Here's your round-up of all the latest rugby headlines for Wednesday, April 27.
Ospreys owners announce stake in Hurricanes
Ospreys owners Y11 Sport and Media has confirmed that it has acquired a 25 per cent stake in Super Rugby franchise The Hurricanes.
The move is Y11's first investment in southern hemisphere rugby, with the group set to focus on developing the Hurricanes IP globally, as well as commercial rights outside of New Zealand and Australia. Richard Mansell, Director of Horowhenua-Kāpiti Rugby Football Union and CEO of Coastlands Mall, has secured another 12.50%.
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Confirming the move, Hurricanes Chairman Iain Potter said: "Y11 are a great fit as they share our ambitions and vision, bringing international understanding, expertise and resources that will help propel our Club into an exciting new era. We’re thrilled by the opportunities this partnership will bring.
“Richard Mansell brings strong business experience and perspectives, and a real passion for rugby which will benefit us greatly,”
Y11 Chairman & CEO James Davies-Yandle added: “Professional club rugby has so much potential, especially with investment coming in at the top of the game through the leagues and the governing bodies and we have positioned ourselves to invest in the clubs that compete in those leagues and tournaments, where the governing bodies want to build best operating practices and competition, as it’s the platform for talent to succeed at international level. Our investments in rugby to date compliment this strategy.”
Dragons captain calls for strong end to season
Dragons captain Harrison Keddie has called on his team-mates to finish a tough season strongly - starting with beating Zebre in Italy this weekend.
Zebre are yet to record a victory in the URC this term but came close last week when they pushed Edinburgh all the way in a 29-26 loss. However, the Dragons have only mustered two victories this season - leaving them on course for their worst ever campaign - so will not be taking anything for granted.
“We have to be a lot more accurate and can’t go into our shells,” he said.
“We have to build into the game well and be clinical because it’s a tough place to go if you let the scoreboard get away from you and let them get into the ascendancy.
“We have four games left and want to finish strong. Parts of our performance have been better recently, but we have only put one 80-minute performance all year and that was in Connacht."
Irish secure first ever Premiership Cup final berth
London Irish crushed Leicester Tigers with nine tries at Brentford to reach their first ever Premiership Cup final on Tuesday night with a 59-20 win.
A brace from Noel Reid, as well as tries from Henry Arundel, Albert Tuisue, and Ben Donnell, set Irish on their way in a blistering first half, before Arundel, James Stokes, Lucio Cinti and Will Joseph all crossed the whitewash after the break to seal the win. Leicester then responded with tries from Sam Edwards and Hosea Saumaki late on.
It's Irish's first domestic cup final since the 2002 Anglo-Welsh Cup. They will play either Gloucester or Worcester, who meet in Wednesday's second semi-final.
Leicester assistant coach Brett Deacon told BBC Radio Leicester after the game: "I think we've learned a lot throughout the competition and it would be unfair to look at this game in isolation.
"We were the more inexperienced team, they had a Premiership forward pack and they overpowered us in collisions.
"We've stuck to what we set out to achieve - develop a young team and got to a semi-final."
All Blacks greats suggest fines for ill-discipline
Former All Blacks duo Sir John Kirwan and Jeff Wilson have suggested the introduction of financial penalties in a bid to curb what they feel is a rise in ill-discipline within Super Rugby Pacific.
A high number of cards and fouls in recent games, believed to be due to the continued crackdown on high tackles, has sparked a debate over whether current guidelines go far enough to change player behaviour. The pair now believe that hitting players in the pocket might well be the answer.
“What do we need to do then? Do we need to start fining players? How are we going to have change? We are continuing to let our game fall into this. You’ve got to plan for it,” Kirwan said on Sky Sport’s weekly show The Breakdown.
“I’m getting frustrated right now because I’m not seeing any changes in behaviours from the players. They are the ones that are responsible. We are quite often putting it on the referees, putting the challenge on them. How about the players making some concessions? We are not seeing changes in behaviour,” Wilson added.
“Are we just supposed to get used it? We expect to see cards every week, it’s unacceptable.
“I think for me, for the foul play thing. If it’s a controllable situation where it is lazy … whether you lose half your pay, whatever it may be, I think you are endangering the reputation of the sport and the example you are setting for the fans across the world.”
