News in Brief
Flood out for rest of the season
Scrum.com
May 6, 2009
Leicester's Toby Flood looks to off-load in the tackle, Cardiff Blues v Leicester Tigers, Heineken Cup Semi-Final, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, May 3, 2009
Leicester have confirmed that Toby Flood is out for the rest of the season after rupturing his achilles © Getty Images
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  • Leicester have confirmed that fly-half Toby Flood will miss the remainder of the season and England's summer tour to Argentina because of a ruptured left Achilles.

    Flood will be out of action for six months after sustaining the injury during the Tigers' Heineken Cup semi-final victory over the Cardiff Blues on Sunday.

    He underwent surgery on Tuesday evening and will miss Leicester's bid for a Guinness Premiership and Heineken Cup double and England's summer Test series against Argentina.

    Leicester head coach Richard Cockerill said: "It is very disappointing news for Toby at the end of his first season with the club. We wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming him back into the squad."

    Flood finished the Six Nations as England's first-choice fly-half and after missing out on the Lions he was set to play a key role for Martin Johnson this summer.

    The England boss said: "I'm very disappointed for Toby. He was playing well and I wish him a speedy recovery."

  • The All Blacks fullback and Chiefs captain Mils Muliaina has extended his contract with New Zealand rugby until 2011.

    Muliaina's decision follows last week's NZRU announcement on the re-signing of All Blacks Ali Williams and Tony Woodcock.

    Muliaina, who has also re-signed with the Waikato Rugby Union, said the lure of winning a World Cup had played an important part in his decision.

    " While it has been a lengthy process getting to this decision, I have a drive to be part of the dream to win a rugby World Cup and that desire burns strongly," he said.

    "It's a big weight off my shoulders now that the decision has been made. I can now just concentrate on continuing to make the most of my New Zealand rugby career."

    Muliaina, 28, is currently the seventh-most capped All Black and most-capped All Blacks fullback of all time. He has played 68 tests to date and scored 28 tries in the black jersey since making his All Blacks debut against England in 2003.

    NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said the re-signing of Muliaina was excellent news for New Zealand rugby.

    "Mils is a great player and person who commands immense respect both on and off the field. We are delighted that he has chosen to commit himself further to New Zealand rugby despite very attractive offers to play overseas."

    Muliaina, Williams and Woodcock join 2008 All Blacks Richie McCaw, Rodney So'oialo, Keven Mealamu, Dan Carter, Ma'a Nonu, Brad Thorn, Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata, John Afoa, Andy Ellis, Richard Kahui, Brendon Leonard, Jamie Mackintosh, Rudi Wulf and Liam Messam, who have all signed with New Zealand rugby through to 2011 or beyond.

  • The Barbarians have made three further additions to their squad ahead of the Twickenham clash against England on 30 May. Cardiff Blues captain Paul Tito, his Blues colleague and fellow New Zealander Ben Blair, plus Biarritz-bound Gloucester wing Iain Balshaw have all been included.

  • Newcastle Falcons have signed the England Saxons wing Tom Biggs from newly-promoted Premiership club Leeds Carnegie.

    Biggs, 24, has agreed a one-year deal at Kingston Park, having scored a club record 52 tries in 96 starts for Leeds. He is also a regular England player on the IRB World Sevens circuit, helping them land the Wellington title earlier this year as well as reaching finals in Dubai and San Diego.

  • The four home unions have agreed a 24-team British & Irish Cup that will begin next season.

    The second-tier competition will feature 12 sides from the English Championship, six from the Welsh Principality Premiership, Irish provinces Munster, Leinster and Ulster and three Scottish teams. Four pools of six will clash over five weekends during the autumn international and RBS 6 Nations windows with the semi-finals and finals staged on April 24 and May 15.

    The Rugby Football Union's tournaments and competitions director Terry Burwell said: "This is an exciting new tournament. "It will provide quality cross-border competition and will be a winner with players, coaches and fans.

    "There is a real appetite for this competition and, from an English point of view, it will give Championship clubs an additional meaningful competition alongside their league structure."

    Welsh Rugby Union head of rugby performance and development Joe Lydon added: "This will benefit the development and sustainability of the professional and semi-professional sport in Wales."

    Pools will be based on travel/geography with the aim of maximising local interest with the winners progressing to the knockout stage.

  • Sale Sharks have appointed former Wales international Byron Hayward as their coach for kicking, conditioning and strategy next season. Hayward, 39, played for Gloucester and several Welsh clubs, including Newport and Llanelli, and has also filled coaching roles with Wales at Under-19, Under-20 and sevens levels.

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