Friday Round-Up

Deacon struggling to return: Leicester Tigers second row forward Louis Deacon may be forced into early retirement in the coming months, as he struggles to recover from a troublesome back injury which has seen him sidelined for the opening rounds of action this campaign. Former England international Deacon has yet to play this term and there exists the distinct possibility that he will not don the Tigers jersey again. Tigers CEO Simon Cohen spoke highly of Deacon and said that both parties would take stock of the situation before any ultimate decision was made regarding the lock’s future. A true stalwart of the club, Deacon has lined out in the hooped jersey of the Tigers on 274 occasions, making him one of the most capped Leicester players on record. With Deacon now added to the long-term injury list, CEO Cohen expressed his desire to enter the market for reinforcements, particularly in the row, to fill the void left by Deacon.

Ackermann staying put: The Golden Lions Rugby Union have today confirmed that they have extended the contact of head coach Johan Ackermann, up until the close of October 2016. Continuing in his current capacity, Ackermann will be head coach for both the Super Rugby team and the Currie Cup side at the Lions. Having been appointed as head coach of the Lions back in 2013, Ackermann has gone on to lead the side to a multitude of accolades, including winning the Vodacom Cup competition in 2013, reaching the Currie Cup semi-final stage and arguably most importantly, gaining his side readmission to the top table of southern hemisphere rugby that is Super Rugby. A clear sign of both stability and desire for growth, Ackermann’s extension comes just months after the Lions enjoyed one of their finest Super Rugby finishes on recored.

Ryan Sheady