Former Scotland international Scott MacLeod joins Falcons

Posted on May 14, 2012 in Newcastle Falcons

Newcastle Falcons have completed the signing of former Scotland international Scott MacLeod for the start of the 2012-13 season.

The 33-year-old, who has 23 Scottish caps to his name, brings a wealth of experience to Kingston Park having featured in the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Hawick-born MacLeod joins the Falcons on the back of a year’s stint with Japanese outfit Kobe Steelers.

Prior to his move to the Far East, MacLeod played for Border Reivers, Scarlets and latterly Edinburgh, establishing himself as a top-class second-row.

MacLeod won his first cap in 2004 and made his final appearance against Wales in Scotland’s 2011 Six Nations campaign.

The 6ft 6” 17st 5lb hit-man is delighted to have the opportunity to make the switch to the ambitious Falcons under the stewardship of incoming director of rugby Dean Richards.

Speaking to the Falcons official website MacLeod said: “Newcastle Falcons are a club with great potential and I am really looking forward joining up with my new teammates.

“I am good mates with Ally Hogg and he has told me how good the team spirit is at the club, and it can only go from strength to strength under the management of Dean Richards.”

Biarritz hope it is 3rd time lucky

Posted on May 14, 2012 in Amlin Challenge Cup, Biarritz

Biarritz Olympique – the 2006 and 2010 Heineken Cup finalists – hope it is third time lucky in their pursuit of a European title when they clash with Toulon in the Amlin Challenge Cup final at the Twickenham Stoop on Friday night (8.00pm).

Serge Blanco, Biarritz Olympique’s most famous player and now the club’s president, is desperate for the club to book a place in the Heineken Cup for a 13th successive season.

However, despite a 16-5 home victory over Stade Français Paris in the 26thand final round of the Top 14 clinching a ninth place finish, it means the only avenue left open to them is as Amlin Challenge Cup champions, the same route taken by Harlequins a year ago.

“I want to be in the Heineken Cup because we have been playing in that competition for the last 12 years,” said Blanco, France’s flamboyant former full back who won 93 caps for his country.

“We want to be there because it is a tradition for Biarritz, because we enjoy that competition and because we must play the best teams and the best teams are in the Heineken Cup.

“I believe that having kept the club in the Top 14 plus a Heineken Cup ticket for next season we would have shown our supporters that this season was just a hiccup and the squad have reacted superbly.

“We are never happy just to be in a final because you still need to win it but it has been a relief to play this competition because we could play the Heineken Cup next year by winning at the Stoop.

“We will go to London to win this final – we cannot do otherwise.”

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Scott hails Welsh ‘heart’ as Exiles reach Championship final

Posted on May 14, 2012 in London Welsh

London Welsh try scorer Nick Scott (pictured) hailed the Exiles’ “heart” after a gutsy defensive effort propelled the Old Deer Park outfit into their first-ever Championship final.

It’s was Scott’s second half try that proved the difference as Welsh lost the 2nd leg of their Championship semi-final with Bedford Blues 24-17, but took the tie 30-27 overall.

“It feels amazing; all the boys put in a monumental effort in defence, so much heart and so much grit,” said Scott. “It’s what the club deserves and has been building towards.

“There was so much heart in that performance, everyone put it in. I’m just glad we’re going to the final for the first time.”

Scott pounced for his sixth try in ten appearances for the Exiles since joining the club on loan from Bath, when he chased down Gordon Ross’ kick and capitalised on a mistake by Blues centre Henry Staff.

“I wasn’t getting much ball in hand, so I just chased hard. A kick is only as good as the chase. I got a bit of luck, but I’ll take that every day,” he said.

“You’ve just got to put the pressure on and you never know what’s going to happen. That will probably happen maybe one in ten times, but as long as you keep putting yourself in that position that one time is beautiful.

“I was getting a bit worried. Last weekend I had the ball slapped out of my hand as I was going over. I was so glad to get back on the score sheet.”
Scott’s try and an Alex Davies penalty saw Welsh open up a 30-13 lead on aggregate, but there would be late drama at Old Deer Park as tries from Don Barrell and Neil Cochrane – the latter after what looked like a clear knock on by Alex Rae – reduced the gap to just three points with eight minutes to go.

“We all thought it was a knock on, so credit to the boys for coming back from that,” said Scott.

“The momentum was with Bedford but we stopped that, we got a few penalties, we put it in their half and came away with the win.”

Nottingham pay tribute to “Captain Fantastic”

Posted on May 11, 2012 in Championship, Nottingham

Nottingham Rugby’s most decorated captain is leaving the club for the opportunity of a life-time in Hong Kong.

After a decade-long career with the Green and Whites, skippering the side a record 227 times, Craig Hammond has accepted a job as player-coach of Hong Kong Scottish.

Until the 33-year-old lock got a phone call out of the blue from the Oriental rugby hot-bed, he was considering a contract extension to stay with Nottingham and was busy planning his testimonial year with the RFU Championship club.

But when invited to tour the facilities of the Premiership club in the City-State last week, Hammond simply couldn’t resists taking the bold step into management and penned a two-year deal with the outfit.

Having recently guided Midlands One East club Ilkeston to Derbyshire Cup glory, the New Zealander clearly indicated that he was thinking hard about life after playing.

“It’s been an emotional decision to come to, leaving a club, a city and people that have been so good to me for so long for an exciting chance to further my career in an amazing place like Hong Kong,” said Hammond, who will be relocating with his wife and three children in June.

“Sure, I could see myself playing at Nottingham for a few more seasons, but this opportunity is just too good to knock back.

“I’ll be mentored in coaching at a high level, working with both the Hong Kong Rugby Union and an ambitious side like Scottish.

I’ve just turned 33 so it’s a perfect time to transition from playing to coaching, which is what I’ve always wanted.”

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Bedford Blues: Magnificent Seven Sign on Again

Posted on May 11, 2012 in Bedford, Championship

After two sets of fantastic five, Bedford Blues are delighted to announce that a magnificent seven players have signed new deals to remain at Goldington Road for another season.

As Bedford prepare for the second leg of the Championship Semi Final against London Welsh on Sunday, Paul Tupai, Sacha Harding, Phil Boulton, Ricky Reeves, Gregor Gillanders, Mike Howard and Jake Sharp have all inked new deals with the club.

Tupai has become a firm fans favourite since moving from Northampton Saints and despite being the most ‘senior’ player within the squad, Toops still has plenty of fuel left in the engine as he prepares for a fifth season with the Blues.

After celebrating his testimonial season last year, Harding embarks on a 12th campaign with the Blues looking to continue to cement his place as a true Bedford stalwart. Another back row star who will be keen to re-establish himself after a frustrating time with injury this season is Gregor Gillanders. A main stay of the pack in previous years, Gillanders will be chomping at the bit for regular rugby next term and the Blues will without doubt be the better for his availability.

The re-signings of Boulton and Reeves, who joined from Rotherham and Cambridge respectively, will be very pleasing to the Goldington Road faithful as both have proven to be exceptional players in the front row club. Likewise, Howard’s signature means that the former North Walsham man will continue to throw himself head first and whole-hearted into every ruck, maul, tackle and scrum for a further 12 months.

Former Saracens fly half Sharp completes the list and the youngster has been in superb form this season having firmly established himself within the squad. A bump to the head in the game against London Welsh means that the 20 year old misses out on the second leg but will be raring to go for the final should Bedford overcome the ten point deficit.