England Counties name squad for East Africa tour

Posted on May 16, 2012 in English Counties

The England Counties today named their 26-man squad for next month’s three match tour to Uganda and Kenya.

Eleven counties and 15 clubs are represented within the squad which contains 12 debutants. 

Rob Baldwin (pictured) will captain the tour party, having led the side to a 34-16 victory over the Counties’ Irish counterparts, the Ulster Bank International Team, in March.  Nine other players featured in the spring international, whilst Jim Wigglesworth steps up after impressing for the England Counties U20s earlier this month.

The England Counties squad is the representative flagship of the county and community game and since being founded in 2002 has visited North and South America, Europe and the Far East.  Nine players have previous touring experience but the side will be treading new ground when they head to the African continent.

The squad assembles on the 1st June and the 17-day tour incorporates the largest tour outreach programme ever undertaken.  Working with the Tag Rugby Trust, the squad and management will carry out frequent coaching sessions and visits, aiming to raise the profile of rugby and leave a lasting legacy for the host unions.

The squad plays both Uganda and a combined East Africa side in Kampala before taking on the challenge of an East Africa Invitation XV in Nairobi.

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Dragons bolster back three with the signing of Scarlets’ Evans and Ospreys’ Prydie

Posted on May 16, 2012 in Newport Gwent Dragon

Newport Gwent Dragons are delighted to announce 2 new signings to bolster their squad ahead of the 2012/2013 season.

Full back Dan Evans, 23, joins the Dragons from the Scarlets whilst full back/wing Tom Prydie, 20, also makes the move East from the Ospreys. Their recruitment comes days after the Leinster game where the Dragons bid farewell to back 3 players Aled Brew and Martyn Thomas.

Both Dan and Tom have huge potential and are Wales caps but have had limited opportunities up until now.

Dan Evans rose through the ranks at the Scarlets and has been a mainstay in the squad over the past 3 seasons. He has racked up 14 appearances for the Scarlets this season including home and away against the Dragons. Dan won two caps on Wales’s 2009 North America tour, making his debut in the 32-23 win over Canada but has been overlooked since.

On his move to the Dragons, Dan said “I’m really looking forward to it. It’s exciting to be joining a squad with the amount of young talent that the Dragons has at the moment. I’m eager to press for some more game time and hopefully help push for a successful season here at the Dragons.”

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Cardiff Blues hold on to Alex Cuthbert

Posted on May 16, 2012 in Cardiff Blues

Cardiff Blues have held on to their Welsh international winger Alex Cuthbert,  with the young star deciding to sign a new contract extension with the region.

Cuthbert underlined his credentials during the Blues Heineken Cup campaign in November scoring a brace of tries against Racing Metro in Paris and was picked for Wales soon after, making his debut against Australia in December 2011.

It has been a meteoric rise from UWIC, Cardiff RFC, and Cardiff Blues to Wales Grand Slam winner for the young Gloucester man who extends his contract with the Cardiff Blues this week.

Speaking of his decision to stay with the region, Cuthbert, said:

“I am very pleased to be re signing for another year with The Blues and I can now look forward to the summer tour with Wales and next season with the region”

“I had a few offers outside of Wales and having gone through all the options thoroughly with family and friends, I came to the conclusion that the best option was to stay at the Blues, showing my loyalty to the region, coaches and the fans”

“Playing for Wales was a huge part of my decision to stay with the Blues and playing for the region regularly will hopefully strengthen my chances of keeping my place in the Wales team.”

“Obviously with Phil taking over as Head Coach it’s exciting times for the region as well. I know Phil from my time with the Wales Sevens where he was involved. He’s a great coach, I’ve heard he’s very well organized and puts good structures in place which I know will benefit the club next season.”

“I’m also very excited that the Blues are moving back to the Arms Park, I’m yet to play there in front of a full crowd so hopefully we can do that next season. I’ve watched a few games down there and the atmosphere is unbelievable and if we maintain good crowds that will help us no end on the pitch.”

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Dave Clark Appointed as New IRFU Head of Fitness

Posted on May 16, 2012 in Ireland

The Irish Rugby Football Union has announced that they have appointed Dave Clark as the new Head of Fitness to oversee all areas of elite performance in professional and representative teams.

A high performance strength and conditioning scientist with over 20 years experience in team sports, the South African native holds an MSc in Exercise Science and is currently completing a PhD.  He has worked in all areas of his field as a strength and conditioning coach, a high performance manager and a sports scientist in performance research.

He began his career as the fitness coach to the Western Province Rugby Team in 1992 and held the position of strength and conditioning coach to the South African National Team in 1994. In tandem with his role with these teams, he was appointed as the Sports Science Director in the University of Cape Town in 1990 before setting up his own private biokinetics practice in Cape Town.

When the sport turned professional in 1995, he left South Africa to join the Welsh Rugby Union as the National Fitness Coach where he oversaw all aspects of sports science.   He then moved north to Scotland where he took up a position with the Scottish Institute of Sport and has been the Head of Strength and Conditioning for the Sportscotland Institute of Sport since 2001.

His role with Sportscotland has seen him work with a variety of sports and he will be working with several athletes in the London Olympic games before he fully takes up his position with the IRFU in September.    All strength and conditioning programmes and coaches in the provincial teams are centrally managed by the IRFU and Clark will be working closely with the provinces to continue to reinforce the elite fitness pathways.

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Jones respectful of Pirates threat

Posted on May 16, 2012 in London Welsh

If London Welsh are to win the Championship they’ll have to do something they haven’t managed all season, beat the Cornish Pirates.

The two games between the sides in the regular season produced a comfortable win for the Pirates at Mennaye Field, while three late Alex Davies penalties salvaged a 17-17 draw for Welsh at Old Deer Park.

Of course, the Pirates also came out on top, 18-10, in last year’s one-off semi-final at Mennaye Field.

“The Cornish Pirates are a very good side,” said Jones. “They don’t rely on any particular type of rugby or strength, they’ve got the ability to play all types of rugby and I would be very respectful of that.

“That’s what you’ve got to have. To have a sniff of going up you’ve got to be able to pay all types of rugby.

“They’ve got a good kicking full back, they’ve a very sound organised pack of forwards and they finished third and we finished fourth in the regular season.

“But throughout the season both teams have grown and we’re really looking forward to an opportunity to show ourselves at the highest level in this league.

“From where we were in September to where we are now is chalk and cheese. We’re a confident side with the ability to play a bit of football, and just like the Cornish Pirates we can also play all types of games as and when it suits.”

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McKenna & Hancock called up to England Women’s Sevens squad

Posted on May 16, 2012 in England Sevens, England Women

England Women’s Sevens Head Coach Barry Maddocks has called up Sarah McKenna (pictured right) and Kate Hancock to the England squad to compete in the Amsterdam Sevens this weekend.

Wasps’ McKenna was part of the squad that lifted the IRB Challenge Cup Sevens at Twickenham Stadium last weekend, while Kate Hancock is a newcomer to the squad. Hancock has progressed through the RFUW Regional Programme and the RFUW Sevens Development Squad.

McKenna and Hancock replace Heather Fisher and Kay Wilson who both picked up injuries at the weekend.

Saracens’ Sonia Green will captain the side, taking over the captaincy armband from Wasps’ Michaela Staniford who is being rested for this tournament.

Also new to the England squad are Wasps’ Natasha Brennan and Bristol’s Katie Mason. The duo join a line-up mixed with experience and youth. The likes of Jenny Brightmore and Emily Scott will also be looking to build on their experiences with England in Dubai.

12 international teams will compete for the coveted Amsterdam Sevens crown and England will face the USA, South Africa and Wales in Pool A. Pool B pits Canada, Spain, France and newcomers Ireland against each other, with the final pool seeing the hosts take on Australia, Germany and Scotland.

Maddocks said: “It is obviously frustrating for both Heather and Kay that they have been ruled out through injury, but in Sarah and Kate we have two exciting young players. Sarah put in another good performance at Twickenham at the weekend while Kate has proved herself in the RFUW Sevens Development Squad and also impressed at the recent RFUW Open Sevens Trials. This is a very different looking squad to the team that won in London, but it is important that we use our wide pool of players and develop our squad as much as possible ahead of the Rugby World Cup Sevens next year.”

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Italy 8 England 32

Posted on May 16, 2012 in England Women

England women on course to defend their crown

England Women are on course to defend their European Cup crown after a second successive victory, this time against Italy, which saw Graham Smith’s side run in six tries against a determined Italian outfit in Rovereto, Italy.

Bristol’s Sally Tuson, on just her second cap, ran in a brace of tries, while Harriet Millar-Mills (pictured), Lydia Thompson, another new cap, Danielle Waterman and Rowena Burnfield all crossed Italy’s line. England’s defence also stood up to a tough test with a feisty Italian side pushing England throughout the game.

Smith, who has taken on the Head Coach role for this tour, said: “It may be a cliché but I am extremely pleased and proud of this team. This tournament is proving that we have got some very good players coming through. We have got some really exciting players in Sally Tuson, Lauren Cattell and Lydia Thompson, while our more experienced players have been fantastic leading this young side both on and off the pitch.

“We played some quality rugby today, but at the same time we also need to be more consistent and work on our discipline as we gave away some penalties. Our defence, however, was awesome as Italy really could have scored more tries than they did and it is a testament to this side that we just kept knocking them back. ”

Italy punished England early on when England were penalised at the breakdown and fly-half Veronica Schiavon stroked over a penalty after just two minutes.

But the visitors were by no means put off their stride and a break by Richmond lock Burnfield saw the ball offloaded to Gemma Sharples and then out to the wing and into the clutches of centre Tuson who powered over the line. Chesham fly-half Lauren Cattell couldn’t make the conversion.

14 minutes in and England had established a 10-3 lead. A good England scrum, five metres out, saw the pack drive forward and Lichfield’s No. 8 Millar-Mills picked up to dive over the try-line.

England’s dominance continued with a try straight after the kick off when England secured the ball in their 22. The pack powered forward again, creating a solid platform for the backs which eventually saw vice-captain and fullback Danielle Waterman dive over under the posts.

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Phillips and Hook get early release to join Welsh squad

Posted on May 15, 2012 in Wales

Mike Phillips and James Hook have been released early from their clubs in France to return to Wales in time to join the Welsh squad at the start of the preparation for the international against The Barbarians on June 2 and the three Test tour of Australia.

Both the players will join their team-mates at the WRU National Centre of Excellence on Monday, May 21 for the start of the full training schedule.

The French Rugby Union has formally told the WRU of the players’ May 21 release and informed the two relevant clubs in France.

Wales caretaker head coach Rob Howley has praised the decision as an example of northern hemisphere co-operation during international preparations.

The May 21 date falls outside the formal IRB date of release for players involved in international duty and release is either contracted by individual Unions or discretionary.

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Bedford Blues bid farewell to eight players

Posted on May 15, 2012 in Bedford

Bedford Blues have announced they will be parting company with eight players following the club’s failure to win the Championship.

Currently there are eight members of the squad who will be leaving Goldington Road this week and all go with the best wishes of the Board of Directors, coaches and fans.

After four seasons with the Blues, prop Sam Walsh is heading off to pastures new as is fellow front row compatriot Nico Steenkamp. The Blues will also be bidding a fond farewell to three second row forwards in Sean Tomes, Sam Pailor and Billy Johnson.

In the backs, fly half Jamie Lennard has put pen to paper on a deal to take him back to Doncaster Knights where he played before joining Premiership outfit London Irish while wingers Handre Schmidt and Dave Vincent are also leaving the Blues this summer.

Speaking about the departures, Blues Director of Rugby Mike Rayer said: “We’ve enjoyed a fine season and everyone is disappointed to have fallen at the semi-final stage as we pushed for the Championship title.

“All of the players who are leaving us were an important part of the team that did so well this season but we have identified some areas that we need to change and unfortunately it means that we have to say goodbye to some familiar faces.

“On behalf of all the coaches, directors and the fans, I want to say a big thank you to all of the lads for their hard work and dedication during their time with us and we wish them all the best for the future.

“Looking ahead to next season I can confirm that we have identified four players who we are in negotiations with, 17 players have already re-signed, a couple more have agreed new deals in principle and we are waiting to hear back from a few more. All-in-all things are looking very bright for the 2012/13 campaign and we will have more news shortly.”

Exiles confirm Oxford as the venue for the final

Posted on May 15, 2012 in London Welsh

London Welsh RFC have announced that the Kassam Stadium, Oxford, will be the venue for the ‘Home’ leg of their Championship Final against Cornish Pirates on May 30th.

Pirates will host the first leg – venue to be confirmed – on May 23rd. Both games will be televised on Sky Sports and both will kick-off at 7.45pm.

London Welsh have taken this opportunity to showcase the Kassam Stadium because it is one of the grounds where the club could play next season if they are promoted to the Aviva Premiership.

It is the home of Oxford United F.C. but the stadium was always designed for rugby as well as football. It offers high quality playing and spectator facilities plus excellent floodlighting which was a factor in the club’s decision.

London Welsh will be making special travel arrangements for its loyal band of supporters – full details will be announced in due course