RFU Podcast: A production line of future talent

Posted on Mar 4, 2011 in English Rugby, Rugby News

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England are benefiting from the rapid progress young players are making through the academy and age group international programmes.

And increasing the volume of talent available to the Aviva Premiership clubs and England’s teams is the objective of the Elite Player Development Strategy launched by the RFU and Premiership Rugby this week.

The RFU Podcast spoke to Stuart Lancaster, the RFU’s Head of Elite Player Development, Corin Palmer, Premiership Rugby’s Head of Academies and Development, and Harlequins Academy Director Tony Diprose.

“It’s really important we have a joint approach to elite player development and in the long term it will benefit the clubs and the England teams,” Lancaster told the RFU Podcast. “My role is to make sure we have a pipeline of talent coming through way beyond the 2015 Rugby World Cup and we’re heading in the right direction.”

Palmer added: “We have a bespoke programme so we’re looking at an individual approach to their development, whether that’s physical, technical, tactical or mental or looking at their lifestyle, we give them clear objectives underpinned by a competitive playing programme.”

Also on this week’s Podcast:

Alex Corbisiero: After winning his second cap in the RBS 6 Nations against France, the young London Irish prop pays tribute to the people who prepared him for international rugby

Ben Youngs: There’s much more to come from me and England, insists the Leicester Tigers scrum half

Martin Johnson: The team manager on how England negotiated a very different challenge against Les Bleus

Ben Foden: We’ll have to be at our best when Scotland come to Twickenham, says the Northampton Saints full back

Jeb Sinclair: The Canadian believes his side can take another step forward following the announcement that this year’s Churchill Cup will be staged in England

George Chuter: The Leicester Tigers hooker previews this weekend’s Aviva Premiership showdown against Saracens

Alex Goode: The full back believes a strong and evolving Saracens side are in a ‘good place’ ahead of their trip to Welford Road

For the full interviews, check out today’s RFU Podcast. Here you can listen to the weekly podcast or subscribe to itunes and have it delivered straight to your inbox each week.

The RFU Podcast takes you inside English rugby from the grassroots to the elite.

Stankovitch and Cole return for Tigers

Posted on Sep 10, 2010 in English Rugby, Premiership

Boris Stankovich and Dan Cole return to the Leicester Tigers front row for Saturday’s opening home game of the Aviva Premiership Rugby season against Exeter Chiefs (5.30pm).

The only other change to the line-up which started the Round One game at Northampton Saints last Sunday is the inclusion of Jeremy Staunton at fly-half in place of the injured Toby Flood.

Geordan Murphy, who made his 250th start for the club at Franklin’s Gardens last weekend, leads out the team on their homecoming, while summer signings George Skivington and Thomas Waldrom start their first league game at Welford Road.

International flanker Tom Croft returns from injury to take his place among the replacements.   “We played some good rugby at times last weekend but there were too many penalties and too many turnovers,” said Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill.   “We scored three good tries and we were still in there fighting right at the end, despite conceding two tries so early on.   “But now we have to look to bounce back and get our first points on the board as quickly as possible.”  

15 Geordan Murphy (c)
14 Scott Hamilton
13 Dan Hipkiss
12 Anthony Allen
11 Alesana Tuilagi
10 Jeremy Staunton
9 Ben Youngs
1 Boris Stankovich
2 George Chuter
3 Dan Cole
4 Calum Green
5 George Skivington
6 Craig Newby
7 Ben Woods
8 Thomas Waldrom   Replacements
16 Joe Duffey
17 Martin Castrogiovanni
18 Marcos Ayerza
19 Ed Slater
20 Tom Croft
21 James Grindal
22 Billy Twelvetrees
23 Manu Tuilagi

Flood returns for Leicester’s game with Leeds

Posted on Nov 27, 2009 in Rugby News

Toby Flood will make his first start of the season as Leicester Tigers host Leeds Carnegie in the Guinness Premiership at Welford Road on Saturday (3pm).

The England international fly-half suffered an Achilles injury in the Heineken Cup semi-final against Cardiff Blues in May but he has proved his fitness in two appearances as a replacement in the last fortnight.

Matt Smith comes in on the wing in place of Johne Murphy who is on international duty with Ireland A as the only change to backline following last Friday’s game at Gloucester.

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England Senior EPS squad update

Posted on Nov 17, 2009 in Rugby News

The following players are returning to their clubs this afternoon from the England training camp at the Pennyhill Park Hotel.

• Steffon Armitage – (London Irish)
• George Chuter – (Leicester Tigers)
• Jordan Crane – (Leicester Tigers)
• David Flatman – (Bath Rugby)
• Ben Foden – (Northampton Saints)
• Andy Goode – (CA Brive)
• Ben Kay – (Leicester Tigers)
• Courtney Lawes – (Northampton Saints)
• Paul Sackey – (London Wasps)
• Richard Wigglesworth – (Sale Sharks)

The England test team to play New Zealand in the Investec Challenge on Saturday, November 21 (kick off 2.30pm) will be announced tomorrow via the news wires at 12.00pm.

England release 10 players from training squad

Posted on Nov 10, 2009 in Rugby News

Bath Rugby props David Wilson and David Barnes are among 10 players returning to their clubs after being released from the England squad training to face Argentina in the Investec Challenge international at Twickenham on Saturday (2.30pm).

Wilson suffered a neck/shoulder injury against Australia last weekend and Barnes injured a knee in training today. Both will receive further assessment and treatment from the medical team at Bath.

The eight other players released to their clubs were: Steffon Armitage (London Irish), George Chuter (Leicester Tigers), Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers), Ben Foden (Northampton Saints), Ben Kay (Leicester Tigers), David Strettle (Harlequins), Mathew Tait (Sale Sharks), Richard Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks).

The team to face Argentina will be announced at midday tomorrow.