Clubs fined over ERC launch

Posted on Nov 23, 2010 in Rugby News

Following a review by ERC of issues regarding the non-attendance of key personnel at this season’s Heineken Cup tournament launches in Cardiff and in Paris, four clubs have been fined.

Benetton Treviso, Saracens, Toulon and Toulouse were found to have been in breach of the 2010/11 Heineken Cup Participation Agreement and each had a fixed fine of €5,000 imposed by the ERC Board.

In the cases of Benetton Treviso, Toulon and Toulouse, the clubs’ Directors of Rugby / Head Coaches – Franco Smith, Philippe Saint-André and Guy Noves respectively – did not attend the French / Italian launch of the Heineken Cup in Paris as required by the tournament’s media rules.

In the case of Saracens, the club failed to make its captain, Steve Borthwick, available to attend the UK launch of the Heineken Cup in Cardiff again as required by the tournament’s media rules.

ERC regards the various Heineken Cup launches as highly significant events which are designed to facilitate media coverage of the tournament and all participating clubs have committed to sending the relevant key personnel to such launches.

Benetton Treviso have lodged an appeal against the fixed fine.

England RWC warm-up games

Posted on Nov 22, 2010 in Rugby News

England today confirmed they will prepare for Rugby World Cup 2011 with three warm-up games in August next year.

Team Manager Martin Johnson’s side will face Wales at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, August 6, with the return game taking place at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, August 13.

They travel to face Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday, August 27 before departing for New Zealand the following week.

Johnson said: “These three games are an important element in our build-up to Rugby World Cup 2011. We’re looking forward to playing both Wales home and away and Ireland as part of our preparation, and they should be excellent contests.”

Kick off times and ticketing details for all three games will be confirmed in due course.

New flyhalf for Aironi

Posted on Nov 19, 2010 in Rugby News

Aironi will be boosted by the arrival of James Marshall when they return to Magners League action later this month.
Born in Auckland on December 7 1988, Marshall played at fly-half in all 13 games for Tasman Makos during last ITM Cup, scoring three tries.

“When I found out that I missed Super 15 selection, my agent told me there was an opportunity over in Italy to play in the Magners League and Heineken Cup, so that was basically my reasoning behind it,” said the 22-year-old.

Marshall said he was looking forward to simply improving his game.
“I wanted to try and develop my rugby, and I didn’t think I’d be able to do that as well playing club rugby, so I wanted to be tested.”

He said it would also be a perfect opportunity to work on his kicking game. “I’ll try and work on that kicking game. It’s going to be a pretty interesting experience, and should be a good chance to travel as well and see another part of the world.
“I’ve known kicking has been a weakness of mine for a while now, and this year was really the first year it’s been found out. I think it’s a good idea to be here and work on it. That’ll be the main focus to work on while I’m with Aironi”.

Owens to ref first HEC game at Dublin Aviva stadium

Posted on Nov 16, 2010 in Rugby News

Nigel Owens will take charge of the first Heineken Cup match to be staged at the new Dublin home of Irish rugby when Leinster play their Round 4 match against ASM Clermont Auvergne at the 50,000 capacity Aviva Stadium on Saturday, 18 December.

The leading Welsh referee, one of only three officials to control a half century of tournament matches, will be in charge of his 52^ndtop flight European contest when the 2009 Heineken Cup champions clash with the reigning French champions at the redeveloped Lansdowne Road.

Tournament organisers ERC today (Tuesday, 16 November, 2010) announced the referees for the back-to-back rounds of European club rugby’s elite tournament which resumes on the weekend of 10 / 11 / 12 December with Wayne Barnes refereeing the Round 3 meeting of ASM Clermont Auvergne and Leinster at Stade Marcel Michelin on Sunday, 12 December.

Defending Heineken Cup champions Toulouse and Glasgow Warriors are first back into action when they meet at Firhill Stadium on Friday, 10 December, with Welshman James Jones in charge.

Uruguay and Romania Battle for Final Rugby World Cup 2011 Place

Posted on Nov 12, 2010 in Rugby World Cup

The qualification process for Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand will near its conclusion on Saturday, November 13 as Uruguay and Romania go head to head in the first leg of the decisive play-off final at the Charrua Stadium in Montevideo (kick off 15:30 local time).

The winners on aggregate over the two legs will become the 20th and final qualifier for New Zealand 2011 and will book a place in Pool B alongside Argentina, England, Scotland and Georgia.

Neither team is a stranger to Rugby’s showcase tournament with Romania having competed in every edition since its inception in 1987, while Uruguay have previously qualified for the 1999 and 2003 tournaments. Both teams have secured their place at the last chance play-off final the hard way, via an extremely competitive qualification path.

Romania rallied to finish third in the European Nations Cup and then defeated Ukraine 94-10 over two legs in the European play-off before progressing to defeat Tunisia 56-13 in the Europe/Africa play-off to keep their Rugby World Cup 2011 dream alive.

Uruguay progressed to the Americas play-off via the South American Championship, losing to USA 54-28 over two legs. A 44-7 victory over Kazakhstan in the Americas/Asia play-off kept them in the hunt for the final qualification place.

Top referee Mark Lawrence will take charge of the match in Montevideo which is set to attract a capacity crowd and with home advantage very much a factor, Uruguay know that they have to lay down a decent marker if they are to qualify for their third Rugby World Cup.

“We need a win here for sure and we are hoping to get a lot of support from the crowd. It is crucial we get a good performance at home. Our primary objective is to win,” said Uruguay captain Carlos Arboleya.

Romania have won both previous encounters between the two teams, but with the largest winning margin just six points and both wins coming on home soil in Bucharest, they are expecting a tough encounter on Saturday.

“I don’t want to be in the team that does not qualify for a Rugby World Cup. I’ve been telling the younger players that participating at Rugby’s showcase event is the best memory they will ever have,” said Romania captain Sorin Socol.

“We have worked very hard. We made many sacrifices and we want to qualify.”

With the start of Rugby World Cup 2011 just 10 months away, the matches herald the end of a thrilling global qualification process which began in the Cayman Islands in April 2008, and has seen 182 matches played so far involving 80 teams, across the six IRB Regions.

The process has seen Russia qualify for their first ever Rugby World Cup, with Georgia, Canada, Samoa, Namibia, USA and Japan sealing the other qualification places.

The second leg will be played at the stadionul National Arcul de Triumf on Saturday, November 27 at 18:00 local time.