adam Korczyk, Angus Scott-Young, George Smith, Caleb Timu, Liam Wright

Backs: Nick Frisby, Tate McDermott, Moses Sorovi, James Tuttle, Quade Cooper, Hamish Stewart, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Samu Kerevi, Duncan Paia’aua, Filipo Daugunu, Karmichael Hunt, Lachlan Maranta, Eto Nabuli, Izaia Perese
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Bulls training squad

Bulls training squad:

Props: Pierre Schoeman, Trevor Nyakane, Lizo Gqoboka, Conraad van Vuuren, John-Roy Jenkinson, Frans van Wyk, Mox Mxoli, Matthys Basson, Gerhard Steenekamp (Apprentice, injured)

Hookers: Jaco Visagie, Adriaan Strauss, Edgar Marutlulle, Johan Grobbelaar, Jan-Henning Campher, Corniel Els (injured)

Locks: Jason Jenkins, RG Snyman (both Japan), Lood de Jager, Aston Fortuin, Ruben van Heerden, Eli Snyman, Abongile Nonkontwana

Loose forwards: Roelof Smit, Jacques Potgieter (Japan), Hanro Liebenberg, Ruan Steenkamp (injured), Jannes Kirsten, Nic de Jager (Japan), Hendre Stassen (injured), Tim Agaba (SA Sevens), Thembelani Bholi, Shaun Adendorff, Boom Prinsloo, Denzil Hill (apprentice), Eduan Lubbe (apprentice), Jaco Bezuidenhout (apprentice), Kwezi Mafu (apprentice), Ryno Pieterse (apprentice)

Scrumhalves: Ivan van Zyl (injured), Andre Warner, Embrose Papier, Theo Maree, Rudy Paige

Flyhalves: Handre Pollard, Marnitz Boshoff, Manie Libbok, Tony Jantjies, Tinus de Beer

Midfielders: Jesse Kriel, Dries Swanepoel, Johnny Kotze, Ulrich Beyers, Stedman Gans (SA 7s), Burger Odendaal, Francois Brummer (Japan), JT Jackson (injured)

Outside backs: Warrick Gelant, Travis Ismaiel, Jamba Ulengo, Duncan Matthews, Jade Stighling, Franco Naude, Divan Rossouw, Andell Loubser (apprentice)

Bulls Super Rugby Management team:

Head coach and defence: John Mitchell

Skills, attack and kicking: Hayden Groepes

Forward coach and lineouts: Pote Human

Forward coach and scrums: Gary Botha

Baggage and kit master: Elias Bennett

Team doctor: Dr Herman Rossouw

Team physios: Lance Lemmetjies and Pieter du Plessis

Senior rehab specialist: Juandre Williams

Strength and conditioning coaches: Jacus Coetzee and Ghafoer Luckan

Technical analyst at Super Rugby: John William Meyer
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I see the Bulls scrapped the Barberton daisy across all levels, some hearty supporters will be angry.
 
The Sunwolves had announced their coaching team,

HEAD COACH: Jamie Joseph
ATTACKING COACH: Tony Brown
DEFENSIVE COACH: Scott Hansen
SCRUMMAGE COACH: Shin Hasegawa
SKILLS COACH: Atsushi Tanabe

The surprise inclusion is Tony Brown. Scott Hansen had been dumped by the Leicester Tigers in 2016, then grouped up under Kim McKay at Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers. Shin Hasegawa served as assistant in 2016, played at Suntory Goliath and earned 40 international caps representing Japan. Atsushi Tanabe also appointed in 2016 as assistant will continue to serve as skills coach, but he had the opportunity to gain experience with the Southland Stags in New Zealand this year as skill coach in the Mitre 10 Cup, an opportunity made available between Jamie Joseph and Stags head coach Hoani Macdonald.

Tony Brown… well, this will change things. I wouldn’t be surprised to see John Plumtree replace Scott Hansen next year, him doing the Japan stint in the year-end which produced visible results.
 
https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/pocock-named-in-brumbies-super-rugby-squad-20171130-2

Pocock named in Brumbies Super Rugby squad

Cape Town - The Brumbies will welcome nine new faces into the squad for the 2018 Super Rugby season, including returning Wallaby back-rower David Pocock, as head coach Dan McKellar prepares for his first season in charge of the two-time champions.

Pocock, who has 65 caps for Australia, will be back in Brumbies colours following his year’s sabbatical and is part of a formidable looking pack that includes eight Wallaby internationals.

Pocock could potentially be joined by fellow Wallabies Scott Sio, Allan Alaalatoa, Ben Alexander, Josh Mann-Rea, Rory Arnold, Sam Carter and Blake Enever with the strength in depth throughout the forwards evident.

...

Brumbies 2018 Super Rugby squad:

Forwards

Robbie Abel, Allan Alaalatoa, Ben Alexander, Richard Arnold, Rory Arnold, Sam Carter, Tom Cusack, Blake Enever, Mees Erasmus, Folau Fainga’a, Lolo Fakaosilea, Ben Hyne, Leslie Leulua’Iali’i-Makin, Josh Mann-Rea, Nic Mayhew, Lachlan McCaffrey, Isireli Naisarani, David Pocock, Scott Sio, Darcy Swain, Rob Valetini

Backs

Tom Banks, James Dargaville, Kyle Godwin, Wharenui Hawera, Jordan Jackson-Hope, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano, Ryan Lonergan, Matt Lucas, Andrew Muirhead, Chance Peni-Ataera, Joe Powell, Andrew Smith, Henry Speight, Lausii Taliauli, James Verity-Amm
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The Sunwolves has named 26-players today. More will be named later:

PROPS:

Keita Inagaki (Japanese - Panasonic Wild Knights - Capped for Japan)
Jiwon Koo (Japanese - Honda Heat - Capped for Japan)
Ruan Smith (South African - Toyota Verblitz - Uncapped)
Asaeli Ai Valu (Tongan - Panasonic Wild Knights - Capped for Japan)
Craig Millar (New Zealander - Uncapped)

HOOKERS:

Jaba Bregvadze (Georgian - Capped for Georgia)
Shota Horie (Japanese - Panasonic Wild Knights - Capped for Japan)

LOCKS:

Grant Hatingh (South African - Kubota Spears - Uncapped)
Sam Wykes (Australian - Panasonic Wild Knights - Uncapped)
Kazuki Himeno (Japanese - Toyota Verblitz - Capped for Japan)
Uwe Helu (Tongan - Yamaha Jubilo - Capped for Japan)

FLANKERS:

Edward Quirk (Australian - Canon Eagles - Capped for Australia)
Shunsuke Nunomaki (Japanese - Panasonic Wild Knights - Capped for Japan)
Wimpie van der Walt (South African - NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes - Capped for Japan)

NUMBER EIGHT:

Willem Britz (South African - NTT Communications Shining Arcs - Uncapped)
Micheal Litch (New Zealander - Toshiba Brave Lupus - Capped for Japan)

SCRUMHALF:

Fumiaki Tanaka (Japanese - Panasonic Wild Knights - Capped for Japan)

FLY-HALF:

Yu Tamaru (Japanese - Canon Eagles - Capped for Japan)
Hayden Parker (New Zealander - Uncapped)

CENTRES:

Harumichi Tatekawa (Japanese - Kubota Spears - Capped for Japan)
Timothy Lafaele (Samoan - Coca-Cola Red Sparks - Capped for Japan)

WINGERS:

Gerhard van den Heever (South African - Yamaha Jubilo - Uncapped)
Kenki Fukuoka (Japanese - Panasonic Wild Knights - Capped for Japan)
Akihito Yamada (Japanese - Panasonic Wild Knights - Capped for Japan)
Lamano Lemeki (New Zealander - Honda Heat - Capped for Japan)

FULLBACK:

Robbie Robinson (New Zealander - Ricoh Black Rams - Uncapped)
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Some players here which are uncapped will be eligible to represent Japan in 2019. Seeing that Wimpie plays lock in the Japan setup… they don’t have locks, so they will be shopping outside Japan to get some continuity going in that position.

Jamie Joseph said that he is unable to add more names to the roster today due to the unusual Top League contracting model in Japan. The rest which will be named I can only presume to be more Japanese players on the 2016/17 roster. Seeing the new names attached to the 2018 roster it is clear what they are planning.

How about Jaba Bregvadze! Hulle breker.

Also, their new kit looks pretty much the same as last year, except that they have added a special kit which looks like a merger between the home and away kit.

EDIT:

Just to add, the unusual contracting model is due to some Top League players being actual company employees. So yah.
 
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