Armitage gets 8 week ban

Posted on Jan 21, 2011 in Rugby News

Delon Armitage of London Irish was tonight suspended for eight weeks for conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Game contrary to Rule 5.12 of the Rules of the Rugby Football Union 2010-11.

Armitage was found guilty of pushing and using threatening and/or abusive and obscene language towards a Doping Control Officer from UK Anti-Doping during a routine test immediately after the Aviva Premiership game against Bath Rugby at the Madejski Stadium on January 1, 2011.

The Disciplinary Panel of RFU Disciplinary Officer Judge Jeff Blackett (chair), Peter Budge and Robert Horner suspended him until March 16. He can play again on March 17.

Armitage pleaded not guilty to pushing the official and guilty to using threatening and/or abusive and obscene language.

Judge Blackett said: "His behaviour was completely unacceptable. It brought discredit on himself and his club and failed to uphold one of the core values of the game – respect.

“Doping control officers should expect to carry out their important work without fear of abuse and be treated with respect at all times.

“We took into account that it was not a violent push but more of a brush past and that was accepted by the doping control officer.

“We took the offences as a whole and, in line with the sanctions for abuse of match officials, we decided that a low end entry point of 12 weeks was appropriate. This was reduced to 8 weeks on account of his remorse, his letter of apology to the doping control officer and his relatively good record.”

Armitage was ordered to pay £500 costs. 

Armitage disciplinary hearing

Posted on Jan 19, 2011 in Rugby News

Delon Armitage of London Irish has been summoned to appear at an RFU Disciplinary Hearing charged with conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Union and/or the Game contrary to Rule 5.12 of the Rules of the Rugby Football Union 2010-11.

Armitage is alleged to have pushed and used threatening and/or abusive and obscene language towards a Doping Control Officer from UK Anti-Doping during a routine test immediately after the Aviva Premiership game against Bath Rugby at the Madejski Stadium on January 1, 2011. The test was negative. 

The Disciplinary Panel will meet at the Offices of The Judge Advocate General at the Royal Courts of Justice on Thursday, January 20 (4pm) and comprise RFU Disciplinary Officer Judge Jeff Blackett (chair), Peter Budge and Robert Horner.

Lewis Moody – RFU reaction

Posted on Jan 18, 2011 in Rugby News

Martin Johnson, England Team Manager, commented, “It is always disappointing to lose a player and leader of Lewis’ calibre but as I have consistently said good teams adapt to injuries and that is what we intend to do. While this could still mean Lewis plays a role in the RBS 6 Nations it does mean that another player gets the chance to step up and make it hard for him to get the shirt back.”

An injury replacement will be named on Monday 24^th January, along with all other injury replacements, once the outcome of round 6 of the Heineken European Cup has been played. The England captain will be chosen and announced in the week leading up to the first game in line with the usual approach. Lewis will remain with his club for his rehabilitation which will happen in close consultation with the England medical team.

B&I Cup: Moseley v Neath, Saturday 22nd January

Posted on Jan 17, 2011 in Rugby News

Return of famous England/Wales clashes

For the second week running a famous name from the principality visits Moseley’s Billesley Common headquarters for a British & Irish Cup fixture. Hot on the heels of Swansea, Moseley welcomes Neath back to the Midlands some twenty years after the previous encounter between the two proud names in rugby.

Moseley lead Pool C

In recent years Bridgend, Ebbw Vale, Aberavon and Newport have all been welcomed to Billesley Common, but only the advent of the B&I Cup saw the revival of competitive fixtures. Moseley visited Llanelli and Aberavon in the cup last season and Swansea travelled up the M5 last weekend – but left with only a losing bonus point for their efforts. Moseley’s bonus point win (28-22) sees them leading pool C having played two and won two.

The Neath fixture is Moseley’s third B&I Cup pool game in a group where two qualifiers progress out of the six team league. After Neath’s victory at Ulster (25-20) last weekend, the encounter on Saturday is likely to have a decisive bearing on which team progresses to the knockout stages.

The famous All Black jerseys will arrive at Billesley on Saturday (22nd January 3pm kick off) sitting in second place in the 14 team Welsh Premiership and within touching distance of leaders Pontypridd.

Proud history

The clubs have played each other since the 19th century and after the advent of professionalism in the late 1990s, fixtures between Moseley and South Wales clubs had been largely confined to pre-season friendlies. Not that any match between Moseley and a South Wales club is ever anything other than competitive!

The fixtures between Moseley and Neath in the late 1970s and 80s were always eagerly awaited and indeed on the Welsh club’s last visit to the Birmingham a 26-9 victory was achieved but only after Moseley had “won” the second half 9-6.

Whilst Neath traditionally had one of the strongest sides in South Wales, the matches were rarely forgone conclusions. The last home victory for Moseley was in 1987 by the margin on 23-15. But the scorelines in these fixtures rarely told the full story – in this case a 19-3 margin at half time along with the slope in the second half led the home crowd to think a win would be a formality. However the Welshmen won this particular second half by 12-4. Not enough to deny Moseley a victory – but certainly a game to be remembered.

During the 70s and early 80s the matches almost invariably were won by the home team but in 1984 John Beale, the current Moseley President, on debut as captain, secured a famous win in Neath as he led his side to a 13-10 victory courtesy of a Graham Viney try in the final minutes.

Saturday’s game will be the continuation of a proud tradition and with a large travelling support promised, this should be an entertaining and competitive game. .

Special B&I Cup offers
Discounted entry in advance
Buy 5 or more tickets and get over 30% discount (advance sales only)
Adult entry on the day £15; In advance for 5 plus tickets only £10 each.

Kick off 3pm at Billesley Common, Birmingham

Team News: Esher V’s Bristol Rugby

Posted on Jan 14, 2011 in Rugby News

Bristol Rugby away to Esher on Friday 14th January at 7.45 pm.

Bristol Rugby travel to Esher today looking for their first win in this season’s British and Irish Cup competition.

Bristol Head Coach Paul Hull has stuck largely with the squad that performed well at Nottingham last Sunday and that were unlucky to leave Meadow Lane with only a losing bonus point.

In the back, Ed Barnes partners Junior Fatialofa in the centre with Jack Adams dropping to the bench and Robbie Shaw starts at scrum half.

In the forwards there is a new front row with Mark Irish and the veteran England international Darren Crompton the starting props and Ross Johnston at hooker.

Darren Barry starts in the second row with Mariano Sambucetti allowing Club Captain Roy Winters an evening on the bench.

The replacements bench shows a five/two forward/backs split.

Bristol Rugby team to play away to Esher on Friday 14th January at 7.45 pm.

Jack Tovey, Anthony Elliott, Ed Barnes, Junior Fatialofa, George Watkins, Adrian Jarvis, Robbie Shaw; Mark Irish, Ross Johnston, Darren Crompton, Darren Barry, Mariano Sambucetti, Iain Grieve (C), Jamie Miller, Dan Montagu.

Replacements :
David Blaney, Mako Vunipola, Wayne Thompson, Roy Winters, Jonathan Brandling-Harris, Sam Alford and Jack Adams.