Former Wallabies star Jordan Petaia is set to leave Perpignan at the end of the season after general manager Bruno Rolland confirmed the news on French radio station, France\u00a0Bleu.<\/p>\n
Speaking openly on the station, Rolland said: \u201cJordan Petaia? He won\u2019t be staying.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe told us he\u2019s going to Japan next season. It\u2019s his choice. We hadn\u2019t even started discussions about that position yet. He preferred to take the initiative and sign with a Japanese team for next season.\u201d<\/p>\n
Petaia has had limited success at Perpignan<\/a> since returning to the sport after his sabbatical playing American football for the Los Angeles Chargers. He\u2019s failed to land on the scoresheet in any of the eight matches that he\u2019s appeared in so far, and even picked up a yellow card in their Challenge Cup loss to Newcastle Red Bulls.<\/p>\n All Blacks star Sevu Reece is set to join the French side for the next campaign, so Perpignan fans will not need to worry too much about the gap he\u2019s leaving behind.<\/p>\n With the World Cup on the horizon, the former Wallabies star will want to recoup some of his previous form if he\u2019s to join his international squad-mates back home.<\/p>\n Brandon Jackson to Newcastle Red Bulls<\/p>\n Saracens\u2019 Brandon Jackson will join the Newcastle Red Bulls<\/a> revolution next season on a two-year deal.<\/p>\n The 24-year-old has scored 13 tries in his 29 appearances for Saracens, including one in this season\u2019s Gallagher PREM victory at Kingston Park and has also scored 26 tries in 35 games for Championship side Ampthill.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m grateful for the opportunity to join Newcastle Red Bulls,\u201d said Jackson.<\/p>\n \u201cThe club is really building something special. I\u2019m excited for the challenge ahead and can\u2019t wait to get stuck in and get to work with the group.\u201d<\/p>\n Sporting general manager Neil McIlroy said: \u201cBrandon is a talented English player who will add to our group, and we\u2019re looking forward to working with him.<\/p>\n \u201cHe scores tries on a regular basis, he\u2019s a big physical presence and it\u2019s great that aspiring players like him see Newcastle Red Bulls as a club where they can fulfil their ambitions.\u201d<\/p>\n Dean Richards returns to rugby<\/p>\n The former Newcastle boss has become the new director of rugby at Wymondham RFC. The club\u2019s first team resides in the Regional 2 Anglia league, on level six of the rugby union pyramid. After 16 games played, they are currently in fourth place, 16 points below top placed Eton Manor.<\/p>\n Speaking on his appointment, Richards<\/a> said: \u201cI\u2019ve always believed that strong community clubs are built from the bottom up \u2014 giving clarity, support, and a real sense of belonging.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what really struck a chord with me at Wymondham. There\u2019s a genuine passion for the game here across every age group, and it\u2019s an aspirational grassroots club with great potential. I\u2019m excited to play my part in the next chapter of the club\u2019s journey.\u201d<\/p>\n The 62-year-old is one of the most experienced rugby men around, having achieved almost a half-century of England caps during his playing days, before coaching at the top level for almost 25 years.<\/p>\n Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n