Declan Kidney “not offered new contract”

Posted on Apr 2, 2013 in Ireland

The Irish Rugby Football Union today announced that it will not be offering a new contract to Declan Kidney after his current agreement ends, on June 30 next, with Declan’s role as Ireland senior men’s head coach ceasing today.

The decision was made following an in-depth review process carried out by the IRFU’s National Team Review Group (NTRG).

The IRFU have thanked Kidney for the unquestionable commitment, passion, professionalism and success he has delivered to Irish rugby to date.

The IRFU, through the NTRG, says it will continue the process of identifying suitable candidates for the Ireland coaching role.

The tour of North America, where Ireland will play the USA (Houston, June 8) and Canada (Toronto, June 15) will now be led by interim head coach Les Kiss who will be assisted by Gert Smal and Anthony Foley.

Philip Browne, IRFU CEO, said: "We would like to sincerely thank Declan for his commitment to Irish rugby. His contribution and involvement across the spectrum of Irish rugby delivered under-age, provincial, Grand Slam and Triple Crown success, and epitomises his passion, belief and commitment to the game.

"With a host of new and emerging talent at every level, and despite the clear challenges ahead, we are confident of securing another world class coach to work with this talented and ambitious group of players."

London Irish Sign Star Prop Forward from Leinster

Posted on Mar 25, 2013 in London Irish

London Irish have announced the signing of Jamie Hagan from Irish province, Leinster, on a three year deal.

The 25-year old tighthead prop forward joined Leinster from school before moving across to Galway where he spent two years with Connacht, making 50 appearances. He moved back to Leinster in the summer of 2011.

Jamie was drafted into the Leinster Academy as an 18-year-old in 2005 and was capped, provincially and nationally, through the age grades. In 2007, he was a member of the Ireland team that captured the Under-20 Grand Slam.

Leinster followed his progress at Connacht and in June 2011 signed him back to the Irish capital. He played 18 times during 2011/12 and scored his first try for Leinster in a 42-13 win over Ulster.

London Irish Director of Rugby, Brian Smith said: “Jamie Hagan is a future Irish Test player, he’s cut his teeth in the Rabo Direct Pro 12 and is more than ready to launch his Aviva Premiership career. He’s a tough, uncompromising prop coming into his prime and he’ll add more steel to our tight five. Jamie’s rugby talent and Irish heritage make him a perfect fit for the club. I’m genuinely delighted that he’s committed to London Irish for the next three seasons.”

The prop forward, who has made two appearances for the Irish Wolfhounds, said: "I’m looking forward to moving across to England and joining London Irish. They are a team with a rich heritage and proud Irish traditions which will really suit me. I would like to thank Leinster for all they have done for me and wish them well for the future. I look forward to joining London Irish next season and getting stuck in to Premiership rugby."

Irish confirm Joseph departure

Posted on Mar 21, 2013 in London Irish

London Irish have confirmed that centre, Jonathan Joseph, will join Bath Rugby next season.

The England International is currently sidelined after missing the Exiles last four games with injury. He will join Bath, the club he scored against during Irish’ 29-22 victory at Madejski Stadium last September, in the summer.

London Irish would like to thank JJ for his efforts during his time at the Club and wish him well for the future.

Irish have bolstered their squad in recent weeks with the signings of Blair Cowan and Andrew Fenby with more players to be announced in the coming days.

Families flock to St Patrick’s Party

With only three days to go until London Irish take on Worcester Warriors in the Club’s Legendary St Patrick’s Party fixture, the family zone in the South Stand has now sold out.

The St Patrick’s Party is a date that all rugby supporters look forward to in the Aviva Premiership diary, with entertainment for all the family both inside and outside the stadium.

To allow more families to join us on Saturday, London Irish has extended the family zone into the North Stand which means kids (U15s) can now go free in certain areas of the stand with a full paying adult. The Club is delighted so many families have already organised tickets and we are hoping many more can come along too.

The car park will host the St Patrick’s Party village which will begin from 11.00am as DJ Minty takes to the stage to take supporters through a day of fun filled entertainment. Performances from The Bible Code Sunday’s, The Reels and The Paul Bowen Band will deliver the party atmosphere with Guinness trucks to accompany.

The entertainment doesn’t stop inside the stadium, at 2:30pm the Irish dancers from the O’Gara School of Irish Dance will put on a colourful display on the pitch before a sing-a-long with Ronan from the Bible Code Sunday’s when he takes to the pitch just before kick-off.

Irish trail Worcester in the Aviva Premiership table and will be looking for a win in front of a large home crowd to bridge the gap.

Bath Rugby extend Stringer’s stay

Posted on Mar 19, 2013 in Bath

Bath Rugby have extended the loan period of 98 times capped Irish scrum half Peter Stringer until the end of the season.

Stringer arrived from Munster as short-term cover for the injured Michael Claassens, and immediately brought his vast experience to bear. Having made an instant impact on the field with two tries against Exeter is his debut in the Blue, Black and White, he rapidly became a favourite with the Rec faithful.

Gary Gold, Bath Head Coach, said: “Strings has been superb since he arrived, both on the field and off it. He prepares himself exceptionally well, and knows the game as well as anybody. We are delighted to have retained a man of his experience; his influence will not only help the first team, but the aspiring professionals too.”

Lewis Moody’s Guide to the LV= Cup Fourth Round

Posted on Jan 29, 2013 in LV=

Rugby World Cup winner Lewis Moody is convinced that there will be a couple of surprising names in the hat for the LV= Cup semi-finals after this weekend’s final round of Pool matches.

The two sides struggling in Aviva Premiership Rugby, namely Sale Sharks and London Irish, currently sit top of their respective Pools ahead of traditional powerhouses Leicester Tigers and Saracens.

And with the Exiles travel to a Cardiff Blues side on Friday that are all but out of contention Moody has called on Brian Smith’s side to ride their recent good form into the Welsh capital.

“It’s strange how it works sometimes,” said Moody, who won the LV= Cup with Leicester back in 2007.

“I can guarantee you that Irish would prefer to be winning games in Aviva Premiership Rugby and clear of relegation, as would Sale, but a cup like the LV= can get a side going and create momentum.

“And I can see Irish going to Cardiff and getting the job done and making it into the hat for the semi-finals.

“The Blues are a young side and will be missing a lot of players on international duty and Irish are on a good run of results with Marland Yarde in red-hot form so I’m backing them to win by six points.”

Saracens’ much vaunted squad depth has them right on Irish’s heels waiting for them to slip up atop Pool 3 and despite predicting Sarries to get the better of Worcester Warriors this weekend, Moody thinks it might not be enough to see them progress.

“Sarries really are an incredible force these days with an amazing squad and while Sixways is a very tough place to go to normally, Worcester have not got much to play for while Saracens will be going for the bonus point win to put pressure on Irish,” he said.

“I’m predicting them to win by quite a few points, maybe as many as 15, but Irish will beat the Blues handily as I said and that will be the end of Sarries’ chances.”

Meanwhile in Pool 3 fellow Aviva Premiership strugglers Sale face a trip to Adams Park to take on Wasps knowing that a win might be enough to put them into the final four.

But Moody knows from personal experience what a tough proposition Wasps are at home and is predicting Wasps to spoil the party for Steve Diamond’s men.

“Sale will struggle at Wasps if I’m honest,” he added. “They are a tough side with talent all over the park and despite missing a few players on international duty will still pose a real threat.

“I think they’ll be too strong for an undoubtedly dogged Sale side and that might leave a space for my old boys Leicester.”

Sale’s rivals for the top spot in Pool 2 are Moody’s former club and defending LV= Cup champions Leicester.

Last year, despite using almost exclusively their younger players in the competition, they made serene progress all the way to the title. And Moody does not see why they cannot do it again this time around, including their trip to Scarlets this weekend.

“Leicester, like Irish, are facing a trip to Wales,” said Moody.

“The Scarlets will not pose much of a problem in my eyes and I can see the Tigers coming away with a comfortable win, by 13 points because they’re so good in these situations.”

In Pool 1 Quins’ challenge on three fronts this season looks set to continue, currently four points clear at the top of their group, a draw in Wales against the Ospreys this weekend would be enough to guarantee their progress.

But Moody sees a lot of the dominant Tigers sides of the 2000s in Conor O’Shea’s men and is predicting them to seal their semi spot in style at the Liberty Stadium.

“Ospreys have been a little inconsistent this season, they pushed my old club Leicester close in the Heineken Cup but the LV= Cup has not gone as well for them,” he said.

“Quins meanwhile are really starting to remind me of the Tigers team of old, no matter who comes into the side everyone understands their roles and they are so consistent.

“I cut my teeth in the LV= Cup as a youngster and it’s the same for some of these Quins youngsters who continue to impress despite almost the whole team being changed.

“The Liberty Stadium is sometimes a tough place to go but I’m still picking Quins by ten points.”

That predicted Quins victory will sound the death knell for Exeter Chiefs’ hopes of progressing with Gloucester Rugby and the Dragons already out of contention in the group.

But Moody is still convinced that the Chiefs will have enough about them to spoil Northampton Saints’ own hopes of progressing when the two sides meet at Sandy Park on Saturday.

“Not many teams have been able to go to Exeter in the past two years and get a win and I can’t see that being any different this time around,” he added.

“Sides like to do well in the LV as a route to Europe and Saints could still make the semi-finals with a win but to be honest they have disappointed me a bit this year.

“Squad depth is something they have struggled with for a while and the LV= Cup means some players have to have a rest.

“With that in mind I think the Chiefs, who themselves can go through with a win, will have too much for the Saints down south and will win by five points.”

If the Saints do indeed slip up at Exeter that will leave the door open in Pool 2 for another of Moody’s former clubs, Bath Rugby.

And the former England flanker is confident his old boys will be able to take full advantage in their West Country derby with Gloucester.

“Gloucester may be out of the competition but every game between these two sides is huge and this will be a grudge match,” he said.

“But despite that Bath will have enough about them to edge through and make the semi-finals, this competition means more to them while Gloucester have top-four ambitions in the league to focus on, I can see Bath edging a tight one by three points or less.”

That leaves the only dead-rubber of the weekend pitting London Welsh against the Dragons, a clash that Moody thinks will finally give the Welsh regions some bragging rights.

“The Welsh regions have been a bit disappointing this season, I don’t know if it’s a hangover from Wales form on the international stage in the last 12 months,” he added.

“But this weekend I think the Dragons, fresh from a good win last weekend, will have too much for London Welsh and will win by 15 points.”

Lewis’ predictions:

Pool 1 vs Pool 4

Ospreys v Harlequins – Quins by 10 points

Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints – Chiefs by 5

Gloucester Rugby v Bath Rugby – Bath by 3

London Welsh v Dragons – Dragons by 15

Pool 2 vs Pool 3

Cardiff Blues v London Irish – Irish by 6

London Wasps v Sale Sharks – Wasps by 17

Scarlets v Leicester Tigers – Tigers by 13

Worcester Warriors v Saracens – Sarries by 15

Lewis Moody’s Semi-finalists: Harlequins, Leicester Tigers, London Irish, Bath Rugby