RU Today: Super charged and European finals moved

David Skippers
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A general view of the Heineken Champions Cup ahead of the match at Kingsholm, Gloucester.

Another busy day in the rugby union game as we delve into the big talking points ahead of this weekend’s Super Rugby Aotearoa and AU action.

What’s on the site

The two big New Zealand rivals are set to clash in Super Rugby Aotearoa on Saturday when the Crusaders face the Blues and that is one of the topics being discussed in ‘Super charged.’ The feature also looks at the Western Force’s return to the top-tier of Australian rugby.

Elsewhere, Ben Youngs has had his say on Manu Tuilagi’s departure from Leicester Tigers, stating that he’s not disappointed by the England centre’s decision to reject an amended contract and look for a new club.

What’s in the news

The 2020 European finals will not take place in Marseille as originally planned due to concerns around the coronavirus. Instead, they will host the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup showpiece events in 2021, with the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium scheduled to do the same a year later.

Meanwhile, Sean Maitland has become the latest player to commit his future to Saracens by signing a new contract. The Scotland international has agreed a two-year deal, which will keep him at the club until at least 2022.

Finally, the teams were announced for this weekend’s clashes in Super Rugby Aotearoa and AU. Will Jordan has dropped to the bench for the Crusaders, with David Havili starting at full-back and Sevu Reece taking his place on the wing, while the Blues have selected playmaker Harry Plummer at centre.

What’s on social media

A clip from yesteryear, where no doubt Brian Lima would have been handed a yellow or red card for this tackle had it occurred nowadays.

What’s on TV

Super Rugby AU continues on Friday when the Rebels host the Reds while on Saturday it’s the Waratahs against the Force. The latter game comes after Super Rugby Aotearoa’s huge clash between the Crusaders and Blues. The Hurricanes and Highlanders face off on Sunday with all of these matches live on Sky Sports.

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