Welsh commits to Warriors

Posted on Mar 26, 2013 in Glasgow

Prop Jon Welsh has given Glasgow Warriors a huge boost ahead of a number of crucial games, by signing a new two-year contract with the club.

The deal means he’ll be at Scotstoun Stadium until at least May 2015.

The tight-head prop, who made his Scotland debut against Italy in last year’s Six Nations championship, has made 70 appearances for the Warriors since joining them from amateur club, GHA in 2008.

The 26-year-old was called up to the Scotland squad for this year’s Six Nations championship and last month played for Scotland A in their win over England.

Jon Welsh said: “I am very happy to have committed my future to the Warriors and I am looking forward to playing my part in bringing success to this club.

“It has been a frustrating season for me having missed several months through injury, but now that I’m back to full match fitness I am looking forward to being involved in the remaining games this season.

“We have a really strong squad, who all work hard for each other and the facilities at Scotstoun are excellent, so this was a really easy decision for me to make.”

Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend said: “This is excellent news for the club and it will give our squad a big boost ahead of some hugely important games.

“Jon worked hard during his injury lay-off to build up his strength and has been putting in the hours in recent weeks to get back to full fitness. He is respected by both coaches and players and is a key part of our future.

“Jon has shown that players from the club game can make the jump to professional rugby and he should be an example to others looking to make the breakthrough.

“We’re delighted to keep him at Scotstoun for the next couple of years and he will undoubtedly have a big role to play.”

Glasgow Warriors team news: Townsend makes six changes for Leinster

Posted on Mar 21, 2013 in Glasgow

Gregor Townsend has made six personnel changes and one positional switch to the team that defeated Cardiff Blues earlier this month, as the Warriors prepare to travel to Dublin to face Leinster at the RDS on Saturday night.

The RaboDirect PRO12 returns after a three-week break and the Warriors are looking for their eighth league win in a row, which has seen them move to the top of the PRO12 on points difference ahead of Ulster.

Tommy Seymour, Rob Harley, Tom Ryder, Ed Kalman, Dougie Hall and Moray Low all come into the starting XV, while Jon Welsh, Pat MacArthur, Gordon Reid and Ryan Wilson drop to the bench. Byron McGuigan and Tim Swinson are not included in the 23-man squad.

Glasgow Warriors and Leinster are currently the form teams in the league, with the Warriors having dropped just one possible league point and Leinster only two in their last six games.

Warriors Head coach, Gregor Townsend said: “We have been on a fantastic run of form lately, but Leinster will provide an extremely tough challenge for us and we’ll need to be at our best if we’re to come away with a positive result.

“It’s been good to have our full squad back together again after the Six Nations and training has been very competitive and sharp this week. We travel to Dublin having put ourselves in a good position in the league, but nothing is won until May and we still have a lot of work to do.”

Matawalu keeps the number nine jersey and Weir is given the nod at fly-half ahead of Ruaridh Jackson, after starting the last two of Scotland’s games against Ireland and France.

Exciting youngsters Peter Horne and Alex Dunbar continue their centre partnership, with Peter Murchie once again deployed at full-back.

Canadian winger DTH van der Merwe starts on the left wing, with Seymour replacing McGuigan on the opposite side.

Low and Kalman make up the front row, with the experienced Hall coming in at hooker and captain Al Kellock starting alongside Ryder in the second row.

Josh Strauss moves from flanker to number eight, in place of substitute Wilson, while John Barclay continues at openside and Harley comes in at blindside.

It is a strong bench with Pat MacArthur, Gordon Reid, Jon Welsh, James Eddie, Ryan Wilson, Henry Pyrgos, Ruaridh Jackson and Sean Lamont all included.

It is an experienced Warriors squad to face Leinster, with 279 Scotland caps in the matchday 23.

Stuart Hogg and Sean Maitland both miss the game after picking up knocks with Scotland, but are expected to return within the next week or two. Chris Cusiter has had an injury setback and may require an operation on his shoulder and Finlay Gillies requires neck surgery, with them both expected to be out of action for a number of months.

Gregor Townsend said: “Leinster are the only team to still have a 100 percent home winning record in the league and that shows just how difficult our task will be this weekend. For the past few seasons they have been the best in Europe at playing with pace, ambition and aggression.

“We have picked a team which we believe is capable of winning the game but we have a number of players who are unlucky not to be involved. Those selected must grab the opportunity to play in such an important fixture with both hands. They have to make it very difficult for me to leave them out next week.

“We are disappointed that both Chris (Cusiter) and Finlay (Gillies) will be out beyond the end of the season. It’s been a really frustrating time for both players and we wish them a speedy recovery.

“The game on Saturday represents a marker of where we are this season and we are fully aware of the significance of getting a result in Dublin. We will give everything we have to secure a win.”

Glasgow Warriors team to play Leinster in Round 18 of the RaboDirect PRO12, RDS, Saturday 23 March (kick-off, 7.45pm):

15 Peter Murchie

14 Tommy Seymour

13 Alex Dunbar

12 Peter Horne

11 DTH Van der Merwe

10 Duncan Weir

9 Niko Matawalu

1 Moray Low

2 Dougie Hall

3 Ed Kalman

4 Tom Ryder

5 Al Kellock (Captain)

6 Rob Harley

7 John Barclay

8 Josh Strauss

16 Pat MacArthur

17 Gordon Reid

18 Jon Welsh

19 James Eddie

20 Ryan Wilson

21 Henry Pyrgos

22 Ruaridh Jackson

23 Sean Lamont

Not available for selection through injury:

M Cusack (shoulder), C Fusaro (groin), F Gillies (neck), S Hogg (knee), S Maitland (leg injury), R Lamont (ankle), C Cusiter (shoulder)

Edinburgh Rugby rally for Ulster arrival

Posted on Mar 21, 2013 in Edinburgh

Interim head coach Stevie Scott today named the Edinburgh Rugby side charged with sparking an end-of-season resurgence against Ulster at Murrayfield Stadium tomorrow night (kick-off 7.30pm).

The Ulstermen enjoyed the top spot of the RaboDirect PRO12 since September however two losses and a draw in their last four matches saw them supplanted into second place on points’ difference in the previous round.

Their form still compares favourably to their hosts’ however, who go into the match seeking their first championship success on an eighth attempt.

Despite the difference in standings, Scott says the players and management are taking confidence from a quality week preparing for his first match at the helm.

He said: “The players’ reaction in training this week has been excellent.

“It’s been a tough season but their commitment to improving and getting results for the club and its fans has been superb.

“A lot of hard work has gone in this week but, importantly, the work done has also been of a very high standard.

“There’s a real will to do whatever it takes to get our results back on track.”

Scott has made three changes to the pack for the Ulster clash, with international back-row Ross Rennie making a welcome return from the shoulder injury he sustained in Scotland’s EMC Test match against New Zealand in November.

Netani Talei replaces the injured David Denton (knee) at number 8 and lock Grant Gilchrist comes back into the squad after his international debut against France in the RBS 6 Nations on Saturday.

Both Scott and interim assistant coach Duncan Hodge have seen enough of promising young scrum-half Sean Kennedy from his Scotland A success and loan spell at Glasgow Warriors to hand the 21-year-old his Edinburgh Rugby debut, where he’ll partner Piers Francis at half-back from the outset.

Ben Atiga returns to inside-centre for his 10th appearance in the competition alongside Dougie Fife, who has been moved infield to accommodate Tom Brown on the wing, with the back three completed by Greig Tonks and Lee Jones.

Of note is the firepower named on the bench, with an all-international front-row of Ross Ford, John Yapp and Geoff Cross ready to enter the fray as well as the division’s three-time top try-scorer, Tim Visser.

To herald the black and red return of the former favourites, Edinburgh Rugby have cut the cost of student tickets to £5, will hand out thousands of free flags to fans on arrival at the stadium, and have slashed the cost of a sit down bangers and mash in the supporters’ bar to five pounds!

(more…)

Ofa agrees summer Worcester switch

Posted on Mar 21, 2013 in Glasgow

Loose-head prop Ofa Fainga’anuku will leave Glasgow Warriors at the end of the season, when his short-term deal with the club expires.

He is set to join English Premiership side Worcester Warriors on a two-year deal.

Ofa joined Glasgow Warriors in September 2012 on a short-term contract, which was extended in January until the end of the current season.

He has so far made 11 appearances for the Warriors and played the full 80 minutes in the recent victory over Ulster at Scotstoun Stadium.

Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend said: “We would like to thank Ofa for everything he has done for the club both on and off the pitch.

“He has fitted in really well in the short time that he has been here and this is fantastic move for him and his family.

“He is fully focused and committed to us until the end of the season and we are very happy that we’ll be able to call upon his services until then.”

Ofa Fainga’anuku said: “I’ve really enjoyed my time in Glasgow and I’d like to thank everyone at the club for their help and support.

“I am looking forward to being involved in the remaining games this season and contributing to what we hope will be a successful end to the campaign.”

Muller, Williams and Payne included in Ulster squad for Edinburgh clash

Posted on Mar 19, 2013 in Edinburgh

Johann Muller, Nick Williams and Jared Payne have all recovered from injury and have been included in the Ulster squad for Friday night’s RaboDirect PRO12 game against Edinburgh at Murrayfield (Kick Off 7:30pm).

Ulster Head Coach, Mark Anscombe, has also named Paddy Jackson and Paul Marshall who represented Ireland against Italy in the RBS 6 Nations last weekend.

Iain Henderson and Luke Marshall both suffered injuries on international duty and therefore miss the game. Henderson suffered a foot injury and will be assessed later today. Luke Marshall sustained concussion against Italy and will be monitored over the next seven days.

Ulster are second in the RaboDirect PRO12, level on points with leaders Glasgow Warriors, going into the round 18 matches.

Extended Ulster squad to face Edinburgh in the RaboDirect PRO12, Friday 22nd March, Murrayfield, 7.30pm;

Forwards (14)

Neil McComb, Callum Black, John Afoa, Robbie Diack, Mike McComish, Dan Tuohy, Lewis Stevenson, Johann Muller, Nick Williams, Rob Herring, Niall Annett, Ricky Lutton, Tom Court, Nigel Brady;

Backs (11)

Ricky Andrew, Jared Payne, Michael Allen, Paul Marshall, Peter Nelson, Michael Heaney, Paddy Jackson, Stuart Olding, Darren Cave, Andrew Trimble, Niall O’Connor.

Scotland side to face England

Posted on Jan 29, 2013 in Scotland

Scotland team to play England: Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh), Tim Visser (Edinburgh), Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh); Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors), Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors), Euan Murray (Worcester Warriors), Richie Gray (Sale Sharks), Jim Hamilton (Gloucester), Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan), Kelly Brown (captain – Saracens), Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier).
Substitutes: Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors), Geoff Cross (Edinburgh), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), David Denton (Edinburgh), Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors), Max Evans (Castres).