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☆ Louis Rees-Zammit: Welsh rugby star agrees to NFL deal with Kansas City Chiefs: reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Cnn Staff | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN has reached out to the Chiefs, Rees-Zammit’s agent and the NFL for comment. The 23-year-old winger is a star for Wales and his former club Gloucester but elected to leave the security of rugby for the NFL International Player Pathway (IPP) program and eventually an NFL roster. “I fancy a new challenge and what a better challenge than to be in the NFL,” Rees-Zammit told CNN’s Coy Wire earlier this month. Despite never playing American football at any organized level, Rees-Zammit is familiar with the game, having watched the sport from a young age. “My dad as a teenager in the UK, he always played American football,” Rees-Zammit explained to Wire.

Persons: CNN — Louis Rees, Rees, ” Rees, Zammit, CNN’s Coy, “ I’ve, “ Organizations: CNN, National Football League, Welsh, Kansas City Chiefs, ESPN, Chiefs, NFL, Wales, Gloucester, Irish Lions, American Locations: American

☆ Louis Rees-Zammit: Getting a foothold in the NFL is almost impossible – even if you’re a professional athlete
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Thomas Schlachter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

‘Big NFL fan’Rees-Zammit is a Welsh international rugby union player and one of the sport’s biggest talents. Gray recalls being amazed when he first learned of the off-field work NFL players and coaches were doing. He imitates holding a chunky playbook – staggered by the sheer number of plays that NFL players need to become fluent in. According to the NFL, 37 international players have joined teams – allocated, drafted or signed as a free agent – since the IPP’s inception. “He’s a big NFL fan, he’s young … he’s right at the beginning of his journey.

Persons: you’ve, Louis Rees, Zammit, Rees, ‘, ’ Rees, ”, “, ” Rees, Warren Little, Ben Kay, CNN’s Don Riddell, ” Peter O’Reilly, Richie Gray –, –, ” Gray, Gray, there’s, Zammits, Damien Meyer, “ Rees, Warren Gatland, haven’t, Scot applauds, he’s, Frederic Dides, Jordan Mailata, Jakob Johnson, Efe Obada, Sammis Reyes, David Bada, Mailata, Mailata’s, Philadelphia . Gray, Jeff Stoutland –, Andy Lewis, Christian Wade, ” Wade, Wade, Will Rees, Kay, …, let’s, he’ll Organizations: CNN, NFL, National Football League, Welsh, rugby, Wales, Gloucester, British & Irish Lions, Lions, Lion, Gloucester Rugby, Six Nations, England rugby, TNT Sports, Netflix, IMG Academy, Rugby, CNN Sport, Toulon –, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, NCAA, Dolphins, “, Getty, Zammit’s Wales, American, –, Las Vegas Raiders, Washington, IPP, 233rd, Eagles, Buffalo Bills, Racing Locations: Britain, Ireland, Bradenton , Florida, Scottish, Zammit’s, Zammit, Australia, Philadelphia ., ”, France

☆ McLennan replaced by Herbert as Rugby Australia chairman in boardroom coup
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

New Australia rugby union coach Eddie Jones poses with Rugby Australia Chairman Hamish McLennan and CEO Andy Marinos after his first news conference since his reappointment, which was held at Matraville Sports High School, in Sydney, Australia January 31, 2023. REUTERS/Nick Mulvenney/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Hamish McLennan was replaced as chairman of Rugby Australia (RA) by former Wallabies centre Dan Herbert late on Sunday as the fallout from the country's early World Cup exit continued to reverberate. McLennan, a successful businessman who had overseen the hiring of Eddie Jones to run the ill-fated World Cup campaign, immediately resigned from the board. "Australia will host the British and Irish Lions Tour in 2025, the Men's 2027 Rugby World Cup and the Women's 2029 Rugby World Cup and the 2032 Olympic Games," he added. RA paid tribute to McLennan's role in helping the game get through the COVID pandemic, which brought the governing body close to bankruptcy, and in securing the hosting of the men's and women's World Cups.

Persons: Eddie Jones, Hamish McLennan, Andy Marinos, Nick Mulvenney, Dan Herbert, McLennan, Herbert, Jones, Dave Rennie, Phil Waugh, Rugby Australia's, Toby Davis Organizations: New Australia rugby, Rugby Australia, Matraville Sports High School, REUTERS, Rights, Wallabies, Australia, New South Wales Rugby Union, Australian Capital Territory, ACT, Super Rugby, Irish Lions, Rugby, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, England, Queensland

☆ Australia reform drive gets NSW backing, other states sceptical
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The reforms will push Australia closer to the centralised models of New Zealand and Ireland, where provinces answer to the national body on high performance decisions affecting test rugby. On Tuesday, RA said the New South Wales Waratahs and the NSW Rugby Union (NSWRU) had become Australia's first Super Rugby club and member union to formally commit to the integration plan. However, other member unions have pushed back on handing over commercial control. No Australian team has won a Super Rugby title since the Waratahs in 2014. RA have yet to decide who will run the integrated high performance programme or take over the Wallabies from Jones.

Persons: Phil Waugh, Waugh, Eddie Jones, Jones, Ian Ransom, Peter Rutherford Organizations: MELBOURNE, Rugby Australia, Wallabies, New South Wales Waratahs, NSW Rugby Union, Super Rugby, Waratahs, Australian Capital Territory Rugby Union, Brumbies, Rugby, Irish Lions, Thomson Locations: New South Wales, NSW, Australia, Zealand, Ireland, Sydney, rugby, France, Melbourne

☆ Jones' exit is the 'sensible' outcome: Australia boss
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MELBOURNE, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Eddie Jones' resignation as Wallabies coach was the "sensible outcome" in the wake of the nation's disappointing World Cup run, Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh said on Tuesday. Jones revealed over the weekend he had agreed to terms with Rugby Australia (RA) regarding his exit, less than one year into a contract spanning the 2027 World Cup on home soil. "Eddie's put a lot into 2023 and into the (World Cup) campaign and the performances weren’t where they need to be," he continued. Waugh said that he took Jones at his word and that the reports had not been a factor in his exit. The team has the British and Irish Lions tour in 2025 and the 2027 World Cup on home soil.

Persons: Eddie Jones, Phil Waugh, Jones, Waugh, Eddie's, we’re, I've, Ian Ransom, Gerry Doyle Organizations: MELBOURNE, Wallabies, Rugby Australia, Nine Network, British, Irish Lions, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, England, France, Japan, Melbourne

☆ South Africa's 'eccentric genius' Erasmus continues to divide opinion
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Nick Said | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

There is a general view, in the northern hemisphere especially, of how the game should be played, but Erasmus’ Springboks do not conform to that. Former England coach Clive Woodward said if other teams followed suit, the sport would be "dead within five years". And yet since then, many sides have tapped into what they do well, including England, who took the Springbok copybook on their run to the semi-finals this year and almost stunned South Africa in Paris this past weekend. Erasmus raises the ire of traditionalists but almost always sticks within the confines of the laws. And herein lies the other side of Erasmus, the streetfighter who will not lie down and go quietly into the night.

Persons: Rassie Erasmus, Jacques Nienaber, Erasmus, Clive Woodward, Matt Proudfoot, Sport24, Rassie, Nic Berry, Nick Said, David Holmes Organizations: South, Springboks, New Zealand, Erasmus ’, Erasmus ’ Springboks, Springbok, British & Irish Lions, Erasmus, Guardian, Thomson Locations: CAPE, South Africa, New, Paris, England, Africa

☆ Bruised Ireland reflect on end of an era
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Ossian Shine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"You have a group of senior players who are moving on," he added, standing barefoot, still in full Irish kit. "There’s a group of guys who won't play for Ireland again who have had an incredible impact on Irish rugby, not only in the last few years but the last decade." "It's tough," O'Mahony said. "This is the best group I've ever been part of and these lads will go on to great things," he told reporters, tears glistening in his eyes. No doubt this team will have left Irish rugby in a better place.

Persons: –, Peter O'Mahony pensively, Johnny Sexton, Winger Keith Earls, O'Mahony, I've, Johnny, fellas, Sexton, …, he'll, " O'Mahony, We've, Jasper Shine, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Rugby, New Zealand, Stade de France, Ireland, Irish, Nations, British & Irish Lions, Leinster, Thomson Locations: Ireland, Paris, New

☆ Past irrelevant for Irish in NZ quarter-final, says Farrell
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Nick Mulvenney | Thomson Reuters | Leads Coverage Of Sport Across The Asia-Pacific. Still Reports On The Full Panoply Of Sport. Many Olympics World Cups World Championships Grand Slams Grands Prix | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"What's happened in the past is irrelevant, we're just trying to get better every week and so are they." "I don't think we're carrying much baggage, it's a one-off game and we've got to prepare for it." Farrell was able to name an unchanged starting team for the game with Mack Hansen and James Lowe both passed fit to play. Farrell said Ryan would probably be available for the semi-finals if Ireland managed to get past New Zealand. "That's what we're preparing for, the toughest game we've ever faced, and that we're going to be ready for it."

Persons: Andy Farrell, Farrell, we're, Johnny Sexton, we've, Mack Hansen, James Lowe, Hansen, Lowe, James Ryan, Joe McCarthy, Jimmy O'Brien, Stuart McCloskey, Ryan, you've, We've, they've, Sexton, flyhalf, Hugo Keenan, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Jamison Gibson, Doris, Josh van, Peter O'Mahony, Iain Henderson, Tadhg Beirne, Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, David Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, Jimmy O’Brien, Nick Mulvenney, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Stade de France, & Irish Lions, All Blacks, Blacks, Lions, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Ireland

☆ Former NZ prop Johnstone becomes first All Black to come out as gay
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Crusaders Campbell Johnstone scores a try during their Super 14 rugby match against the Brumbies in Christchurch May 12, 2006. REUTERS/Simon BakerJan 30 (Reuters) - Former New Zealand prop Campbell Johnstone has become the first All Black to come out as gay, saying on a television programme on Monday he had been "living a lie" and leading "a double life" before acknowledging his sexuality. "If I can be the first All Black that comes out as gay and take away the pressure and stigma surrounding the issue it can actually help other people," Johnstone said. Johnstone made his debut against Fiji and played two tests against the British and Irish Lions. New Zealand Sports Minister and former deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson, who is gay, thanked Johnstone for "blazing this trail" and said his announcement was "a big moment".

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