Showing posts with label Sam Burgess. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sam Burgess. Show all posts

Wednesday, 20 January 2016

Crowe Apology for Keary Outburst


Russell Crowe has apologised for berating five-eighth Luke Keary during a South Sydney team bonding session last month.

Crowe took to social media to say sorry after Seven News reported Keary had stormed out of the session at the Oscar-winning actor’s property at Coffs Harbour after being chided for his performance in 2015.

It is believed the entire team was criticised for their performances last season by Crowe, but Keary had been singled out after the boozy session.

“Luke Keary situation entirely my fault,” Crowe tweeted on Wednesday. “A bit of banter that went too far. I’ve apologised. He is a natural leader and great for our club.”

Keary, 23, played 24 matches for Souths last season, scoring four tries.

He is off contract at the end of the season and has reportedly attracted interest from other clubs.

Tuesday, 22 December 2015

Leinster Lose Te'o to Worcester


Worcester have signed the New Zealand-born centre Ben Te’o from Leinster for next season. The 28-year-old, who qualifies to play for England, left the South Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league team in June 2014 and has now agreed a lucrative move to the Premiership.

Worcester are understood to have fought off strong competition for Te’o, a statement of intent as they continue their battle for top-flight stability.

In rugby league Te’o enjoyed a fine career with the Australian sides Wests Tigers, Brisbane Broncos and the Rabbitohs – the latter with whom he won the National Rugby League title alongside Sam Burgess.

Auckland-born Te’o represented Samoa in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, scoring twice in his sole appearance against France, while he also featured seven times for Queensland in the Australian State of Origin series.

“Ben is a really exciting talent and has proved he is more than capable of transferring his skills from league to union,” the Worcester director of rugby, Dean Ryan, said. “His experience and power in the centre will add further depth to our midfield and we’re looking forward to him joining up with the side.”

Te’o said: “Worcester are in a very similar stage in their playing and cultural development that I found when I first joined the Rabbitohs. I look forward to making a similar contribution at Sixways.

“The investment in facilities and infrastructure is impressive and after speaking with Dean Ryan, it is clearly a club which is on the up. Everything is in place for Worcester to become a successful club competing in the top tier.”


Sunday, 20 December 2015

Rabbitohs Confirm Burgess Comeback


Returning South Sydney star Sam Burgess will mark his NRL comeback by lining up to floor club captain Greg Inglis. The Rabbitohs confirmed Burgess’ new contract was ratified by the governing body late on Saturday night, paving the way for his anticipated return to the 13-man code.

“The Rabbitohs are pleased to inform members that Sam Burgess’ contract has been registered by the NRL this week,” the club said in a statement. “Sam will play in the red and green of the Rabbitohs until at least the end of the 2018 season.”

For the first time since agreeing to terms with the club last month, the 27-year-old joined his old teammates in a training camp at Coffs Harbour this week. However his first outing won’t be in the famed cardinal and myrtle. The 2014 Clive Churchill medallist will instead be in a World All Stars strip when they take on the Indigenous All Stars at Suncorp Stadium in February.

On the other side of the pitch will be clubmates Inglis, Alex Johnston and Chris Grevsmuhl. Burgess’s brother Tom was picked on the bench by World All Stars coach Wayne Bennett. Fellow Englishman James Graham, who is slated to start alongside Sam, welcomed his countryman back to rugby league with open arms and predicted a quick return to form.

“It’s only been 12 months out of the game, I can’t see why too much would have changed,” Graham said last week. “I caught up with him a few times back in England and am delighted to have him back in the game to be honest. The year he left we lost three of the best five players in the game at the time so to get at least one of those back is great. He’s a superstar, he puts bums on seats and makes people tune in.”

The Rabbitohs also confirmed the re-signing of promising youngster Angus Crichton until the end of 2018, as well as the recruitment of Melbourne centre Hymel Hunt on a one-year deal. South Sydney’s pre-season schedule includes games against St George Illawarra, Northern Pride and a World Club Challenge against St Helens. 

Their opening game of the 2016 season is against arch rivals Sydney Roosters on March 6.


Monday, 23 November 2015

Burgess Sydney Return Against Roosters


Sam Burgess’s return to South Sydney and the NRL will kick off against arch-rivals the Sydney Roosters in front of a potential sell-out Sunday afternoon crowd at Allianz Stadium on 6 March.

In an effort to boost crowd numbers the NRL has announced a number of big Sunday afternoon games in Sydney, scheduled for the family-friendly 4pm timeslot.

“We have certainly made an effort to ensure that some of our best match-ups and blockbusters are in family-friendly timeslots,” the NRL’s head of football Todd Greenberg said.

“Whilst I don’t want to give too much away, we will have a number of strong Sydney derbies on Sundays through the opening rounds of the Telstra Premiership.”

The NRL will release the draw for the 2016 season this week, however the governing body has already confirmed a number of Sunday blockbusters for the 4pm timeslot.

The southern derby of the Sharks and Dragons will headline the second round in the harbour city, while the Dragons will take Souths to the SCG in round three and host Penrith in round four. The battle of the west will play out as Parramatta host Penrith in round five.

Crowd figures dropped to an average of 15,074 last season, their lowest figure since 2004. On average, they dropped more than 800 fans per match on 2014, and were almost 1,500 fans down than in 2005 on average.

Sydney clubs particularly struggled, with the Wests Tigers, Manly, Penrith and Cronulla all failing to average above 12,000 people per match.

Elsewhere, the Eels will reportedly host Brisbane in the first Thursday night match of the season, while the Cowboys look set to begin their premiership defence on a Saturday night to appease their regional supporter base.


Friday, 20 November 2015

Welcome to England Mr Jones


Eddie Jones has been appointed as England's new rugby union head coach on a four-year contract.

The Australian will start work as Stuart Lancaster's successor in December ahead of the Six Nations and becomes the first non-Englishman to take the job.

Jones led Australia to the 2003 World Cup final and was part of the South Africa staff for their 2007 success, and he made headlines at the recent tournament in England by masterminding Japan's shock win over the Springboks.

The 55-year-old's appointment means he leaves a role with Western Province's Super Rugby side the Stormers without taking charge of a single game.

"Firstly my thanks must go to [chief executive] Rob Wagner and everyone at Western Province Rugby for understanding my decision and allowing me to return to the international stage so quickly," Jones said. 

Sean Fitzpatrick says Eddie Jones should surround himself with English coaches

"The opportunity to take the reins in, possibly, the world's most high profile international rugby job doesn't come along every day however, and I feel fortunate to be given the opportunity.

"I'm now looking forward to working with the RFU and the players to move beyond the disappointment England suffered at the World Cup and hope to build a new team that will reflect the level of talent that exists within the English game. I believe the future is bright for England."

Rugby Football Union chief executive Ian Ritchie said: "We promised to recruit a coach with proven international experience and we have done that. 

"Eddie is a world-class coach, with extensive experience at the highest level with Australia, South Africa and Japan.

Will Greenwood says Eddie Jones has landed a 'plum job' with England

"We believe that the appointment, which was unanimously approved by the RFU board, is the right one to bring England success in the short, medium and long term.

"We are confident Eddie can build on the strong foundations already laid, with this talented group of players largely remaining together through to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan and beyond. We are grateful to the Stormers for their co-operation in releasing Eddie early from his contract."


Thursday, 24 September 2015

Wales Warned About Training


Wales have received an official warning from World Rugby after a group of players from outside their World Cup squad took part in training with them on Wednesday.

Back-up players who do not make the final 31-man World Cup squad are not allowed to participate in training sessions with the official group.

The sport’s governing body said in a statement: “While World Rugby is satisfied that no deliberate breach was intended, an official warning has been issued to the WRU. All participating teams have been informed that additional players from the extended squad, including potential injury replacements, may not be included in any training sessions.”

There was little prospect of a points deduction being imposed for the breach, but the incident was an unwelcome distraction for the coach, Warren Gatland, as he named his side to face England at Twickenham.

Hallam Amos is in the starting line-up, taking over from Alex Cuthbert, while there are also starts for the Exeter tighthead prop Tomas Francis and the Wasps lock Bradley Davies.

Elsewhere, Jamie Roberts and Scott Williams will oppose England’s new-look centre combination of Sam Burgess and Brad Barritt, while Samson Lee and Aaron Jarvis provide prop cover on the bench.