News in Brief
Leeds complete Mackay signing
Lachlan Mackay has signed for Leeds
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- Leeds have continued their recruitment drive for next season by signing midfielder Lachlan Mackay from Top 14 side Brive on a two-year deal.
Mackay, 27, has one cap for Australia and is keen to add the Premiership to his CV, having experienced the top flight in France as well as Super 14 competition.
"There are three big competitions in world rugby and it is a dream for me to get the chance to play in the Premiership," he said. "I met with Andy Key and Neil Back and was very impressed with their professionalism and their vision for the club. As soon as we had that meeting, my mind was made up that I wanted to join Leeds Carnegie."
- Sale have signed former Bourgoin prop Karena Wihongi, who saw a proposed transfer to Toulon fall through on medical grounds.
- Departing flanker George Smith has won an eighth consecutive Brett Robinson medal as the Brumbies' Players' Player of the Year for 2010. The former Wallaby played his final Super 14 this year and will join Toulon next season, having already closed the book on a Test career that brought over 100 caps for the Wallabies.
"I guess the silver lining of George moving on is that it will finally give someone else a chance to win this [Brett Robinson] award," head coach Andy Fried said. "George is a once in a generation player. His ability to come up with the big play time and time again is uncanny and he's been a key to the side's success over the past decade."
- Jason Spice has left Bristol by mutual consent. The scrum-half joined the Championship side from Cardiff Blues prior to the 2009-10 season and had a year left on his deal. "We are sorry to lose someone of Spice's experience," head coach Paul Hull said. "His knowledge of the game is second to none and he was a popular character off the field. He, like all of us, was disappointed with how we finished the end of season and we will be sorry to see him leave."
- Caleb Powell was named the 123rd President of the Irish Rugby Football Union at the annual Council meeting at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin today. It was also revealed that the Union had achieved a surplus of €1.7m for the 2009-10 season, "as a result of the increased revenues arising from the success of Irish teams at both national and provincial level."
In summing up, Hon. Treasurer Tom Grace said, "While it is satisfying to be able to report a surplus, especially given the recessionary times we live in, this primarily reflects the performance of the Irish teams. There are numerous risks to which the Union's revenues and costs are exposed and the management of these risks is kept under constant review. That said I am pleased to be able to report that the Union remains on track to meet its medium and long term financial goals."
- Former Dragons wing James Lewis has joined fellow back-three hopeful Rhys Crane on trial with Guinness Premiership side Sale Sharks.
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1. Max Verstappen ()
