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George Smith, Charles Piutau, Nathan Hughes, Andy Goode and Thomas Waldrom are on the Rugby Players’ Association’s Player of the Year shortlist
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Warren Gatland has been reassured Alun Wyn Jones will be fit for Wales’ summer tour of New Zealand
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Welsh rugby writers took part in the annual ballot with Taulupe Faletau coming out on top
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Ruaridh Jackson will join Harlequins for the 2016/17 Aviva Premiership season
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Edinburgh have handed 29-year-old Melrose prop Nick Beavon a one-year contract
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Ospreys winger Hanno Dirksen is set to miss the rest of the season after sustaining a serious knee injury
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Scrum-half Nic Groom will join Northampton Saints from Stormers
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Newcastle Falcons have added Canada lock Evan Olmstead to their squad for next season
Andy Goode named on Rugby Players’ Association Player of the Year shortlist
Wasps trio George Smith, Charles Piutau and Nathan Hughes feature on the Rugby Players’ Association’s Player of the Year shortlist alongside Newcastle No.10 Andy Goode and Exeter’s Thomas Waldrom.
Waldrom is the Aviva Premiership’s top try-scorer and won the RPA award in 2011 while veteran fly-half Goode came out of retirement mid-season and literally kicked Dean Richards’ Newcastle to safety before then hanging up his boots for the second time.
Read more: https://www.ruck.co.uk/?p=20414
Ospreys give Wales positive news on the fitness of Alun Wyn Jones
Warren Gatland has been reassured that British and Irish Lions lock Alun Wyn Jones will be fit for Wales’ fast approaching summer tour of New Zealand.
The Wales head coach will announce his squad for the trip next Tuesday.
Asked if Jones would make the tour, Ospreys backs coach Gruff Rees replied: “The work he’s doing now would suggest it’s a large possibility.”
Read more: https://www.ruck.co.uk/?p=20426
Taulupe Faletau beats Jamie Roberts to win Welsh Player of the Year award
Wales and Newport Gwent Dragons Number 8 Taulupe Faletau has been awarded the Welsh Rugby Writers player of the year award.
Welsh rugby writers took part in the annual ballot with Faletau coming out on top ahead of Harlequins centre Jamie Roberts.
Meanwhile, Ellis Jenkins has won the young player award in a breakthrough senior season for the former Wales Under-20 captain.
Read more: https://www.ruck.co.uk/?p=20408
Harlequins sign Scottish international Ruaridh Jackson
Scotland international Ruaridh Jackson will join Harlequins from Wasps ahead of the 2016/17 Aviva Premiership season.
“After speaking to John Kingston and Conor O’Shea I could see how great a club it is. I also spoke with Tim Visser and he only had positive things to say; I’m looking forward to working hard and testing myself in a new environment.
“Having someone like Nick Evans was another big draw; he’s a guy I have watched a lot of and will look forward to picking his brain and challenging him and the other tens for that shirt.”
Read more: https://www.ruck.co.uk/?p=20396
Self-employed joiner signs for Edinburgh
Edinburgh have signed 29-year-old Melrose prop Nick Beavon on a one-year contract for next season.
The self-employed joiner has been on trial with the Murrayfield Pro12 side since January.
The tighthead said: “It’s massive to be signed at this stage in my career by Edinburgh.
“I never thought it was going to happen, I thought opportunities like this would have passed me by, then I got into the club international side two years ago for the first time. I still never thought anything would come of it as I was obviously older.”
Read more: https://www.ruck.co.uk/?p=20393
Ospreys Hanno Dirksen ruled out of action with ‘significant’ knee injury
Ospreys Hanno Dirksen has been ruled out with a knee injury for the foreseeable future after coming off against Cardiff Blues last weekend in the 40-27 victory.
The winger scored two tries to move up to seventh in the region’s all-time list with 27 but left the field with a knee problem.
“We’ve spoken to several specialists and the view is it is in Hanno’s best interests to have the surgery now,” explained Ospreys physio Chris Towers.
Read more: https://www.ruck.co.uk/?p=20384
Saints to sign Stormers scrum-half Nic Groom
Northampton have confirmed the signing of scrum-half Nic Groom from Cape Town-based Super Rugby side The Stormers for next season.
The 26-year-old double Currie Cup winner, who has also played in 59 Currie Cup matches for Western Province, has spent his entire professional career at Newlands having come through the Western Province Rugby Institute.
Read more: https://www.ruck.co.uk/?p=20377
Canada lock Evan Olmstead signs for Falcons
Newcastle Falcons have added Canada lock Evan Olmstead to their squad for next season.
The 25-year-old stands at 6 foot 5 and has been capped seven times by his country, featuring for Canada in last year’s Rugby World Cup.
Newcastle Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards said: “Evan is a typically hard Canadian player who brings a real no-nonsense edge to his play.
“He will fit in well with the type of game we are trying to implement and we are delighted to have been able to secure his signing.”