Paice re-signs with London Irish

Posted on Jan 26, 2011 in Rugby News

London Irish hooker, David Paice has re-signed with the club for a further three seasons which will see him stay with the Exiles until the end of the 2013/14 season.

David joined the London Irish Academy in 2003 and went on to become an integral part of the club’s U19 team that won the National Cup that season. What was meant to be a year long stay turned into a permanent move after he was promoted to the first team and has since gone on to make 136 senior appearances for the club, scoring six tries.

The Australian born hooker has represented England Saxons and gained full international selection when he played against New Zealand in July 2008.

London Irish head coach, Toby Booth said: “I have worked very closely with David since he first joined us in 2003. He is an accomplished lineout thrower and is great in the loose. We are all delighted that he will be with us for a further three seasons.”

Commenting on his decision to extend his current contract, David said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at London Irish and I am sure I will continue to do so. We have a squad full of class players and I want to be with them challenging for titles over the coming seasons.”

Cronin signs for Leinster

Posted on Jan 25, 2011 in Rugby News

Leinster Rugby have signed Ireland hooker Sean Cronin who will join the province in the summer on a two year deal.

Cronin, 24, was educated at Ardscoil Rís in Limerick and has previously played with Munster and Connacht, whom he joined in the summer of 2008.

A former Ireland Schools representative, Cronin featured in the AIB League for Shannon and he earned his first Ireland cap against Fiji in the RDS in November 2009, incidentally in the same match as Jonathan Sexton and Sean O’Brien.

He won his first start against New Zealand in the 2010 Summer Tests and also started against Australia. Cronin has also represented Ireland Schools, U-19, U-21, and ‘A’ (Ireland Wolfhounds) levels.

The Limerick man played three games in the recent Guinness series against Samoa, New Zealand and Argentina and has featured 7 times for Ireland to date.

Sean Cronin said: “I am delighted to put pen to paper on a deal to join Leinster this summer and I believe that with the exciting players in the squad, the future looks bright.

“I have been hugely impressed by Leinster’s displays both in the Magners League and in the Heineken Cup so far this season and the province’s ambitions mirror my own. Hopefully I can establish myself in the squad when I join up in a few months time.

“I am grateful for the opportunity that Connacht have given me over the last three years to play for a fantastic club. They will continue to grow from strength to strength under Eric Elwood and the existing management team and I will do my utmost to help improve our Magners League standing over the coming months.”

Commenting on Cronin’s signing, Leinster Coach Joe Schmidt said: “It’s great that Sean has confirmed that he will join us this summer. He is a dynamic and talented front rower who will add experience at hooker following the retirement of John Fogarty earlier this season.”

Knights change five for Mosely

Posted on Nov 12, 2010 in Rugby News

The Knights’ team to play at Moseley on Friday evening (KO 7.30pm) shows five changes from the team that beat Esher last Sunday. In the backs, Oli Goss returns at centre in place of Chris Briers and, on the wing, Andy Wright instead of Dougie Flockhart. In the pack, Steve Boden comes in for Steve Lawrie at hooker, Matt Challinor for Dom Parsons at lock and Zack Farivarz for the injured Ed Jackson in the back row.

15 Steve McColl
14 Andy Wright
13 Oli Goss
12 PJ Gidlow
11 Matt Williams
10 Tristan Roberts
9 Chris Hallam
1 Dan Frazier
2 Steve Boden
3 Michael Cusack
4 Glen Kenworthy
5 Matt Challinor
6 Zack Farivarz
7 Neil Cochrane
8 Andy Boyde
16 Lewis Thiede
17 Steve Lawrie
18 Dom Parsons
19 Chris Walker
20 Chris Briers
21 Brett Davey
22 Dougie Flockhart

Titterrell blow for Carnegie

Posted on Nov 12, 2010 in LV=

Leeds Carnegie have suffered a blow ahead of this Sunday’s LV Cup clash with Sale Sharks with the news that hooker Andy Titterrell will be out of action for at least five months after scans revealed he will need surgery on a knee injury sustained in training last week.

Titterrell requires surgery on his ACL which leaves the Yorkshire side with only one senior hooker available for this weekend’s clash with Sale with Steve Thompson away on international duty with England.

Commenting on the news Director of Rugby Andy Key said, “We are bitterly disappointed for Andy however he will have the operation very soon and I am sure, given his nature and athletic strength that he will be battling to be back as soon as possible. Whilst we have suffered a number of injuries this season, this is only the second time that a serious injury has occurred in training, with Dan White breaking his leg earlier this year which makes it even more frustrating for Andy.

“Unfortunately in the short term, with Steve Thompson away with England, that only leaves us with Phil Nilsen to cover at hooker. We have two very talented young hookers in Harry Hannan and Scott Freer but both are coming back from long term injuries. In the case of Scott, hopefully he will get some rugby under his belt in the next week and I am sure he will be pushing for inclusion in the first team squad in due course. We have to make sure that we do not rush into a decision in case there are other options out there.”

Pirates expect a tough time at Blues

Posted on Oct 8, 2010 in Championship

The Cornish Pirates are away to Bedford Blues this Saturday, who are guaranteed to provide tough opposition. Kick-off at Goldington Road is at 3pm.

Bedford’s impressive 23-16 points victory at Bristol on Sunday means they have recorded five wins from the six Championship games played to date, and are presently second in the league table behind Worcester. The Pirates are third.

The Blues, whose only loss in this campaign was a narrow 19-16 defeat away to Rotherham Titans, ended up fourth in the league table last season and have since acquired the services of players including former Plymouth Albion hooker Joe Clark, and a former Exeter duo in centre Tom Bedford and lock Sean Tomes. Owen Farrell and James Short (their top try-scorer with 4), are two of a number of players who are dual-registered with Saracens, and their top points scorer is James Pritchard on 67.

In four games played against Bedford last season, the Pirates won 25-24 and 22-18 at home, but lost 19-16 and 42-18 away. The latter loss understandably dented pride, so the Pirates will strive to make amends this weekend. Their selection shows a number of changes, one in the backs and five in the forwards, from the side that started against Plymouth Albion last Sunday. Tom Luke comes into the side at inside centre in place of the unavailable Steve Winn, and in the pack flankers Phil Burgess and Chris Morgan return, as does lock Laurie McGlone who has recovered from injury and will partner Mike Myerscough in the second-row. The experienced Alan Paver is named at loose-head prop, and Dave Ward was an obvious to be named at hooker following the broken ankle injury suffered by Rob Elloway. Listed among the replacements is the highly promising Tom Cowan-Dickie, who will make his Championship debut if called off the bench.

Cornish Pirates: R. Cook, G. Pointer, M. Hopper, T. Luke, W. Davies, J. Bentley, G. Cattle (capt), B. Cowan, P. Burgess, C. Morgan, L. McGlone, M. Myerscough, R. Brits, D. Ward, A. Paver.
Replacements: R. Storer, T. Cowan-Dickie, C. Rimmer, I. Nimmo, K. Marriott, R. McAtee, N. Jackson.