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Mallinder set for Welsh move

By Alex Shaw
Scottish fans are pleased that Jim Mallinder is leaving the RFU for the SRU

According to a report from Wales Online, Jim Mallinder is set the become the new head coach of Cardiff Blues.

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The former Northampton Saints director of rugby has been out of work since he was sacked from his role at Franklin’s Gardens in December and he has reportedly been tagged as the man to succeed Danny Wilson, who leaves the region at the end of the season for a role as forwards coach at Wasps.

Mallinder enjoyed plenty of success at Northampton during his 10-year tenure, helping guide the club back to the Aviva Premiership, before going on to win the competition in 2014, as well as lifting two European Challenge Cup titles and one Anglo-Welsh Cup.

After finishing 8th in their first season back in the Premiership, Mallinder guided Northampton to six-straight seasons in the top four of the competition, but 5th and 7th place finishes in the last two seasons, as well as a poor start to the 2017/18 campaign, were enough to prompt Saints into a change.

The Blues are facing troubles of their own, sitting in fourth and eight points behind the Cheetahs in Conference A, with the Welsh region facing an uphill battle to make it into the expanded Guinness PRO14 playoffs this season. This comes on the back of several disappointing seasons in the competition, with the 2010/11 season the last time the region finished in the top half of the table.

Mallinder did a very good job of rebuilding Northampton following their relegation and putting together a squad that could challenge for domestic and European honours and the Blues will be hoping he can replicate that if they do indeed bring him in to replace Wilson next season.

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Jon 6 hours ago
The case for keeping the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby Pacific

I have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.

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