RFU Podcast: Rowntree, Joseph, Wilkinson, Balshaw, Dallaglio

Posted on May 18, 2012 in Latest Rugby News

Graham Rowntree analyses the unique challenges facing England on this summer’s tour to South Africa in this week’s RFU Podcast.

We also hear from a stellar cast including Jonny Wilkinson, Iain Balshaw and Lawrence Dallaglio as well as England youngster Jonathan Joseph.

England forwards coach Rowntree has first-hand experience in South Africa as forwards coach with the British & Irish Lions in 2009 and insists any side that wants to win there has to earn the right to play at the breakdown.

He also analyses the prospects for newcomers like Tom Youngs, Graham Kitchener and Joe Launchbury who are all part of Stuart Lancaster’s 42-strong touring squad.

Centre Joseph, coached by new England man Mike Catt at London Irish, tells us he’s ready to stake his claim on tour and in the Killick Cup game against the Barbarians on May 27 at Twickenham Stadium.

World Cup winners Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon) and Iain Balshaw (Biarritz) talk about being on opposite sides on Friday night at the Stoop in the final of the Amlin Challenge Cup.

The Dallaglio-Flintoff Cycle Slam is due to finish on Friday after an epic 2,872km trek from Greece to London raising money for Cancer Research UK and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Dallaglio reports on his progress and weighs up the prospects for Leinster and Ulster at Twickenham Stadium in this weekend’s Heineken Cup final.

England Saxons to face Scotland A – Waldouck replaces Joseph

Posted on Feb 2, 2012 in England Saxons, English Rugby

Dominic Waldouck has replaced Jonathan Joseph in the England Saxons side facing Scotland A at Galashiels on Friday (7.30pm).

Joseph, 20, had been due to make his first appearance at this level but the London Irish centre makes way because of a groin injury.

“He was experiencing a little soreness when he joined us and aggravated things when he slipped in training,” said Saxons coach Jon Callard.

“He might have played through it but it’s in everyone’s best interests to err on the side of caution given that he has just returned from a long lay-off.

"JJ has got a bright future but as he’s just come back from a different injury we wouldn’t want to compound his problems.”

London Wasps centre Waldouck, 24, toured New Zealand (2008) and Australia (2010) with the senior England side. He made his debut for the Saxons in 2009 against Portugal and this will be his seventh appearance for the side.

England Saxons: 15 Nick Abendanon (Bath Rugby); 14 Ugo Monye (Harlequins), 13 Dominic Waldouck (London Wasps), 12 Billy Twelvetrees (Leicester Tigers), 11 Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby); 10 Ryan Lamb (Northampton Saints), 9 Ben Spencer (Saracens); 1 Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby), 2 Chris Brooker (Harlequins), 3 Paul Doran-Jones (Northampton Saints), 4 Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers), 5 George Robson (Harlequins), 6 James Gaskell (Sale Sharks, captain), 7 Andy Saull (Saracens), 8 Tom Johnson (Exeter).

Replacements: 16 Joe Gray (Harlequins), 17 Rupert Harden (Gloucester Rugby), 18 Kearnan Myall (Sale Sharks), 19 David Seymour (Sale Sharks), 20 Paul Hodgson (London Irish), 21 Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby), 22 Miles Benjamin (Worcester Warriors).

Benjamin, Joseph, Seymour added to England Saxons squad

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

England Saxons have called Miles Benjamin (Worcester Warriors), Jonathan Joseph (London Irish) and David Seymour (Sale Sharks) into their squad to face Scotland A on Friday (Galashiels, 7pm).

The Saxons go into the game at Netherdale on the back of a 23-17 win over the O2 Ireland Wolfhounds at Exeter secured by tries from Leicester Tigers No.8 Thomas Waldrom and Saracens scrum half Ben Spencer, and 13 points from Gloucester Rugby fly half Freddie Burns.

Flanker Seymour, 27, and centre Joseph, 20, take over from Waldrom and Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby), who have been added to the senior squad training for the opening match of the RBS 6 Nations at Murrayfield.

Benjamin, 23, replaces Delon Armitage (London Irish) following the latter’s suspension from the Saxons Elite Player Squad. The Worcester wing scored five tries in two Churchill Cup appearances against the USA and Canada last summer.

Saxons coach Jon Callard said: “Dave Seymour’s been playing very well for Sale and captaining the side too while Miles played a big role last summer. I’m sure he was disappointed not to be part of the Saxons EPS and this is a great opportunity for him to show what he can do.

“Everyone’s delighted that JJ (Joseph) is playing again. It was always our intention to involve him at the right time, when he was fit and with his club’s blessing. He’s a really exciting talent.”

Callard added: “The energy and attitude of the group over the last week has been outstanding and now it’s important that we keep on working hard and improve our execution going into tough away game.”

The Saxons are training at the National Sports Centre at Bisham Abbey and travel to Scotland on Wednesday.

England Saxons

Backs

Nick Abendanon (Bath Rugby)
Miles Benjamin (Worcester)
Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby)
Paul Hodgson (London Irish)
Matt Hopper (Harlequins)
Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)
Ryan Lamb (Northampton saints)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Ugo Monye (Harlequins)
Billy Twelvetrees (Leicester Tigers)
Ben Spencer (Saracens)

Forwards

Chris Brooker (Harlequins)
Paul Doran-Jones (Northampton Saints)
Matt Garvey (London Irish)
James Gaskell (Sale Sharks)
Joe Gray (Harlequins)
Rupert Harden (Gloucester Rugby)
Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)
Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors)
Kearnan Myall (Sale Sharks)
George Robson (Harlequins)
Andy Saull (Saracens)
David Seymour (Sale Sharks)
Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers)
Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby)

Clark appointed GM of Highlands Super Rugby franchise

Posted on Oct 11, 2010 in Rugby News

Rugby Southland CEO Roger Clark has been appointed General Manager of the Highlanders’ Super Rugby franchise.

Clark has for the last four months been the Highlanders’ Project Manager on a secondment funded by the New Zealand Rugby Union, and has played an important role in both the on and off field re-structuring of the Highlanders’ franchise to date.

Clark’s employment is the first of a number of direct appointments intended to be made by the Highlanders before the start of the 2011 Investec Super Rugby season. In announcing the appointment, Highlanders’ Chairman Ross Laidlaw said:

"Roger was the standout applicant for this new position. He has 12 years’ experience as a rugby administrator and is highly respected as such both within the franchise region and beyond. One of Roger’s many tasks will be to build and lead an off field Highlanders’ management group – handling the franchise’s commercial, marketing, high performance and team management functions – which will work closely alongside Coach Jamie Joseph and his boys on the paddock."

Laidlaw also acknowledged the assistance and support of both the New Zealand Rugby Union and the Highlanders’ three regional provincial unions in relation the management re-structuring.

Meanwhile, Clark is looking forward to, but does not under estimate, the challenges of his new role:

"My principal task is to establish and maintain the Highlanders’ franchise as a commercially viable organisation. A continuation of significant operating deficits is not acceptable. There are many other important things to do. To build and maintain relationships with all our stakeholders; to assist Jamie Joseph in establishing a Highlander identity and culture, which will hopefully encourage the community to engage with the Highlanders; and to work with our provincial unions, particularly in the areas of player identification, development, recruitment and retention."

Rugby Southland Chairman Owen Shaw, acknowledged Clark’s contribution as CEO of the Stags:

"Roger has been instrumental in leading a resurgence of rugby in Southland as our CEO for the last 12 years. Whilst we are naturally disappointed to lose him, we are 100 per cent behind the new Highlanders’ leadership and wish Roger every success in his new role. We recognise how important it is for rugby in our region that the Highlanders is a successful franchise.”

Clark’s appointment takes effect immediately, but he will remain available to Rugby Southland to ensure a smooth transition to his successor.

Kennedy and Mapusua return for Gloucester clash

Posted on Sep 17, 2010 in English Rugby, Premiership

London Irish head coach Toby Booth has recalled the international duo of Nick Kennedy and Seilala Mapusua to the starting line up for this Sunday’s match against Gloucester Rugby Club at Madejski Stadium, kick off 3pm.

Kennedy returns to the second row where he will team up with Bob Casey while the in form Kieran Roche moves to the back row in place of Steffon Armitage.

In the backs, 2009 PRA Players’ Player of the Year Mapusua will form a centre partnership with Daniel Bowden and academy star Jonathon Joseph retains his place on the wing after scoring his first Premiership try for the Exiles last weekend.

Speaking about the match, Booth said: “We have had a good start to the season and belief in the squad is very high at the moment.

“Defensively we were excellent last week and after the bonus point win against Saracens at the London Double Header we are in a strong position for our first match in front of our home fans.

“We are all looking forward to be back playing at Madejski Stadium for what I am expecting to be an entertaining afternoon of rugby.”

London Irish: 15. Delon Armitage*; 14. Topsy Ojo*; 13. Seilala Mapusua *; 12. Daniel Bowden; 11. Jonathon Joseph; 10. Ryan Lamb; 9. Paul Hodgson*; 1. Clarke Dermody* (captain); 2. James Buckland; 3. Faan Rautenbach*; 4. Nick Kennedy*; 5. Bob Casey*; 6. Kieran Roche; 7. Declan Danaher ; 8. George Stowers*.

Replacements: 16. David Paice; 17. Max Lahiff; 18. Alex Corbisiero; 19. Matt Garvey; 20. Jonathon Fisher;  21. Sailosi Tagicakibau*; 22. Chris Malone; 23. Darren Allinson.

*Denotes international

Head Coach: Toby Booth
Attack Coach: Mike Catt
Defence Coach: Dave Ellis