The latest rugby news stories from Wales and beyond
WillGriff John has been banned for three matches(Image: © Huw Evans Picture Agency)
Here are the latest rugby headlines on Wednesday, October 8.
Wales international banned
Wales prop WillGriff John has been banned for three games for a dangerous incident during a match on the weekend.
The moment occurred in Sale Sharks’ defeat at Bath on Friday when the 32-year-old made head contact with his opposite number and fellow Wales international Archie Griffin at a ruck.
Initially the Sale tighthead was awarded a yellow card but upon reviewing it, disciplinary chiefs decided it was worthy of a red card and a three-game ban. Join WalesOnline Rugby’s WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
John’s ban will reduce to two games if he completes the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme.
In a statement, the RFU said: “The case of Willgriff John, Sale Sharks, was chaired by Sam Hillas KC sitting with Harry Gaunt and Serena Stirling.
“John was cited for dangerous play in a ruck, contrary to World Rugby Law 9.20(a), during a game against Bath Rugby on Friday 3rd October.
“John admitted the offence and received a three-match ban, which will be reduced to two if he successfully completes the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme (CIP).”
John will miss Sale’s Gallagher Prem fixtures against Newcastle Red Bulls and Saracens along with Leicester Tigers if he does not attend the coaching intervention programme.
URC keen on US move
United Rugby Championship CEO Martin Anayi wants to host games in the US.
As exclusively reported by WalesOnline this summer, the URC is considering adding at least one US franchise to the competition for big money. But Anayi is also keen for the competition to stage games in the US in the near future.
“We’ve got to keep looking outwards,” Anayi told The 42 Rugby Weekly Extra.
“Look how good the NFL was the other day in Dublin. There’s a synergy between the US and Ireland that, I think I can say, no other pair of countries in the world have.
“We’d be mad not to look at that in the future as a competition that was born, in part at least, in Ireland as the Celtic League.
“With the future and 2031 [when the US hosts the World Cup], we’ve got to look at how we make an impact in the US and grow rugby in the US. What’s the URC’s role in that? I think it can be quite impactful.”
According to the 42 Munster are keen to hold games in America, while the other Irish provinces have also shown an interest. Anayi says he would love to see big Irish inter-provincial derbies taking place Stateside.
If the Welsh Rugby Union does reduce to three or two professional teams, there is the prospect of adding a US franchise, another South African side, Georgian outfit Black Lion or even London Irish to replace them.
“We’d support it,” he told The 42 with regards hosting games in the US.
“It’s always about which game?
“The games that they [the US] want are the hardest games to give. When you speak about fandom, when you buy a season ticket, you want to see Leinster v Munster at Croke Park, as it’s going to be again soon. You probably don’t want to see that in New York… or maybe you do.
“I think we should be doing that either way and if that leads to the next step [of creating franchises], so be it. But I think that’s what we should be doing. We should be growing that.
“We have a new partnership with FloSports [the broadcaster and streaming service] in the US and it’s one our our most valuable contracts. You can see that there is an audience for rugby and for Celtic rugby, but also South African rugby. We’re seeing there’s a big South African diaspora in various parts of the US too.
“There’s certainly something from a market point of view that we think has already borne fruit from that media perspective, so that should be an indication that there’s a fandom there. That’s something to work on this year.”
Scarlets coach pays tribute to former Lions teammate
Dwayne Peel has paid tribute to his former British & Irish Lions teammate Lewis Moody who this week announced he has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
The 47-year-old was part of the England side which won the Rugby World Cup in 2003 while he also toured New Zealand with the British & Irish Lions in 2005.
Peel was a teammate of Moody’s on that trip and the Scarlets coach has paid tribute to the former England flanker.
“It was really sad news when I read it,” said Peel. “It took me back a bit when I read it yesterday.
“It’s obviously sad for him and his family. I know he’s got children, two boys I believe he’s got.
“He’s a great man and was an unbelievable player. In terms of my generation of backrowers he was a warrior on the field and threw himself into everything.
“He was a really tough guy to play against and I had the pleasure of playing alongside him as well. From my perspective and the club’s perspective our thoughts are with him and his family at this time.
“It’s very very sad news.”
Moody is not the only former rugby player to have been diagnosed with MND in recent years, with former Scotland backrower Doddie Weir, legendary Springboks scrum-half Joost van der Westhuizen, England international Ed Slater and rugby league star Rob Burrows having suffered with the illness.