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Fissler Confidential: A big week for Stuart Hogg

Stuart Hogg looks dejected after the final whistle of the 2022 Autumn Nations Series, rugby union test match between Scotland and New Zealand on November 13, 2022 at the BT Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland (Photo by Malcolm Mackenzie/DPPI/LiveMedia/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NO USE CHINA. NO USE FRANCE. NO USE GERMANY. NO USE HUNGARY. NO USE SPAIN. NO USE UK.

Former Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg will take his first steps back into rugby when he reports for pre-season training with Montpellier next Wednesday after the club confirmed him as a medical joker.

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Hogg, who retired before the World Cup last year, has signed on for two years with the option of a third season and will join fellow new boys England No 8 Billy Vunipola and Georgian prop Nika Abuladze when they report back.

It is not the only big date on Hogg’s calendar next week. He is due to return to court on Monday for an intermediate hearing ahead of his trial for alleged domestic abuse on July 30.

Finn Douglas joins a growing band of expat British players who are playing for Valence Romans in the Pro D2 next season after his departure from Edinburgh at the end of last season.

Former Worcester Warriors, Saracens and Ulster tighthead Gareth Milasinovich; ex-Hartpury back row Darryl Dyer, and full-back George Worth, who started his career with Leicester; have played for the club.

The Scotland under-20 winger took to the social media platform Facebook to advertise himself for a move. He has been rewarded with a one-year contract after several clubs around the globe expressed interest in signing him up.

Exeter Chiefs will continue to target Ealing Trailfinders centre Reuben Bird-Tulloch despite him snubbing a move to the West Country to remain with the Championship big guns next season.

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The former Premiership and European Champions had hoped that the former Saracens and Northampton Saints centre would solve their recruitment problems in the area, but he has opted to stay in West London.

But sources are indicating that the door isn’t entirely closed on a future move, especially if the Trailfinders once again miss out on promotion to the Premiership at the end of next season.

Eliott Stooke has jumped aboard the Oriental gravy train after signing a two-year contract with Japanese Top League side the Red Hurricanes following his departure from Bath when his short-term contract ended.

Lock Stooke, who was on Bath’s replacement’s bench in this year’s Premiership final defeat against Northampton Saints, had been linked with a move to West Country rivals Gloucester.

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The former Wasps, Bristol Bears, and Montpellier ace joins the Red Hurricanes along with Munster number eight Jack O’Sullivan and Moana Pasifika’s Samoan international centre Henry Taefu.

Scotland boss Gregor Townsend admits that he hasn’t spoken to the former Edinburgh tight-head WP Nel about joining his staff now that the veteran South African has called time on his playing career.

Nel, 38, retired following Edinburgh’s defeat against Benetton at the start of last month after winning 61 caps for his adopted nation and had been linked with becoming part of Townsend’s set-up.

But Townsend addressed the elephant in the room while in America this week. He said he was happy with his coaching staff and didn’t plan to make any changes despite Nel saying their scrum lacked edge.

Northampton Saints are set to dip into Lee Radford’s Rugby League contacts book as they look to solve what they believe is the missing final piece of their recruitment jigsaw ahead of next season.

The Premiership champions have been looking to add to their squad since before the Twickenham showpiece but without much luck, so they are set to turn to Radford’s in rugby league to bring someone in.

Super League has been a happy hunting ground for Saints. In 2007, they signed Chris Ashton from Wigan Warriors, who broke the National League scoring record, a year after signing Stephen Myler from Salford.

Former Harlequins full-back Ross Chisholm has been named Harlequins women’s coach in succession to Amy Turner after spending a season as Attack and Transition Coach.

Chisholm, who made 128 first-team appearances for Quins over a 14-year playing career, takes over with immediate effect from Turner, who has joined the men’s set-up as Pathway Coach.

He took his first steps in coaching seven years ago joining his brother James, Charlie Matthews, and Matt Shields in taking charge at Sussex when they rejoined the County Championship after a four-year absence.

Super Rugby could return to Melbourne next season as part of a deal that saw Rugby Australia take control “operational control” of the ACT Brumbies with immediate effect.

The cash-strapped Brumbies will remain in Australia’s capital as part of the deal, but some games could be played out of state. Melbourne, which lost the Rebels at the end of last season, is in the mix to play host.

“We need to ensure that we’re supporting rugby around the country. We’ve got an open mind around most things in rugby in Australia at the moment,” said Rugby Australia big gun Phil Waugh.

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Comments

2 Comments
J
John 265 days ago

Has he scheduled time to beat / stalk his ex-wife?

B
Bull Shark 265 days ago

RP should create a spinoff site for all the dregs of the rugby world playing in France. So I can read about them there if I wanted to.

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Comments on RugbyPass

I
IkeaBoy 5 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.”

Good lad, just checking. So you’re not a bot! Chelsea bombed the 2008 final more than United won it. John Terry… couldn’t happen to a nicer fella.


“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made.”

So the difference between 2021 and 2023 would of course be TWO YEARS. 24 months would account for 3 different seasons. They contested ECL finals twice in two years. The first in 2021 - which they lost - was still the first elite European final in the clubs then 141 year history. Explain clearly how that’s not an achievement? Guess what age he was then…


“I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright.”

I thought you don’t care what certain managers did 10 years ago…

Why would I address Eddie Jones? Why would he be deserving of a single sentence?


“I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.”

So you haven’t watched even a minute of Super Rugby this year?


“lol u really need to chill out”

Simply frightful! If you’re not a bot you’re at least Gen-Z?

171 Go to comments
f
fl 5 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca”

Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.


“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made. With Barcelona, Pep made the semi final four consecutive times - with City he’s managed only 3 in 8 years. This year they didn’t even make the round of 16.


To re-cap, you wrote that Pep “has gotten better with age. By every measure.” There are some measures that support what you’re saying, but the vast majority of the measures that you have highlighted actually show the opposite.


I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.


I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright. You’ve also not addressed Eddie Jones.


I agree wrt Schmidt. He would ideally be retained, but it wouldn’t work to have a remote head coach. He should definitely be hired as a consultant/analyst/selector though.


“Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.”

lol u really need to chill out lad. Kiss and Schmidt would both be great members of the coaching set up in 2025, but it would be ridiculous to bank on either to retain the head coach role until 2031.

171 Go to comments
I
IkeaBoy 6 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca. The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.


His time with City - a lower win ratio compared to Bayern Munich as you say - includes a 100 PT season. A feat that will likely never be surpassed. I appreciate you don’t follow soccer too closely but even casual fans refer to the sport in ‘pre and post Pep’ terms and all because of what he has achieved and is continuing to achieve, late career. There is a reason that even U10’s play out from the back now at every level of the game. That’s also a fairly recent development.


How refreshing to return to rugby on a rugby forum.


Ireland won a long over due slam in 2009. The last embers of a golden generation was kicked on by a handful of young new players and a new senior coach. Kiss was brought in as defence coach and was the reason they won it. They’d the best defence in the game at the time. He all but invented the choke tackle. Fittingly they backed it up in the next world cup in their 2011 pool match against… Australia. The instantly iconic image of Will Genia getting rag-dolled by Stephen Ferris.


His career since has even included director of rugby positions. He would have an extremely good idea of where the game is at and where it is going in addition to governance experience and dealings. Not least in Oz were many of the players will have come via or across Rugby League pathways.


Gatland isn’t a valid coach to compare too. He only ever over-achieved and was barely schools level without Shaun Edwards at club or test level. His return to Wales simply exposed his limitations and a chaotic union. It wasn’t age.


Schmidt is open to staying involved in a remote capacity which I think deserves more attention. It would be a brain drain to lose him. He stepped in to coach the ABs in the first 2022 test against Ireland when Foster was laid out with Covid. They mullered Ireland 42-19. He was still heavily involved in the RWC 2023 quarter final. Same story.


Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.

171 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ No definites, but which Wales players could still make Lions squad? No definites, but which Wales players could still make Lions squad?
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