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Sale Sharks have confirmed the release of Samoan international loose forward TJ Ioane, who will join London Irish with immediate effect.
Ioane signed for the Sharks in January 2015 from the Highlanders, making a total of 55 appearances.
He will now join the relegated Exiles ahead of their season in the Championship, as they look to bounce back to the top flight at the first time of asking.
World Cup-winning coach Jake White has slammed incumbent Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus for allowing the release of Duane Vermeulen ahead of the Rugby Championship.
Vermeuelen started all three of the Springbok’s June Test matches against England after returning from a three-year stint with Toulon.
Having looked poised to sign a deal with a South African Super Rugby franchise upon his return, Vermeulen instead opted to sign a short-term deal (until January) with Kubota Spears in the Japanese Top League, thus making himself unavailable for the Rugby Championship.
It makes sense for Vermeulen to want to cash in at 32 and still return in time for the World Cup. But White, who oversaw the Springboks’ 2007 World Cup title-winning campaign, believes with Vermeuelen having been away from South Africa for three years and with so little time to prepare for the World Cup, it would have been highly beneficial to have the 43-capped number eight around.
“The only logical way to explain it is that, unlike other national coaches, Rassie is not worried about keeping his job,” wrote White in a column on the website alloutrugby.com. “There’s no doubt in my mind that if his job depended on results over the next two years, there’s no way Vermeulen would have been allowed to go to Japan.”
“What I hear from the Bok camp is that we’ve got such a short time to prepare for the World Cup and that’s why we’re bringing back overseas players, even if they haven’t played 30 Tests. But Vermeulen is allowed to go to Japan and there’s a chance he won’t play in South Africa before the World Cup.
“This is not about vilifying Duane for playing in Japan. But if he is important enough to bring back from Toulon, and consider appointing him as the captain, why would you not have him involved in the next six tests against the best teams in the world? These are the same teams that the northern hemisphere heavyweights are so eager to test themselves against before the World Cup,” White warned.
“I find it incredible that the Bok coach, after two of the worst seasons in team history, is under so little pressure that he’s released the most impactful forward, who he just brought back from overseas. When players are allowed to negotiate where and when they’re available to play for South Africa, that’s how you lose your edge as a rugby powerhouse.”
South Africa host Argentina in Durban on August 18 in their opening encounter of this year’s Rugby Championship.
Prop Joe Moody returns in the only change to the Crusaders’ starting XV for Saturday’s semi-final against the Hurricanes at AMI Stadium in Christchurch.
The Crusaders welcome the return of All Blacks prop Moody, who has recovered from injury to start at loosehead prop. Fellow All Blacks front-rower Tim Perry will provide cover on the bench.
Head coach Scott Robertson said there is no shortage of excitement in camp in the build up to this match: “This game is going to be huge, it doesn’t get any bigger than a New Zealand derby match in the knockout stages of Super Rugby.
“Everyone who has worn the jersey for us this season has performed so this was the hardest team to name because of the great depth we have in our squad. Joe has worked extremely hard to get back in time for Finals footy, and he joins a powerful forward pack, who are ready for the challenge on Saturday night.
“It’s always a privilege to play at home, but to host a Semi Final in front of our fans adds another level of anticipation and pride to the mix. Our fans have been right behind us all season and we’re excited to once again play for them in this week’s Semi Final,” Robertson added.
Crusaders: 15 David Havili, 14 Seta Tamanivalu, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Sam Whitelock (c), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody
Replacements: 16 Andrew Makalio, 17 Tim Perry, 18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 Braydon Ennor
Date: Saturday, July 28
Venue: AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Kick-off: 19:35 local (08:35 BST, 07:35 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant Referees: Mike Fraser, Ben O’Keeffe
TMO: Shane McDermott
New Ulster signing Will Addison has expressed his desire to play for Ireland after making the move from Sale Sharks in the Premiership to the PRO14.
Addison, along with fellow new signing Billy Burns, played for England at U20 level but is now eyeing an Ireland international jersey, having made the move to Belfast.
“I’ve locked horns with Billy a fair few times in the Premiership so I think both of us are really excited about this new challenge,” Addison told BBC Sport.
“We’re both young fellas who have got a lot of aspirations and we feel that the environment we’ve got here at Ulster with the coaching group we have and the playing group we can fulfil those.
“So we’re extremely excited, the pair of us.”
Addison, 25, has had a feel for what it is like to be in the Ireland set-up, training with them on his June break.
“I’ve huge ambitions. I’ve had a little taster,” he added.
“I was on holiday in Melbourne in the June series so I managed to do a little bit of training with the Ireland team and I loved that and I’m loving the environment I’m in at the moment so it’s really pushing me to be a better player, which is why I made the move really, just to really fulfil my potential and I really feel I can do that here.”
Ulster open their PRO14 campaign against Scarlets on September 1.
The Hurricanes have named an unchanged starting XV for Saturday’s Super Rugby semi-final against the Crusaders at Christchurch’s AMI Stadium.
After defeating the Chiefs 32-31 in last week’s quarter-final, Hurricanes head coach Chris Boyd has resisted the temptation to change a winning combination as they prepare to take on the defending champions.
The bench is also settled, although there is potential for one change with Ardie Savea bracketed with Reed Prinsep.
Savea has not played since he suffered a high ankle sprain in the All Blacks’ third Test against France on June 23.
Boyd said Savea had worked extremely hard to return to the Hurricanes campaign and a decision on whether he would take his place in the matchday squad would be made later in the week.
He was pleased with how the squad had prepared and played against the Chiefs but recognised the challenge the Crusaders would provide the team.
Saturday’s semi-final will be prop Toby Smith’s 100th Super Rugby match having represented the Chiefs and the Rebels before arriving at the Hurricanes.
“Toby is one of those guys who just goes about his work without fuss or fanfare but he has been a really important factor in the Hurricanes this season,” Boyd said.
“We certainly congratulate him on becoming the latest Hurricanes player to reach the milestone.”
Hurricanes: 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Jordie Barrett, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Gareth Evans, 6 Brad Shields (c), 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Michael Fatialofa, 3 Jeff To’omaga-Allen, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Toby Smith
Replacements: 16 James O’Reilly, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Ben May, 19 Vaea Fifita, 20 Ardie Savea/Reed Prinsep, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Wes Goosen
Date: Saturday, July 28
Venue: AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Kick-off: 19:35 local (08:35 BST, 07:35 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant Referees: Mike Fraser, Ben O’Keeffe
TMO: Shane McDermott
The seven best tries from the Women’s Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco.
With thanks to World Rugby
The Rugby Football Union will trial the new tackle laws in the second tier of English Rugby next season in a bid to make the game safer.
The height of a legal tackle in rugby union will be lowered to below the armpits rather than the line of the shoulders. The move comes as a result of growing concern about the safety of the game and more research being done into concussions and brain injuries.
“We believe lowering the height of the tackle will benefit both the ball carrier and the tackler,” said RFU professional rugby director Nigel Melville.
“The Championship Cup provides an opportunity for us to assess the impact of lowering the height of the tackle on the elite adult game.
“It will be a critical part of helping us develop game-wide approaches to concussion and injury reduction.”
Meanwhile, World Rugby chairman and former England captain Bill Beaumont hailed the RFU for their ground-breaking trial.
“We applaud the RFU and the Championship Cup clubs for embracing this important trial,” Beaumont said.
“The global game is committed to an evidence-based approach to injury prevention. The outcomes from this trial will provide comprehensive data and feedback to inform our continued commitment to further reducing concussion risk in rugby.”
The seven best tries from the Men’s Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco.
With thanks to World Rugby
Lions head coach Swys de Bruin has made one change to his XV for the Super Rugby semi-final against the Waratahs in Johannesburg.
Despite reports coming out of the camp earlier in the week suggesting that flanker Cyle Brink would be fit to face the Australian franchise, he has been replaced in the team by Lourens Erasmus.
Brink suffered a stinger against the Jaguares and was replaced at the interval by Marnus Schoeman, but has not recovered in time to take on the ‘Tahs.
Schoeman remains on the bench, however, with Erasmus, who usually plays in the second-row, chosen ahead of the flanker.
Elsewhere, the hosts are unchanged, although back-rower Hacjivah Dayimani is among the replacements because of Erasmus’ elevation to the first team.
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Lourens Erasmus, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Marvin Orie, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen
Replacements: 16 Corne Fourie, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Hacjivah Dayimani, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Courtnall Skosan, 23 Howard Mnisi
Date: Saturday, July 28
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 15:05 local (14:05 BST, 13:05 GMT)
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Retired wing Drew Mitchell was asked down to Wallaby training this past week and found the going tough as he was put through his paces.
Boss Michael Cheika wanted the former Australia international to attend as an experienced head as they build towards the Rugby Championship.
But Mitchell found the session difficult and admitted he vomited as he struggled to keep up with the Wallaby youngsters. It’s all over now, Drew.
Video credit: rugby.com.au