IT training rugby world UK TruePDF march 2019

F r o n t R o w WH AT YOU SHOULD BE TALK ING ABOUT THIS MONTH “Forget football, is there spying in Test rugby?” T HE SECRET PLAYER THI S M ON T H “While the Six Nations is on, a bit of presence is something that ageing journeymen like me are expected to provide for our club God help me” P98 PIC Getty Images LEEDS UNITED manager Marcelo Bielsa recently admitted during a PowerPoint presentation that his side had spied on all of their opponents this season, while stating that nothing illegal took place An ethical debate raged on The Football Association pulled Bielsa in for questions Then Eddie Jones was asked about his thoughts on spying in rugby “Fifteen years ago, we used to send people out in costumes to watch training,” he said “You don’t need to it now because you see everything in a game “I can say with a hand on my Behind closed doors heart, we don’t it any more.” All Blacks training at He has experience here This the 2015 World Cup is the same Eddie Jones who in 2003, ahead of a clash with New Zealand, had security search for But while Jones says spying is a no-no ‘moles’ At the time he said: “There have now, we still talk about it Remember been people here with lenses trying to in 2016 when the All Blacks reported take photos through the training centre finding a listening device sewn into a There is some espionage going on.” hotel chair; in 2017, police charged an In 2001 Scott Johnson – soon to be All Blacks security employee over it all back with the Wallabies as director of Tactics, key moves and personnel rugby – figured out the Lions’ lineout changes are vital information for Test calls Five years later he mocked the coaches Many of the big teams have a Kiwis by talking to media in camouflage handy security detail with them For the 2019 World Cup, all approved training venues are vetted and approved by the Organising Committee before they are offered to the teams as training bases Is spying on opponents intrinsically immoral or just a smart way to get an edge? Whatever your view, walls to keep prying eyes out will still go up and security checks still go on Spying may be old school but better to check, eh? n HAV E YOUR SAY Email rugbyworldletters@ti-media.com Twitter @rugbyworldmag Facebook Rugby World Magazine Instagram @Rugbyworldmag CONTENTS THE FRONT ROW 10 Fixtures 12 Sean Maitland 14 World news 17 Brendan Venter 18 Rising Stars 20 Bonus points 24 George Kruis 29 Michele Campagnaro 30 RWC 2019 31 Ben Ryan THE CENTRES 34 Joe Schmidt 40 Jamie George 46 WP Nel 48 Hadleigh Parkes 52 Six Nations 56 Schools rugby 60 Josh Adams 62 Greatest XV 66 Jersey Reds 71 France 74 Super Rugby THE BACK ROW 79 Team of the Month 80 Hannah Botterman 82 Alamanda Motuga 84 Club Focus 89 Conor Murray 90 England’s maul 92 Bootcamp 98 The Secret Player SAVE THIS MONTH! DON’T MISS THIS MONTH It’s all systems go in the Six Nations but Super Rugby kicks off this month, too We have you covered with a player to watch from all 15 teams – see P74-77 COVER IMAGES Getty Images, Inpho & REX Features PIC Inpho Subscribe to Rugby World this month and pay only £20.99 every six months – a saving of 36% Plus, you can keep up to date with the latest rugby goings-on ahead of the World Cup Call 0330 333 1113 or see P32-33 Leading figures The captains of the men’s and women’s Six Nations teams E D ITO R’ S LETTE R “Six Nations mixing tradition with modernity” THIS IS the 20th edition of the Six Nations, five becoming six when Italy joined the party back in 2000 And during that time many championship traditions have been retained while facets of the modern world have been embraced That balance of old and new is always a delicate one – so have the Six Nations got it right? I’d say not quite The age-old rivalries remain, with the passion of fans and players alike evident, and the tournament reaches a huge audience via free-to-air TV, with the technological advances in those broadcasts a big plus However, the Friday night kick-offs give little thought to travelling supporters, the women’s event is still without a main sponsor and the organisation’s subborn refusal to consider how to help the growth of other teams in Europe smacks of a short-sighted cabal – as some of the other findings in Alan Dymock’s report on the state of play on P52-55 Still, there is plenty to excite on the pitch in coming weeks Enjoy the issue Sarah Mockford, Editor Email: sarah.mockford@ti-media.com Phone: 01252 555272 Twitter: @heelsonhalfway www.lovellrugby.co.uk 47031 - Scotland 18/19 Alternate Shirt - £60 46470 - England 18/19 Home Classic Shirt - £50 46645 - Ireland Performance Polo - £37 FREE Personalisation on all Rugby Boots Orderline: 0800 197 2855 42027 - Wales Training T-Shirt - £35 48293 - Italy Travel Polo Shirt - £25 48870 - France 18/19 Home Shirt - £85 facebook.com/lovellrugby twitter.com/lovellrugby Instagram.com/lovellrugby A subscription makes the perfect gift for Mother’s2.4D9 ay from just Mother’s Day 31st March £3 Treat your Mum with a subscription to her favourite magazine and receive a box of Lindt Master Chocolatier Collection chocolates worth £6.99 Christmas plant ideas Great for decorations! 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Head to the World Rugby Museum at Twickenham to see their new exhibition ‘The March of the Groggs’, which charts the history of the sculpted caricatures of famous rugby players Check out worldrugby museum.com for all the details 10th Who will win this year’s Women’s Six Nations? Well, this Sunday match between England’s new full-time pros and defending champions France at Castle Park in Doncaster (kick-off 12.45pm) is likely to play a huge role in deciding who lifts the trophy Tickets are just £10 for adults and £5 for juniors for what is sure to be a hotly-contested match – buy at englandrugby.com MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN 28 29 30 31 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 10 5th 15th Prepare for skills and thrills as Super Rugby returns, with Crusaders (below) targeting a third straight title The action kicks off with Chiefs v Highlanders and you can watch the majority of games live on Sky Sports NEW ISSUE OUT 20th   23rd Jonathan Davies (right) and Will Carling are holding a dinner at the Parkway Hotel & Spa in Cwmbran in the week leading up to Wales v England to raise money for the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff A table of ten costs £720 – for further details, call 0845 108 5690 or visit theeventsroom.co.uk Gear up for Wales v England with a ten-mile sponsored walk in aid of St Mary’s Hospice in Birmingham Entry for the Rugby Ramble is £15 and includes a pie and a pint at Birmingham Moseley RFC See birminghamhospice.org.uk F r o n t R o w THE DIRECTORY The Six Nations is in full swing – here are all the fixtures and TV details for the weeks ahead PICS Getty Images & Inpho WEEKEND 8-9 FEB Premiership Rugby Cup Semis FRI FEB Women’s Six Nations Scotland v Ireland (7.35pm, Scotstoun) TV Live on RTÉ/BBC ALBA U20 Six Nations Scotland v Ireland (7.30, Gala RFC) Greene King IPA Championship Nottingham v Yorkshire Car (7.45) Principality Premiership Aberavon v Newport Bedwas v Bargoed Bridgend v Merthyr Cross Keys v Cardiff Llanelli v Carmarthen Quins Neath v Pontypridd RGC 1404 v Llandovery Swansea v Ebbw Vale SAT FEB Guinness Six Nations Scotland v Ireland (2.15pm, BT Murrayfield) TV Live on BBC/TV3 Italy v Wales (4.45pm, Stadio Olimpico) TV Live on ITV/S4C/TV3 Women’s Six Nations Italy v Wales (7pm, Lecce) TV Live on BBC Wales U20 Six Nations England v France (12.05, Exeter) TV Live on Sky Sports Rugby Europe Championship Romania v Georgia Belgium v Germany Greene King IPA Championship Jersey v London Scottish (2pm) Bedford v London Irish (3pm) Coventry v Hartpury College (3) Ealing v Doncaster (3pm) Richmond v Cornish Pirates (3pm) SUN 10 FEB Guinness Six Nations England v France (3pm, Twickenham) TV Live on ITV/TV3 Women’s Six Nations England v France (12.45pm, Castle Park) TV Live on Sky Sports U20 Six Nations Italy v Wales (2pm, Mantova) Rugby Europe Championship Spain v Russia FRI 15 FEB Gallagher Premiership Gloucester v Exeter (7.45pm) TV Live on BT Sport Guinness Pro14 Edinburgh v Dragons (7.35pm) TV Live on Premier Sports Munster v Southern Kings (7.35) Ospreys v Ulster (7.35, Bridgend) TV Both live Premier Sports/eir Super Rugby Chiefs v Highlanders (6.35am) Brumbies v Rebels (8.45am) TV Both live on Sky Sports Greene King IPA Championship Hartpury Coll v Richmond (7.45) Principality Premiership Pontypridd v Swansea SAT 16 FEB Rugby Europe Championship Romania v Germany Russia v Belgium Gallagher Premiership Northampton v Sale (2pm) Bath v Newcastle (3pm) Harlequins v Worcester (3pm) Saracens v Leicester (3pm) TV Live on BT Sport Guinness Pro14 Zebre v Leinster (2.30, Viadana) TV Live on Free Sports/eir Connacht v Cheetahs (5pm) TV Live Premier Sports/eir/TG4 Benetton v Scarlets (5.15pm) TV Live on Premier Sports/S4C Cardiff Blues v Glasgow (7.35pm) TV Live on Premier Sports Top 14 Agen v Toulon Clermont v Bordeaux-Bègles Grenoble v La Rochelle Montpellier v Perpignan Pau v Castres Racing 92 v Toulouse Stade Franỗais v Lyon Super Rugby Blues v Crusaders (6.35am) Waratahs v Hurricanes (8.45am) Sunwolves v Sharks (10.55am) Bulls v Stormers (3.15pm) Jaguares v Lions (9.40pm) TV All live on Sky Sports Greene King IPA Championship Cornish Pirates v Ealing (2.30pm) Doncaster v Nottingham (2.30pm) London Irish v Coventry (2.45pm) London Scottish v Bedford (3pm) Principality Premiership Cardiff v Bedwas Carmarthen Quins v Aberavon Cross Keys v Ebbw Vale Llandovery v Bridgend Llanelli v Bargoed Merthyr v Neath Newport v RGC 1404 All-Ireland League Div 1A Cork Constitution v Clontarf Dublin University v UCC Garryowen v Terenure College Lansdowne v Shannon UCD v Young Munster SUN 17 FEB Rugby Europe Championship 24th CLOSE QUARTERS Cardiff Arms Park plays host to Wales v England in a lunchtime kick-off in the Women’s Six Nations 10 Georgia v Spain Gallagher Premiership Bristol v Wasps (3pm) TV Live on BT Sport Greene King IPA Championship Yorkshire Carnegie v Jersey (3) FRI 22 FEB U20 Six Nations Italy v Ireland (6pm, Rieti) Wales v England (7.05, Parc Eirias) France v Scotland (8pm, Pau) Gallagher Premiership Gloucester v Saracens (7.45pm) TV Live on BT Sport Guinness Pro14 Glasgow v Connacht (7.35pm) TV Live on Free Sports Ospreys v Munster (7.35pm) TV Live Premier Sports/eir/TG4 Leinster v Southern Kings (7.55) TV Live on Premier Sports/eir Super Rugby Highlanders v Reds (6.35am) TV Live on Sky Sports All-Ireland League Div 1A Young Munster v Garryowen SAT 23 FEB Guinness Six Nations France v Scotland (2.15pm, Stade de France) TV Live on BBC/TV3 Wales v England (4.45pm, Principality Stadium) TV Live on BBC/S4C/TV3 Women’s Six Nations Italy v Ireland (6.30pm, Parma) TV Live on RTÉ France v Scotland (8pm, Lille) Gallagher Premiership Harlequins v Bristol (2pm) Wasps v Sale (2pm) Exeter v Newcastle (2.30pm) Northampton v Bath (2.45pm) Guinness Pro14 Benetton v Dragons (1pm) TV Live Premier Sports/eir/S4C Edinburgh v Cardiff Blues (7.35) Ulster v Zebre (7.35pm) TV Both live on Premier Sports Top 14 Bordeaux-Bègles v Grenoble Castres v Racing 92 La Rochelle v Stade Franỗais Lyon v Clermont Perpignan v Agen Toulon v Pau Toulouse v Montpellier Super Rugby Sunwolves v Waratahs (4.15am) Crusaders v Hurricanes (6.35am) Brumbies v Chiefs (8.45am) Sharks v Blues (1.05pm) Stormers v Lions (3.15pm) Jaguares v Bulls (9.40pm) TV All live on Sky Sports Principality Premiership Bedwas v Neath All-Ireland League Div 1A Clontarf v UCC Cork Constitution v UCD Shannon v Dublin University Terenure College v Lansdowne SUN 24 FEB Guinness Six Nations Italy v Ireland (3pm, Stadio Olimpico) TV Live on ITV/TV3 Women’s Six Nations Wales v England (12.30pm, Cardiff Arms Park) TV Live on Sky Sports/S4C Gallagher Premiership Worcester v Leicester (1pm) TV Live on BT Sport Guinness Pro14 Scarlets v Cheetahs (1pm) TV Live on Premier Sports/eir WEEKEND 1-3 MARCH World Sevens Series (Men) Las Vegas TV Live on Sky Sports FRI MAR Gallagher Premiership Bristol v Gloucester (7.45pm) TV Live on BT Sport Guinness Pro14 Leinster v Cheetahs (7.35pm) TV Live on Premier Sports/eir Super Rugby Hurricanes v Brumbies (6.35am) Rebels v Highlanders (8.45am) TV Both live on Sky Sports Greene King IPA Championship Bedford v Yorkshire Carn (7.45) Jersey v Doncaster (7.45pm) Nottingham v Corn Pirates (7.45) Principality Premiership Ebbw Vale v Pontypridd SAT MAR Rugby Europe Championship Belgium v Georgia Germany v Russia Gallagher Premiership Bath v Harlequins (3pm) Leicester v Wasps (3pm) TV Live on BT Sport Sale v Exeter (3pm) Saracens v Northampton (3pm) Guinness Pro14 Connacht v Ospreys (2.45pm) TV Live on Premier Sports/TG4 Benetton v Edinburgh (3pm) TV Live on Free Sports Scarlets v Munster (5pm) TV Live Premier Sports/eir/S4C Zebre v Glasgow (5.15pm) Cardiff Blues v S Kings (7.35pm) TV Both live on Premier Sports Top 14 Clermont v Grenoble Lyon v Castres Montpellier v Bordeaux-Bègles Pau v Agen Perpignan v Toulon Racing 92 v La Rochelle Stade Franỗais v Toulouse Welcome To My Club course, things have not been plain sailing for the island team, and in 2016 the Reds had to sell their land for some £1.5m in order to continue operating After a look around the coast, we end up at that very ground in St Peter – just a ten-minute walk from the airport – and talk with club chairman Mark Morgan “We’ve had some really great benefactors, let’s put it that way,” Morgan explains of the tumult of recent years “So when we initially sold the land in 2016, not long after I took over as chairman, it was a friendly sale It was sold to local guys who gave us the option to buy back the land within a certain time for the same price we sold it for “Then a year after that, another couple of guys said they’d give us a ten-year loan so we could buy the land back – obviously we had a lease payment that was costing us at that point – so we were able to repurchase the land, 100%.” Morgan had captained Jersey through the Eighties but had left to work for a big bank, all over the globe When he returned four years ago, it didn’t take him long to get back in with the Reds Relaxing in a back office as the lunch club on the other side of the door fills up with the great and the good of corporate Jersey, he adds a bit of detail about the Reds’ current set-up “We’re still a members’ club We’re not owned by a company or a sugar daddy “Certainly in the Championship, we’ve probably got the broadest base of corporate support anywhere All the banks, all the accountants, law firms, construction firms on the island – we’re really lucky in that respect So the good news there is that we’re not dependent on any one source of income.” In amongst the corporate throng, barely a word is spoken before me and photographer Dan (who normally says no, I swear) are handed a pint of Jersey Pride This happens time and again Rarely are we allowed to put a hand in our pockets before another clubassociated body is thrown between us and the till, like some last-action hero Appropriately, the carpet rolled out for us is in the team’s colours and no one does a better job of minding us as we tear around the club than press officer Tom Innes and his wife Kate, who puts in a Kryptonic shift supervising the match officials and our delegation Even as we invade the coaches’ office before kick-off, trying to decipher the hieroglyphs of moves and gym scores “ We’ ve g o t t o b ack ours e l ve s to develop these young guys and give them an opportunity” Stretching away Try-scorer Leroy Van Dam on the run 68 It’s all French to us Some match tactics penned onto the whiteboard-like walls, the coaching staff barely flap an eyelid This is the command centre, where Harvey Biljon and his young coaches have plotted the Reds’ rise up the table But that’s not the only reason Jersey are a fascinating case Watch Premiership highlights on Channel and you can silently name stars in many of the top sides who were once at Jersey Motivational words A shot of the dressing room prior to Jersey’s impressive 41-16 defeat of Nottingham Early scores Before the onslaught you can trust There are also agents who put players in front of you, and you’ve got to your due diligence and watch games “We make sure our process is a healthy one If we can’t physically meet someone we’ll go through a Skype conversation It’s important to get that interaction We’ve got a series of questions, not only to find out about a player’s rugby ability but also more about his ambitions, his work ethic That plays an important role.” Back in the clubhouse, injured back-row Conor Joyce says that the team will talk a lot about ‘brotherhood’ Haughtily, I suggest that all pro teams say something similar, but he explains that on an island the size of Jersey it’s inevitable that players will get incredibly close as they operate in close quarters and end up seeing a lot of each other Joyce, it’s worth noting, runs a bespoke hat and T-shirt company called Noggin Sport with his brother Kieran, who is at Connacht The company is set up with the aim of smashing stigma around mental health In the spill-over hospitality section in a marquee to the side of the clubhouse, This island rugby team has become something of an elite player nursery With that comes another issue It feels like every season there’s a high turnover of players Jersey cannot pay big wages but have become a beacon for those hoping to climb higher The churn of talent is both a challenge and a symptom of doing so well to overcome it Reclining slightly, head coach Biljon considers the production line that has worked overtime since he first arrived from Cornish Pirates five years ago to fight fires and stave off relegation “I think Jersey’s unique,” he says “But the players leaving Jersey are leaving for the right reasons They’re all going up to the Premiership or Pro14 A couple have had the opportunity to get caps “We’d love to have kept hold of them but I think our coaching team well to identify raw materials and young guys, and we’ve got to back ourselves to develop them and give them an opportunity “Also, because we’ll never have too big a squad, those players get an opportunity to play If they play and we educate them as individuals – young men who are probably on their first time away from home, having to fend for themselves – we help them mature and grow.” So how you find them? Behind bars “Over a period of time you The players’ tunnel build a network of people I gain further education on all things Jersey Derek de la Haye, former head of sport for the local government, tells me of the spirit of independence here, with Jersey competing alone in the Commonwealth Games Jersey are also competing on the world stage in bowls, shooting and table tennis With the Reds the only professional sporting organisation on the island, de la Haye believes that, while the local football teams make plans to eventually compete off-island and netball makes more promising inroads, there is something aspirational happening here What may help gain the club greater recognition is their sublime rugby More than once this season they have gone viral as footage of end-to-end tries has splashed onto social media What makes this stand out is that not so long ago, know-alls were talking of the Reds as a team with hairy-arsed forwards, a few quick wings and very little else “There is a master plan, make no mistake,” says Biljon when pressed on their silky attack “Without giving all the detail, when I arrived and got through the relegation battle, a plan was put in place Objective number one was to stabilise in the Championship I wanted Jersey to be recognised like Pirates “Just wait” Before the cheese course is served 69 Welcome To My Club or Bedford: you know they’re going to be there Objective number two was to be a top-six team and to be competing in a cup competition And objective number three, where we’re just about, is to be a top-four side that’s always in the knockout stages of a cup competition “There are clear building blocks along the way In the Championship you need to make sure your forwards are in place, your set-piece can function Secondly, you’ve got to get your defence in the right area Third, you’ve got to get your kick strategy right and finally, as the evolution goes, your attack will come last in that process “What has been difficult for us, with that turnover of players, is that while you put building blocks in place and progress each year, you must find new ways of teaching players how you things around here, quickly We’re getting better at getting them onside sooner rather than later.” With a ceaseless drizzle and gusting conditions, the match promises to be one for trench warfare However, the Reds find scoring less than laborious, tallying five tries from all manner of circumstance – from jinking finishes in the corner to pushovers in, well okay, the corner But they feast on loose ball and break past Nottingham throughout the second half as they cart to a 41-16 win The fans along the Pavilion front who call themselves the ‘Jersey Herd’ ring cowbells with delight Ring your bell Cheering with the ‘Jersey Herd’ Clear pathway Kids in action Things are looking skyward for the team on the field However, no matter how good things get this term, going up a league is not a possibility “We don’t have the population to sustain a Premiership side,” says Mark Morgan “We get 1,500 at the weekend, which is pretty good by Championship standards, but that’s 1.5% of the island’s population You’ll well to get more “We certainly don’t have the level of facilities to play in the Premiership If that changes, we’ll think again.” To be honest, though, I like Jersey Reds as they are At one point, perplexed, I ask patrons at the bar if the club is always so welcoming or if there is a show being put on for Rugby World Stopping just shy of asking what the hell Rugby World is, I’m told this is just Jersey The next eight people agree And the rugby is good and the pints well priced Wondering whether to go into ‘town’ post-match or the harbour village of St Aubin, we opt for the latter After a stop in The Trafalgar and The Old Court House, we go for a curry in Noya Shapla, which I’m told the next day I enjoyed very much As I wake at 6am in one of L’Horizon’s fine suites, fully clothed and suspiciously sandy, I am calm On the other side of the glass the sea laps the shore Why the hell have I never been here before, I silently wonder to myself n JERSEY REDS OUT OF 10 ATMOSPHERE FOOD PINT TOILETS There are only 1,337 here for this And yet it’s still enormous fun People are just so welcoming… Ended up in a niche of hospitality Food was hearty winter fare… then out came a cheeseboard! It’s always good when the local beer is palatable, and plenty of fans were swilling Jersey Pride The new-ish bogs in the clubhouse were immaculate Around the ground the other toilets are passable 8 70 32 OVERALL France France at a crossroads Words Gavin Mortimer // Main Picture Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images French rugby is at an all-time low There are growing safety concerns amongst parents and the sport is being left behind by football in the popularity stakes So what can be done? HE FRENCH media were unanimous in the word they chose to describe les Bleus’ 21-14 defeat by Fiji back in November – ‘Humiliation’ It adorned newspapers and was aired on television as the nation absorbed the historic loss There have been many low points in French rugby in the past decade – from losing to Italy in the 2011 Six Nations to shipping 60 points to the All Blacks in the 2015 World Cup to being held to a 23-23 draw at home to Japan in 2017 But nothing quite shocked France like the Fiji fiasco It wasn’t just that they lost but that they were outplayed in every facet of the game There was, unusually in the sporting world, not one positive to take in losing to Fiji, but for the suits looking down from the posh seats in the Stade de France there were thousands of negatives to ponder These were the empty seats that contributed to the funereal atmosphere in the national stadium that once had no trouble meeting its 81,000 capacity The official attendance was 40,000 but 71 France Watch this space There were lots of empty seats during France’s November Tests L’Equipe claimed that half of those tickets had been given away by the French rugby federation (FFR) to commercial partners and amateur clubs A fortnight earlier barely 50,000 people turned up to watch France lose to South Africa, despite a series of desperate marketing strategies in the build-up that included the chance to buy half-price tickets during online ‘Happy Hours’ Contrast that with what went on in Britain in November: 81,000 fans at Twickenham when England beat Japan 35-15, 67,000 at Murrayfield to see Scotland trounce Fiji 54-17 and 61,000 in Cardiff as Wales crushed Tonga 74-24 It’s not only spectator numbers that are on the decline in France In 2018 the number of registered rugby players fell nearly 10%, from 312,000 to 281,000, and between 2013 and 2017, 12,000 players under the age of 14 didn’t renew their registration Women’s rugby continues to buck the trend with a 13% increase in registrations, but it helps that the national team is so successful Then there is the fact the FFR has a €7.3m (£6.5m) budget deficit, leading a number of figures within the organisation to question the governance of Bernard Laporte One, Florian Grill, labelled his presidency a “catastrophe” and, in announcing his intention to stand against Laporte in 2020, he bemoaned the FFR’s “lack of financial transparency” With France hosting the World Cup in 2023, time is running out for the FFR to transform the sport’s image But that all pales into insignificance set alongside the recent tragedies in French rugby – the death in the space of eight months of four young players: Adrien Descrulhes, a 17-year-old amateur for Billom; Louis Fajfrowski, 21, of ProD2 Aurillac; the 18-year-old Stade Franỗais flanker Nicolas Chauvin; and Nathan Soyeux, 23, a student in Dijon All four died as a result of injuries sustained on the pitch and the force of the collision was a common factor, prompting the website Rugbyrama to warn that the sport was trapped in “a spiral of violence” that could have terrible implications for rugby’s future growth What parent will let their child play a game where death or serious injury is an increasing possibility? With France hosting the World Cup in 2023, time is running out for the FFR to transform the sport’s image First up they must win back the worried parents, hence the launch of the ‘Well Played’ a particular problem Why? Rugby there remains mired in machismo; tune into a Top 14 or ProD2 game and the physicality is on a different level to the Gallagher Premiership or Guinness Pro14 Players run into the opposition, not the space initiative in September It’s a 14-point Then there is the fact that French programme for U14s designed to ensure children don’t learn rugby at school that rugby is learnt in a fun and safe because competitive sport isn’t part of environment It’s to be applauded but the syllabus; instead they can, if they will it make a significant difference? wish, attend club training on Wednesday Possibly not and, in fact, one could argue afternoons and play weekend matches, that one of the measures – a two-second which leaves coaches little time to teach touch on the hips replacing a tackle them the technicalities of the game – will be counter-productive as Incidentally, that children won’t learn how to tackle is also the principal properly in their formative years reason why France Furthermore, what alarms parents have fallen behind the most are the media reports home nations in the detailing the disturbing rise of head past decade, despite France centre Wesley their huge resources injuries in the senior game In the Fofana is one of only Schools rugby now 2012-13 season, for example, there two men to have were 19 cases of concussion in the verges on the scored tries in their Top 14, a figure that rocketed to 63 semi-professional in first four Six Nations by 2016-17 Overall, in 2016-17 there Britain and Ireland, matches He achieved preparing youngsters were 1,900 incidents of concussion the feat in 2012 while for the real thing in in French rugby, 1,820 of which former Ireland wing occurred in the amateur game a way the French Shane Horgan did the education system Concussion is on the increase same in 2000-01 throughout rugby but in France it’s never can Admittedly, DID YOU KNOW? 72 France Bucking the trend Women’s rugby is on the up football in 2010 That year a sullen and disagreeable generation of players shamed their country during the World Cup with their mutinous antics The standing of football hit rock-bottom, and rugby capitalised with France winning the Grand Slam and sponsors queuing up to throw money at a sport that boasted handsome and wholesome Golden moment France lift the Football World Cup last summer PICS Getty Images France U20 won the Junior World Championship last year for the first time, but that had more to with physique than skill, an advantage that will fade within a couple of years Football is different because since 1988 the top 30 boys in the country have been sent to the FFF academy at Clairefontaine for instruction Thierry Henry is an old boy, so too Blaise Matuidi and Kylian Mbappé, both of whom helped France win the World Cup in Russia last year That success couldn’t have come at a worse time for French rugby, throwing into stark relief their pitiful state ‘Football Shows the Way’ was the headline on the front page of Midi Olympique after France had beaten Croatia 4-2 in the final The newspaper stated that “the brilliant trajectory of football should be an example to their rugby cousins stuck in a structural and sporting slump” The slump is serious A survey in February 2018 revealed that the popularity of the France rugby team had plummeted 29 points from a similar poll the previous year In some respects rugby now finds itself in a similar position to French stars such as Jonny Wilkinson, Aurélien Rougerie and Thierry Dusautoir Football learnt its lessons, working hard to improve its image, and had the good fortune to oversee the emergence of a new generation including Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann and N’Golo Kanté That goes a long way to explaining why the number of registered footballers in France last year increased 200,000, from 2.2m to 2.4m How French rugby needs a similar generation to appear, players with talent, charisma and impeccable work ethic They might be in luck The France U20 manager, Sébastien Piqueronies, told Midi Olympique that he believes Demba Bamba, Jordan Joseph and Romain Ntamack have the character to for French rugby what Matuidi and Mbappé have done for football This year’s World Cup is too soon for this generation but they should be at their peak when France host the tournament in 2023 The challenge for the FFR between now and then is to put the pride back into French rugby and the bums back on seats n 73 Super Rugby SOON TO BE HEROES Words Jon Cardinelli, Craig Lewis, Dylan Jack & Mariette Adams // Pictures Getty Images The new SUPER RUGBY season kicks off this month, so we asked our friends at SA Rugby magazine to pick a player to watch from all 15 teams… 74 Super Rugby Rebel with a cause Wallaby lock Adam Coleman BLUES Karl Tu’inukuafe completed a remarkable rise from nightclub bouncer to All Black in 2018 and was a nominee for the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year award The 25-year-old mustachioed loosehead prop began playing rugby as a way to lose weight and was first spotted playing for North Harbour by Chiefs scouts After an impressive 2018 campaign, Tu’inukuafe could have signed for the Blues, Chiefs or Highlanders for the 2019 season, but his close family ties to Auckland and Tom Coventry’s appointment as Blues forwards coach lured him home He is a powerful scrummager and fearless ball-carrier BRUMBIES BULLS The Brumbies traditionally boast strong, competitive loose-forward trios and the addition of Pete Samu has boosted their back-row stocks for the new season The former Crusader, who was at the centre of a tug-of-war between Australia and New Zealand, is a dynamic player whose pace and power are complemented by his vision and skill execution The 27-year-old’s career has been hampered by injuries but he finally made his Wallabies debut, against Ireland, last June And now that he’s based in Australia, you would expect his cap tally to increase at a rapid rate, provided he stays fit and in form 75 The Bulls boast plenty of great backs, but it’s the prodigiously talented scrum-half Embrose Papier who will be determined to build on an unforgettable 2018 season The 21-year-old was backed by then Bulls coach John Mitchell as one of three young nines in the squad last year and grabbed his opportunity with both hands His potential was also recognised by South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus, who drafted him into the national set-up before handing the youngster two starts on the end-of-year tour Papier came of age with composed performances against Scotland and Wales, which will stand him in good stead for this Super Rugby campaign He will once again face competition from Ivan van Zyl and André Warner for the Bulls’ No jersey, but he can expect to receive plenty of game time this season CHIEFS Having started 2018 without a contract, prop Angus Ta’avao more than exceeded expectations after being called into the Chiefs squad as injury cover The former Waratah became an integral part of the team and went on to make his All Blacks debut later in the year Coach Colin Cooper singled out Ta’avao as one of the hardest-working members of the Chiefs squad and with a pack containing the likes of Brodie Retallick and Nepo Laulala, the Hamilton-based franchise could inflict plenty of damage up front this season CRUSADERS A mainstay in the Crusaders midfield, Jack Goodhue followed up his breakthrough 2017 season with an excellent 2018, helping the Crusaders successfully defend their title Yet he will remember 2018 as the year he managed to break into the All Blacks squad and make his international debut, in the June Test series against France The centre made six Test starts, slowly proving his worth alongside franchise team-mate Ryan Crotty A deadly finisher with an eye for a gap, Goodhue will be hoping another excellent Super Rugby campaign is enough to seal a spot in the All Blacks’ World Cup squad HIGHLANDERS centre of gravity that has helped him evade tackles throughout his career A cornerstone of the Highlanders pack when fit, Liam Squire has had a tough time with injuries He has started only 40 of a possible 95 games for franchise and country over the past three years, due to knee, hand and shoulder issues Dynamic with ball in hand and always keen to use his big frame to good effect, the blindside flanker is still a favourite of All Blacks coach Steve Hansen If he has a good run of games, 2019 could be a big year for the 27-year-old HURRICANES Ngani Laumape scored nine Super Rugby tries in 2018, including four in an outstanding display against the Blues, and was named the Hurricanes Player of the Year for the second season in a row The centre’s form over the past two years has seen him earn ten Test caps, his debut coming in the series decider against the British & Irish Lions in 2017 While not the biggest midfielder in Super Rugby, Laumape is still a devastating ball-carrier with a low Dangerous Lion Aphiwe Dyantyi makes ground against the Jaguares On a Crusade Jack Goodhue 76 JAGUARES As Nicolás Sánchez’s replacement, fly-half Domingo Miotti has big boots to fill, but the 22-year-old is talented and level-headed enough to take the pressures that come with senior rugby in his stride Miotti first rose to prominence at the 2016 Junior World Cup when inspiring Argentina to two wins against South Africa He is an accurate goalkicker, but it’s his ability to orchestrate an attack from anywhere on the field that could make him an instant hit in Super Rugby LIONS On the back of several potent performances for the Lions last year, Aphiwe Dyantyi was brought into the Springbok mix as Rassie Erasmus looked to harness the 24-year-old’s speed and finishing ability The wing started in 13 of the Boks’ 14 Tests in 2018, and his impact was recognised when he was named World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year Super Rugby in his primary set-piece role where he’ll be looking to establish real consistency STORMERS Put through his paces Ngani Laumape in pre-season Now the challenge is to replicate the form he showed in his breakout season His attacking play has undoubtedly boosted the Lions and the Boks over the past 12 months, but he has room to improve in defence and under the high ball What’s been encouraging to note is the youngster’s attitude and work ethic REBELS Former Reds fly-half Quade Cooper will have a point to prove as he tries to resurrect his rugby career in Melbourne, but it’s Adam Coleman who could play the biggest role in this team’s season He joined the Rebels in 2018 and has made 12 appearances for them, mainly off the bench, but the experienced Geoff Parling’s move to the coaching team means the Wallaby is now the most senior lock in the Rebels’ ranks and will have a greater responsibility The 27-year-old can be hot-headed at times and will need to exercise more self-discipline But he is a great lineout exponent who likes to exert pressure REDS Caleb Timu is a threat to any defence with his power-running game A Mormon who asked for an early release from his Brisbane Broncos contract as he was required to play on Sundays, Timu joined the Reds in 2016 A pre-season injury left him in limbo for most of the next two years, during which time he worked as an Uber driver to provide for his family The 24-year-old back-rower, who is studying for a Bachelor of Commerce degree, will hope to repay coach Brad Thorn’s faith in him this season Damian Willemse, 20, troubled the better defensive sides with his speed, stepping ability and distribution last year, then received a call-up to join the Springboks Rassie Erasmus compared him to Frans Steyn and captain Siya Kolisi confirmed that Willemse’s mental strength would stand him in good stead at the highest level The youngster made his first Test start at No 15 against England at Twickenham and Erasmus has made it clear that he wants Willemse to receive more game time at full-back for the Stormers before the Boks travel to the World Cup With more time and space to work his magic, Willemse should provide the Stormers with plenty of impetus from the back S U N W O LV E S After a solid debut season for the Sunwolves last year, Michael Leitch has a big role to play for franchise and country in 2019 The loose forward has never been short of work-rate, with his ability to force turnovers and physicality in the tackle often proving his strongest assets The 30-year-old Japan captain will also have to stand up as a leader in what could be a defining season for his teams The spotlight will be firmly fixed on the Sunwolves and their future in the competition, as well as on Japan as World Cup hosts, so Leitch will have to draw on his experience to guide his franchise and country to new heights SHARKS WA R ATA H S Akker van der Merwe will head into the 2019 season with a point to prove The explosive hooker featured in three Tests for the Boks last June, then fell by the wayside However, the 27-year-old sent out a stark reminder of his class with a couple of standout performances during the 2018 Currie Cup play-offs He will be more determined than ever to make the Sharks’ No jersey his own and force his way back into the South Africa reckoning before the World Cup While Van der Merwe is renowned for his mobility and robust ball-carrying, it’s 77 In 2018, Jake Gordon eclipsed Nick Phipps as the Waratahs’ first-choice scrum-half and while he didn’t set Super Rugby alight, he didn’t disappoint either He played in 17 of the Waratahs’ 18 matches, amassing a total of 757 minutes With a crisp passing and strong running and kicking game, 25-year-old Gordon brings unpredictability to the No position He does have defensive frailties but the Waratahs conceded 67 tries in 2018, so the same can be said of several of his team-mates n CROSSWORD ACROSS Grazing mammal found at - - - Island, a club from Utah (8) Worcester fly-half whose 98th-minute conversion defeated Bath 21-19 (4) Teimana - - - , Saints back-row who captained Rotorua Boys HS (8) Injury-enforced absence (3-3) 10 French Polynesian country that was disqualified from the World Cup for fielding ineligible players (6) 11 England players receive a match - - - of £25,000 (3) 12 Tom - - - , ex-Ireland prop who replaced the injured Alex Corbisiero on the 2013 Lions tour (5) 14 Teenage Saracens lock Joel - - - , a Rising Star in our Jan 2019 issue (5) 16 - - - Kit Aid, charity that recycles sports kit (1,1,1) 18 Only Tom Curry and Maro Itoje had won more turnovers than this Chief halfway through this Premiership season (6) 20 Ex-England centre whose Premiership career spanned 16 years 50 days – the fourth-longest in history (3,3) 22 Massimo and Marcello - - - , twin brothers who won heaps of caps for Italy in the 1990s (8) 23 Princess - - - opened Minchinhampton RFC’s new clubhouse in 2017 (4) 24 Tom - - - , the Welsh half of the ‘FlatsandShanks’ comic partnership (8) DOWN Adedayo - - - , Nigerian-born Bath and England wing of the Nineties (7) Jean-Francois, France’s 1993 Five Nations captain, found in Doctor Dolittle’s surgery Max - - - , Bath prop (6) Buccaneering player from Cornwall? (6) Tom - - - , former England flanker now working as a land manager for Davidsons Homes (5) David - - - , 1984 Wales scrum-half who was best man at Craig Bellamy’s wedding (6) 13 Forms the scrum again (6) 15 And 21 Down Lanky male ran off – a Wasps forward (7,5) 16 Former Scotland captain Chris Cusiter has a - - - whisky business in LA (6) 17 A groin - - - restricted Manu Tuilagi’s England involvement last autumn (6) 19 Jonny May came seventh in the pole - - - U15 National Championships (5) 21 See 15 Down THE WINNER OF THE JANUARY CROSSWORD IS ROGER RAY FROM SHELLEY, HUDDERSFIELD, WEST YORKS ACROSS Hammersley Seiko Neutral 10 Puafisi 11 Arena 12 Rosser 14 Belong 17 Ubogu 19 Amputee 21 Brendan 22 Adams 23 Aaron Smith DOWN Animals Maori Rennie Laumape Yarde Allan Glen’s Super Rugby 13 Ecuador 15 Outlast 16 Cannon 18 Opera 20 Psalm The crossword winner will receive a case of the legendary Hobgoblin ruby beer from the Wychwood brewery (www.wychwood.co.uk) Like them on Facebook – Hobgoblin beer The closing date for entries is Monday March Results will appear in our May 2019 issue Send your entry and address to: Alan Pearey, Rugby World Crossword, Wellside Cottage, Cranes Lane, Kelvedon, Essex, CO5 9AX Full rules are on page 97 Entrants must be over 18 Compiled by Alan Pearey DON’T MISS NEXT MONTH MURRAY EXCLUSIVE Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray sits down for a one-on-one interview with Rugby World in the April issue PLUS, ALL THIS… Tales of the Calcutta Cup Should the World Cup expand to 24 teams? PIC Inpho Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final previews The rise of women’s rugby in the Czech Republic ON SALE TUE MARCH FOCUS ON… CLUB RUGBY Power saw No Sophy Roseaman carries v Sutton Coldfield WITH THREE decades’ service to Portsmouth RFC behind him, Mark Witcher has been involved with a host of teams But the spirit and unity of the club’s women’s side, the Valkyries, has proved an eye-opener for him “I’ve never experienced it before It’s their sense of ‘team’ and I don’t just mean the 15 or 22 we put out each week; we’ve a squad of 40-plus women and they’re a family,” says Witcher, who became head coach last June “They’re a fantastic bunch who look out for each other and buy into everything the coaches put in front of them.” The team features full-time mums, teachers, firefighters and personnel from all three military services “It’s the emergency-service girls that I’m most impressed with as they’re putting in 14-hour shifts but still finding time to come training,” adds Witcher Leading lights include skipper and hooker Alice Kightley, who’s a Royal Navy nurse, scrum-half and paramedic Charlie Morgan, and No Sophy Roseaman, an outstanding ball-carrier New signing Nikki Buckingham, who juggles back-three duties with life as a mum of four boys on the Isle of Wight, has slotted in seamlessly since joining from higher-tier Trojans, while loosehead Pauline ‘Fred’ French has been there since the team sprung up in 1998 “She is a massive help because she knows the history and is helping the younger players come through.” Class No Such linchpins Charlie Morgan spearhead a side that by mid-January stood proud and unbeaten atop National Championship South-East (West) One, compensation for losing last season’s title by just a point to London Welsh Last year did produce a day to treasure, however, 79 CONTRIBUTORS Paul Bolton & Brian Owen PICS Ben Calvert-Lee Team of the Month Portsmouth Valkyries as Valkyries defeated Sutton Coldfield in the National Junior Cup at Henley – the first time any Portsmouth RFC side has won a national competition The club was founded in 1886 “It was a fantastic day out,” Witcher, 44, says “It’s great to see where we are now but if we were losing most weeks instead of winning, this team would still enjoy it because that’s who they are.” Portsmouth Valkyries Ladies are our December Team of the Month, an award open to any amateur side in the world If your team deserves to be our next winner, email alan.pearey@ti-media.com to tell us why Please include your results in January and high-res photos n GET IN TOUC H Email stories and pics to Clubs Editor Michael Austin at aus231@aol.com or call 01400 282189 Team of the Month entries to alan.pearey@ti-media.com FOCUS ON… WOMEN’S RUGBY Botterman job swap is coming up Roses From painter and decorator to professional player – RW’s Sarah Mockford meets the England prop S HANNAH BOTTERMAN leads the way into the Saracens changing room at Allianz Park, finding a quieter spot to this interview, we pass the word ‘energy’ emblazoned on the wall It is there to motivate the home team before going out onto the pitch but it is also a fitting word to describe Botterman The Saracens and England prop calls herself “sociable” and she’s a popular team member She’s also an all-action front-rower, her recent switch from tighthead to loosehead allowing her to get her hands on the ball more often “Loosehead is taxing but it’s not as taxing as tighthead, where there is a lot more weight going through you (at scrums),” explains the teenager “For me, playing loosehead means I can get around the park a bit more, carry more and get into the game more.” The move across the front row came about because of injuries at Saracens at the end of last season and she played at loosehead in their Tyrrells Premier 15s final triumph She’s adapted well to No 1, just as she did when moving from centre to prop a couple of years ago “They’re technical positions and I’m enjoying learning about it I watch videos to see different scrums and how people deal with different situations As I’ve been a tighthead, I know how looseheads have manipulated me and can understand both parts of the scrum, so it’s about implementing that.” Two players’ games she admires are Ellis Genge, for his aggressive carries, and Mako Vunipola, for his ball skills, while she describes Vickii Cornborough – her main rival for the England No shirt – as “very technical, an amazing scrummager and unbelievably fit” It’s Cornborough who she names as her toughest opponent in her early days at tighthead Yet for all the talk of other A QUICK-FIRE PROFILE Full name Hannah Ruby Botterman Age 19 (6 Aug 1999) Instagram handle @hannahbotts_ Personality Bubbly, excitable Film Baby Driver TV show I like NCIS and crime shows Rugby funny There’s lots of burping before we scrum down! I’d like to meet… Usain Bolt looks good fun – and he found the winning formula Other sport you’d like to as a pro American Football Rugby highlights My first cap Winning the Premier 15s players, she wants to develop her own style going forward rather than simply try to replicate others – and at just 19 she has plenty of time to that She has already made huge strides since she was first called into the national set-up for the 2017 autumn Internationals against Canada – and it is that experience that made her take the sport more seriously “As much as playing for England and winning my first cap was incredible, I did feel like I was going to die throughout 80 Team-mate you’d like to be “Poppy Cleall – for a day I’d loads of things that would embarrass her so that when we swapped back she was embarrassed!” the whole of it! It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience but I wasn’t in the right shape for what I wanted to achieve “I feel more comfortable with where I’m at now compared to last season I’m more physically mature, I’ve lost a lot of weight and aerobically I’ve got a lot fitter I played 35 minutes in my first Test, then last autumn I played 40 minutes and two 60 minutes, so within a year I’ve made quite big physical strides “I had a chat to myself after I’d got called into camp, ‘You’ve got to stick your head down and start training properly, not just treat it as fun’ I’ve taken it more seriously and I’ve bettered myself, but I feel there is still so much more to come.” Best holiday “Skiing – we went six or seven times from when I was about six I’m not allowed to it now I’m contracted!” NEWS ROUND-UP New coach Canadian Lesley McKenzie is Japan’s new 15-a-side coach, having been an assistant with the country’s sevens team Embarrassing moment “After the Richmond game I slipped over in the showers I was buck naked, lying on my back like a beetle Everyone wet themselves” “We can’t allow the pressure to get to us We’re so early in the process of working together and we’ve got lots of new faces, and our aim is to be in the best position possible when it comes to the World Cup (2021) Obviously we want to win now and there will be a lot of pressure on us, but people will also hopefully understand that we’ve only been contracted for two months “The contracts are amazing It allows girls to aspire to be a professional sportswoman and it will make the pool of players so much stronger, keeping everyone on their toes and at their best.” Now it’s time for Botterman to bring lots of energy during the Six Nations n 81 New Zealand’s gold medal-winning team at last year’s Youth Olympics Italian job Belluno is hosting the European Veterans’ Rugby Festival from 5-8 September and they are looking for women’s teams to take part Email Greta De Gennaro (greta@dege.it) for more details Fab five Spain scored five tries when beating Scotland 29-24 in Madrid in a Six Nations warm-up for the Scots María Losada, María Garcia, Laura Delgado and Patricia García (two) crossed for Spain PICS Getty Images A professional England contract will help too Up until December, Botterman was working as a painter and decorator, a job that actually caused a shoulder injury due to a lot of overhead painting – far from ideal for a prop Now she is able to work on her rugby full-time, whether in England camps with the whole squad or at Saracens in a smaller group, and crucially has a chance to rest rather than being fatigued from matches, training and work She recognises there will be more expected of England now they are full-time athletes, but she is pleased there is a route to professional rugby for young female players going forward Teen dreams This year’s Black Ferns Sevens squad features three teenagers who recently finished school – Jazmin Hotham, Mahina Paul and Montessa Tairakena Paul (below) and Tairakena were part of FOCUS ON… SEVENS “We it because of passion and the love of every Samoan kid” Series sensation Alamanda Motuga is making a big impression MPACT IT’S a word used a lot on the World Sevens Series There’s even a system in place to tally tackles, breaks, offloads and carries to decide who is offering the biggest bang Fitting, then, that a Samoan regularly smashes onto the ‘impact’ lists “I see myself as a very competitive player,” says Alamanda Motuga “I love being physical, whether in rucks or I carrying ball, making tackles It’s about workload And I like to express myself.” Asked if that’s the Samoan way, he instantly replies: “Yes What we really like is contact and being very physical over the ball or making huge tackles.” Like so many Samoans, Motuga is softly spoken and retiring Lace up his boots though and he’s a bull in a bomb factory He was born in Samoa but his family moved to New Zealand when he was Relentless progress Motuga is a kingpin of the Samoa side 82 ten, in search of a better life Initially, he struggled with the language and felt like an outsider – until he found rugby It was when he climbed into the age-grade sides of Counties Manukau that he saw a potential career In 2016, he was part of an Auckland team that travelled to Samoa for the Marist Sevens and became the first overseas side to win the tournament Having been spotted there, Motuga was immediately drafted into the Samoan sevens set-up “It was the hardest memories I’ve ever had, playing for the first time,” Motuga says of his introduction to the series So what’s it like for athletes in Samoa? “It’s tough to explain Samoans on the island don’t get paid much money We it because of passion and the love and support of every Samoan kid who wants to pull on the jersey You never mind the money until you get picked up somewhere along the way.” However, Motuga reveals, there are those who are fighting for better circumstances for the Manu Samoa ... go up and security checks still go on Spying may be old school but better to check, eh? n HAV E YOUR SAY Email rugbyworldletters@ti-media.com Twitter @rugbyworldmag Facebook Rugby World Magazine... camouflage handy security detail with them For the 2019 World Cup, all approved training venues are vetted and approved by the Organising Committee before they are offered to the teams as training bases... to the World Rugby Museum at Twickenham to see their new exhibition ‘The March of the Groggs’, which charts the history of the sculpted caricatures of famous rugby players Check out worldrugby