Rugby Union Today: Loose Pass and a blow for Joey Carbery

David Skippers

Another busy day in the rugby union game as we publish Loose Pass plus there’s another blow for fly-half Joey Carbery.

What’s on the site

Loose Pass looks at residency, strategy, irritation and inconsistency. The residency extension is a boost for several players like Jarrad Butler (pictured).

There is nothing positive for Carbery, however, as he’s been ruled out for an ‘indefinite period of time’ as he battles to recover from an ankle problem.

Elsewhere in the PRO14, Glasgow’s Leone Nakarawa is to stay in Fiji for the time being while in New Zealand, the North v South squads are named.

What’s in the news

Tournament organisers have made a rule tweak in the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup which allows new signings to play in this season’s knockouts.

In other news, the Professional Game Board has announced new initiatives to protect player welfare for the current season and the 2020/21 campaign.

What’s on social media

It is a special day for Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies. The intercept king turns 30 and we felt the Rugby World Cup’s 2019 tweet was worth re-sharing.

What’s on TV

Super Rugby AU flies the southern hemisphere flag this week and Sky Sports will be showing the Force v Reds and Brumbies v Waratahs. In the Premiership there’s a full fixture list on BT Sport while Channel 5 will also televise London Irish v Northampton. If that’s not enough, the PRO14 restarts on Friday on Premier Sports, with the big game coming on Saturday when Leinster take on Munster.