Wednesday Morning Round Up

Australia enters the race to host 2027 Rugby World Cup

Australia has announced its intent to secure the hosting rights for the 2027 Rugby World Cup 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup 🏆

📰| https://t.co/DGrF6uFGSa pic.twitter.com/IdaT2LAwMC

— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) December 13, 2017

Rugby Australia has signaled its intent to secure the hosting rights for the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup and 2027 Rugby World Cup (Men's).

Australia hosted the men’s edition of the Rugby World Cup in 1987 (with New Zealand) and 2003 with great success but has never hosted a Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Kieran Read to miss the start of Super Rugby

All Blacks captain Kieran Read will have surgery this Saturday on a prolapsed lumbar disc in his back, an injury he sustained at the end of the All Blacks season.

He has been reviewed by both the All Blacks and Crusaders medical teams, as well as a back specialist, who will continue to monitor his recovery.

Read is expected to miss the start of the Super Rugby season, as an expected recovery time for such injuries is approximately four months. 

Japan confirms 2018 June Internationals

The JRFU has confirmed Japan's 2018 June Internationals. Japan will face Italy twice and Georgia once in their build-up to the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Rugby Australia announces new Women's competition

Rugby AU have unveiled their newest competition, the Super W. READ: https://t.co/7Y56r3NmCW pic.twitter.com/82bdmPxMoa

— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) December 13, 2017

The Super W competition will provide greater opportunity for XVs players across the country, lift the standards of Rugby and re-define the pathway to the Wallaroos.   

In a further exciting development for Women’s Rugby, Rugby Australia also today confirmed that it would bid for the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup, that if successful would see the 12 best Rugby nations descend on Aussie soil to fight for the global crown.

Robinson seals Cardiff Blues return

Olly Robinson will return to Cardiff Blues after signing a long-term contract with the region.

The openside flanker impressed while on loan from Bristol earlier this season, making nine appearances where he won widespread plaudits.
He returned to Bristol last week but has now agreed to re-join Wales’ Capital Region for next season.

Michael Ruru joins the Rebels

The Melbourne Rebels have added scrumhalf Michael Ruru to their squad until the end of the 2019 Super Rugby season.

The 27-year-old former scaffolder has emerged as one of the premier halfbacks in Australian rugby over the last 12 months.