Month: September 2019

Brumbies not distracted by court battles

Brumbies back Matt Toomua says the players are keeping their jobs simple, amid backroom turmoil at the club. Toomua and the Brumbies arrived back from a South African tour earlier this week, in the country for the first time since CEO Michael Jones was stood down by the board, kick starting an ongoing court battle.…

By JohnValbyNation September 29, 2019 0

RUPA urges ARU to maintain five franchises

Uncertainty is frustrating Australia’s Super Rugby players but axing an Australian team for expedience would be ‘voluntarily going backwards’, their representative body says. Speculation over the future of the competition has resurfaced ahead of next month’s SANZAAR Executive Committee meeting, where national heads will vote on the format for 2018. SANZAAR opted to conduct a…

By JohnValbyNation September 29, 2019 0

Taqele Naiyaravoro cited for Barrett tackle

Waratahs winger Taqele Naiyaravoro has been cited for tackling Beauden Barrett in the air in his side’s loss to the Hurricanes. The mammoth winger was yellow-carded by referee Chris Pollock at the time of the tackle, in the 57th minute on Saturday, but the offence was deemed to meet the red card threshold. In a…

By JohnValbyNation September 29, 2019 0

MicKellar sick of trans-Tasman talk

Sick of hearing about the trans-Tasman Super Rugby drought? Brumbies coach Dan McKellar is too, after the streak stretched to 38 matches, with the Blues’ win over the Waratahs last week. The Brumbies have lost both their matches to Kiwi sides this year, to the Highlanders in New Zealand and the Crusaders at home, but…

By JohnValbyNation September 29, 2019 0

Pocock set for Super Rugby return

David Pocock will make his Super Rugby return this weekend, just in time for a knock out quarter-final clash. Pocock fractured his eye socket in the Wallabies’ opening Test against England last month and the Brumbies were sweating on a final medical clearance for the influential back rower, who has been training in a modified…

By JohnValbyNation September 29, 2019 0

Waratahs complete great escape at AAMI Park

Thirty-seven seconds. That’s how long the Waratahs led at AAMI Park, but as David Horwitz crashed over in the 80th minute, it was long enough to keep their season alive with a 32-25 win over the Rebels. It was a frenetic match, played at the intensity fans have been praying to see from Australian teams…

By JohnValbyNation September 29, 2019 0

England accused of overhyping 'rough diamond' Sancho by Dortmund team-mate Delaney

The 18-year-old forward has enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence and a club colleague believes it is important for him to remain grounded England have been accused by Borussia Dortmund midfielder Thomas Delaney of “hyping” players such as Jadon Sancho, with the exciting 18-year-old forward considered to be a “rough diamond”. A product of Manchester…

By JohnValbyNation September 29, 2019 0