Young stars commit future to Bath Rugby

Posted on Mar 9, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Bath Rugby has announced the signing of two highly talented young players – Carl Fearns, from Sale Sharks, and Charlie Beech, from London Wasps.

Carl has joined the West Country Club on a two year deal, with Charlie signing for three.

6ft 3in back row Carl has made 36 first team appearances for Sale, quickly becoming an integral member of the pack for the Sharks. A big, strong ball carrier who is quick and effective around the park and at scrum time, Carl has represented England at U16, U18 and U20’s level. His performances at the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship with the England U20’s team saw him nominated for the IRB Junior Player of the Year award.

Likewise, 18st 13lbs front row Charlie also has international experience, having played up to the U20’s level for England, including being part of the squad for the 2007 U20’s Six Nations tournament. Very strong and technically sound in the scrum, as well as being very mobile around the field, Charlie has made 31 appearances for the Wasps first team, including scoring a match winning try against Newcastle Falcons in just his second Premiership appearance.

Commenting on the move, Charlie said “I am really excited about moving to Bath Rugby. It is a Club with a great history, fantastic supporters, and a great future, and I am really looking forward to the challenges of next season and my future at Bath.”

Director of Rugby, Sir Ian McGeechan, said “We are thrilled that these two very promising young players have decided to join the Club. Both Carl and Charlie have very good set skills in their positions and will only get better over the coming seasons. They are both very ambitious players, who are keen to take the next step in their careers.”

Head Coach, Steve Meehan, added “Carl and Charlie will both be very welcome additions to the squad here at Bath. They both have top level experience already, both having made strong first team appearances, which will be very valuable to us. I also have no doubt they will both fit in very well here.”

Pirates keen to make it three on the trot at “Mose”

Posted on Sep 10, 2010 in Championship, English Rugby

This coming Saturday sees the Cornish Pirates play their first away game in this season’s RFU Championship. Moseley are their opponents, where the kick off at Billesley Common is at 3pm.

The Pirates have emerged victorious from their last two visits to ‘Mose’, and will be keen to make it three on the trot, but nothing will be taken for granted. The Midlanders appear to have recruited well through head coach Ian Smith, who has former Ireland centre Kevin Maggs working alongside him. A familiar face in their squad is former ‘Pirate’ Ollie Thomas, a fly-half/full-back who has returned to Moseley following a playing spell in France with Le Racing Club Chalonnais.

After losing 29-17 in their opener this season at home to Esher, Moseley followed that result to pick up a worthy 23-16 win away to Doncaster on Saturday.

For their visit to Moseley the Cornish Pirates side shows a number of changes, a number through injury, from the one that won well (22-3) at home to London Welsh on Sunday. In the backs, full-back Grant Pointer makes his first Championship start and Wes Davies is selected on the wing in place of Rhodri McAtee. Tom Luke, who came on as a second half replacement against ‘The Dragons’, partners Matt Hopper in the centre, whilst Rob Cook is selected at fly-half.

Changes in the pack sees Paul Andrew and Carl Rimmer named as props, with Ian Nimmo coming into the side to partner Mike Myerscough in the second-row. One other change is in the back-row, where Sam Betty is selected at open-side flanker in place of Phil Burgess, who is named on the bench.

Cornish Pirates: G. Pointer, W. Davies, M. Hopper, T. Luke, N. Jackson, R. Cook, G. Cattle (capt), B. Cowan, S. Betty, C. Morgan, M. Myerscough, I. Nimmo, Carl Rimmer, D. Ward, P. Andrew.

Replacements: R. Storer, R. Elloway, J. Currie, P. Burgess, K. Marriott, J. Doherty, S. Winn.

Falcons make 12 changes for LV= cup

Posted on Nov 4, 2009 in Rugby News

Newcastle Falcons have freshened up their squad for Saturday’s LV= Cup trip to Worcester, making 12 changes from the side which beat the Warriors at Kingston Park last weekend.

Left wing Uche Oduoza makes his Newcastle debut against his former club, with the England Sevens international having racked up the tries for the Falcons Development Team following his summer move from Japan.

Cumbrian Mark Wilson makes his debut on the openside flank, with the 20-year-old’s form for Blaydon and the Newcastle second-string earning him a call-up to the senior side.

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Ovens cooking on gas for Newcastle

Posted on Oct 22, 2009 in Rugby News

Two tries in two starts would be the envy of any position on the field, but Newcastle prop Laurence Ovens aims to make it three from three when the Falcons visit Bath in Guinness Premiership action.

The 24-year-old has crossed the line for close-range tries in each of his side’s last two games against Petrarca Padova and Albi, as the Falcons recorded successive victories for the first time this season.

But now back to domestic matters, Ovens insists: “Things have gone pretty well for the past couple of weeks, last weekend especially, and there is a lot more confidence running through the side now.

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