Here are your rugby headlines for Sunday, January 7.
Rees-Zammit lined up for Japan transfer
Wales celebrity Louis Rees-Zammit is in line for a mega-money transfer to Japan, in line with reviews.
The Rugby Paper report Mie Honda Heat have tabled a vastly profitable supply to tempt him to comply with the likes of Liam Williams to Japanese rugby on the finish of the season. Rees-Zammit’s Gloucester contract ends this summer time and he’s set to depart English rugby, with golf equipment in France additionally all for his companies.
Rees-Zammit is seen as the kind of participant whose large profile and off-field enchantment may take Japanese rugby to a different stage once more. Get the latest rugby information despatched straight to your inbox without spending a dime with our day by day e-newsletter.
It stays to be seen if the transfer transpires and what influence that might have on his Wales availability. Although he would stay eligible as he has greater than 25 caps, Liam Williams and Gareth Anscombe have been each compelled to make themselves unavailable for this yr’s Six Nations because it clashes with an enormous chunk of the season in Japan.
Farrell to be named Lions coach
Andy Farrell is about to be named Lions coach this week.
Farrell shall be unveiled in London, changing Warren Gatland within the position the Wales coach has held since 2013. The Irish Rugby Union have granted permission for the Grand Slam-winning coach to take the job, after beforehand being an assistant to Gatland in 2013 and 2017.
“We’d be ecstatic if Andy was named coach of the Lions so hopefully that accolade is the subsequent one for him and we’d be greater than snug with how we cope with it,” IRFU efficiency director David Nucifora stated.
“As far because the time frame he could be away from us, that’s nonetheless one thing I believe will be mentioned if this occurs.”
McCall: Who may blame Farrell if he moved?
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall stated he would not blame Owen Farrell if he opted for a “new expertise” in France following switch hyperlinks with French membership Racing 92.
The fly-half, who introduced after the World Cup he was stepping away from Test rugby to take care of his psychological well being, is reportedly on the verge of quitting English rugby all collectively and becoming a member of the Top 14 outfit. But whereas French media claimed on Friday that Farrell was in superior switch talks, Racing denied any settlement had been reached. Get the latest rugby information despatched straight to your inbox without spending a dime with our day by day e-newsletter.
Farrell performed for Saracens in yesterday’s 19-10 Premiership loss to Leicester Tigers and afterwards, McCall instructed BBC Radio 5 Live: “Having stepped down from England, if he determined him and his household need a new expertise elsewhere, who may blame him?
“What I can say is Owen has given his life to our membership, he is been there since he was 16 years old, perhaps earlier than that. He’s been an unbelievable participant, chief and person on the membership for thus lengthy.
“When issues acquired powerful in 2019 [when Saracens were relegated for breaching the Premiership’s salary cap regulations], he was one of many ones who wasn’t going wherever, he confirmed what the membership meant to him and confirmed his loyalty.”
“I perceive why individuals must ask the query, however I can not reply the query as a result of it is hypothesis at this second in time. As quickly as there’s one thing correct to speak about, we’ll discuss it.”
The Times, in the meantime, declare Farrell has held talks with Racing 92 bosses and their head coach, ex-England boss, Stuart Lancaster.
Quade Cooper’s wild return
Quade Cooper marked his return to the pitch following his Wallabies World Cup omission with a yellow card and a 27-point hammering in his first match for Hanazono Kintetsu Liners.
Cooper now performs in Japan Rugby League One, the place Wales internationals Gareth Anscombe and Liam Williams have not too long ago moved, after being ignored by Eddie Jones for final yr’s World Cup in France, a controversial name on the time. The Wallabies would go on to have a disastrous World Cup marketing campaign.
The fly-half was despatched to the sin bin within the eleventh minute as his aspect suffered a 41-14 loss in opposition to Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo. Former England star Nathan Hughes opened the scoring for Black Rams two minutes after Cooper’s departure, a punishment for his aspect’s repeated infringements.
The rating was 21-0 by the point Cooper, 35, returned to the pitch, nevertheless the Black Rams scored three tries in every half to make sure they got here out with the win.
