In a statement on their website, Top 14 club Bordeaux have announced that one hundred and four times Wallaby capped utility back Adam Ashley Cooper, 30, will join their squad after next years World Cup.

Ashley Cooper thanked everyone in Australian Rugby for their contribution to his career in a statement and expressed his excitement at the next chapter of his career in France.

” I am extremely grateful for my career in Australia, and I want to thank the ARU (Australian Rugby Union) and the Waratahs for their support over the past decade,”

“Without them, it would have been impossible for me to write this new chapter.

“I look forward to participating in the future of the (Bordeaux) club after the World Cup.”

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Jonny Wilkinson, a man who know knows a thing or six about Rugby World Cups, picks his dream World Cup XV-well, sort of.

Without actually naming a team, the former England, Toulon and Newcastle Falcon, lists some of the players he feels have had the greatest impact on World Cups and his list includes some stellar names.

Youtube Credit: Société Générale et Vous

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It was the moment that catapulted American winger Zee Ngwenya into the conscious of the Rugby Universe.

America, already losing heavily, turned over South African ball in their own twenty two and, in the ultimate counter attack, the ball was spread wide to the Zimbabwean born flier, Ngwenya, who showed ridiculous velocity to burn his way down the outside, past Bryan Habana of all people, to touch down.

Youtube Credit: drsh08

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As part of his remit as a Rugby columnist for The Telegraph, former Lions and England stalwart Will Greenword gave his Rugby World Cup 2015 predictions.

The 2003 World Cup winner knows a thing or six about the Web Ellis trophy and he championed the prospects of his countries, England, chances.

Greenwood believes that, similar to the victorious 2003 squad, the current Red Rose incumbents have the requisite levels of obstinance and mental fortitude to make a decent fist of winning the trophy on home turf.

Squad depth, obviously, is important to any team and Greenwood feels that England have class throughout their side, highlighting the number ten shirt as a position with several young suitors.

Youtube Credit: The Telegraph

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James O’Connor is clearly a wanted man with both the Reds and his current club, Toulon, claiming that Australian utility back will play for their club after the World Cup.

Last week, O’Connor announced that he would be joining the Queensland Reds in advance of the 2015 World Cup to secure a place in the Wallabies World Cup squad.

Upon the announcement, the Reds claimed that O’Connor had signed a two year deal which would keep him at the Suncorp Stadium until 2016.

However, contrary to the Reds’ statement, Toulon President, Mourad Boudjellal, has claimed that O’Connor has signed a three year deal with the Mediterranean side, with O’Connor being allowed to return to Australia for six months to try and claim an Australian squad berth.

In an interview with RMC Radio,  Boudjellal was confident that the Australian’s future is at the Stade Mayol.

“We always said that James signed a three-year deal with a possible six month absence to be able to play in the World Cup, so we respect what was signed.”

“He’s signed on for two years after the World Cup, ” said the millionaire comic publisher.

Despite Boudjellal’s claims, the Reds’ Chief Executive, Jim Carmichael, maintains that O’Connor’s post World Cup season will be at the Reds’

“In the interest of all parties, I’m not going to discuss the detail of any players’ contract.

“However, I’m completely satisfied that the agreement we have set is in the best interests of the QRU, the Reds, Australian Rugby and James O’Connor,” said Carmichael.

Article Source: Planet Rugby.

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Anscombe finally seals Cardiff move.

Finally, after months of conjecture, Gareth Anscombe has finally completed his move to Cardiff Blues.

The utility back, son of former Ulster coach, Mark, has been linked with a move to Wales for several months now, since he met with the Welsh coach, Warren Gatland, to discuss his options last winter.

The Chiefs player, who qualifies for Wales through his Cardiff born mother, Tracey, has been earmarked as a future Welsh fly half with the incumbents, Rhys Priestland, Dan Biggar and James Hook all failing to cement their place in the Welsh ten jersey.

Anscombe confirmed his departure to his team mate’s at a Chiefs dinner in Hamilton recently and will join the Blues at the culmination of the Super Rugby season.

For those not familiar with Anscombe, he is a dangerous broken field runner, whether or fly half or full back, and has a incisive Rugby play-making brain. Anscombe is also a composed place kicker, but not to the extent that he will wrestle that responsibility away from Leigh Halfpenny in the National Team’s shirt.

In the video below, you can see some of Anscombe’s best moments in a Chief’s jersey

Video credit: TheGreatRugbyWorld

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Ireland has “all the right ingredients” to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup, according to the CEO of New Zealand’s 2011 tournament.

Martin Snedden told RTÉ Sport the idea of Ireland hosting the event in nine years’ time “resonates beautifully” and that it was well placed to be a success on and off the pitch.

“I don’t think people should lack for confidence about their ability to do this,” Snedden said.

A working group has been set up by governments north and south of the Irish border to explore the possibility of an all-Ireland bid for the tournament.

Snedden said that it was too early to say whether Ireland was the front-runner for the tournament, and that there were likely to be strong bids from other countries, including South Africa.

Snedden said Ireland could learn a lot from New Zealand’s successful bid for the 2011 tournament.

Snedden believes a critical factor in a successful Irish bid would be to propose to spread the tournament all across the island, including bigger and smaller venues.

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James O’Connor in talks with the Reds

As senior players backed the Australian Rugby Union’s tough stance on Test eligibility, it emerged that O’Connor had piqued the interest of the struggling Reds and would most likely resume his Australian career in Brisbane next year.

Queensland Rugby Union chief executive Jim Carmichael would only say the province was open-minded about the controversial outside back, but Georgina Robinson, from Fairfax Media understands the Reds have made an offer for his services next season.

“I don’t have a closed mind on anything,” Carmichael said. “We’re working through what we would call the deficiencies we have as we speak. There’s a lot of pressure on us and we need to cop it on the chin, and just live in that pressure cooker at the moment without distracting people with who we may or may not sign.”

James O’Conner had his Wallabies contract torn up last year after a drunken run in with airport staff at Perth International Airport. In which he was escorted from the airport by the Australian Federal Police.

JOC in a Reds jersey (credit Just Rugby.)

Since then, O’Conner tried to ‘amend’ for his sins by signing with London Irish on a short-term contract and then joined fellow former Australian internationals Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell at Toulon.

It’s been reported that JOC wants to return to Australia. After talks with his former franchise, the Western Force dried up, he then turned to his former coach, Richard Graham and the struggling Reds.

ARU boss Bill Pulver revealed a Super Rugby contract was not O’Connor’s only option. Pulver said the former Force and Rebels outside back needed only to be registered to play domestically, meaning he could play a season of club rugby and be considered by national coach Ewen McKenzie at a pinch. However, that option would appear unlikely to be taken up.

Wallabies coach, Ewen McKenzie last year poured cold water on O’Connor’s World Cup hopes by suggesting that the test squad he picks this year will be his squad for the 2015 international decider.  With JOC being ineligible for Wallabies selection this year, if McKenzie holds true to his words,  there may already be no place for O’Connor in McKenzie’s World Cup plans.

Credit for images: Just Rugby News

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