Salvi signs at Welford Road

Posted on Jul 12, 2011 in Leicester

Australian openside flanker Julian Salvi has agreed to join Leicester Tigers ahead of the new season.

Salvi, who has just finished the Super 15 campaign with the Brumbies, is moving to Welford Road as an injury dispensation signing following the news that Craig Newby is likely to miss the opening months of the season with a knee problem which has required surgery.

The 25-year-old Salvi has made more than 50 appearances for the Brumbies in two spells either side of a season in the Premiership with Bath Rugby.

A former Australia Schools and Under-21s captain, Salvi has also represented Australia ‘A’ in two IRB Pacific Nations Cup campaigns.

Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill said: “We’re delighted that Julian has agreed to join us. He enjoyed a very good season in England a couple of years ago and has been a major performer in Australia too.

“Losing a player of Craig Newby’s influence and experience is a blow to the squad, especially during a World Cup year when we are likely to be without a number of senior players.

“But we see Julian as a very good addition to the squad. He will join us by the end of July and his previous experience in this country should allow him to fit in pretty quickly.” 

Cipriani Kicks Rebels to First Victory

Posted on Feb 25, 2011 in Rugby News

Danny Cipriani kicked 20 points, including a last minute penalty, to give the Melbourne Rebels their first victory of their maiden Super 15 season.

A newly created team, the Rebels have been largely expected to take a couple of seasons before becoming truly competitive, with some pundits even predicting that they’d finish this season winless. After a 43-0 defeat at home to the Waratahs in the opening week it did look like the Rebels would be whipping boys. Accordingly many had predicted the Brumbies to also put them to the sword this week.

Defence was the key to victory as the Brumbies kept threatening the Rebels, yet often failed to get the points. The Rebels scrum was often a problem, but a good goal kicking and tactical kicking display by the English fly half helped keep them in the game.

The Brumbies took a 16-9 lead in at half time and scored a try near the end of the game to make it 24-22, and it’d look like the Brumbies would win it. However Matt Giteau missed the conversion, which allowed Cipriani to win the game with a 79th minute penalty.

A famous victory for the Rebels and a great upset – however the real test would be to see if they can keep this up.

Australian team to play Cardiff Blues – Matt Toomua to start

Posted on Nov 23, 2009 in Rugby News

Australia Under-20 and Brumbies flyhalf Matt Toomua will make his senior debut for his country after being named today in the Qantas Wallabies side to tackle the Cardiff Blues tomorrow night.

The selection of Toomua, 19, is one of three personnel changes to the starting line-up from the Australian side which won its opening midweek match of the tour at Gloucester.

The others see Pekahou Cowan included to start at loosehead prop, in the place of Salesi Ma’afu, after coming off the bench as a hooker against Gloucester.

Ma’afu is relegated to the bench, after featuring on the tighthead side of the scrum at Gloucester, with Sekope Kepu switching from loosehead to tighthead to accommodate the inclusion of Cowan.

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Australia: Smith starts, Ioane at centre – squad announcement

Posted on Nov 5, 2009 in Rugby News

The return of George Smith to the starting XV, and the selection of an entirely new midfield combination featuring Digby Ioane and Quade Cooper, are the key changes to the Qantas Wallabies starting line-up that has been named today for Saturday’s Cook Cup Test against England in London.

Smith, the game’s fifth most capped player, has swapped roles with the Western Force 21-year-old David Pocock from last week. He will play in his 107th Test.

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Wales eyes on Tokyo this weekend

Posted on Oct 28, 2009 in Rugby News

All eyes in Wales will be firmly fixed on the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo this weekend when two of Wales opponents in next month’s Invesco Perpetual Series clash in a fourth Bledisloe Cup match of the season.

Last year the extra game was played in Hong Kong. This time New Zealand and Australia meet in the Japanese capital at the same venue where Lynn ‘The Leap’ Davies won his Olympic gold medal in the long jump way back in 1964.

The Wallabies may not be in Wales for a month, but they want to send a powerful message from Tokyo this weekend to Ryan Jones and his players that they are no soft option.

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