Thiede looking forward to facing old club as Scottish take on Knights

Posted on Sep 23, 2011 in Championship, Doncaster, English Rugby, London Scottish, London Scottish

London Scottish will face Doncaster Knights on Saturday (2.30pm kick off) with a member of the front row who is particularly familiar with Castle Park.

Lewis Thiede, who turned out for Doncaster Knights last season will face his old team after joining Scottish on a duel-registration agreement with his new club Wasps.

The 20 year old has featured in all of Scottish’s opening three games, but regains his starting spot at the expense of Nick Auterac. Elsewhere, there is a return to the front row for former Bristol prop Alex Clarke after he was named on the bench against Pirates last time out.

Aside from these alterations, the starting side is primarily the same as the one that ran the Cornish Pirates so close last weekend, and will be eager to get back to winning ways after losses in their last two league matches.

However, this will not be an easy feat, as the Knights will be in confident mood themselves following their opening victory of the campaign against Moseley.

There are notable returns to the replacements bench for Aberdonian Willie Lipp following injury and young prop Anthony Kent following their run outs in the British and Irish Cup defeat to fellow exiles London Welsh during the week.

Team:
1. Clarke
2. Kwasnicki
3. Thiede
4. Pape
5. J. Brown
6. O. Brown
7. Andrews
8. Bright
9. Amor
10. Mugford
11. Howells
12. Trueman ©
13. MacDougall
14. Penney
15. Bordiss
16. Kent
17. Standfield
18. Mackenzie
19. Thomas
20. Lipp
21. Heeks
22. James Brown

Captain Laidlaw signs two year extension at Edinburgh

Posted on Sep 14, 2011 in Edinburgh, Scottish Rugby

Edinburgh Rugby captain Greig Laidlaw today signed a two-year contract extension at Edinburgh Rugby, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2014.

Laidlaw, who has one year remaining on his current contract, is one of Edinburgh Rugby’s most consistent performers and was named players’ player of the season before continuing his form with two man-of-the-match awards from four games; against Newcastle Falcons in pre-season and against Ospreys on RaboDirect PRO12 duty last weekend.

Such performances reinforced Michael Bradley’s decision to name the lively Borderer as club captain, two weeks before his sixth season at the club kicked off.

Laidlaw said: “I’m really happy to be staying at Edinburgh Rugby for another two years. There’s a lot of good feeling and exciting changes happening off the pitch while we’re about to start a new chapter under head coach Michael Bradley.

“There are a lot of good young players coming though the club and I think that if we can build on their ability we can progress as a club, improve our league position and build our crowd and support.”

After captaining Scotland A in wins over the Ireland Wolfhounds (32-13) and Italy A (11-3) earlier this year, Laidlaw capped off arguably his most successful rugby season with selection in Andy Robinson’s provisional Rugby World Cup squad, earning his second cap in the 10-6 win over Ireland in the EMC Test.

However, despite missing out on final Scotland squad selection for the international event, the 25-year-old underlined his belief that his international ambitions are best served at the capital club.

He added: “One of the big pros for me as an individual is that I believe I can best push my case and promote my aspirations for Scotland selection by playing at Edinburgh Rugby.

“Being named as captain also played a big part in re-signing as it’s important to me and my own ambitions to be a leader. I’m a young captain so I think it will be good for me in the years to come.”

Edinburgh Rugby head coach Michael Bradley, added: “The quality of Greig [Laidlaw] as a rugby player and a leader has already shown through this season. He leads by example and sets very high standards for himself and others; that is the critical element.

“He’s an extremely hard working individual and has reacted very positively to what we are trying to do at the club and the part he can play, through his leadership and performance, in helping this club grow and prosper.”

Fisilau to set new Albion record against Esher

Posted on Sep 2, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Centre Keni Fisilau will break the club record for most league appearances on Saturday when Plymouth Albion open their Championship season with a home game against Esher (kick-off 3pm).

Fisilau has just completed 10 years at Albion and he will form a new-look centre partnership with former Esher player Bevon Armitage.

Armitage is one of five players who will make their debuts for Albion tomorrow.

The others are fellow backs Paul Bailey, James Love and Mick McGrath and teenage lock Addison Lockley.

Albion are without Canadian international forwards Aaron Carpenter and Tyler Hotson, who are preparing to compete in the World Cup.

However, fellow Canadian and club captain Sean-Michael Stephen will play after recovering from a back injury that ruled him out of the end of the season and this summer’s Churchill Cup.

Albion’s chairman of rugby Graham Dawe said: "The first game of the season is always massive because of all the hard work that has gone in over the summer.

"You always want to try and do well and, hopefully, we will get a big crowd for the game."

Admission into Brickfields starts at £13 for adults and £1 for children. For more information on tickets visit www.plymouthalbion.com

Albion team: Love, McGrath, Armitage, Fisilau, Bailey, Lee, Cushion, Morton, Evans, Hopkins, Collier, Lockley, Stephen (capt), Sprangle, Hocking.

Reps: Farnham, Mitchell, Johns, Dugard, Vickers, Tyas, Stupple.

Ultimate Warrior Sanderson to retire

Posted on Aug 24, 2011 in English Rugby, Worcester Warriors

Worcester Warriors back row and former England international captain Pat Sanderson has announced his retirement from professional rugby.

The talismanic former Sixways skipper joined the club in 2004 and led the team for six seasons in the top-flight of English rugby. The 33-year-old played a total of 156 games for Warriors during seven seasons, scoring 24 tries.

However, he has now been forced to end his playing career on medical grounds after suffering a serious shoulder injury in the RFU Championship play-offs against Bristol Rugby in March.

 ”I don’t feel ready to retire so this is clearly a sad time for me as I feel I have more to give,” said Sanderson. “It is something that is still sinking in and it will take time for me to get used to the fact I won’t be playing a game that has given me so much and has been so more than just a job over the last two decades.

“I have to look back at my career and look at all the wonderful memories. How privileged I have been to play the sport for so long and for some fantastic rugby clubs.

“I want to say thank you to all the people that have helped me along the way, in particular Worcester Warriors and all the fans for their support and the staff and players I have worked with. Ultimately this is where my rugby heart will remain.

“I will miss the environment and miss playing rugby, but I plan to keep a close relationship with Warriors.

“My time at Sixways has been incredibly special. When I came here Cecil Duckworth and the people involved at the time told me about the future and I bought into that dream. My biggest regret is that I cannot follow that dream to the end, but I very much look forward to now watching the continuation of that journey from the sidelines.”

Sanderson joined Warriors after previous playing spells at Sale and Harlequins and quickly became an instrumental figure at the club. The back row – captain between 2004 and 2010 – started every top-flight game in his first season with the club and was later nominated for the Zurich Player of the Season and the PRA Players’ Player of the Year.

An intelligent, skillful and hard-working player, Sanderson always led from the front – both on and off the field – and during the 2009/10 season joined an exclusive club as he celebrated his 200th top-flight appearance.

Sanderson’s outstanding contribution during his time at Sixways was rewarded with 16 full England caps. He captained his country during the 2006 Australia tour and was in charge of the triumphant Churchill Cup squad in Canada in 2005.

Sanderson’s contribution to rugby is not just limited to action on the field. He has been heavily involved with the players’ union, the RPA, and was enlisted by the RFU as a figurehead for their ‘Core Values of Rugby’ initiative due to his standing in the game.

Head Coach Richard Hill paid tribute to Sanderson’s contribution at Warriors and said: “Pat’s reputation as a player throughout the game is outstanding and he has been a true leader at Sixways over the years.

“From my perspective, I was delighted last year that he took up the challenge of two up and coming players, in Jake Abbott and Matt Kvesic. It was a really good battle for the starting shirt and Pat proved himself yet again as the fittest person at the club. When you consider what his body has been through, that was an outstanding achievement.

“His motivation to always stay ahead of the rest was superb and when he played in the middle part of the season he produced some of the best rugby I have ever seen him play. His contribution, with and without the ball, was immense.

“It is very disappointing for him to have to end his career through injury, when you look at what he has achieved and done for this club and ahead of our return to the Aviva Premiership.

“However, he was a key part in a great achievement in getting us back to the top-flight last season. Even when he was injured, when it would have been hard for him to watch the play-offs, he was still around the squad and wanted to be involved. That is testament to his passion for the Warriors, which I will know will continue despite this news.”

 

 

Southwell ready to make his mark

Posted on Aug 24, 2011 in London Wasps, Premiership

Experienced Scottish fullback Hugo Southwell is hoping to make his first appearance for London Wasps this weekend when the side faces Benetton Treviso at Henley RFC.

Southwell joined the club a few weeks ago and is fit and ready for selection for the game which comes hot on the heels of Wasps’ 15-0 victory over Munster last weekend in Ireland.

The 59 times capped international has spent the last two years in Paris playing for Stade Francais and he says he has enjoyed the move to London.

“I’m enjoying the life down here. I have a young family and another baby on the way so we’re not going to be too central and we’ve decided to live a bit further out, quite near the Wasps stadium at High Wycombe, and we’ve found somewhere we really like. The thought of wanting a bit more space was appealing and it means I can relax in my time away from rugby.”

Southwell says he has been impressed with what he has seen so far at Wasps and he’s hoping to be part of a squad who help turn the club’s fortunes around.

“The first few weeks have been really good. I’ve been really enthused by the atmosphere at the club and the impact the coaches are making. The first pre-season game was encouraging and then the team were able to build on that in the Munster game so the signs are positive. I am here because I’ve always considered Wasps to be a massive club and they would be the first to admit that the last few years haven’t been as good as they would have liked but at the same time it is a fresh start and there are new building blocks in place and hopefully we can get Wasps back to where they were a few years ago. I wanted to be at a side at the top of their game and I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t believe the club was ambitious enough to do that.”

Southwell has been training with the Wasps backline under the guidance of attack coach Paul Turner and he says he has been impressed with the pace that is evident in the Wasps attack, particularly among the back-three players.

“We have incredible pace out wide here, and I hope we can use it effectively throughout the season. With the players we are likely to have on the wing, there are always going to be opportunities out there. Whether it’s Tom Varndell, Christian Wade or Richard Haughton we’ve got some electric pace so as a fullback the thought of running off those guys is pretty exciting.”

This season will see Southwell play in the Aviva Premiership Rugby for the first time ever and it’s something he’s looking forward to.

“I’ve always watched the Premiership with great interest and to be playing in it for the first time is going to be very exciting. I’ve played in a few leagues – the French Top 14 for the last two years in France and the Celtic League before that for six years so this is a massive challenge. The Premiership is tough and it’s intense but everyone at Wasps, myself included, is counting down the days till it starts.”

Southwell is hopeful of making his first appearance for Wasps this weekend at Henley.

“I am feeling fit and ready to go now and I hope I can be involved in some way this weekend for the first time.”

London Wasps play Benetton Treviso this Saturday, at Henley RFC, 2pm.