Sunday Round-Up

November 22, 2015
4330
Ultimate Rugby

Sunday Round-Up

Richie Gray off to Toulouse

French newspaper L'EQUIPE are reporting that Scotland second row Richie Gray will sign a 4 year deal with Toulouse come the end of the season.

Bordeaux-Begles were believed to have been interested in Gray but it looks like the 4 time European Champions have swooped in for him.

Gray has been at Castres since 2013, winning the league in his first year but Castres have dropped significantly since and only just saw off relegation last year.

With a Lions tour coming up in 2017, it may look better for Gray to be playing Champions Cup rugby with a top French side like Toulouse, if he wants to boost his chances of going to New Zealand.

If Gray was to link up with Toulouse he would be the only Scotsman in the squad.

Jones supports overseas rule

New England head coach Eddie Jones says he will maintain the Rugby Football Union's policy of not picking players based overseas unless there are "exceptional circumstances".

England have not fielded the past two winners of the European Player of the Year award because they play in France.

Toulon's Steffon Armitage won the award in 2014, with Clermont Auvergne's Nick Abendanon doing likewise this year.

"I believe the current laws are the right regulation to have," said Jones.

"I had a good discussion with RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie on that area and I understand."

Dan Hayes