The SA Rugby magazine team rounds up some of the interesting snippets of news making headlines around the world.
Rapid Rugby owner offers Folau lifeline
Australian billionaire Andrew Forrest could offer Israel Folau an opportunity to save his career, should his contract with Rugby Australia and the Waratahs be torn up.
An independent three-person panel ruled this week that Folau had committed a high-level breach of contract after he posted controversial homophobic statements on Instagram, but have yet to hand him a sanction, leaving his career in the balance.
Should the panel decide that his contract be terminated, that could leave him with few alternatives to continue his career, as the National Rugby League have already ruled out signing him.
However, the Daily Telegraph reported that Forrest, who is a devout Christian himself, could find Folau a place in one of the participating teams in his new Rapid Rugby league, set to kick off next year.
Tonga coach Toutai Kefu has also reached out to Folau to offer him a chance to continue his Test career, though he would face a three-year period before qualifying to play for the Pacific nation.
RFU facing financial cuts
New England Rugby chief executive Bill Sweeney will have to find £2.5-million in cuts to the professional game as one of his first tasks when taking office.
The Telegraph reports that the England RFU posted a loss of £30.9-million last year, and are expecting losses of over £15-million next year.
The financial difficulties led former chief Steve Brown to make 64 staff members redundant, but further cuts to the rugby spending are expected in 2020.
Lions continue Dayimani experiment
Hacjivah Dayimani will start at centre for the Golden Lions XV in the Rugby Challenge as the Johannesburg union continues to experiment with him.
Dayimani, more adept at N0 8, will play in the midfield in this weekend’s match against the Valke.
It is believed that the Lions have discussed the move with Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, and both parties feel the youngster could be better suited to a role in the backline.
Dayimani has been used a backline replacement in his previous two Vodacom Super Rugby appearances.
Photo: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images
