Northampton Saints are refusing to comment on the reports that have surfaced in New Zealand that Kiwi centre Shontayne Hape is set to move to Franklins Gardens. The current Bradford Bulls player is apparently looking to follow is former team mate Lesley Vainikolo into the union code and then into the England team. He, like Vainikolo qualifies for England through residency.Hape has 11 caps for New Zealand at test level and there were rumours at the start of the season linking him with the Midlands club. However, the New Zealand Herald has reported that the 26 year old has now signed a deal which is subject to a work permit being granted. For more on this story, click this link to the Northampton Chronicle
Steve Borthwick has decided to leave Bath at the end of the season and join north London side Saracens where he has signed a 4 year deal. He will add a wealth of experience having played more than 150 times for Bath in the Premiership and also having gained 32 caps for England. He will be with the club until 2012.
Wales and Llanelli scrum half Dwayne Peel will join Guinness Premiership side Sale Sharks at the end of the current season according to the Welsh club.The 26 year old came through the system at Llanelli and has played for the Scarlets regional side since it was created in 2003. Peel said: “My move is not about money, as the deal to stay at Llanelli was similar to that offered by Sale. It’s about the fact that, not having lived outside of Wales, I’d like to experience life in another country for a short period.”Peel’s move is likely to raise some eyebrows after the new Welsh coach Warren Gatland said that players should look to play in Wales if they are to be considered for the national side. Peel currently has 41 caps and with Gareth Cooper playing his rugby in Gloucester, Wales are only left with Mike Phillips at Cardiff playing in Wales.For more on this story click this link to telegraph.co.uk
Lawrence Dallaglio will retire from international rugby with immediate effect and will also quit the domestic game at the end of the season. A week before Brian Ashton announces his Six Nations squad for this year’s tournament Dallaglio has ruled himself out of contention. It is thought that Ashton will opt to pick a new breed of player based on the youngsters coming through in a move which will help him build toward the next World Cup.The Wasps Number 8 has ended a career which has spanned 12 years and 85 caps, the last one in the World Cup Final defeat to South Africa. Wasps have been so impressed with Dallaglio that they offered the 35 year old a year’s extension to his contract but he is determined to bring down the curtain on his career in his own way. He has also ruled out staying at Wasps and becoming part of the coaching staff.Dallaglio lead Wasps to 4 Premiership titles and 2 Heineken Cups and is hoping to end his career with more silverware this year.For more on this story, click the link to rugbyrugby.com
The Australian Rugby Union are considering allowing foreign stars to play in their Super 14 franchises in an attempt to breathe fresh air into southern hemisphere rugby. Another idea is to extend the number of teams within Australia to include one based in Melbourne which will be made up of players from Argentina and the Pacific Islands.ARU Chief Executive Matt Carroll warned SANZAR that it had to ‘refresh’ the Tri-Nations and the Super 14 in an attempt to prevent the top players leaving to play in the ‘big money’ leagues of Europe. In the past only players who were coming to the end of their careers or who were not being picked by their countries headed to Europe or sometimes Japan. However, since the World Cup the likes of Carl Hayman, Luke McAlistair and Aron Mauger have all headed to Europe even though they had years potentially to play for the All Blacks.The possibilties being looked at by the ARU may mean that the likes of Jonny Wilkinson could potentially play for the Australian teams.For the full story click the link to theaustralian.news.com.au
Chris Latham the Australian full back has signed for Worcester on a 2 year deal which begins next season. Latham has been aquired with an exclusive option on the third year which means he could be on these shores until 2010-11.Latham had been linked with several high flying clubs including Bristol in the West Country but he will now link up with All Blacks Sam Tuitupou and Rico Gear and old Queenslad Reds team mate Shane Drahm.The 32 year old appeared in all of Australia’s World Cup matches and scored 5 tries in the tournament. He will reportedly be earning around $2 million for his stay in the UK.For more on this story, click the link to sportinglife.com
Former All Blacks Craig Dowd and Mark Mayerhofler have joined North Harbour’s management team for next season. Dowd will take up the role of Rugby Development Manager whilst Mayerhofler will become the video analyst.Dowd played 60 times for the All Blacks whilst Mayerhofler achieved 6 caps for the Kiwis. Both have returned to New Zealand after lengthy stays in the English Premiership.For more on this story, click the link to radiosport.co.nz
Wigan have confirmed they are to announce a new signing in the next couple of days and the rumour is that it could well be Gloucester’s Karl Pryce who is making the switch back to rugby league. A Wigan spokesman said: “We are hoping to make another addition to our squad later this week, but we will not comment on who that is.”They are known to be in the hunt for an outside back after they lost winger Mark Calderwood to injury until March. Pryce, 21, has struggled to make an impact on the Union stage since arriving from Bradford Bulls in October of last year.For the full story click the link to sport.guardian.co.uk
The plan for the Scottish Rugby Union to set up a third professional outfit in London as London Scottish has been aborted.The governing body in Scotland has spent the last year in discussions with a number of interested parties but Gordon Mckie, CEO of the SRU yesterday confirmed that the proposal had received a chilly response, not just from the RFU but also from he Premier Rugby Ltd and even the IRB.It now seems very unlikely that there will be a team from the Magners League playing out of London and unless there is substantial financial backing from a third party which could have been possible in London, it seems that there will be no possibility either to set up another professional team in Scotland.For more click the link to theherald.co.uk
England World Cup Captain Phil Vickery has been cited for the second time this season. He will now face a disciplinary hearing in Dublin relating to an alleged stamping incident against Clermont Auvergne lock Thibaut Privat during the fixture between the French club and Wasps on Saturday.Vickery was originally cited during the World Cup for tripping USA centre Paul Emerick during the opening game of the tournament. He missed the following 2 pool games and returned for the latter stages of the tournament, leading the English charge to the Final.His latest citing was lodged by the match commissioner and the hearing will take place as soon as is possible.If he is found guilty he is likely to be banned for 2 - 3 weeks and will miss the games over Christmas in the league for Wasps.For more on this story click the link to rugbyrugby.com
