Here are your rugby evening headlines for Tuesday, 4 December.
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Champions Cup hopeful of confirming travel exemptions
Champions Cup bosses hope to confirm travel exemptions for upcoming games and the position on round two postponements in the coming days.
Pool rounds three and four are scheduled to take place in the middle of January but all of that is complicated by the small matter of a number of round two postponements involving French and English clubs which still need to be rescheduled.
Meanwhile Leinster still maintain that tournament organisers EPCR should revise their decision to award Montpellier the points from their cancelled fixture on December 17. The Scarlets and Ospreys are also unhappy they had to forfeit matches before others received the option of postponement after France imposed a travel ban.
“EPCR is continuing to work with the leagues and unions to obtain assurances that travel exemptions for players, club staff and match officials will be in place for matches in Rounds 3 and 4 of the Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup," read a statement from the organisation today.
It is hoped that those assurances will be forthcoming by the end of this week, and that new dates will be announced for the postponed round two games.
If travel exemptions cannot be obtained, it leaves the competition facing a farcical situation.
Former Ireland international sacked by Zebre
Michael Bradley has been sacked as head coach of Italian club Zebre.
The former Ireland international had been in charge of the United Rugby Championship side since 2017 but they have consistently struggled for wins in recent years.
Zebre have lost all eight of their games in the URC and Challenge Cup so far this season.
Bradley has previously coached at Edinburgh, Connacht and Georgia - as well as taking the Ireland job on an interim basis.
He was appointed head coach of Zebre in 2017 but his time in charge of the Parma-based club has now ended.
“Zebre Rugby Club reports that Michael Bradley has been relieved of his post as head coach of the franchise,” reads a statement from the club.
“The club has taken this decision in anticipation of the technical renewal path planned for the coming seasons.
“The whole franchise wishes to express its utmost gratitude to Michael for the commitment and contribution made over the years and for the wonderful human and professional journey undertaken together.
“Best wishes to Michael for the continuation of his career.”
Ex-Lions coach coy on Munster head coach role
Former Lions forward coach Graham Rowntree remains in the running to take over from Johann van Graan as Munster head coach after the forwards' coach committed his future to the province.
The former England prop signed a two-year deal that will see him remain at the province until at least June 2024 and, while he may continue in his current role as forward coach, he could also earn himself a promotion as the search for van Graan's replacement goes on.
Some big names have been linked but Rowntree is vastly experienced after working as forwards coach with Leicester Tigers, England, the Lions, Harlequins and Georgia.
However, he remained coy when asked about potentially stepping into the head coach role.
"I'm delighted to be re-signed in my current capacity," he said.
"The head coach question, well that's one for another day. But what I can tell you is that the club and all the parties concerned are very aware of my coaching aspirations.
"I like it here so much. I think I've said before what I think of the club and the people here. My family have settled really well. I asked to sign for five years but they wouldn't have it," he said.
"I'm just enjoying my time here and I'm delighted.
"The players are a humble group who want to get better.
"My job is to help them get better day in, day out. My family have been well received and it's important in our world to have good balance of work and play time - I've enjoyed that here. And I'm enjoying working with the coaches and players, that's it really."
Bristol set to sign England U20s star
Former England U20s winger Gabriel Ibitoye is closing in on a Premiership return after reportedly agreeing to join Bristol Bears at the end of this season.
The ex- Harlequins star left The Stoop in July 2020 to move to France, where he played for a relegated Agen side before agreeing an early exit to join Montpellier as a medical joker.
The 23-year-old has since gone on to shine with Israel's first professional rugby outfit, the Tel Aviv Heat, after he joined the club this past September.
And The Times now report that Ibitoye has agreed to join Pat Lam's Bristol ahead of the 2022/23 Premiership campaign.
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