Kellock to captain Scotland

Posted on Jan 25, 2011 in Rugby News

Alastair Kellock, the 29-year-old Glasgow Warriors lock, was named today as the man to lead Scotland into the 2011 RBS 6 Nations Championship.

Head coach Andy Robinson is restoring Kellock to the captain’s role which he performed with distinction on last summer’s tour to Argentina, where Scotland posted a historic 2-0 series success.

Robinson declared: “Al’s leadership on and off the field was a key element to our success in Argentina and, since his return from knee surgery, the quality of both his personal displays and the way he has galvanised the Glasgow side, especially over the last month, has been really pleasing.

“I have spoken about the importance of broadening the influence of leaders throughout the side and Rory Lawson, Mike Blair and Chris Cusiter have all led the side well.”

Kellock made his Championship debut against France in 2006 and he will lead Scotland in the competition for the first time against the same opponents at the Stade de France a week on Saturday.

In addition to the victories in South America last summer, Kellock also took on the captaincy when Chris Cusiter was injured at Murrayfield against Australia in the autumn of 2009 and piloted Scotland to that epic win – the first over the Wallabies in 27 years.

Scotland go into their match against France in 11 days’ time having won five of their last six cap internationals, a sequence which has seen them triumph in Ireland for the first time in 12 years and defeat world champions South Africa en route to rising to seventh in the IRB’s world rankings.

Kellock, who has won 27 caps, told NOWRugby today: “To get the chance to captain Scotland for the opening Six Nations game is huge.

“I was delighted to make the squad, especially after being out for almost six months with my knee after Argentina, and now to be named as captain, is a real highlight, particularly with the competition for places.”

Kellock, who first experienced captaincy in the age-group teams at the Allan Glen’s club, went on to skipper Edinburgh, his first professional side, and Glasgow Warriors.

He contends that he learned much from Todd Blackadder, the former All Blacks captain, during his stint with Edinburgh.  “When (Todd) got to a point in his career when he was 27 or 28 he said to himself ‘What are you waiting for?’.  You are not going to get anywhere in rugby by sitting back and saying: ‘what if’.  That has stuck with me quite a lot,” he explained.

Scotland make four changes

Posted on Nov 17, 2010 in Rugby News

Head coach Andy Robinson has made four changes in personnel to the Scotland starting line-up for Saturday’s EMC Autumn Test against world champions South Africa at Murrayfield.

Rory Lawson, 29, who will be making his first start in an international at Murrayfield as he wins his 21st cap, will captain Scotland for the first time, replacing Mike Blair who has been ruled out of contention after being concussed in last weekend’s game against the All Blacks.

Lawson, grandson of the late and much-respected Voice of Rugby, Bill McLaren, and son of the former Scotland scrum-half Alan Lawson, becomes Scotland’s 111th Test match captain.

Elsewhere in the back division Nikki Walker, who scored Scotland’s winning try in their 21-6 triumph against South Africa at Murrayfield in 2002, will make his first start since the 2008 Autumn Tests as he replaces Rory Lamont on the wing.

In the pack, Scott MacLeod, who has shown outstanding improvement for Edinburgh this season and who played a decisive role in Scotland’s second Test win in Argentina in June when he was introduced as a second-half substitute for Al Kellock, returns to win his 23rd cap.  He will partner Richie Gray in the boilerhouse.

In the back-row Nathan Hines, who scored a try against the Springboks on their last visit to Murrayfield two years ago, will bring his vast experience to bear from blindside flanker with Kelly Brown moving to No 8 to the exclusion of Richie Vernon.

On the bench, Dougie Hall is preferred to Scott Lawson, his Glasgow Warriors team-mate Moray Low comes in for the injured Alasdair Dickinson and Scotland’s cap centurion, Chris Paterson, is involved in a Scotland 22 for the first time since his landmark day in Cardiff ended with a kidney injury.

Robinson said: “We have to show to Scotland’s supporters this weekend that we are ready to face up to the intensely physical challenge that the South Africans always present.

“The players are pledged to deliver a much-improved performance this weekend and I believe they can restore pride in the Scotland jersey.”

Scotland team (sponsor Murray) to play South Africa in the EMC Autumn Test at Murrayfield on Saturday 20 November (kick-off 2.30pm)

15 Hugo Southwell (Stade Francais) 55 caps, 8 tries, 40 points

14 Nikki Walker (Ospreys) 16 caps, 4 tries, 20 points
13 Max Evans (Glasgow Warriors) 14 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
12 Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors) 26 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
11 Sean Lamont (Scarlets) 48 caps, 7 tries, 35 points

10 Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues) 54 caps, 4 tries,  10 conversions, 34 penalties, 11 drop-goals,  175 points
9 Rory Lawson (Gloucester) 20 caps CAPTAIN

1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh) 48 caps
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh) 41caps, 2 tries, 10 points
3 Euan Murray (Northampton Saints) 33 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
4 Scott MacLeod (Edinburgh) 22 caps
5 Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 4 caps
6 Nathan Hines (Leinster) 65 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
8 Kelly Brown (Saracens) 38 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
7 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors) 21 caps, 2 tries, 10 points

Substitutes

16 Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors) 31 caps
17 Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors) 8 caps
18 Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors) 4 caps
19 Ross Rennie (Edinburgh) 2 caps
20 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh) 1 cap
21 Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors) 1 cap
22 Chris Paterson (Edinburgh) 100 caps, 22 tries, 153 penalties, 87 conversions, 3 drop goals, 752 points

Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia).  Assistant referees: Alain Rolland (Ireland) and Francisco Pastrama (Argentina).  TMO: Tony Redmond (Ireland).

Tickets for the Scotland v South Africa EMC Autumn Test are priced at £20, £25 and £45 for adults and £10, £12.50 and £22.50 for children and students and are on sale now through three routes – via www.scottishrugby.org; the 24 hour hotline (until midnight on Friday) 0844 335 3933; or in person from 9am-8pm until Friday (19 November) from the Scottish Rugby Ticket Centre, Gate A, Roseburn Street, Edinburgh.  Please note no tickets are on sale on match day.

Toner wins first Ireland cap against Samoa

Posted on Nov 10, 2010 in Rugby News

Devin Toner will win his first cap for Ireland in the second row this Saturday against Samoa as one of 11 changes, including a positional switch, to the starting team from the side that played against South Africa.

Toner will be partnered by the experienced Donncha O’Callaghan and they will be supporting a new front row of Tom Court, Sean Cronin and John Hayes who are all selected to start.  Denis Leamy and Sean O’Brien are called into the backrow with Jamie Heaslip retaining the No.8 position.

Luke Fitzgerald makes the switch from wing to full back, with Andrew Trimble coming into the vacant left wing position.  Paddy Wallace comes into the team at inside centre to partner Captain Brian O’Driscoll and Ronan O’Gara and Peter Stringer come into the side as the new half back combination.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney will finalise the Replacements later this week.

Ireland Team (to play Samoa, Guinness Series 2010, Aviva Stadium, November 13th, 14:30)

15 – Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
14 – Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 – Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) Captain
12 – Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)
11 – Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
10 – Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
9 – Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)
1 – Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
2 – Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht)
3 – John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
4 – Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5 – Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)*
6 – Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
7 – Sean O’Brien (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)
8 – Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:

To Be Confirmed

*Denotes Uncapped Player

NZRU and NZRPA ratify new Collective Employment Agreement

Posted on Jul 1, 2010 in Rugby News

The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA) have signed a new Collective Employment Agreement for professional rugby players in New Zealand from 2010 to 2012.

Formal signing of the agreement follows the December announcement that they had reached agreement on the major issues raised during collective bargaining, and detailed contract drafting and ratification by the NZRU Board, Provincials Unions, Franchises and the NZRPA members and its Board.

As signalled last year, the new Collective Agreement includes:

• an on-going commitment by all parties to work in partnership to ensure the growth and success of New Zealand rugby
• the continuation of the revenue sharing model at a revised level,
• the introduction of a new player contracting and payment model that will see:
  • Super Rugby Franchises (working in conjunction with the NZRU) directly contracting Super Rugby players to their squads (regardless of which Province they choose to play for);
  • Super Rugby Squads expanded to between 30 and 32 players with an ability to include two overseas players subject to certain criteria and NZRU approval from 2011 onwards;
  • Provincial Unions subject to a revised Salary Cap model that includes a cap on what any individual player can be paid by a Province
• the incorporation of the new format for the Super Rugby and ITM Cup domestic competition from 2011; and
• confirmation of initiatives relating to Players at Provincial Union and academy levels being unable to assemble for rugby requirements between the hours of 9am and 5pm outside of the competition period and required as part of their contract to undertake some form of meaningful work and / or study.

The new agreement replaces the existing Collective Agreement and is effective from 1 January 2010.

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Halfpenny and Thomas claim Wales starts

Posted on Feb 9, 2010 in Rugby News

Wales have made two changes from the starting line-up defeated by England at Twickenham in the RBS 6 Nations opener last weekend for the visit of Scotland to the Millennium Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 2.00pm).  In the second row Osprey Jonathan Thomas reforms his regional partnership with Alun-Wyn Jones at the expense of Dragons lock Luke Charteris. In the backs Leigh Halfpenny comes in for his Blues colleague Tom James on the wing.

Gethin Jenkins has recovered from his calf injury to be named on the bench and, in one of three changes there, he joins fellow Blues players Sam Warburton, who covers the back row, and centre or wing Tom Shanklin.

“Jonathan brings over 50 caps of experience to the tight five and offers us some extra mobility around the field,” said Wales coach Warren Gatland.

“Leigh is a recognised right wing who offers us an extra kicking option and his return to full fitness after limited training in the run up to the England game allows his selection.

“We think we have a very strong bench with the right mix of players each able to make an impact if called upon and are pleased to be able to name Gethin although he will undergo further fitness assessments later in the week.

“Tom Shanklin returns to provide another 65-caps worth of experience as cover for the backs and Sam Warburton comes in as back row cover with JT (Jonathan Thomas) now having been nominated as a starting second row.”

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