Following a lengthy recovery from a shoulder injury which saw TOM REES return to play at the close of the season, London Wasps captain Tom Rees has been assessed by both the London Wasps and England medical teams ahead of next month’s England Saxons Churchill Cup. A decision has been made by both parties, along with Tom, that it would be more beneficial for him to undergo further rehabilitation to the shoulder over the summer which would ultimately give him longer term benefit. Tom will therefore not travel with the Saxons this summer. Speaking on the announcement, Wasps Director of Rugby Tony Hanks said, “Tom had a very difficult season coming through two shoulder operations and working extremely hard to return to play before the close of the season. Whilst he enjoyed some strong form on his return, injuries of this nature need continual monitoring and a summer spent strengthening the shoulder will be hugely beneficial and ensure prevention of further damage. We all know Tom is a player who gives 100% to everything that he does, and whilst he is disappointed not to tour, he will continue the hard work demonstrated this season to ensure he can lead...
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Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints) saw a specialist yesterday and had a scan on a left knee injury. The results of the scan concluded that Dylan requires an arthroscopy in order to treat some damage to his cartilage. The injury was sustained in Dylan’s last game for Northampton Saints against Saracens in the Guinness Premiership semi-final. Dylan is therefore out of the tour to Australia and New Zealand and his place in the Senior England EPS will be taken by George Chuter (Leicester Tigers).
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London Irish have announced the signing of Irishman Brian Blaney from Leinster Rugby. The 28-year-old hooker will join the club for the start of 2010/11 season and brings a wealth of playing experience to Sunbury after seven seasons in Dublin. Blaney was educated at the famous rugby school of Terenure College, whose distinguished alumni include Conor O’Shea and Girvan Dempsey, before joining Leinster in 2003.
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Celtic Rugby has announced (Monday, 8 March, 2010) that from next season the Magners League will include two teams from Italy. The 10th season of the tournament will see the Magners League expanded to four nations as Italy joins Ireland, Scotland and Wales in a high profile 12-team cross-border competition designed to considerably enhance both playing standards and commercial viability for the competing countries. The three Celtic Unions have unanimously agreed to the introduction of two new Italian super sides and the four-year agreement will see Benetton Treviso and Aironi Rugby competing against defending champions Munster and the other nine Celtic teams on a home and away basis. Benetton Treviso will have their headquarters at Stadio Comunale di Monigo while Aironi, who will be based at Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, will involve various clubs from the Lombardia and Emilia-Romagna regions. The move to welcome Italian sides comes at the end of a year-long review of the viability of expanding the tournament, the detailed analysis and due diligence undertaken by the sports consultancy arm of Deloittes and focusing on the basis of long term financial capacity to support the teams and commit to the league.
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The vexed question of which team should Warren Gatland pick to play Italy is a talking point in the Welsh Message Board (WMB). RR poster “Hook”, poses this question and offers Gatland the following advice:  “I think its important we don’t make the same mistake as Gats did last year but I would make a couple of changes and give some players a chance.” His team for Italy is: Byrne, Halfpenny, Shanklin, Roberts, James, Biggar, Phillips, Jones, Williams, Warbuton, Davies, J Thomas, Jones, Rees, Gill. HorridM takes issue and says: “I hope we put out a good team for two reasons: 1) We need to build some confidence, 2) I’m going to that game. I can’t see us putting out too weak a team, because if we win our next two games we’ll be playing for the championship, if we don’t win them we’ll need to regain some pride. Over in the England forum, Sharks fan Tiggers says: Back to proper rugby! Dafydd James makes his home debut and Gavin Kerr starts against his former club. Jones said, “Leeds will be hard to beat. They’ve got a good set piece and they’re desperate for a win. It’s a game...
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Greig Laidlaw will captain a new-look Edinburgh side for the trip to Magners League champions Munster on Friday evening (19 February, kick off 8pm, live on Setanta Ireland) and head coach Rob Moffat believes the scrum-half has the right skill-set to lead the side to a positive result. Laidlaw, 24, signed a new two year contract with Edinburgh on Monday and has been rewarded with the captaincy for the trip to Cork to face the tournament title holders. Moffat says that his elevation to captain was a logical choice and will lead to a seamless transition should replacement Mike Blair be introduced into the action during the game. Moffat said: “Greig is playing consistently well and I think he is a natural leader. “At scrum half, he is in a good position to captain the side and, with Mike on the bench, it means if we make the change then there is a straight swap.” Laidlaw forms a half-back combination with David Blair, who makes his first appearance for Edinburgh since damaging his ankle against Bath in December.
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Kingsley Jones is preparing for Sale Sharks Guinness Premiership match against Leeds Carnegie this Friday by concentrating on discipline. Jones admits, “Leeds will be hard to beat. They’ve got a good set piece and they’re desperate for a win. It’s a game that a lot of things hinge on so we really need to improve our discipline in our game.”
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England Under 18 return to action on Sunday against the only side to have dented their impressive 14-match winning run. England, coached by John Fletcher and Peter Walton, haven’t been beaten in an international at this level since an 11-3 defeat against Australia in Brisbane in 2007. But France – visitors to Newbury this weekend – edged past them in a training game last season and will threaten all over the field, according to former Newcastle Falcons boss Fletcher. Fly half George Ford (Rishworth & Leicester Tigers) leads the side at Monks Lane and Fletcher makes seven changes to the team that beat Australian Schools 30-28 at Sale in December. Injured Dulwich College and Harlequins lock Sam Twomey (knee) and Harrow and London Wasps flanker Billy Vunipola are replaced by George Merrick (Whitgift & Harlequins) and Will Skuse (Bryanston & Bath Rugby) respectively, while props Luke Cowan-Dickie (Truro Coll & Exeter Chiefs) and Anthony Brennan (Twyford CofE & London Wasps) make their first starts.
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Wales physio Mark Davies today confirmed Matthew Rees, Gethin Jenkins and Gareth Williams will not be available for selection for the RBS 6 Nations clash with France at the Millennium Stadium a week tomorrow (kick-off 8.00pm) Scarlets hooker Rees has failed to recover from a groin problem, Blues prop Gethin Jenkins has a calf injury and fellow Blues player, hooker Gareth Williams, has damaged knee ligaments. “Matthew (Rees) is progressing well and will continue his rehab in camp with Wales,” said Davies.
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