Here are the latest rugby headlines on Sunday, June 18.
England players' windfall
England's rugby team will reportedly receive £100,000 per man for playing at the Rugby World Cup.
The figure is reported by The Rugby Paper and represents an increase on four years ago, when players were paid £13,000-per-pool match. The sum will be paid to each player irrespective of if they advance past the quarter-finals, the report adds.
England players received a bonus of more than £40,000-a-man for beating New Zealand in the semi-final in 2019 and would have been entitled to a bumper pay day if they had beaten South Africa to win the competition.
The English are reportedly the best paid players in international rugby, currently earning £23,000 per match.
It's unclear what Wales players will receive at the World Cup. Previous figures have suggested Wales squad members receive a fee of £5,300 for international matches, with win bonuses and image rights payments on top of that.
Poll: How far will Wales go at the World Cup? Have your say here or below
Wales star gets coaching role
Wales World Cup squad member Aaron Wainwright will also have a coaching role next season after his boyhood club announced he will be their forwards coach.
The back rower will be part of the set-up at Division Four East side Whitehead RFC after also helping out this year.
It will be a busy time for the Dragons player, who played youth rugby at the club before going on to shine for Cardiff Met in the BUCS League.
He enjoyed a meteoric rise under Warren Gatland but struggled to play regularly for Wales under Wayne Pivac. Gatland, though, has restored him to the international fold since returning, describing him as a player with "X-factor".
Whitehead RFC said: "Waino will be looking to combine his coaching with his International and club duties and we are extremely lucky to have him on board!"
Former Springbok fly-half given '50/50' chance of survival
Former South African flyhalf Derick Hougaard has been given a “50/50” chance of emerging from a coma that has seen him battling for life, according to reports in South Africa
Afrikaans outlet Netwerk24 report that the the 40-year-old has been in a coma in Pretoria for nearly eight days, with the cause of his condition understood to be inflammation of the lungs.
A source close to the player told the newspaper that there's a 50/50 chance he'll survive, adding that that Hougaard’s partner, Nadine, became alarmed when she noticed that his hands had turned blue.
All Blacks name five uncapped players in Rugby Championship squad
All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named five uncapped players in his squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship.
Tamaiti Williams, Samipeni Finau, Emoni Narawa, Cameron Roigard and Dallas McLeod are the new faces in the 36-man group picked for their title defence.
Crusaders utility back McLeod is arguably the biggest surprise, having proven a solid option across the backline for future All Black coach Scott Robertson in Christchurch without ever really breaking into the starting side. His inclusion means there's no place for Crusaders team-mate Jack Goodhue.
Four of the five newcomers will play the Super Rugby Pacific final in Hamilton next Saturday night.
“This is very special day for them and their families who I’m sure will be extremely proud of their achievements,” Foster said in reference to the five newcomers.
“We have a new group of exciting players who will be keen to make a difference in the All Black jersey.”
Sam Cane, who missed the majority of last year's northern tour because of a facial injury, has been named captain, while there's a recall for Damian McKenzie. The most high-profile omissions are loose forward Hoskins Sotutu and halfback Brad Weber.
Scotland international retires after release
Scotland prop Simon Berghan had retired after being released by Glasgow Warriors.
The New Zealand-born prop, who made the switch from Edinburgh in 2021 after seven years, was among six senior players to depart Scotstoun at the end of the season.
After making his debut during the 2017 Six Nations, Berghan went on to win 33 caps for his country.
In an emotional post on social media, the 32-year-old confirmed his decision to quit rugby as he looked ahead to a new career in the finance sector.
He wrote: "I have made the decision to call time on my rugby career. Since coming over to Scotland back in 2014 I have achieved more than I could have ever imagined.
"I feel very fortunate to have played rugby for a living and will be forever grateful to everyone who has played a role in making that happen - from my junior coaches to the supporters and fans throughout the years, without you, I truly wouldn't be where I am today.
"To all my teammates over the years, thank you for making my time in sportwhat it was, especially off the pitch! I have made friends for life.
"I am really excited to have the opportunity to move into the corporate world with BlackRock and will attack the new challenge with the same commitment that I did in my rugby career."
Read more:
Cardiff players return to training and don't know who's there to coach them
Three All Blacks and Wallabies star switch countries for World Cup in bid to stun England
Today's rugby news as controversial new league featuring Wales gets green light
England international dismisses Ireland's chances of winning Rugby World Cup with blunt reason
