New Zealand Sevens Coach Gordon Tietjens has made five changes to his trial squad that will assemble in Mount Maunganui today. Manawatu’s Rob Thompson, Waikato’s Steve Ketu, Tasman’s Shane Christie, Wellington’s George Tilsley and Auckland’s Ben Paltridge have been called into the trial squad as replacements. Counties Manukau’s Ahsee Tuala, North Harbour’s Ken Pisi, Tasman’s James Lowe and Auckland’s Nathan Hughes are all now unavailable for the trial. Waikato’s Frank Halai will not attend the trial due to a bereavement. The sevens trialists are: Toby Arnold Bay of Plenty Tomasi Cama Manawatu Shane Christie Tasman Frazier Climo Taranaki Scott Curry Bay of Plenty Matt Faddes Otago DJ  Forbes Counties Manukau Bryce Heem Auckland Joe  Hill Otago Mark  Jackman Hawke’s Bay Steve Ketu Waikato Solomon King North Harbour Warwick  Lahmert Taranaki Jono Malo Waikato Tim  Mikkelson Waikato Kieran Moffat Otago Waisake Naholo Taranaki Kylem O’Donnell Taranaki Ben Paltridge Auckland Charles  Piutau Auckland Lote  Raikabula Wellington Glen  Robertson Waikato Ardie  Savea Wellington Ben  Souness Taranaki George Tilsley Wellington Rob Thompson Manawatu Nafi Tuitavake North Harbour Lolagi Visinia Auckland Joe Webber Waikato Jack  Wilson Bay of Plenty
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The Rugby Football Union has today unveiled details of an exciting new partnership with one of the world’s leading consumer healthcare companies, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (GSK). The deal will run to 2016 and sees leading brands Lucozade Sport and Maximuscle, part of the Maxinutrition portfolio, partner with the Elite England Rugby Squads as Official Hydration and Sports Nutrition partners respectively. The deal represents the first collaboration between the two companies  since the GSK acquisition of Maxinutrition in February 2011. The UK’s number one sports drink and nutrition brands will fuel England Rugby, becoming official partners to the Senior, Saxons, Sevens and Women’s squads. Both Lucozade Sport and Maximuscle have an excellent reputation in research and development and as part of this strategic partnership the RFU will utilise their expertise to further develop world-class hydration and nutrition strategies, aiding performance optimisation, endurance and recovery. Alongside elite rugby, the two brands are committed to supporting adult rugby outside of the professional game and will bring their enthusiasm and expertise to players and clubs throughout the country. Peter Harding, General Manager of GSK Consumer Healthcare Great Britain and Ireland, commented,“We are delighted to announce the beginning of an exciting partnership with the...
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Ed Kalman, the uncapped 29-year-old Glasgow Warriors prop, has been called into the Scotland squad for the opening two games of the RBS 6 Nations Championship. Kalman, who had a fine game for the Warriors against Leinster in the Heineken Cup yesterday, will join up with the squad for a training camp in St Andrews next week. He is called up after his Warriors team-mate, Moray Low, was ruled out of the start of the championship with a knee injury. Kalman, who has played for Scotland A on 12 occasions has been with the Warriors since he joined them in 2007 after one season with Border Reivers. He is a product of the Whitecraigs club, having played in the Glasgow south-side club for 10 years from the age of 8. While at Belmont House School in Whitecraigs, he played for Glasgow Schools, and he went on to have two seasons in the Glasgow under-20 team from 2000 to 2002. He has also played professional club rugby in England with Newcastle Falcons and Leeds Tykes and was in a winning Cambridge University team in the 2005 Varsity match.
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Mike Brown of Harlequins has been voted the Aviva Premiership Rugby Player of the Month for December. The Harlequins’ full-back was chosen as the month’s stand out performer by a panel of distinguished rugby media – including writers, broadcasters and photographers. “Mike has reinvented himself this year and turned himself into a world class player who we believe will deservedly make his Test debut in this year’s RBS 6 Nations," said Panel Chairman Paul Morgan. "He exemplifies the reasons why Harlequins sit on top of the Aviva Premiership Rugby table and the award is our way or showing how impressed we have been with Mike’s form." Brown spoke of the pride he felt for being named December’s Aviva Premiership Rugby Player of the Month: "I am so happy to receive this award from Aviva. It’s a great time to be involved with Harlequins. I couldn’t have found my recent form without the constant help and support from my teammates and the Quins coaching staff, they have all had a massive influence on me over the past few months and I’d like to thank them all. "Aviva have kindly donated £500 to the charity of my choice – and I’ve...
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London Wasps have added to their second-row options by signing Namibian lock Heinz Koll until the end of the season. Koll joins Wasps, linking up with fellow countryman Tinus Du Plessis, following their recent World Cup campaign, during which Koll started all four games for his country, and impressed with his physicality and strong ball carrying, which was epitomised by a 40 metre break and try in his country’s pool stage game against Wales. The imposing 28 year old second-row will add to the options in the second row which have recently been shortened due to injury. He will not be available for selection in the club’s Amlin Challenge Cup games but will be available for both the LV=Cup and Aviva Premiership. London Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young said: “Heinz will bring with him a great amount of physicality which I was impressed with during his time at the World Cup. It is public knowledge that we have been hit hard by injuries so his arrival will add to our currently limited options in the second row.” Koll said: “The Premiership is obviously one of the best league’s in the World and I am delighted to get the...
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Gloucester Rugby have moved swiftly to strengthen their back division following last week’s departure of Lesley Vainikolo to La Rochelle with the signing of Ollie Phillips. Phillips, who can play wing or full back, has previously played his club rugby for the Newcastle Falcons and Stade Francais. However, he is also well known for his time on the World Sevens Series circuit with England. A former captain of the side, he was named IRB Sevens Player of the Year in 2009. He started his career with Newcastle where he played 33 times in five seasons, scoring nine tries in the process. He then spent two seasons with Stade Francais. He left Stade last June and has been working his way back to fitness following a knee injury including spending time training with the England Sevens squad. However, he is now fit and raring to go and looking forward to contributing to the rest of Gloucester’s season as he told the club website. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for as I’ve always had a great deal of admiration for Gloucester and its rugby traditions. “It’s a proper rugby club in a proper rugby city and Kingsholm is a place I’ve always...
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