Rugby Union Today: Year in Numbers, Castle’s job is safe

Another busy day in the rugby union game as we publish our first Christmas feature, the Year in Numbers, as well as news from around the world.

What’s on the site

In our Year in Numbers feature, we look back at the best – and worst – of the past year expressed in numerical form.

Elsewhere, Rugby Australia chairman Cameron Clyne has said the organisation’s CEO Raelene Castle’s position is “not in question” after claims that there was a lack of unity between the board and Castle over their approach to the Israel Folau case.

What’s in the news

Munster back-row Arno Botha is set to face a disciplinary hearing in London on Wednesday after he was red carded in his team’s Champions Cup win over Saracens at Thomond Park on Saturday.

In other news, former All Blacks captain Reuben Thorne has been appointed as Canterbury’s co-coach, alongside Mark Brown, for their Mitre 10 Cup campaign in 2020.

Finally, the Ospreys’ front-row stocks received a boost after they drafted in Scarlets props Simon Gardiner and Rhys Fawcett on loan deals.

What’s on social media

There were some special guests in attendance when the 28 captains of the Men’s and Women’s teams assembled for a photo shoot ahead of the Cape Town leg of the 2019/20 World Rugby Sevens Series.

Today’s captains shoot was wild…

Captains from the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series came to Cape Town Stadium where they met and interacted with some pretty special animals.

If the #CapeTown7s is anything like today, you’re in for a treat. pic.twitter.com/78dl8tKSKm

— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) December 10, 2019

What’s on TV

The Champions Cup continues this weekend and BT Sport will broadcast all the games from Round Four. It is the second part of the double-header as Leinster and Northampton, Munster and Saracens, and Harlequins and Ulster are among those to do battle once again.

Elsewhere, the World Rugby Sevens Series comes from Cape Town this week and that will be shown on Sky Sports.