Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
HEAS TOUGH AND WILL BE BACK
STUART LANCASTER believes Ireland are on course to bid successfully for the 2023 Rugby World Cup having seen England win the right to stage the 2015 tournament.
Ireland rolled out the big guns in London yesterday morning for their bid presentation that went up against South Africa and France, with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Brian O’driscoll lending their weight to proceedings.
World Rugby will make their choice on November 15 but the Irish bid is favourite, despite France’s offer to pay £150million to stage the tournament – £30m more than World Rugby have asked for.
Lancaster was working for the RFU when England launched their 2015 bid but became head coach of the Red Rose who embarrassing GROWING concerns over Jamie Heaslip’s fitness are unfounded, according to Leinster coach Stuart Lancaster.
It was reported yesterday the 34-year-old is in danger of missing the November internationals after his return from a serious back injury stalled. “I am not concerned in that regard,” said Lancaster. “It is frustrating. I feel for him. He is such a professional, diligent in terms of his rehab.
“He is going to get there but it is the not knowing that is most frustrating for him. We want to make sure he is 100% right before he comes back but he will be back.”
Meanwhile, England scrumhalf Ben Youngs has warned player power could spread from the NFL to rugby union if welfare concerns are not addressed.
Unease over the workload demanded of stars increased at the weekend with the long-term injury to Billy Vunipola.
Players union boss Damian Hopley refuses to rule out strike action if concerns are ignored. And Youngs said: “If it comes to it, guys will stand up for what they feel is right to protect themselves.”
Youngs spoke out 24 hours after US sports stars, particularly in the NFL, took matters into their own hands in unprecedented fashion.
Their grievance – racial and social injustice – is different but there is a sense in rugby that players are ready to rise up too and have their voices heard.