Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding went on trial at Belfast crown court yesterday charged with raping the same woman at a party in Jackson’s home in 2016.
Jackson, 26, and his Ulster team-mate Olding, 24, both deny the charge. The former has also been charged with sexual assault. Two other men face charges in connection with the same alleged incident. The trial is scheduled to continue for five weeks. Neither player will play at club or national level until the matter is concluded, the IRFU has said.
Wilson ready for comeback
Scotland’s Ryan Wilson says that he is ready to make an impact in Saturday’s Six Nations opener against Wales despite having been out with an ankle injury for the past six weeks.
“The S&C [strength and conditioning] coaches have all sorts of things up their sleeves in terms of plans and stuff,” Wilson, 28, said. “Talking for myself, I could go straight back into a game but a lot of it is just mindset, just telling yourself you are not tired and keeping going. I will also be a lot fresher. I have not had five weeks of bashing myself to pieces before a Six Nations so I am coming in quite fresh. I am excited.”
O’Mahony prioritises Tests
Peter O’Mahony outlined yesterday how the prospect of playing for Ireland at the Stade de France on Saturday convinced him to sign a new contract with the IRFU last month, rather than consider a move to France.
“These are the days you want to play rugby, from someone who’s growing up in Ireland and wanting to play for Ireland since they were small,” the Munster captain said. “They had to be a priority.”
Ngatai joins Kiwi exodus
Charlie Ngatai has continued the exodus of fringe players from New Zealand before the 2019 World Cup. The 27-year-old, whose only Test for the All Blacks came in 2015, appeared set for a long stay in the team after the last World Cup but suffered a concussion in early 2016 that kept him out of rugby for 11 months. “I’m likely looking to head overseas, and more likely over to France, at the end of the season,” Ngatai said.