Rugby Banter Page Weekly Round Up

Monday 17th November:

Wood, amongst others, inducted into IRB Hall of Fame:

Australia's 1991 World Cup-winning fly half Michael Lynagh and fellow rugby great JPR Williams are among 15 new inductees into the International Rugby Board's (IRB) Hall of Fame.

Also included are some veritable Rugby legends, from both sexes, these include:

Michael Lynagh (Australia),  JPR Williams (Wales), Keith Rowlands (Wales),  Jim Greenwood (Scotland,  Jo Maso (France),  Keith Wood (Ireland),  Ieuan Evans (Wales),  Jason Leonard (England),  Bill Beaumont (England),  Anna Richards (New Zealand), Patty Jervey (United States),  Nathalie Amiel (France), Gill Burns (England),  Carol Isherwood (England), Farah Palmer (New Zealand).

Bath offer Duane Vermuelen bumper contract, according to reports:

Springbok’s No8 Duane Vermuelen is being courted by ambitious Bath in a move which would see him switch from the Stormers after the World Cup.

The 28-year-old has been one of South Africa's outstanding players this season and played a key role in the 31-28 victory against England on Saturday last.

Bath are lining up Vermeulen as a second marquee player alongside Wallabies scrum-half Will Genia.

The deal, which would be worth £450,000 per season, would make him the second-highest earner in the Premiership behind clubmate Sam Burgess

Tuesday 18th November:

Lydiate offered dual Welsh Contract:

Flanker Dan Lydiate has been offered a new national dual contract by the Welsh Rugby Union.

After months of intense negotiations, between the WRU and the four professional regions in Wales, the two groups have agreed on a way forward, with Lydiate learning on Tuesday that he has been offered a deal.

Currently without a club, Lydiate’s much heralded move to Parisian’s Racing Metro didn’t work as envisioned with the 26 year old only starting two Top 14 games.

IRB consider banning mobile phones from dressing rooms

The IRB is contemplating introducing strict new rules to ban mobile phones from dressing rooms as part of anti-corruption measures.

Rugby's governing body is looking at following the International Cricket Council's recent decision to introduce rules which will ban mobile phones from dressing rooms at international matches, to protect the 15-man code illegal gambling and match-fixing threats.

Speaking on the proposal, IRFU Chief Executive Brett Gosper said: "The integrity of sport, whether it be gambling and anti-doping, is an issue for all sports and like all other sports we're looking at options in terms of what can be the right protocols to ensure that there might not be issues that can lead to gambling,'

Wednesday 19th November:

Brumbies sign former Reds Lock Enever:

The Brumbies have confirmed the signature of Blake Enever, the former Reds lock.

Enever has spent the last two years in Brisbane with the Queensland franchise but heads to Canberra looking for more exposure and experience at top-flight rugby. 

Anscombe would be proud to represent Wales:

New Cardiff Blues signing Gareth Anscombe has admitted that he would be proud to represent the nation of his mother, Wales, upon sealing his move from the Chiefs to the Arms Park based club.

Anscombe, who can also play fly half, will make his Cardiff debut at full back against Edinburgh this weekend, however, maintained that his focus is firstly to do well for Cardiff and that he doesn’t expect to walk into the Welsh set up.

"Hopefully if I do the little things right and put my hand up, then maybe I might get the opportunity one day to pull on a red jersey, which I'd be pretty proud to do.

"There's a lot of speculation about what can happen in the following weeks, but my focus right now is just to play for Cardiff."

Thursday 20th November:

Japan & Argentina officially join Super Rugby competition:

Super Rugby's expansion to 18 teams from 2016 is officially complete with SANZAR formally confirming the participation of the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) and Union Argentina de Rugby (UAR) at an Executive Committee meeting in London today.

The confirmation is the final stage of formalities and paves the way for the Tokyo and Buenos Aires-based franchises to start contracting players and staff ahead of their historic entry to Super Rugby in a little over 12 months from now.

Excitedly speaking on the announcement, SANZAR Chief Executive Greg Peters said, "It gives me great pleasure to welcome the JRFU and UAR who will join the Kings from South Africa as Super Rugby prepares to expand into a bold and exciting new era.

Friday 21st November:

London Welsh sign Rugby League Winger Elliot Kear from Bradford Bulls

London Welsh have signed Wales rugby league international wing Elliot Kear.

The 25-year-old joins the Premiership club from Bradford Bulls, for whom he has scored 17 tries in 55 Super League appearances over three seasons.

Capped 15 times, Kear played in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup and has represented clubs in the UK and France.

"I've always wanted to play rugby union and to have signed for London Welsh and to play at the highest level is definitely something I've wanted to do for a long time. Hopefully now I can take my chance and be the best I can be, said Kear.