The Crusaders have bolstered their backline stocks with the news that exciting Moana Pasifika centre Levi Aumua has agreed to join them on a two-year contract from 2024.

He has been part of the Moana Pasifika squad since their inaugural Super Rugby Pacific campaign in 2022, and also had stints with the Chiefs in 2018 and the Blues in 2019.

Experienced campaigner

Aumua also represents Tasman Mako in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship (NPC) and has made nearly 50 appearances for the Nelson-based outfit over two stints, the first from 2017 to 2019 and the second from 2021 onwards.

The 28-year-old was also selected for the All Blacks XV’s end-of-year tour in 2022 to play matches against Ireland ‘A’ and the Barbarians in Dublin and London respectively.

Crusaders general manager professional rugby Angus Gardiner is delighted that Aumua has committed his future to Super Rugby Pacific‘s defending champions.

“Levi is an extremely exciting player and we’re looking forward to him bringing his own point of difference to the playing group we’re building here at the Crusaders,” he told the Crusaders’ official website.

“He’s had an outstanding season with Moana Pasifika, his stats are undeniable and his outputs across the park are very high.”

As an athlete who is comfortable in various backline positions – from the midfield to outside back positions – Gardiner said Aumua had showed what he could do.

“We’re excited about helping him achieve his goals,” added Gardiner. “His versatility will really open up our selection options in the ’24 season.”

On leaving Moana Pasifika, Aumua revealed that he had “never been in a team like this – the memories created will last a lifetime.” “I would like to say how very thankful I am to Moana Pasifika for providing me the platform over the last few years to get on the field to play and express myself with a great group of players.

“In my career I have been lucky enough to play all over the world, but in recent times my desire to try play for the All Blacks has intensified.

Chasing his All Blacks dream

“At the end of last year, I got a small taste with the All Blacks XV which only strengthened my hunger to play for the All Blacks.

“With this in mind, I have decided to commit myself to the Crusaders for the next two years, a group I know well from my time with Tasman Makos.

“For now, my focus is on finishing the season strong with Moana.”

Click Here: FC Bayern München soccer tracksuit

Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan has been named the 2022/23 United Rugby Championship Players’ Player of the Season.

The award is voted for by the league’s captains and vice captains, with the 24-year-old coming out on top in the poll.

URC Players’ Player of the Season

Sheehan scored eight tries for Leinster during the regular season, with only teammate Rob Russell (10) registering more. In total, he had nine try involvements in his nine appearances, also assisting one try. 

In the URC round two clash with Benetton at the RDS Arena, the hooker scored four tries in the 42-10 victory. He became the eighth player and the first Leinster player to score four times in one game. He completed his hat trick in that game in just 28 minutes.

Sheehan also scored a brace as Leinster suffered a heartbreaking 27-26 defeat to La Rochelle in the Champions Cup final in Dubin on Saturday.

It is the second award the hooker has picked up this season after pipping Ulster’s Tom Stewart to a place in the Elite XV. He was also nominated for the Men’s XVs Players’ Player of the Year and Men’s Young Player of the Year in the Rugby Players Ireland Awards.

The award caps off a stellar season for the 17 Test cap international, who also enjoyed a historic tour success against New Zealand last summer. He also scored twice during Ireland’s Grand Slam-winning Six Nations campaign. 

🗣️ | 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗯𝘆 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗥𝗖

Congrats to Dan Sheehan on being named the #BKTURC Players' Player of the Season!#FromTheGroundUp pic.twitter.com/MoB8lzD6zH

— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) May 24, 2023

URC Awards 2022/23 Winners

OFX Top Try Scorer: Tom Stewart (Ulster)
Tackle Machine: John Hodnett (Munster)
Turnover King: Thomas Young (Cardiff Rugby)

Elite XV: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors), Daniel du Plessis (Stormers), Simone Gesi (Zebre Parma), Ross Byrne (Leinster), Grant Williams (Sharks), Gavin Coombes (Munster), Scott Penny (Leinster), Vaea Fifita (Scarlets), Federico Ruzza (Benetton), Niall Murray (Connacht), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Steven Kitshoff (Stormers).

Next-Gen Player of the Season: Tom Stewart (Ulster)
Fans’ Player of the Season: Manie Libbok (Stormers)
Try of the season: Joaquin Riera (Benetton @ Cell C Sharks, Round 17)

Gilbert Golden Boot: Johan Goosen (Bulls)
Ironman: Quan Horn (Lions)
Coach of the Season: Franco Smith (Glasgow Warriors)
Players’ Player of the Season: Dan Sheehan (Leinster)

Click Here: AFL Football Guernsey

Click:insulation paint electrical

PSG are in advanced negotiations to land Borussia Dortmund’s Gabonese international forward Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.

Talks are ongoing between Dortmund & PSG over a possible €70m fee agreement, and although Yahoo Sport claim that a deal has been reached, it would appear that this reporting is a little premature.

Click Here: leinster rugby shirts

PSG President Nasser Al Khelaifi spoke directly on the phone to Pierre Emerick Aubameyang last week according to BeIN Sports and Les Parisiens have presented the player’s representatives with an offer worth €14m a year, a big salary offer, which is an attempt to somewhat rival the financials on offer for the player from China.

If a deal is agreed, it will have to be signed off by the club’s new Sporting Director Antero Henrique, who is already working on the possibility of bringing in Jean-Michaël Seri from OGC Nice.

Click:wps下载

Ligue 1 side Lille have accelerated discussions with Angers over the possible transfer of striker Nicolas Pépé, according to L’Équipe.

Marcelo Bielsa has informed the Lille board of his desire to sign Pépé, having attended Angers vs Montpellier at the end of the 2016/17 campaign to watch the Ivorian international.

Pépé is also being pursued in England notably by Newcastle United. Angers want a little over €10m to part with the player.

Lille appear to be closing in.

Click Here: cheap all stars rugby jersey

Wallabies second-row Matt Philip will make his long-awaited return to action for the Melbourne Rebels when they face the Highlanders in Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific clash in Dunedin.

Philip has been sidelined since last October with an ACL injury which he sustained while on duty with Australia.

Injured during Wallabies training

The 29-year-old sustained the injury during a training session shortly before the Wallabies were due to depart from Australia for their end-of-year tour to Europe.

His return to action is a major boost for the Rebels as he will provide the team with plenty of leadership, and he will also strengthen their lineout and ball-carrying capabilities.

Philip‘s return is one of four alterations to the Rebels’ run-on side after last weekend’s defeat to the Waratahs in Sydney.

Click Here: cheap parramatta eels jersey

He comes in for Trevor Hosea in the second-row, while Reece Hodge shifts from outside centre to fly-half, where he replaces the injured Carter Gordon, with Lukas Ripley now starting at 13 alongside Stacey Ili, who takes over from David Feliuai at 12.

Speaking to the media earlier this week, wing Lachie Anderson said the Rebels are excited to take on the Highlanders in this crucial trans-Tasman encounter.

“We’ve reviewed hard and taken our learnings from last week, so there’s a real good feeling in the group, and we had a great training session on Tuesday, so we’re looking ahead to the Highlanders with excitement,” said Anderson.

“We’re playing a really great attacking style of rugby this year, and we’re really enjoying that.

“We’re just looking to the Highlanders this week, and we’re going there to win, and that’s what the group is excited about and focused on.”

Momentous match for Reece Hodge

It will be a momentous match for Hodge as he will become the Rebels’ most-capped player when he runs out to make his 98th Super Rugby appearance for the Melbourne-based outfit.

The 28-year-old has become a Rebels stalwart since making his debut against the Western Force in Perth in 2016.

Hodge has scored 547 points over eight-seasons with the Rebels and has made 62 Test appearances for the Wallabies.

The Rebels have won three of the last four Super Rugby matches between these teams and will be returning to Dunedin for the first time since 2020’s exciting 28-22 triumph over the Highlanders.

Melbourne Rebels: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Lachlan Anderson, 13 Lukas Ripley, 12 Stacey Ili, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Reece Hodge, 9 Ryan Louwrens, 8 Richard Hardwick, 7 Brad Wilkin (c), 6 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 5 Matt Philip, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Sam Talakai, 2 Alex Mafi, 1 Matt Gibbon
Replacements: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Isaac Aedo Kailea, 18 Pone Fa’amausili, 19 Trevor Hosea, 20 Tamati Ioane, 21 James Tuttle, 22 Nick Jooste, 23 Joe Pincus

Date: Saturday, May 20
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick-off: 16:35 local (05:05 BST, 04:05 GMT)
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Dan Waenga (New Zealand), Mike Winter (New Zealand)
TMO: tbc

Jamison Gibson-Park admits that the agonising Champions Cup final defeat to La Rochelle last season has spurred on Leinster this campaign.

Last year, replacement scrum-half Arthur Retiere scored a last-gasp try in Marseille to secure La Rochelle’s maiden Champions Cup title, denying Leo Cullen’s side their fifth.

Last hurdle

Speaking ahead of the final, Gibson-Park concedes the disappointment of the dramatic climax at Stade Velodrome was a bitter pill to swallow but that the loss has spurred Leinster on this season.

“It’s one of those things that’s mentioned all the time with great teams over the years, the way they use defeats and having it spur you on for the next year,” the scrum-half said.

“There’s probably no doubt that it has for us in getting to this point.

“When you work with a collective group to try and get somewhere, and you fall at the last hurdle, it’s hard, especially when it’s like that, a few minutes from the end of the game.

“It’s tough moments in the dressing room and on the pitch afterwards.

“You live for those moments where you get to lift trophies, and you enjoy those moments in the dressing room with your brothers.

“But the sombre feelings after a defeat stick with you as well.”

“Big carrot” Aviva Stadium

This season’s showpiece event at the Aviva Stadium gives Leinster a shot at redemption, this time in front of their home fans.

Gibson-Park adds that the prospect of securing the title at a sold-out Aviva Stadium has been a motivating factor throughout the campaign.

“Last year was obviously tough, having to go away to France and play a French team,” said the 31-year-old.

“The La Rochelle fans were out in force that day, like they always are, so I’m sure there will be a few of them that show up to the Aviva Stadium, no doubt.

“It was a pretty big carrot for us at the start of the year, the fact it was going to be here in the Aviva.

“We’re looking forward to it; we’ve got the chance to be in front of our friends and family and hopefully a few home supporters.”

Leinster adjusting to life without Sexton

Leinster captain Johnny Sexton has been ruled out of the final after sustaining a groin injury during Ireland’s Six Nations Grand Slam. His absence means that Ross Byrne is now set to start alongside Gibson-Park in the half-back position from the start after coming off the bench in last season’s showpiece.

While admitting that Leinster will miss Sexton, the scrum-half says there is little adjustment needed for Byrne.

“Ross has played all of our games this year in the Champions Cup, so I suppose we’ve adjusted a little bit to life without him (Sexton),” said Gibson-Park.

“He’s been such a big part of Leinster over the last, however long it is, and he’s an unbelievable player, so we miss him massively.

“But I think Ross has done a pretty good job up until this point.”

READ MORE: Caelan Doris: Ireland forward claims top Irish award after ‘phenomenal’ season

Click Here: Harry Kane jersey sale

Ligue 1 side Rennes are in negotiations with Turkish giants Galatasaray to sign 26-year-old Belgian right-back Luis Pedro Cavanda, according to RMC.

SRFC have already reach an agreement with the player and they are now negotiating an option to buy in an eventual loan deal with Galatasaray.

Rennes are hopeful of wrapping this deal up for next week.

Click Here: LONGCHAMP LE PLIAGE ORIGINAL M TOTE BAG RECYCLED CANVAS BLACK WOMEN

Reims left back Atila Turan has returned home to Turkey to sign for Kayserispor following the expiration of his previous contract.

The 25-year-old let his contract at the Ligue 2 club run down after spending four years at Reims, and will join his new club on a deal until 2020 in the Turkish First Division.

Turan played 15 Ligue 2 games this season as Reims missed out on an instant return back to Ligue 1, but the Turkish U21 international will not be staying around in the fight for promotion.

T.S.

Click Here: westmeath gaa jerseys

Newly appointed Rugby Australia president Joe Roff feels like a “dam is about to burst” with Eddie Jones at the helm of the Wallabies.

The Wallabies great believes that under Jones the side can grow into a formidable side – one with a psychological edge to their game.

Jones has five Tests to align the stars in the Wallabies camp before the two-time winners descend on France for another crack at the World Cup.

Jones can provide winning edge

Roff feels there is talent in the Australian ranks, but the side lacks a winning mentality, something Jones could well develop during his time in the hot seat.

“The psychology and the one per cent wins is something that in my early days playing for the Wallabies we didn’t quite have but we learnt that and we built that as a team,” Roff told AAP.

“Eddie will bring that edge, that psychological edge to the game.

“We know that playing against the Pumas, he’s coaching against his old friend Michael Cheika and let’s hope the acoustics in the respective coaches’ boxes are strong because there will be plenty of noise and rivalry between those two old friends and foes.

Click Here: Toni Kroos Jersey Sale

“And this is what Eddie is great at. He’s never backward in putting a strong and confident step forward and players will feel that and it will rub off on them.

“There’s no question about the talent that is in this team and it’s about building the combinations and the winning momentum and so these Test matches early on are going to be an exciting opportunity to get that momentum started.”

Golden era loading?

Roff was a member of one of the greatest Australian sides that won the World Cup in 1999 and one of the few to hold the Bledisloe Cup – a trophy the Wallabies have not won since 2002.

With the World Cup later this year, the British & Irish Lions tour in 2025 and hosting the 2027 World Cup, Roff underlined the “strong national agenda” to get back to winning ways.

“I had the great honour of being in the change room when we held the Bledisloe Cup and when we held the Rugby World Cup and I feel like it’s a dam that’s about to burst,” Roff said.

“Not only with the fact that we have the Rugby World Cup and we’ve always performed well in the northern hemisphere.

“We have the Lions coming (in 2025) and we have a home World Cup in a few years (2027).

“There’s a strong recruitment drive, there’s a strong national agenda and approach to what we’re doing.

“So it’s an exciting time to be a part of it.”

The Wallabies’ first Test is against the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld on July 8 in the Rugby Championship.

Click:micro star sensor

Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith is looking for his team to refresh ahead of their Challenge Cup final after being knocked out of the United Rugby Championship.

Smith’s side crashed out of the URC at the hands of Munster, who beat the Scottish side 14-5 at the weekend after a first-half red card to fly-half Tom Jordan took its toll on the clash.

Straight forward call. Tom Jordan given his marching orders. #URC #GLAvMUN pic.twitter.com/ucAnE3DYYO

— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) May 6, 2023

Rest time

Despite the disappointment, Smith has chosen to look on the bright side, which is the additional time his team has to prepare for their Challenge Cup final against Toulon on May 19.

Smith underlined that the Warriors went all in for the Munster clash but will now use the rest period to their advantage.

“In all honesty, to ask these boys to play in two finals, from where we are in year one, would have been a huge task. Now, in retrospect, obviously not before,” he said.

“We were all in to win this, there was no talk about taking our foot off the pedal.

“But now we are going to be smart about it. We probably won’t train until way later this week.

“We are going to use the rest days in our benefit. There will be four or five days where we reset the bodies and get their minds liberated a little bit.

Looking to finish on a high

“I could sense in the dressing room there is so much determination to finish this season on a high.

“I am looking forward to making a proper plan for Toulon and then with freshly-recovered bodies to
Click Here: saracens rugby jersey
see if we can go and bring something back.”

The Challenge Cup showpiece game will be the club’s first European final and is an impressive feat in Smith’s first season at the helm.

Toulon will present a huge challenge for the Scottish side, who will want nothing more than to lift the title.