Rugby Digest

A round-up of today's other Rugby stories in brief...

Best decision this morning

DISCIPLINARY HEARING: The Northampton forward Neil Best will this morning discover his fate after appearing before English Rugby Football Union disciplinary chiefs.

The Ireland international flanker was cited for allegedly making contact with the eye or eye area of Wasps and England star James Haskell with his hand during an English Premiership game 10 days ago. But after a two-and-a-half-hour hearing in London yesterday, attended by Best, the three-man RFU panel decided on further discussions.

The 29-year-old, capped 18 times by Ireland, could face a lengthy ban. It was only his third English Premiership appearance after joining Northampton from Ulster in the summer.

SA may tour without team manager

TOUR NEWS: South Africa may be forced to embark on their end-of-season tour to England, Scotland and Wales without a team manager. Acting incumbent Andy Marinos, who filled the position on a caretaker basis after no suitable candidate could be found before the June internationals, has left to become the new temporary managing director for SA Rugby.

And Professor Jannie Ferreira, who has been tasked by SA Rugby to find a replacement, has admitted there is little time to find a new man.

"I'll grant you that we're rather pressured as far as time is concerned," said Ferreira, who is the president of the Golden Lions Rugby Union.

"We first have to get a proper job description before we can continue the process."

Japan make dual bid for World Cup 

WORLD CUP: THE Japan Rugby Football Union chairman Nobby Mashimo has confirmed his country has made a formal bid to host the World Cup in both 2015 and 2019.

The JRFU lost out to New Zealand for the right to host the 2011 tournament, but Mashimo is trying again as he believes a winning Japanese bid will unlock the door for rugby's future growth in Asia.

"We are bidding to host the Rugby World Cup not just for Japan but for Asia," he said. "Bringing the RWC to Japan and Asia will unlock the potential of rugby as a truly global sport.

"It will not only bring rugby closer to the Asian community, but will foster the growth of the sport worldwide and spread the rugby spirit of teamwork and respect."

In August, the International Rugby Board reported a record response from countries looking to bid to host the two editions of the World Cup.

A total of 10 unions formally expressed an intention to host either tournament after all IRB member unions were invited to put a bid forward.

Australia, England, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Scotland, South Africa and Wales formally confirmed their interest in hosting RWC 2015.

Meanwhile, Australia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Russia, Scotland, South Africa and Wales submitted an expression of interest in tendering for the 2019 tournament.

Glasgow sign Nunez Piossek

NEW SIGNING: Glasgow yesterday confirmed the signing of Argentina's record try-scorer Jose Maria Nunez Piossek subject to a visa and a medical.

The 31-year-old Nunez Piossek, who can play on the wing or at fullback and once touched down nine times in a Test match against Paraguay, will join close friend and Pumas team-mate Bernardo Stortoni at Firhill.

Head coach Sean Lineen hailed the impending arrival of the new man, saying: "I'm delighted to have Jose on board. He's an experienced international and definitely knows where the tryline is.

"He is a pretty important signing in terms of the experience he'll bring to the squad. He's also very good value for money.

"I'm also looking for Jose to be a big influence on our young Scottish players such as Chris Kinloch, Ruaridh Jackson and Peter Horne who is aligned to Glasgow from the National Academy."