Here are the latest rugby headlines on Thursday, July 13.
Johnny Sexton's moment of truth
Johnny Sexton's potentially career-ending moment of truth arrives today as the Ireland captain faces a disciplinary hearing that could see him banned.
The Ireland captain had a misconduct complaint lodged against him following his behaviour towards match officials in the wake of Leinster's Heineken Champions Cup final defeat by La Rochelle on May 20. Sexton did not play in the game at Dublin's Aviva Stadium due to his continued recovery from a groin injury. But he went on to the pitch after the Leinster defeat, allegedly branding South African referee Jaco Peyper and other match officials a "f***ing disgrace".
Tournament organiser European Professional Club Rugby submitted misconduct complaints against 37-year-old Sexton and Leinster following what it described as a "thorough fact-finding and careful review" of Sexton's actions, and also Leinster for not exercising reasonable control over their player.
Sexton, who intends to retire after the World Cup in France later this year, will now appear by video conference call before an independent disciplinary panel chaired by Christopher Quinlan KC.
Ireland's opening World Cup warm-up match is against Italy on August 5, followed by matches against England and Samoa. Their first World Cup game sees them tackle Romania in Bordeaux on September 9, so a suspension for Sexton has potential to affect his availability. There have been suggestions Sexton could face a lengthy ban that may even stop him from participating in some or all of the World Cup, which would end his career in the worst possible way.
Announcing the disciplinary, EPCR said: "Misconduct complaints against the Leinster Rugby player, Johnny Sexton, and against Leinster Rugby, arising from the Heineken Champions Cup final on Saturday May 20 2023, have been lodged by EPCR. After thorough fact-finding and careful review of Johnny Sexton's behaviour towards match officials after the match, in accordance with EPCR regulations, the EPCR disciplinary officer has submitted misconduct complaints so that an independent disciplinary panel can determine whether any misconduct has been committed by Mr Sexton (through his behaviour) and Leinster (through failing to exercise reasonable control over Mr Sexton)."
Patchell explains decision
Wales international Rhys Patchell has explained why he had to take up the opportunity of a lifetime to test himself in Super Rugby.
Patchell has signed for the Highlanders in New Zealand after being released by the Scarlets, turning down an offer from the Dragons in the process. Although disappointed to have been omitted from Wales' World Cup squad, the outside-half is happy with how things have turned out.
He told BBC Radio Wales: "Very rarely do we see anyone from the northern hemisphere go to the southern hemisphere. Normally it's the other way around. So on the balance of everything this chance probably wasn't going to be there in a year's, in two years' time if I was to sign another contract in the northern hemisphere. So I bit the bullet and decided to try my hand at Super Rugby.
"Would it have been nice to finish in Wales? The idea of doing that was lovely, of course. But equally rugby's a vehicle which allows me, specifically, to be able to travel the world and to see a different part of it and to try my hand in a different competition. This probably opens up the opportunity for me to do something else which is wonderful, and maybe I wouldn't have been brave enough to have taken the opportunity had it come around if I was currently in Switzerland being flogged and running my guts out and sucking in the big ones."
'Very emotional' Etzebeth to decide
Springboks captain Eben Etzebeth has yet to decide if he will request to return to South Africa or play in the Rugby Championship match against the All Blacks in Auckland on Saturday. The giant second row is grieving after the death of his father on Tuesday.
An SA Rugby official told AFP: “Springbok management will leave it up to Eben whether he wants to return home immediately or lead the team on Saturday. Our understanding is that Eben is very emotional at the moment as he was extremely close to his father."
His father, Harry, had been suffering from cancer.
Marler demanded Borthwick look him in eye
Joe Marler met with Steve Borthwick and demanded he look him in the eye so he could tell if he was a liar before accepting a place in England's World Cup training squad. Prop Marler, 33, has been recalled 18 months after his last Test appearance. He was initially reluctant to take the plunge again after previously retiring from international rugby before reversing his decision.
Marler told the BBC: "It got to the World Cup alignment camps a few months ago and I was named in that along with everybody else.
"But the night before I said to my wife Daisy: 'I'm not going to go. I don't think I can do it, the body is not quite [right].' She said: 'Are you having a laugh? You've got an opportunity to get back in, which is what you've wanted. At least hear what he's got to say.'
"I got in the meeting and I said [to Borthwick] 'I've come here and I needed to look you in the eyes and see whether you had lied to me or not'.
"I said I needed to know whether it was a genuine opportunity to get in [his] World Cup squad or whether [he] just wanted [me to be] a bag holder. Because if that is the case I would have [had] to give up and sacrifice quite a lot without any real pot of gold at the end of it, and there are other people who I think would prefer the experience.
"But I said if there's a real opportunity to get in the World Cup squad, then that will be my purpose. I'm all yours, and I'll give it everything I've got.
"He said to me: 'Joe, there is a real opportunity that if you work hard, then you can make it into the squad'. He did caveat it by saying: 'But you will have to run, and run, and run some more'."
