A late try from Ollie Lawrence secured Champions Cup rugby for Bath next season as they beat Saracens 61-29, meaning Bristol Bears miss out.

Lawrence’s last ditch score came after Miles Reid, Tom Dunn (3), Beno Obano (2), Chris Cloete and Orlando Bailey had crossed the try-line at the Rec.

Rotimi Segun, Olly Hartley (2), Ethan Lewis and Manu Vunipola claimed tries for Saracens as they came unstuck after sending out a second string side.

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The Rec broke into wild celebration as news came through from Ashton Gate that Bristol’s winning margin against Gloucester had not been enough.

Bath had led within three minutes of kick-off after Reid won a line-out and popped up again to finish off a series of pulverising drives by his team-mates, with Ben Spencer adding the conversion.

Saracens’ youngsters opted for a wider game and soon fashioned an overlap on the right for the speedy Segun to touch down an unconverted try.

The home side’s strong mauling game claimed a useful scalp when Saracens loosehead Eroni Mawi was sin-binned for offside and it proved even more costly when Dunn immediately finished off a catch-and-drive from the line-out for his 10th try of the season.

Spencer’s conversion took his side into a 14-5 lead after 12 minutes, but the visitors were giving as good as they got in the early stages.

While Bath’s approach was narrow and predictable, Saracens made intelligent use of meagre possession and centre Hartley was put clear with a deft pass from fly-half Vunipola, who added the conversion.

England tighthead Will Stuart was close to claiming another try for Bath’s pack but the quick-thinking Hartley scored again at the other end for Saracens, leaving Vunipola with a simple conversion to make it 19-14 to the league leaders.

The lead see-sawed as Obano forced his way over from close range, Spencer converting again, only for hooker Lewis to finish off a catch-and-drive which gave Saracens a try bonus point and a 24-21 half-time lead.

It was a far more purposeful Bath side that emerged from the break, suddenly favouring quick line-out ball as Saracens’ discipline began to fray and Ted Hill’s surge to the line presented Obano with a try under the posts.

SCENES AT THE REC 🛁@BathRugby snatch the final place in the top 8 as @OLawrence1 scores with the last play of the game 🤯#GallagherPrem | #BATvSAR pic.twitter.com/BEaygbQMh5

— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) May 6, 2023

There were still reminders of Bath’s power in the maul as Dunn found the try-line twice in four minutes to complete his hat-trick and all-but end Saracens challenge.

Although Vunipola weaved 60 metres to score a remarkable virtuoso try for the visitors, Cloete featured twice in a line-out move to restore Bath’s 20-point lead, thanks to Spencer’s conversion.

Bailey then rounded off a length-of-the-field move and converted his own try, Bath’s eighth, as they passed the 50-mark before Lawrence raced away to touch down in injury time to complete the scoring.

Champions Cup heartache for Bristol Bears

As mentioned, Bristol missed out on a Champions Cup spot for next season despite a hard-fought 36-21 win over local rivals Gloucester as they were pipped on points’ difference.

The bonus-point victory was not enough for Bears to stay in eighth place in the final Premiership table as Bath’s winning margin over Saracens proved crucial.

Semi Radradra scored two tries on his farewell appearance for Bristol while Siva Naulago, Magnus Bradbury and Harry Thacker were also on the try-scoring sheet, with AJ MacGinty adding four conversions and a penalty.

Ollie Thorley and Jonny May scored Gloucester’s tries and there was also a penalty try award, with Adam Hastings and Billy Twelvetrees each adding a conversion.

Chris Ashton sees red as Tigers fall to Quins

Chris Ashton’s decorated career ended with a red card as Leicester were defeated 20-17 by Harlequins on the final day of the regular season.

The former England winger, who is retiring at the end of the campaign, was dismissed towards the end of the first half for a dangerous high tackle on opposite number Cadan Murley.

Despite the loss, Leicester’s semi-final at Sale next week was confirmed, while Quins wideman Murley will end as the top-flight’s leading scorer with 15 tries.

🃏 Cadan Murley owes Josh Bassett a drink. #GallagherPrem #LEIvHARpic.twitter.com/ZVVH9GzZpY

— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) May 6, 2023

Julian Montoya and Tommy Reffell crossed for Leicester, with Handre Pollard and Jimmy Gopperth kicking points off the tee in the loss.

Juan Martin Gonzalez helps Irish beat Exeter

Two tries from Juan Martin Gonzalez ensured London Irish finished a difficult week on a high as they saw off Exeter Chiefs 17-14 at the Gtech Community Stadium.

The build-up to the game had been far from ideal for Irish, whose players were paid late as the club’s proposed takeover continues to drag on.

In a game that swung one way then the other, Tom Hendrickson looked like he had earned Chiefs the victory, only for Gonzalez to turn it around for the Exiles to secure a fifth-placed finish, their best return in 14 years since they reached the Premiership final.

☘️ What power from Juan Martín González! #GallagherPrem #LIRvEXEpic.twitter.com/5Kl9sUvmKU

— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) May 6, 2023

Chiefs had said farewell to a core of players who had helped them to two Premiership titles and a European crown over the past six years last weekend and Rob Baxter used this game to look to the future, with Champions Cup rugby assured for both sides.

Sale Sharks cruise past Newcastle Falcons

Elsewhere, Sam James scored twice as Sale Sharks warmed up for the Premiership play-offs by dispatching Newcastle Falcons 54-12 at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Tom Roebuck, Ben Curry, Bevan Rodd, Raffi Quirke and Arron Reed also crossed for Sale, with a penalty try and George Ford’s boot adding the remaining points.

Elliott Obatoyinbo and Jamie Blamire scored Newcastle’s only tries as their season ended in dismal fashion.

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Arsenal’s French striker Olivier Giroud is “not really” part of manager Arsène Wenger’s plans for the 2017/18 campaign, according to L’Équipe.

Lyon are interested in the 30-year-old forward, as well as Marseille.

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However, Olivier Giroud is not interested in returning to France and the option of a sort of swap deal for Alexandre Lacazette has not been discussed, contrary to reports.

SA Rugby are in the red despite record broadcasting and sponsorship revenues for 2022, it was confirmed on Tuesday. 

Participation in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and the EPCR competitions – the Challenge Cup and Champions Cup – are credited as the reasons for the ‘minor deficit’.

The costs of participating in European competitions

Last year, SA Rugby posted a small surplus of R8,9 million (around £300,000) following the Springboks‘ return to play following the COVID-19 pandemic.

At Tuesday’s Annual General Meeting, the South African Rugby Union (SARU) told member unions that the investment to gain entry to northern hemisphere competitions led to the deficit.

Group revenues increased significantly to R1.54 billion (£67 million), up from 2021’s R1.28 billion (£55 million).

However, the pre-tax deficit of R2.62m (£113,890) included expenditure of R330m (about £14.3 million) attributable to the participation of the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers in the United Rugby Championship and European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) competitions.

The participation costs in both competitions – plus the responsibility of carrying all the international travel and accommodation costs of the SA teams – amounted to R330m in 2022. SA Rugby will continue to carry the costs until the successful conversion to shareholder status at the conclusion of the 2024-2025 season.

SA Rugby also confirmed that broadcasting revenues were offset against the participation fees being paid by SA Rugby to gain entry to European rugby.

The return of a full Springbok calendar aided the increase in revenues with three home fixtures against Wales and a full Rugby Championship programme.

Broadcast revenues to be reduced in 2023

In the statement confirming the deficit, CEO Rian Oberholzer warned that broadcast revenue would be reduced in 2023 with a truncated Rugby Championship and no July Tests.

“From being a recipient of net income from Vodacom Super Rugby as a founding member of SANZAAR, we are now a net contributor to European club rugby as our participation costs on the way to once again becoming a net recipient in the medium term,” Oberholzer said.

“Historically, SA Rugby might net around R160m from SANZAAR. But we are now in a situation where we are having to pay our way into an already established entity.”

Long-term investment

SA Rugby president Mark Alexander further explained that this was hurting the union in the short-term, but the long-term returns would be beneficial.

“The continued investment in the Vodacom URC and EPCR competitions is essential as we carve our way to full membership and shareholding, even though the financial aspect of this pathway is hurting us in the short term,” he said.

“The long-term goal and returns that will come will validate this position, both from financial and high-performance points of view.

“Our participation in the Vodacom URC and EPCR happened in quick succession and came at a significant cost to SARU, but the commercial opportunities to be realised within the next two to three years will render the competitions profitable and strengthen the financial sustainability of South African rugby.”

READ MORE: Seven South African players to watch during the URC quarter-finals 

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It seems almost peculiar to sit ‘splashing of cash’ in the same sentence as ‘Rennes.’ Yet, following the announcement that Benjamin Bourigeaud, Faitout Maouassa, Jordan Tell and Hamari Traoré are all set arrive at Roazhon Park this summer for a combined total thought to be in the region of €15m, the phrase is unnervingly apt.

Naturally, the question on the lips of every fan of Les Rouges et Noirs, is whether this is will now be the moment when, finally, la famille Pinault will sweep away the dust of misuse that has infested their deep pockets at Rennes since the distressing days of Lucas Severino. Are Rennes on the brink of entering a brave, elite, new world?

The potential for mass investment that could catapult the Breton club into the realms of football’s elite is well known. According to Forbes, Pinault Snr is the 63rd richest man on the planet, worth an impressive $15,7 billion. This puts him higher than the Russian heavyweights Dmitry Rybolovlev of Monaco (€7,3 billion, 190th) and even Roman Abramovich of Chelsea ($9.1bn, 139th).

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Yet, hitherto, Rennes have continued to stagnate. Investment at Roazhon Park has not resembled anything like that of the Russians. After initially making large but disappointing outlays in the likes of Severino and Mario Turdo after taking over the club in 1998, the Pinault family have sought stability, and more importantly, balanced books.

A decade of underachievement later means a change in approach would not be surprising. On the face of it, the omens look good. Notably, of the four new arrivals, the acquisition of Faitout Maouassa could be seen as a mark of intent. The flying full-back caught the eye with Nancy last season, earning a spot in France’s Under 20 World Cup squad, and the left sided player is thought to have chosen Christian Gourcuff’s side over the likes of Marseille. Likewise, Benjamin Bourigeaud is another bright prospect, having had a standout season in Ligue 2 with a Lens side that narrowly missed out on promotion.

The most promising sign from a supporter’s perspective, rather than the names per-se, is a renewed emphasis on recruitment. The last time Rennes spent more money than they received in player sales was six years ago, during the 2011-2012 campaign. Encouragingly, the spending is not expected to stop with Rennes’ four latest additions, with Karl Toko Ekambi of Angers and Vincent Aboubakar of Porto among current names linked with the club. Both Aboubakar and Toko Ekambi, intriguingly, are likely to command fees in excess of €10 million.

However, Rennes’ brave new world may look more familiar than not. It would be naïve to suggest that Rennes will be competing with the likes of Lille and Marseille under their new ownership, let alone PSG or Monaco this summer. Unlike the Qataris at PSG, or Rybolovlev at Monaco, the Pinault family do not need a football club. They do not need to showcase their wealth on a scale that puts them firmly in the public eye. Pinault Snr is an art collector first and foremost; football is a mere hobby.

In an interview given back in 2012 for the book Supporters du Stade Rennais, Francois-Henri Pinault emphasised that, for the family, purchasing Rennes was not strategic, but merely a way of giving back to Brittany, providing the north west with an ‘ambitious’ football club. Ambitious, nonetheless, did not mean turning Rennes into Abramovich’s Chelsea. It did not mean, he made clear, turning Rennes into the “best club.”

It did, however, mean ensuring Rennes remain competitive in Ligue Un. Last season saw the wholesale departure of much of Rennes’ attacking arsenal. Ousmane Dembélé’s exit was very much an inevitability, but with Pedro Henrique, Ola Toivonen, Philipp Hosiner and later in January Paul-Georges Ntep and Kamil Grosicki all following close behind out the back door with only Mubele and Amalfitano moving the other way, Christian Gourcuff has been left to paper over the cracks with a blunt pencil, alias Giovani Sio.

The consequence was another disappointing campaign, narrowly finishing ahead of Guingamp by virtue of a single goal, and behind Nantes, who had spent the opening weeks of the campaign languishing at the wrong end of the table.

Criticism, understandably, has been sent Gourcuff’s way. Rennes have underachieved on the pitch, but off it, he has been offered little opportunity to rectify the situation. He has, for all intents and purposes, had the carpet swept from beneath him. Consistently, over the past five seasons, Rennes have profited from sales far higher than what they have invested.

The former Rennes player has gone so far as to suggest that the club are no longer the biggest club in Brittany, citing Guingamp as being able to offer wages double that of Rennes’ highest earner. He has underperformed, but in light of Rennes’s decade of antipathetic transfer activity, it is not hard to see why this is the case.

Change, then, has to be in the offing. But it will not be as ‘brave’ or as ‘new’ as many at Roazhon Park long for it to be. It will be a change to rectify an imbalance, an imbalance that has seen players go but to the detriment of team performance, leaving the club to slip away down the table, threatening to turn stagnation into regression. As Gourcuff remarked only a matter of weeks ago, Rennes ‘need to be fifth,’ and if Pinault is to invest, it will be to push Rennes back up to that mark, and no further.

P.R.

Hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie will not be swapping Exeter Chiefs for Montpellier after missing a medical following a night out on the lash, according to reports in the French media.

The 29-year-old has already signed a contract with the French club but his move was thrown into doubt due to medical issues.

Cowan-Dickie is currently out injured due to an ankle problem but also has a longstanding neck issue which could make him ineligible to play in the Top 14.

Top 14 threshold

Although the Englishman meets the threshold to ply his trade in the Premiership, it is higher for those in France.

According to RMC Sport, the Red Rose hooker was in Montpellier for a medical but did not turn up for the second day of tests due to being hungover.

He apparently went out in Montpellier and got so intoxicated that he finished his evening in a ‘drunk tank’.

RMC claim that the French outfit are now looking to cancel his pre-contract, leaving Cowan-Dickie’s future in severe doubt as he will be without a deal for the 2023/24 campaign.

He was meant to be the second Exeter and England player to play for Montpellier next season with number eight Sam Simmonds also joining the club.

Montpellier not commenting

RMC Sport’s report read: “Two days of examinations which were to allow the medical staff of Montpelier to remove the last doubts and validate the big blow on the transfer market of the MHR which had already recorded the arrival of Sam Simmonds, number eight of Exeter.

“But Wednesday morning, Cowan-Dickie did not show up for the appointment where everyone was expecting him.

“The night before, he had gone out to Montpellier bars and had finished his evening in a drunk tank.

“Faced with these actions, the club is now seeking to break the pre-contract signed by the English hooker.

“The MHR director of rugby Philippe Saint-André did not want to comment on this case.”

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RC Strasbourg are in advanced talks with 30-year-old French attacking midfielder Benjamin Corgnet about a possible free transfer, according to L’Équipe.

Corgnet, whose contract with St Étienne expired last week, is close to an agreement over signing a two year deal with the Ligue 1 newboys.

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Experienced Springboks full-back Willie le Roux looks to have bid Japan farewell after four years at Toyota Verblitz.

Le Roux left Wasps in 2019 to join Verblitz and recently notched up 50 appearances for the club.

Verblitz won eight of their sixteen matches in the Japanese Rugby League One season, finishing sixth overall after the regular season and two spots shy of making the play-offs.

The Sir Steve Hansen-led side defeated the Blue Revs 37-27 in the final round of the regular season, with Le Roux missing out on selection for the fixture.

With Verblitz’s season now completed, the veteran full-back posted a message to the club indicating that his time in Japan has come to an end.

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“I’d like to thank the staff and my team mates for an epic 4 years and, to our wonderful fans for always being so supportive. I appreciate the opportunity to have represented such a great team, Arigato @toyotaverblitz,” Le Roux tweeted.

I’d like to thank the staff and my team mates for an epic 4 years and, to our wonderful fans for always being so supportive. I appreciate the opportunity to have represented such a great team, Arigato @toyotaverblitz 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/9BFKuiq1ke

— Willie le roux (@wjjleroux) April 25, 2023

So what’s next for Le Roux?

At 33, his career is drawing to a close, and although players have continued their careers well into their 30s nowadays, he could be hanging up his boots after the World Cup.

If not? A move to the Stormers could be on the cards. In 2021, he revealed, on the Use It or Lose It show, that he has built a house in Cape Town.

The location suits Le Roux but also plays into the Stormers’ hands, who were trying to court Cheslin Kolbe from France after Warrick Gelant’s departure.

Stormers boss John Dobson is not shy of signing veteran players, with Deon Fourie, Juan de Jongh and Brok Harris being perfect examples.

A return to the Griquas or Sharks seems unlikely, while the Bulls might look to sway him to head to Pretoria.

The likeliest destination seems to be the Stormers, with the Bulls being an outside bet. He could follow the likes of Ruan Pienaar and Frans Steyn back to the Cheetahs, but again the location makes that switch unlikely.

Le Roux’s career

Le Roux started out his youth career with Western Province before heading to Boland to increase his playing opportunities.

He made 39 Currie Cup appearances for the side between 2010 and 2011. During this period, he had a trial with the Stormers, with then-head coach Rassie Erasmus turning him away.

“I had essentially told him ‘no, you’re not good enough’, and he went to the Cheetahs instead,” Erasmus revealed in 2018 before adding, “He is [now] the backbone of our Springbok team. So he’s definitely proven me wrong, and I’m so happy for him. He’s got a really calming influence and brings experience to the back three. I’m really proud of him.”

He quickly became a regular starter at the Cheetahs in Super Rugby while also representing the Griquas in the Currie Cup. A Springbok debut came in 2013, and went on to play for South Africa at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Le Roux got his first taste of Japan in 2016, during the Super Rugby off-season, before he linked up with the Sharks for the 2016 season.

He signed for Wasps in 2017 and enjoyed a stellar two seasons at the club, guiding them to the Premiership final. During the 2017/18 Premiership season, he assisted 21 tries in the Premiership season, the kind of form that led to a Springbok recall.

He has been a Springbok regular ever since helping the side win the 2019 Rugby World Cup and a Lions series victory.

He has played 83 Test matches for the Springboks, scoring 13 tries.

Jordan Amavi will join Sevilla on a 5-year deal, subject to a medical.

Amavi joined Villa from Nice in July 2015 and played 48 times for the Villains. The Frenchman suffered a serious knee injury in his first season at the Birmingham club but recovered last season, helping Villa to 13th place in the Championship.

Aston Villa’s Twitter page tweeted, “Breaking news: #AVFC and @SevillaFC agree the transfer of @JordanAmavi, subject to medical testing… Good luck for the future, Jordan.” 

Sevilla confirmed this, their website stating that, “Sevilla FC and Aston Villa FC have reached an agreement for French player Jordan Kevin Amavi, subject to medical tests.”

A.R.

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Munster will be without star second-row RG Snyman when they take on the Sharks in their United Rugby Championship (URC) clash in Durban on Saturday.

The 28-year-old has seen little action since joining Munster in 2020 after suffering two ACL ruptures but he has gradually regained his form and fitness after returning to action in March.

However, the 2019 Rugby World Cup winner with the Springboks has been ruled out of the Sharks encounter due to a concussion suffered in Munster‘s 26-24 URC victory over the Stormers in Cape Town last weekend.

Snyman delivered a fine performance in only his second start and fourth match back after his second knee injury. He played for 65 minutes against the Stormers before leaving the field for a HIA which he failed.

Munster said Snyman is following the graduated return to play protocols which rules him out of the clash against the Sharks, which is their last match of the league phase of the URC.

Better injury news

Meanwhile, there was better news regarding Diarmuid Barron, who injured his neck against the Stormers.

Barron scored two tries against the defending champions but was forced off the field late in the second half. He did return to full training this week and could play against the Sharks.

Dave Kilcoyne could also line up against Neil Powell’s troops as he increased his training load, but his availability for the match will be determined later in the week.

In other news, Munster and the Irish Rugby Football Union have confirmed the signing of Sean O’Brien on a two-year deal from Exeter Chiefs ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The centre has been at the Chiefs for the past two seasons and started in the Premiership outfit’s Champions Cup round-of-16 and quarter-final matches.

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The 24-year-old began his senior career with Connacht and represented Ireland’s U20s in 2018 alongside current Munster players Barron, Jack Daly and Jack O’Sullivan.

Polish international left-back Maciej Rybus will undergo a medical in Rome today ahead of possibly joining Russian outfit Lokomotiv Moscow, according to Foot Mercato.

Rybus will then sign a three year contract with the Russian outfit tomorrow. The nature of the fee arrangement between Lokomotiv and Lyon is yet to be disclosed.

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