AFP/London
Chris Robshaw insists he will give his complete backing to his successor if new England coach Eddie Jones decides to relieve him of the captaincy. Harlequins flanker Robshaw is expected to be stripped of the captain’s armband for the forthcoming Six Nations tournament and Dylan Hartley is favourite to take over the role.
Robshaw, 29, was widely criticised for a lacklustre World Cup campaign as hosts England suffered an embarrassing pool stage exit. That dismal campaign brought an end to Stuart Lancaster’s reign as England coach and prompted Jones’ arrival.
Robshaw is not Jones’ preferred openside, instead the number six jersey is his most likely home and he knows he must focus on ensuring his ongoing presence in England’s back row. “I’m not sure what will happen with the captaincy, that’s down to Eddie. If Eddie continues with me as captain I’d be hugely honoured,” Robshaw said yesterday.
“If he decides to go to someone else then I’d respect that decision and fully back the person who comes in. As a player you want to be part of that team and my mentality is to first and foremost make sure I’m part of that team.
“That has to be the focus, to make sure I’m playing. Yes the World Cup didn’t go according to plan, but it’s still a very exciting group of players that England have. We didn’t perform as well as could have, but there’s a huge amount of potential there.”
Ieremia appointed new head coach of Samoa
Samoa have hired former New Zealand international Alama Ieremia to replace coach Stephen Betham, who resigned following the World Cup. The Samoan Rugby Union (SRU) announced the appointment of the 45-year-old in a statement.
“Ieremia will lead the coaching of all Samoa’s national teams as well as coaching the Manu Samoa (national team),” said the SRU statement.
“The recruitment process followed a disappointing Rugby World Cup 2015, where Samoa walked away with their lowest ranking in World Rugby, and the subsequent resignation of former coach Stephen Betham.”
Ieremia was born in Samoa but moved to New Zealand at the age of 18 to study at university and play rugby. A centre, he played international rugby for both Western Samoa and New Zealand, in the 15-a-side code as well as sevens.
He was an assistant coach under Betham having previously had a similar role at the Hurricanes.
Samoa were one of the top eight seeds when the draw was made for the World Cup but they managed only one win in Pool B, defeating minnows the United States 25-16 in their opening match.
However, they then went on to lose 46-6 to South Africa and 26-5 against Japan before restoring some credit in going down only narrowly 36-33 against Scotland in their final group match.
Leinster’s Healy has
ban overturned
Leinster and Ireland prop Cian Healy had his two-week suspension overturned yesterday after he appealed against a foul play citing. Healy is free to play with immediate effect, but an original charge against the star will be reheard at a later date.
Healy, who has 56 caps for Ireland, was cited over a clash with Toulon hooker Guilhem Guirado during a European Champions Cup match on December 13. A charge of striking with the knee was ruled not proven, and was amended by Welsh judicial officer Roger Morris to “dangerous charging or obstructing or grabbing of an opponent without the ball, including shouldering”.
Healy and Leinster then appealed against the amended sanction, claiming Morris failed to follow due process in imposing the revised charge. Healy was cleared to play in last Saturday’s return fixture with Toulon as he waited for his appeal to be heard yesterday by an independent appeal committee.
In a statement, tournament organisers European Professional Club Rugby said: “An independent appeal committee has today allowed an appeal by the Leinster Rugby player Cian Healy against the two-week suspension imposed on him as a result of a citing complaint following his club’s European Rugby Champions Cup round three match against RC Toulon.
“However, the appeal committee also decided that the original citing complaint against the player should be reheard at a later date by a different independent judicial officer from the disciplinary hearing.”
Chris Robshaw
