Monday Round-Up

Barritt injury worry: Saracens and England fans alike are sweating on the fitness of Brad Barritt ahead of this weekend’s Six Nations action, after the South-African born player suffered what looked like a serious injury. Barritt, playing against Wasps in Coventry, got his foot trapped under opposition flyhalf Andy Goode, after both players fell to the ground from competing for a high ball. After receiving lengthy treatment on the field, Barritt left the game on his own two feet off his own accord, not requiring the assistance of a stretcher despite initial fears. The injury comes at an incredibly poor time for the man from Durban, with many pundits tipping the former Shark to feature for England this weekend in their Calcutta Cup clash against Scotland. Despite Barritt’s injury looking very serious upon first viewing, he may still hold a chance of playing in the weekend’s action. Sarries went on to defeat their hosts 26-17.

Sydney Sevens: The Australian Rugby Union have today announced that the Australian leg of the Sevens World Series will take place in Sydney for the foreseeable future. Announcing the decision yesterday, World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset confirmed that the tournament would be heading to Sydeny for the coming four years, taking place at Allianz Stadium in Moore Park. Since 2011 until this year, the Australian leg had been played on the Gold Coast, having previously moved from Adelaide. However, Australia’s most iconic city will now play host to the game’s finest exponents of the shortened version, with the inaugural tournament scheduled to take place just a matter of months before Rugby Sevens makes its bow at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil’s Rio De Janeiro.

Ryan Sheady