Here are your rugby morning headlines for Monday, May 23.
Fijian rugby storm as convicted rapist allowed to play
Fijian rugby is set to be engulfed by another storm after convicted rapist Amenoni Nasilasila was allowed to take part in a domestic rugby competition in the country despite still serving his prison sentence.
The former Fiji sevens player was handed an eight-year jail term in 2019 after being found guilty of raping a 24-year-old woman at Olosara, Sigatoka on 22 December, 2018. But despite being in Naboro Corrections Centre, the Fiji Times has reported that he started a match for Namosi against Tailevu at the weekend in their Skipper Cup competition.
It states the 30-year-old started the at fly-half and finished the game at full-back.
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The news might come as something of a shock, however it's not even the first time this year that Nasilasila's inclusion in a rugby match has sparked fury. In February, he was included in the Wardens team in a local tournament, which sparked a major backlash. Fijian human rights advocate Shamima Ali said it was “beyond belief” he was allowed to represent a government department.
"We demand his immediate withdrawal from the team and totally condemn Nasilasila's inclusion," Ali said at the time. “He is a convicted rapist and it is beyond belief that the Fiji Corrections Service has allowed him to play in the Wardens side – he is not a warden, he is an inmate."
The backlash is likely to be similar this time,
In September last year Nasilasila appealed against his conviction and filed a bail pending appeal application. That was refused by Acting Resident Judge, Justice Chandana Prematilaka.
Nasilasila is the cousin of former Australia wing Lote Tuqiri. He made his debut for the Fiji sevens team in 2014.
Hook: It beggars belief Jac Morgan wasn't picked for Wales
Former Wales fly-half James Hook was left in disbelief at the decision to omit Jac Morgan from the squad for the summer tour of South Africa.
The back-rower has been a standout for the Ospreys this season. Indeed, he was voted the fans' regional player of the year in a BBC Scrum V vote on Sunday evening, however he missed out last week when Wayne Pivac named his 33-strong squad to take on the Springboks.
Pivac instead plumped for uncapped openside Tommy Reffell, the former Wales under-20s skipper who has been starring for Gallagher Premiership side Leicester this season. The Wales head coach said he wanted Morgan to get bigger and stronger to force his way back into the reckoning.
"It's beggars belief why Jac Morgan isn't in there," ex-Osprey Hook said on the show. "Tommy Reffell, I know Pivac has come out and said he is the form No.7 of Welsh heritage at the minute, so he could well start in South Africa.
"In the backs, the back three picks itself, I think George North comes straight back in at No.13. The half-backs pick themselves as well." Fellow pundit Sean Holley was also quick to state he would definitely have picked Morgan.
Elsewhere, Hook said the decision to leave out another Osprey in the form of Rhys Webb was harsh. "It's really tough on Rhys Webb, he's been going well all season," he said.
"Ryan Conbeer is another who can count himself unlucky. But the back-three is really strong for Wales, so that's a tough choice."
English call-up trio after brutal Prem weekend
Eddie Jones has had to draft in three players to his 36-man England training squad after three players suffered injury issues in a brutal weekend of Gallagher Premiership action.
Leicester hooker Nic Dolly has been ruled out of the summer tour of Australia all together after sustaining a horror knee injury against Newcastle at the weekend, while Lewis Ludlam damaged his thumb while playing for Gloucester. Joe Launchbury is set for a period of recovery after taking some "knocks" in recent weeks.
An RFU statement reads: “Nic Dolly (knee) and Lewis Ludlam (thumb) were injured in their club matches this weekend while Joe Launchbury is taking some time to recover from knocks received in recent games.
“Bath’s Ewan Richards has been called up for his first involvement in a senior men’s camp, along with Saracens’ Nick Isiekwe and Gloucester’s Jack Singleton.”
The England squad met on Sunday in Richmond for a three-day training camp. Jones' side take on the Barbarians at home next month before touring Australia in July.
Cardiff end-of-season awards
Josh Turnbull was crowned Cardiff Rugby's Player of the Season on Sunday night in their end-of-season awards ceremony.
While it has clearly been a disappointing campaign for the Arms Park outfit, as it has been for all the Welsh sides for that matter, Sunday still represented an opportunity to recognise the players' efforts throughout the season.
Here are the selected awards winners:
- Player of the Season - Josh Turnbull
- Special Recognition Award - Gruff Rees
- Players' Player of the Season - James Botham
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Discovery of the Season - Theo Cabango
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Academy Player of the Season - Cameron Winnett
