Here are the latest rugby headings on Friday, May 12.
Jones related to Toulon job
Former Wales attack coach Stephen Jones has actually been related to taking a function at Toulon.
Former Clement coach Franck Azéma is set to leave the French Top 14 club at the end of the existing season, transferring to Perpignan to end up being head coach.
Respected French sports paper L’Equipe state talks are continuous in between previous Wales fly-half Jones and Toulon director of rugby Pierre Mignoni about the backs coach position. The set played 2 seasons together at Clermont from 2004 to 2006.
Jones, together with previous Wales defence coach Gethin Jenkins, left their Wales backroom functions in 2015 after returning head coach Warren Gatland chose they would not become part of his training group. Gatland later on designated Alex King as attack coach and Sale Sharks’ Mike Forshaw as defence coach, while forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys and kicking coach Neil Jenkins were kept in the set-up.
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URC set to abandon geographical ‘guard’ system
The United Rugby Championship might ditch its geographical guard system which determines credentials areas for the European Champions Cup and go back to a merit-based requirements.
The 16 contending URC clubs would require to vote all to continue with the existing plan, otherwise it will revert back to a “straight meritocracy”. Tournament president Martin Anayi said on Thursday there was a high possibility the league’s 8 credentials areas for Europe’s leading tier would originate from the leading 8 finishers in the regular-season table.
The URC is pertaining to the close of a 2nd season where credentials areas have actually been chosen based upon the winners of 4 geographical swimming pools, Ireland, Wales, South Africa and Scotland/Italy, with the last areas going to the next 4 top-ranked sides.
Cardiff will be contending in the Champions Cup next season by virtue of being the top-placed Welsh side, however any modification in requirements would likely be a blow for Welsh local hopes of contending in the leading tier in future, with all 4 sides completing in the bottom half of the routine season table this season (Cardiff: 10th, Ospreys: 13th, Scarlets: 14th, Dragons: 15th).
Anayi said: “The method it works now is we take the 4 geographical guard winners and next 4 greatest put sides in the league, and we did that since we desired a broad series of groups in the Champions Cup. We likewise said, since there was a rather singing objection to that within a few of our stakeholder groups who didn’t desire that however they said they would opt for that for a two-year duration and after that we would evaluate this summer season. But unless it is consentaneous to continue as we are, we will revert back to a straight meritocracy.”
Anayi likewise validated the 2023-24 URC season will like begin on the weekend of October 20-22, the exact same weekend as the World Cup semi-finals in France.
Ryan Jones handles brand-new fundraising difficulty
Wales’ previous Grand Slam-winning captain Ryan Jones will run the Swansea University Swansea Half Marathon in help of suicide avoidance research study and psychological health assistance on Saturday, June 11.
Following his retirement 2015, he was identified with early-onset dementia in December 2021 at the age of 41, having actually struggled with a variety of signs consisting of anxiety and amnesia.
Having been called a main ambassador for the occasion, Jones will be actively associated with promoting the race and motivating involvement from runners of all levels, and will work on behalf of Swansea University’s Making Strides for Mental Health campaign, which raises funds for research study into suicide avoidance, together with psychological health and health and wellbeing assistance for Swansea University trainees.
Jones , 42, said: “I’m happy to have actually been asked to be the ambassador for this year’s Swansea University Swansea Half Marathon, specifically as I’ll be operating on behalf of a fantastic cause that’s close to my heart, and ideally it will motivate others to do the exact same.
“The past couple of years have been difficult. I suffered with two stress fractures in my legs, and so that, coupled with Covid, meant that I wasn’t able to exercise much and I fell out of love with it a bit. I’m glad to say I’m getting back into it now and I’m finally getting my mojo for exercising back. Being outdoors in the fresh air is meditative for me and these days I look forward to my training sessions, especially as I get to take in the gorgeous views of Gower.”
Jones, who received an honorary degree from Swansea University in 2016, hopes he can motivate others to register and raise money for good causes: “I hope that my involvement with this year’s Swansea Half Marathon will inspire others to join me along the way. There are huge benefits to running, for body and mind, and even if someone has never run before, they shouldn’t be daunted by it as the body is capable of incredible things, it will do whatever you ask of it. The trick is to think of it as a journey not a destination!”
Entries to the Swansea University Swansea Half Marathon close at midnight on May 26. A variety of reduced entry locations are available for individuals who promise to raise more than £200 for the University’s Making Strides campaign, with an additional basic discount rate available to trainees, staff and 150 graduates.
Ashton complimentary for Leicester’s semi-final after red card reversed
By PA Sport Staff
Chris Ashton has actually been cleared for Leicester’s Gallagher Premiership play-off semi-final versus Sale after his red card was decreased to a yellow following a disciplinary hearing. The 36-year-old previous England wing was dispatched for a high deal with on Harlequins’ Cadan Murley throughout Leicester’s 20-17 defeat on the last day of the routine league season.
Ashton, the Premiership’s record try-scorer, is set to retire at the end of the campaign, however if the suspension had actually been supported, his hopes of including in a prospective Premiership last at Twickenham on May 27 would have been over. An independent disciplinary panel heard the appeal, which lasted 5 hours throughout which many angles of the deal with were revealed, numerous having actually been not available to the referee and the match authorities at the video game. Ashton and Murley likewise offered proof.
Panel chair Gareth Graham said: “Mr Ashton accepted dedicating an act of nasty play that would have warranted a yellow card. Having seen and heard all the proof, consisting of that of Mr Murley, who offered a clear account regarding the point of contact and the level of force associated with the deal with, the panel concurred with the submission that this was a yellow card offense.”
The panel likewise considered what the degree of risk remained in the deal with, concluding there was indirect contact to the head which any force to the head or neck was low.
Graham included a declaration: “Consequently, the panel concluded that there was not a high degree of risk which the proper beginning point under the Head Contact Process was a yellow card. Therefore, the panel discovered the charge not shown. Mr Ashton is consequently able to have fun with instant impact.”
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