Phillips and Hook get early release to join Welsh squad

Posted on May 15, 2012 in Wales

Mike Phillips and James Hook have been released early from their clubs in France to return to Wales in time to join the Welsh squad at the start of the preparation for the international against The Barbarians on June 2 and the three Test tour of Australia.

Both the players will join their team-mates at the WRU National Centre of Excellence on Monday, May 21 for the start of the full training schedule.

The French Rugby Union has formally told the WRU of the players’ May 21 release and informed the two relevant clubs in France.

Wales caretaker head coach Rob Howley has praised the decision as an example of northern hemisphere co-operation during international preparations.

The May 21 date falls outside the formal IRB date of release for players involved in international duty and release is either contracted by individual Unions or discretionary.

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New Zealand clinch HSBC Sevens World Series as Fiji claim London title

Posted on May 14, 2012 in England Sevens, Sevens

New Zealand have retained their HSBC Sevens World Series title, ending the season with a third place finish at the Marriott London Sevens to finish on 167 Series points, six ahead of closest rivals Fiji.

The New Zealanders sealed a 10th Series title with a ruthless 36-0 quarter final win against South Africa, but fell to a brilliant Fijian performance in the semi final. However, the New Zealanders recovered to end the season on a high note, beating Argentina in the play-off for bronze.

The Fijians stormed to the London title to cap a season of achievement for them, matching New Zealand’s three Cup titles and underlining just how tight things are at the top of the Sevens game.

A record two-day Sevens crowd of 103,027 attended Twickenham over the weekend, a fitting climax to another thrilling season of international Rugby Sevens.

"It’s pretty special, we worked extremely hard to get this one and I think everyone knows how competitive the Sevens Series is now. We came here with an 11-point lead but still with an opportunity of blowing it," said NZ captain, DJ Forbes.

"The quarter final win (36-0 win against South Africa) was probably our only complete game of rugby this weekend, but there was a lot of passion, a lot behind it to make sure we wrapped up the Series.

"At the end of the day it comes down to consistency and that’s where we were probably a little bit ahead, but taking nothing away from Fiji, they’ve done extremely well to win here.

"I guess for us you could see that we’re used to playing under pressure, regardless of where we’re playing. If you’re wearing a black jersey everyone expects you to do well."

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "Once again New Zealand have proved that, over the course of an entire season, they are the finest Sevens side in the world and our congratulations go to them.

"And yet even on this, their day of triumph, they were denied in the Cup semi-finals by their closest challengers Fiji, which again underlines just how competitive our global Game of Rugby Sevens has become.

"In the women’s event too we have seen a wonderful tournament from the Netherlands in reaching a first Cup title and congratulations to England on winning their second title of the season.

"Twickenham has provided a wonderful and fitting stage for the finale of another superb season, capped off by another record crowd for a two-day event. We can look forward to a bright future as we gear towards the 2016 Olympic Games."

Australia took the Plate in London, beating England, who finished the season in third place ahead of Samoa in fourth and South Africa in fifth.

A record two-day Sevens crowd of 103,027 attended Twickenham over the weekend, a fitting climax to another thrilling season of international Rugby Sevens.

The Fijians stormed to the London title to cap a season of achievement for them, matching New Zealand’s three Cup titles and underlining just how tight things are at the top of the Sevens game.

The New Zealanders sealed a 10th Series title with a ruthless 36-0 quarter final win against South Africa, but fell to a brilliant Fijian performance in the semi final. However, the New Zealanders recovered to end the season on a high note, beating Argentina in the play-off for bronze.

Sixth placed Australia won the Plate, Wales lifted the Bowl, France were triumphant in the Shield whilst England won their second IRB Women’s Sevens Challenge Cup.

Australia pip hosts England to Plate

England narrowly missed out on the consolation of a Plate trophy when Dan Bibby missed a conversion and a penalty drop goal in the second half of the Plate final, allowing impressive Australia to hang on to a 14-12 victory and collect 13 Series points.

However, Mat Turner’s try in the final did put him one ahead of teammate Dan Norton as the season’s leading try scorer.

England reached the Plate final after a Turner try and Tom Mitchell conversion clinched a late 17-15 victory against South Africa. Australia reached the final after the Tokyo Sevens winners overturned a 12-5 half time deficit to beat Spain 17-12 in the semi.

Wales beat Scotland in Bowl

Twelve points from Alex Walker hands Wales a 27-5 victory against Scotland in the Bowl, as the reigning RWC Sevens champions collect eight points for the Series.

Two second half tries, one after the final buzzer had sounded, from Dan Fish booked Wales’ place in the Bowl final after a 28-26 victory against Portugal. They met Scotland following Graham Shiel’s side recorded a 31-19 victory against Zimbabwe in the second semi final thanks to two tries from Michael Fedo.

Earlier, 11 points from Alex Walker helped Wales beat USA 28-19 in the second Bowl quarter, entering this competition having lost to Spain and Fiji on day one.

Carl Murray scored twice for Portugal in the day’s opening match against RWC Sevens 2013 hosts Russia. The sides last met in the core team qualifying quarter final in Hong Kong, with Portugal narrowly winning 17-10 on their way to claiming one of the three places for next season’s Series, and recorded a 24-17 victory in London.

In the third match Scotland beat crowd favourites Kenya 21-5 before Dubai Sevens runners-up France suffered a 19-17 defeat to Zimbabwe with Jacques Leitao scoring the winning try for the Cheetahs.

 

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Robinson: England’s Dan the man to light up sevens world

Posted on May 11, 2012 in England Sevens

World Cup winner Jason Robinson loves to be entertained and hailed England’s Dan Norton as the man who has lit up this season’s HSBC Sevens World Series.

Norton is the leading global try-getter going into the final leg at the Marriott London Sevens at Twickenham Stadium this weekend. No Englishman – in a list including Ugo Monye and David Strettle – has scored more heavily in a single season.

The 24 year-old from Bristol has touched down 35 times on big stages everywhere from Hong Kong to Las Vegas on a world tour in which the eight tournament titles have been shared by five different teams so far.

Former England wing Robinson – their try scorer in the 2003 World Cup final victory – admits he wants to see ‘speed, good feet and skills’ more than scrums and lineouts these days.

And the likes of England’s Norton and Mat Turner, and New Zealand’s Lomu-like wing Frank Halai, have provided exactly that since the series kicked off on the Gold Coast in Queensland six months ago.

The single snapshot highlight? Norton’s astonishing try in Hong Kong against Australia, starting from behind his own line before he beat three opponents to go the length of the field and snatch victory on the final play, might just be the best of the lot.

“When you’re playing 15s you are aware of sevens because everyone loves playing it but what I’ve seen this season has been amazing,” said Robinson, an HSBC Ambassador.

“I’ve been astonished going to the different legs as to how much interest has been generated. For guys like Norton, who’s just re-signed for England, it’s fantastic. The best players love big stages and the HSBC Sevens World Series gives them that worldwide.

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England make three changes in squad for Glasgow Sevens

Posted on May 2, 2012 in England Sevens

Dan Bibby is set to win his first cap after being named in the England squad for this weekend’s penultimate leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series in Glasgow.

The UWIC playmaker heads for his first tournament with former England Under 20 wing Mark Odejobi in the squad for the first time this season and Chris Cracknell returning from injury.

The three changes from the last leg in Tokyo see them take over from Harlequins wing Charlie Walker, injured playmaker Christian Lewis-Pratt and former captain Greg Barden, who has retired.

England Students full back Bibby, 21, has trained with the squad all season and the former Fylde player impressed for Sale Sharks last summer when named Player of the Tournament at the Edgeley Park leg of the JP Morgan Premiership Sevens.

Odejobi ruptured an Achilles tendon last year and spent six months in rehab before re-joining the group in January while Cracknell had been ever-present in the squad this season before sitting out the last leg of the series in Tokyo with a shoulder injury.

“Dan Bibby’s an exciting talent who’s definitely one for the future and he’s trained with us throughout the season, including appearing in our warm-up tournament in Spain on the eve of the series,” said head coach Ben Ryan.

“It’s been a long road back for Mark Odejobi who played for us last season. He’s worked very hard to get fit and he’s trained well to keep out two very experienced sevens players in [former captain] Andy Vilk and Simon Hunt. It’s great to have Chris Cracknell back after missing him in Tokyo too.”

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Howley appointed caretaker coach

Posted on Apr 19, 2012 in Wales, Welsh Rugby

The Welsh Rugby Union has appointed Rob Howley as Caretaker Head Coach of Wales for the forthcoming summer internationals against the Barbarians and Australia to allow Warren Gatland to focus on recovering from injuries suffered in an accident at home in New Zealand.

Howley will have full control of all aspects of team preparation and selection as he takes charge of the existing management and coaching staff with immediate effect.

Gatland has declared his full approval of the decision which was taken during discussions with WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis about his prognosis for recuperation and recovery over the weeks ahead.

Lewis says the decision will offer certainty to players, coaches and supporters as the preparations and planning for the matches now enter an important preliminary phase.

The decision was taken after medical advice given to Gatland and his family in New Zealand was set against the huge scale and importance of the summer series of games in 2012.

Wales will play the Barbarians on June 2 (kick off 2.00pm) in a full international before the start of the biggest ever one-nation tour in the history of the Welsh Rugby Union outside a Rugby World Cup campaign.

Wales play an unprecedented three Test matches against Australia plus a midweek fixture against the Brumbies between the first and second Test.

Doctors have ruled out a return to Wales for Gatland in time for the Barbarians international and the latest medical advice is that he is unlikely to have recuperated sufficiently to take charge of Wales in Australia before the first Test match in Brisbane on June 9.

If Gatland recovers in time to join the squad for the final two June Test matches Howley will remain as caretaker with the Head Coach playing a supportive role.

Howley will continue to liaise directly with Warren Gatland throughout his current phase of recuperation, but the pair have agreed that the caretaker coach will make the final decisions required.

Roger Lewis said: “Our priorities are clear and we have acted decisively to ensure absolute clarity in the weeks ahead.

“Warren has taken the appropriate medical advice and agrees that appointing Rob as Caretaker Coach in his absence is the best way forward for our Grand Slam winning squad.

“Rob, Warren and I have talked this through thoroughly and it makes absolute sense to ensure the chain of command and authority levels are recognised.

“Warren can now concentrate on getting back to robust health before taking back full control of Wales to continue the great work he has already achieved and Rob can take this opportunity to develop as a coach at the highest level.

“The appointment of Rob Howley as caretaker coach is deeply significant for our long term succession planning.  Rob has the total support of all of us at the WRU.  This is an opportunity for us all in these unforeseen circumstances.

“We have an outstanding team of coaches and management all of whom are critically important to the success of the national team.”

Gatland will not undergo immediate surgery as his injuries are given time to heal before any further decisions are taken on the need for intervention.

He was injured at home in a fall from the railings around decking at his Waihi beach house  and suffered multiple fractures to the calcaneus or heel bone in his right foot and a fracture to the same bone in his left.

He has been advised that the injury to his right foot is severe and it is unlikely he would be able to bear weight on the limb by early June.

Howley said: “I will give one hundred per cent of my effort to ensuring we are fully prepared to meet the challenges and take the great opportunities which lie ahead in this summer series.

“We will be working to secure victory against the Barbarians after the defeat we suffered last year and the Tests in Australia are an opportunity for us to deliver a win in the southern hemisphere.

“Along with the rest of the coaching team I am immensely proud to have been offered this opportunity and we will give our all until Warren is ready to take full control again.

“The players know all about the roles and responsibilities we perform and what we all have to deliver for the national cause over the months ahead.”

Warren Gatland said: “Although I am devastated to be away from the action I am delighted that we have someone of Rob’s calibre to take charge in my absence.

“I have talked through all the potential scenarios with Rob Howley and Roger Lewis, but the medical advice is clear and cannot be ignored.

“I will not be ready to take charge of Wales for the international against the Barbarians and if I recover enough to get to Australia during June I am still unlikely to be mobile enough to play a full coaching role.

“It has been difficult to accept that advice, but it just makes me more determined than ever to get back into the driving seat with Wales later on this summer as we prepare for an Autumn series which includes games against New Zealand and Australia.

“During my time in Wales we’ve put in some young coaches who have developed significantly over the past few years and I believe they are capable of stepping up to the job.

“As coaches we debate selections and strategies vigorously and we don’t always agree, but once a decision is made we all support it totally. I know the Welsh people won’t always agree with some of those selection decisions and they have a right to their views, but I would ask them to offer the same kind of support to the coaches once those decisions have been made.

“I know Rob will be his own man as caretaker coach, but he and I share a similar vision about the international game so the players and coaches will know what is expected of them.”

The Board of the WRU has decided unanimously that full caps will be awarded for the Wales team to play the Barbarians at the Millennium Stadium to kick-off the summer action.

Some of the players not selected for the Barbarians game will fly to Australia before the Barbarians encounter to start their acclimatisation and preparation programme.

After the Baa Baas game the full squad will gather in Brisbane to take part in the training schedule from the Tuesday onwards.

As caretaker coach Howley will remain with the squad in Wales for the Barbarians international before heading out with them to Australia.

Howley, a former scrum-half who made 59 appearances for his country, won his first cap  against the Barbarians  in October 2001, in a game which also saw Wales’ most capped forward Martyn Williams (99) and fellow flanker Kingsley Jones (10) make their respective debuts.

Wales have awarded caps for fixtures against the Barbarians on three previous occasions, the loss last November, the occasion of Williams’ and Jones’ debuts in 2001 and in the Baa-Baas centenary year of 1990.