Here are your rugby headlines for Saturday, June 17.
Flanagan on Halfpenny future
Dragons coach Dai Flanagan believes there is “lots more left in the tank” for Leigh Halfpenny.
The full-back is without a club after his contract with the Scarlets expired.
WalesOnline revealed last month that the Gwent region were in talks with the 34-year-old about coming on board as a senior kicking coach who could also work with the academy.
But Flanagan, who is believed to have held talks with Halfpenny over the position, believes he has plenty more to give as a player rather than coach at this stage of his career.
“I’ve got a really good relationship with Leigh and he has lots more left in the tank,” said Flanagan. “I am sure he has more in terms of ambition than just being someone’s kicking coach.”
The Dragons have also been linked with fly-half Rhys Patchell, who, like Halfpenny, is a free agent after leaving Parc y Scarlets.
Flanagan says the club will be active in terms of recruitment.
“We are in the market for players and we are speaking to as many as we can to see if they are suitable for us,” added Flanagan.
“It’s been interesting because the market is flooded with players. We need to make sure we get the right people and we have done a lot of homework.
“We haven’t got the millions that others do but we have got some money left to spend and the challenge has been to get the balance right of investing in the future of the region but also adding experience and quality.
“We need to make sure the decisions are right and, as horrible as it sounds when some players are worried about the next month’s cheque, time is our friend.”
Springbok fighting for life in hospital
Former Springbok fly-half Derick Hougaard is fighting for his life in hospital according to reports in South Africa.
The former Leicester Tigers and Saracens star has spent the last week unconscious in intensive care with "severe inflammation of his lungs" according to news website Netwerk24.
Hougaard, who played eight times for South Africa between 2003 and 2007, reportedly fell ill on Friday, June 9 after feeling nauseous, losing consciousness later that evening. He was taken to hospital the next morning.
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As well as his stints in English rugby, the 40-year-old also played more than 110 matches for the Bulls and won the Super 14 title in 2007.
He has 69 Test points to his name having made his debut against Uruguay in the 2003 Rugby World Cup and playing his final international game against the All Blacks in 2007.
Since retiring in 2009, Hougaard - also known as the 'Liefling of Loftus' - tried his hand in the NFL and even stepped into the ring for a celebrity boxing match.
Star recalled after 'affair' scandal
South Africa have recalled Elton Jantjies to their training squad just months after he was sent home from international duty amid allegations of an affair with the team's dietician.
The married fly-half flew home from Argentina ahead of South Africa's match against the Pumas in September as rumours of the alleged affair, which he denied, spread. The scandal marked a difficult few months for the star who had been detained at an airport earlier in the year after allegedly causing damage to a plane he was travelling on.
Jantjies - who has 46 Test caps - had previously been seen as the deputy to Springbok star Handre Pollard but fell out of favour following his various off-field issues.
However, an injury crisis at fly-half ahead of the 'Boks first game of the Rugby Championship against Australia on July 8 has forced coach Jacques Nienaber to recall the 32-year-old and offer him an international lifeline.
Both Pollard and Damian Willemse are recovering from injury with Stormers star Manie Libbok the only fit 10 in the squad.
“Damian has a knee injury and will be touch-and-go (to play Australia), while Handre is definitely out,” said Nienaber.
“It means Manie is our only fit fly-half as of today and we can’t go into a Test season without any cover. We weighed up the options available locally and overseas – having tracked all of them throughout the season just completed – and Elton is the next flyhalf in line.”
Bristol snap up Exile
Bristol Bears have signed former London Irish centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg after the Exiles were ejected from the Premiership.
The versatile Springbok, who can also play at fly-half, made over 50 appearances for Irish in the last two seasons, scoring 11 league tries but found himself without employment after his club were suspended from the top flight by the RFU.
He join up with Pat Lam’s squad when they return for pre-season training next week.
“Benhard has been one of the outstanding centres in the Gallagher Premiership over the past two seasons so we’re pleased to be able to bring a player of his quality to the Bears," said Lam.
“I believe Benhard will add real quality to our squad on and off the field. His experience, versatility and well-rounded skill set on both sides of the ball will make him a superb addition to our team. We’re pleased to welcome Benhard and his wife Eljoné to the Bears family.”
Reflecting on what he described as "a tough couple of weeks", Van Rensburg said he was "excited" to hit the ground running with his new club.
"I’m pleased to be here in Bristol and can’t wait to get started with the Bears," he added. "The facilities here are incredible and I’m looking forward to meeting my new teammates when pre-season starts on Monday. I’m ambitious to grow my game and help the team in any way that I can."
Former rugby chief dies
Former Irish Rugby Union President Eddie Coleman has died.
The former Leinster and Terenure College back served as IRFU president between 2000 and 2001 having held the same position at Leinster Rugby Branch.
He died surrounded by family following a short stay in hospital.
Coleman was inducted into the Guinness Leinster Rugby Hall of Fame in 2013 in recognition of his years of service to Leinster as well as Terenure, where he also served as Club President in 1993/94.
As a player, he represented Leinster as a wing/centre before captaining Terenure to Leinster Senior League titles. He later become only the second Terenure College RFC man to become IRFU President.
Sharing the news of Coleman's death, Leinster said: "Eddie, his family and friends, are in all our thoughts."
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