Barnes targets Super 14 return

News in Brief

Scrum.com

November 2, 2009

Berrick Barnes does not require surgery on his ankle injury © Getty Images

Enlarge

Players/Officials: Olivier Azam | Berrick Barnes | Scott Lawson | Brian Mujati

Tournaments/Tours: Guinness Premiership

Australia vice-captain Berrick Barnes is hopeful of being fit to start the 2010 Super 14 season after it was confirmed that his ankle injury does not require surgery.

Barnes has been ruled out of Australia's Grand Slam tour attempt after rolling his ankle during training ahead of last Saturday's Bledisloe Cup Test in Tokyo. He will join the Waratahs next season, but is temporarily set to return to Brisbane to begin his rehab.

"There's no reason why I shouldn't be right for the start of the Super 14 season," he said. "It is good news that I don't need surgery and it's a matter now of working hard on the rehab."

Northampton prop Brian Mujati has been banned for six weeks after being found guilty of an act contrary to good sportsmanship. The former Springbok was cited for pushing referee Nigel Owens during his side's Heineken Cup loss to Perpignan two weeks ago, and pleaded guilty.

His offence was deemed to be at the low level of the scale and mitigating factors were taken in to account. Mujati was found to be suffering the effects of concussion when the incident occurred and his ban was reduced by 75% accordingly.

Leeds director of rugby Andy Key has his sights firmly set on the future after his side broke their Guinness Premiership duck with a hard-fought 15-9 victory over Wasps on Sunday.

Key took great pleasure form Leeds' fight at Adams Park and insisted that the victory had been coming.

"It was not the prettiest performance. But we 'gnarled' it out, and the players are delighted," he said. "We never stopped believing after a number of close calls this season. We should have won at Saracens last week but had a good try disallowed, for which we have received an apology. The most important Premiership game for us, however, is the next one. We are a team who are developing and growing."

Gloucester have signed hooker Ben Phillips on a short-term contract until the end of the year. Phillips began the season with Championship side Birmingham and Solihull, but has been called in as cover for Olivier Azam and Scott Lawson.

Azam is currently serving a 12-week ban for kicking Saracens skipper Steve Borthwick and Lawson is set for action with Scotland during their November Tests.

The Ospreys have handed professional contracts to academy products Ashley Beck and Kristian Phillips. Winger Phillips has signed until 2013, with centre Beck committing to the region until 2012.

Oxford University have continued their preparations for the Varsity match against Cambridge at Twickenham on December 10 by training with the England squad at their Pennyhill Park Hotel base in Bagshot. The session included work on line outs, scrums and drill work for the backs, with England boss Martin Johnson praising the session as his side prepare to take on Australia at Twickenham on Saturday.

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.