Dai Young previews Saracens clash

Posted on Mar 26, 2013 in London Wasps

London Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young previews this weekend’s Aviva Premiership game against Saracens (Saturday, March 30th, Adams Park, 15.00)

Wasps welcome table toppers Saracens to Adams Park this weekend aiming to bounce back from a last second heart-breaking defeat to Northampton Saints last time out.

Young conceded that a positive result last weekend would have given his side an unlikely win, but added that plenty of hard work this week will prepare his side well for the leading side in the league.

“We were out muscled last weekend and you can’t say that Northampton hadn’t done enough to win it. But we showed our ability to play some really high quality rugby to get back into it and we had our noses in front going into last few minutes. We couldn’t quite hold onto the field position we needed to win it, but after a rocky start we did get stuck in with a great crowd behind us.”

Young said that the hard work this weekend will start up front.

“We have had a tough time of it in specific areas up front in the last few games and teams are starting to target us. The boys were very disappointed with that in our review this week and we’re working incredibly hard to get that right because we know if we do we have a chance of winning any game with the kind of ability we have in attack when we get good ball”

He also praised the form of Saracens of late.

“They are going very well and are showing as well a real willingness to play wider. But we know as well they will be incredibly physical so the battle will start for us up front.”

London Welsh statement on Appeal decision

Posted on Mar 26, 2013 in London Welsh

Following the Independent Appeal Panel’s decision to uphold the five point penalty and £15,000 fine, for fielding an ineligible player, London Welsh have issued the following statement:

London Welsh RFC is extremely disappointed by the Independent Appeal Panel’s decision to uphold the five-point deduction and £15,000 fine against the club, with regard to the charge that it fielded an ineligible player, Tyson Keats, in ten Aviva Premiership matches this season.

However, the club welcomes the Panel’s decision to remove the suspended five-point penalty imposed until the end of the 2013-14 season, and believes that this action justifies its decision to appeal.

The club also believes that this cause of action was necessary to restore the good name of the London Welsh RFC, as once it became clear what had happened, the club made every effort to “remedy the situation” and did not, at any stage, deliberately attempt to deceive the RFU. A point acknowledged by the panel in their findings.

The club maintains, however, that it has ultimately been punished for the completely unnecessary fraudulent actions of one individual, whose actions the panel accepted “could not have been predicted”.

“The club is hugely disappointed by the decision of the Independent Appeal Panel to uphold the five-point deduction for this season,” said London Welsh CEO Tony Copsey.

“We are particularly disappointed for the players, who’ve given everything they can for the club, and ultimately it is they who have been punished for something completely beyond their control.

“However, there are still four games remaining in the season and the focus and efforts of the players, the coaching staff and everyone at London Welsh is now on those remaining matches.”

London Welsh RFC will be making no further comment at this time.

London Irish Sign Star Prop Forward from Leinster

Posted on Mar 25, 2013 in London Irish

London Irish have announced the signing of Jamie Hagan from Irish province, Leinster, on a three year deal.

The 25-year old tighthead prop forward joined Leinster from school before moving across to Galway where he spent two years with Connacht, making 50 appearances. He moved back to Leinster in the summer of 2011.

Jamie was drafted into the Leinster Academy as an 18-year-old in 2005 and was capped, provincially and nationally, through the age grades. In 2007, he was a member of the Ireland team that captured the Under-20 Grand Slam.

Leinster followed his progress at Connacht and in June 2011 signed him back to the Irish capital. He played 18 times during 2011/12 and scored his first try for Leinster in a 42-13 win over Ulster.

London Irish Director of Rugby, Brian Smith said: “Jamie Hagan is a future Irish Test player, he’s cut his teeth in the Rabo Direct Pro 12 and is more than ready to launch his Aviva Premiership career. He’s a tough, uncompromising prop coming into his prime and he’ll add more steel to our tight five. Jamie’s rugby talent and Irish heritage make him a perfect fit for the club. I’m genuinely delighted that he’s committed to London Irish for the next three seasons.”

The prop forward, who has made two appearances for the Irish Wolfhounds, said: "I’m looking forward to moving across to England and joining London Irish. They are a team with a rich heritage and proud Irish traditions which will really suit me. I would like to thank Leinster for all they have done for me and wish them well for the future. I look forward to joining London Irish next season and getting stuck in to Premiership rugby."

Mako wins February Gatorade Game Changer Award

Posted on Mar 25, 2013 in Saracens

Saracens’ prop Mako Vunipola has won February’s Gatorade Game Changer Award for his performance against Exeter Chiefs. The prop capped an excellent display with two tries as his side ran out 31-11 winners.

The Game Changer rewards the player responsible for the most effective single performance each month, according to Opta’s performance statistics.

Vunipola is the sixth player this season to receive the Gatorade Game Changer Award. Each winner will then compete for the Game Changer of the Season Award in May.

Saracens’ director of rugby, Mark McCall said: "Mako was magnificent against Exeter Chiefs. He was good at set pieces and in the loose. He’s a special player and is going to get even better.”

On being presented the Award by Gatorade, an Official Performance Partner to Premiership Rugby, Vunipola said: “It’s great to be recognised as the February Gatorade Gamechanger, especially during the first Aviva Premiership Rugby match at Saracens’ new stadium.

“The atmosphere was fantastic and really lifted the team.”

Wasps international stars ready for return to action

Posted on Mar 21, 2013 in London Wasps

Wasps take on Northampton in a return to Aviva Premiership action on Saturday at Adams Park (15.15)

James Haskell won his 50th cap in the final game of the 6 Nations against Wales, and he says despite the disappointment of the loss, it was a proud moment.

“When you start out your career, getting one cap is a huge honour and so to get to 50 is massive for me. It was a frustrating end to the tournament and on a personal note even more so as that’s twice in my career a Grand Slam has slipped away. However I think that the atmosphere that Stuart Lancaster has created is great and we are heading in the right direction with lots of young talent coming through. I am almost 28 but I hope there are a few years ahead of me at international level as this is a side with a lot of potential. There are so many guys coming through in the back row so the competition is fierce. The important thing when you come back to your Club is that you have to get straight back into it”
Looking ahead to Northampton Haskell added.

“I am happy to be back and preparing for the game on Saturday. I got a bit of banter from Dai Young of course when I got back, but it’s good be amongst it again. Northampton have huge aspirations and forwards wise they are outstanding so we need to make sure we bring our A game up front if we want to get back winning.”

Joe Launchbury started every 6 Nations game and the 21-year-old says he has soaked up huge experience to bring back to Wasps.

“It is a long tournament and it’s mentally draining with the turnaround you get. It’s nice to be back at Wasps with a bit more of a regular life and crack on here now even though I hugely enjoyed being part of the England set up. It’s a great environment and in large parts of the tournament we were able to show that we were thriving on that, but of course we are bitterly disappointed with how it ended up. We have to remember that pain and remember how it felt to watch Wales lift the Championship in front of us. We need to use it to get better.”

Launchbury is relishing getting back to club action.

“It feels like a long time since I was here so I’m delighted to be back. I was a bit ill for a few days when the tournament ended so I had a few long sleeps and had a few days to recover but I am raring to go now again. It is a big challenge for us, up front this weekend. Northampton have some huge ball carriers so we need to impose ourselves physically. The games we have left are challenging but it’s a really exciting time and we’re not shying away from it. We want to be in the knock out stages of major competitions and it is up to us to take these next few weeks by the throat and take what we can out of it.”

Andrea Masi was one of the stars of Italy’s 6 Nations campaign, also returning to Wasps in the middle of the tournament.

“I am tired because there were so many games in the last few weeks but it is always a pleasure to come back here and play for Wasps. The next few games are hugely important for us and I want to be part of all of them and take a break when the season ends.”
On Italy’s overall tournament, Masi is taking plenty of positives, while playing down his nomination for 6 Nations Player of the Tournament.

“We finished the tournament well with the win over Ireland and overall I think we played our best rugby ever at times in the 6 Nations and that’s important as we are now really building something for the next World Cup. The game against England was disappointing that we didn’t win it and we needed a bit more belief but we were very competitive against one of the best sides in the world which we need to take positives from. Being nominated for that award is nice but I don’t feel I deserve to be in that category. There are so many players in Wales who deserve that much more than me.”

Bath Rugby change four for Sale challenge

Posted on Mar 21, 2013 in Bath

Bath Rugby have made four changes to the side that faced Harlequins two weeks ago, as they prepare for the away Aviva Premiership match against Sale Sharks on Friday night, kick-off 20.00.

All four changes come in the pack. Test props Paul James and David Wilson return to the front row following the culmination of the RBS 6 Nations Championship, where they are joined by another international in hooker Rob Webber who comes back into the starting line-up.

Club captain Stuart Hooper also returns to the starting line-up, with Dominic Day moving to the bench. Hooper partners Dave Attwood, who it was announced this week had extended his contract with the Club, in the second row. The abrasive pairing of Francois Louw and Carl Fearns continue on the flanks, with Ben Skirving again taking his place at the base of the scrum.

Peter Stringer, whose loan deal with Bath will now run until the end of the season, and Tom Heathcote continue to build their half-back partnership, with the backline unchanged. Kyle Eastmond and Matt Banahan link up in the centres once more, whilst Tom Biggs and Horacio Agulla provide speed, agility and power out wide. Nick Abendanon completes the line-up at full-back.

Bath Rugby are back in action at the Recreation Ground next Saturday as we host London Welsh. Tickets are available now, so contact the Ticket Office on 0844 448 1865 today to secure your tickets for this vital game.

(more…)