Five rugby rumours and transfers: Kit clash row, retirements, Manu Tuilagi and more

Jared Wright
transfers kit clash Manu Tuilagi rugby rumours rugby transfers

It’s been another busy week with rugby rumours and transfers, and Planet Rugby brings you five top stories ahead of the weekend.

Springboks and All Blacks kit clash

According to a report by the Daily Maverick, World Rugby has adopted a policy that will mean that Test teams have to wear either ‘light’ or ‘dark’ kits from 2025.

The move is to make it easier for spectators who are colour-blind to differentiate between the two sides.

The report adds that the Springboks and All Blacks are not pleased by the move from World Rugby as the pair would likely play 50% of their matches in their alternate kit, which would undermine their respective brands.

SA Rugby chief Rian Oberholzer disclosed the following to the Daily Maverick in an email:

“While SA Rugby supports World Rugby’s ambition to make rugby as inclusive as possible, we have serious reservations about the potential impacts the application of the colour-blindness regulations may have, and believe they need further interrogation.

“For instance, it would mean that the Springboks and All Blacks would never meet again with both in their primary colours at any World Rugby event. 

“The guidelines say that: ‘If only one person watching on the sidelines of the school field is having trouble following some elements of the game due to an avoidable kit clash, then rugby is letting them down.’

“But we believe that some or all of the 11 out of 12 males and 199 out of 200 women who are not colour-blind (on the statistical base presented) may also feel let down if the time-honoured traditions of the game are lost, setting aside the potential damage to the equity established in those colours and brands over centuries.

“We believe the impact on the game’s broader support base also needs to be considered. We will continue to engage with World Rugby on the subject.”

Two Welsh internationals head to the Pro D2

Rhys Webb has been linked with a return to France with his Ospreys contract expiring this season.

The 34-year-old had a stint at Toulon and now looks to return to France but is set to feature in the second division.

According to Midi Olympique, he will join Biarritz Olympique, who are currently ranked tenth in the Pro D2.

He could be joined in the second division by Dragons fly-half Sam Davies.

Davies is one of nine players confirmed to be leaving the Welsh region after this season and is set to join Grenoble.

The other players confirmed to be departing Dragons are Huw Taylor, Rob Evans, Ben Fry, Lennon Greggain, Ioan Davies, Will Rowlands, Ben Moa and Cory Allen. 

Retirements

As the Northern Hemisphere’s season draws to a close, several players have announced their retirements this week.

34-year-old winger Byron McGuigan announced that this season will be his last. He joined the Sale Sharks from Exeter Chiefs in 2016 and has played over 100 times for the Sharks. The former Scotland international will take up a role in Sale’s coaching team next season. McGuigan is eligible to represent Namibia at the Rugby World Cup this year.

Jeremy Thrush retires again! The former All Blacks lock announced his retirement at the end of last season before answering an SOS from the Western Force earlier this year. However, he has hung up his boots once again after a painful heel injury brought his return to an end.

Cardiff and Wales flanker Josh Navidi confirmed that he has retired immediately after failing to recover from a serious neck injury. He sustained the injury during the three-Test Series against South Africa last July.

Exeter Chiefs will lose three players to retirement at the end of the season. Stuart Hogg announced his retirement in March, but his clubmates Ian Whitten and Ben Moon confirmed this week that they would also hang their boots up. The pair are stalwarts of the Devon club, with Moon playing in the Championship, Premiership and Champions Cup for Exeter, spending 15 years at the side. Meanwhile, Whitten signed from Ulster 11 years ago and has been a key player for the side ever since. 

Wales and Scarlets forward Aaron Shingler also brings his illustrious to an end after 15 years at the side. He has played over 200 matches since his debut in 2009 and earned 27 caps for his country.

Dickens to join Leicester Tigers

The former Sale Sharks, Leeds, Saracens and Northampton Saints scrum-half Alan Dickens is set to join Leicester Tigers’ coaching team.

According to City A.M, the England U20 head coach is set to be part of the Premiership’s side coaching team rebuild under incoming coach Dan McKellar.

Manu Tuilagi to stay at Sale Sharks 

England centre Manu Tuilagi looks set to remain at Sale Sharks next season, Alex Sanderson revealed to the Daily Mail.

“He said he wants to stay, and we’ve agreed terms,” the coach said of Tuilagi.

“If something was wrong I’d know about it, and nothing is wrong. From what I know, right at this second, he’s staying with us for next season. Commercially, he’s a big name.”

Tuilagi bucks the trend of players departing the Premiership with Sam Simmonds, Luke Cowan-Dickie, David Ribbans and Joe Marchant all heading to France.

READ MORE: Josh Navidi: A uniquely special player for Cardiff and Wales who deserved many more caps

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