Monday 29 June 2015

McGahan and Cheika - Coaching and the vitality of timing

Tony McGahan and Michael Cheika are two names that Irish rugby fans will be very familiar with. Interestingly, both men succeeded Declan Kidney upon their appointment as Head Coaches of Irish provinces. McGahan took the reigns from Kidney in 2008 following Munster's second Heineken Cup victory and Kidney's appointment as Head Coach of Ireland. Cheika took charge of Leinster in 2005 after Kidney left Leinster after less than a season in favour of the Red Army. 

Leinster in 2005 and Munster in 2008 were two very different scenarios for a coach and expectation. Munster had just won their second Heineken Cup in three years, were providing the bones of the Irish team from 1-10 and in total had nine representatives on the following summers British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa including the Captain. In contrast Leinster were seen as an emerging reincarnation of the Munster of the early 2000's, the perpetual bridesmaids, a team playing well within its potential. Leinster were providing the rest of the Irish team, from 11-15 and the era of Munster Forwards and Leinster Backs was marked. 

Cheika's first campaign ending in a 30-6 Heineken Cup semi-final loss to Munster at Lansdowne Road summed up the contrasting situations of the provinces well, despite the scoreline being quite flattering in the end. O'Driscoll's public flirtation with Biarrtz Olympique in 2005 was a further warning to Leinster that something needed to change and fast. The story of Leinster and Cheika is a well known one, a slow build-up to 2009. The Croke Park Heineken Cup semi-final saw a complete role reversal from the 2006 semi-final, Leinster came out comprehensive winners and went on to win the trophy, directed by Jonny Sexton who had thrived on the pressure of his sudden semi-final entrance after Contepomi's injury. The 2009-10 season too was a success and a Magners League win combined with a semi-final Heineken Cup appearance was enough. Cheika was a legend and despite his shortcomings in Stade Francais, partly due to financial problems within the club, have largely been ignored and he is seen as one of the worlds best coaches right now. 

McGahan meanwhile took over from the ultimate Munster man. Kidney had left as a hero of the province, the man who had lead the side to four Heineken Cup finals and finally two victories in quick succession. Furthermore, he was leading Ireland to a first Grand Slam in Sixty-One years while McGahan lead Munster to a Magners League win and a Heineken Cup semi-final. McGahan faced ridiculous expectation and what was undoubtedly a successful season was not regarded as such, the semi-final loss to Leinster was all anyone focussed in on. The following years double semi-final losses in the Magners League and Heineken Cup added to the idea that McGahan was not quite what Munster needed. 

2010-11 saw Schmidt replace Cheika at Leinster, leading them to a second Heineken Cup victory is his debut season. McGahan leading Munster to another Magners League win following the first time Munster had failed to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup since 1998-99.

2011-12 was probably the season which is most associated with McGahan's era in charge at Munster, a home quarter-final loss to Ulster in the Heineken Cup and a dismal hammering away to the Ospreys in the Pro12 Semi-finals.

Across his four season in charge McGahan lead Munster to two Magners League victories, two Heineken Cup semi-finals and one quarter-final and his tenure is remembered as largely forgettable. Timing is everything for a coach, Kidney returning to Munster at the right time in 2005 and taking over Ireland at the right time in 2008-09. McGahan took over Munster as they began their descent and Leinster started their ascent, the sudden flip in dominance throughout McGahan's era not helping one bit. Cheika should be rightly credited for his work with Leinster, he did a superb job and brought the side from underachieving into the team everyone in Europe was frightened to face. 

However, you cannot help but think that the Leinster team Cheika took control of just needed to recruit a bit better and they could reach their potential. They had great players, they just needed to become a great team. The same could be said of the Waratahs team that Cheika took control of in 2013. Leinster and the Waratahs both had the potential to be great sides, but crucially had not become them yet. McGahan meanwhile became Munster's head coach when the golden era was pittering out and this earned him the same role at the Melbourne Rebels in 2013. Cheika's appointment as Wallaby coach last year is undoubtedly a result of this. McGahan at the Waratahs and Cheika at the Rebels in 2013 and we could be looking at a very different Wallaby coach right now. Timing is everything for a coach, you don't want to take over a Champion team on a downward spiral, just ask Matt O'Connor.  ward spiral, just ask Matt O'Connor.




Monday 22 June 2015

Is the IRFU's national prioritisation destabilising the future of the provincial game?

     On June 1st 2014 Irish rugby appointed its first ‘Performance Director’. David Nucifora. 
The twice capped Wallaby international assumed the role at a time when Irish rugby was in a comfortable and successful position, something he reiterated upon accepting the position.

"Irish rugby is in rude health, Ireland are RBS 6 Nations champions and the provinces are performing well in both the domestic and European competitions.’’

At the time there was very few people that would have disagreed with Nucifora’s words. Ireland were 6 Nations champions, while the domestic European performances of Leinster, Munster and Ulster were meeting expectations. Each province topped their Heineken Cup pool, with only Leinster failing to earn a home quarter-final. Munster progressed to the semi-finals where they were defeated in a closely run affair by a Toulon side destined for greatness, suffering the same fate as Leinster had in the previous round. Ulster too were seemingly on course for a semi-final spot until Payne’s fifth minute red card saw Saracens triumph at Ravenhill. For Ulster particularly the ‘what-ifs?’ of the 2013-14 season will remain for a long time. Connacht too should not be forgotten, earning an impressive home victory over three-time European champions Toulouse. As Nucifora put it, every facet of Irish rugby seemed to be in ‘‘rude health’’.

     2014-15 marked a new era in European rugby. The European Champions Cup’s arrival firmly re-organising the finances, structure and qualification process for Europe’s elite club tournament. The reduction in the number of competing teams from 24 to 20, coupled with an overhaul in the seeding system has effectively rebooted the system. The past, as favourable as it had been to the Irish teams, has been erased. No longer is the seeding based on previous performances in the competition. Interestingly Mourad Boudjellal, the Toulon owner, was the most recent critic of this. Europe is now concerned with creating elite competition, making no secret of its goal of being the best club competition in the world. This is being based off incredibly competitive leagues and a brutal European competition all fueled by the ruling that seedings will be based off year-by-year performances. 

     This impact of these changes were acutely evident by the strength of opposition Munster faced in pool 1. A third placed Pro12 finish earning them a spot in the so-called ‘‘Pool-of-death’’ along with Clermont, Saracens and the underrated Sale. Leinster being drawn with Toulon, Bath and Wasps this year demonstrates further how vital final league standings have now become. This requirement for each province to compete on two fronts seemed to be insurmountable this season leaving the Irish provinces facing into a tougher than ever Pro12 with much more at stake. Ulster, Munster and Connacht’s Pro12 campaigns can be regarded as successful. While Ulster fell in the semi-finals, they secured a third place ranking and Munster a second place ranking. Connacht fell short of their well publicised goal of sixth place, but they did push Gloucester all the way in the qualification play-off semi-final. Leinster’s fifth placed finish is perplexing and can be tracked to a complete drop in form from February on. You cannot help but sympathise with Matt O’Connor’s several public complaints against the IRFU. His side made up the majority of the 6 Nations squad and the disruption of this ultimately played a massive role in the unravelling of the 2014 Pro12 champions season.     
    
    The IRFU’s restrictions on the amount of games their internationals play is sensible and practical. The Southern hemisphere test players play in a maximum of 19 Super Rugby games a year, and combined with test matches the most a player will take the field is 32 or 33 times a year. In Ireland if a player took part in every game they could play 35 games for their club alone before representing their country a further 10-12 times. The difference there is plain to see and the IRFU’s intervention is undoubtedly vital to maintain the freshness of its best players. From the IRFU’s point of view it is not feasible for Ireland’s foremost professional rugby players to put their bodies on the line over 40 times a year. As much sense as the policy makes it has a big knock-on effect. The performances of Munster and Ulster compared with Leinster in the latter part of the season were different for several reasons. The fact that Leinster had sizably more players away with Ireland during the 6 Nations and were involved in the knock-out stages of the Champions Cup ultimately cost them in the Pro12.  Leinster’s success has become its own hindrance, the impact of the IRFU’s clear priority of the national side is incredibly clear when examining Leinster right now. 
    
     The birth of the Champions Cup has created a much tougher European competition and a significantly more competitive Pro 12 and on top of this Leinster have not been afforded the luxury of having their best players available for selection each week. Leinster still fell far short of expectations, whatever way you look at it, but Matt O’Connor can feel rightly aggrieved for how the province and the IRFU treated him. The lack of candidates for the supposedly prestigious Leinster Head Coaches position since his departure evidences this further. The IRFU has a firm grip on every aspect of how the provinces operate, select and recruit. This is abundantly clear when you consider that Leinster have moved to fill the gaps in their back-room staff before a Head Coach has even been employed. The IRFU being clear on its aim to create as many high quality indigenous coaches as possible. 
John Fogarty and Girvan Dempsey have been made scrum coach and backs coach respectively with Kurt McQuilkin in place on a short-term deal as defence coach. Leo Cullen will continue is his role as forwards coach and it seems more and more likely by the day that he will take the reigns as Leinster move into the new season with Dempsey his deputy. The position of Head Coach with Leinster offers the chance to work within an already established staff and with a player group which looks set to be disrupted massively by the Rugby World Cup later this year. It is no wonder that suggested candidates such as Jono Gibbes and Tony Brown have reiterated their loyalty to their current positions when linked with the Leinster job. If you coach in Ireland, you coach for Ireland. 
     
     Furthermore the IRFU allows very little leeway in relation to player recruitment through the National Player Succession Strategy(NPSS). The policy was announced in 2011 and fully enacted at the beginning of the 2013/14 season, allowing one NIE(Non-Irish eligible) player per position between Ulster, Munster and Leinster. This system is aimed at getting more Irish qualified players in the provinces starting teams each week with the eventual goal of a national team with more depth than ever before. The gains from the system are evident, particularly at Prop, where Leinster have again lead the way. However, the problem here is this policy, while vital to the future of the national team, is causing issues for the competitiveness of the provinces. 

     The IRFU has put its cards on the table, the national team is the firm priority, there is no two-ways about it, and the results speak for themselves. Ireland sit third in the world as back-to-back 6 Nations champions. However, the IRFU has taken the success of the provincial game for granted. These policies were formed at a time when Munster and Ulster remained competitive in Europe and Leinster were the team every other side feared they would face. The situation now is very different, and the club game is rapidly changing. The Premiership and Top 14 are raising their salary cap frequently making it harder and harder to compete with them. European rugby is on a new path, its re-branding perhaps being more appropriate than previously thought with its similarity to its football equivalent. To compete in Europe you need your best players available every week and you need to be able to sign high quality foreign talent. In France and England the clubs have the power and they can act as they please outside the international window. As they travel in once direction, inevitably our clubs will go in the other. Club and country is a difficult balance to get right, but in the current situation it seems as if a Champions Cup is unlikely to fall into Irish hands in the near future. The IRFU’s policies have paid dividends in terms of national success, but now perhaps it is time to consider the wider impact of them across the provincial game. 











Saturday 20 June 2015

Pro 12 Transfer Round-up

Benetton Treviso

Transfers in:

Tom Palmer(Gloucester), Luke McLean(Sale Sharks), Alberto De Marchi(Sale Sharks), Robert Barbieri(Leicester Tigers), Filo Paulo(Cardiff Blues), Tommaso Iannone(Zebre), Chris Smylie(Hurricanes), Cherif Traore(Calvisano), Braam Steyn(Calvisano), Omel Gega(Mogliano), Flippo Filippetto(San Dona), Luca Bigi(Petrarca Padova), Simon Ferrari(Milano), Duncan Naude(RC Chalon), Jean-Francois Montauriol(Rovigo Delta).

Transfers out:

Simone Favaro(Glasgow Warriors), Michele Campagnaro(Exeter Chiefs), Joe Carlisle(London Welsh), Paul Derbyshire(Zebre), Corniel van Zyl(Retired), Giovanni Maistri(Petrarca Padova), Antonio Pavanello(Retired), Ruggero Trevisan(Retired), Amar Kudin(Released), Romulo Acosta(Released), Albert Anae(Released), Jose Francisco Novak(Released), Tomas Vallejos Cinalli(Released), Meyer Swanepoel(Released), Nicola Cattina(Released), Mat Luamanu(Released), Henry Seniloli(Released).

Cardiff Blues

Transfers in:

Cam Dolan(Northampton Saints), Blaine Scully(Leicester Tigers), Tom James(Exeter Chiefs), Rey Lee-Lo(Hurricanes).

Transfers out:

Matthew Rees(Released), Adam Jones(Harlequins), Rory Watts-Jones(Retired), Filo Paulo(Benetton Treviso), Joaquin Tuclet(Argentina - Super Rugby), Dafydd Hewitt(Retired), Simon Humberstone(Doncaster Knights), Marc Breeze(Released), Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino(Released).

Connacht

Transfers in:

Ben Marshall(Leinster), Quinn Roux(Leinster), John Cooney(Leinster), Nepia Fox-Matamua(Auckland), Api Pewhairangi(New Zealand Warriors - Rugby League).

Transfers out:

Sean Henry(Released), Shane Layden(Released), Mata Fifita(Released), Miah Nikora(Released), Mick Kearney(Leinster), Michael Swift(Retired), Willie Faloon(Ulster), Mils Muliania(Zebre).

Edinburgh

Transfers in:

Michael Allen(Ulster), Jack Cosgrove(Worcester Warriors), Nasi Manu(Highlanders), William Helu(London Wasps), Nathan Fowles(Sale Sharks).

Transfers out:

Tim Visser(Harlequins), Tom Heathcote(Worcester Warriors), Grayson Hart(Glasgow Warriors), Ollie Atkins(Exeter Chiefs).

Glasgow Warriors

Transfers in:

Mike Blair(Newcastle Falcons), Kieran Law(London Irish), Simone Favaro(Benetton Treviso), Grayson Hart(Edinburgh), Sam Johnson(Reds), Jason Hill(Unattached), Javan Sebastian(Scarlets), Taqele Naiyaravoro(NSW Waratahs), Greg Peterson(Leicester Tigers).

Transfers out:

Euan Murray(Pau), Sean Maitland(London Irish), Dougie Hall(Retired), Alastair Kellock(Retired), James Downey(Wasps), Connor Braid(Released), Tommy Spinks(Jersey), Murray McConnell(Nottingham), Jon Welsh(Newcastle Falcons), D.T.H. Van der Merwe(Scarlets), Nikola Matawalu(Bath Rugby).

Leinster

Transfer in:

Jonathan Sexton(Racing 92), Mick Kearney(Connacht), Isa Nacewa(Unattached), Royce Burke-Flynn(Unattached), Ian Hirst(Unattached).

Transfers out:

Jimmy Gopperth(London Wasps), John Cooney(Connacht), Jordan Coghlan(Munster), Quinn Roux(Connacht), Shane Jennings(Retired), Sam Coghlan Murray(Nottingham), Sean McCarthy(Jersey), Brendan Macken(Wasps), Ben Marshall(Connacht).

Munster

Transfers in:

Jordan Coghlan(Leinster), Francis Saili(Auckland Blues), Matt D'Arcy(Unattached), Tomas O'Leary(London Irish).

Transfers out:

JJ Hanrahan(Northampton Saints), Paul O'Connell(Toulon), Sean Dougall(Pau), Paddy Butler(Pau), Damien Varley(Retired), Alan Cotter(Aix-en-Provence), Andrew Smith(TBC - end of contract), Eusebio Guinazu(TBC - end of contract), Ivan Dineen(Released), Martin Kelly(Released), Johne Murphy(Released), Barry O'Mahony(Released), Luke O'Dea(TBC - Pro D2).

Newport-Gwent Dragons

Transfers in:

Nick Scott(London Welsh), Sarel Pretorius(Free State Cheetahs), Ed Jackson(Wasps), Charlie Davies(Wasps), Adam Warren(Scarlets).

Transfers out:

Ian Gough(Retired), Ashley Smith(Retired), Lee Bryne(Retired), Owen Evans(Harlequins), Steffan Jones(Bedford Blues), Jonathan Evans(Bath Rugby).

Neath-Swansea Ospreys

Transfers in:

Paul James(Bath Rugby), Gareth Delve(NEC Green Rockets - Japan), Brendon Leonard(Zebre).

Transfers out:

Duncan Jones(Retired), Morgan Allen(Scarlets), Nicky Thomas(Gloucester), Sam Lewis(Worcester Warriors).

Scarlets

Transfers in:

Morgan Allen(Ospreys), Jack Condy(Unattached), Dylan Evans(Unattached - Australia), Tom Price(Leicester Tigers), Will Taylor(Wasps), Aled Thomas(Gloucester), D.T.H. Van der Merwe(Glasgow Warriors).

Transfers out:

Rhys Priestland(Bath Rugby), Javan Sebastian(Glasgow Warriors), Frazier Climo(Released), Joe Snyman(Brive Rugby), Kristian Phillips(Released), Adam Warren(Newport-Gwent Dragons), Kyle Evans(Moseley), Sion Bennett(Northampton Saints), Jacobie Adriaanse(Montpellier), Darran Harris(Rotherham Titans).

Ulster

Transfers in:

Peter Browne(London Welsh), Paul Rowley(London Welsh), Sam Windsor(Worcester Warriors), Willie Faloon(Connacht).

Transfer out:

Charlie Butterworth(Jersey), Ross Adair(Jersey), Declan Fitzpatrick(Retired), Michael Allen(Edinburgh), Ricky Andrew(Nottingham), Michael Heaney(Doncaster Knights).

Zebre

Transfers in:

Mils Muliania(Connacht), Luke Burgess(Melbourne Rebels), Pietro Ceccarelli(AS Macon), Marcello Violi(Calvisano), Federico Ruzza(Viadana), Tommaso Boni(Mogliano), Kayle van Zyl(Mogliano), Carlo Canna(Flamme Oro), Emiliano Corla(Montpellier), Emiliano Caffini(Rovigo Delta), Guillermo Roan(Rovigo Delta), Paul Derbyshire(Benetton Treviso), Bruno Postiglioni(La Plata - Argentina), Jean Cook(Cheetahs), Ulrich Beyers(Bordeaux-Begles), Johan Meyer(Sharks).

Transfers out:

Brendon Leonard(Ospreys), Andries Ferreira(Lions), Samuela Vunisa(Saracens), Giovanbattista Venditti(Newcastle Falcons), Mauro Bergamasco(Retired), Luca Redolfini(Rovigo Delta), Luciano Orquera(RC Massy), Tommaso Iannone(Benetton Treviso), Luciano Leibson(RC Massy), Matias Aguero(Released), Alberto Chillon(Released), Hennie Daniller(Released), Andrei Mahu(Released), Lorenzo Romano(Released).

Friday 19 June 2015

Toulon salary cap breach confirmed

The President of the Ligue Nationale du Rugby, Paul Goze, confirmed yesterday that two clubs were in breach of Salary cap rules during the 2013-14 season.
Since then Toulon owner, Mourad Boudjellal, had admitted that Toulon is one of these clubs responsible.
It appears that the breach is not as serious as could be assumed and is instead €3,000 euros over the permitted amount for potential contracted players. Boudjellal has claimed that the supposed breach was minor and any sanction will be opposed by Toulon.
Here is what Boudjellal had to say, ''This is purely anecdotal. I signed three contracts hopefuls to 51 000 each while the ceiling for these amounts are not counted in the salary-cap is set at 50,000 euros. It is clear that if there are sanctions, we will appeal the decision." ***

Follow the link below to read the original article:

http://sport24.lefigaro.fr/rugby/top-14/fil-info/toulon-a-depasse-le-salary-cap-756655

*** The above section was translated from French to English via an automatic translator and may not be an exact translation.

Additional Rugby World Cup tickets to go on sale next week

World Rugby has announced that a further 30,000 match tickets will go on sale on Thursday the 25th of June at 10:00 GMT.

This will include the potential Pool A quarter-final play-off match between Australia and Wales at Twickenham.

There will also be a further 3,000 tickets released for the opening ceremony, also at Twickenham, which sees England take on Fiji on the 10th of September as well as France v Italy on the 19th of September, also at Twickenham.

Lastly there will be an additional 4,000 tickets available for each of the quarter-finals scheduled to take place at Twickenham. Quarter-final 1 will see the winner of Pool B, most likely South Africa, against the runner-up from Pool A, which could potentially be any one of England, Australia, Wales and outside bets Fiji. Quarter-final 2 will see the winners of Pool A, probably one of England, Australia, or Wales, take on the runner-up from Pool B, which seems likely to be Scotland with Samoa and Japan likely to contest well.

Tickets are still available for a host of pool matches including two of Ireland's fixtures, including the match against Canada on the 19th of September as well as versus Romania on the 27th of September.


Follow this link to see the full list of matches that still have tickets available:

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/news/76744


You can purchase tickets by following this link: 

https://tickets.rugbyworldcup.com/gpctp/TicketingInformation


The Pool draw for Rugby World Cup 2015 is available here:

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/pools




Thursday 18 June 2015

Top 14 transfer round-up

Following the closure of the French Top 14 transfer window at midnight on Sunday here is a round-up of all the players that have moved club within, out and in of the Top 14.



Agen

Transfers in:

Benoit Sicart(Montpellier), Mike Tadjer(RC Massy), Bautista Guemes(CU Buenos Aires), Ruaan du Preez(Oyonnax), Api Naikatini(Wellington Lions), Ropate Ratue(Aurillac), Corentin Braedlin(Toulon), Johann Sadie(Cheetahs), George Tilsley(NZ 7's), Damien Fevre(Pau), Marc Bahet(Beziers)


Transfers out:

Benjamin Petre(Brive), Pierre Ferrary(Auch), Semisi Telefoni(US Carcassone), Lucas Tolot(Montauban), Raphael Lagarde(Albi), Rupeni Caucaunibuca(Unconfirmed), Denis Fogarty(Aix-en-Provence), Loris Tolot(Montauban), Tariel Ratianidze(Mont-de-Marsan), Sergio Valdes(Retired), Wessel Jooste(Retired), Junior Pelesasa(Retired)

Bordeaux-Begles

Transfers in:

Adam Ashley-Cooper(NSW Waratahs), Luke Braid(Auckland Blues), Loann Goujon(La Rochelle), Sekope Kepu(NSW Waratahs), Steven Kitshoff(Stormers), Nans Ducuing(Perpignan), Jean-Marcelin Buttin(Clermont Auvergne), Jean-Baptiste Dubie(Mont-de-Marsan), Gauthier Doubrere(Auch), Peter Saili(Auckland Blues)

    Transfer out:

    Zaza Navrosashvili(LOU Rugby), Bertran Guiry(Biarritz Olympique), Ben Venter(Montauban), Taiasina Tuifu'a(LOU Rugby), Laurent Delboulbes(Oyonnax), Salemane Ba(Retired), Ulrich Beyers(Zebre)


    Brive

    Transfer in:

    Benjamin Petre(Agen), Teddy Iribaren(Montpellier), William Whetton(Castres), Giorgi Jgenti(Former Joker), Chris Tuatara-Morrison(Former Joker), Johan Snyman(Scarlets), Lucas Pointud(Bayonne), Bastien Duhalde(Bayonne - Loan)

    Transfers out:

    Kieran Murphy(London Welsh), Damien Neveu(US Colomiers), Olivier Caisso(Montauban), Simon Pinet(Montauban), Russian Boukerou(Tarbes), Riaan Swanepoel(Montauban), Thomas Sanchou(Retired), Patrick Barnard(Retired), Lucas Lyons(Limoges), Venione Voretamaya(US Colomiers), Hugo Veyssiere(Limoges), Andrew Ma'ilei(Limoges)

    Castres

    Transfers in:

    Rudi Wulf(Toulon), David Smith(Toulon), Antoine Tichit(Oyonnax), Alexandre Bias(Montpellier), Alex Tulou(Montpellier), Benjamin Urdapilleta(Oyonnax), Francois Fontaine(Clermont Auvergne), Eric Sione(Hurricanes), Julien Seron(US Carcassonne), Lucas Martinez(Lomas Athletic - Argentina)

    Transfers out:

    Remi Tales(Racing 92), William Whetton(Brive), Ramiro Herrera(Argentina - Super Rugby), Pasa Fa'anunu(Grenoble), Thomas Combezou(La Rochelle), Cedric Garcia(Montauban), Marcel Garvey(Aix-de-Provence), Gregory Marmoiton(Aix-de-Provence), Saimone Taumoepeau(Aix-de-Provence), Jannie Bornman(Aix-de-Provence), Max Evans(Aix-de-Provence)

    Clermont-Auvergne

    Transfers in:

    Hosea Gear(Chiefs), David Strettle(Saracens), Scott Spedding(Bayonne), Flippe Van der Merwe(Bulls), Patricio Fernandez(Jockey Club - Argentina), Camille Gerondeau(Racing 92), Judicael Cancoriet(RC Massy), Albert VuliVuli(Montpellier), Irakli Natriashvili(SC Tuile), Adrien Plante(Racing 92)

    Transfers out:

    Zac Guildford(Hawke's Bay Magpies), Giorgi Sharashidze(Aurillac), Ti'i Paulo(LOU Rugby), Napolioni Nalaga(LOU Rugby), Julien Bonnaire(LOU Rugby), Julien Pierre(Pau), Mike Delany(Newcastle Falcons), Julien Malzieu(Montpellier), Jean-Marchelin Buttin(Bordeaux-Begles), Thierry Lacrampe(Pau), Uwa Tawalo(Oyonnax), Francois Fontaine(Castres)

    Grenoble

    Transfers in:

    Mathias Marie(Biarritz Olympique), Lucas Dupont(Montpellier), Walter Desmaison(Racing 92), Gilles Bosch(US Carcassonne), Fabrice Estebanez(LOU Rugby), Paea Fa'anunu(Castres), James Percival(Worcester Warriors), Stephen Setephano(NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes - Japan), Armand Battle(US Colomiers), Sona Taumalolo(Racing 92), Christophe Loustalot(Bayonne)

    Transfers out:

    Jono Owen(Montpellier), Paul Willemse(Montpellier), Jordan Michallat(Bourgoin), Remy Hughes(Mont-de-Marsan), Thibaut Rey(Mont-de-Marsan), Richard Choirat(Bayonne), Albertus Buckle(LOU Rugby), Julien Caminati(Toulon - Joker), Florian Faure(Bourgoin), Remi Hughes(Mont-de-Marsan), Louis Marrou(Montauban - Loan), Ross Skeate(Aix-en-Provence), Geoffrey Messina(Retired), Benjamin Thiery(Bourgoin), Richard Choirat(Bourgoin), Naude Beukes(Bourgoin), Jordan Michallet(Bourgoin), Ross Skeate(Aix-en-Provence)

    La Rochelle


    Transfers in:

    Pierre Aguillon(Oyonnax), Ricky Januarie(LOU Rugby), Thomas Combezou(Castres), Maxime Gau(SC Albi), Zack Holmes(Western Force), David Raikuna(North Harbour - Joker), Banjamin Lapeyre(Racing 92), David Roumieu(Bayonne), Damien Lagrange(Oyonnax), Gabriel Lacroix(SC Albi)

    Transfers out:

    Loann Goujon(Bordeaux-Begles), Jean-Philippe Grandclaude(Leucate), Peter Grant(Released), Benoit Borrust(Retired), Cobus Grobler(Retired), Julien Berger(Aix-en-Provence), Gonzalo Canale(Aix-en-Provence), Arthur Cestaro(Aix-en-Provence), Sireli Bobo(Retired), Hamish Gard(Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars - Japan)

    Montpellier

    Transfers in:

    Nic White(ACT Brumbies), Marvin O'Connor(Bayonne), Demetri Catrakilis(Stormers), Julien Malzieu(Clermont Auvergne), Jacques du Plessis(Bulls), Schalk Van der Merwe(Lions), Jesse Mogg(ACT Brumbies), Jacobie Adriaanse(Scarlets), Paul Willemse(Grenoble), Wiaan Liebenberg(Bulls), Cameron Wright(Sharks), Seveci Nakailagi(Unattached - Fiji U-20), Pierre Spies(Bulls), Bismarck du Plessis(Sharks), Jannie du Plessis(Sharks)

    Transfers out:

    Enzo Selponi(Perpignan), Wynand Oliver(Released), Max Bustos(Released), Nahuel Lobo(US Carcassonne), Alexandre Bias(Castres), Alex Tulou(Castres), Albert VuliVuli(Clermont Auvergne), David Attoub(LOU Rugby), Emiliano Carla(Zebre), Chris King(Pau), Thomas Bianchin(Pau), Teddy Iribaren(Brive), Yohann Artru(Perpignan), Samisoni VuliVuli(Montauban), Na'ama Leleimalefaga(Worcester Warriors), Rene Ranger(Auckland Blues), Fred Quercy(Montauban), Lucas Dupont(Grenoble), Jonathan Pelissie(Toulon), Benoit Sicart(Agen)

    Oyonnax

    Transfers in:

    Nicky Robinson(Bristol), George Robson(Harlequins), Piri Weepu(London Welsh), Horatiu Pungea(LOU Rugby), Thomas Bordes(Mont-de-Marsan), Mickael de Marco(LOU Rugby), Uwa Tawalo(Clermont Auvergne), Quentin Etienne(Narbonne), Eamonn Sheridan(London Irish), Joe Tuineau(LOU Rugby), Fabrice Metz(Racing 92), Jeremie Maurouard(Racing 92), Vincent Martin(LOU Rugby), Fetu'u Vainikolo(Exeter Chiefs), Pierrick Gunther(LOU Rugby)

    Transfers out:

    Thibault Lassalle(Toulon), Benjamin Urdapilleta(Castres), Pierre Aguillon(La Rochelle), Ruaan du Preez(Agen), Antoine Guillamon(Toulouse), Clement Jullien(US Carcassonne), Yohan Domenech(US Carcassonne), Paul Ngauamon(Mont-de-Marsan), Alex Luatua(Aurillac), Agustin Figuerola(LOU Rugby), Jean-Francois Coux(Bourgoin), Christophe Andre(Perpignan), Antoine Tichit(Castres), Damian Browne(Retired), Neil Clark(Retired), Clement Baiocco(Retired), Yves Donguy(Released), Miroslav Nemecek(Released)

    Pau

    Transfer in:

    Paddy Butler(Munster), Sean Dougall(Munster), Julien Pierre(Clermont Auvergne), Thierry Lacrampe(Clermont Auvergne), Conrad Smith(Hurricanes), Thomas Bianchin(Montpellier), Chris King(Montpellier), Colin Slade(Crusaders), Waisoni Votu(Perpignan), Mosese Ratuvou(LOU Rugby), Pierre Dupouy(Auch), Euan Murray(Glasgow Warriors), Quentin Lesplaucq(Dax), Charly Malie(Montauban)

    Transfers out:

    Antoine Lescalmel(Montauban), Jean-Baptists Barrere(Beziers), Clement Bourgeois(Montauban), Peni Fakelau(Bourgoin), Mickael Drouard(US Nevers), Lucas Condou(Albi), Thomas Toevalu(Bourgoin), Marlon Solofuti(Angouleme)

    Racing 92

    Transfers in:

    Yannick Nyanga(Toulouse), Dan Carter(Crusaders), Remi Tales(Castres), Chris Masoe(Toulon), Lisiate Fa'aoso(Bayonne), Manuel Carizza(Stormers), Ben Tameifuna(Chiefs), Martin Castrogiovanni(Toulon)

    Transfers out:

    Jonathan Sexton(Leinster), Walter Desmaison(Grenoble), Camille Gerondeau(Clermont Auvergne), Laurent Magnaval(Biarritz Olympique), Tomas Lavanini(Argentina - Super Rugby), Jamie Roberts(Harlequins), Benjamin Lapeyre(La Rochelle), Jeremie Maurouard(Oyonnax), Fabrice Metz(Oyonnax), Adrien Plante(Clermont Auvergne), Sona Taumaloto(Grenoble), Maxime Javaux(Aix-en-Provence), Dan Lydiate(Ospreys - Mid-Season)

    Stade Francais Paris

    Transfers in:

    Will Genia(Reds), Sekou Macaiou(RC Massy), Avenisi Vasuinubu(US Colomiers), Emmanuel Felsina(LOU Rugby), Paul Alo-Emile(Melbourne Rebels), Willem Alberts(Sharks), Christer Powell(Fiji - Unattached), Patrick Sio(Australia - Unattached)

    Transfers out:

    Scott Lavalla(Retired), Santiago Garcia Botta(Argentina - Super Rugby), Nicola Garrault(Tarbes), Digby Iaona(Tarbes) ,Romain Frou(US Nevers), Juan Cruz Guillemain(Tarbes), Romain Frou(Tarbes), Jerome Fillol(Retired), Pierre Rabadan(Retired), Krisnan Inu(Catalan Dragons - Rugby League), Richard Kingi(Retired), David Lyons(Retired)

    Toulon

    Transfers in:

    Ma'a Nonu(Hurricanes), Jonathan Pelissie(Montpellier), Thibault Lassalle(Oyonnax), Salesi Ma'afu(Northampton Saints), Samu Manoa(Northampton Saints), Mohamed Boughanmi(Beziers), Julien Caminati(Grenoble), Quade Cooper(Reds)•, James O'Connor(Reds), Charles Ollivon(Bayonne), Anthony Etrillard(Bayonne), Paul O'Connell(Munster), Duane Vermeulen(Stormers), Matt Stevens(Sharks)

    Transfers out:

    Bakkies Botha(Retired), Carl Hayman(Retired), Ali Williams(Retired), Michael Claassens(Sharks), Nicolas Durand(LOU Rugby), Chris Masoe(Racing 92), Nicolas Sanchez(Argentine - Super Rugby), Stephane Munoz(Montauban), Corentin Braedlin(Agen), Rudi Wolf(Castres), David Smith(Castres), Martin Castrogiovanni(Racing 92)

    Toulouse

    Transfers in:

    David Mele(Leicester Tigers), Gert Muller(Bayonne), Semi Kunatani(Fiji 7's)

    Players out:

    Yannick Nyanga(Racing 92), Jano Vermaak(Stormers), Dorian Aldegheri(US Carcassonne), Loic Verdy(Aix-en-Provence), Francois Bouvier(Agen)


    •To be confirmed.




      South Africa's domestic rugby crisis

      At first glance South African rugby seems as healthy as ever, the national team lay comfortably in what seems to be a perpetual second place in the world rankings. This is further bolstered by the common view that the William Webb Ellis will end up in the hands of either South Africa, England or New Zealand on the 31st of October later this year.

      The strength of the South African national team is unquestionable despite a rocky 2014 season seeing them win just two of their four test on their European tour on the back of a similarly average Rugby Championship. The Springboks finishing the year with nine wins out of a possible thirteen, average by recent Springbok standards. 

      The domestic game in South Africa is in a very different state of affairs. Only the Stormers managed to reach the Super Rugby Play-offs, even still this was only by virtue of winning the South African conference. The Crusaders finished one point above them(on 46 points) but four places below them in 7th position. The other four South African franchises largely made up the bottom half of the table, the Lions enjoying a successful 8th placed finish, while the Bulls, Sharks and Cheetahs finished in 9th, 11th and 12th respectively. If the Super Rugby play-offs were decided on merit alone then no South African team would have made it. 

      Taking this into account the re-entry of the Southern Kings into Super Rugby next season as one of three new sides and South Africa's sixth side in the competition appears obviously flawed and a huge stretch of resources, both in terms of finance and more potently players. Does South Africa have enough players up to the standard? Heyneke Meyer's two most recent training squads certainly indicate so, in total these squads contained 60 players. All 60 of those included play their rugby with one of the five existing Super Rugby sides with 19 of these players uncapped. 

      The absence of a large number of Springboks or potential Springboks playing abroad from these squads was highly noticeable when name-checking the squads. While this is not a massive issue for the South African national team itself, as the SARU has chosen to allow Meyer to select overseas players, it is having a sizeable impact on the competitiveness of South Africa's Super Rugby sides.

      Toulon alone had 6 Sprinboks on their books last season, with the retirement of Bakkies Botha and the signing of Vermeulen maintaining this number ahead of next season. The Du Plessis brothers are joining Jake White in Montpellier along with 6 other South Africans including Pierre Spies. Morne Steyn recently won Le Bouclier with Stade Francais and Gio Aplon is currently playing for Bernard Jackman's Grenoble. This list is just a quick sample and could keep going for a while. This clearly shows the impact of South Africa deciding to select overseas players, they opened the door a little bit and seemingly the floodgates have opened.

      South Africa also has one of the highest rates of natives taking advantage of the infamous three year residency rule to represent other nations. Richardt Strauss received his first cap for Ireland against his native country in November 2012, Robbie Diack too was capped for the first time last year and CJ Stander looks certain to wear the emerald green as he qualifies for Ireland later this year. Josh Strauss and WP Nel have also been included in Scotland's World Cup squad ahead of their qualification under the ruling later this year. The French national team is also guilty of using the residency rule for their own benefit, seeing Rory Kockott and Scott Spedding both becoming French internationals in 2014. Brad Barritt is another who chose another nation over South Africa but, not via the residency rule, he qualifies for England through his Rhodesian parents.

      While these players are not necessarily deemed to be worthy Springboks in some cases, their absence, among many others, is having a sizeable impact on the competitiveness of the the South African franchises in Super Rugby. The player drain shows no signs of stopping, both in terms of capped and uncapped South Africans, infact it is happening much more now than ever.
      While the impact is evident in Super Rugby now it won't have a big impact on the strength of the national team for a while yet, but it will.

      South Africa took a bold risk by allowing the selection of overseas players and thus far it has benefitted the national team. However, a continuation of this policy while also attempting to expand their amount of Super Rugby franchises is perplexing. Their assumed motivation must be based on the more Super Rugby teams they have the more Super Rugby players they have and as a result the more potential Springboks they have. More teams residing in the bottom half of the Super Rugby table is no benefit to anyone, especially considering the quality of the players South Africa allows to ply their trade abroad. It is a clear case of the SARU prioritising the national team above all else and the longer this rule is in place as it is now the bigger a negative on the Super Rugby franchises and the national team in the longer term.


      Wednesday 17 June 2015

      Champions Cup draw as difficult as expected

      This years Champions Cup has set-up five mouth-watering pools featuring the nest sides from the French Top14, the Aviva Premiership and the Guinness Pro12. The full draw is available below.

      Pool One sees last years semi-finalists and 2014 finalists Saracens face off against 2012 finalists Ulster as well as four time champions Toulouse as well as Oyonnax, who are making their debut in the Champions Cup. Saracens are the clear early favourites to win this pool, but both Ulster and Toulouse will push them close and won't be far away from qualifying for the knock-out stages themselves.


      Pool Two pits Clermont Auvergne against the Ospreys and Exeter Chiefs, two sides who have improved significantly over the last twelve months. Expect a few surprises from this pool, strong recruitment from the Chiefs including Geoff Parling and Salvi will make them much more competitive than their last appearance in the competition two years ago. Clermont still the overwhelming favourites to top this pool, while Bordeaux seem to have little chance of replicating the performances of last years play-off winner Wasps.

      Pool Three is possibly the most even pool and makes you wonder was it to Glasgow's benefit that they were the Pro 12's top seed. They face off against Northampton Saints, who finished top of the Aviva Premiership in the regular season and Racing Metro, who welcome Dan Carter, Chris Maseo and Nyanga onto their books in the off season. Scarlets aren't likely to be a push over either, whichever games they can win will likely decide the pool.

      Pool Four has a very retro Heineken Cup glory days feel about featuring Top 14 champions Stade Francais, alongside Munster and Leicester, both of which have been champions of Europe Twice. Treviso's presence makes it likely that two sides will more than likely progress from this pool and recent form indicates that this will be real three way struggle.

      Pool Five is undoubtedly the toughest pool this year if not in the history of European rugby, Tier One seeds Bath will be gulping hard at the prospect of facing a Toulon side gunning for an unprecedented fourth straight title with new recruits of Paul O'Connell, Samu Manao and Ma'a Nonu, to name but a few. Leinster too will be motivated to show a better account of themselves in Europe following last years semi-final defeat to Toulon. Wasps are going to be the danger team in this group with little to lose and a lot to gain and will be hoping to build on last years surprise quarter-final appearance. This pool could go to anyone, expect Toulon to qualify but, expect it to go down to the wire.

      Tuesday 16 June 2015

      The Salary Cap: The European Capital Cup

      Finance is something which has come to play a significant role, if not the most significant role in professional sport in the modern era. Without sufficient financial backing it is impossible to compete on a level where trophies are a possibility or longevity is guaranteed. The proof of this can be seen clearly in the Aviva Premiership and Top 14, as the financially weaker teams battle against relegation and the richest contest for play-off places.
      To curb the impact of gaps in financial power the Salary Cap was created, coming into the English Premiership in 1999. As professionalism became a reality in Rugby Union, it was seen as a necessary restriction in order to increase competition and ensure financial stability of all clubs.
      Ever since the salary cap has been on the rise and now, in England, the salary cap is £5.5 Million per year, with two ‘marquee’ players wages being exempt from inclusion. Domestically, this has been a system which has worked reasonably well for the last decade or so. The Aviva Premiership using the example of three different teams becoming champions in as many years as proof of this.
      This does say a lot for the evenness of competition the cap has created but, the winners always come out of those that push the cap to its limit and those fighting relegation are consistently the teams which cannot afford the full wages they are allowed to pay. As the salary cap continues to rise, this gap will only increase and the point of it, to maintain even competition, will serve to be irrelevant and it will act only as a minor financial restriction to the biggest teams. This is being shown by teams such as Bath and Saracens, who have both been recently accused of going over the imposed Salary cap.
      The Salary cap will inevitably rise, calls for it to do so come on a weekly basis, the most vocal club being Saracens, Aviva Premiership and Heineken Cup finalists in 2013-14. Their argument is fair on a European scale, there is a £3 Million pound gap in the salary gaps of England and France and as a result, the best teams in France can attract better players than the best teams in England. This is due to the salary gap as many teams cannot compete with their French counterparts financial, demonstrated by Toulon’s recent European domination.
      The big issue is whether to prioritise domestic or European competition? Maintain the cap as it is and allow all teams to compete equally within their domestic league or expand it and allow teams with the financial power to compete more internationally? Neither is a perfect solution and both have sizable impacts on the competitiveness of teams in one way or another. The ideal way for Rugby Union to move forward is by introducing a worldwide Salary cap, an idea that is far too impractical as international teams pay significant contributions towards players wages also. A salary cap for each competition is more workable and will allow English and French clubs to compete on the same financial level in Europe.
      There is much Rugby Union can learn from the example of professional football, specifically in finance, it is something that needs to be controlled and if this is not acted on soon, money will dictate, even more so, where the best players play and where the most prestigious trophies go.

      Originally published by The Trinity Bull 30/01/2015

      Champions Cup draw certain to produce toughest pools yet

      Europe's New Order

      The birth of the European Champions cup last year marked a new era for European rugby, a tougher era. This was immediately evident even before the draw took place, with Clermont Auvergne amongst the Tier 3 seeds, Toulouse too sat in Tier 4 despite their four European titles, the message was clear - history meant nothing.

      The ensuing tournament was earmarked as the most brutal draw Europe had ever seen - the prime of example of which was Pool 1, seeing three semi-finalists from the previous two years pitted in the same pool, Munster failing to deal with the dual threat of both Clermont and Saracens.

      The 2015/16 tournament looks set to eclipse this further with the presence of the ever improving Glasgow Warriors alongside Saracens and Stade Francais as definite Tier 1 seeds via their domestic successes, something newly appointed ECPR Chairman Simon Halliday regards as ''a new order in European rugby''.

      Halliday is not wrong and this is perhaps typified by the presence of Stade Francais and Saracens in Tier 1, each having failed to top their domestic leagues in the regular season. Both finished in 4th position, Saracens just barely edging into the knock-out stages via a stronger points difference than the Exeter Chiefs. The Champions Cup rewards the results of the knock-out stages, not the regular season - Northampton Saints and Toulon falling victim to this.

      This years tournament looks stronger than ever, Halliday regarding this as representative of ''truly elite-level sport''. The presence of 2014/15 semi-finalists Leinster as Tier 3 seeds and Toulon amongst the Tier 2 sides is perhaps an indication of flaws in the seeding system - together the sides have won six out of the last 7 Heineken Cups/Champions Cups.

      The seeding system is now very much based on merit and not past achievements, very much the opposite to the Champions Cup's predecessor, the Heineken Cup and representative of Halliday's ''new order''. The Heineken Cup's seeding system was undoubtedly flawed, allowing teams such as Leicester, Toulouse and Munster a perpetual advantage through the successes of teams of old. This was shown clearly in the debut of the Champions Cup last season, seeing Munster, Leicester and Toulouse all fail to progress past the group stages - the 'Old order' suffering the results of the change. The Champions Cup has brought the intensity of the knock-out stages of the competition into the pool stages - expect several intensely difficult pools, expect home losses to become much more common, expect surprises.

      How the draw works

      Tomorrow's draw will operate in the exact same manner as last years with the domestic champions of each of Europe's leagues automatically being placed in Tier 1. Saracens, Glasgow and Stade Francais will be joined by two of the three domestic runner-ups to be decided at random. This will see two of Munster, Bath and Clermont being promoted to Tier 1.

      The remaining Tier 2 side will be joined by the third ranked sides from each domestic league(the losing semi-finalist who finished highest in the regular season) - Northampton, Toulon and the Ospreys. The final Tier 2 position will be awarded to the league whos team missed out on a second Tier 1 team(eg Munster and Clermont being upgraded to Tier 1 ahead of Bath would see Leicester promoted to Tier 2).

      The third tier will compromise of fourth ranked teams and fifth ranked teams. This consists of Leicester, Ulster and Toulouse, one of which will be promoted to the second tier(as discussed above), and Exeter Chiefs, Racing Metro and Leinster - who are all guaranteed to be in the third tier.

      Tier 4 will be made up of sixth ranked sides, including Wasps, Oyonnax and Scarlets. Treviso will also be in Tier 4 by virtue of the fact they finished above fellow Italians Zebre in the Guinness Pro12(each nationality is guaranteed at least one team in the Champions Cup in the Pro12). Lastly, Bordeaux-Begles will be the 20th team in this years tournament having defeated Gloucester 23-22 in the play-off between those who finished 7th in their domestic leagues, the English side were victorious over Connacht in the first round of the play-offs.

      Finally, each of the five pools must feature at least one side from each of the three leagues and Pro12 sides cannot be placed in a pool with another team from their own nation. As a result of this it is already decided that Oyonnax, Bordeaux-Begles and Wasps will be placed in a pool with another team from their domestic league.


      Tier 1:


      • Glasgow Warriors
      • Saracens
      • Stade Francais
      • One of Munster/Bath/Clermont
      • One of Munster/Bath/Clermont

      Tier 2:

      • The remaining side out of Munster/Bath/Clermont
      • Northampton
      • Toulon
      • Ospreys
      • One of Leicester/Ulster/Toulouse

      Tier 3:

      • One of Leicester/Ulster/Toulouse
      • One of Leicester/Ulster/Toulouse
      • Exeter Chiefs
      • Racing Metro
      • Leinster

      Tier 4:

      • Wasps
      • Oyonnax 
      • Scarlets
      • Benetton Treviso 
      • Bordeaux-Begles 

      The draw will take place at 13:15 tomorrow(17/06/15) beginning with the Challenge Cup draw, immediately followed by the Champions Cup draw and will be live on epcrugby.com, Sky Sports News, btsport.com and beIN sports.



      Quotes taken from EPCR website:
      (http://www.epcrugby.com/europeanrugbychampionscup/news/30995.php#.VYAduFVViko)