The Rugby Banter Round up

Monday 25^th August:

After a myriad of conjecture linking Jonathan Sexton with a return to Leinster, Monday’s Irish Independent ran an exclusive claiming that the fly half had agreed to sign for Matt O’Connor’s province at the end of the current campaign.

Sexton, who joined Racing Metro at the beginning of the 2013/2014 season, worked closely with Joe Schmidt with both Ireland and Leinster, and the Kiwi will be delighted that his fly-half has been repatriated in advance of the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England.

We can now more or less say with massive conviction that Sonny Bill Williams can do what he likes.

A professional boxer, who has represented his country, New Zealand, in both codes of Rugby, the NZRU have loosened their rules in order to let Sonny Bill Williams participate in New Zealand’s end of year tour to the United States and Europe.

Under the laws, players would have to compete in the ITM Cup to become eligible to represent New Zealand; however, according to the All Blacks official Twitter feed, "Sonny Bill Williams gets exemption to be selected for end of year tour even if he doesn't play ITM Cup’’.

Williams, who is currently a star player for the Sydney Roosters, will return to Union and the Chiefs at the culmination of the current NRL season.

Tuesday 26^th August:                                                             

In a turn of rotten luck, Castres have had to look at short team deals in order to temporarily replace their star signing, former All Black Sitiveni Sivivatu. The winger, signed from Clermont, has injured his shoulder and is approximated to miss at least three months of the season.

As French teams invariably do, Castres scoured the Southern Hemisphere for talent, eventually deciding on Chris Tuatara-Morrison as the man to fill the sizable gap left by Sivivatu.

Morrison, who has previously played Rugby League, has played for the Western Force for the last two seasons.

Wednesday 27^th August:

After a rough time in his last international outing, England’s last test in their summer tour of New Zealand, Kyle Eastmond has promised to bounce back quickly and reestablish himself as an England starter.

Eastmond was substituted at half time as New Zealand clicked into gear and ran away 36-13 winners, but the former Rugby League player isn’t deterred.

"I would normally stew on things if they hadn't gone well’’.

"It would take me quite a long time to move on. But Stuart [Lancaster] and Andy Farrell showed me various clips and that did me a lot of good.

"Just as I didn't get too high about the first Test so I can't get too down about the last Test.

"I can't dwell on it too long, or beat myself up about it. Of course there is learning to be taken, but from both experiences. Being substituted at half-time was not an issue for me.

"Whatever is right for the team is right by me. The management had to do something in that situation.

"As far as I'm concerned, I started two matches against the All Blacks and that was not something I'd have thought would be happening a month before that tour.

"I'd never lose faith in what I can do, making tackles as a defender. I've done it since I was seven years old. I'm not going to let half an hour of one match change that. I just wouldn't, the Bath centre told the Telegraph.

In fairness, nearly every player in the world would look average if you were judging them based off their performances against the All Blacks.

Thursday 28^th September:

Finally, after months of bickering and tit for tat snide remarks, there has been closure in the Welsh Rugby debacle and the WRU and the four professional regions have agreed to a participation agreement.

The deal, which lasts until 2020, will see Wales’ main players on dual contracts, similar to Irish player’s contracts with the IRFU, and see’s the retention of the Welsh ‘A’ side.

For the last few years, Welsh regions have been hemorrhaging players, with many hopping ship to France and the more lucrative contracts of the Top14, but, according to WRU CEO Roger Lewis, the new agreement will prevent that from happening as frequently.

"The new contracts will help us keep more of our best players in Wales and will help stem the flow abroad of the talent we develop here through our academies and regions,’’ said Lewis.

On paper, the agreement looks to be beneficial to the Welsh National team as the deal was predicated on the regions contracting a maximum of six foreign players and two ‘project players’ who will one day be eligible to represent Wales via residency.

So, it’s all peace and love in Welsh Rugby, that is, of course, until the Pro12 starts and the rivalry commences once again…

Friday 29^th September

The Queensland Reds have really been flexing their financial muscles in recent weeks as, following the signing of Karmichael Hunt, they on Friday announced, after protracted negotiations, that they have signed James O’Connor for next season.

O’Connor has done a tour of the Australian franchises, having already represented the Force & the Rebels, and will sign for the Reds’ after his stint at the French club Toulon ends.

O’Connor’s return to Super Rugby is designed for him to re-enter the Australian National Pool and earn himself a spot on the 2015 Rugby World Cup squad.

On paper, the Reds’ have a formidable looking backline next season, including Will Genia, Quade Cooper, O’Connor and the aforementioned Hunt.

In Rugby, we’re used to on field conflict so it was naturally a surprise when Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal took a swipe at his Racing Metro counterpart, Jacky Lorenzetti.

The millionaire duo have had an acrimonious relationship since Lorenzetti questioned the Toulon owners integrity when he claimed that Toulon were spending in excess of three million more than the ten million euro salary cap.

In a brilliant retort, Boudjellal claimed that Toulon could afford to pay over the salary cap because of the bonus’ they had earned from winning trophies, something which Lorenzetti and his team have failed to do.

with their lack of success.

"I respect the salary cap rules.

"But you have to remember that bonuses for winning titles and finals aren't included in the salary cap.

"Jacky can't know that because Racing have never been in a final.

"The one thing that I do hold against Racing is that they don't bring the crowds in and get people watching on TV. When Racing are visiting I can't move the game to Marseille because not enough people turn up. That's not normal.

"Jacky Lorenzetti would be better of building up his club rather than getting jealous over others.

"Some people, when they are being cuckolded, say to themselves that they are doing something wrong, others think the other man must be doping, ‘’Toulon’s charismatic owner told French publication, Rugbyrama.