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. His appointment has been exceptionally well received around the game and I know the staff cannot wait to work with him.” Ritchie said: “I am very much looking forward to meeting and working with new colleagues and partners at the RFU. There is much to be positive about, seeing a new generation of players emerge in the RBS 6 Nations and seizing the unique chance to grow the game when hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2015 is very exciting. “Joining the RFU as CEO was an irresistible opportunity.  It was a very difficult decision to leave the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club but I know they have...
Read more »

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 five Pool winners in the Amlin Challenge Cup earn quarter-final places, and going into the final round, the winners of all five Pools have yet to be decided. The final three places in the knockout stages are filled by the third, fourth and fifth best Pool runners-up from the Heineken Cup. Only Munster and reigning champions Leinster are so far guaranteed Heineken Cup quarter-final tickets, so there will be the usual number of twists and turns to come in the over the next few days. There will also be plenty of drama from Thursday onwards in the Amlin Challenge Cup with two clubs in each of the five Pools still...
Read more »

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 85 games) and at this point it appears likely that he will be available. The Leinster management are also hopeful that Luke Fitzgerald, who missed the victory in Glasgow with a combination of a glute/minor neck strain, will also be in the frame. There is a further boost for the province with the expected return from injury of forwards Kevin McLaughlin (neck), Richardt Strauss (facial) and Steven Sykes (hamstring) who should all be in the selection mix this week. Moynalvey second row Devin Toner has now featured in 17 games in both competitions for the province so far this season – one ahead of Eoin O’Malley and Heinke van der...
Read more »

London Welsh will take huge confidence into the play-offs from their wins over Bristol and Rotherham, according to hooker Saul Nelson. Nelson scored the Exiles’ second try in last Saturday’s 23-17 win over his former club Bristol at Old Deer Park, with Lyn Jones’ side having ended Rotherham’ unbeaten home record in the Championship the previous week. Those results came on the back of a disappointing festive period for the Exiles at home, as they were held by Esher before going down to Moseley. “We’ve got a hard month coming up going into the play-offs and with the confidence from Rotherham and Bristol we’ve put ourselves in a good position to go forwards,” said Nelson. “Going into the play-offs we know we can play well and we know we can beat these teams. It’s just a case of getting everything right and doing what we’ve been told to do. But there’s a lot of work to go in between now and then.” Welsh trailed Championship leaders Bristol 10-3 at half-time, but for the second consecutive week produced an inspired second half display, with tries from Hudson Tonga’uiha and Nelson inflicting a first league defeat on Bristol since November 5....
Read more »

Peter Horne today became the latest highly rated rising star to be secured on a long-term contract by Glasgow Warriors. The 22-year-old centre has put pen to paper on a new deal that will see him play a pivotal role in the club’s progress until at least the end of May 2015. Currently a contracted member of the Scotland 7s squad, Horne, like back-row forward James Eddie, will complete his commitments in the abbreviated game before rejoining the Warriors set-up on a full-time basis in the summer. With a leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series coming to Scotstoun Stadium in May, the Fifer is in line for an early sample of on-field action at the ground that will be the Warriors’ playing home from next season. Prior to joining up with the Scotland 7s earlier this campaign, Horne was in fine form for Sean Lineen’s men, underlining his attacking threat with a brilliantly constructed match-winning try in the historic RaboDirect PRO12 victory away to Leinster. The former Howe of Fife and West of Scotland player said: “I’m thrilled to have signed a new contract with the Warriors. All the signs are that it’s going to be an exciting...
Read more »

London Wasps have been dealt another injury blow with news that winger Tom Varndell will need surgery on a foot complaint keeping him out of the game for up to 12 weeks. Varndell joins a large number of players side-lined at the moment at the Club with Christian Wade, Chris Bell, Tom Rees, John Hart, Joe Launchbury, James Cannon and Ross Filipo among those recovering from longer term injuries while the likes of Nick Robinson and Ed O’Donoghue are out with shorter term knocks. Earlier this season Wasps also lost Joe Worsley, Steve Thompson and Dan Ward-Smith to injury enforced retirement.
Read more »