RECAP: Wednesday's Rugby Round-Up - Ruck

RECAP: Wednesday’s Rugby Round-Up

  • Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell has been handed a two-week ban after being cited for foul play
  • Harlequins head coach John Kingston will take over as director of rugby when Conor O’Shea leaves
  • Great Britain revealed their kit for the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics on Wednesday
  • England prop Joe Marler has been banned for two weeks after being found guilty of kicking a player in the head
  • Leeds Rhinos legend Kevin Sinfield has announced he will retire from rugby at the end of the season
  • Fijian second row Leone Nakarawa is leaving Glasgow in the summer for Racing 92
  • Leicester Tigers fly-half Freddie Burns may need surgery on ankle injury
  • Newcastle Falcons’ owners escape winding up order after settling unpaid tax bill
  • London Irish second row Nic Rouse forced to retire by shoulder injury

Owen Farrell available for Champions Cup final after ban
Saracens Owen Farrell has been given a two-week ban after being charged with a dangerous tackle that floored Wasps’ Dan Robson, so will miss clashes with Newcastle and Worcester. He will, however, be available for the Champions Cup final against Racing 92 in Lyon.

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Farrell received a yellow card for his 51st-minute tackle that ended the participation of a dazed Robson, and the Italian citing officer, Steffano Maramo, had decided the incident was potentially worthy of a red card

He was given a low-end sanction of two weeks, with an extra week added as a deterrent. However, the European Rugby disciplinary panel opted to reduce the ban back down to a fortnight because of Farrell’s clean record.

Read more: https://www.ruck.co.uk/?p=20143

John Kingston to replace Conor O’Shea as Harlequins director of rugby
Harlequins have confirmed John Kingston will replace the outgoing Conor O’Shea as director of rugby for the 2016/17 season.

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Kingston will be replaced as head coach by Mark Mapletoft, while Graham Rowntree will join and take up the role as new forwards coach.

Meanwhile, long-serving number eight Nick Easter, who scored a hat-trick in England’s final pool game during the Rugby World Cup, will become defence coach.

Read more: https://www.ruck.co.uk/?p=20136

Harlequins and England prop Joe Marler banned for two weeks for kick
England prop Joe Marler has been banned for two weeks after being found guilty of kicking a player in the head.

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The 25-year-old was seen kicking hooker Arnaud Heguy in the 30-6 European Challenge Cup win over Grenoble.

Marler was playing his first game following a two-week ban for his “Gypsy boy” slur against Wales’ Samson Lee , but has courted fresh controversy following the clash with Heguy in the 26th minute.

Read more: https://www.ruck.co.uk/?p=20124

Rio 2016 – 100 days to go: Great Britain reveals rugby kit
Great Britain revealed their kit for the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics on Wednesday as Rio de Janeiro marks 100 days to go until the Games.

As in 2012, leading designer Stella McCartney, in collaboration with Adidas, has been selected to create the outfits to be worn by Britain’s squad.

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Leeds Rhinos legend Kevin Sinfield to retire at end of rugby union season
Kevin Sinfield MBE has announced he will retire from professional rugby at the end of the season after an illustrious 20-year career.

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The former Leeds Rhinos and England rugby league captain switched codes to Yorkshire Carnegie in November last year and has helped his new team reach the end-of-season play-offs.

“I have always said that some day I will need to get a proper job and that day has now come,” Sinfield said.


Glasgow Warriors Leone Nakarawa departs for Racing 92
Glasgow Warriors have announced that Leone Nakarawa will leave the club at the end of the season to join Racing 92 despite having a year left to run on his current deal.

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Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend said: “Leone has attracted a lot of interest from other clubs due to the form he’s been in over the last year.

“During the Rugby World Cup a lot of clubs were interested in signing him and although we were looking to retain him, we have now agreed to let Leone leave a year early.

Read more: https://www.ruck.co.uk/?p=20106

 Leicester Tigers fly-half may need surgery on ankle injury
Leicester Tigers fly-half Freddie Burns will miss the rest of the season after picking up an ankle injury in their European Champions Cup semi-final loss.
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The 25-year-old England international may need surgery on the problem, which forced him off at the City Ground.

However, there is better news for Leicester boss Richard Cockerill on the fitness of centre Manu Tuilagi.

“Manu tweaked his knee and he’ll be rested this weekend,” Cockerill told BBC Radio Leicester.


Newcastle Falcons’ owners escape winding up order after settling unpaid tax bill
Newcastle Falcons’ owners have avoided their second winding up order in months after settling an undisclosed tax bill.
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Newcastle Rugby Limited faced a winding-up petition brought by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs but the petition was dismissed after the club’s owner paid an undisclosed outstanding tax bill in full.

This is the second time the club’s owners have escaped a winding-up order in 2016.


London Irish second row forced to retire by shoulder injury
London Irish second row Nic Rouse has been forced to retire from professional rugby because of a shoulder injury.

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The 35-year-old has made 40 appearances for the Exiles since joining from Nottingham in 2013.

“I’m very disappointed to have to call time on my playing career,” Rouse said. “London Irish is a club that is very close to my heart.”

Injury has meant Rouse has been unable to make a Premiership appearance for the Exiles this season.

“I’m now looking forward to the future challenges post rugby,” he added