Nine uncapped players have been selected by new Romania coach Thomas Lievremont to prepare for three upcoming internationals. The first will come against Portugal on Saturday with a spot in the 2019 Rugby Europe ‘A’ Division Championship on the line. Tests against the USA and Uruguay will round out the …
Read More »Mike Ford named Germany coach as internal row ends
Germany’s internal battle between the National Union (DRV) and primary financial backer Hans-Peter Wild appear to have come to an end. The billionaire entrepreneur and financier of the Wild Rose Academy pulled his support from the DRV after a dispute last November, sparking a ‘player strike‘ that led to nearly …
Read More »Foreign-born players in 2018 Rugby Championship
2018 has been a year to further assess and expose the complexity of World Rugby’s player eligibility laws. Belgium, Romania, Spain, and Tahiti were all disqualified from RWC 2019 for fielding players who were either (a) unknowingly captured by another as was the case regarding Romania and Spain, or (b) …
Read More »Germany Advance to Face Samoa in RWC Play-Off
A 16-13 win today sees Germany advancing to face Samoa in a RWC 2019 Play-Off. The Germans booked themselves their trip to Apia by defeating Portugal in a nail-biter in Heidelberg. Trailing 6-3 at half time Germany went ahead before being caught by Portugal in the second half. Victory was …
Read More »Germany Set to Return to Full Strength for RWC Qualifier
Having been depleted for RWC qualifiers earlier this year Germany is set to Return to full strength for RWC qualifier against Portugal. World Rugby’s disqualification of Romania and Spain sees Russia qualifying for RWC 2019 as Europe 1. The Europe 2 spot will go to the winner of Germany vs …
Read More »Game Over for Romania and Spain
It is game over for Romania and Spain. Both European countries have officially been disqualified from RWC 2019 for breaching player eligibility laws. The Federación Española de Rugby (FER) published a release today on its website confirming the outcome, noting that all channels have now been exhausted, making Spain’s dream …
Read More »Romania and Spain appeals to be heard on June 1
Romania and Spain will appeal their respective RWC disqualification verdicts at a special hearing on Friday, June 1. World Rugby confirmed that both European countries have officially made appeals to overturn the punishments handed down them on May 15. World Rugby appointed an independent Judicial and Disputes committee over the …
Read More »A Spain Appeal – The Case for Common Sense
Belgium, Romania, and Spain are out. That is what we were effectively informed when World Rugby released the findings of the independent Judicial and Disputes Committee into the eligibility breaches during the Rugby Europe Championship. Given all three had been found guilty of fielding ineligible players in matches that doubled …
Read More »Romania To Appeal RWC 2019 Decision
Romania is to officially appeal the RWC 2019 decision handed down to them today by World Rugby. The global governing body of rugby disqualified Romania, Belgium and Spain for all feeling ineligible players in qualifying matches. The severe punishments override the prior confirmation that Belgium vs Spain should be replayed. …
Read More »Romania, Spain, and Belgium out of 2019 World Cup
World Rugby have handed out severe punishments to Romania, Spain, and Belgium as a result of the player ineligibility scandal that has rocked the Rugby Europe World Cup qualification process. All three have been handed 5-point penalties for each qualifying game in which an ineligible player was used during the …
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