Robinson welcomed the extension stating: “I am very proud to be the Scotland Head Coach and I am delighted that the great work already underway will continue until after the Rugby World Cup in 2015.

"I am very happy with the progress that has been made by Scottish Rugby in recent seasons and have every confidence the Scottish professional teams will continue to play an important role in supporting the success of the Scotland team.

"I want to personally thank Scottish Rugby and the rugby public for the fantastic support the national team enjoys and I can assure them that I will be doing everything I possibly can along with my management team and the players to bring further success  to the nation in the years ahead.

“This Saturday’s  game against Wales provides  us with the perfect opportunity to get that  important first win in the RBS 6 Nations championship.”

Scottish Rugby’s Chief Executive Gordon McKie, hailed Robinson’s extension.  He said: “We are absolutely delighted that we have secured Andy until December 2015 .  I said when we appointed Andy back in 2009 that he would bring success to Scotland and I have every reason to expect that Scotland will continue to improve in the coming years under his leadership.

“Andy is an important part of the Scottish Rugby family and he has made a real impact on the national team taking us to seventh in the world and achieving fine victories over Southern Hemisphere opposition last year.

“Andy is highly regarded throughout the world as a coach and to have secured his services until beyond the Rugby World Cup in England in  2015 is a great coup and further underlines that rugby in Scotland  is in good health.”

Allan Munro, Chairman of Scottish Rugby, welcomed the news. “The Scottish Rugby Board was keen to keep Andy in Scotland and this extension until December 2015 will enable Andy to build on the recent improving performances of the national team.

"It’s great news for everyone associated with the game in Scotland.”

Rasmussen will join forces with Alex Crockett in midfield as Head Coach Richard Hill makes five changes to the team that produced a stunning comeback to edge out Cornish Pirates last weekend.

Tom Arscott is named at full back while an all-new front row sees Callum Black, Aleki Lutui and Bruce Douglas pack down.

Pat Sanderson will make his 150^th career start for Warriors in the back row alongside captain Kai Horstmann and Neil Best.

Powerhouse prop Oliver Tomaszczyk is named among the replacements alongside back row Adam Balding.

Head Coach Hill admits his Warriors will need to eradicate any of the tactical mistakes made at Pirates as they face a free-scoring and dangerous Nottingham side that are one of the best attacking sides in the RFU Championship.

“Nottingham thrive on your mistakes,” said Hill. “When we played them at Sixways the first try they scored against us came after Andy Goode had made a lovely break. His pass inside didn’t go to hand and they then counterattacked to score under the posts.

“The Nottingham back three is strong, particularly the full back, and if you make an error they will punish you.

“Keeping the ball in hand is crucial. We were guilty of kicking a bit aimlessly during the first half at Pirates and we cannot repeat that and allow talented teams to counterattack against us.”

Warriors vs. Nottingham Rugby

15 Tom Arscott
14 Marcel Garvey
13 Alex Crockett
12 Dale Rasmussen
11 Miles Benjamin
10 Andy Goode
9 Jonny Arr

1 Callum Black
2 Aleki Lutui
3 Bruce Douglas
4 Greg Rawlinson
5 Craig Gillies
6 Neil Best
7 Pat Sanderson
8 Kai Horstmann (c)

Replacements
16 Chris Fortey
17 Oliver Tomaszczyk
18 Will Bowley
19 Adam Balding
20 Ollie Frost
21 Joe Carlisle
22 Rob Higgitt

Following this week’s announcements that Andy Hazell and Alex Brown have committed their futures to Kingsholm, securing the signature of one of the club’s most popular players is a huge coup.

A player of Simpson-Daniel’s calibre, one of the most gifted and talented of his generation, was bound to attract attention from other parties and persuading the Stockton-on-Tees born flyer to remain at Kingsholm is a massive statement of intent.

Currently away on England Saxons duty and set to play against Italy A tomorrow afternoon at Sixways, he has been capped 10 times by England and would surely have won a hatful more but for unfortunate illness and injury at inopportune times.

28 year old Simpson-Daniel has spent his entire playing career to date at Kingsholm and is currently enjoying a testimonial campaign.

He made his debut as a teenager against Rotherham in 2001 and marked the occasion with a superb individual try.

Since then, he has delighted Gloucester supporters on numerous occasions with the quality and the commitment of his play.

He has gone on to make more than 200 appearances and scored more than 100 tries.

Head Coach Bryan Redpath told the club website that he’s delighted that Simpson-Daniel has put pen to paper.

“It’s great news. Sinbad is a huge part of what we are as a club and what we’re hoping to achieve over the next few years.”

“He’s one of the most talented players that I’ve had the pleasure of working with and a true professional as well. He’s a pleasure to work with.”

A statement from the Dragons says “As previously announced, the region’s LV= Cup games against Sale Sharks this weekend and next weekend’s game against the Scarlets will be led by the assistant coaching team as part of the region’s ongoing policy of coach development.”

The Dragons also said: there will be no further comment on this issue until disciplinary proceedings have been completed.

The action follows a spat with Walesonline reporter Andy Howell, who had questions Turner’s future at the region following a dreadful HEC campaign in which the Dragons failed to chalk up a single win.

Turner’s recent behaviour has been seen as erratic in some quarters – particularly amongst fans. His claims that Dan Lydiate had been injured by Wales following an assessment had been met with incredulity, and prompted the WRU to issue a statement repudiating Turner’s claims.  

Following his award of Magners Coach of the Year last season, all seemed rosy in the garden, but bad results and a poor media image have turned things for the worse.

England captain Lewis Moody believes that Martin Johnson’s side need to take each game as it comes in this year’s RBS 6 Nations campaign if they are to be successful.

Although the 32-year-old flanker may not be able to take part in the early rounds due to a knee injury received while playing for Bath, his combative nature suggests that he will return stronger, ready to aid England’s cause:

Moody said: “Previous competitions have shown how difficult it is to win a 6 Nations, let alone a Grand Slam so we’re focused on the first game, and after that, we’ll focus on the next one. You don’t think about the bigger picture, you just think about performing in each game.

“Every player knows that around the corner there could be an injury,” Moody explained. “You enjoy your time on the pitch and you make the most of it. If you get injured you deal with it and make sure you come back fitter and stronger.

“I’ve got a lot of rehab to do before I start thinking about the games. I’ll still be with the squad though; I feel a lot more onus to be part of the set-up having been captain for the past few games and I’m fortunate to have the support of Bath and England and hopefully I’ll be back playing as soon as possible.”

Also on this week’s RFU.com podcast:

• Strong-Bowe – Ireland wing Tommy Bowe talks about his two tries against England at Twickenham last year and discusses his side’s chances in this year’s competition
• Johno in Portugal – England Team Manager Martin Johnson explains why his squad have headed over to Portugal pre-6 Nations
• Strong squad for Robbo – Scotland boss Andy Robinson says that the competition for places in his squad is a good thing as they prepare to face France in Paris
• Manu’s mission – Leicester Tigers centre Manu Tuilagi discusses his inclusion in the England Saxons starting line up to face Italy A in Worcester on Saturday
• Delaney’s delight – Nottingham Head Coach Glenn Delaney gives us his thoughts after his side beat Rotherham 37-8 in the Championship on Tuesday night

The RFU.com podcast takes you inside English rugby from the grassroots to the elite.

The 31 year old moved up the M5 from his home town club, then known as the Bristol Shoguns, in the summer of 2003 and has since gone on to become one of the finest lineout exponents in the country.

His value to Gloucester is not just restricted to his lineout contribution as he is also a fine ball carrier and powerful tackler in defence.

His consistently high performances at the highest level have seen him pass 200 Premiership appearances this season in addition to representing his country.

His new contract will see him complete 10 years at Kingsholm in which time he has become one of the most popular Gloucester players of the modern era and his loyalty will be rewarded in the second year with a testimonial campaign.

Talking to the club website this week after signing the new contract, Brown admitted that he couldn’t quite believe how quickly the time has gone.

“It has gone quickly and has been highly enjoyable, being part of a team that has been very successful although not quite as successful as we would have hoped in terms of winning finals.”

“Winning trophies remains the goal, though, and I’m still confident that we have the players and the set up to challenge here at Gloucester.”

A performer of Brown’s calibre was bound to attract attention from other clubs but the big second row explained that Gloucester has become a special place for him.

“I did have some cracking offers from elsewhere but, even though I live in Bristol, Gloucester has become home for me.”

“Playing for ten years at one club is something special for me and something I’ll be proud of when the time comes.”

“When I look back on my career in years to come, having played ten years at Gloucester will be something special to reflect upon. And, hopefully if things go alright, I can go on beyond that.”

“I’ve been very happy here, I’m proud to have represented Gloucester for so long and the testimonial year will be exciting and a huge honour.”

Finally, like Andy Hazell earlier this week, he admitted that he was relieved to agree the contract therefore allowing him look forward.

“Absolutely. It’s good to get it off my mind so I can focus on my rugby and the rest of the season. We may just have gone out of Europe but we’ve still got plenty to fight for.”

The longest serving member of the Gloucester Rugby squad, Hazell has enjoyed a glittering club career as well as winning seven caps for England.

Originally signed for the club by Richard Hill, Hazell quickly impressed with his skill set and work ethic and made his club debut in the 1997-8 season.

13 seasons and well over 200 club appearances later, the fires within are burning just as brightly as ever and Hazell continues to ply his trade in fine style at the highest level.

The 32 year old, who enjoyed a testimonial season in 2008-9, told the club website that there were other offers on the table but that Gloucester is where he wants to be.

“I did have some quite good offers from abroad which were quite lucrative but, at the end of the day I always wanted to stay.”

“When other offers come in, it can be very flattering. But, in my heart of hearts, I always wanted to remain at Gloucester.”

“I’m happy here, my family is happy here and that means a lot. I’ve got all my family around me and that’s incredibly important.”

“I’ve been here at Gloucester for 12 years now and I want to spend my whole career here so I’m delighted that we’ve agreed terms. The club and the fans have been good to me and I’ve always tried to do my best for them. Each week I train and play as though it’s my first at the club.”

That enthusiasm and love for the game of rugby are evident to anyone who watches him train and play matches and he admits that he’s loving life at Gloucester just as much as ever.

“I’m really enjoying going in every day to train with the way the club is at the minute. We’ve got a really good bunch of lads and there’s a really good feeling about the place at the minute, probably the best I’ve known in my twelve years at the club really.”

“This year has been a really enjoyable one for me. Last year I didn’t play so much but this time around I’m enjoying my training and the coaching I’m getting and being around the lads. There’s nothing to be unhappy about.”

The final few months of a contract can be a nervous time for any player and Hazell admitted that he was delighted to have his personal situation resolved.

“It’s a massive weight off my mind to get it all sorted. The longer it goes on, the more you fret about it and I just wanted to get it done.”

“It’s a relief to get it out of the way and now I can concentrate on nothing but the rugby. We’ve still got a lot to play for this season.”

“It’s a cliché but we are just looking at each game as it comes and want to be in the reckoning come  the end of the season.”

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

Centre Grove recently returned from a loan spell with Edinburgh Rugby and gets his first chance to impress Head Coach Richard Hill as he teams up with Greg King in midfield.

Back row Adam Balding will captain the side as Warriors look to maintain an unbeaten record in the cup competition after overcoming Welsh side Newport 58-10 in early December.

Full back Mike Penn makes his long awaited comeback from a knee injury suffered last summer while the experienced duo of Andy Williams and Willie Walker combine at half back.
Tonga powerhouse prop Tevita Taumoepeau will pack down in the front row while lock James Clutterbuck will make his first senior start for the club in the second row.
“The result last time against Newport gave us a good springboard for this competition and impetus that we want to continue into the Leinster game,” said Andrew Stanley, Head of Skill Development and Academy Manager at Warriors.
“We have had a look at the Leinster team that played Plymouth Albion and Cornish Pirates. A lot of their players have had Magners League experience and a few have even played Heineken Cup games.
“We have seen footage and we have a little bit of an inside track on them, I have spoken to a few people to get an overview of how they like to play and we gave prepared as well as possible.”
Warriors vs Leinster A
15 Mike Penn
14 Sam Miller
13 Alex Grove
12 Greg King
11 Andy Short
10 Willie Walker
9 Andy Williams
1 Callum Black
2 Ed Shervington
3 Tevita Taumoepeau
4 Will Bowley
5 James Clutterbuck
6 James Freeman
7 Matt Kvesic
8 Adam Balding (c)
Replacements
16 Will Radburn
17 Sean McCarthy
18 Mike Hill
19 Nile Dacres
20 James Collins
21 James Whybrow
22 Joel Dudley

Arscott, who has scored seven tries in 15 appearances this season for Warriors, is named on the wing with Miles Benjamin moving to the replacements.

Scrum half Jonny Arr will also start alongside points machine Andy Goode at half back as Head Coach Richard Hill makes just two changes to the starting line-up that defeated Bristol Rugby to extend the lead at the top of the league to 12 points.

Skipper Kai Horstmann and back row partner Pat Sanderson will both make their 150^th appearances for Worcester Warriors in the fixture.

England Under-20 rising star Matt Kvesic – who grabbed a brace against Esher Rugby in his last Worcester appearance – is named on the bench.

"Bedford will come and look to play so it will be an exciting game," said Head Coach Hill. "The Blues are one of the best handling and 15-man rugby teams in the RFU Championship.

“They have no fear and will run from anywhere and try quick drop outs, quick throw ins, quick penalties – you cannot turn your back on Bedford for one second, if we do that we will be in trouble.

"When we played Bedford at Goldington Road we were very disciplined and we will need to repeat that. We will look to try and dominate up front and have selected a pack of forwards that can scrummage and can try and wear them down."