News in Brief
Mauger confirms Tigers exit
Scrum.com
January 21, 2010
Aaron Mauger will leave Leicester at the end of the season
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- Aaron Mauger has confirmed that he will leave Leicester at the end of the season in order to press his claims for an All Black spot at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Mauger will return to Canterbury and likely the Crusaders as he bids to add to his 45 Test caps.
Mauger is yet to sign anything with the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) but is keen to return to Canterbury and for his children to be schooled on home soil. Newcastle prop Carl Hayman has also been approached by the All Blacks management with a view to returning home.
"I am leaving Leicester, which is pretty sad, but I want to go back to New Zealand and look at the opportunities of playing over there again with an eye on the World Cup," he told The Leicester Mercury. "My desire is to play again for the All Blacks and Canterbury and give it my best crack.
"I have talked to the All Blacks coaches. I caught up with them during their autumn tour and
have had some discussions through my agent with the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) about a possible contract."
- Former Australia skipper Stirling Mortlock is pondering his future with the Brumbies. The centre is rumoured to be high on the list of players wanted by the newly-unveiled Melbourne Rebels franchise and he refused to rule out any eventuality ahead of their admittance into Super Rugby in 2011.
"Probably for the first time in my entire career I'm open to all opportunities, moving overseas, staying here at the Brumbies or going to another Australian franchise," Mortlock told The Australian.
- The Bulls will go into the opening round of the Super 14 without flanker Dewald Potgieter after the Springbok tourist picked up a knee injury in training. Potgieter sustained a grade two medial ligament injury and will likely be sidelined for four to six weeks.
- The Rugby Football Union have revealed they are investigating the authenticity of documents provided by Red Dragon Rugby Limited when they completed a takeover of London Welsh last year. The Championship club have chosen to rescind their share transfer agreement with Red Dragon Rugby Limited and return to their previous ownership structure.
The Exiles went into administration last summer and were handed a five-point penalty by the RFU before Red Dragon Rugby came in to secure the future of the club. The club, currently third in English rugby's second flight, will now start the hunt for new potential investors.
- Gloucester have signed fly-half Tim Taylor from Nottingham until the end of the season. The former England Under-21 international has stepped in for former All Black Carlos Spencer, who will soon return to Super 14 action with South African franchise the Lions.
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1. Max Verstappen ()
