Bob Burrell

Posted on Apr 14, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Now Rugby is saddened to learn of the death of one of the sport’s great characters, former international referee, past president of Gala RFC, and renowned after-dinner speaker Bob Burrell.   He was 87.

Burrell was referee in five international matches in the late 1960s – Ireland v Wales in 1966; Ireland v France and France v New Zealand in 1967; and Ireland v England and France v Wales in 1969. He was also invited to referee the Varsity match prior to his international selection, which was a rare honour.

George Murray, former secretary of the South and a fellow referee, recalled: “Bob was a great humorist on and off the field and was a great one for encouraging the fun side of refereeing. He was an excellent referee and quite an inspiration to other referees.

“Ask anyone in Gala and they’ll have a Bob Burrell story to tell.  One of my favourites concerns a young Douglas Morgan playing against Langholm down at Milntown.  Douglas broke down the blindside next to the stand but he was caught and ended up at the bottom of a ruck where he was stood on and pushed face down in the mud.

“Douglas appealed to Bob ‘What about that ref?’ to which Bob replied ‘If I were you son I wouldn’t go up the blindside again!’

“He was such a personality, the Jim Renwick of his day.  He loved his rugby and wasn’t very good at getting home early on a Saturday night.”

Bob enjoyed 17 years as a referee.  Before that he was a gifted centre in a Gala side which included such talent as his brother, Dod (who went on to become President of the SRU and also managed the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand in 1977); Jim Lees, Dod Lyall and Arthur Dorward.   Bob played 140 games for Gala scoring some 28 tries in his career.

When he stood down from refereeing, Bob was a noted after-dinner and after-lunch speaker.  In his business life he looked after the sponsorship interests of Keyline Builders’ Merchants.

He served on the Gala RFC committee for many years becoming president in 1989 and fulfilling that office until 1991.  He was made a life member of Gala in 2004.

In recent years he has taken great pride in the progress of his grandson, Edinburgh, Scotland A and Scotland 7s forward Roddy Grant.

Bob passed away on a trip to see his family in southern Africa.  Scottish Rugby extends its sincere condolences to all Bob’s family and friends.

England Counties U20s turn to Bob Hood

Posted on Jan 31, 2011 in Rugby News

The newly created England Counties RU Under 20 team have appointed Yorkshireman Bob Hood as Lead Coach for their inaugural game against Scotland on Friday, May 6, 2011 at West Park Leeds RFC.

During his time with Yorkshire Under 21s and Under 20s from 1995-2007 the White Rose team won 69 of their 74 Championship games and included in that tally eight National Championship titles.

“I think the team is a fantastic idea.” he says: “I find working with Under 20 players really rewarding. It’s a fantastic level. Their rugby development is such that they are hungry to learn, but they have the physical maturity of open age players, which is why you get a really good quality of rugby.

Joining Hood on the coaching front will be ex-London Welsh player Paul Cox, currently Head of Curriculum at Worthing College and coach to the England Colleges team, while Rob Clilverd, a director at the Bristol RFC, will be the team’s Chairman of Selectors and Malcolm Ross from Leicestershire the Manager.

Harlequins launch ‘Help a London Child’ Big Game 3 shirt at Hamleys

Posted on Nov 2, 2010 in Rugby News

On Monday 27^th December Harlequins will take on London Irish at Twickenham Stadium in Big Game 3, an event which has become a firm fixture in the sporting calendar at Christmas.

This year, Quins’ charity partner is 95.8 Capital FM’s Help a London Child and, in the tradition of the Big Game, the shirt that the players wear will be designed in the charity colours.

95.8 Capital FM’s Help a London Child improves the lives of thousands of disadvantaged children living in our city, who are facing challenges such as poverty, abuse, homelessness, illness and disability. For every Big Game shirt sold, £15 will go towards this fantastic cause.

After successfully drawing 77,000 people last season to England’s HQ, The Big Game is back promising to be even bigger and better than before.

With 70% of seats being priced at £10 for adults and £5 for children, it not only offers a top class game of rugby between two Premiership sides, showcasing the likes of International stars Danny Care, Nick Easter, Nick Evans, Ugo Monye, the Armitage brothers, Bob Casey and Seilala Mapasua along with a number of others, but it offers the very best of pre-match entertainment.

  “The whole team are really excited about playing London Irish at this year’s Big Game 3, they are a strong side so it will be a tough and challenging match.  We are very proud to be wearing the special Help a London Child match day jerseys. A few of the players have been to the Shooting Star Children’s Hospice to see how some of the money raised by Help a London Child is put to use. It really made us all stop and think about what an important and crucial role the charity plays in enabling places like Shooting Star to provide essential respite care for life limited children and their families.” Chris Robshaw, Harlequins Captain.

Kennedy and Mapusua return for Gloucester clash

Posted on Sep 17, 2010 in English Rugby, Premiership

London Irish head coach Toby Booth has recalled the international duo of Nick Kennedy and Seilala Mapusua to the starting line up for this Sunday’s match against Gloucester Rugby Club at Madejski Stadium, kick off 3pm.

Kennedy returns to the second row where he will team up with Bob Casey while the in form Kieran Roche moves to the back row in place of Steffon Armitage.

In the backs, 2009 PRA Players’ Player of the Year Mapusua will form a centre partnership with Daniel Bowden and academy star Jonathon Joseph retains his place on the wing after scoring his first Premiership try for the Exiles last weekend.

Speaking about the match, Booth said: “We have had a good start to the season and belief in the squad is very high at the moment.

“Defensively we were excellent last week and after the bonus point win against Saracens at the London Double Header we are in a strong position for our first match in front of our home fans.

“We are all looking forward to be back playing at Madejski Stadium for what I am expecting to be an entertaining afternoon of rugby.”

London Irish: 15. Delon Armitage*; 14. Topsy Ojo*; 13. Seilala Mapusua *; 12. Daniel Bowden; 11. Jonathon Joseph; 10. Ryan Lamb; 9. Paul Hodgson*; 1. Clarke Dermody* (captain); 2. James Buckland; 3. Faan Rautenbach*; 4. Nick Kennedy*; 5. Bob Casey*; 6. Kieran Roche; 7. Declan Danaher ; 8. George Stowers*.

Replacements: 16. David Paice; 17. Max Lahiff; 18. Alex Corbisiero; 19. Matt Garvey; 20. Jonathon Fisher;  21. Sailosi Tagicakibau*; 22. Chris Malone; 23. Darren Allinson.

*Denotes international

Head Coach: Toby Booth
Attack Coach: Mike Catt
Defence Coach: Dave Ellis

Clarke Dermody confirmed as Exiles Captain for new season

Posted on Aug 25, 2010 in English Rugby, Premiership

London Irish have announced that former All Black prop forward Clarke Dermody will captain the team for the 2010/11 season.

Dermody, who joined the club in October 2007, takes over the captaincy from Bob Casey, who has led the side with distinction for the past three seasons.

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