Prop Fainga’anuku to join Worcester Warriors

Posted on Mar 21, 2013 in Worcester Warriors

Powerhouse prop Ofa Fainga’anuku is to join Worcester Warriors from next season after agreeing a deal to move to Sixways from RaboDirect PRO12 club Glasgow Warriors.

Giant front row Fainga’anuku – who stands a menacing 6ft tall and weighs 19 stone 10lb –represented Tonga in the 2012 Pacific Nations Cup and has previously had a spell with the Waratahs in Australia.

The 30-year-old, who has also featured for the Central Coast Rays and Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, started out in rugby league, but later switched to union.

Fainga’anuku signed for Glasgow in September 2012 on a short-term contract, but after impressing extended his stay to the end of this season.

Head Coach Richard Hill is delighted with his latest signing and believes the loosehead will be a powerful acquisition for Warriors.

“We looked at a number of props and there were several loose-heads in the market and available,” revealed Hill. “However, when all the coaches sat down and looked at video, it was very clear that Ofa was the one who made us all stand up. We quickly realised there was something special about him. He has that X-Factor.

“He is a big man but moves very quickly, a dynamic ball carrier and very good in defence which comes from his rugby league background.

“Ofa has grown up playing rugby league so has soft hands and likes to pass out of the tackle, but he also has a huge work-rate and the ability to tackle and get back in the line quickly.

“It’s vital that he can be strong in the scrum for us week in and week out. He has learnt very quickly from his spell in the RaboDirect PRO12 and impressed us in the set piece in games against Ulster, Cardiff Blues and Newport Gwent Dragons,” added Hill.

“Ofa is a very powerful man and will be one of the strongest in our squad. The strength and conditioning staff are naturally very excited about working with him.

“He has been to Sixways to see what we are all about and is now very keen to join us. He has been playing at a very good standard in Glasgow, with the Warriors topping the RaboDirect PRO12, and he is an international who wants to become a regular for his country.

“Ofa is an exciting signing for us and we are looking forward to him becoming a Warrior at Worcester.”

Trimble signs new two-year deal with the IRFU and Ulster

Posted on Mar 19, 2013 in Ulster

Ulster winger, Andrew Trimble, has signed a new national contract with the IRFU which will see him remain at Ravenhill until at least the summer of 2015.

Trimble, a graduate of the Hughes Insurance Ulster Rugby Academy, made his senior debut for Ulster against Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park on 9th September 2005.

The 28 year old has made 155 appearances for the Province and has scored an Ulster record 50 first team tries. He is on track to break his personal record of ten tries in one campaign, having scored eight tries for Ulster so far this season.

Trimble made his Ireland debut against Australia at Lansdowne Road in November 2005. He has won 49 caps and has scored 11 international tries. His last appearance for Ireland was against South Africa in the Guinness Series in November last year.

Commenting on Andrew Trimble’s new contract, Ulster’s Director of Rugby, David Humphreys, said: “I am delighted that Andrew has signed a new national contract as he is, without doubt, a world-class finisher and a hugely important member of our squad.

“Andrew has now spent almost eight years at Ulster Rugby. This deal will take him to a decade at Ravenhill and that reflects both his remarkable consistency of performance and his unwavering commitment to his Province.”

Pocock returns to Australian side facing Wales

Posted on Nov 29, 2012 in Australia

Openside flanker David Pocock will complete his return to on-field duties after today being named to start in the Qantas Wallabies’ year-ending James Bevan Trophy Test against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday (2.30pm).

Pocock led Australia to a 3-0 clean sweep of Grand Slam-winning Wales in June, but has not appeared since injuring his knee during the Wallabies’ opening match of the inaugural Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship against the All Blacks at Sydney in August.

The 24-year-old was scheduled to make his return earlier in the Spring Tour, but was held back after sustaining a mild calf strain at training prior to Australia’s departure from Paris following the opening game of the tour.

Pocock’s return allows the work load to be eased for star rookie Michael Hooper, who has performed exceptionally in the absence of his senior colleague.

Used off the bench against the Six Nations champions in June, Hooper ends his freshman Test season having started nine Tests consecutively prior to this weekend, where he will be injected into the game from the bench.

The high class 21-year-old fetcher has won the Australian team’s internal Player of the Day award on four occasions from those nine starting appearances.

Although Pocock will not captain the Wallabies this weekend, with that honour remaining with Pocock’s long-time Western Force and Wallaby colleague Nathan Sharpe as he plays his 116th and final Test; Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says his return will provide the squad with fresh impetus – both physically and mentally.

“David is one of the best in the world as a player, and is growing every day as a leader, so naturally we are delighted to have him back,” Deans says.

“While he has continued to contribute off the field, this tour has been one of frustration for him, but we were not prepared to take any risks and potentially compromise either the player or the team, in terms of his fitness. The upside to the wait is that his return comes at a time where we need fresh energy, as was evident at times during our Test in Italy last weekend.”

Although Deans believes Pocock is capable of playing the full Test, pointing to the lengthy training background he had prior to the calf strain, the inclusion of Hooper in the match night squad gives Australia the option of applying two openside flankers to the breakdown contest.

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Wales team to face Australia

Posted on Nov 29, 2012 in Wales

Wales have made four changes – all to the pack – for the final clash of the 2012 Dove Men Series, against Australia at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm)

In the front row Blues prop Scott Andrews, who came on for Osprey Aaron Jarvis in the first minutes of the defeat to the All Blacks last time out, is handed his second Wales start and he is joined by former Blues colleague and 93-times capped veteran prop Gethin Jenkins (now Toulon).

Jenkins, who has been released by the French club for the fixture which falls outside the IRB international window, replaces Bath’s Paul James, who by contrast has been made unavailable.

Elsewhere Ospreys lock Ian Evans completes his return from injury (knee) to replace Bradley Davies (Blues) who has been ruled out with concussion and Scarlets flanker Aaron Shingler replaces another Osprey, Ryan Jones, in the back row – with Jones retained on the bench.

The same backline which started against New Zealand last time out is selected, with Ospreys fly-half Dan Biggar coming in for another player returning to his club, Perpignan’s James Hook, in one change to the backs cover provided by the bench.

Uncapped Scarlets tight-head Samson Lee has the potential to make his international debut after joining the training squad on a full time basis this week providing front row cover as a replacement alongside Ospreys prop Ryan Bevington in the final change to the match-day 23.

Lee turns 20 tomorrow (Friday), missing out on the chance to make his debut as a teenager, but he still has the opportunity to pick up the late birthday present of an international cap should he appear from the bench.

“We need to pick up again where we left off in the second half last week,”said Wales head coach Warren Gatland.

“We managed to retain 73% possession after the break against the All Blacks and win the territory battle, and we need to put Australia under similar pressure from the outset.

“We have played them regularly over the last couple of years and have come close to winning on a number of occasions, but have not quite been able to get ourselves over the chalk of the finish line.

“Both sides have had injuries to cope with, but there is every reason for optimism.  The Millennium Stadium crowd will be in full voice again, they were outstanding last week, and we are aiming to reach the end of a tough series on Saturday and finish off on a high.”

WALES: Leigh Halfpenny; Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Liam Williams; Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Scott Andrews, Ian Evans, Luke Charteris, Aaron Shingler, Sam Warburton (captain), Toby Faletau
REPLACEMENTS: Ken Owens, Ryan Bevington, Samson Lee, Ryan Jones, Justin Tipuric, Tavis Knoyle, Dan Biggar, Scott Williams

 

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Pick Lions on form – not reputation

Posted on Oct 22, 2012 in British and Irish Lions

By Paul Smith, Sportsbeat: British Lions hero John Bentley has urged Warren Gatland to pick on form and not reputation when he selects his squad for the tour of Australia next summer.

Wales coach Gatland will be in charge of the Lions as they bid to win a first series since 1997.

John Bentley was part of that successful squad in South Africa, scoring a memorable solo try in a tour match against Gauteng Lions.

And he believes facing Australia next year represents a chance of success for Gatland’s men, providing the right squad is selected.

“Warren Gatland has been proven in the last four years as being a great coach with Wales and he has got the best out of his players, so he is the best man for the job,” said Bentley, who started the second and third Tests in 1997.

“The important thing about selecting the Lions squad initially is selecting players who are in form at the time, reputation will count for nothing. He has to pick those who are playing well.

“The Lions comes along only once every four years and they only go to three countries and it will be a great challenge going to Australia. But of the three countries – Australia, South Africa and New Zealand – it’s probably the best one to go to to seek that elusive win.

“The important thing is to try and get them to be a team as quickly as possible. In 1997 we became a side, a team, and importantly it doesn’t want to be a midweek team and a Saturday team. Ultimately everyone wants to play on a Saturday because that is when the Tests are played.”

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