Rugby Union Today: Loose Pass and Kieran Read returns

Colin Newboult
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Kieran Read of the Crusaders looks up at the replay on the big screen during the Round 7 Super Rugby match between the Western Force and the Canterbury Crusaders at NIB Stadium in Perth, Australia, Friday, April 8, 2016. (AAP Image/Will Russell)

Another busy day in rugby union as Loose Pass takes a look at how too much money in the game may cause problems for the sport further down the line.

What’s on the site

With companies investing in both the club and international game, especially in the northern hemisphere, Loose Pass suggests that it could have a hugely negative impact, with free-to-air coverage threatened.

Elsewhere, Kieran Read is set to make his first appearance of 2019 after the All Blacks skipper was named in the Crusaders starting XV to face the Hurricanes on Friday.

The full line-ups for both of those sides are in our ‘team tracker,’ which keeps you updated on all the squads that will compete in Round Seven of Super Rugby.

What’s in the news

Tomos Williams has agreed a new deal with Cardiff Blues, adding to what has been a good month for the Welsh region, who recently announced the signings of Hallam Amos and Josh Adams, and managed to retain the services of Jarrod Evans, Josh Navidi, Kristian Dacey and Willis Halaholo.

There wasn’t such good news for the Highlanders and Aaron Smith, however, with head coach Aaron Mauger confirming that the All Blacks scrum-half will be out of action for several weeks after suffering an ankle injury.

Finally, Gloucester have brought in prop Jamal Ford-Robinson from fellow Premiership club Northampton Saints and are also confident of keeping hold of star fly-half Danny Cipriani.

What’s on social media

The Top 14 has been criticised in the past for having too many foreign players in the league, but there are suggestions that the French are starting to get their system right.

What’s on TV

It is Champions Cup quarter-final weekend on BT Sport with them showing Edinburgh v Munster, Saracens v Glasgow, Leinster v Ulster and Racing 92 v Toulouse, while they are also televising the Challenge Cup last-eight encounters.

On Sky Sports, Super Rugby reaches Round Seven and starts with one of the games of the season as the Hurricanes host defending champions Crusaders in Wellington.

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