Winning Start For Queen’s and UL Bohemians In IRFU Club Sevens

Posted on May 9, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

The IRFU Club Sevens Championship got underway in Belfast and Cork on Saturday with Queen’s University and UL Bohemians crowned champions in the Ulster and Munster Club Sevens.

In Ulster Queen’s overcame the newly crowned Ulster Bank League Division 3 winners City of Derry by 31 – 19 at Deramore Park as the IRFU Club Sevens Chamionship got underway at the home of Belfast Harlequins.

Ballynahinch, newly crowned Ulster Bank League Division 2 winners, capped a good season by taking the plate final against Instonians.

In Munster it was an all Limerick final as UL Bohemians captured the inaugural title from neighbours Garryowen by 29 – 7 while in the Plate final Clonakilty saw off the challenge of Thomond by 24 – 10.

Queen’s University, City of Derry, UL Bohemians and Garryowen now progress to the All-Ireland Club Sevens finals which take place on Saturday May 21st in St. Mary’s College RFC.

The Leinster and Connacht Club Sevens Championships take place next weekend in Terenure College and Galway Corinthians.

Coventry Rugby: future still uncertain

Posted on Dec 3, 2009 in Rugby News

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) yesterday met with Coventry President and former England fullback Peter Rossborough at Twickenham Stadium about the future of the club and Championship rugby in the City.

The discussions between Mr Rossborough and his advisors and RFU Chief Executive Francis Baron, RFU Management Board Chairman Martyn Thomas and RFU Company Secretary Karena Vleck were productive and will be ongoing.

However, the RFU has yet to hear from Andrew Green further to his statement about his intent to put Coventry Rugby Football Club Limited into Creditors Voluntary Liquidation which is not proving helpful.

(more…)

Gatland opens the new Cardiff Arms

Posted on Nov 6, 2009 in Rugby News

Wales coach Warren Gatland today officially opened the new WRU store, bar and cafe at No 8 Westgate Street – now to be known as The Cardiff Arms.

The name is synonymous with Welsh rugby as the original Cardiff Arms Hotel, which resided on the site of the current Angel Hotel at the Castle end of Westgate Street, famously lent its name to Wales’ greatest sporting venue which was to become home to the Welsh rugby team from 1884.

The National Ground, and now the Millennium Stadium, were both built on the Cardiff Arms Park site, which was an area of land bequeathed to the city of Cardiff for sports and recreation by the Marquis of Bute. In using the name Cardiff Arms – the hotel was demolished in 1882 – the WRU is ensuring the name will remain at the heart of Welsh rugby.

The new Cardiff Arms store, bar and cafe will be the gateway to the Millennium Stadium and the WRU’s head offices. It will also allow the WRU to bring the unique Millennium Stadium match and event-day experiences even closer to the City.

The venue will officially open to the public tomorrow (Friday, 6 November) at 10.00am, ahead of the first Test in the four-match Invesco Perpetual Series, between Wales and New Zealand.

For the opening weekend, the WRU have launched a brand new hospitality service in the cafe/bar area upstairs, with tickets available for the match against New Zealand (£199 pp).

The package for the All Blacks game this weekend includes a premium location match ticket, complimentary bar of beer, wine and soft drinks, limited edition gift and match programme and the internationally renowned rugby star Jonathan Davies as guest speaker.

The fully licensed bar, which has a capacity of 300, will open from 10.30am to 11.00pm on Thursdays and Fridays for the first month and when Wales clash with Argentina on Saturday 21 November and Australia on Saturday 28 November.

The general opening hours for the WRU store, the new base for Millennium Stadium tours, will be 10.00am until 5.30pm Monday to Saturday and 10.00am until 4.30pm on Sunday.

“This building is alongside the Millennium Stadium and really puts the Welsh Rugby Union right at the hub of the Cardiff City Centre,” said WRU Group Finance Director Steve Phillips.

“The WRU will have a significant presence within the hustle and bustle of day-to-day City life with our fully stocked shop offering the entire range of our official merchandise and a bar/cafe which we hope will be a real ‘must visit location’ for City dwellers and visitors alike.

“The building is impressive, it is in a prime location and should become a thriving venue in a busy part of Cardiff by the week and on event days we also have great expectations of the match experience we will be able to offer.”

The listed building, originally known as Jackson’s racket club in the 1800s, has been leased on a long term basis. It has been completely renovated and will become a focal point for the many visitors – up to a thousand a week – who visit the Millennium Stadium.

(more…)