With so much going on around the grounds each week in the rugby world, it's easy for some of the interesting, fun and crazy stories to slip through the cracks.
These are some of the stories you might have missed.
HOILES BACKS BEALE FOR SUPER RETURN
Former Wallaby Stephen Hoiles has backed Wallabies veteran Kurtley Beale to make his return to Super Rugby Pacific after he made his emotional return to the game last week.
Hoiles, now head coach of Randwick in Sydney's Shute Shield, said "there is no doubt" the utility back was ready to return to the professional game after he started at fly-half for Randwick in their 25-18 loss to Brothers in the Australian Club Championship in Brisbane.
Beale, who was cleared of rape charges in February, took to the field with a black arm band following the death of his younger brother William on Thursday night. Despite the emotional leadup, Beale proved to be one of the standout players on the field.
"In all honesty, he played 50 minutes and was probably the most dangerous looking player on the field," Hoiles said on Stan Sport's Between Two Posts.
"Excellent, sharp, fit, fast. And he needed that -- he had a very, very tough week. Condolences to his family.
"He just got cleared to play on the Monday and then sadly lost his brother on Thursday night. So we weren't sure until right up until kickoff if he'd play. But, yeah, he was really, really food on the field for Randwick.
"He just wanted to stay on it. I just thought a 35-year-old who hasn't played for 15 months, probably didn't need 80 minutes.
"I almost tore a hammy watching him."
Meanwhile, Waratahs and Randwick wing Triston Reilly said NSW would welcome the 95 Test veteran to the club with open arms.
"He went through whatever he needed to go through and he's come out the other side," Reilly said. "I'd love to see him back in the game.
"He's a very good player and I've always looked up to someone like him. I've always looked up to Kurtley, like he was one of the only Indigenous players that I sort of knew coming through rugby when I was growing up."
Rugby Australia rules state that Beale could only join a Super Rugby team as an injury replacement player.
WHITELOCK TAPPED FOR POTENTIAL ALL BLACKS RETURN
All Blacks legend Sam Whitelock is reportedly considering a shock return to the national side after New Zealand coach Scott Robertson approached him to resume his Test career.
The pair have a long history together at the Crusaders where they delivered seven Super Rugby titles and Robertson believes Whitelock still has plenty to give the All Blacks jersey, despite the lock stepping away from the international game at the end of the World Cup with 153 Test appearances.
According to a report in the NZ Herald, Robertson approached the 35-year-old to make his return in the June Test window after the season finishes in France, believing the former Crusaders captain still has enough gas for one or possibly two international seasons with his experience and rugby IQ one of the biggest drawcards to bring him back to the fold.
The post-World Cup exodus hit New Zealand hard with an accumulated 500-plus worth of Test caps leaving the squad including Dane Coles, Brodie Retallick, Aaron Smith and Richie Mou'unga, leaving a huge experience gap within the squad.
If Whitelock were to return it could see him surpass Wales lock Alun Wynn-Jones for the world record of most Test appearances.
MULIAINA TIPPING CRUSADERS DOWNWARD SPIRAL TO CONTINUE
It's been a hot mess of a start to the Super Rugby Pacific season for the Crusaders so far in 2024, falling to their worst start ever with a 0-4 record and the pressure is building to get their first win on the board.
But former All Black Mils Muliaina isn't backing the downward spiral to end any time soon with the Rugby World Cup winner backing the Blues to add to the Crusaders hurt and make it five losses on the trot for the men in red and black.
It was always going to be a tough start for the defending champions following the post-World Cup exodus, but a huge injury list has also taken its toll with the likes of Scott Barrett, Will Jordan, Leigh Halfpenny, and Tamati Williams all sidelined for extended periods.
Now travelling to Auckland to take on their fierce rivals, there are only a few brave souls tipping the Crusaders will be coming home with a win, and Muliaina isn't one of them.
"I think it does," Muliaina said on Stan Sports' The Call Up when asked if the Crusaders' winless run continues.
"I think given the form that the Blues have been in... I think this could be a game where the Blues really step up back at Eden Park.
"I think this is going to be a massive test for them [Crusaders]."
Dropping just two games to the Blues since 2014 there isn't much love lost between the two sides and there's certainly a few fans across New Zealand relishing in the Crusaders' swift downfall. Now with a record worse than that of their infamous 1996 season where they finished the season dead last, Muliaina believes "there is a lot of pressure" on the team to get things right.
"A lot of Kiwis north of Nelson are feeling pretty happy and enjoying this run of form from there. There is a bit of pressure," Muliaina added.
"This could be the game that the Blues really need to get right.
"They can either not play as well and let the Crusaders, who they're not far away, get that first game back as a winner as a huge game and then roll on, or they can actually keep that downward spiral happening with the Crusaders.
"Last week, that was theirs [Crusaders] to win and I haven't seen that before with the Crusaders when they've got the leadup and then they [normally] close the game out. Even with the Hurricanes going for the corner, I've been there when numerous teams have gone for the corner, they've been down the Crusaders have defended it or not given away those penalties.
"This is a lot of different territory for the Crusaders but there is a lot of pressure on that team at the moment but they've been a team that's come out of that sort of stuff in the past."
CRUSADERS GET SUPPORT FROM THE VERY TOP
The Crusaders' poor start to the season has caught more than just the rugby loving public's attention with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon adding to the discussion of the club's recent downfall.
Entering the 2024 season with a new coach and the loss of several key players, the Crusaders were always expected to take a bit of a hit, but to fall to a record 0-4 start has shocked pretty much everyone, and there's potential their record losing run could get worse.
But Mr Luxon isn't buying into any of the 'end of a dynasty' talk that has captured the imagination of Super Rugby Pacific watchers, instead he believes the team from Christchurch will turn their fortunes around quickly.
A long time Crusaders fan, Mr Luxon was born in Christchurch before he moved to Auckland later in life where he now represents his local electorate Botany. Despite the move north, he remains a hardened fan of the red and black and is confident the team will get back to winning ways quickly.
"Don't worry, they'll come back," Mr Luxon told the AM Show. "I think four games into it or whatever we are, second bottom on the ladder, but we've got plenty to play for, lots more to go and the Crusaders they win ugly, or they win nice, but they win so that's what's important."
Taking part in one of two Kiwi matchups this weekend, the Crusaders travel to Auckland to take on the Blues in one of the competition's fiercest rivalries with potential their record poor start could be extended, but history is on their side, winning 17 of the last 18 contests. But if they do fall to a fifth straight loss, they'll at least know they'll still have a fan in the top office.
"I always support the Crusaders and even when I talk to the Blues players, they respect the fact that I have stuck with the team I have supported since I was a little boy," Mr Luxon said.
"It probably costs me two or three thousand votes out of Botany each election, but the bottom line is you've got to stand up for your values at all times and I stand up for the Crusaders."
OWEN FARRELL LEAVES DOOR OPEN FOR LIONS RETURN
Former England captain Owen Farrell has left the door open for a return after he stepped away from the national team following the Rugby World Cup in France.
The 32-year-old stepped back from the international stage in November to "prioritise his and his family's mental wellbeing" following a tumultuous World Cup that saw him booed relentlessly throughout the tournament.
After a two-month break, Farrell returned to Saracens training and faced his first press conference since the World Cup last October. Asked about a potential return to the England setup, Farrell wouldn't rule it out but said it would depend how he felt down the line.
"I've stepped back and there's obviously a change happening next year," Farrell said, referring to his move to Top 14 side Racing 92 next season. "Then we'll see. There's no point in saying anything now because I don't know how I'm going to feel later down the line. We'll see.
"Everyone has been really supportive. Everyone has been understanding. All they have done is offer support. When I sat down and spoke to people here [Saracens] and spoke to Steve and said my reasons for making the decision, they were really supportive."
While his move to France would preclude him from England selection, it wouldn't rule him out from selection for the British and Irish Lions next year, but he admits it's not something he's talked to about with his father, Andy, who'll be leading the Lions in Australia.
"Have I spoken to my dad about it? I've told him 'well done', if that counts [referring to Ireland's Six Nations title win].
"There's nothing to talk about -- whatever happens, happens. There are no decisions to be made about any of that. When it gets closer to the time, I guess things become clear or they don't. You see how people are at that time. There is nothing to talk about there at the minute."
The time away from the game clearly did Farrell good, as he spent time in Ireland watching his younger brother play, while he also watched England defeat Ireland and his father from the Twickenham stands in the Six Nations.
"You sit there and watch any massive game like that and wish you wanted to be involved but I am happy with the decision at the moment," Farrell said when asked if watching the Six Nations made him want to return.
"Not to say that is not going to be up and down, and that it is not going to change at any point, but you try and do it for the right reasons. I think I have done that. But when there is a big game on -- you watch New Zealand versus South Africa you want to be involved in that -- I sat there itching watching it a little bit, as I have done at home. But I am pretty happy."