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The Springboks’ clash with New Zealand in Baltimore was hit by technical problems (Image: Richard Nichols/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Here are today’s morning rugby headlines on Tuesday, September 15.
Hansen blasts ‘ridiculous’ Springboks v All Blacks spectacle
Former All Blacks and Wales head coach Steve Hansen has blasted the technology failure which caused a lengthy delay during the fourth Test against South Africa, claiming rugby made itself look “ridiculous” in front of a new American audience.
The Springboks defeated New Zealand 43-28 in Baltimore on Saturday to win the Greatest Rivalry Series 3-1, but the match was interrupted midway through the first half when the officials’ communications equipment failed.
The issue led to more than 10 minutes of confusion before the two teams agreed the referee could continue without communications with his assistants.
Hansen believes there should have been a simple protocol in place and questioned why it took so long to resolve.
“Why don’t we have protocols?” questioned Hansen on the Rugby Unity podcast this week.
“Like, did we think we’d never have a breakdown in communication? So this is the first time this has ever happened that we don’t hear each other, and why does it take so long to come to an understanding?
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“It should just be automatic, right? We’ve got no comms, so we just play on, and guess what? I’ll ref. And if I make a mistake, well, that’ll be it. I make a mistake. If you see some foul play, stick your flag out. I mean, how ludicrous are we?”
The former New Zealand boss was particularly critical of the confusion as officials discussed how to restart the game, while organisers tried to find a solution.
“That ‘oh, I’ll ring down, and then someone will run off over to the sideline and tell the touch judge, and then we’re going to go back for like this’. Going to take five minutes. Yeah, we look stupid. We really do. We look ridiculous,” Hansen blasted.
He also argued that the stoppage undermined what was supposed to be a major showcase for rugby in the United States.
“We played the game for 100 years the other way, and now we suddenly can’t do it,” he added. “We’ve got to stand around for 10 minutes while nothing goes on; it ruined the big moment.”
WRU hits back at ’embarrassing’ claims
The Welsh Rugby Union has hit back at claims its investment in the women’s game is contributing to the potential loss of one of Wales’ four professional men’s regions.
WRU women’s rugby director Nadine Griffiths described comments she had seen on social media suggesting a region could be cut because of spending on women’s rugby as “embarrassing”.
The future of Welsh professional rugby has become a major talking point after plans emerged to reduce the number of men’s regions from four to three, with either the Scarlets or Ospreys understood to be most at risk.
But Griffiths insisted the women’s programme was not taking money away from the men’s game and said it had actually generated £1.7m for the WRU last year.
“I’m really disappointed and slightly embarrassed by some of the comments I read online about the women’s game taking money from the men’s game,” she told the BBC.
“It doesn’t. There are five different budget lines, including the men, women, [Principality] stadium and community game.”
Wales have had a professional women’s programme since the start of 2022, with more than 40 players now contracted to the WRU.
Griffiths believes the women’s game also offers significant opportunities for future commercial growth, arguing that the men’s game is approaching a ceiling in several areas.
“If we look at the men’s game we are hitting ceilings in terms of where our commercial growth opportunities are, there’s only so much more we can charge for tickets, there’s only so many people we can get into the ground,” she said.
“Our women’s game is a growth area and provides us an opportunity to really bring in some serious cash into Welsh rugby as a whole.
“It’s bringing people who don’t traditionally watch rugby and again it leads into that commercial growth where we’re selling more jerseys and watching more games.
“So it actually lends into growing Welsh rugby as a whole.”
Ronan O’Gara signs new contract
Ronan O’Gara has committed his future to La Rochelle until 2031 after signing a contract extension with the French giants.
The former Ireland international joined the Top 14 club in 2019 following coaching spells with Racing 92 and New Zealand side Crusaders.
O’Gara initially extended his contract after La Rochelle suffered defeat in the 2021 European Champions Cup final, before leading the club to back-to-back European triumphs in 2022 and 2023.
Those victories delivered La Rochelle’s first major silverware and cemented O’Gara’s status as one of the leading coaches in European rugby.
“My family and I are very happy and proud to continue this adventure with Stade Rochelais,” O’Gara told the club website.
“We have lived through exceptional times and gone through more difficult times together. In each of them, I felt the confidence of the club and the support of our supporters.
“I believe deeply in this club, in its players, in its staff and in its ambition. We have already built a lot of things, but I am convinced that the best is still ahead of us.
“I want to continue to grow this team and win with Stade Rochelais.”
La Rochelle have made a perfect start to the new Top 14 campaign, beating Toulouse before edging Toulon 21-20 on Saturday.
They face Racing 92 next weekend.
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