Moffat takes his bow

Posted on Jan 31, 2011 in Rugby News

Edinburgh Rugby announced today that Rob Moffat is standing down as head coach following his appointment in July 2009. His current assistant and Scotland A head coach Nick Scrivener is taking over head coach duties until the end of this season.
Chief Executive of Scottish Rugby, Gordon McKie, thanked Rob for his significant efforts in developing Edinburgh Rugby both as assistant coach and head coach.

McKie said: "Clearly, we were all disappointed at the end of last season, when Edinburgh were unsuccessful in their bid to reach the Magners League play-offs, and results this season have not been as we would have hoped for.
"Rob is equally disappointed with these outcomes as he has always given the club his total and absolute commitment, and acted with great dignity and professionalism.
“Rob is rightly held in great affection by Edinburgh and Scottish rugby fans and it is with a degree of regret that we make today’s announcement.

“However, as we are now in the middle of the season, we need to look ahead. We will therefore advertise the role, to find a coach who will help us restore Edinburgh to more regular winning ways.
“On behalf of Edinburgh and Scottish Rugby, I have thanked Rob for his hard work and dedication, and have asked him to take a short break. Upon his return, we will discuss the potential to agree a different role for Rob elsewhere in Scottish Rugby”
Edinburgh Rugby’s Chief Executive, Craig Docherty added: ‘’It’s been a pleasure to work with Rob and I know that no one has been more frustrated than him at some of our results this season. He has great respect across the rugby community having been involved in a variety of roles at all levels of the game.

“Looking ahead, I believe that Nick will offer the required continuity, having been at the club for 18 months. I very much look forward to seeing the players respond, and to working with him to ensure the club progresses in the Magners League.”
Interim Head Coach Nick Scrivener stated: “I am very much looking forward to the challenge of taking the team forward and I will doing everything I can to bring success to Edinburgh Rugby in the second half of the season.”

No further details will be released at this time. Nick Scrivener will be made available for interview later this week.

Cambridge skipper joins Moseley

Posted on Jan 27, 2011 in Rugby News

Moseley has pleasure in confirming the signature of Cambridge University Captain Ben Maidment.

Ben a 22 year old, 6’4”, 17½ st ball carrying no 8 (or no 6), who was previously a student at Durham University, is currently studying Land Economy at St. Edmunds College Cambridge and won blues two years running.

He has recently been playing for London Wasps in the Aviva Premiership Rugby A League as well as in the 2010 Premiership 7s.

Ben will provide weight in the tight and the loose and is expected to raise further the competition for places among Moseley’s back row forwards.

Date of Birth: 28/05/1988
Position: No 8 (or 6)
Honours: England Students; Cambridge Blue; Wasps
Height 6′ 4 /1.93m; Weight 17st 6.7lb/111Kg

Cronin signs for Leinster

Posted on Jan 25, 2011 in Rugby News

Leinster Rugby have signed Ireland hooker Sean Cronin who will join the province in the summer on a two year deal.

Cronin, 24, was educated at Ardscoil Rís in Limerick and has previously played with Munster and Connacht, whom he joined in the summer of 2008.

A former Ireland Schools representative, Cronin featured in the AIB League for Shannon and he earned his first Ireland cap against Fiji in the RDS in November 2009, incidentally in the same match as Jonathan Sexton and Sean O’Brien.

He won his first start against New Zealand in the 2010 Summer Tests and also started against Australia. Cronin has also represented Ireland Schools, U-19, U-21, and ‘A’ (Ireland Wolfhounds) levels.

The Limerick man played three games in the recent Guinness series against Samoa, New Zealand and Argentina and has featured 7 times for Ireland to date.

Sean Cronin said: “I am delighted to put pen to paper on a deal to join Leinster this summer and I believe that with the exciting players in the squad, the future looks bright.

“I have been hugely impressed by Leinster’s displays both in the Magners League and in the Heineken Cup so far this season and the province’s ambitions mirror my own. Hopefully I can establish myself in the squad when I join up in a few months time.

“I am grateful for the opportunity that Connacht have given me over the last three years to play for a fantastic club. They will continue to grow from strength to strength under Eric Elwood and the existing management team and I will do my utmost to help improve our Magners League standing over the coming months.”

Commenting on Cronin’s signing, Leinster Coach Joe Schmidt said: “It’s great that Sean has confirmed that he will join us this summer. He is a dynamic and talented front rower who will add experience at hooker following the retirement of John Fogarty earlier this season.”

Connacht re-sign prop Hagan

Posted on Jan 14, 2011 in Rugby News

Connacht Rugby have announced that prop Jamie Hagan has penned a 2 year contract deal with the club. The 23 year old from Balbriggan joined Connacht in 2009 from the Leinster academy and has appeared in 27 Magners League games and 11 Amlin Challenge Cup games for Connacht since then.

Hagan is capped for Ireland Youths (against Italy) and scored a try against England U18 in 2005 and was part of the Ireland U20 team, coached by Eric Elwood and Dan McFarland, which won the Six Nations grand slam in 2007.

The 6’ 3” 120kg tight-head prop has been a cornerstone of the Connacht scrum for the past season and a half and his commitment to Connacht for the next 2 years will see him remain at The Sportsground until 2013.

“I’ve really enjoyed myself here at Connacht and I’m really looking forward to playing with the Province for the next 2 seasons” said Hagan,

“The set-up is very good here with all the facilities on-site and the coaches are very fair to work with, if you work hard you are rewarded”
Connacht CEO Gerry Kelly said that this sign of commitment from such an integral part of the squad was very encouraging, adding:

“Jamie has really fitted into the Connacht setup and to have him commit to the Province for the next 2 seasons sends out a strong message.”

Head Coach Eric Elwood was equally as pleased stating: “We had followed Jamie’s progress as a young player, and obviously with his involvement in the Ireland U20 side Grand Slam winning in 2007 proved his ability so we knew his pedigree. He has excelled here at Connacht and we are very pleased that he has shown his commitment by signing a 2 year deal. Jamie is a huge part of our squad and we look forward to working with him over the coming months.

Paul Sampson poised to make 100th League appearance for London Welsh

Posted on Jan 12, 2011 in Rugby News

Almost 15 years after he was plucked by Jack Rowell from the obscurity of Third Division Otley and Woodhouse Grove School and thrust into the Five Nations spotlight, Paul Sampson is now just one game away from making his 100th league appearance for London Welsh.

The Dragons face Bedford on Saturday in the British & Irish Cup before Sampson will get his chance to reach his century when Welsh travel to Rotherham next Wednesday (January 19) for their rearranged Championship fixture.

The 33-year-old former England wing marked his 99th league appearance for Welsh last Saturday by scoring tries 41 and 42 in the Dragons’ 48-12 win over Moseley at Old Deer Park.

“I’m very proud; to play 100 league games was something I decided I wanted to do once I got to 60 or 70,” said Sampson.

“I’d sooner make 100 league appearances for [just] one club, and a club like London Welsh, and there’s still a lot to play for so it’s a pleasure to be involved.”

After spells with Wasps, where he was the Premiership’s top try scorer in 2000/01, Bath, Worcester and rugby league side Wakefield Wildcats, Sampson joined Welsh in 2006 from Blackheath.

Injury restricted him to just eight appearances in his first season, but in the next two he was the club’s leading try scorer.

He was capped three times by England, with his debut coming on the infamous Tour from Hell in 1998 against South Africa.

Now in his fifth season at Old Deer Park, Sampson’s time at London Welsh has incorporated some colossal changes in the history of the club, none more so than the transition from a semi-professional to full-time club, which has seen the Dragons go from fighting off relegation in Sampson’s first season to vying for a place in the Premiership.

“The highs are to see the transition happen and it’s nice to be part of that, and if it’s up to me that will continue,” he said.

“I’ve had some incredible times and made some lifelong friends. That’s the highlight, the friends you make for life.

“One of the low points was definitely Redruth away in the cup when it was raining and snowing.

“I said to out kit man Pete Lowe at half-time that if I had to play three or four of them a year I’d actually retire.”

Last season Sampson helped Welsh reach the Championship semi-finals, only to lose out to Bristol, and nothing would give him greater pleasure than to help the Dragons make it to the Premiership – five years after he last graced that particular stage.

“I’ve personal goals and goals I would love to achieve with London Welsh, and getting London Welsh to the Premiership would definitely be one of the highlights of my career,” said Sampson.

“I look back at the majority of my career with very fond memories and I’m happy with what I’ve achieved, especially 100 league appearances for London Welsh.

“To get London Welsh to the Premiership would be an immense achievement and would really put the icing on the cake for me and my career.”

And as for the future, Sampson has no plans to hang up his boots any time soon, he added: “I’d like to be part of the club’s plans next year. I’m enjoying rugby too much to consider retirement just yet.”