Brumbies’ ex-Wallabies centre Irae Simone is set to join Clermont in the French Top 14 competition.
French outlets reported the Kiwi born 26-year-old, who was capped twice by the Wallabies, is set to join after the current Super Rugby paciofic season.
He featured in Wallabies squads last year without doing enough to force his way in Dave Rennie’s plans.
Simone, a former NZ under 18s rep, played for the Waratahs before joining the Brumbies and had a short stint with NRL club South Sydney.
Taulima cops three weeks
Tuaina Taulima has been suspended for three weeks after his guilty plea and previous clean record helped reduce his penalty after his red card cleanout on James Slipper last weekend.
Taulima was guilty of contravening Law 9.20: Dangerous play in a ruck or maul, and has been suspended until April 29.
He was sent off seven minites before halftime in the Reds’ 21-7 win over the Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium.
Tuaina Taii Tualima of the Reds leaves the field after being shown a red card. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
In his finding, SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee Chairman Michael Heron QC ruled:
“Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Mark Martin QC, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the Red Card under Law 9.20.
“With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of 6 weeks due to the World Rugby instructions that dictate any incident of foul play involving contact with the head must start at a mid-range level. Taking into account mitigating factors including the Player’s clean judicial record, his acceptance of foul play and his expressed remorse, the Judicial Committee reduced the suspension to 3 weeks.”
Meanwhile Crusaders’ Shilo Klein also received a three week ban after pleading guilty to an incident contravening Law 9.13 – “A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously”.
The replacement hooker was sent off late in the win over Highlanders game for a dangerous tackle on Ethan de Groot.
And Blues winger Caleb Clarke has challenged his red card and will face the judiciary on Wednesday night.
He was sent off for an aerial challenge on Moana Pasifika opposite Tomasi Alosio at Eden Park on Saturday.
Force second rower to depart
Fergus Lee-Warner will depart the Western Force at the end of the current Super Rugby Pacific campaign to join Worcester Warriors, tjhe club said in a statement
Lee-Warner will be making the move overseas to the English Premiership side after five memorable seasons with the Force.
Having joined in 2018 during a transitional phase for the club and playing in the National Rugby Championship (NRC), World Series, Global Rapid Rugby competitions before being reintroduced to Super Rugby, Lee-Warner has been a significant part of the club during his time in Western Australia.
The powerful second-rower, who has played as a flanker and lock, was part of the title-winning 2019 NRC Force side and won the coveted Nathan Sharpe Medal (club Best and Fairest) in 2020 following an outstanding first season in Super Rugby.
Lee-Warner praised the Force faithfully for their unwavering support.
“I’ve loved my time here in Perth and it’s been amazing to play in front of the Sea of Blue for the last five years,” Lee-Warner said.
“Perth has become a home away from home and I’m sad to be leaving after making some incredible memories including that first World Series game against Fiji.
“I’d like to thank Hodgo (Matt Hodgson) for giving me the opportunity to play professional rugby. I was playing club rugby in Sydney before I signed with the Force in 2018, so I can’t thank him enough.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s support of the Force and all that they’ve done for the club. A huge thank you to Sambo (Tim Sampson) who has played a crucial role in my development, as well as Van (Humphries), Nick Hensley, Anthony Cutrupi, Paul Tito and Mark Ozich.”
Chief executive officer Tony Lewis thanked the 28-year-old for his contributions.
“Fergus has been a fantastic player, character and person at the Force. It’s been a pleasure to have him at the club,” Lewis said.
“Having developed his game at the Force, his performances, according to a number of pundits, have been deserving of a national call-up. We as a club are devastated and very disappointed to see Australian talent leaving the country.
“On behalf of the entire organisation, I’d like to thank Fergus for his five seasons at the club and wish him all the very best on his new adventure in England.”
MO
Guest
Hooper going on sabbatical is a loss to the comp but those "lower tier" but quality guys like LeeWarner, ScottYoung, Gus Cottrell, Gill and others like Coleman and Gill are really needed to give depth.
piru
Roar Rookie
Yeah you got me I'm new here... "Guest"
Geoff
Guest
Wow!!!!! Must be a special player if he can play 6/lock, Rennie could ill afford to not use him again.
Matt
Guest
You must be new around here. The QLD Reds don`t get preferential treatment at the Wallaby selection table.
ScottD
Roar Guru
He's matched all players he has come up against this season. Nobody has shaded him.
ScottD
Roar Guru
I stand corrected :)
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
What about the Force? Are they subsidised by the ARU?
Jack
Guest
Most of your comment is your opinion which your entitled too but financial black hole is just rubbish. The Brumbies are the only team not subsidised by the ARU.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Regardless of what pick he is (first pick or last pick) the fact is he falls into a narrow field. Who does he get picked over? Probably comes down to Leota, Uru and Holloway. Leota is younger and shows more promise/ability and a more rounded game. Uru the same but has been considered as close as FLW has - wider squad. Holloway - Holloway is a better lock option now in reality. FLW doesn’t offer what the straight out 6s or 8s we have do. He’s decent in the line out. But really behind options like Leota, Holloway, Swinton and now Uru. He’s physical, but not as physically dominant as Swinton, Leota or Valetini. He’s got work rate. But that alone isn’t enough in a very competitive position. As a 200cm/115kg out and out lock he’d be a lot more competitive. But he’s stuck between and competing for one or maximum 2 spots in the squad because of that.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Tah lock/6 for one season after 3 or 4 seasons of playing 6 and playing 6 for the wallabies in that time.
Geoff
Guest
YetcDave Rennie took the time to call Tah Will Harris and say " mate you were close to getting in my squad " Rennie is a tah plant.
piru
Roar Rookie
I am really surprised that when a franchise CEO rings RA and asks (begs) someone (anyone) from the national coaching staff to ring one of his top 5 players for a chat to facilitate a decision to stay in the country , that nobody gives enough of a damn to pick up the phone. Are you really surprised though? I mean it's shocking, disappointing and indicative of a very poorly run organisation, but it's not surprising.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Perhaps, and I haven't seen anyone on this site say they thought the should be a first pick WB. However he has held his own as a 6 in the competition this year. Nobody has shaded him in the games he has played. As a lock that can play 6 well, and a very active ball carrier he certainly will be a loss to the Force but will also be a loss to the competition. He also is a guy that I would have expected to be in the "plan B" squad for the WB's due to his flexibility and the way he plays the game. Having that depth behind the WB squad is more important than people think.
Geoff
Guest
Didn`t hinder Ned Hanigans Wallaby selection. Tah Lock Wallaby 6,
ScottD
Roar Guru
Hi, yes I saw your comment. I know it is easy to think of the shareholders money as Twiggy's but it isn't. So 3rd party deals (like brand advertising etc) has to be based on providing value to the 3rd party, not just be a dodgy deal to help Twiggy's hobby horse of the day. It seems straight forward but isn't quite as easy if you want to play it straight. That is not to say those deals can't be done, just that they need to be structured the right way and no reputable business want to be tarred with a "dodgy dealings" reputation. I think the reality is that it is easy to top up player payments if there is interest from RA and without those RA top ups then there is a shortfall between what a player will be paid in Australia versus Europe/Japan. If you have an expectation that you are close to a WB squad position (and the extra pay that goes with that) then you stay. If you clearly are not close, then you consider leaving. In the case of FLW, RA coaches/manager wouldn't even ring him for a chat so that sent him a clear message about their level of interest in keeping him in the country. He understandably reacted accordingly. I don't think he can be faulted for his decision much as I wish it was otherwise. I also don't think that we can expect Twiggy to keep dipping into his pocket repeatedly. His investment in rugby is huge and far outweighs that of any other individual in Australia. Past a point, the game needs to stand on its own two feet and part of that is the culture and "custom & practise". My biggest disappointment in this whole saga is that it points to a lack of a plan on mentoring promising players so that they feel loved, wanted and thereby swaying them to play in Australia when there is a 50/50 call to be made on their career. I am really surprised that when a franchise CEO rings RA and asks (begs) someone (anyone) from the national coaching staff to ring one of his top 5 players for a chat to facilitate a decision to stay in the country , that nobody gives enough of a damn to pick up the phone. I just find that staggering whether that player is in contention for the national team or not. All jokes aside, I doubt that would have happened if that request had come from Qld, NSW or ACT CEO's. But maybe I am just cynical.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
As it is, we see many players from around the world taking off, so it seems to help strengthen NH Rugby. They pay out the ridiculous, in some ways, amounts to secure their services, in which the ruling body WR, is virtually powerless to stop. It's something that is happening more frequently on our SH shores, as even the amount of Polynesian & Melanesian players has ' exploded ' in the NH.
piru
Roar Rookie
Yeah or we could just keep two sets of books a la the Storm. Twiggy is a business man but he's not looking to get himself into dodgy dealings in matters rugby, I'm sure.
piru
Roar Rookie
They shouldn't be looking to cut anyone - they should be pouring support on the teams that exist while looking for opportunities to expand once they are all going strong
Antony Henrie
Guest
Good luck to the bloke, when he watches a journeyman like tah foketi waltz straight into a Wallabies jersey with zero form this will continue to happen.
Markus
Roar Rookie
Sad news about Simone. I know there was plenty of commentary on his physicality, but he has been the form playmaking 12 in Aus rugby for years now and the lynchpin of the Brumbies backline. Having already lost Pasitoa and Kuenzle last year this is going to leave a real hole in the centres. That said, I wish him all the best and hopefully see him again in SR in a few years time.