Latest news with #DuhanVanDerMerwe
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Van der Merwe could make Edinburgh return against Bulls
Duhan van der Merwe "has a chance" of returning to action in Edinburgh's URC quarter-final away to Bulls on Saturday, says head coach Sean Everitt. Scotland's record try-scorer has been sidelined since March after suffering ankle ligament damage, an injury that cast some doubt on whether he would be fit for involvement with the Lions this der Merwe, who had surgery in April, has flown with Edinburgh to his birth-country with a view to being included in the squad for Saturday's last-eight clash in South Africa."Duhan will be flying with the team," the head coach said."He's got one more training session to get through for his return to play but at the moment he's booked on the flight to Pretoria, and everyone that's on the flight has a chance of being involved in the match 23. "We have to see how he responds to the flight, like everyone else, and obviously we've got another training session to get through. "He has been in and out of training last week and he finished a full day of training today, which was a double session, and hopefully he gets through tomorrow."Part of his rehabilitation programme is to be ready to return to rugby from a fitness point of view, but it's just the fact that he hasn't been involved in many 15 v 15 sessions, so we're hoping that he can hit the ground running."Despite his injury, Van der Merwe was selected in Andy Farrell's Lions squad earlier this month and Everitt said the 29-year-old wing is eager to get some game time under his belt for his club before he goes to Australia in the summer."I think it's one thing playing for the British and Irish Lions, and the second thing is that every performance that he puts in from now on will help in his selection in the Test team," Everitt added."That's the ultimate goal, playing Test rugby for the Lions against Australia. So, yes, he'll be keen to play, but we won't put him on the field if he's not ready."
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Forget the Aussie accent, Tuipulotu is 'all in' on securing a Tour victory for the Lions Down Under
When the big screen at London's O2 Arena cut live to Glasgow on the day of the British & Irish Lions squad announcement earlier this month, an image of a beaming Sione Tuipulotu appeared almost instantaneously. The Scotland captain then began to speak from the heart, emphasising his delight at Lions selection after months of injury turmoil and worry. As he did so, there was a noticeable sense of shock in the room at Tuipulotu's Australian accent. It seemed many were somehow oblivious to the powerful centre's background. Tuipulotu is not the only 2025 Lion whose journey began in the southern hemisphere. He and fellow Scots Pierre Schoeman and Duhan van der Merwe, as well as Irishmen Bundee Aki, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen and James Lowe were all born and started their rugby careers in either Australia, South Africa or New Zealand. Their selection by Lions head coach Andy Farrell has attracted criticism in some quarters, mainly from those ignorant both of World Rugby's eligibility rules and the global world in which we all live in the year 2025. Lions great Willie John McBride was one voice of note. McBride said he was 'bothered' by the selection of those players. But at the first Lions meet-up in Richmond over the weekend, Tuipulotu, Lowe and Gibson-Park all hit back at the critics, reiterating how much Lions selection has meant to them. 'I really wanted to be a Lion because I know how much it means to people over here,' said Tuipulotu, who made his long-awaited return from injury for Glasgow last weekend. 'I had gone all in with Scotland. I just felt what better way to prove my allegiance to Scotland than go all in and try and make the Lions? That's why it meant so much to me. 'In those early days (with Scotland), you have that feeling of 'Am I part of this?' I feel like talking is one thing, but showing people how much it means with how I play is another. Of course, you get those feelings you want to prove yourself. 'The best way to do that is on the field and show your commitment that way.' Well said. It will be extra special for Tuipulotu that it is Australia, the country of his birth, who he will face with the Lions. Tuipulotu, 28, qualifies for Scotland through his Greenock-born grandmother Jaqueline Thomson, who watched him take on the Wallabies last autumn. 'When my gran came over before the Australia game, it gave eyes to the public that my story is authentic,' Tuipulotu said. 'I'm looking forward to showing how committed I am to the Lions with how I play. I play better when there is a chip on my shoulder. 'All of that (criticism) just adds to that. I've been nothing but embraced by the Scottish public since I've been playing for Scotland. There are always going to be a couple of people (critics) like there are for some of the Irish boys, but I take that in my stride. 'I don't blame those people. I didn't grow up dreaming of playing for Scotland or the Lions - that's the truth. But this is where my path has led me. I'm all in for this Lions team, for Scotland and for Glasgow. I genuinely believe this is where I'm supposed to be. 'I've been led here for a reason.' Leinster wing Lowe qualified for Ireland under residency rules rather than through a direct relative. Now, he too is a Lion and a fully deserving one at that. 'When you don't have the blood running through your veins, there is a little bit of that (criticism),' Lowe said. 'When I was first selected for Ireland, all the people come out of the woodwork saying: 'How is this person representing Ireland?' 'I'm sure it was the same for Sione. But the rules are there. We've all done our time. I am fully embedded in the culture of Ireland. Sione's captained Scotland. You don't have to question where his allegiance lies.' Born in Nelson, New Zealand, Lowe will become one of just a handful of players to have featured both for and against the Lions this summer. In 2017, he was part of the Mâori All Blacks side who faced the might of Britain and Ireland. Now, he is poised to wear a red shirt. 'It means so, so much,' Lowe, 32, said of his new life in Ireland. 'Leinster and Ireland have given me everything. They've made me a lot better as a rugby player, they've looked after me physically and they've given me time off to get back to New Zealand when I need it. 'It's something I'll forever be grateful for. The boys still slag me for my accent, but we are so well connected in so many ways. Everyone's got a different story. My story didn't start in Ireland. But I can see it ending in Ireland. My two kids were born in Ireland. My wife and I are super happy with everything Ireland has given us and we don't see ourselves moving. 'We've got our residency and I don't think you are going to get rid of us any time soon.' Like Lowe, scrum-half Gibson-Park was also born in New Zealand but qualified for Ireland on residency. 'We don't make the eligibility rules. We're eligible to play,' said the man who is likely to be Farrell's first-choice Lions No 9 in Australia. 'It's not something I give a whole lot of thought to. People obviously have their opinions. That's fine.' Lowe added: 'I've been fortunate to represent Ireland and I still pinch myself every time I get to wear that jersey. To be recognised and picked (for the Lions) is surreal. My old boy back in Nelson, where I grew up, walks around in Leinster, Ireland and now Lions kit. Everyone thinks: 'Who is this crazy old boy in all this kit?' He's just a proud boy now.' Given his other position as Ireland boss, it will be surprising if Farrell doesn't call heavily on the players he knows well. Gibson-Park and Lowe are two of 15 Irishmen in the 38-man Lions squad. Powerful ball carrier Tuipulotu is also a likely Test starter in the centre. He missed the Six Nations due to a pectoral injury which put his Lions place in severe doubt, but played 40 minutes in Glasgow's United Rugby Championship defeat by Leinster last Saturday. The Dublin game was Tuipulotu's first rugby since January. 'I was just stoked to get through it,' he added. 'I don't think I've been much more nervous before a game than that one because of my injury. 'It was the first time I was out for that long.' Tuipulotu described himself as feeling 'fresh as a daisy' ahead of the Lions tour and Glasgow's end-of-season URC run-in. He added: 'I was generally really happy playing rugby. I've looked around the Glasgow changing room recently and obviously with all the injuries we've had, some of the boys have had to play so much rugby. I've had three or four months getting my body right. 'My legs felt amazing. I'm just fresh, mentally as well. I think that's the most important thing for me. I just feel very eager to contribute. I feel kind of responsible as well because I've been out for four months. I feel like it's time for me to lift a load now and try and get us over the line again.' Defending URC champions Glasgow face the Stormers in the first round of the league's play-off structure. Then will come the Lions in Australia. It promises to be a trip to remember, especially for first-time tourists like Tuipulotu, Lowe and Gibson-Park. Some may have questioned their selection. But you certainly can't doubt their commitment. 'Any athlete coming back from a long-term injury battles doubts,' Tuipulotu said. 'Will you be the same player? I felt all those doubts didn't really matter because I don't doubt my appetite for the game. I wanted to be in control of whether I got selected or not. 'I believed I was doing that up to the point I got hurt. When you get that, I suppose the chance to influence the situation is taken away from you. I just felt it was over for me. 'I was emotional because I'd been playing the best rugby of my life up until that point and then you get hurt and you feel like it's all gone. 'But I believe genuinely in God's timing and I think maybe this is how my journey was supposed to go. I feel rejuvenated, fresh and ready to go and contribute. 'And that's why I speak about divine intervention. That's what I feel it is. I just feel like it's not all me. And that's why I'm just grateful. I just want to grab this opportunity because I'll never get it again - to go back to Australia and play for the Lions. Now, I feel like I'm in career-best shape mentally and physically and ready to go.' All 38 Lions players were present at the team's first camp at various points over the course of Sunday and Monday. Farrell's squad met as a group for the first time, bonding over coffee. They also signed Lions jerseys and undertook media, sponsorship and commercial duties. Tuipulotu, Lowe and Gibson-Park all addressed the press. It felt like the Lions wanted to get the issue of what it must be remembered has been minimal criticism of their selection out of the way and that was a canny move. Now, all roads lead to Australia once the small matter of domestic titles across Britain and Ireland are sorted out. This is a tour that can't come soon enough for many, especially as the last Lions trip to South Africa in 2021 was ruined by the Covid-19 pandemic. 'I always backed myself that I could have healed fast enough to make myself eligible. With all my injuries in my career, I've come back quickly,' Tuipulotu said. 'I put that down to a lot of things, maybe my genetics. But also when I'm hurt, I don't muck around and get my body right. I put it down to my discipline. 'I'm not happy when I'm not playing rugby. I never had a doubt that I would get my body right and ready to go.'
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Edinburgh make four changes for must-win game in Galway
Edinburgh have made four changes to the side knocked out of Europe by Bath for their crucial URC trip to face Connacht on Saturday. The capital side head to Galway needing a win to keep their play-off hopes alive. Edinburgh are 10th in the table, two places and two points outside the top eight, with two matches of the regular season remaining. Lock Marshall Sykes and back-rower Ben Muncaster come into the forward pack, while centre Mosese Tuipulotu and wing Jack Brown also start. Magnus Bradbury captains the side in the absence of the rested Grant Gilchrist, while Jamie Ritchie and Harry Patterson both miss out with concussion. Pierre Schoeman starts in the front row fresh from his call-up to the British and Irish Lions, though fellow Lion Duhan van der Merwe is still not ready for action after an injury layoff. Darcy Graham starts and will have a point to prove after missing out on Andy Farrell's 38-man squad. "I think the results don't reflect our performances over the past couple of weeks," said Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt. "If you look back at the Sharks game and at Bath, the effort and the work and energy that the guys have put in on the park has been admirable. So we'd look for the same there. What I'm looking at this week is for more accuracy and what we're good at. "The result's vitally important tomorrow. Obviously, it's a challenge playing in Galway. "We've had a good week of preparation. We've got over the Bath game and the guys are ready to go." Edinburgh: Wes Goosen, Darcy Graham, Matt Currie, Mosese Tuipulotu, Jack Brown, Ross Thompson, Ali Price; Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, D'arcy Rae, Marshall Sykes, Sam Skinner, Ben Muncaster, Hamish Watson, Magnus Bradbury (c) Replacements: Paddy Harrison, Boan Venter, Javan Sebastian, Glen Young, Liam McConnell; Charlie Shiel, Ben Healy, James Lang
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Edinburgh make four changes for must-win game in Galway
Edinburgh have made four changes to the side knocked out of Europe by Bath for their crucial URC trip to face capital side head to Galway needing a win to keep their play-off hopes are 10th in the table, two places and two points outside the top eight, with two matches of the regular season Marshall Sykes and back-rower Ben Muncaster come into the forward pack, while centre Mosese Tuipulotu and wing Jack Brown also Bradbury captains the side in the absence of the rested Grant Gilchrist, while Jamie Ritchie and Harry Patterson both miss out with Schoeman starts in the front row fresh from his call-up to the British and Irish Lions, though fellow Lion Duhan van der Merwe is still not ready for action after an injury Graham starts and will have a point to prove after missing out on Andy Farrell's 38-man squad."I think the results don't reflect our performances over the past couple of weeks," said Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt."If you look back at the Sharks game and at Bath, the effort and the work and energy that the guys have put in on the park has been admirable. So we'd look for the same there. What I'm looking at this week is for more accuracy and what we're good at."The result's vitally important tomorrow. Obviously, it's a challenge playing in Galway."We've had a good week of preparation. We've got over the Bath game and the guys are ready to go."Edinburgh: Wes Goosen, Darcy Graham, Matt Currie, Mosese Tuipulotu, Jack Brown, Ross Thompson, Ali Price; Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, D'arcy Rae, Marshall Sykes, Sam Skinner, Ben Muncaster, Hamish Watson, Magnus Bradbury (c)Replacements: Paddy Harrison, Boan Venter, Javan Sebastian, Glen Young, Liam McConnell; Charlie Shiel, Ben Healy, James Lang
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Fighter' Graham will bounce back from Lions hurt
Darcy Graham is a "fighter" who will bounce back from missing out on selection for the British and Irish Lions, according to Edinburgh head coach Sean Scots were selected in Andy Farrell's 38-man squad for this summer's tour to Australia, but the omission of Graham was a surprise to says the 27-year-old - who has been in fine form in the URC and in European games after missing a chunk of the Six Nations - was upset but insists that his chance will come again."He's obviously disappointed," the Edinburgh coach said. "I did tell him that he's young enough to make the next one. His opportunity will come."He's a fighter. It wasn't an easy year for him with the injuries that he had. He came back flying and that's the type of guy he is."The character that you see on the field is the character that you have off the field. He'll be back fighting for a place and hoping that an opportunity arises." Graham's Edinburgh team-mates Pierre Schoeman and Duhan van der Merwe will be heading to Australia with the Lions this with injury replacements playing a significant role in previous Lions tours, Everett has impressed on Graham, back row Jamie Ritchie and lock Grant Gilchrist - among others - the importance of staying sharp and ready in case that call comes."There's a lot of rugby to be played between now and the Lions trip," Everett said."More than likely, there'll be one or two guys that drop out because of injuries and then the door opens. "You don't know who they're going to select next. There's certain areas within that squad that are thin, so there could be more than just one guy putting his hand up."You've got to take the rough with the smooth, show resilience, and keep on fighting."
