Biggest Winners and Losers in World Rugby for Weekend of December 5-7

Rugby is among the more openly contested sports at the elite level, where even the very best players and teams alike can go from soaring heights to disheartening lows in a matter of minutes.

Everyone goes through their mixed patches as this week's winners and losers can attest, with the European Rugby Champions Cup in particular providing a platform for shock in both a positive and negative sense.

England's European bastions, Martin Castrogiovanni and the Samoan Rugby Union are all among those to feature in this week's rundown for an array of reasons both encouraging and otherwise.

Loser: Brumbies Hierarchy Forced into Poorly Timed Change

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The Brumbies will employ a third CEO in the span of 12 months before the 2015 Super Rugby season after it was revealed by ESPN Scrum that Doug Edwards had been forced to depart.

Edwards was juggling the role in conjunction with his position at the head of a scrapbook business in Queensland, Australia, but illness of a colleague meant that it was no longer viable to divide his attentions.

The Canberra outfit had seen Andrew Fagan exit just a matter of months ago after an opportunity arose with the Australian Rugby Union, with Edwards now the latest change in such a critical role.

Commenting on his unfortunate decision to leave, Edwards is quoted as saying:

"

I really enjoyed my time at the Brumbies, but it has got to the stage where one of my business partners in Queensland has to leave the company, the pressures came with two other partners and something had to give.

I was trying to juggle two places and it wasn't fair on the Brumbies. I am pretty happy with the team they have got here and it's just a matter of getting the financial part right. I think they will have a great year on the field next year. There is a really good nucleus of people and I have been impressed with the enthusiasm they bring every day.

"

The Brumbies are hoping for better results on the pitch after falling out to the eventual champions, the Waratahs, in last season's semi-final, but matters off the pitch are less encouraging.

According to the report, the franchise is poised to announce record losses of $700,000 at their annual general meeting next week, but will be hoping Edwards' successor can help bring improved stability to the organisation.

Winner: Premiership's Travelling Giants Storm European Shores

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It was a good week to be an English away side in the European Champions Cup this weekend, where Bath, Saracens, Northampton Saints and Wasps all made their trips count in foreign territory.

Apart from Sarries—who emerged as 19-15 victors against the Sale Sharks—all those sides made trips to the continent, with Bath and Wasps taking wins from France, while Jim Mallinder's men prevailed in Treviso's backyard.

Bath's 30-5 mauling of Montpellier in particular was a promising result for the Premiership representatives in a slaughter that gives them hope in their ERCC pool and lifts them into contention to advance.

Saints more predictably ran riot en route to a 38-15 hammering of Treviso, but Wasps' 32-17 waltz past Castres also stands to give director of rugby Dai Young heart in searching for more European success.

Loser: Samoan Rugby Union's Turmoil Showing No Signs of Ending

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The lack of cohesion between the Samoan Rugby Union and its national team players was a negative tinge on this autumn's internationals, where a player boycott came close to threatening the side's series.

However, unsettled disputes off the pitch came to light this past week after the Samoa Observer's Ilia Likou reported Australian kit manufacturer BLK are suing for an estimated A$1.4 million (£750,000).

Likou wrote that documents obtained by the newspaper indicate the SRU are responsible for unpaid debts owed to BLK, but those same financial concerns that have threatened the team in recent years threaten to swiftly get worse.

The Pacific Island nation has done well to rise in a rugby sense in recent years, continuing to churn out world-class talents and showing promise as a team.

However, funds are needed in order to capitalise on those advancements—money that just isn't there.

With the Rugby World Cup next year and dark signs surrounding, it seems feasible that things will get worse before they get better.

Winner: Collies' Ryan Turner Registers Freakish Drop-out

It's often lambasted when players insist on playing the kicking game in union or league, gifting the ball back to the opposition when the preferred option is to have a go.

However, Collegians Collies playmaker Ryan Turner showcased perhaps the finest example of when it's perfectly OK to give the ball back this week against Dapto Canaries.

Australia's rugby league ranks witnessed a drop-out attempt the likes of which have rarely been seen before, where Turner's effort travelled from behind his own try line and straight past the opposition's.

With a "have some of that" whispered under his breath, Turner led his side down the pitch with what was undoubtedly one of the most puffed-out chests of his career. Wind or not, this was tremendous.

Loser: Martin Castrogiovanni Under Investigation for Expletive-Ridden Rant

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Warning: This report contains language NSFW.

Italian veteran Martin Castrogiovanni already has his fair share of admirers in the rugby community; there's arguably nobody greater to watch belting out the Azzurri anthem come international duty.

However, Toulon's cuddly prop added a few more to that list this weekend, where after losing to former club Leicester Tigers, he opened up about his feelings on the club and former head coach Richard Cockerill, per ESPN Scrum:

"

I thought f*****g Leicester were f*****g amateur. He was saying that people go for the money but he has a lot of f*****g squad players who get paid as well. I paid my own f*****g money to leave this club. I don't need the money to play rugby. I love this game and I used to love this club - I still love this club, but when people are up to here in water, they talk this talk but don't walk the walk.

I never want to speak with Cockers any more. I am the kind of guy that if I hate you, if you are not clear with me or if you have been a c***, how you say in English, I never want to speak to you any more. That's it. That's how I am. I am not fake. If I hate you, I say in your face and I will never speak to you again. Love me or hate me. I don't hate anyone. Peace and love. I just don't like c****.

"

Castrogiovanni has won back-to-back Heineken Cups since departing Welford Road for France, not to mention adding a Top 14 title to his growing list of club achievements.

However, the 33-year-old did apologise for tirade, the report providing further quotes:

"

I want to make amends for my profanity and apologise to everyone feeling offended by what I said. I'm sorry if my words have created misunderstandings. It also was not my intention to offend anyone, but only to point out my position after some statements.

I hate lies and hypocrisy. I have always been a loyal person and I have been loyal to all the people I worked with. I have always loved the Tigers.

"

Love him or hate him, it's always pleasing to see any sportsperson be genuine in defence of their own character, especially one as seemingly loveable as Castrogiovanni.

However, while one might snigger at the comments, he could face punishment for opening up in this manner, with an European Professional Club Rugby statement reading:

"

Our disciplinary officer is now investigating those incidents to determine, among other things, whether there are grounds to bring misconduct complaints against those involved.

The disciplinary officer has requested information from Leicester and the two players [Delon Armitage is also under investigation] and will also review all other available evidence before deciding what the next steps, if any, will be.

Should the disciplinary officer decide that there are grounds to bring a misconduct complaint in respect of one or both of the incidents, the case or cases would be heard by an independent disciplinary committee under the disciplinary rules.

"

It's slightly sad that a player's honesty should land him in hot water so quickly. but there is the fact that Castrogiovanni went about using his second language in a more-than-slightly vulgar manner.

For now, the Toulon monolith is free to attempt revenge against former club Tigers in the return fixture on Saturday in Toulon, but it remains to be seen if his track record will remain spotless.