Rugby Union Today: Pat Lam to coach the Barbarians
Another busy day in the rugby union game as Bristol head honcho Pat Lam was named as the Barbarians’ boss for their match against England.
What’s on the site
There are plenty of previews looking ahead to the weekend’s action. Newcastle and Sale go head-to-head on Friday while there are three PRO14 encounters taking place.
The Premiership match between the two northern sides also takes centre stage in our betting round-up as the Falcons and Sharks look to move into the top-four.
South of the equator, the Commonwealth Games Sevens begins on Friday in a tournament which should be hugely competitive.
What’s in the news
Bristol boss Pat Lam will take charge of the Barbarians when they face England at Twickenham in late May.
Continuing with the Bristol theme and they have announced that Connacht’s John Muldoon will join their coaching staff ahead of next season.
There has been less good news for Maro Itoje and Taulupe Faletau after their agent, Matt Hart, was banned for 22 months for breaching betting regulations.
What’s on social media
It is fair to say that Glasgow Warriors are one of the better rugby clubs when it comes to social media with their try-scoring GIFs a highlight. Here’s one they’re hoping to use in their match tomorrow following the birth of DTH van der Merwe’s baby.
Congratulations to @DTHVDM and his wife Gillian on the birth of their baby girl Harlow Mae.
Both mother and baby are doing well and we’ve got our fingers crossed that we’ll be able to use this one off try gif at some point tomorrow night 🤞 pic.twitter.com/PV4JWadtOZ
— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) April 12, 2018
What’s on TV
The weekend kicks off with Hurricanes hosting the Chiefs on Sky Sports, which is the first of six Super Rugby games on the channel. They will also show Cheetahs v Munster and Edinburgh v Scarlets in the PRO14, as well as two Top 14 encounters.
On BT Sport, two northern sides go head-to-head in the Premiership when Newcastle Falcons take on Sale Sharks before Leicester and Northampton face-off in the fiercely contested Midlands’ derby. Finally, Saracens will look to improve their home semi-final prospects at home to an out-of form Bath.