Month-By-Month: Key moments of 2017 in Rugby Union - Page 12 of 12 - Ruck

Month-By-Month: Key moments of 2017 in Rugby Union

DECEMBER

1st Dec: In a year where he straddled the game like a Colossus, Beauden Barrett was named World Rugby Player of the year.

2nd Dec: A virtual Welsh 2nd team, shorn of 14 unavailable players, puts in a magnificent display to complete a sorry season for the Springboks, as they won 24-22 in Cardiff.

7th Dec: World Rugby launch a new simplified rule book will be introduced globally from January 1, 2018 in which the game’s laws will become clearer. Approved at the November World Rugby Council meeting, the simplified law book is designed to make the laws easier to understand while not altering the meaning of them or how the game is played.

11th Dec: New Zealand were crowned winners of the Cape Town Sevens after comfortably beating Argentina 38-14. They edged host nation South Africa 19-12 in their semi-final, with Argentina having made the final two after overcoming Canada 14-12

12th Dec: Jim Mallinder is sacked as Director of Rugby at Northampton Saints. their run during October, November and December 2017 saw them win 1 game from 10 in all competitions.

19th Dec: And finally, Wayne Barnes breaks the record for most Aviva Premiership matches refereed when he took charge of Worcester Warriors’ home clash with London Irish, taking his tally to 191 matches.