Runciman returns as Gloucester boost scrum half resources

Posted on Apr 19, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Gloucester Rugby have moved to increase their scrum half options for next season with the signing of Nick Runciman from London Welsh.

Runciman was part of the Gloucester Rugby Academy at the outset of his rugby career before moving to Worcester Warriors and subsequently to London Welsh.

The 25 year old has represented his country at U16 and U18  level as well as being a member of an U21 Grand Slam winning squad. He has also played for the Barbarians.

He has been a regular at Old Deer Park, making 65 league appearances in total and is currently playing his part in the Exiles Championship play off campaign.

Gloucester Rugby Head Coach Bryan Redpath told the club website today that you can never have too many scrum halves!

“We know all about Nick obviously with him having started his career here as part of our Academy and then having played just up the road at Worcester.”

“He’s developed into a very capable performer in the meantime and we’re aware that Rory Lawson will probably be away for quite a bit of next season because of the Rugby World Cup and Six Nations.”

“We’ll therefore need options in the number nine shirt as it’s a specialist position and with Nick, Dave Lewis and Dan Robson to call upon, I’m very happy with where we stand.”

Runciman himself is delighted to be returning to where it all started for him:

“It’ll be great to be back at Kingsholm. I obviously still know a number of the boys there and have kept tabs on how the team have been doing.”

“I saw them win the LV= Cup on television recently so Heineken Cup is assured next season which is a huge bonus for the club and very exciting for me personally.”

“I’ve really enjoyed my time at London Welsh, they’re a great club and it goes without saying that I’ll be doing my level best for them for the remaining games of the season.”  

Tom James wins Principality Player of the Month award

Posted on Apr 14, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Neath’s Tom James has won the Principality Player of the Month award for March.

The 21 year old scrum half has been an influential member of the Welsh All Blacks side this season following the return to New Zealand of Kevin Farrell.

The Aberystwyth-born, Llandovery College product has scored nine tries in the Principality Premiership this season, including  three in March – against Swansea and Newport at home and Cross Keys away – helping them to their current position at the top of the league.

He said, “Things have gone well this season, despite the disappointment of being knocked out of the SWALEC Cup and the British & Irish Cup.

“We’re pushing to finish the league season as top club, and that fate is still in our hands if we win our final two games – away to Aberavon and Carmarthen Quins – with bonus points.

“We would then go straight through to the Premiership play-off final. However, Pontypridd are playing really well at the moment too, in three competitions. We just have to hope that having just one competition to focus on will work in our favour.

“In terms of future plans, I’m not looking too far ahead, I just want to keep playing well for Neath and hopefully something else will come along in terms of Regional offers.”

Neath head coach Patrick Horgan added, “Tom has really come on this season in particular, making the Number 9 shirt his own since Kevin Farrell’s departure. He switched to scrum half two years ago after previously playing centre and outside half and he’s been a key member of the team this year, an excellent club man.

“We slipped up against Bedwas at the start of the season and a few people write us off but we’ve got ourselves back into a position now to retain the title and we’re determined to do that.”

James was selected for the award by Premiership coaches and WRU performance and development staff.

Try machine Drauniniu to make Sixways switch

Posted on Apr 11, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Worcester Warriors have added even more ammunition to the club’s firepower ahead of next season with the confirmation that ‘try machine’ Josh Drauniniu will move to Sixways from London Welsh.

Flying wing Drauniniu, who joined the Exiles from near neighbours Harlequins in May 2010, has proven to be one of the most deadly predators in the RFU Championship this season, scoring 16 tries in 22 games.

The former England Sevens wing also scored twice against Warriors during the regular season, including a stunning solo effort from inside his own half in the fixture at Sixways.

Born in Suva in Fiji, Drauniniu joined the Royal Navy in 2003 at the age of 17 and saw active service in the Gulf in 2005. Drauniniu was soon introduced to rugby union, having played rugby league and football at school in Fiji, and he made his debut in the annual Army versus Navy match at Twickenham in 2004.

Three years later the 25-year-old was signed by Exeter Chiefs, where his pace on the wing caught the eye of the England Sevens selectors. He scored a sensational try on his international debut against Portugal in Dubai in 2008.

Drauniniu was named in Rugby Times’ National League One Team of the Season for 2008/09, having scored 16 tries. In his first season he had raced in for 22 tries, and it was that sort of form that alerted Harlequins to take him to the Premiership.

His first start for Quins came in a 9-9 draw with London Irish at the Stoop in October 2009, but the highlight of his spell at the club would come at Franklins Gardens three weeks later when he scored two tries as a second half replacement in a 27-16 defeat.

In February 2010 he forced his way back into Ben Ryan’s England Sevens team for the Adelaide and Hong Kong legs of the IRB World Series.

Head Coach Richard Hill said: “I first saw Josh playing for the Royal Navy three or four years ago, while he was at Exeter, and he was the standout performer. He was a raw talent and a real try scoring machine that I have tracked ever since.

“This year he has had a particularly strong season for London Welsh and has been up with the best of them in terms of scoring tries and has matched the likes of Miles Benjamin and Marcel Garvey. We want players like Miles and Marcel who are try scorers and who can out of nothing explode into life.

“When he has played against us this season he has been a real thorn in our side and so we are delighted that he will now pull on a Worcester jersey next season.

“Both Josh and Errie Claassens have really benefitted from the style and positive attitude that London Welsh have adopted throughout this season and hopefully the move to Warriors will see them get even better.”

Sensational Second Half Comeback By England Under 18 Clubs and Schools

Posted on Apr 11, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

A try in the final two minutes earned England Under 18 Clubs and Schools a dramatic 23-23 draw against Ireland Under 18 Clubs at Ashbourne RFC, Dublin yesterday.

Ill discipline proved costly for England as they gave away 16 penalties to gift Ireland easy points but in a spirited second half comeback the side reduced the 17-0 half time deficit.

A converted try by Ireland in the first two minutes put England on the back foot and ankle injuries to both flanker Hugh Lockhart and hooker Nico Woodward meant that the services of Matthew Lamont and Tom Crozier were required after less than 10 minutes.

With limited possession, England tried to force play and were either turned over or penalised at the breakdown before they had chance to build the phases.   

Ross Harrison carried the ball well and Joe Robinson was inspirational in defence but it took a try-saving tackle from winger Tom Bowen, who covered the width of the pitch, to deny Ireland a second try.

England’s best attack of the half came just before the break when James Crossley spotted a gap in midfield before sending the pass wide for Tom Harty.  The winger fended off the Irish defence to gain ground but England were unable to capitalise.

A transformed England team emerged from the dressing room after half time and, with Ireland feeling the pressure, England were awarded two penalties within the space of ten minutes.  Captain, Freddie Gabbitass slotted both between the posts to put England on the score sheet, 17-6.

Kieran Ball and Daniel Lee were introduced as part of half time changes and made an immediate impact with driving runs that helped England build momentum.  Solid play in the loose by Josh Pettet and Hugo Govett ensured that England’s forwards kept possession and created a platform for attack.

An ambitious penalty attempt from Gabbitass from the touchline went wide and minutes later the boys in white were anxiously defending in their five metres as Ireland looked to force themselves back into the game.   A tackle on the line from Harry Sloan, who was outstanding in defence throughout, gave England the chance to clear.

England were consistent in the set piece and a solid take in the line-out by Elliot Stooke, just short of the 22, created quick ball for Henry Taylor.  The scrum half looped round off Gabbitass to off load to JJ Kilmartin whose incisive angle broke the Irish defence and sent him over the line.  A well executed training ground move and the conversion by Gabbitass brought England within four points with 13 minutes remaining.

A moment of ill discipline from the restart gave Ireland another penalty just in front of the posts and Thomas Daly, who had kicked all of Ireland’s penalties, took the three points which proved crucial to the outcome of the game.

Sensing the possibility of victory, the determined England side were immediately back in the Irish half, using the width to open up attacking opportunities.   With the clock ticking an off load from Kilmartin put Robinson through on the wing but he was unable to control the ball and sent it into touch just short of the try line.

Ireland’s frantic clearance kicks failed to gain them distance and England maintained their dynamic and relentless attack.  With two minutes to go, Taylor’s pick and go opened up the Irish defence, and he offloaded to Crozier.

The hooker, whose impressive all round performance was key for England, drew the final two players to create the space for Jacob Wilson to burst down the wing with unstoppable speed and cross the whitewash.  Gabbitass held his nerve to convert the try in stoppage time and give England the well deserved draw. 

Ireland Under 18 Clubs 23 – 23 England Under 18s Clubs and Schools

15. Jamie-John Kilmartin (Bath Rugby, Millfield School, Somerset)

14. Tom Harty (Cobham RFC, Epsom College, Surrey)

13. James Crossley (North Walsham RFC, Wymondham College, Eastern Counties)

12. Harry Sloan (Harlequins, Skinners School, Kent)

11. Tom Bowen (Lewes RFC, Sussex Downs College, Sussex)

10. Freddie Gabbitass (Bath Rugby, Millfield School, Somerset) (Captain)

9.  Joseph Bartlett (Taunton RFC, Ivybridge Community College, Somerset)

1. Hugh McBride (Bromsgrove School, North Midlands)

2. Nico Woodward (Coney Hill RFC, St. Peter’s Gloucester, Gloucestershire)

3. Ross Harrison (Lymm RFC, Lymm High School, Cheshire)

4. Elliott Stooke (Hartpury College, Gloucestershire)

5. Josh Pettet (Sevenoaks RFC, Cranbrook School, Kent)

6. Hugo Govett (Leeds Grammar School, Yorkshire)

7. Hugh Lockhart (Bromsgrove RFC, Bromsgrove School, North Midlands)

8. Joe Robinson (Newcastle Falcons, Sedbergh School, Cumbria) (Vice Captain)

Replacements (All were used):

1.  Tom Crozier (Colchester RFC, Colchester VI College, Eastern Counties)

2. Kieran Ball (Wellington College, Essex)

3. Matthew Lamont (Exeter Chiefs, Ivybridge Community College, Devon)

4. Daniel Lee (Exeter Chiefs, Ivybridge Community College, Devon)

5. Henry Taylor (Harlequins, Cranleigh School, Bucks)

6. Henry Purdy (London Wasps, Cokethorpe School, Oxon)

7. Jacob Wilson (London Wasps, Cokethorpe School, Oxon)

Tristan Roberts signs for Bristol

Posted on Apr 4, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Bristol Rugby have announced the signing of fly half Tristan Roberts from Doncaster Knights.

The 24-year old successfully passed a medical this morning and will join the Club at the end of the season. Roberts is the first new face to agree terms as Liam Middleton builds a squad for the 2011/12 campaign.

Roberts, a former Gloucester and Moseley player, finished the Championship regular season as the third highest points scorer with 220 points. During the 2009/10 season, the fly-half was the leading points scorer during the Championship regular season, notching 236 points for Moseley.

Roberts spent one season with Bristol Rugby in 2005/6, making five appearances for Bristol United in the A League.

Liam Middleton commented: “Tristan’s fits the profile of the fly half that I’m looking for. He has a good kicking game which is reflected in the fact that last season he was the Championship’s top points scorer in an 8th placed team, but he also has an exciting running game which is the balance we are after. He still has room left to fulfil his potential and that’s why he is coming to Bristol.”