Midfield ace Rasmussen remains a Warrior

Posted on Mar 17, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Midfield general Dale Rasmussen is set to continue his long and successful association with Worcester Warriors after Head Coach Richard Hill confirmed he plans to keep the Samoan smasher at Sixways.

Powerhousecentre Rasmussen has impressed throughout the season for Warriors and made 23 appearances to take his all-time tally to 168 ahead of the weekend game with London Welsh.

The Auckland-born centre, famed for his big tackling by supporters, signed a new one-year deal last season, with the option for a second year, and Hill has revealed he now wants to take up the option with Rasmussen playing some of the best rugby of his career.

“I can tell fans that Dale will definitely be with us next year,” said Hill. “As far as I’m concerned I am 100 percent happy with Dale. He has hit top form at the right time and the question was whether Dale felt he would want to carry on.

“He has been a great servant for Worcester and did he have the motivation to carry on. But he loves it here and wants to carry on. He is playing better than ever in my view and he is looking fresh.

“We have made sure that he has had the rest at the right time and we haven’t battered him week in and week out. We have kept it right for the play-offs and I think anyone that has seen Dale Rasmussen recently, including last weekend at Bristol, would see he is full of running and enthusiasm and in top form. I will be delighted to keep him next year.

Hill has also praised the manner in which Rasmussen has marshalled the defence this season and grown in confidence as the league campaign has gone on.

“Dale is a good player and you don’t play in the Premiership unless you are a good player. I have noticed Dale almost grow in confidence as the season has gone on.

“He has made breaks and is battering through people and using his footwork. I notice he talks so much in defence and Alex Crockett and Alex Grove love playing with him because he talks and talks all the time.

“That is crucial and he loves tackling. He is a very dependable member of the squad, lovely lad who fits in well and he has tackled the biggest centres the Premiership has to offer and we all know Dale loves to smash people. That will be important if we managed to get promoted this year.”

Warrior Rasmussen returns for televised trip

Posted on Feb 7, 2011 in Rugby News

Powerful centre Dale Rasmussen is recalled to the starting line-up as league leaders Worcester Warriors travel to Meadow Lane to face Nottingham Rugby in the RFU Championship on Sunday (kick-off 5.30pm).

Rasmussen will join forces with Alex Crockett in midfield as Head Coach Richard Hill makes five changes to the team that produced a stunning comeback to edge out Cornish Pirates last weekend.

Tom Arscott is named at full back while an all-new front row sees Callum Black, Aleki Lutui and Bruce Douglas pack down.

Pat Sanderson will make his 150^th career start for Warriors in the back row alongside captain Kai Horstmann and Neil Best.

Powerhouse prop Oliver Tomaszczyk is named among the replacements alongside back row Adam Balding.

Head Coach Hill admits his Warriors will need to eradicate any of the tactical mistakes made at Pirates as they face a free-scoring and dangerous Nottingham side that are one of the best attacking sides in the RFU Championship.

“Nottingham thrive on your mistakes,” said Hill. “When we played them at Sixways the first try they scored against us came after Andy Goode had made a lovely break. His pass inside didn’t go to hand and they then counterattacked to score under the posts.

“The Nottingham back three is strong, particularly the full back, and if you make an error they will punish you.

“Keeping the ball in hand is crucial. We were guilty of kicking a bit aimlessly during the first half at Pirates and we cannot repeat that and allow talented teams to counterattack against us.”

Warriors vs. Nottingham Rugby

15 Tom Arscott
14 Marcel Garvey
13 Alex Crockett
12 Dale Rasmussen
11 Miles Benjamin
10 Andy Goode
9 Jonny Arr

1 Callum Black
2 Aleki Lutui
3 Bruce Douglas
4 Greg Rawlinson
5 Craig Gillies
6 Neil Best
7 Pat Sanderson
8 Kai Horstmann (c)

Replacements
16 Chris Fortey
17 Oliver Tomaszczyk
18 Will Bowley
19 Adam Balding
20 Ollie Frost
21 Joe Carlisle
22 Rob Higgitt

Warriors look for cutting edge in B&I Cup

Posted on Jan 21, 2011 in Rugby News

Worcester Warriors make a number of changes in the back division for the must-win Pool A British & Irish Cup clash with Plymouth Albion at Sixways Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

Head of Skill Development and Academy Manager Andrew Stanley has called on Warriors to return to winning ways in the competition, as his side hunt a quarter-final berth, and has rotated his backs after defeat in Ireland last time out.

Fly half Joe Carlisle is called up to play alongside experienced scrum half Andy Williams as Willie Walker switches to full back.

A new wing combination will see Oriol Ripol and former Plymouth player Tom Arscott look to give Worcester extra firepower while Samoan centre Dale Rasmussen will team up with Scotland international Alex Grove in midfield.

Stanley retains the same forward pack that impressed at Donnybrook, with captain Adam Balding in the back row alongside Matt Kvesic who is released back from England Under-20 training to feature.

Exciting young scrum half Joel Dudley is rewarded for his impressive cameo against Leinster A with a place on the bench alongside Greg King and Andy Short, who also returns from England training.

“It has been a short turnaround this week since the trip to Ireland and this game gives us a very quick opportunity to put the disappointment of the result away at Leinster behind us,” said Stanley.

“This is a very big game for us, given the fact that we want to do well in this competition and make the last eight. There is good momentum at the club at the moment and we want to continue that trend.

“We have brought some more experience into the back line as we also look to build towards the return to RFU Championship rugby in the coming weeks.”

Tickets remain on sale for the game and will also be available on the day. Call the Warriors Box Office for more information on 01905 454183.

Warriors vs Plymouth Albion

15 Willie Walker
14 Tom Arscott
13 Alex Grove
12 Dale Rasmussen
11 Oriol Ripol
10 Joe Carlisle
9 Andy Williams

1 Callum Black
2 Ed Shervington
3 Tevita Taumoepeau
4 James Clutterbuck
5 Will Bowley
6 James Freeman
7 Matt Kvesic
8 Adam Balding (c)

Replacements
16 Will Radburn
17 Sean McCarthy
18 Mike Hill
19 Nile Dacres
20 Joel Dudley
21 Greg King
22 Andy Short

Hill rings the changes for Knights trip

Posted on Dec 14, 2010 in Rugby News

Head Coach Richard Hill makes a number of changes to his starting line-up as Worcester Warriors head north to tackle Doncaster Knights in a rearranged RFU Championship encounter at Castle Park on Wednesday (kick-off 7.30pm).

Hill makes a total of eight changes to the side that defeated Esher Rugby in the club’s last league game at the end of November with five new faces in the back line as his selection closely matches the team that travelled to Rotherham Titans earlier in the campaign.

Willie Walker starts at full back, top scorer Marcel Garvey is back on the wing and Samoan centre Dale Rasmussen is paired with Rob Higgitt. A new half back pairing will see points machine Andy Goode and scrum half Andy Williams combine.

A change in the front row allows prop Adam Black to pack down with Chris Fortey and Bruce Douglas while Greg Rawlinson returns in the second row and Neil Best is recalled to join Pat Sanderson and captain Kai Horstmann in the back row.

Oliver Tomaszczyk and Adam Balding will add power from the replacements bench while Ollie Frost could play his first league game since signing a new two-year deal at Warriors.

Warriors vs Doncaster Knights

15 Willie Walker
14 Marcel Garvey
13 Rob Higgitt
12 Dale Rasmussen
11 Miles Benjamin
10 Andy Goode
9 Andy Williams

1 Adam Black
2 Chris Fortey
3 Bruce Douglas
4 Greg Rawlinson
5 Craig Gillies
6 Neil Best
7 Pat Sanderson
8 Kai Horstmann (c)

Replacements
16 Aleki Lutui
17 Oliver Tomaszczyk
18 Graham Kitchener
19 Adam Balding
20 Ollie Frost
21 Joe Carlisle
22 Alex Crockett

Worcester call up Andy Short

Posted on Oct 15, 2010 in Rugby News

England Under-20 centre Andy Short will make his full league debut for Worcester Warriors after being named in the team for the top-of-the-table RFU Championship clash with Bedford Blues at Goldington Road on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

Academy product Short, who was previously part of the AASE scheme at Sixways, impressed after coming off the bench against Bristol and is named alongside Dale Rasmussen after Alex Crockett failed to shake off an ankle problem.

Head Coach Richard Hill makes just two changes to his starting line-up from the team that secured a bonus point victory over Bristol last Friday.

Flanker James Collins replaces the injured Jake Abbott to make his third start of the campaign while utility back Willie Walker returns to the replacements bench.

“Andy Short has really impressed me with his performances in the A League and is another exciting and talented product of our Academy set-up. We’re delighted that we have an Academy that is producing players of this quality,” said Hill.

“Playing alongside Dale Rasmussen, I know he will form part of a formidable and strong midfield that we look forward to seeing in action again after they combined so well against Bristol.

“James Collins is a straight swap for Jake and I know he will be keen to make an impact,” added Hill.

“JC was very impressive in the early part of the season and is a similar age and player to Jake. Whilst losing Jake is devastating it does provide an opportunity for JC to push for a continued starting place in the weeks ahead.”

Pat Sanderson, Greg King, Rob Higgitt, Chris Pennell and Matt Mullan join Crockett and Abbott in being unavailable for selection through injury this weekend.

Warriors vs. Bedford Blues

15 Tom Arscott
14 Marcel Garvey
13 Andy Short
12 Dale Rasmussen
11 Miles Benjamin
10 Andy Goode
9 Jonny Arr

1 Callum Black
2 Aleki Lutui
3 Tevita Taumoepeau
4 Graham Kitchener
5 Craig Gillies
6 Neil Best
7 James Collins
8 Kai Horstmann (c)

Replacements
16 Ed Shervington
17 Bruce Douglas
18 Greg Rawlinson
19 Adam Balding
20 Andy Williams
21 Joe Carlisle
22 Willie Walker