South African back row Venter signs for Gloucester
South African back row James Venter will join Gloucester from Durban-based Sharks ahead of next season.The 28-year-old began his career at Lions in Johannesburg before moving to Sharks in 2020, where he has made 46 appearances."I'm pleased to have signed for Gloucester Rugby next season. I was really impressed by the vision the club has for the future, and I'm looking forward to playing my part in that," Venter told Gloucester's website., external"I've heard amazing things about Kingsholm and the incredible support from the fans. That played a huge role in my decision to move to England. I can't wait to experience it all first-hand."Gloucester are third in the Premiership table, level on points with fourth-placed Leicester Tigers.They visit leaders Bath when the league returns after the completion of the Six Nations on Saturday, 22 March.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
6 hours ago
- BBC News
Premiership rebrands to become the 'Prem' from next season
The Premiership - the top flight of English rugby union - will become the 'Gallagher Prem' next season as it rebrands to emphasise the physicality and intensity of the makeover will include a new orange logo which will be shown to fans, both at Allianz Stadium and watching on television, before Saturday's final between Bath and Leicester is hoped that shortening the league's name will help it "talk how fans talk" and give it a less corporate, more informal also believe showcasing the confrontational nature of the sport, alongside players' athleticism and skill, will draw in new, younger fans. The Premiership says it recorded 30% growth in fans between the ages of 18-34 between 2023 and 2024."The research showed physicality was a key part of the appeal of rugby," the Premiership's chief growth officer Rob Calder told BBC Sport."That came through very strongly, not just with existing audiences, but wider audiences as well."It can't just simply be that. There's got to be some light and dark to it."That's where the incredible skill, the incredible pace, the decision-making under pressure is so important. Precision in training and then bravery in execution."We want to talk about all those things." The Prem will focus on delivering more action and behind-the-scenes content to YouTube and social media, with big hits, young stars and emotional moments showcased alongside tries and match marketing push is part of a drive for growth, investment and subsequent financial security after the chastening demise of Worcester, Wasps and London Irish, who all went bust in the 2022-23 Premiership believes that a franchise system - with on-pitch relegation scrapped, but teams obliged to hit centrally-set standards on and off the pitch - would attract a flush of new to such an expansion model has the backing of Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney, but will need the approval of the RFU Council to become second-tier Championship announced in May that it would similarly change its name for the start of next season, opting for 'Champ Rugby'.The Six Nations has also recently rebranded. The tournament unveiled a new orange logo in December, with the majority of fans unimpressed.
The Courier
7 hours ago
- The Courier
Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen spells out why he is excited to be back at Dunfermline Athletic
Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen hopes both he and Dunfermline can thrive – rather than simply survive – this season under Neil Lennon. The defender has penned a new 12-month contract with the Pars, who activated an option in the agreement signed by the former Leeds United last season. The 20-year-old arrived on a short-term deal at the start of February and made a huge impact at the heart of the Fifers rearguard. He was an ever-present at the back as the East End Park men successfully avoided relegation to League One. However, the Scotland U/21 cap is convinced there will be better things ahead for Dunfermline after Lennon's decision to stay on as manager. 'It's good to be back. I'm excited for the season,' he said after putting pen to paper at the club on Friday. 'Obviously, I enjoyed my time here last season. So, I'm looking to kick on again this season and hopefully improve individually and as a team. 'Last season, we managed to survive. But I think we'll be looking at the other end of the table going into this season. 'It's a tough league. Anyone can beat anyone, we know that. 'So I think just take the positives from last season and keep doing those things. And the things that we weren't so good at, build on that.' Dunfermline finished the campaign in seventh place after bottom side Hamilton Accies were deducted 15 points due to SPFL rule breaches. But, with just nine wins from 36 league games, there will have to be major improvements if the Pars are to achieve their stated aim of pushing for promotion to the Premiership. Chilokoa-Mullen saw enough in his seven matches in charge to know that Lennon's experience of winning silverware and competing in Europe with previous clubs Celtic and Hibernian could prove invaluable. 'One of the main things was playing regularly,' he added as he surveyed his time with the Fifers last season. 'It's my first real experience of men's football. 'That's something I needed and I enjoyed that. 'And working under an experienced manager, Neil Lennon, and playing with experienced players, they're obviously helping me. '[Lennon] has got lots of experience. He's worked with loads of top players. It's always good. He can pass things down to all of us, really. 'I think he wants us to dominate games this season. 'Obviously, last season, he didn't have that much time with us. So, I don't think he could really establish the full way he wanted to play in the short period of time. 'But this season, he wants us to dominate games, have the ball – and score more goals.'
The Courier
7 hours ago
- The Courier
Raith Rovers give fresh details of potential partnership with Rangers as they insist fans will have final say
Raith Rovers insist fans will have the final say after confirming 'co-operation' discussions have taken place with Rangers. The Stark's Park side have been linked with a tie-in with the Ibrox outfit under new rules encouraging clubs to enter into partnerships with teams in different divisions. The initiative, for players under the age of 21 who qualify for Scotland, is designed to expose more youngsters to first-team football through flexible loans. However, the Kirkcaldy outfit have confessed a collaboration could also involve players who fall outside the terms of the 'co-operation'. Director Ruaridh Kilgour says Raith recognise some supporters may not agree with such a formal agreement, with some fearing Barry Robson's side could lose out as a 'feeder team' for a Premiership club. However, with talks having stalled following Rangers' takeover, he has reassured fans they will be consulted if there are any developments. 'We first heard about this [co-operation system] probably at the tail end of last year,' he explained. 'And then it's become a bit more popular in conversation in the last two months as clubs are starting to now look at who they could potentially partner with. 'If I'm being honest it's not kind of one of [technical director] John Potter's priorities right now. There's a lot of other things going on, like just basically building a squad through the transfer window. 'But, completely out of the blue, Rangers contacted John and asked him to go for a meeting at Murray Park with Nils Koppen, the then technical director. 'They said that they'd pinpointed Raith Rovers as someone they would like to have a partnership with to develop their young players. 'They then came to Stark's Park the week after to have a look around and see what the facilities are like, which again they were really impressed with. 'The way it was left was that we asked them to come up with a proposal of what this could look like. 'They saw this as something where they could potentially send us other players. So players who are maybe a bit older than 21 and also players who weren't Scottish. 'It was left with Rangers to draw up a proposal.' Raith are awaiting a formal response and Koppen has since left his role following Rangers' takeover. In an interview with Raith TV, Kilgour added: 'The way we will then approach that is decided on three factors. 'Number one will be a football factor where Barry [Robson] and John would make a decision based purely on the playing side of it. 'We as a board would make a financial decision on it about how this can help us with our budget, in terms of what the cost would be to bring in these players – or maybe they would be free, who knows. 'And then finally – and most importantly – there'd be a kind of brand perspective where we would put it to supporters. 'Because this is one of those decisions where we feel supporters should be consulted. And the reason for that is we know that some supporters will not like the potential to be partnered with other clubs. 'So we would present all the facts, we'd present the opinion of Barry, we'd present the opinion of us as a board and we would let the supporters make the final decision.'
