Darry Worthington takes a look at the rugby news that has broke during the past week.
Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
While the growing Corona has put a hold to all rugby fixtures around the globe, there’s still a lot of rugby news doing the rounds at
Springboks Stranded in Japan
A number of Springboks who are contracted to Japanese top-flight clubs have been left stranded in Japan. The Japanese Top League officials had been playing a bit of a waiting game hoping that the Corona Virus pandemic would ease off and that the season would be able to resume in mid-to-late April. Officials decided to call the season off last week Monday, however.
With South Africa going into lockdown, Springboks stars such as Malcolm Marx, Duane Vermeulen and Willie Le Roux had flights cancelled at the last minute. And while it seems Vermeulen managed seemingly managed to arrange a flight back home, other South African rugby players and coaches are currently stuck in Japan.
Billy to Remain in North London
There was good news for struggling English club Saracens as burly number eight Billy Vunipola recommitted to the North London-based club, who will be relegated to the English Championship next season having been docked a number of points for breaking wage structure rules.
Vunipola joins fellow England internationals Jamie George and Elliot Daily in committing to the club, while it seems that Owen Farell and Maro Itoje will soon follow suit.
Australian Internal Competition on Ice
There was a lot of hope in Australia that a domestic competition could get going in early-April but those plans have been put on ice with a number of states going into lockdown following a rise in cases in Australia.
The four Australian Super Rugby franchises are set to be joined by former Super Rugby club the Western Force, who were meant to participate in Global Rapid Rugby. While it seems this internal Australian rugby competition will get underway at some point, it seems like the earliest start date would be in late May.
Rugby League Follows Rugby Union Into Suspension
Staying on the Australian theme and Rugby League joined Union in shutting down last week with the NRL head honchos deciding to suspend the season due to Australian states going into lockdown.
There had been hope that the NRL season would continue with behind closed door games but after a somewhat successful week of these games, it was decided that the lockdown would scupper any plans of continuing the season unabated.
Jake White to Lead the Bulls
There’s some good news for Bulls fans coming out of a rather gloomy couple weeks with World Cup-winning Springbok coach Jake White set to joining the Pretoria outfit.
While White has often been a controversial figure during his reign at the helm of international sides as well as Super Rugby franchises, there’s no doubting that he is a quality coach and a step in the right direction for a Bulls side that needs a massive overhaul.
