Oceania Qualification Process Set for Rugby World Cup 2015

Posted on May 2, 2012 in Rugby World Cup

The Oceania region qualification process for Rugby World Cup 2015 will kick off with the Oceania Cup in 2013, the International Rugby Board and Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions (FORU) announced today at the FORU AGM in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

The announcement was made in the presence of the Webb Ellis Cup, won by FORU Member Union New Zealand at RWC 2011. It is the first time that the Game’s ultimate prize has visited the Cook Islands.

All Full Member Unions of the IRB in the Oceania region will have an opportunity to compete for a direct qualification place at Rugby’s showcase event, which will take place in England and provides the financial platform for the development of the Game across the IRB’s 117 Member Unions.

The popular Oceania Cup, FORU’s regional championship for Development and Targeted Unions, will again be the first step on the road to England 2015. American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tahiti and Vanuatu will battle it out at the 2013 Oceania Cup with the winner progressing to the next stage of qualification.

The Oceania Cup champion will then take on Fiji in a one-off match in 2014 with the winner gaining direct qualification to RWC 2015 as Oceania 1. Australia, New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga have already qualified automatically for RWC 2015 after finishing in the top three of their respective pools at RWC 2011 in New Zealand.

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Afoa suspended for four weeks

Posted on Apr 12, 2012 in Irish Rugby, Ulster

The Ulster Rugby prop John Afoa (No 3), has been suspended for four (4) weeks following a Disciplinary Hearing in Dublin today, Thursday, 12 April arising from the Heineken Cup quarter-final match against Munster Rugby on Sunday, 8 April 2012.

Afoa was alleged to have carried out a dangerous tackle on the Munster full back Felix Jones (No 15) during the second half of the match at Thomond Park. The complaint was made by Citing Commissioner, Peter Larter (England).

The independent Judicial Officer, Jean-Nöel Couraud (France), heard evidence and submissions from Afoa who pleaded not guilty to foul play. The player was accompanied by Ulster Rugby, Director of Rugby David Humphreys, Team Manager David Millar and legal representative Donal Spring. The Judicial Officer also heard evidence and submissions from ERC Disciplinary Officer, Roger O’Connor.

The Judicial Officer upheld the citing complaint and found that the offence warranted a red card, and employing the IRB recommended sanctions for Law 10.4(j), he determined that the offence was at the mid-range entry point of six (6) weeks. In reference to the IRB’s directive on this pattern of offending (tip tackles), he then added a further one (1) week as a deterrent.

Having then considered the mitigating factors, including the player’s clean record, good character, age and experience, the Judicial Officer allowed a reduction of three (3) weeks, before imposing a suspension of four (4) weeks.

Afoa will be free to play on Monday, 7 May . Both the player and ERC have the right to appeal the decision.

Law 10.4 (j) Lifting a player from the ground and either dropping or driving that player’s head and/or upper body into the ground whilst the player’s feet are off the ground.

Under the IRB Recommended Sanctions for Offences Committed within the Playing Enclosure, Law 10.4 (j) carries the following penalties: Low End: 3 weeks; Mid Range: 6 weeks; Top End: 10+ to 52 weeks.

Afoa reaction

After a hearing this morning the ERC Disciplinary Committee have handed John Afoa a four week ban.

Ulster Rugby is disappointed with the outcome. John Afoa himself is very disappointed, particularly in view of his outstanding disciplinary record where he has never previously received a yellow or red card during his professional career.

John looks forward to returning to play after 7th May

IRB anti-doping campaign success ~ 54 offenders netted in 2010: up 86% on 2009

Posted on Mar 5, 2012 in Latest Rugby News

The International Rugby Board has underscored its continued commitment to the fight against doping in Rugby by undertaking a record programme of testing and education during 2011.

With Rugby continuing to break new markets with global exposure and participation at unprecedented levels, the Game’s governing body undertook 1,714 tests (587 In Competition and 1,127 Out of Competition) across Fifteens and Sevens in every continent during a year that also saw a record blood testing programme at the flagship Rugby World Cup. The testing programme operated across Rugby World Cup 2011 (989 tests), Rugby Sevens (489 tests), Age Grade (138 tests), other IRB Fifteens tournaments (58) and regional championships (40 tests).

Despite the rigorous testing programme, there were eight Anti-Doping rule violations in 2011. That amounts to 0.46 per cent of the total testing programme. Four violations were for stimulants (Methylhexaneamine found in nutritional supplements), two were for anabolic agents (Testosterone), one for a diuretic (Probenicid) and one for a narcotic (Oxycodone) used for pain relief. There were no positive results recorded in Sevens.

The extensive testing regime was supported by the IRB’s Outreach and Keep Rugby Clean education programmes, which are run in partnership with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), with the first-ever dedicated Rugby World Cup Keep Rugby Clean Day held during New Zealand 2011.

Commenting on the record programme, IRB Anti-Doping Manager Tim Ricketts said: "The IRB and its Member Unions are committed to the fight against doping in sport."

"This record IRB testing programme, combined with over 4,000 controls administered in 2011 by our Member Unions and their respective National Anti-Doping Organisations as well as a dedicated education programme, underlines our collaborative commitment to this critical area of the Game."

"While Rugby continues to be at the forefront in the fight against doping in sport, we have a collective responsibility to ensure that our players, physicians and administrators have access to the very best educational framework."

"This includes the education around the dangers of failing to check nutritional supplements and medications thoroughly and awareness around recreational drugs and support mechanisms. All of the violations that were recorded in 2011 could have been avoided if players and their physicians had checked the ingredients of the products against the WADA Prohibited List prior to taking them."

The IRB focused on increased educational programmes in 2011, including the delivery of Keep Rugby Clean awareness campaigns at Rugby World Cup 2011 and IRB Age Grade and Sevens events delivered to over 1,000 players during the year.

The key to player education resource is the IRB’s interactive Anti-Doping website www.keeprugbyclean.com, designed to inform the global Rugby community on all aspects of Anti-Doping.

The year also saw Argentina star and Rugby World Cup 2007 Bronze medallist Felipe Contepomi appointed to the WADA Athlete Committee. Contepomi is one of seven IRB Keep Rugby Clean Ambassadors representing men’s and women’s Fifteens and Sevens.

Editors notes:

Total global programme per year (including Union and NADO tests)

2005: 4,053 tests, 48 violations
2006: 4,782 tests, 36 violations
2007: 4,127 tests, 34 violations
2008: 5,023 tests, 54 violations
2009: 5,725 tests, 29 violations
2010: 5,618 tests, 54 violations
2011: available June 2012

London Sevens to host IRB sanctioned Women’s International Sevens tournament

Posted on Feb 29, 2012 in England Women, English Rugby, Sevens, Women's Rugby

The Rugby Football Union will host one of three IRB sanctioned Women’s International Sevens tournament this season at Twickenham Stadium on May 12-13th, 2012.

As part of the hugely popular London Sevens weekend Twickenham Stadium will now also open its doors to some of the world’s finest female rugby talent as the HSBC Sevens World Series comes to a close.

As part of the IRB’s on-going commitment to develop international women’s Sevens ahead of the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Russia and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, London and Hong Kong are the latest events to be added to the IRB international sevens programme. Dubai hosted the inaugural Women’s Sevens Challenge Cup in December and Hong Kong will host the second event on March 23-24th.

12 of the best international women’s sevens team will compete over the two-day tournament for the Women’s Challenge Cup, including hosts England, who recently reached the final of the Women’s Challenge Cup in Dubai beating world champions Australia on their way to the final. The teams competing in London will be: England, Australia, Canada, USA, Netherlands, Russia, Brazil, China, Kazakhstan, France, South Africa and Portugal.

Rob Andrew, RFU Professional Rugby Director, said: “The RFU is delighted to be hosting the IRB sanctioned international Women’s Sevens tournament as part of the London Sevens this year. Dubai held the first ever IRB Women’s Sevens event in December 2011 so for Twickenham Stadium to be added to that calendar is a prestigious honour.

“With Rugby Sevens making its debut in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games it is important we, and our other member unions, strive forward to develop the international programme for our women’s teams and this announcement represents a significant step on the road to Rio de Janeiro for these international teams.”

Last year’s Beach themed event at the London Sevens saw more than 100,000 fans head to Twickenham Stadium and the 2012 event promises to be even bigger. The party atmosphere generated by the fans is almost unrivalled in the Twickenham calendar and this year’s event takes up a 1970s theme.
Sophie Goldschmidt, RFU Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We are looking forward to an exceptional international Women’s tournament in London in May which will run alongside the HSBC Sevens World Series. Last year’s event saw more than 100,000 fans head through the gates over the two days including a record breaking 54,612 crowd on the Saturday. The 2012 event promises to be even bigger and better especially with the London leg being the final event of the HSBC Sevens World Series.”

"These are exciting times for Women’s Rugby around the world," added IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset. "Participation is growing while we continue to work with our member unions to ensure elite Women’s competition goes from strength to strength ahead of our debut in the Olympic Games 2016.

“These invitational IRB Women’s Sevens Challenge Cup events are the first step on the road to delivering an annual IRB Women’s Sevens World Series along similar lines to the hugely successful men’s HSBC Sevens World Series. I am sure that London will be a resounding success and give fans in the stadium and around the world another opportunity to see just how competitive Women’s Rugby is."

Tickets are now available for the London Sevens weekend on 12th & 13th May 2012 and for the month of March Weekend Tickets are available from just £20. After that, weekend passes start from £30, single day tickets from £18 and kids tickets at £5 each day.  Visit www.rfu.com/tickets or call 0844 847 2492.  (Tickets are subject to availability and booking fees apply).

RIP Albert Ferrasse

Posted on Aug 1, 2011 in French Rugby

NOW Rugby is saddened to hear of the death of the former President of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) Albert Ferrasse who died on Thursday aged 93 at his home.

Paying tribute, RFU President Willie Wildash said: “Albert Ferasse made a huge difference not only to French rugby but the game as a whole both through his commitment to the development of the game and to player safety. His work with FIRA and the IRB was recognised by all.  He was a friend to many across the world, was a fantastic ambassador for rugby and will be hugely missed.”

As a talented second row, Albert Ferrasse played for the U.S. Agen and Marmande. He played in two French championship finals for Agen and also refereed one, in 1959. He was also a former President of FIRA and the Chairman of the IRB and had the honour of presenting the first Rugby World Cup in 1987. In 1990, still close to the players, he created the Foundation Albert Ferrasse designed to manage the aftermath of serious accidents associated with rugby. In 2001, he was the first to receive the French Vernon Pugh Award from the IRB, which pays tribute to his career and his commitment to the development of rugby.