Here are the latest rugby headlines on Tuesday, January 3.
Springbok captain to join French outfit
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi will join French club Racing 92 after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Kolisi has been granted an early release from his contract with the Sharks, who he joined in 2021, to link up with the Paris outfit after next year's World Cup. The Sharks explained in their statement that the multiyear contract is part of a long-term collaboration between them and Racing 92 as they aim to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the French side.
Kolisi is set to join Wales international Will Rowlands at the club, with the Welsh lock tipped to move to Paris after announcing he is leaving the Dragons.
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“It has been an incredible collaborative effort between The Sharks and Racing 92 that has enabled me to start a new chapter in my career after the 2023 World Cup,” said Kolisi.
“I want to give a huge thanks to the Sharks for welcoming me with open arms in 2021 and making me feel so at home in Durban. Their support over the last couple of years has been hugely influential during a key period in my career.
“I am immensely appreciative that the Sharks have given me their blessing to make this move, and it goes without saying I will continue to give my all for the team over the next few months.”
Adams urges Cardiff to fire up for Scarlets
Josh Adams has urged Cardiff to fire themselves up for another Welsh derby at the Arms Park this Saturday evening (5.15pm kick-off). The Blue and Blacks host the Scarlets just six days after 12,125 packed in to a sold-out stadium to watch the Ospreys battle back and grind out a 22-19 victory.
Adams bagged one of Cardiff’s three tries in the entertaining encounter, and has called on his side to bounce back in front of another bumper home crowd.
He said: “It was our first home derby, but we've got another one next week and that's something that we've spoken about. We've got to get ourselves up for it. It's another home one for us and it's something we need to put right next week.
"It was a tough one. It went right down to the end. Obviously, I think the decision to go for the posts was a good one. We had no hooker on the field and that paid. That showed with the lineout five metres out from our line. It's difficult place to be, especially without a hooker. It's agonisingly close to having a draw.
“We stuck in the game very, very well. That's something that we've done really well over the past couple of weeks. We've never given up, we're always in with the chance of winning the game right at the end or drawing the game in this case. It was pretty evident the Ospreys targeted us up front. The boys stuck in there tremendously well as well but it's disappointing to lose.”
Adams’ second-half try was his 20th in Blue and Black colours and his seventh try in his last six club appearances.
He added: “The team performance and result is the most important thing but it is nice to get on a run. Once you get one or two in one game after each other, you just want to keep that going. Personally, I'm just glad to have a run of games because it felt that last year was a bit stop start for me. I played two or three games, pick up an injury and I'd be out for a period of time and I never felt I got a proper run of games. I'm feeling good, my body's holding out well, which is pleasing and I'm just looking to keep improving. That's all I want to do, just keep getting better.”
Matt Proudfoot leaves England set-up as Borthwick era begins
Matt Proudfoot has left his role as England forwards coach less than a month after Eddie Jones' exit as head coach. Jones was sacked by the Rugby Football Union after a disappointing 2022, with Steve Borthwick hired as his successor as England look for a good performance in the Six Nations and then the World Cup later this year.
Proudfoot, a South Africa-born former Scotland international, took on the forwards coach role in January 2020 after Neal Hatley's departure to Bath, having served as an assistant for the Springboks in their 2019 World Cup victory.
RFU executive director of performance rugby Conor O'Shea said: "We are very grateful to Matt for all he has done for England and wish him every success in his next career move."
Proudfoot said it had been a "privilege" to work with the England set-up. The RFU also announced Brett Hodgson and Danny Kerry had left the England coaching team.
Borthwick's appointment as England head coach was confirmed on December 19. He had long been seen as Jones' successor after the World Cup, but that process was brought forward after some poor results for England in 2022, including defeats to Argentina and Scotland.
Sexton waiting on injury and citing news
Ireland fly-half Jonathan Sexton is expected to find out today the extent of the cheekbone damage suffered in a collision with Connacht’s Jarrad Butler on Sunday.
And, were the threat of injury not enough, he may yet end up being cited for the tackle.
Sexton was forced off after an attempted tackle on Butler. A month out from the start of the Six Nations, his involvement in the tournament would be in doubt were the injury to be serious.
In terms of the legality of his tackle, citing commissioners will have until this evening to decide whether a disciplinary hearing is required.
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