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RugbyPass FIFA Pros: The search to find rugby's greatest FIFA player continues in the southern hemisphere

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to starve rugby fans around the world of real life action, RugbyPass has decided to bring the action to the fans – albeit from the comfort of the lounges of the world’s best rugby players.

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Welcome to the second edition of the RugbyPass FIFA Pros, a charity tournament featuring some of rugby’s top names duking it out against one another over PlayStation in a quest to find out who the best FIFA player is on each side of the globe.

It’s only been a matter of days since England star Mako Vunipola was crowned the champion of the inaugural FIFA Pros tournament, where he fought off leading players from around Europe to claim top honours in the northern hemisphere competition.

The Saracens and British and Irish Lions prop has since donated his US$2000 prize to Captain Tom Moore’s NHS fundraiser, and now it’s time to see who will join Vunipola in the winners’ circle from the south of the equator.

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16 players from New Zealand, Australia and Japan have thrown their hats into the ring as they eye up FIFA supremacy down south, and it all kicks off on Tuesday with the opening two matches of the knockout bracket.

Former All Blacks fullback turned Sky Sport presenter Israel Dagg will open the tournament against Hurricanes speedster Wes Goosen, while Crusaders starlet Will Jordan will take on experienced Honda Heat lock Josh Bekhuis that same day.

Two more matches of the tournament’s opening round will be released each day over the coming week, with Wednesday’s schedule seeing All Blacks prop Angus Ta’avao pitted against Wallabies veteran Kurtley Beale, while Chiefs flyer Shaun Stevenson will play Hurricanes pivot Jackson Garden-Bachop.

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Elsewhere, All Blacks star Aaron Smith will do battle against Blues and USA Eagles flanker Tony Lamborn on Thursday, the same day that Chiefs midfielder Alex Nankivell clashes with ex-All Blacks and current Ricoh Black Rams loose forward Elliot Dixon.

The opening round of the tournament concludes on Friday, when Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall challenges former teammate and Wallabies loose forward Pete Samu, and All Blacks bruiser Ngani Laumape faces off against one-test Highlanders playmaker Josh Ioane.

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To re-watch the European tournament or to keep up to date with the southern hemisphere edition, make sure to follow the RugbyPass Instagram (here), Facebook (here) and YouTube (here) accounts for daily videos and highlights of all the action.

RugbyPass FIFA Pros Southern Hemisphere Opening Round Draw

Tuesday:

Israel Dagg (Sky Sport) vs Wes Goosen (Hurricanes)
Will Jordan (Crusaders) vs Josh Bekhuis (Honda Heat)

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Wednesday:

Angus Ta’avao (Chiefs) vs Kurtley Beale (Waratahs)
Shaun Stevenson (Chiefs) vs Jackson Garden-Bachop (Hurricanes)

Thursday:

Aaron Smith (Highlanders) vs Tony Lamborn (Blues)
Alex Nankivell (Chiefs) vs Elliot Dixon (Ricoh Black Rams)

Friday:

Bryn Hall (Crusaders) vs Pete Samu (Brumbies)
Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes) vs Josh Ioane (Highlanders)

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J
JW 46 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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