If Lionel Messi produced a touch of the grace and skill that facilitated Keith Earls’ try against Glasgow Warriors this past weekend, our time-line would be inundated with football fans praising his footballing ability.

A raking Ian Keatley kick found the Irish international out wide and his first touch, which oozed of class, bounced the ball into his hands for a try of brilliant proportions.

Youtube Credit: Pro12 Rugby

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Munster closing in on Creevy signing

According to reports in the Irish Independent, Munster are closing in on the prestigious signings of Southern Hemisphere duo, Augustin Creevy and Francis Saili.

With the future of Munster hooker Damien Varley looking increasingly uncertain after a spate of injuries, the Thomond Park side have targeted Worcester Warriors former Argentinian captain Creevy, who has been capped thirty six times for his country.

Creevy has considerable experience playing in European club Rugby, having previously represented the French trio Biarritz, Clermont and Montpellier. Creevy is likely to replace his compatriot, Eusebio Guinazu, who was temporarily drafted in by Munster this season to cover for the aforementioned Varley.

Saili is rumoured to be closing in on a switch to Munster

Meanwhile, Munster will attempt to fix their long standing issues at centre with the signing of the Blues and two time All Black capped centre, Francis Saili.

The twenty three year old Saili, who made his international bow for New Zealand against Argentina in 2013, is thought to be in advanced discussion with Munster representatives regarding a move to the two time European Champions.

Centre has been a problem position for Munster in recent years, with their recent attempts to convert winger Denis Hurley into a first centre yielding mixed results and Saili’s apparent signature would represent a significant coup.

Source: Irish Independent

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Often hailed as an off the cuff player, Ian Madigan lived up to that billing with aplomb today as he caught Ulster cold with a moment of quick thinking.

Feigning to kick to touch, Madigan instead ran and burrowed his way in for a try, evading the would be tackles of Callum Black and Rodger Wilson.

The fly half’s moment of virtuoso craft proved key as Leinster would go on to defeat their interprovincial rivals, Ulster, by a score of 24-11.

Youtube Credit: Meatloaf Daly

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Craig Gilroy’s wonderful line and double pirouette settled a tense Irish Interprovincial Derby between Ulster & Connacht last night.

Like a graceful ballerina, the 23 year old former Methodist College Belfast winger evaded the attempted tackles of several Connacht players with consummate panache before touching down.

With the Six Nations on the not so distant horizon, Gilroy will have done his reputation within the Irish National Camp no harm with this brilliant try and all round solid performance.

Youtube Credit: TheUAFC

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Hilariously, during Leinster’s Pro12 defeat to Munster recently, Isaac Boss, the Leinster scrum half, loses sight of the ball and goes on an impromptu search mission for it.

Boss does a 360 degree turn in search of the ball before he realized that ball was, where it invariably is, in the ruck.

Boss, born in New Zealand but capped by Ireland, has had a stellar career, but this surely isn’t one of his finer moments.

Clip Credit: Le Rugbynistere- Daily Motion

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All aboard the bosh train as Sky Sports present the biggest Rugby hits from their live Rugby coverage, which includes ITM Cup, Pro12, Top 14 and Rugby Championship, from September 2014.

We at RBP do love a good old fashioned, bone crunching, wind taking hit.

Youtube Credit: Sky Sports.

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After injuries to two of their front line locks, Iain Henderson & Dan Tuohy, Ulster have today confirmed that they have clinched the signature of Counties Manukau Steelers lock, Ronald Raaymakers on a short team deal.

The 24 year old has significant pedigree, having represented New Zealand at U20 level as well making two Super Rugby appearances for the Blues’ in 2013, and will compete with Lewis Stevenson, Neil McComb and Franco van der Merwe in the Ulster engine room, until Tuohy and Henderson return from their respective injuries.

Raaymakers, who will this weekend captain the Steelers, has made 50 appearances for the Manukau based side and will move to Belfast upon the end of his ITM Cup commitments.

Speaking ahead of his proposed move, Raaymakers was excited at the prospect of plying his trade abroad, an ambition he’s always held.

“It has always been an ambition of mine to play overseas and when the opportunity came up to join Ulster Rugby I had no hesitation in saying yes.

“I look forward to joining up with the squad next month and to playing my part in helping Ulster Rugby be successful this season, ” said Raaymakers.

Article Source: Ulster Rugby Official Website

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In Cardiff Blues’ recent defeat to the Glasgow Warriors, Filo Paulo, Cardiff’s New Zealand born lock, hit Jonny Gray, Warriors’ lock, with a meaty challenge that sent the younger brother of Lion Richie hurtling to the ground.

Gray would have the last laugh, however, as Warriors would go on to claim a relatively comfortable win in what has been a great start to the season for the Scottish side.

Youtube Credit: Habi Aftabi

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Rhys Webb set the tone for Ospreys 62-13 demolition last weekend with a try of individual brilliance after just a minute of play.

Picking the ball up from the back of a ruck just inside his own half, the scrum half made an incisive run full of conviction, beating several players before touching down.

Ospreys currently top the Pro12 table and, with more moments of magic like this, it is difficult to see them not being there or thereabouts come the end of the season.

Youtube Credit: Ruddy Darter

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A clause in Sam Warburton’s dual WRU-Cardiff Blues contract dictates that the open-side can only make sixteen appearances for the Blues each season.

Warburton missed the Blues’ defeat to Ulster last weekend and it was originally thought that the former Lions’ captain absence was due to player management, but, today, the Arms Park club’s Director of Rugby, Mark Hammett, revealed that Warburton, under the terms of his new deal, can only represent the Blues on sixteen occasions per season.

However, Hammett, speaking to the BBC, stated that it was at Cardiff’s discretion when the twenty five year old would play and not the WRU’s, who pay 60% of Warburton’s salary.

“From game time there’s a figure of 16 games… we are not told when a player can or can’t play,”Hammett admitted.

“But we have agreed to negotiate and talk together with the player.

“So if we use Sam as an example, we talk with Sam, obviously the Blues and the Welsh Rugby Union to work out what is the best schedule for Sam – not just what’s best for Wales or what’s best for the Blues, but a combination.

“I’ve had those conversations around Sam with Gats [Wales coach Warren Gatland], with Sam himself.

“We’ve got to keep in mind because of the way rugby is there are injuries, there are illnesses, things like that so it’s a living document, it’s a best guess in a way.”

Source of information: Planet Rugby

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