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Exodus to Pro D2: 3 Lions among second flight combined XV
The French second division is set to witness an signifcant influx of rugby talent in the upcoming season, as a number of prominent players have chosen to don the jerseys of Pro D2 clubs.
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This year’s migration includes a decent array of international stars and experienced campaigners, including the like of British & Irish Lions Tomas Francis, Rhys Webb and Jonathan Joseph.
Among the notable transfers is also former Leicester Tigers loosehead Nephi Leatigaga, who will join Dax from the Waratahs.
Gifted but disgraced France tighthead Mohamed Haouas will bring his scrummaging prowess to Biarritz after leaving Montpellier, with a touted move to Clermont torn up after video footage emerged of him beating his wife.
Veteran South African lock Anton Bresler will bolster Vannes’ engine room after his tenure with Racing 92.
The Pro D2 will also welcome Will Whitty from Perpignan to Rouen, the former Exeter Chiefs’ second row apparently throwing in with the up-and-coming side from Normandy.
Sharks Thembelani Bholi to Valence Romans from the Sharks, and Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco moves to Brive from the Western Force. Sione Kalamafoni, the veteran Tongan back-row forward, joins Vannes from Scarlets, while experienced scrum-half Rhys Webb brings his talents to Biarritz from Ospreys.
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The list continues with signings such as former Wales flyhalf Sam Davies joining Grenoble from the Dragons, one-time Wasps flyer Zach Kirbirige making the move to Aix from the Western Force, and the legendary Jimmy Gopperth departing Leicester Tigers for Aix-en-Provence.
Jonathan Joseph will offer his attacking prowess to Biarritz from Bath, while Asaeli Tuivuaka strengthens Brive’s backline after his time at Racing 92.
Ten Test internationals make up our combined XV of new entrants into the ProD2.
PRO D2 NEW SIGNINGS XV:
1. Nephi Leatigaga – Dax from Waratahs
2. Motu Matu’u – Soyaux-Angouleme from Brive
3. Mohamed Haouas – Biarritz from Montpellier
4. Anton Bresler – Vannes from Racing 92
5. Will Whitty – Rouen from Perpignan
6. Thembelani Bholi – Valence Romans from Sharks
7. Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco – Brive from Western Force
8. Sione Kalamafoni – Vannes from Scarlets
9. Rhys Webb – Biarritz from Ospreys
10. Sam Davies – Grenoble from Dragons
11. Zach Kirbirige – Aix from Western Force
12. Jimmy Gopperth – Aix from Leicester Tigers
13. Jonathan Joseph – Biarritz from Bath
14. Asaeli Tuivuaka – Brive from Racing 92
15. Sione Tui – Aix from Stade Francais
REPLACEMENTS:
16. Brendan Lebrun – Biarritz from Castres
17. Vakh Abdaladze – Brive from Leinster
18. Tomas Francis – Aix from Ospreys
19. Charlie Matthews – Biarritz from Harlequins
20. Rob Harley – Colomiers from Carcasonne
21. Julian Blanc – Brive from Castres
22. Jackson Garden-Bachop – Brive from Kinetsu Liners
23. Dan Goggin – Montauban from Munster
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Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments