Delon Armitage suspended from England Saxons EPS

Posted on Jan 30, 2012 in England Saxons, English Rugby

Delon Armitage has been suspended from the England Saxons Elite Player Squad following his detention by Devon & Cornwall Police early on January 29.

The London Irish full back was released from the England Saxons camp following the international match against the O2 Ireland Wolfhounds on January 28.

He was later arrested in Torquay on suspicion of assault following an altercation in a nightclub, interviewed and then released on police bail while inquiries continue.

England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: “We take issues surrounding the behaviour of England players very seriously and as such have decided to suspend Delon from the Saxons EPS pending the result of the police inquiry. We will then consider if further action is appropriate under the EPS Code of Conduct.

“High standards of behaviour are required from England players on and off the field, and they also need to understand that they should not put themselves in a potentially vulnerable position or environment.”

London Irish said in a statement: “London Irish is extremely disappointed to hear about the incident involving Delon whilst on an England Saxons release period and takes these matters extremely seriously. We fully understand the RFU stance on this matter and will convene our own internal investigation to procure a full understanding of the matter in question, the outcome of which will determine any further action. Player conduct is a direct representation of the club and, therefore, inappropriate conduct will be strongly acted upon.”

RaboDirect PRO12 fixtures update

Posted on Dec 8, 2011 in RaboDirect Pro 12, RaboDirect Pro12

David Jordan, Tournament Director, RaboDirect PRO12 today announced further official TV and fixture details from Round 13 (w/end Jan 6/7) to Round 19 (w/end March 30/31). These details can now be confirmed after meetings between the RaboDirect PRO12 organisers, the 12 Clubs and the Broadcast partners.

Commenting on the newly confirmed arrangements David Jordan said : ‘We are delighted to announce these new diary dates and broadcast details so that the RaboDirect PRO 12 clubs and their many fans alike can plan out their Winter and Spring match attendances, their possible away trips and also their well covered TV viewing schedules.

‘We are all looking forward to the upcoming Christmas and New Year season local derbies across the four Unions but realise that the Clubs and their fans want to plan well in advance for the rugby year ahead. We will issue more 2012 details as soon as they are confirmed too.’ he concluded.

An amended 2011/12 Official Fixture list and TV Schedule is attached but the relevant arrangements are : 

Round 13

Aironi v Connacht – kick off confirmed as 16:35 on Saturday 7 January with  TG4 as secondary broadcaster

Cardiff Blues v Leinster – kick off confirmed as 18.15 on Saturday 7 January  – S4C/TG4 to show game.

Munster v Treviso – kick-off at  20.15 on Saturday 7 January – broadcaster now confirmed as RTE

Round 14

Glasgow Warriors v Scarlets – BBC ALBA confirmed as secondary broadcaster

Aironi v Munster – TG4 confirmed as secondary broadcaster.

Round 16

Aironi v Newport Gwent Dragons – kick off confirmed as 15.00 on Sun 26 February (local time) – RAI host broadcaster

Round 19

Glasgow Warriors v Cardiff Blues – kick-off confirmed as 19.30 on Friday 30 March,(this is a non-Televised game)

Ashton gets four week suspension for hair pulling

Posted on Dec 8, 2011 in English Rugby, Northampton, Premiership

Chris Ashton of Northampton Saints was this evening suspended for four weeks for an act contrary to good sportsmanship (Law 10(4)(m).

Ashton was found guilty of pulling Alesana Tuilagi by his hair and dragging him from the field of play during the Aviva Premiership match against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road on Saturday, December 3.

The Saints wing, who denied the offence, was suspended from December 7 to January 3 by an RFU Disciplinary Panel of His Honour Judge Jeff Blackett (chair), Jeremy Summers and Christopher Quinlan QC in the Offices of the Judge Advocate General in the Royal Courts of Justice, London. He can play again on January 4.

His Honour Judge Jeff Blackett, the RFU Disciplinary Officer said: “We accepted that this started by accident but it became clear that at some stage Chris Ashton knew what he was doing.

“If you pull somebody by the hair there is an element of denigration and this act was a catalyst for a mass brawl that resulted in two red cards and significantly affected the image of the game. Without any laid down guidance on sanction we have aligned the offence to that of spitting and reduced the entry level points to that off three, six and 10 weeks for low, mid-range and top end respectively. This was a mid-range offence but we have reduced the sanction by two weeks based on the player’s good record and conduct at the hearing.”

He was also ordered to pay £500 in costs.

Any appeal must be lodged within 48 hours of receipt of the judgement.

The red cards issued to Tom Wood of Northampton Saints and Alesana Tuilagi of Leicester Tigers for striking were deemed to be sufficient and both can continue to play.

Citing Commissioner Mike Rafter has also issued Level One citings – the equivalent of a yellow card – to Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers), Horacio Agulla (Leicester Tigers) and Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints) for their part in the same incident. The three players were not required to appear before the panel and can continue playing.

Falcons name JPM Premiership 7s side

Posted on Jul 26, 2011 in Newcastle Falcons, Premiership, Sevens

Newcastle Falcons have named their side ahead of Friday’s J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s, at Sale’s Edgeley Park.

A strong Falcons outfit, under the watchful eye of assistant academy coach Mark Laycock will make the trip across the Pennines, in the hope they can progress through to the finals at the Twickenham Stoop, on 5 August.

New signings Ryan Shortland, Will Chudley and Richard Mayhew will pull on the Falcons jersey for the first time, while local talent Aaron Myers gets the nod.

Wing ace Luke Fielden, who finished top of the Falcons try scoring charts with nine touchdowns last campaign is handed a place in the squad.

The northeasterners will lock horns with Aviva Premiership runners-up Leicester Tigers, newly promoted Worcester and hosts Sale Sharks in what should be an enthralling tournament.

“We are looking forward to going down to Sale to play in the 7s on Friday.

It will be a great opportunity for fans to see some of the new signings in action,” said Laycock

Twickenham Stoop will be the venue for the final on Friday 5 August.

Tickets for the event are available through Ticketmaster at http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/ or by calling 0844 847 2492.

1
Name: Redford Pennycook
Position: 7
Honours: England 18′s Middlesex 7′s Plate Winner 2010 (Falcons)
DOB: 27th November 1985
Nationality: British

2
Name: Will Welch
Position: 6/7
Honours: England 18/19/2005 Middlesex 7′s Plate Winner 2010 (Falcons) Falcons Academy Graduate
DOB: 3rd April 1990
Nationality: English

3
Name: Aaron Myers
Position: 7
Honours: England 7′s, U18′s Counties, Fira this summer – Clubs Westoe/West Hartlepool RFC, Falcons JP Morgan 2010
DOB: 30th May 1988
Nationality: English

4
Name: Joel Hodgson
Position: Fly Half
Honours: England 18′s/19′s, Falcons Academy Graduate
DOB: 1st August 1992
Nationality: British

5
Name: Luke Fielden
Position: Full Back/UING
Honours: None Middlesex 7′s Winner 2007 and Plate 2010 (Falcons), Former Bedford Blues (2009/2010)
DOB: 29th March 1985
Nationality: British

6
Name: Alex Tait
Position: Full Back
Honours: England 18/19/20′s, Newcastle Falcons 7′s, Middlesex Plate Winner 2010, Falcons Academy Graduate
DOB: 18th March 1988
Nationality: British

7
Name: Ryan Shortland
Position: Wing
Honours: Otago NPC, League Background – Melbourne Storm, New Zealand Warriors, NRL *New Signing*
DOB: 27th January 1986
Nationality: Maori/New Zealand

8
Name: Richard Mayhew
Position: 6/8
Honours: North Harbour/ New Zealand 16/17, Previous Club – Esher RFC, *New Signing*
DOB: 24th June 1985
Nationality: New Zealand/English

9
Name: Mark Wilson
Position: 6/8
Honours: Students England, Falcons Academy Graduate, Previous Cubs – Kendal, Blaydon
DOB: 6th October 1989
Nationality: English

10
Name: Will Chudley
Position: 9
Honours: England Students, Previous Clubs – Bedford Blues *New Signing*
DOB: 17th March 1988
Nationality: English

11
Name: Luke Eves
Position: Centre
Honours: England 16/18/20′s, Falcons, Middlesex 7′s Plate 2010
DOB: 11th April 1989
Nationality: British

12
Name: Chris Pilgrim
Position: 9
Honours: England Students and Counties, Falcons JP Morgan 2010, Middlesex 7′s Plate Winner 2010
DOB: 13th January 1986
Nationality: English

European Rugby season structure 2011 / 2012

Posted on Mar 31, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

SEASON 2011 / 2012 STRUCTURE

The 2011 / 2012 Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup tournaments will kick-off in November 2011, less than three weeks after the Rugby World Cup reaches its climax with the final in Auckland, New Zealand, on 23 October.

Due to the staging of the World Cup, the two European club rugby tournaments will start later than usual. Once the opening two rounds are completed in November, the tournaments will revert to their customary format with Rounds 3 and 4 scheduled for December, and Rounds 5 and 6 taking place in January, 2012.

ERC today (Thursday, 31 March) announced the season structure for the 2011 / 2012 competitions with the 17^thHeineken Cup final being staged at Twickenham on the weekend of 19 / 20 May 2012 and the 16^thAmlin Challenge Cup final being played over the same weekend.

2011 / 2012 HEINEKEN CUP AND AMLIN CHALLENGE CUP DATES

ROUND 1 – 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 November, 2011

ROUND 2 – 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 November, 2011

ROUND 3 – 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 December, 2011

ROUND 4 – 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 December, 2011

ROUND 5 – 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 January, 2012

ROUND 6 – 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 January, 2012

QUARTER-FINALS – 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 April, 2012

SEMI-FINALS – 27 / 28 / 29 April, 2012

FINALS – 18 / 19 / 20 May, 2012