IRFU Announce National Talent Squads

Posted on Dec 14, 2010 in Rugby News

The Irish Rugby Football Union today announced 94 selected players for the Ireland U18 Club, U18 School and U19 National Talent Squads for the season.

The National Talent Squads are part of the IRFU’s High Performance pathway and consist of underage players who have been identified at this point in their development for progression to international team representation.

The selection process has been based on their interprovincial competition performances and also the national screening camps that took place during October. Once the players are named in the squad for this season, they are continually assessed on all aspects of their rugby progression from skills to physical development.

IRFU High Performance Manager Allen Clarke said, “The announcement of the National Talent Squads reflects significant advancements in our elite player development programmes. This progress has been greatly assisted by the contribution of schools, clubs and the number of quality volunteers who add significant value through their commitment and support of the RDS (regional development squad) programme. The players have been selected following their performances in the interprovincial competitions in September and national screenings in October.

“Playing rugby for their schools or clubs, they receive additional specific support from provincial academy experts, based on individual needs to prepare them for the respective International fixtures at Ireland Club U18′s, Ireland Schools U18′s and Ireland U19′s. It is important to note that the squads are not ‘ring fenced’ – performances of all players continue to be evaluated through the game allowing for late developers and rewarding performances on the field.”

National Talent Squads 2010/11

Under 18 Schools Squad
Ben Alexander (Royal Belfast Academical Institution/Ulster)
Adam Boland (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Edward Byrne (Clongowes Wood College/Leinster)
John Creighton (Campbell College/Ulster
Steve Crosbie (St Gerard’s School/Leinster)
Christopher Farrell (Campbell College/Ulster)
Thomas Ferrari  (Sligo Grammar School/Connacht)
Jack Fitzpatrick (Gonzaga College/Leinster)
Seamus Glynn (Presentation Brothers Cork/Munster)
Mark Gribben (Methodist College Belfast/Ulster)
Stuart Hooks (Royal School Armagh/Ulster)
Dan Leavy (St Michael’s College/Leinster)
Sean McCarthy (Rockwell College/Munster)
Conor McEllin (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Luke McGrath (St Michael’s College/Leinster)
Ryan Murphy (Presentation Brothers Cork/Munster)
Andrew Murphy (St Michael’s College/Leinster)
Philip O’Dwyer (Cistercian College Roscrea/Connacht)
Cian O’Halloran (Christian Brothers Cork/Munster)
Stuart Olding (Belfast Royal Academy/Ulster)
Jack O’Neil (Castleknock College/Leinster)
Mark Roche (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Luke Satchwell (The King’s Hospital/Leinster)
Rory Scholes (Campbell College/Ulster)
Brian Scott (Presentation Brothers Cork/Munster)
Jerry Sexton (St Mary’s College/Leinster)
Christopher Taylor (Wallace High School/Ulster)
Gavin Thornbury (Blackrock College/Leinster)

Under 18 Club Squad
Liam Bourke (Navan/Leinster)
Kevin Burke (New Ross/Leinster)
Kieran Butler (New Ross/Leinster)
Adam Byrne (Naas/Leinster)
George Cullen (Exiles)
Stephen Dalton (Exiles)
Thomas Daly (Carlow/Leinster)
Jamie Dever (Westport/Connacht)
Ultan Dilane (Tralee/Munster)
Peter Dooley (Birr/Leinster)
Conor Fitzgibbon (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Tom Flynn (Exiles)
Cronan Gleeson (Nenagh/Munster)
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Nathan Higgins (Exiles)
Conor Joyce (Exiles)
Akhlaque Khan (Navan/Leinster)
Jamie Kind (Sundays Well/Munster)
Jack Kingston (Sundays Well/Munster)
Jay Malcolm (Malone/Ulster)
Eoghan Masterson (Portlaoise/Leinster)
James McConnor (Dundalk/Leinster)
George McGuigan (Exiles)
Sean O’Brien (Galwegians/Connacht)
David O’Connell (Old Christians/Munster)
Shane O’Leary (Scarriff/Munster)
David Panter (Exiles)
Lee Steenson (Dromore/Ulster)
Eoin Stynes (Carlow/Leinster)
Cillian Walsh (Killarney/Munster)

Under 19 Squad
Callum Boland (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Shane Buckley (Garryowen/Munster)
Luke Cahill (Rockwell/Munster)
Jack Carty (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Jordan Coghlan (Clongowes Wood College/Leinster)
Jack Conan (St. Gerards School/Leinster)
Aaron Conneelly (Corinthians/Connacht)
Mark Corballis (St. Michaels/Leinster)
Barry Daly (Gonzaga/Leinster)
Brian Du Toit (The Kings Hospital School/Leinster)
Conor Finn (Cistercian College, Roscrea/Connacht)
Tadgh Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)
Charles Gallagher (Campbell College/Ulster)
Conor Gilsenan (Clongowes Wood College/Leinster)
JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Diarmuid Higgins (Gallen Community College/Connacht)
Ryan Jablonski (London Irish/ASSE/Exiles)
Conor Kindregan (Monivea/Connacht)
Shane Layden (Carrick on Shannon/Connacht)
Kieran Marmion (UWIC/Kirkham/Exiles)
Cathal Marsh (Bective Rangers/Leinster)
Kyle McCall (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
Des Merry (Clontarf/Leinster)
Brian Moylett (Landsdowne/Connacht)
Johnny Murphy (Banbridge/Ulster)
Stephen Murphy (Gonzaga/Leinster)
Peter Nelson (Royal School Dungannon/Ulster)
Sean O’Connell (Exiles)
Alan O’Connor (Institute of Education, Leeson Street/Leinster)
Darren O’Shea (Crosshaven/Cork Constitution/Munster)
Garrett O’Suilleabluian (UCC/Leinster)
Peter Reilly (Lansdowne/Castlenock/Leinster)
Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster)
Conor Spence (Queens University/Ulster)
Charlie Simpson (Newport/Ulster)

New Zealand schools team to play Australia schools

Posted on Oct 5, 2010 in NZ, SANZAR

New Zealand Schools Coach Karl Jones and his Assistant Coach Andrew Douglas have named their team to play the one-off international against Australia Schools in Dunedin tomorrow.

Following last week’s resounding 65 – 3 win over Tonga Schools in Hamilton, the New Zealand Schools team battled against a solid Otago Under 19 side in Dunedin yesterday, winning 27 – 11.

Karl Jones said the game was just what the team needed heading into their match against Australia.

“Yesterday’s match was exactly the physical challenge we needed. We were tested in defence and had to launch a variety of attacks to penetrate the Otago line,” Jones said.

The team is expecting a tougher match against Australia but they will be looking to repeat their win against Australia last year.

“All the boys have put in some hard work and displayed some outstanding rugby in the past week. The number of quality players we had to choose from made selection of this team quite difficult.

“I’m confident that we have the team that will put us in the best position to take this game, but we’re not taking anything for granted. We know Australia will have a score to settle and will come out hard,” he said.

New Zealand Schools play Australia Schools at Otago Boys’ High School in Dunedin on Wednesday. Kick-off is at 11:45am. The match will be broadcast live on SKY Rugby Channel.

New Zealand Schools team to play Australia Schools:

1. Fraser Armstrong ~ Hamilton Boys’ High School

2. Gafatasi Su`a ~ Mt Albert Grammar School

3. Ofa Tuungafasi ~ Mangere College

4. Michael Fatialofa ~ Mt Albert Grammar School

5. Nick Ross, vice-captain Hamilton Boys’ High School

6. Tupou Sopoaga ~ Wellington College

7. Jacob Heenan ~ Whanagrei Boys’ High School

8. Adam Burn ~ Hamilton Boys’ High School

9. TJ Perenara, captain Mana College

10. Matt McGahan ~ Mt Albert Grammar School

11. Junior Tofa Va’a ~ Kelston Boys’ High School

12. Ope Peleseuma ~ St Patrick’s College (Silverstream)

13. James Lowe ~ Nelson College

14. Milford Keresoma Mt Albert Grammar School

15. Albert Nikoro ~ Mt Albert Grammar School

Reserves:

16. Michael Gardner ~ St Bede’s College

17. Tuki Raimona ~ Southland Boys’ High School

18. Joe Latta ~ Wellington College

19. Siulogo Fotofili ~ Wesley College

20. Doug Horrocks ~ Fielding High School

21. Bryn Hall ~ St Peter’s College

22. Scott Eade ~ Southland Boys’ High School

23. Jason Emery ~ Palmerston North Boys’ High School

24. Matt Proctor ~ St Patrick’s College (Town)

New Zealand Schools matches:

27 September: New Zealand Schools 65 v Tonga 3, Hamilton

1 October: New Zealand Schools 27 v Otago Under-19 11, Dunedin

6 October: New Zealand Schools v Australia, Dunedin

Scottish Rugby Honours Graduates

Posted on Sep 29, 2010 in Rugby News

Scottish Rugby honoured 17 of its community coach apprentices at a graduation ceremony at Murrayfield on Friday (24 September).
The occasion was lead by Scotland head coach Andy Robinson and Keith Brown, Minister for Skills and Life Long Learning, which commended the graduates for achieving a Level 2 SVQ in Coaching, Teaching & Instructing Rugby Union, in addition to a number of industry specific awards within coaching, refereeing, first aid and assessing.
Their input and enthusiasm towards rugby development within their own communities has involved pro-active and extended rugby development to approximately 400 primary schools and 100 secondary schools across the country in the past year.
Alongside classroom based study, the apprentices, sponsored by rugby clubs and local authorities, work in tandem with Scottish Rugby’s regional development network and have graduated with a Scottish Modern Apprenticeship.
Their contribution to the development network in delivering the opportunity to experience rugby and become physically active to thousands of Scottish schoolchildren on a weekly basis, regardless of where they live, was lauded at the ceremony by Robinson.
He said: "Each of the candidates has been supported throughout their vocation by their hometown clubs and, in many cases, their local authorities. These groups must also be applauded for helping to support grassroots rugby within their own communities offering rugby to all children as an acceptable and positive sporting option."
Since its inception eight years ago, the scheme has been a nationally-acclaimed success, contributing to the development feat of growing the Scottish rugby player base by 50% in the last four years.
Robinson added: "The programme exemplifies the way forward if we are to bring new recruits to rugby, irrespective of their background and, at the same time, encourage greater physical activity for young people in Scotland.
"Congratulations to the graduates and everyone involved in giving these young people the chance to flourish."
Keith Brown, Minister for Skills and Life Long Learning, said: "The Modern Apprenticeship programme is a genuine success story for Scotland and one of the reasons for that is that organisations outwith the traditional industries are taking part.
"I had the opportunity to visit Murrayfield earlier this year to meet some of the apprentices taking part in the Scottish Rugby training programme. I was very impressed with what I saw – the commitment of the organisation and of the individuals I met was clear to see.
"I would like to extend my congratulations to the community coach apprentices who have been honoured by Scottish Rugby and wish them good luck with their future careers."

- SECOND YEAR GRADUATES -

James Bird (Dunfermline RFC) – David is studying a BSc in Sport and Exercise at Abertay University
Euan Bonner (BATS) – Euan has successfully applied to study an HND in Sports Coaching at Telford College
Mark Christie (Falkirk Council) – Mark has successfully applied to study an HND in Sports Coaching at Forth College
Hani Darwish (Biggar) – Hani is now coaching Biggar rugby club
Thomas Davidson (Cartha) – Thomas has successfully applied to study an HND Sports Coaching at Cardonald College
Jack Forrester (Lasswade) – Jack is coaching in Midlothian
John Hall (Stobswell) – John is travelling and playing rugby in Australia
Cairstiona Hawthorn (Perthshire) – Cairstiona is studying an HNC at Perth College with a view to becoming a physiotherapist
Jordan Kingston (Dundee Eagles) – Jordan is now in Dundee
Ross Kinnear (Bannockburn/Stirling County) – Ross is studying an HND Sports Coaching in Forth College
Ross Manson (City of Edinburgh) – Ross is now a sessional coach for Edinburgh City Council
Gregor Manson (Clackmannanshire Council) – Gregor is coaching at Hillfoots
Hamish Munro (Portobello) – Hamish is now the competitions administrator at Scottish Rugby
James Sadio (Mackie) – James has been appointed as Mackie rugby club development officer
Craig Shearer (Dundee Eagles) – is studying an HNC in Physical Education and Sports Studies at Dundee College
Graeme Simpson (Clackmannanshire Council) – Graeme is now an assistant rugby coach for Clackmannanshire Council
Michael- James Starkey (Clydebank) – Michael-James is now coaching at Clydebank rugby club
Colin Sturgeon (Carrick/Girvan/Ayr) – Colin has a secured a coaching role at Ayr

England future stars named by Fletcher

Posted on Sep 9, 2010 in English Rugby, U18

England Under 18 head coach John Fletcher has started work with the next generation of the game’s international stars.

Fletcher and assistant Peter Walton have put together a 26-man squad for this season’s England age group programme which kicks off against Ireland in December.

They staged their first training camp at Harrow School this month and assemble again at the National Sports Centre at Bisham Abbey in October before playing Ireland away from home on December 30.

England have won three consecutive Grand Slams and 19 of their last 20 internationals at this level since the summer of 2007, a run ended last month by an agonising 23-17 defeat against South Africa in Port Elizabeth.

And former Newcastle Falcons boss Fletcher will continue to instil the same playing philosophy of attacking with pace and width into his latest crop of teenagers.

“We aspire to play a similar brand of rugby to the last two years, with lots of pace and width and posing as many threats to the opposition as we can in as many areas of the pitch as possible,” Fletcher said.

“The evidence from our summer camps with Under 16 and Under 18 players is that the technical and tactical ability continues to improve and that’s to the credit of the regional academies, clubs and schools who do a better job each year.

“We’re continuing to grow our programme with England too – in areas like prehab work, where we look at educating the players more about their bodies, and some of the psychological work we do – and we continue to evolve what we do technically and tactically.

“Our overall philosophy is to have as many attacking options as we can so that when these young players move on with the Under 20, Saxons and senior England teams, and with their clubs, they have a bigger toolkit to use to go out there and win games.”

England welcome back five players – front row forwards Luke Cowan-Dickie (Truro College & Exeter Chiefs), Nathan Morris (Sedbergh & London Wasps) and Kyle Sinckler (Epsom College & Harlequins), lock Dominic Barrow (Prince Henry’s GS & Leeds Carnegie) and wing Mark Jennings (Myerscough College & Sale Sharks) – who appeared in all of their Six Nations games last season.

Five more took part in July’s three-match tour to South Africa in the shape of lock Tom Jubb (Oaklands College & Saracens), Exeter Chiefs midfield backs Jack Arnott and Sam Hill (both Ivybridge College) and Henry Slade (Plymouth College), and wing/full back Anthony Watson (St George’s College, Weybridge & London Irish).

The RFU’s Head of Elite Player Development Stuart Lancaster paid tribute to the work done throughout the country in schools, in colleges running the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence rugby programme and in the academy system.

Lancaster said: “There is no doubt the quality of players being produced through the academy programme is on the rise and this year’s intake are all great examples of what is being achieved by the educational partnerships that are in place when you look at the balance of players selected from schools and through the AASE programme.

“Everyone is really working hard to maximise the quality of players coming out of the programmes and this group look to have an exciting year ahead of them working with the successful Under 18 management team headed by John Fletcher.”

England Under 18 squad

Forwards
Dominic Barrow (Prince Henry’s GS & Leeds Carnegie)
Jack Clifford (RGS Guildford & Harlequins)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Truro College & Exeter Chiefs)
Matt Hankin (Haileybury College & Saracens)
Danny Herriott (Moulton College & Northampton Saints)
Alec Hepburn (Henley College & London Wasps)
Gus Jones (Eton College & London Wasps)
Tom Jubb (Oaklands College & Saracens)
Nathan Morris (Sedbergh & London Wasps)
Tom Price (Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth I & Leicester Tigers)
George Sandford (St Paul’s Catholic College & London Irish)
Kyle Sinckler (Epsom College & Harlequins)
David Sisi (St Paul’s Catholic College & London Irish)
Tom Smallbone (Harrow & London Irish)
Scott Spurling (Harrow & Saracens)

Backs
Jack Arnott (Ivybridge College & Exeter Chiefs)
Alex Day (St Joseph’s College & Northampton Saints)
Sam Hill (Ivybridge College & Exeter Chiefs)
Will Hooley (The Leys & Northampton Saints)
Mark Jennings (Myerscough College & Sale Sharks)
James Lightfoot-Brown (St Paul’s Catholic College & London Irish)
Jack Nowell (Truro College & Exeter Chiefs)
Henry Slade (Plymouth College & Exeter Chiefs)
Mitchell Tamiau (Twyford CofE HS & London Wasps)
Anthony Watson (St George’s College & London Irish)
Marcus Webber (Manchester GS & Leeds Carnegie)

Ireland announce team

Posted on Feb 9, 2010 in Rugby News

Ireland Coach Declan Kidney has named the team to play France in the second game of the RBS 6 Nations Championship in Paris on Saturday. Keith Earls has been selected on the left wing in place of Andrew Trimble.  Donncha O’Callaghan has not recovered from the injury that ruled him out of the opening game. Leo Cullen has been named to start in the second row.

A vacancy has been left blindside flanker pending confirmation of the fitness of Stephen Ferris. Both players took part in training with the Ireland team today but a final decision will be made on Thursday. The seven replacements will also be finalised on Thursday from the possible nine players named today.
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