News in Brief
McCaw to miss only three Super 14 rounds
Scrum.com
February 9, 2010
Richie McCaw will miss the opening rounds of the Super 14
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- Crusaders assistant coach Daryl Gibson is confident that Richie McCaw will only miss three rounds of Super 14 action after being granted an extended break by the New Zealand Rugby Union. McCaw should return against the Blues in Christchurch on March 6.
"Richie's obviously taking a sabbatical in that period - normally when All Blacks take sabbaticals it can be up to six months, so we're fortunate Richie's decided that he's only taking three weeks off," he told Radio Live. "It's pretty good and a mark of the man, really."
- Sale Sharks have secured the services of former Wales and British & Irish Lions wing Dafydd James until the end of the season. James had previously been with Cardiff Blues but struggled to force his way into the first team.
"We're delighted that Dafydd has agreed to join us until the end of the season," Sale boss Kingsley Jones said. "He can play at centre or on the wing, positions where we've had injury
problems this year."
Meanwhile, the Blues have announced contract extensions for Tongan prop Taufa'ao Filise and centre Dafydd Hewitt.
- The Ospreys have confirmed the signing of promising Dragons wing Richard Fussell on a two-year deal. Fussell will make the switch at the end of the season and has been ear-marked as strong cover for the Ospreys' international contingent of Shane Williams, Tommy Bowe and Nikki Walker, although he will have aims of forcing his way into contention with Wales.
"We were looking for someone who was Welsh, who was a consistent player, and in Richard, we saw somebody who has hit some good form, understands a sound defensive system, has the ability to kick off his left foot and has become a proven finisher," said Ospreys coach Sean Holley. "He has all the attributes that we look for in a winger at the Ospreys."
- Leicester Tigers are keen to move on from the disciplinary wrangling following their complaint about the Ospreys' briefly fielding a 16th man during their Heineken Cup defeat at the Liberty Stadium.
The complaint resulted in the Ospreys being fined 25,000 euros and Lee Byrne being banned for two weeks, a penalty later reduced to a 5,000 euros fine on appeal.
"We are grateful that the investigation was completed quickly by European Rugby Cup Limited and that the disciplinary hearing was convened within seven days of our complaint," read a Tigers statement. "We will be interested to read the committee's full written verdict and its summary of the appeal decision in due course. In the meantime, we believe that the matter has been dealt with and it is now time to move on and concentrate on the rest of the season."
- Clermont Auvergne have been boosted by the news that lock Thibaut Privat and hooker Mario Ledesma have re-signed with the club. Privat has signed until 2012, with veteran Puma Ledesma committing until 2011.
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1. Max Verstappen ()
