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Leeds sign Tongan prop

January 27, 2012

Leeds Carnegie have bolstered their Championship promotion hopes with the signing of Tongan international prop Halani Aulika until the end of the current season. The 28-year-old, who can play at loose or tight head, joins having played for the Highlanders in Super Rugby last season and made three appearances in the World Cup in New Zealand for Tongan. Commenting on the signing Director of Rugby Diccon Edwards said, “We are delighted to have secured a player of Halani’s quality as we enter a crucial part of the season. The fact that he can play on both sides of the front row is a major plus for us especially with Mike MacDonald and Phil Swainston currently out injured and Kane Palma-Newport having returned to Bath after his loan spell at the club. “He will add a lot of experience to our squad as we look to build our momentum in to the play offs and our promotion drive,” added Edwards. Aulika, who arrived in England today, has been capped five times for Tonga, making his debut for the national team in August 2011 in the World Cup warm up games against Fiji. He has previously played for The Highlanders, Otago...
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Blueprints for the future? Ruminations of the fates of two English clubs in Heineken Cup round five

January 19, 2012

I only saw two games of this round. On Friday, I saw Ulster’s humiliating demolition of Leicester, as complete a thrashing as you can imagine. On Saturday I saw Harlequins squeak home past a fired-up looking Gloucester side. I’ll get around to watching some of the others at some point but in terms of the direction of English rugby, I found these quite thought-provoking just by their own. Judging from the comments in the media, I’m not alone, but the most pertinent article to the direction my thoughts are taking was by Paul Ackford in the Telegraph – http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/9013380/Englands-famous-brand-of-hard-men-have-given-way-to-gym-conditioned-athletes.html This is because I agree with the doubts raised about the decision making and mental fortitude of some of the young England players. The academy...
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Burns the latest to agree new Gloucester Rugby deal

January 18, 2012

Fly half Freddie Burns is the latest member of the Gloucester Rugby squad to agree a new contract with the club, signing a new contract that will keep him at Kingsholm until the end of the 2013-4 season. The 21 year old joined the Gloucester Rugby Academy from local rivals Bath and made his first team bow in a preseason friendly in August 2009 against his home town club in a game that was a joint testimonial for Andy Hazell and Lee Mears. That autumn saw him start to feature more frequently for the first XV and he showed his versatility by appearing both at fly half and at full back. A solid goal kicker, he also showed an aptitude for scoring important tries...
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RFU reveal Richie start date

January 17, 2012
RFU reveal Richie start date

Following Ian Ritchie’s appointment as Chief Executive Officer of the Rugby Football Union, it is confirmed that he will leave the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club and take up the RFU role on 27th February 2012. Ritchie also stands down as the Independent Non-Executive Director of The Football League and from the Board of Wembley Stadium. RFU Chairman Paul Murphy said: “We are very pleased that Ian can join so soon. It is well acknowledged that he has a fantastic reputation and the RFU will quickly benefit....
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Amlin groups go down to the wire

January 17, 2012

Four clubs, including four-time Heineken Cup champions Toulouse, are still in the mix to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Amlin Challenge Cup this season as the battle for coveted quarter-final places in Europe’s top two tournaments reaches a climax in Round 6 of Pool matches this week. Toulouse may be leading Harlequins by two points in Pool 6 in the Heineken Cup, but unless they win at Kingsholm against Gloucester on Friday night they could possibly find themselves heading into the Amlin Challenge Cup last eight. The...
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Crocked internationals set to return for Leinster

January 17, 2012

The Leinster squad trained in UCD on Tuesday afternoon ahead of Saturday’s Heineken Cup Round 6 visit of Montpellier Hérault to the RDS (KO: 1.30pm) with the medical team hopeful that a number of players could return to the panel following Sunday’s 23-16 victory in Glasgow. Jonathan Sexton rolled his ankle in the first half and will be further monitored this week. The Ireland outside-half completed the game with his first half penalty taking him past the 700 career point mark (Sexton’s tally now stands at 702 points in...
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