These are your rugby headlines on Monday May 29.
Club could be suspended from Premiership within hours
London Irish are set to be ejected from the Premiership with the debt-laden club expected to miss the RFU’s deadline of 5pm today for a proposed takeover to be completed.
Despite finishing fifth in the table this season, the Exiles look certain to become the third club to be forced out of the league in less than nine months, with Worcester and Wasps collapsing into administration last autumn.
Rumours of proposed takeover by an American consortium have been going on for several months, but with just hours to go until the deadline passes, it does not look likely to materialise, while the current owners show no sign of providing proof that they will fund the club for next season.
With Irish now staring down the barrel, its squad is preparing to find themselves unemployed in a crowded market, with The Guardian reporting that star players like England’s Henry Arundell and former Ireland international Paddy Jackson on the radar of Bath and Newcastle respectively.
Players were warned at the end of the last week that the club looked likely to be suspended from the league, with those at a virtual meeting told that the proposed purchase had not progressed as had been hoped, with no funds or confirmation of such received by the club ahead of the weekend and no breakthrough at the 11th hour expected.
If the deadline does pass with no further developments, an announcement confirming the side’s expulsion is expected to be made on Wednesday.
The suspension would see the Premiership reduced to 10 teams, a move that many within the league have backed for some time and have recently gained support, with senior officials reportedly warming to the idea.
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Kolbe leaves Toulon
South Africa star Cheslin Kolbe will be leaving Toulon this summer.
The 29-year-old full-back had one year left on his three-year contract at the French club, but has struggled with injury this season, with an ankle sprain sidelining him for a month.
He still managed to score six tries in 18 matches this season, while he also started in the European Challenge Cup final as Toulon thrashed Glasgow before playing his final game against Bordeaux-Begles at the weekend.
However, after months of speculation linking the Springboks man with a move to Japan, his club has now confirmed that he will be leaving at the end of the season.
In a statement, Toulon said: “Rugby Club Toulonnais and Cheslin Kolbe have mutually agreed to release each other from their commitments at the end of the 2022-2023 season. This allows Cheslin Kolbe to commit to a new project from the 2023-2024 season.
“The Rugby Club Toulonnais would like to thank Cheslin for his involvement with the Rouge et Noir since his arrival during 2021-2022,” the club said on its website. “The entire RCT team wishes Cheslin Kolbe the best for the future and an excellent World Cup, which he will prepare with the Springboks at the RCT Campus.”
Speaking to the club website, Kolbe admitted: “I would have liked to have stayed at Toulon, but the financial constraints on clubs and injuries made things difficult.”
On Twitter he later wrote: “An emotional couple of weeks it has been for me and my family. Some people might not understand, neither do I, but as I was told ‘its (sic) a business’ to put my feelings aside. Despite it all, I have tried my best. Sometimes our plans don’t always align with God’s plan for us.”
Sexton’s Leinster exit confirmed as Test man joins him
Johnny Sexton’s departure from Leinster has been confirmed after the club released a list of outgoing players at the end of the season.
The 37-year-old fly-half, who is set to retire from professional rugby after this year’s Rugby World Cup, is one of nine players leaving the URC side this summer, with former Ireland internationals Dave Kearney and James Tracey following him out of the door.
Nick McCarthy, Tadgh McElroy, Charlie Ryan, Sean O’Brien, Max O’Reilly, Marcus Hanan and Andrew Smith make up the full list of departees from the four-time European Champions.
The leaving players were celebrated at Leinster’s Awards Ball over the weekend, where Ireland star Caelen Doris was named the club’s Player of the Year.
Sexton played 189 times for Leinster over two stints at the club and won four Champions Cup titles as well as six PRO14 titles and a Challenge Cup. He played his final game for the side in their 41-12 win over Connacht in January before picking up an groin injury in Ireland’s final Six Nations win against England, which saw them win the Grand Slam.
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Baa-baas arrive in Wales
The Barbarians have arrived in Wales ahead of their clash with Swansea RFC tomorrow.
The invitational side take on the famous club off the back of an entertaining win over a World XV at Twickenham at the weekend.
Swansea posted pictures on Twitter of the Baa-baas training at St Helen’s, the venue of the game which will mark the club’s 150th anniversary.
It will be a homecoming for Wales legend Alun Wyn Jones, who could be playing his last game of professional rugby on Wednesday after announcing his shock international retirement earlier this month.
The team then took in a visit to the seafront bar The Secret on Monday evening.
Eddie Jones’ World Cup assistant to join Premiership side
Leicester Tigers have bolstered their coaching team with Australia coach Dan Palmer and former England U20 boss Alan Dickens both joining the line-up at the Premiership side.
Palmer, who will be one of Eddie Jones’ assistants at this year’s World Cup, will reunite with his old boss – incoming Leicester boss Dan McKellar – at the end of the year. He is widely regarded as one of the best scrum coaches in the world and will join the club in this capacity.
Meanwhile, Dickens will join the Tigers as attack and backs coach from next season, having led England to a Grand Slam win in the 2021 Under-20 Six Nations. He also spent nine years coaching at Northampton Saints, who he represented during a playing career which also saw him turn out for Sale Sharks, Saracens and Leeds Tykes.
A trio of new hires also sees Ollie Richardson return to the club as Head of Physical Performance.
“I am excited by the group we have put together, which has a great balance of continuity and new voices who will bring fresh ideas,” said McKellar, who takes over as head coach in July.
“It was important to me that there was a mix of people who not only understand the Premiership, but vital that they understand Leicester Tigers and we have got that in Brett Deacon, Matt Everard and Matt Smith, as well as the majority of our performance staff who remain with the club.
“In addition, to have Alan Dickens and Ollie Richardson’s knowledge of the English game, players and competitions we compete in is of great value, and Dan Palmer’s expertise is very exciting for the club moving forward.”
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