Jones called into Worcester back row

Posted on Sep 29, 2011 in English Rugby, Northampton, Premiership, Worcester Warriors

Chris Jones is handed the Number Eight shirt as Worcester Warriors face Northampton Saints in a televised Aviva Premiership clash at Sixways Stadium on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).

    Jones takes over at the back of the scrum from Kai Horstmann, who is ruled out of the game with a hamstring injury, as Head Coach Richard Hill makes three changes in the forwards from the team that narrowly lost out to league leaders Harlequins.

    Ed Shervington is called up to play hooker alongside props Matt Mullan and Tevita Taumoepeau, who previous had a spell at Franklin’s Gardens.

    Lock Craig Gillies, the most experienced man in the Worcester squad, will line up in the second row with James Percival who comes up faces his former club.

    Oliver Tomaszczyk is named among the replacements for the first time this season while Adam Balding and Tom Arscott also win call-ups after playing for the Worcester Cavaliers at the start of the week.

“Chris Jones is battled hardened from this season and is an international pedigree player who has excelled in this position before with Sale. He can help us pressurise Northampton’s renowned set piece and driving lineout,” said Hill.

“We also have real firepower on the bench with Adam Balding, who came through 60 minutes for the Cavaliers on Monday night, and Matt Kvesic.

“Our training focus has been really precise this week and it is crucial we don’t become frightened to play after recent results,” added Hill.

“We’re going to come across a very powerful Northampton side that is going to want to take us on at the scrum and lineout, take us on around the fringes with big forward runners.

“We don’t want to be drawn into that type of game so our three-quarter line have got to add flair and ambition to break the game up.”

Tickets remain on sale for the game with Northampton Saints. Call the Warriors Box Office on 01905 454183 or click on www.warriors.co.uk to buy online.

Warriors vs. Northampton Saints
    15 Errie Claassens
    14 Marcel Garvey
    13 Alex Grove
    12 Dale Rasmussen (c)
    11 Miles Benjamin
    10 Andy Goode
    9 Shaun Perry

    1 Matt Mullan
    2 Ed Shervington
    3 Tevita Taumoepeau
    4 James Percival
    5 Craig Gillies
    6 Neil Best
    7 Jake Abbott
    8 Chris Jones
Replacements
    16 Ceri Jones
    17 Chris Fortey
    18 Oliver Tomaszczyk
    19 Adam Balding
    20 Matt Kvesic
    21 Ollie Frost
    22 Joe Carlisle
    23 Tom Arscott

Warriors look for cutting edge in B&I Cup

Posted on Jan 21, 2011 in Rugby News

Worcester Warriors make a number of changes in the back division for the must-win Pool A British & Irish Cup clash with Plymouth Albion at Sixways Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

Head of Skill Development and Academy Manager Andrew Stanley has called on Warriors to return to winning ways in the competition, as his side hunt a quarter-final berth, and has rotated his backs after defeat in Ireland last time out.

Fly half Joe Carlisle is called up to play alongside experienced scrum half Andy Williams as Willie Walker switches to full back.

A new wing combination will see Oriol Ripol and former Plymouth player Tom Arscott look to give Worcester extra firepower while Samoan centre Dale Rasmussen will team up with Scotland international Alex Grove in midfield.

Stanley retains the same forward pack that impressed at Donnybrook, with captain Adam Balding in the back row alongside Matt Kvesic who is released back from England Under-20 training to feature.

Exciting young scrum half Joel Dudley is rewarded for his impressive cameo against Leinster A with a place on the bench alongside Greg King and Andy Short, who also returns from England training.

“It has been a short turnaround this week since the trip to Ireland and this game gives us a very quick opportunity to put the disappointment of the result away at Leinster behind us,” said Stanley.

“This is a very big game for us, given the fact that we want to do well in this competition and make the last eight. There is good momentum at the club at the moment and we want to continue that trend.

“We have brought some more experience into the back line as we also look to build towards the return to RFU Championship rugby in the coming weeks.”

Tickets remain on sale for the game and will also be available on the day. Call the Warriors Box Office for more information on 01905 454183.

Warriors vs Plymouth Albion

15 Willie Walker
14 Tom Arscott
13 Alex Grove
12 Dale Rasmussen
11 Oriol Ripol
10 Joe Carlisle
9 Andy Williams

1 Callum Black
2 Ed Shervington
3 Tevita Taumoepeau
4 James Clutterbuck
5 Will Bowley
6 James Freeman
7 Matt Kvesic
8 Adam Balding (c)

Replacements
16 Will Radburn
17 Sean McCarthy
18 Mike Hill
19 Nile Dacres
20 Joel Dudley
21 Greg King
22 Andy Short

Falcons make one change for Saints’ visit

Posted on Nov 26, 2009 in Rugby News

Newcastle Falcons have made just one change to their side for Friday night’s Guinness Premiership visit of Northampton Saints to Kingston Park (kick-off 8pm).

Following on from Sunday’s 15-11 win at high-flying London Irish director of rugby Steve Bates has chosen to stick with the bulk of that side, the only change coming on the wing as Tom Biggs replaces fellow Yorkshireman Danny Williams.

Speaking ahead of the game, Bates said: “Last weekend was a fantastic result down at London Irish, on the back of a lot of hard work.

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Falcons make 12 changes for LV= cup

Posted on Nov 4, 2009 in Rugby News

Newcastle Falcons have freshened up their squad for Saturday’s LV= Cup trip to Worcester, making 12 changes from the side which beat the Warriors at Kingston Park last weekend.

Left wing Uche Oduoza makes his Newcastle debut against his former club, with the England Sevens international having racked up the tries for the Falcons Development Team following his summer move from Japan.

Cumbrian Mark Wilson makes his debut on the openside flank, with the 20-year-old’s form for Blaydon and the Newcastle second-string earning him a call-up to the senior side.

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