Manchester water-boy following in Foden’s footsteps

Posted on Mar 18, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

While former England Counties players and officials will be watching ex-Counties scrum-half Ben Foden on the big stage in Dublin this weekend with keen interest, just up the road at Old Belvedere RFC on Friday evening another youngster from Cheshire will be following in his footsteps.

Like Foden, who played for England Counties in Canada in 2004 as an 18-year-old student at Manchester University, Ben Spencer, now of Cambridge RUFC, will be the youngest player in the Counties side facing the Ulster Bank Club International Team.

And like the England full-back, Spencer also made his way into the senior county team via his county affiliations with Cheshire’s age-group teams.

“I remember being very nervous at the time,” says Foden: “I was in the company of some very experienced guys who had played a lot of rugby and who were in some cases a bit intimidating.

“But it was a great experience and there’s nothing like pulling on an England jersey for the first time. It’s also a great boost for a young player and shows that people are recognising the talent he’s got.

“I wish him and the Counties team all the best for Friday night.”

What Foden will not appreciate is the rate of progress that has been made by the North West youngster, who is now one of three Cambridge players in the Counties line-up alongside fly-half Dan Mugford and centre Tom Wheatcroft.

Just three years ago he would travel with his close friend Sam Davies on the Manchester RFC coach as a water carrier for the first team.

In charge of the side at that time was one Dave Baldwin, currently the forwards’ coach with England Counties.

“Sam is playing with Manchester first team at the moment and I remember him well enough, but he would bring his pals to do the water job with him and I don’t remember all of them,” says Baldwin: “Discovering that Ben was one of those youngsters was a bit of a surprise.”

Former England RU and Great Britain RL international Keith Fielding played a major part in that transition from water-boy to England player.

“I played for the junior sides at Manchester and received a lot of good advice from my uncle, Steve Swindells, who played there, and my dad, who was always around to help me.

“But Keith Fielding coached me from Year 7 to Year 11 and I really had a lot of respect for him as a coach and mentor. He played a massive part in getting me from school level to county rugby.”

A family relocation then took him to the South West, where his tuition continued at Ivybridge Community College, Devon and Exeter Chiefs, the most recent move coming when Cambridge coach Bob Crooks watched Spencer and Mugford and offered them a chance to play at a National League club.

“Getting game time was a massive thing that swayed me towards Cambridge and I’ve tried to take the opportunity with both hands.” he says: “I haven’t given up on my education and I’ll be starting a degree course in community sports coaching at Bedford University in September which will allow me to continue playing at Cambridge.”

For now, however, the focus is on Friday’s game at Old Belvedere and facing the challenge of being the youngest player in the squad and dealing with a step up in quality with the Counties.

“It’s a good challenge to have at this age and I’m really excited about being here. I’m with a good bunch of guys and I’m enjoying the experience.” he says.

England Counties (v Ulster Bank Club International Team, Friday,March 18, 2011 at Old Belvedere RFC, Dublin, 5.30): Gareth Collins (Leicester Lions) capt; David Vincent (Barking), Peter Hodgkinson (Ealing Trailfinders), Tom Wheatcroft (Barking), Tom Jarvis (Stourbridge); Dan Mugford (Cambridge), Ben Spencer (Cambridge); Alex Clarke (London Scottish), Matt Hall (Blaydon), Aaron Liffchak (Barking), Steve Pape (Rosslyn Park), Josh Brown (London Scottish), James Kellard (Barking), Dave Allen (Blackheath), Sam Beaumont (Fylde).
Replacements: Dan Lloyd-Jones (Barking), Alex MacKenzie (Barking), James Ngan (Barking), Tom Standfield (London Scottish), Stefan Liebenberg (Old Albanians), Mike Waywell (Fylde), James Stephenson (Blackheath).

Mugford call-up extends Cambridge’s England Counties XV contingent

Posted on Mar 11, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

The England Counties XV will contain three players from the same house when they tackle Ireland’s Ulster Bank Club International Team in Dublin on Friday week (March 18, 17.30pm kick-off) following the call-up of Cambridge RUFC fly-half Dan Mugford.

Mugford lives with his team-mates Ben Spencer and Tom Wheatcroft and his inclusion in the squad takes the Cambridge contingent to four with lock Robbie Hurrell also in the team.

Mugford gets his chance following the withdrawal because of injury of London Scottish No 10 James Brown and given a run of bad luck earlier in the season, getting a call from Counties Manager Michael Old was a massive boost for the 19-year-old.

“In November I ruptured a ligament in my ankle which kept me out of the game for a month or so and while I was recovering, I was doing some DIY on a glass-panelled door and managed to cut through a tendon in my thumb.” he said: “That kept me out for another spell.

“At that stage I was simply looking to get back playing after the injury and push on to the end of the season. I certainly wasn’t expecting anything like this and it’s absolutely brilliant that the chance has come up. It’s been a real confidence booster and some light at the end of the tunnel.

“And with three of us from the same house all being involved, there’s a real buzz going around the place.”

A product of Exeter Chiefs Ivybridge Community College, Mugford played alongside Spencer before the pair decided to accept an offer to join Cambridge after coach Bob Crooks went to watch them on the advice of a friend.

“We both believed that getting game time at National League level was the key for us and we moved up to Cambridge,” said Mugford: “They’ve been really good and got behind us all the way.”

“James Brown has been a first-class member of the England Counties set-up, both on and off the field, and we’re sorry to see him having to withdraw,” says Counties Manager Michael Old: “But his bad luck opens a door for Dan and I’m sure he’ll grasp the opportunity with both hands.

“He’s next to the youngest in the squad – his housemate Ben Spencer is nine months younger at 18 – and I’m sure being with the England Counties will be a great experience for them both.

“It’s always very exciting to see young players coming into the team and testing themselves in a different, challenging environment. On our last tour to Canada we had Tom Kessell from Plymouth – a Devon team-mate of Dan’s – in the squad and he was a revelation. Hopefully these two teenagers can enjoy the same experience and really blossom in Dublin.”

England Counties (v Ulster Bank Club International Team, Old Belvedere RUFC, Dublin, Friday, March 18, 2011): Forwards – Dave Allen* (Blackheath), Sam Beaumont (Fylde), Alex Clarke (London Scottish), Matt Hall* (Blaydon), Robbie Hurrell (Cambridge), James Kellard* (Barking), Aaron Liffchak (Barking), Dan Lloyd-Jones (Barking), Alex MacKenzie (Barking), James Ngan (Barking), Steve Pape* (Rosslyn Park), Tom Standfield (London Scottish).
Backs – Gareth Collins* (Leicester Lions), Peter Hodgkinson (EalingTrailfinders), David Howells* (London Scottish), Tom Jarvis* (Stourbridge), Stefan Liebenberg (Old Albanians), Dan Mugford (Cambridge), Ben Spencer (Cambridge), James Stephenson (Blackheath), Mike Waywell (Fylde), Tom Wheatcroft (Cambridge)
(* denotes previous England Counties cap)

Cambridge skipper joins Moseley

Posted on Jan 27, 2011 in Rugby News

Moseley has pleasure in confirming the signature of Cambridge University Captain Ben Maidment.

Ben a 22 year old, 6’4”, 17½ st ball carrying no 8 (or no 6), who was previously a student at Durham University, is currently studying Land Economy at St. Edmunds College Cambridge and won blues two years running.

He has recently been playing for London Wasps in the Aviva Premiership Rugby A League as well as in the 2010 Premiership 7s.

Ben will provide weight in the tight and the loose and is expected to raise further the competition for places among Moseley’s back row forwards.

Date of Birth: 28/05/1988
Position: No 8 (or 6)
Honours: England Students; Cambridge Blue; Wasps
Height 6′ 4 /1.93m; Weight 17st 6.7lb/111Kg

Oxford and Cambridge prepare to sing the Blues at Twickenham

Posted on Dec 8, 2010 in Rugby News

This year’s Nomura Varsity Match on December 9th promises to be another treat for rugby fans as both Oxford and Cambridge prepare for their annual Twickenham showdown, the 129th meeting of the two teams in this historic event.

Oxford University RFC are keen to avenge last year’s defeat at the hands of the Light Blues and have had to overcome a difficult preparation with injuries to key players. However, new coach Murray Henderson is confident that his team can produce a great performance on the day.

“This is my first year in a Varsity Match,” said Henderson, “and it has been a real experience. A young Oxford Blues squad this year has had its challenges and none more so than a string of early injuries and some tough Monday night fixtures. However, they have come through it all as a very tight group and in the end we have arrived with probably our best 22 bar one injured player in John Carter. This has been especially satisfying because a lot of hard work has gone in and it will be rewarding just to see what the best of Oxford can do against the best of Cambridge.”

For Australian born doctor Nick Haydon, a former captain of Australia Students, the chance to lead Oxford out at Twickenham will be one of the proudest moments of his rugby career.

“It’s a very proud moment for any captain to lead his team out on the field but to lead out a very tight group of guys that you’ve worked extremely hard with for 12 months, at Twickenham, for our biggest challenge – I’ll be extremely proud and very eager.”

The spirit of the Oxford side is echoed by winger Luke Jones, a surgeon from Hammersmith who is studying for a DPhil in musculoskeletal surgery and is winning his first Blue.

“Playing in the Varsity Match will be the highlight of my rugby career,” said Jones. “It’s difficult to predict the result – it’s a one-off game and we’ve had quite a difficult run-in but we’re really coming together as a side and we’re really looking forward to playing for each other. Although we are probably underdogs going in to the game we’re certainly capable of pulling off a victory.”

England 7s squad member Alex Cheesman has experienced both victory and defeat for Oxford and admits: “We want to right the wrongs from last year so I guess there is more pressure on us this year to put in a good performance. It’s a huge game for us – the biggest of the season – and we’re looking to win the Nomura trophy back.”

Cambridge University RUFC come into the game on the back of a win in their annual Steele-Bodgers fixture two weeks ago and will be cheered on by Dan Vickerman, who led them to victory last year but was ruled out of this year’s team through injury.

South African James Richards is hoping to emulate the Australian international lock and the Cambridge captain said: “The Varsity Match means a tremendous amount to me. It’s such a big one-off game and anything can happen on the day. If everything goes right and we play the game we want to play hopefully we can be successful.”

Cambridge coach Tony Rodgers has seen it all before and brings a wealth of Varsity Match experience to his team.

“This year we have got a young squad; most of them are very inexperienced but very enthusiastic and keen and they’ve been a joy to work with. As always with the Varsity Match the one game defines the whole season so the strategy has always been to peak on the day. We’ve had a few injury setbacks in the past few weeks but while it’s disappointing for the guys involved it brings the squad closer together and we’ll use it as a positive rather than a negative.”

Among this year’s Cambridge team is New Zealand flanker Jason Kururangi, the son of an All Black who was lured to Cambridge by the history and tradition of the Varsity Match.

“I spoke to a couple of Kiwi guys who came over here a few years ago,” said Kururangi, “and they said it was the best rugby match they’d ever played in. I think we’re going to go pretty well – it all feels like it’s coming together nicely.  We’ll see what happens on the day but mentally we’re up for it.”

For Tom Stanton, from Milton Keynes, who has played in the last three U21 Nomura Varsity Matches for Cambridge, winning his first Blue is a dream come true.

“The Varsity Match means everything to me,” admits Stanton. “It’s the culmination of a five or six year dream that I’ve had since I was at school and I knew I’d got my offer from Cambridge. It’s also the culmination of all the hard work and everything we’ve done pre-season and in the gym so it means a hell of a lot to me.”

Tickets for the 2010 Nomura Varsity Match at Twickenham start from £20.00 (£10.00 for students with a valid NUS card) and can be obtained by calling Ticketmaster on 0844 847 2492 or are available to buy at the gate on the day.

Countdown to Varsity match

Posted on Nov 17, 2010 in Rugby News

The countdown to the 2010 Nomura Varsity Match at Twickenham Stadium on Thursday, December 9 has begun.

With Oxford determined to avenge last year’s defeat at the hands of arch rivals Cambridge, the two universities have begun their build-up to the day that matters more than any other in their calendar. Cambridge currently lead Oxford by 61 wins to 53 with 14 matches drawn.

The annual Varsity Match, sponsored for the third consecutive year by Nomura, the global investment bank, is always fiercely competitive and was widely acclaimed last year for providing one of the best games of the season.

Cambridge, who were led to victory last year by Australian international lock Dan Vickerman, are captained this year by former professional James Richards, a South African who is in the third year of an economics degree at Hughes Hall.

Having already experienced the unique atmosphere of the Varsity Match, Richards understands the importance of the occasion, saying: “Cambridge rugby is all about 30 students pulling together for one reason – to beat Oxford at Twickenham and this season is no different. Heavy focus has been put on building a strong squad of students who play for each other, both on and off the field, and understand the privilege and honour of wearing the light blue.

“Rugby is all about the ‘joy’ and we have tried to put this into our game by playing an exciting brand of running rugby where we look to shift the ball and express ourselves rather than kick defensively. Constant improvement each game is what we are looking for and even though we narrowly lost to Northampton Saints 22-10 the boys played some outstanding rugby, showed great character and are still hungry to improve.  We are looking forward to the upcoming challenges that lie ahead of us and relishing the opportunity to play at Twickenham."

Oxford, under a new coach in Murray Henderson, will be led by 27-year-old doctor Nick Haydon, who hails from Sydney, Australia and is currently studying for an MSc in diagnostic imaging. A member of last year’s Oxford team he is keen to put the memory of that painful defeat behind him.

“The buzz around the club is slowly intensifying as December 9th draws closer,” said Haydon. “Everyone involved with OURFC is hugely excited and anticipation is high for that first whistle. The whole squad has invested a great deal of time and effort into preparations for this year, traveling to Wales for an overnight team bonding exercise and Russia for a pre-season tour.

“The fixtures so far have been tough and the team has worked hard to develop on all points of their game. The fitness training has also been tough and, at times downright miserable, but the boys have pulled through marvellously. Come kick-off at Twickenham in December this squad will be in the best condition of any OURFC team in history and will be determined to bring home the trophy.”

Tarun Jotwani, Chief Executive Officer of Nomura, EMEA, added: “The Varsity Match between Oxford and Cambridge is one of the classic fixtures in the UK’s sporting calendar. We are delighted to be continuing our exclusive sponsorship of this traditional clash between these two great universities.”

Tickets for the 2010 Nomura Varsity Match at Twickenham start from £20.00 (£10.00 for students with a valid NUS card) and can be obtained by calling Ticketmaster on 0844 847 2492.