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Waratahs outside back Alex Newsome is joining French club Clermont alongside Brumbies centre Irae Simone, according to an announcement by the French rugby club.
Newsome made his Super Rugby debut with Western Force in 2017 before moving to the Tahs and was a regular member of the squad under Darren Coleman this season.
The club announced his signing with social media post, without further details.
In April, French outlets reported Simone, a 26-year-old, who was capped twice by the Wallabies, was set to join.
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.
Clermont Auvergne announced seven new signings as they look to revitalise their squad ahead of next season’s Heineken Champions Cup.
The Top 14 side are three-time finalists in the competition but were knocked out by Leicester Tigers in the Round of 16 this season. They have the “objective of having a star on the jersey by 2025″, according to their president, Jean-Michel Guillon.
Fly-half Anthony Belleau and centre Julien Hériteau, both French internationals, arrive from RC Toulon, after featuring in the three-time European champions’ run to the EPCR Challenge Cup final this season.
Argentina international Bautista Delguy, who can play across the back three, joins from USAP, while fly-half Jules Plisson comes from Stade Rochelais with 18 France caps and 51 European games to his name, as well as a Challenge Cup triumph with Stade Français Paris in 2017.
Versatile forward Loïc Godener has signed from Stade Français.
Guillon added: “Recruitment is not over if we have other opportunities.”
Meanwhile 9 reporter Michael Atkinson reported late Thursday that Melbourne Rebels captain Michael Wells is leaving the club and is bound for Western Force to be reunited with former coach Simon Cron.
Wells confirmed the move in a statement released by the Force on Friday.
“I’m particularity looking forward to linking back up with Simon Cron who I have spent a bit of time with at Norths and the Waratahs,” Wells said.
“I’ve kept in contact with Cron, so when he told me he was talking to the Force, my ears pricked up a bit.
“He is the best coach I have had. He is someone who has helped me develop a lot in rugby and constantly gets the best out of me. As a player, to be able to be coached by him again is a big attraction.
“In terms of rugby, what we have seen since the Force re-joined Super Rugby was the passion that is in Perth, for the Force and rugby in general.”
Scrum-half Harry Randall has urged England to deliver another series whitewash of Australia during next month’s tour.
Eddie Jones has overseen eight successive victories over the Wallabies since becoming head coach at the end of 2015, a remarkable sequence that includes a clean sweep of victories across three Tests the following summer.
Randall is battling with Ben Youngs for the role of starting No.9 when the series begins in Perth on July 2 and the Bristol halfback views the tour as a chance for England to extend their recent mastery of an old rivalry.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to go out there and hopefully beat them 3-0 again like the boys did in 2016. It’s a massive challenge,” Randall said.
“We’ve had few chats around 2016, what it’s like to go to Australia and about some of the boys’ experiences out there. The 2016 tour was very successful.
“Some of those boys relayed back what it took to be successful out there and what it’ll take again. It’s good to have some of that experience in and around the squad.
“Australia are a newish squad on the rise. What better way to challenge ourselves than against an up-and-coming Australia team? We’ll really look forward to that and embrace it.”
England will warm up for the tour by facing the Barbarians in a non-cap international at Twickenham on Sunday week, their first outing since a disappointing Six Nations when they collapsed to three defeats.
Australian Jones retains the backing of the Rugby Football Union as the countdown to the 2023 World Cup continues but while recent results represent a step backwards, Randall insists team spirit has grown stronger.
“We felt as a squad during the Six Nations that we built something that’s a foundation for us going forward. We believe it will stand us in good stead,” Randall said.
He’s been involved in a three-day training camp in south-west London and on Wednesday morning the squad performed their latest ‘Misogi’ – an ancient Japanese purification ritual first introduced by Jones last autumn to strengthen the team’s bonds.
“We were in and out of the Thames just out the back of the hotel, which was enjoyable to an extent. We had kayaks and canoes and a few challenges around that,” Randall said.
“There were four teams, we kayaked up the river and then went in and out of the water. It was going very well until the last 100 metres when our canoe and kayaks just filled with water and sank, just like that.
“We had to get to the side to get out and empty out all the water and then rebuild and unfortunately we came last. It’s a way to bring each other together, work as a team and problem-solve.
“It’s also a mental challenge, how can you best stay mentally in the zone for as long as possible, under a lot of stress and fatigue. It challenges us in different ways.
Queensland Reds backrower Harry Wilson has claimed his maiden Stan Pilecki Medal to cap a superb 2022 Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
The number-eight polled 281 votes to edge out co-captain Tate McDermott (241 votes) and backrow partner Fraser McReight (171 votes) and collect the medal, named after Queensland Rugby stalwart Stan Pilecki.
The Brothers product scored five tries in 14 appearances in 2022, while he topped the competition for carries (202) and finished in the top-ten for metres carried (1,036), offloads (17) and tackles (158).
Wilson joins elite company as a Pilecki medallist, including the likes of teammate Taniela Tupou, John Eales, Chris Latham and Toutai Kefu.
Wilson was awarded the medal at the Queensland Reds’ end of season awards dinner at South Bank’s Emporium Hotel, with a number of other players also recognised for their achievements throughout the season.
Lawson Creighton was named the Reds Rookie of the Year, with the flyhalf scoring 38 points across 14 games in his debut season. After debuting in Round 1, Creighton steered the side in the number-10 jersey on five occasions, all of which were against Kiwi opposition.
Lock Ryan Smith was recognised as the player who best embodies the Spirt of the Reds, continuing a stellar start to his career after claiming Rookie of the Year honours in 2021.
The team also acknowledged a number of other achievements from the 2021 season including five Queensland debutants – Creighton, Spencer Jeans, Matt Faessler, Connor Vest, and Lopeti Faifua – and two players who celebrated their 50th Queensland cap, Filipo Daugunu and James O’Connor.
The club farewelled three players – Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Alex Mafi and Angus Scott-Young – who will be departing Queensland to pursue new opportunities either overseas or elsewhere in Australia next season.
The Queensland Rugby Union thanks Lukhan, Alex and Angus for their service to Queensland Rugby and wishes them all the best for the next chapter in their Rugby careers.
2022 Queensland Reds award winners
Pilecki Medal – Harry Wilson
Rookie of the Year – Lawson Creighton
Spirit of the Reds – Ryan Smith
Pilecki Medal Count
1st – Harry Wilson (281 votes)
2nd – Tate McDermott (241 votes)
3rd – Fraser McReight (171 votes)
4th – Hamish Stewart (132 votes)
5th – Seru Uru (130 votes)
6th – Ryan Smith (126 votes)
7th – Jock Campbell (123 votes)
8th – Josh Flook (114 votes)
9th – Hunter Paisami (98 votes)
10th – James O’Connor (95 votes)
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.