London Welsh confirm further re-signings

Posted on May 8, 2012 in London Welsh

Adam Brown (pictured), Dan George, Ashley Smith and Billy Moss are the latest players to pledge their futures to London Welsh.

Player’s Player of the Year Brown, 24, has enjoyed a fantastic first season at the club, after joining from Newport Gwent Dragons last summer.

A Wales U19 Grand Slam winner in 2006, Brown has been ever present in the Exiles’ second row this season, making 28 appearances in all competitions. His debut try for the club came in the play-off win over Nottingham at Old Deer Park.

“I’ve played a lot of rugby this year and Lyn [Jones – head coach] has worked hard with me to improve my game,” said Brown.

“Hopefully I can continue that through to next year and keep developing and learning and getting better as a rugby player.

“As a young front five forward you need to be playing to improve and I feel I’ve contributed something to the team.

“Winning the Player’s Player of the Year award does mean a lot as the boys have voted for it, but it won’t mean half as much as getting to a Championship final.”

George is in his second spell at London Welsh. The hooker originally arrived at Old Deer Park in 2008 and helped the club reach a Championship semi-final in 2010.

A product of the Scarlets’ Academy, he left the club at the end of that season to join Principality Premiership side Carmarthen Quins, only to return in early 2011.

George, 25, captained Wales U19s during the IRB World Championships in South Africa in 2005, and the following year played in the IRB U21 World Championships in France

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London Welsh’s George poised to reach half century milestone

Posted on Feb 24, 2012 in Championship, English Rugby, London Welsh

A quick glance down Dan George’s player profile on the London Welsh website will tell you that the hooker is still waiting to experience his ‘best moment’ at the club.

No frivolous or obvious answers along the lines of his debut, his first try or the away trip when he didn’t have to room with Mike Powell will do for the hooker, who is clearly holding out for something bigger.

Saturday, however, could change all that, as George prepares to make his 50th League appearance for the club against Leeds Carnegie at Old Deer Park.

“I’ve had some good moments and some good memories, but I think there’s more to offer at the club. I think my best London Welsh moment is still to come,” said George.

“I’d love to be at the club for as long as I can – I enjoy playing for London Welsh. It’s a great environment to be in, the supporters are brilliant and I do see a future at the club.

“The Championship is getting stronger but if London Welsh can get promoted, and I can stay with the club through that promotion, and be competitive in the Premiership that would be the perfect situation.”

A Welsh win on Saturday, and perhaps even a try for George on his milestone appearance, coupled with a victory for Wales over England at Twickenham later that day, would certainly be a memorable way to mark George’s 50th league appearance for the club.

In his second spell at Old Deer Park, George originally joined the club in 2008 just as the Exiles went full-time professional, only to return in early 2011, having spent six months playing semi-pro for Carmarthen Quins while studying Criminology at Swansea University. George concedes that coming back was a slightly odd experience.

“All of a sudden an offer’s put on a plate and it all fits in with my university, and you’re alliances have to change and you’re fighting the cause for another team,” he said.

“It was strange more than awkward, especially going straight back into professionalism after being semi-professional.”

With six months of his degree still remaining, however, the one stipulation of his return to Welsh was for George to be released one day a week to travel to back Wales to complete his studies.

He would also find himself running out for Swansea University in the Varsity Match against Cardiff University at the Millennium Stadium. Playing number eight, George scored a try to help Swansea to victory.

Cramp would bring his afternoon to an end five minutes before the final whistle, where upon he was replaced by his brother Greg.
“It was nice to enjoy no pressure rugby and to play with Greg. To play in the Varsity Match in front of 15,000 drunk students, the noise was unbelievable and it was such a great atmosphere,” said George, who has no intention of challenging for the number eight jersey at Welsh.

“I was just enjoying it – it was a chance to run around. Not many of the boys are professional, so they put you in the positions that have the most influence on the game. It was just a chance to go out and enjoy myself and play a bit of rugby.”

Despite that interlude in his London Welsh career, George has seen many changes at the club since he first arrived, both on the field and off it.

“It’s changed so much – it’s unbelievable. We’d train very hard but there was a gang of about 20 of us – early twenties, late teens – and there was a very good social aspect to it,” he said.

“We had a good bunch of young guys from everywhere – Gavin O’Meara from Ireland, Peter Murchie from Scotland, and a few Welsh boys.

“It was a load of young talented rugby players all living in London, so it was easy to fit in and it was a good Craic.

“Four years on, the majority of the boys who were there are now either married or engaged, and I’m getting married in June.

“It’s gone from being a club with a lot of youngsters to having a more mature feel to it – the club has developed.”
As for head coaches, George has played under them all in that time – Martin Jones, Danny Wilson, Phil Greening and now Lyn Jones. For George, they’ve all brought something different to the table, but one aspect of the club has always remained the same.

“Each coach has had their own take on rugby and how the game should be played, but ultimately they’ve all played an open expansive flowing style of rugby, which fits very well with the London Welsh ethos,” said George.

“No matter who’s been at the helm, we’ve always played good rugby and attractive rugby – we’ve thrown it around about it.

“I think that’s what Lyn’s done well this year; he’s taken what we’ve done well but added that little bit of force up front.”

Closer inspection of George’s profile on the club website will reveal a definite zero in the try scoring column for this season – Saturday wouldn’t be a bad time to put that right.

Olympic torch shines light on young rugby hero

Posted on Dec 9, 2011 in 2012, English Rugby, Human Stories

A young Yorkshire rugby union player from Wetherby who has successfully battled through 80 weeks of treatment for a brain tumour, worked his way back into the team he played with when illness struck and raised £50,000 for the charity that supported him during his illness, is one of the first people in the country to be selected to carry the Olympic Torch on its journey round the United Kingdom.

George Stocker was diagnosed with a brain tumour in April 2008 and needed over 18 months in a wheelchair dealing with the symptoms and side-effects.

Driving the youngster throughout the process was a determination to regain the hooking berth he held when illness struck and to raise £50,000 for the Leeds-based children’s cancer charity Candlelighters and in doing so to support other children with the same condition.

Almost four years down the road, the 12-year-old pupil at Queen Ethelburga’s College in York, has just realised his two ambitions. After a prolonged rehabilitation, which involved building up his match time at the rate of an extra five minutes per game moving through the age groups when he resumed playing in September 2009, he recently reclaimed the No 2 shirt among the teammates who he started out with at Wetherby RFC.

Many might have found the challenge of raising £50,000 for Candlelighters a bridge too far, but George is clearly made of sterner stuff and easily mobilised support from a willing family and a huge number of admirers impressed by his courage and resolve.

Fund-raising projects came in a variety of shapes and sizes, mostly rugby related, but all drawing support for a very worthy cause from the wider community.

That support and the tremendous total achieved underlined the impact George Stocker has had on the people who have been inspired by his resilience and spirit. There are other manifestations. Hero of the Year from local radio station Stray FM, Yorkshire Child of Bravery and Yorkshire Young Achiever of the Year were all accolades that came in response to nominations from the public and it was a batch of recommendations from 30 different individuals which has brought the Olympic Torch honour.

“In view of his return to action at Wetherby and the reaching of our target for Candlelighters, this is really nice timing,” says his father, Roger. “At this stage we don’t know where George will be carrying the torch. We’ll find out four weeks before the event.”

“To carry a torch is a great honour and I would like to dedicate this to all of the people who have helped me with my fundraising for Candlelighters.” said George: “I would especially like to thank all my friends at Wetherby Rugby Club who have supported me over the past four years.”

George will be one of 8,000 people who will carrying the torch over its 70-day circuit starting on May 19, 2012

George Ford named IRB Young Player of the Year

Posted on Oct 24, 2011 in Age Grade Rugby, England, English Rugby

England U20 and Leicester Tigers fly half George Ford has been named IRB Young Player of the Year for 2011, beating New Zealand duo Sam Cane and Luke Whitelock to the coveted prize.

Voted for by team head coaches and match officials, as well as international and local media, Ford is the first Englishman to claim the award, although London Wasps and England scrum half Joe Simpson and Sale Sharks forward Carl Fearns were both nominated in 2008 and 2009 respectively.

At just 18-years-old, Ford was the youngest player at the Junior World Championship in Italy in June and the young Tiger breaks a spell of five years without a northern hemisphere winner – Frenchman Lionel Beauxis was the last in 2006, while Welsh back Gavin Henson remains the only other Briton to have won the prize, back in 2001.

Ford said: “It’s a massive honour especially when you consider the calibre of player who have won it in the past as well as the others (Cane and Whitelock) nominated. I couldn’t believe it when I found out to be honest, but I’ve got to be quick to point out that rugby is not an individual sport. All of the lads were awesome throughout the whole campaign and I’d like to think that I’m picking the award up on behalf of them.”

In a season that resulted in nine wins and just the one reverse, Ford scored 76 points in England’s RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam triumph and another 54 in the IRB Junior World Championship, but he says that completing the Slam in Ireland’s back yard is the memory he’ll treasure most.

“Winning the Grand Slam in Ireland was a massive highlight,” he said. “To remain unbeaten against the calibre of sides we played against took some doing, but we performed well each time we took to the field. Getting to the final of the Junior World Championship was also a great achievement, and it’s just a shame that we fell just short against a strong New Zealand side.”

Previous winners of the award include the likes of Luke McAlister, Isaia Toeava, Jerome Kaino and Tatafu Polota-Nau, so while Ford is in good company, the Oldham born No. 10 insists that he’s just concentrating on his own blossoming career for now.

He added: “I really am just taking it each game as it comes, my focus is on Leicester at the moment and will switch to England during the U20 6 Nations, but there are a fair few established names that have won the award in the past and it’s a massive honour to be part of them now.”

England U20 Head Coach Rob Hunter said: "This is a massive achievement for George and fantastic recognition for him, his family and his club. He was the youngest player in our squad last season, and his success reflects well on the rest of the U20 players and the effort they all put in last season.”
“George’s influence on the pitch and off it was enormous; he works extremely hard to maintain his high levels of performance and is a pleasure to work with as a coach. He’s a key player and we’re looking forward to having him back in the U20s for the 6 Nations and the Junior World Championship”
“This award for George is also a great advert for player development in England. He has come up through the age grades and is playing Aviva Premiership rugby with Leicester Tigers, a great testament to George, and the development work going on in the Clubs”

Exciting centre George Lowe commits to Quins

Posted on Sep 8, 2011 in English Rugby, Harlequins, Premiership

Following on from the announcement of the re-signing of Mike Brown, Harlequins have announced that 21 year old George Lowe has also put pen to paper and has re-signed for Quins until the end of the 2013/14 season.

A centre with winger’s pace, the former England U20 and Quins academy graduate, George Lowe, has made the number 13 shirt his own since making his Premiership debut against Wasps two seasons ago, and he continues to impress both fans and critics with the maturity with which he plays. His centre partnership with Jordan-Turner-Hall is one of the best in the Aviva Premiership. George is a threat to any defence and many believe it is only a matter of time before he is called into the senior England squad.

An impressive 2010/2011 season saw Lowe shortlisted for the Land Rover Discovery of the Season at the Aviva Premiership Awards, after putting in a number of strong performances. His huge contribution in Europe saw him a key member of the team which beat Stade Francais to claim the Amlin Challenge Cup.

Director of Rugby, Conor O’Shea, says:

“We have said we want to keep our squad together and let it mature and George’s signing is a further statement of that intent. It is hard to believe George is just 21, as it already feels like he is a fixture. We are looking forward to watching George develop further over the coming years and watching him push on to achieve his goals and realize his talent”

George Lowe says:

“Harlequins is a young and ambitious squad who are determined to win more silverware and I want to continue to be a part of it. We play a quick tempo game and an exciting brand of rugby, which is how I love to play.

“We are lucky to have a great set of fans, a great bunch of players who enjoy playing for each other, some fantastic coaches and some top class facilities”.