Lamont undergoes surgery for leg injury

Posted on Feb 27, 2012 in Latest Rugby News

Scotland back Rory Lamont has undergone surgery in Edinburgh today after the leg injury which forced him to retire from yesterday’s RBS 6 Nations match against France at Murrayfield.

Scotland team doctor James Robson said: “Rory is under the care of the orthopaedic surgeons at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.  He was undergoing surgery this lunchtime to stabilise a fracture to his fibula. We will issue a further bulletin tomorrow following this surgery.”

Dr Robson added that Rory’s older brother, Sean, suffered an abrasion to his right eye; centre Graeme Morrison will require further assessment for a knee injury, stand-off Greig Laidlaw appears to have suffered a concussion and will now be subject to return to play protocols; while his half-back partner Mike Blair had a dead leg.

Among the forwards Dr Robson reported leg bruising for Jim Hamilton and dead legs for Glasgow Warriors pair Richie Gray and John Barclay.

Six other players from the match-day 22 will require treatment from the Scotland medical team for lesser soft tissue injuries.

Scotland’s home-based players will convene at Murrayfield on Wednesday to begin preparations for their next match in the RBS 6 Nations Championship – against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday 10 March.

Vernon to start for Scotland

Posted on Nov 24, 2010 in Rugby News

Jacobsen and Lamont reach landmark

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson has challenged his team to step up their performance in Saturday’s final EMC Autumn Test against Samoa at Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen.

Robinson has made one change in personnel from the team that started last week’s victory over world champions South Africa at Murrayfield.  Richie Vernon, the 23-year-old Glasgow Warrior, who enjoyed a considerable impact off the bench, will make his second start for Scotland at No 8, with Nathan Hines switching to his optimum berth of lock and Kelly Brown reverting to blindside flanker.

On the bench, scrum-half Mike Blair has recovered from the head knock he sustained against New Zealand and is preferred to Greig Laidlaw and Max Evans returns after his shoulder injury from the same game instead of Chris Paterson.

Robinson said today: “Our supporters were understandably delighted by our win against South Africa but that game is now history and we have to start afresh against quality international opposition in Samoa.

“They will bring their own very physical, hard-running dimension to Saturday’s game and we need to be absolutely focused on upping our performance this weekend.”

Robinson went on: “I thought Richie Vernon showed his mettle as an international rugby player when he came on for Scott MacLeod last Saturday and he has a chance to demonstrate those traits from the start on Saturday.

“I also want to congratulate Chunk (Allan Jacobsen) and Sean Lamont as this weekend will mark their 50th caps.  Both have had periods of injury adversity in their careers but they have shown the sort of determination we will need on Saturday to return from such experiences to be better players for it.”

Jacobsen becomes the 29th Scot, Lamont the 30th, to reach the milestone, while Dan Parks equalled John Rutherford’s drop-goal record for Scotland when he landed his 12th such score last Saturday.

Scotland’s players will be undertaking a number of visits to primary and secondary schools in and around Aberdeen tomorrow (Thursday) and there is much excitement in the Granite City ahead of Saturday.

Tickets for the big game are selling fast and a capacity attendance of 20,500 is being targeted. Tickets cost £15, £20 and £30 for adults and £7.50, £10 and £15 for under-18s and students.  You can buy in four ways: online at www.scottishrugby.org; via the 24 hour hotline number 0844 335 3933 until 12 midnight on Friday; or in person from 9am-5pm from the Scottish Rugby Ticket Centre, Gate A, Roseburn Street, Edinburgh.

Locals can also buy in person from the Aberdeen FC Ticket Centre at Pittodrie or by telephone on  01224 631903. Please note: there are no ticket sales on match day.

Scotland team (sponsor Murray) to play Samoa in the EMC Autumn Test at Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen on Saturday 27 November (kick-off 2.30pm)

15 Hugo Southwell (Stade Francais) 56 caps, 8 tries, 40 points

14 Nikki Walker (Ospreys) 17 caps, 4 tries, 20 points
13 Joe Ansbro (Northampton Saints) 1 cap
12 Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors) 27 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
11 Sean Lamont (Scarlets) 49 caps, 7 tries, 35 points

10 Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues) 55 caps, 4 tries, 10 conversions, 40 penalties, 12 drop goals, 196 points
9 Rory Lawson (Gloucester) 21 caps CAPTAIN

1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh) 49 caps
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh) 42 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
3 Euan Murray (Northampton Saints) 34 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
4 Nathan Hines (Leinster) 66 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
5 Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 5 caps
6 Kelly Brown (Saracens) 39 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
8 Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors) 5 caps
7 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors) 22 caps, 2 tries, 10 points

Substitutes

16 Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors) 32 caps
17 Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors) 9 caps
18 Jim Hamilton (Gloucester) 30 caps, 1 try, 5 points
19 Ross Rennie (Edinburgh) 3 caps
20 Mike Blair (Edinburgh) 65 caps, 5 tries, 25 points
21 Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors) 1 cap
22 Max Evans (Glasgow Warriors) 14 caps, 2 tries, 10 points

Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia RU).  Assistant referees: Marius Jonker and Cobus Wessels (both South Africa).  TMO: Tony Redmond (Ireland).

Robinson throws down challenge

Posted on Nov 9, 2010 in Rugby News

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson has today challenged his side to build on their four match unbeaten run and earn the respect of the world’s best side when they face New Zealand in the first EMC Autumn Test at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Robinson has made five changes from the Scotland team that started their last international – the historic 13-9 series-clinching success against Argentina in Mar del Plata in June.

Rory Lamont replaces the recently injured Simon Danielli on the wing, while the rejuvenated Mike Blair, Scotland’s most-capped scrum-half, will start instead of Rory Lawson and will captain his country for the 14th time.

In the pack Euan Murray is preferred to Moray Low at tight-head while the Glasgow pair, Richie Gray, 21, and Richie Vernon, 23, will both make their first starts for Scotland in place of their team-mates, Alastair Kellock and Johnnie Beattie both of whom are recovering from injuries.

Robinson said: “It is imperative that we front up from the first whistle against the All Blacks on Saturday and play the game at a tempo where we can unveil our skills and show our discipline, because the winning of this Test match is in our hands.

“We have shown our appetite to drive forward our game and our aim is to improve on our best performances last season, which we know inspired the country.

“As someone who loves his rugby it’s been a real thrill to watch many of New Zealand’s games this year and, for me, it’s important that this month the Scotland team earn the respect of the southern hemisphere by the qualities we bring to bear.”

More than 51,500 tickets have been sold for Saturday’s Test and Robinson is keen to see more surge through the Murrayfield turnstiles as tickets remain on sale until Friday night.

“The support we had during our Autumn Test against Australia last year was phenomenal – the crowd shared the players’ belief and conviction that day and roared us on and we have to do our bit to create that same fabulous atmosphere this weekend,” he said.

Tickets can be bought in three ways: via the Scottish Rugby website (www.scottishrugby.org); via the 24 hour phone line 0844 335 3933; or in person from the Scottish Rugby Ticket Centre, Gate A, Roseburn Street, Edinburgh. Please note there are no ticket sales on match day.  Website and phone line sales close at 12 midnight on Friday, while the Ticket Centre is open for personal purchasers from 9am-8pm, Monday to Friday this week. Tickets are priced at £20, £25 and £45 for adults and £10, £12.50 and £22.50 for under-18s.

Scotland team (sponsor Murray) to play New Zealand in the EMC Autumn Test on Saturday 13 November at Murrayfield (kick-off 5.15pm):

15 Hugo Southwell (Stade Francais), 54 caps, 8 tries, 40 points

14 Rory Lamont (Toulon) 23 caps, 6 tries, 30 points
13 Max Evans (Glasgow Warriors) 13 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
12 Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors) 25 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
11 Sean Lamont (Scarlets) 47 caps, 7 tries, 35 points
10 Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues) 53 caps, 4 tries,  10 conversions, 33 penalties, 11 drop-goals,  172 points
9 Mike Blair (Edinburgh) CAPTAIN 64 caps, 5 tries, 25 points

1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh) 47 caps
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh) 40 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
3 Euan Murray (Northampton Saints) 32 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
4 Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 3 caps
5 Jim Hamilton (Gloucester) 29 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6 Kelly Brown (Saracens) 37 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
8 Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors) 3 caps
7 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors) 20 caps, 2 tries, 10 points

Substitutes

16 Scott Lawson (Gloucester) 22 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
17 Alasdair Dickinson (Gloucester) 18 caps
18 Nathan Hines (Leinster) 64 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
19 Ross Rennie (Edinburgh) 1 cap
20 Rory Lawson (Gloucester) 20 caps
21 Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors) uncapped
22 Nikki Walker (Ospreys) 15 caps, 4 tries, 20 points

Referee: Dave Pearson (England).  Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes and Robin Goodliffe (both England).  TMO: Giulio de Santis (Italy).

EMC Computer Systems (UK) Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of EMC Corporation (NYSE: EMC), the world’s leading developer and provider of information infrastructure technology and solutions that enable organisations of all sizes to transform the way they compete and create value from their information. Information about EMC’s products and services can be found at www.EMC.com.

EMC is a registered trademark of EMC Corporation in the United States and other countries. All other marks and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.

EMC’s sponsorship deal also includes the 2011 August Tests against Ireland (Saturday 6 August) and Italy (Saturday 20 August) both at Murrayfield.

Scottish Rugby in the Black

Posted on Nov 1, 2010 in Scottish Rugby

Scottish Rugby announced today that it has secured a new three year sponsorship deal with Guinness.

The brand, part of Diageo Great Britain, joins Scottish Rugby as an official partner and official responsible drinking partner.

Scottish Rugby’s Chief Executive Gordon McKie said: “We are delighted to welcome Guinness to our family of blue-chip sponsors.  Guinness has a rich pedigree as a sponsor of rugby union and we believe it underlines the confidence of the business community in Scottish Rugby that we have been able to secure this partnership.

“We look forward to working with Guinness in the exciting period that lies ahead. A key element of our partnership will be to promote responsible drinking.”

Guinness, which already has sponsorship rights in Irish rugby, has also announced deals today with the RFU and Premiership in England and the WRU in Wales.  Their new sponsorship within all three countries will be augmented by a rugby campaign fronted by Scotland wing Sean Lamont, England flanker Lewis Moody and Wales’ full-back Lee Byrne. More information is on www.facebook.com/guinnessgb.

John Roscoe, Marketing Director, Guinness GB, said: “A pint of Guinness with your friends is the perfect accompaniment to a game of rugby and has been for a long time now. These new partnerships give us our largest ever presence in rugby and demonstrate our long term commitment to the sport.

"We’re all about enriching the occasions when fans watch rugby with their close friends so we are encouraging fans, whoever their team is and wherever they watch the rugby, to experience it together over a pint of the black stuff.”

Evans and Paterson in “Good Spirits”

Posted on Feb 16, 2010 in Rugby News

The injured Scotland players Thom Evans and Chris Paterson are continuing today to recover from the injuries they sustained in the RBS 6 Nations Championship match against Wales last weekend.

The pair remain in University Hospital Cardiff and both are described as being in “good spirits” by medical staff.

Scotland team doctor James Robson said: “Thom has been heartened by the many messages of support he has received from around the world.

“The surgeons are delighted with his progress. Thom and his mum met with the surgeons last night and Thom has opted to undergo a further procedure later this week, which will enhance the surgery that has already taken place and provide further stabilisation to his neck.

“This procedure is optional and Thom could have decided to have it done at a later point, or not at all. He’s decided to go ahead now and that should help with the whole recovery process.
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