Toulon boss to take IRB to court

Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal bides his time for a showdown. Photo: Skysports

Mourad Boudjellal is planning to take the IRB to court over payments to players on international duty in a groundbreaking move.

The outspoken Toulon president had already made his feelings clear earlier this season when he complained about having to pay the likes of Bryan Habana, Juán Martín Fernández-Lobbe and Bakkies Botha while they were away at the Rugby Championship.

Cockerill hails Goneva’s fine start

Goneva goes in for one of his tries against the Falcons. Photo: Skysports

Leicester boss Richard Cockerill admits he was not surprised by Vereniki Goneva’s fast start to the new Premiership season as the Fijian helped himself to a hat-trick in Leicester Tigers’ victory over Newcastle.

Despite four Freddie Burns penalties handing Leicester a 12-3 half-time lead, Newcastle burst out of the blocks after the interval and Juan Pablo Socino – who had added a first-half penalty – converted Richard Mayhew’s try to bring the Falcons to within two points of their hosts.

Pro12: Transfer Wrap

Seniloli is one of the new arrivals for Italian club Benetton Treviso. Photo: Bebo

With the new Pro12 season drawing ever closer, Planet Rugby has compiled all of the incomings and outgoings across the league’s 12 clubs.

BENNETON TREVISO

Arrivals:

Davide Giazzon, Ruggero Trevisan (both Zebre), Bruno Mercanti, Romulo Acosta, Josè Francisco Novak (all Petrarca Padova), Albert Anae (Reds), Rupert Harden (Gloucester), Salesi Manu, Jayden Hayward (both Western Force), Matteo Zanusso (Amatori San Donà), Meyer Swanepoel, Marco Barbini, Alberto Lucchese, Enrico Bacchin, Amar Kudin (all Mogliano), Tomas Vallejos Cinalli (West Red Sparks), Leo Auva’a (Leinster), Matt Luamanu (Kyuden Voltex), Henry Seniloli (Tailevu Knights), Joe Carlisle (Wasps), Simone Ragusi (Rovigo Delta), Sam Christie (Waikato)

Departures:

Waterboy Weepu a key leader

Weepu, headwaterboy for London Welsh. Photo: Skysports

London Welsh’s star signing Piri Weepu got off to an understated start with his new club, on waterboy duties against Pontypridd.

Welsh were comfortable 40-12 winners in Weepu’s first involvement with the club since landing in London on Thursday.

The World Cup-winning scrum-half is viewed as an essential player for Welsh in their bid to avoid relegation.

Wasps swoop for Tagicakibau

Tagicakibau scores against Wasps in an earlier game. Photo: Skysports

Wasps have announced the signing of Samoan international winger Sailosi Tagicakibau from London Irish.

The ‘Samoan flyer’ lit up the Aviva Premiership on numerous occasions during his nine seasons playing for the Exiles, with his blistering pace and power producing an impressive try scoring record.

Tagicakibau, who has 21 caps for Samoa and has also represented the Pacific Islands, has most recently been playing for South African Super Rugby side the Stormers while on loan from Irish.

Nadolo re-signs with Crusaders

Nemani Nadolo will be attacking for the Crusaders in Super Rugby for another two years. Photo: Zimbio

Giant Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo, having brushed aside a racist taunt in a Christchurch bar earlier this week, has re-signed with the Crusaders for another two years of Super Rugby.

Crusaders chief executive Hamish Riach said on Friday that Nadolo would now return to his NEC Green Rockets team in Japan for another season before rejoining the Crusaders in 2015.

Having scored a try in the Crusaders’ one-point Super Final loss to the Waratahs last Saturday, Nadolo tweeted about a racial taunt he received while drinking with Crusaders teammates in a Christchurch bar on Sunday night.

Kuridrani hopes to pick up Super rugby deal

Harry Parker, Chris Kuridrani and Junior Laloifi show off the new Brisbane City kit for NRC. Photo: Jamie Hanson / News Corp Australia

GPS improver Chris Kuridrani heads a host of wingers eager to prove they should be in the Reds revival plans for Super Rugby.

The best from club land have the perfect showcase to push their cause in the Premier Rugby finals and the new nine-round Buildcorp National Rugby Championship.

That’s certainly the way Kuridrani, 22, Sunnybank stepper Junior Laloifi, 19, and University speedster Harry Parker, 21, have sized it up as wingers selected for Brisbane City.

Pivac backed for Scarlets job

Wayne Pivac coached the Flying Fijians from 2004 to 2007. Photo: Skysports

Former Flying Fijians coach Wayne Pivac has received a glowing recommendation to take the Scarlets top job in the RaboDirect Pro12 competition by former Wales back Shane Howarth.

Assistant Scarlets coach Pivac is rumoured to be the front-runner to replace the outgoing Simon Easterby, who has left the side to become Ireland’s new forwards coach.

Pivac selected by the Fiji Rugby Union to coach the Flying Fijians from 2004 preparing for the 2007 Rugby World Cup but left the squad in 2007 a few months away from the French championship.

Another signing for London Welsh

Eddie Aholelei has been signed on by London Welsh. Photo: SMH

Tonga international prop forward Eddie Aholelei has become London Welsh’s latest signing, joining the Exiles from Super Rugby side Melbourne Rebels.

Aholelei, 32, scored a try on his international debut against Japan in 2013 and has gone on to win six caps for Tonga, including two appearances in last month’s Pacific Nations Cup and starting against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in November.

The physical and tenacious prop, who can play loosehead or tighthead, will link up at London Welsh with Tonga team-mate and fellow prop Taione Vea.

“Firstly I would like to thank London Welsh for giving me this opportunity. I am honoured and humbled to be heading to England to represent the Club in what is undoubtedly one of the toughest domestic competitions in world rugby, the Aviva Premiership,” Aholelei said.

Sivivatu backs Castres for success

Sivivatu join Castres in the Top 14 competition. Photo: Skysports

Castres’s new signing Sitiveni Sivivatu believes his new club are destined for more silverware after joining from Clermont.

The former All Blacks winger, who won 45 caps between 2005-2011, spent three years with Clermont in the Top 14 scoring 22 tries.

Now with 2014 champions Castres, Sivivatu is settling into his new surroundings and admits he still has plenty to learn at the age of 32.