Rugby Transfer Rumours
Aussie Star Confirms Super Rugby Retirement
After weeks of speculation one of Australia’s biggest names has announced his departure from Australian Rugby
Brumbies and Wallaby flanker David Pocock has confirmed he will retire from Super Rugby at the end of the season.
Pocock’s future has been up in the air for some time now and the loose forward has decided to cut his season short in order to focus on getting fit for Australia’s World Cup campaign later this year.
The 31-year-old has been in Canberra for seven years and is thankful for all they have done but has not commented on where his future lies post-World Cup.
“The Brumbies have given me a home for the last seven years. They’ve supported me through injury and given me the opportunity to work on my game and my leadership as part of an incredible group of men. After 13 years of professional rugby, I’m looking forward to the challenges the rest of this year holds and also thinking about what comes next. The Brumbies and all supporters have been very good to me since my move to Canberra in 2013. I am grateful for their support. Over the last seven-years Canberra has well and truly become my home. Em and I love living here and being part of the community,” he said.
Last week it was confirmed that the Brumbies and Australian medical teams would discuss Pocock’s next move and along with other expert advice it was decided that he will play no further part in the Brumbies bid to qualify for the Super Rugby play-offs.
The problem for Pocock is that his calf strain has no certain timeframe for recovery and means there is also no certainty that he will make the World Cup.
It is believed that after the tournament in Japan the flanker, who has 112 Super Rugby caps and 77 caps for the Wallabies will re-join Japanese side Panasonic Wild Knights and continue his playing career.
All going well that would mean that Pocock would remain in selection contention for future Wallabies games due to the 60-cap rule.
Rugby Transfer Rumours
Former England Hooker Heading to Jersey
One of England’s former stars has confirmed that he will be joining the coaching set up of the Jersey Reds at the end of the current campaign
Former England hooker Rob Webber is heading to the Jersey Reds at the end of the current campaign as the side’s forwards coach.
The current Sale Sharks star will take over from Neil Tunnah, who is leaving after three years at the club and he is delighted to be starting a new chapter in the sport.
“I am really excited about moving to Jersey and joining The Reds’ coaching team. It’s a great opportunity for me and my family as I set out on the next phase of my career. It is an exciting squad that Harvey and the guys are putting together and I look forward to contributing to helping the lads push on. I’d like to thank Harvey and (Reds Chairman) Mark Morgan for giving me the opportunity,” he said on the move.
The 16-cap England international will link-up with former team-mate Harvey Biljon, the club’s director of rugby and Biljon welcomed Webber, admitting he stood out among a list of strong candidates.
‘We’ve spoken to some very high-quality individuals about the role, but Rob stood out and I’ve had a lot of positive endorsements from people I respect. He knows the game and is very articulate and I believe his character will really transmit itself to the others he’ll be working with. There’s a lot of excitement about Rob’s arrival and it will be great to have him working in harness with (Assistant Coach) Ed Robinson – two really promising young English coaches,” he said.
The 33-year-old will bring a vast amount of experience to the team after announcing he will retire from professional rugby at the end of the season.
During a career spanning 17 years, he has represented Leeds Tykes, Wasps, Bath and Sale as well as England which has seen him compete and be successful in European and domestic competition as well as playing in the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Rugby Transfer Rumours
Saracens Facing Fight to Keep Vunipola Brothers
England star duo Mako and Billy Vunipola are looking at their options for next season and considering leaving Saracens according to reports
Saracens could be without both Mako and Billy Vunipola next season as the pair are being chased by a number of Super Rugby franchises according to a report in the NZ Herald.
The report states that the brothers may have already held talks with some of the Super Rugby sides as they consider their options following Saracens relegation to the Championship for a breach of salary cap regulations.
Both are in the final year of their current contract with Sarries and having forged their names at the club they have gone on to become two of England’s key men.
With Mako at 29, and Billy 27, the pair are in their prime and may not like the thought of playing against weaker sides in the English second-tier next season, despite talks of Saracens organising “bigger” matches against teams outside the league, including the possibility of a game with the Springboks to keep their stars at their best.
As well as possibly not being attracted to facing weaker opponents on a weekly basis the brothers will be aware that they will need to put their best foot forward at the highest level next year in order to make it into the British and Irish Lions squad for their tour of South Africa.
They wouldn’t be the first Englishmen to head down south in recent times with fellow England international Joe Marchant on the books at the Blues this year.
It would be a massive coup for the competition if they chose to head to Super Rugby, with fears that interest is lowering lately due to the number of key southern hemisphere players heading elsewhere for more luxurious contracts, but we will have to wait and see what develops over the coming months.
International
Skelton Set for Summer Move from Saracens
Australian second-row ace Will Skelton looks set for a move away from Saracens this summer, but Rugby Australia won’t be happy with his choice of destination according to reports
Rugby Australia appear set to miss out on bringing Will Skelton back to Australia once again with a move to France looking imminent according to reports.
The giant second-row has been a target for Rugby Australia since before last year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan, but he decided to remain in England with Saracens ruling him out of contention to feature for the Wallabies due to their overseas laws.
However, they took another shot at getting his signature once Saracens salary cap scandal unfolded, believing it was the perfect opportunity to bring him home.
Talks took place with the 27-year-old but reports in France are now claiming that a deal with French Top 14 side La Rochelle will be confirmed shortly.
It would be another big-money move for the lock, but once more he would be unable to represent his country as he falls well short of the 60-caps needed for an overseas player to be eligible to be called-up.
Failing to tie-down a star name like Skelton again would be a major blow for Rugby Australia and may cause them to consider altering their current rules around the Giteau Law as they are missing out on being able to select some of their best players because of it.
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