Darren Campbell puts Saracens through their paces

Posted on Jul 12, 2011 in Saracens

Saracens aim to be quick out the blocks when the new Aviva Premiership season gets underway thanks to Olympic gold medallist Darren Campbell.

Campbell, part of the British 4x100m relay team that won gold in Athens in 2004, is to work with the English champions throughout the 2011/12 season to help develop the power and speed of the squad.

He said: “My job is just to try and sprinkle some magic dust and get that little bit more out of the players, especially those coming back from long-term injuries.

“Over the last few years I’ve gained more knowledge of rugby and know that speed and explosive power has become a lot more important. Any difference that I can make here would be absolutely fantastic.

“The coaches here are very knowledgeable and it’s a fantastic set-up and a fantastic club – I’ve been very impressed with what I’ve seen.”

The former European and Commonwealth Games champion took his first session with the squad at Old Albanians on Monday and he will return at regular intervals throughout the season.

Saracens High Performance Director Scott Murphy said: “For us to get to the next level in the Premiership and Europe, we feel we need to develop our power and speed and we want to tap into Darren’s knowledge and enthusiasm to drive us to that level. He joins us with a terrific track record and will be a valuable resource for the club.”

Young signs for Wasps

Posted on Jun 30, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

One of the worst kept secrets in rugby was confirmed today when London Wasps announced the appointment of Dai Young as the club’s Director of Rugby.

Young joins on a four-year deal from the Cardiff Blues where he has been at the helm since 2002, first as head coach and then as Director of Rugby. He takes the reigns at the beginning of July of a new-look London Wasps side which will welcome more than 10 new senior squad players next season.

Bringing with him a strong pedigree of top level club experience from the Welsh based Blues, whom he has guided to Heineken Cup quarter and semi-finals, Young also brings wealth of knowledge of the demands needed to become a top player. The ex-international prop, won 51 caps for his country as well as travelling on three British and Irish Lions tours.

Young also has experience coaching in international rugby as he has led the Barbarians as head coach for the past four years on their European touring schedule.

London Wasps Chief Executive Chris Thomas said: “We are delighted to welcome Dai to London Wasps and we believe he is exactly the right person to take the club forward. Dai brings a wealth of experience to the club and this is an appointment for the long-term. We remain an ambitious club and want to be competing at the highest level. Dai is the person to help us achieve these ambitions. Dai has done a sterling job in Cardiff, developing a host of young talent into international quality players as well as building an excellent team with strong spirit. We were hugely impressed with his vision for London Wasps which is in keeping with our key objective of developing sustained long-term success.”

With the club having added a number of new faces to the squad for next season including England hooker Steve Thompson, fly-half Nicky Robinson and former All Black Ross Filipo, Thomas added that Young would have a strong group of players to worth with.

“We have worked very hard in recent months to put together a squad for next season which will give us far more balance and Dai will lead a squad which combines some hugely exciting young talent as well as some hard-nosed top level experience. “

Dai Young said “This is an enormous opportunity for me. I have loved my time with Cardiff but I am looking forward to a new experience in a new environment. There is a hugely talented group of players here to work with and the challenge to help get a great club into a position where they are once again challenging for success was too good to turn down.

Gianluca Guidi names Italy A squad for Churchill debut

Posted on May 31, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Italy "A" Head Coach Gianluca Guidi today named his 28-man Churchill Cup squad.

The Azzurri will make their debut in the competition on Saturday June 4, facing Canada at Franklin’s Gardens. The team come off the back of a 24-0 win over the XV della Serenissima (Italian North East invitational club) yesterday night in San Donà, close to Venice.

Two Italy "A" tries came from seventeen-year-old winger Angelo Esposito, who made his debut at senior level and stunned the crowd with his quality performance deserving of his Churchill Cup selection. He is joined by Italy U18 team-mate Edoardo Padovani, who replaced Tito Tebaldi at scrumhalf yesterday in San Donà.

Rovigo winger Andrea Bacchetti, who has two caps following his appearances in the 2009 RBS 6 Nations, has also been added to the squad after his superb performance in the Italian Championship Final on Saturday, despite his team losing 18-14 to Petrarca Padova after leading 14-3 in the first half.

"Andrea played an amazing final and he deserved the call” Guidi said.

“But both me and De Carli are pleased by the way the youngests performed in yesterday’s game against the Venetop region selection. It is crucial for their growth to compete in a top level tournament like the Churchill Cup."

Italy "A" Churchill Cup squad

Forwards

Matias AGUERO (MPS Aironi, 17 caps)

Dario CHISTOLINI (Petrarca Padova)

Alberto DE MARCHI (MPS Aironi)

Fabio STAIBANO (MPS Aironi, 9 caps)

Tommaso D’APICE (Futura Park Rugby Roma)*

Andrea MANICI (HBS GranDucato Parma)*

Valerio BERNABO’ (Benetton Treviso, 19 caps) – capitano

Marco BORTOLAMI (MPS Aironi, 84 caps)

Joshua FURNO (MPS Aironi)*

Cornelius VAN ZYL (Benetton Treviso)

Nicola BELARDO (Estra I Cavalieri Prato)*

Mauro BERGAMASCO (Stade Francais, 84 caps)

Francesco MINTO (Benetton Treviso)

Manoa VOSAWAI (Benetton Treviso, 8 caps)

Backs

Edoardo PADOVANI (Marchiol Mogliano)**

Tito TEBALDI (MPS Aironi, 14 caps)

Riccardo BOCCHINO (MPS Aironi, 6 caps)*

DuRandt GERBER (HBS GranDucato Parma)

Andrea BACCHETTI (Femi-CZ Rovigo, 2 caps)

Angelo ESPOSITO (Ruggers Tarvisium)**

Denis MAJSTOROVIC (Estra I Cavalieri Prato)

Gilberto PAVAN (MPS Aironi, esordiente)

Andrea PRATICHETTI (Benetton Treviso)*

Matteo PRATICHETTI (MPS Aironi, 22 caps)

Michele SEPE (Benetton Treviso, 3 caps)

Giulio TONIOLATTI (MPS Aironi, 5 caps)

Ruggero TREVISAN (BancaMonteParma Crociati)*

Giovanbattista VENDITTI (MPS Aironi)*

*U20 Academy

**U18 Academy

One point separates RFU Championship finalists

Posted on May 10, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Worcester Warriors will travel to The Mennaye on Wednesday for the 1st leg of the RFU Championship final against Cornish Pirates in what is expected to be a tight contest, with only one point separating the two teams following an aggregate score of 54-53.

The away side won both the league games between Cornish Pirates and Worcester during the regular season and the Warriors will be desperate to keep the trend going when they head to Penzance tomorrow for the first leg of the RFU Championship final.
Promotion back to the Premiership at the first attempt is on the line for Richard Hill’s men who opted to play the first of the two-game series away from home.

Worcester came away from the South West with a 30-33 win on January 30 – three months after the Pirates had shocked last season’s relegated Premiership team with a 21-23 success at Sixways.
Worcester did win at home in the pool stages of the British & Irish Cup but the form book points to a closely fought final.
Worcester survived an almighty scare at the semi-final stage to make it through to the final, overcoming Bedford 23-22 after fighting back from 16-0 down.
Collectively the sides boast five members of the Rugby Times Championship Dream XV, among them the competition’s two leading points scorers, Pirates full-back Rob Cook and Worcester fly-half Andy Goode.

RFU Championship final

Cornish Pirates vs. Worcester Warriors, The Mennaye, May 11, 19.45
Worcester Warriors vs. Cornish Pirates, Sixways, May 18, 19.45

Both legs of the final are live on Sky Sports HD

Championship final – extra time

The first leg of the RFU Championship final will compromise of 40 minutes of play each way, with no extra time should the scores be level after 80 minutes.

The winner of the RFU Championship final will be the team with the highest aggregate score from both legs of the final.
If in the second leg, after 40 minutes of play each way the aggregate scores from both matches are level, there will be a five-minute break before extra time will be played consisting of two periods of 10 minutes each way, plus any stoppage time. There will be a one-minute half-time break.
If the scores are tied after extra time, then the team that has scored highest aggregate number of tries in both matches (including extra time) shall be deemed the winner.
However, if the teams have scored the same aggregate number of tries in both matches then the winner of the final will be determined by a place-kick competition, where each team must nominate three players, who were on the playing area at the final whistle of extra time, to take part.
Each will take two kicks in turn from six designated positions on the field, and if the teams are still level at the end of the six kick competition then a ‘sudden death’ format will be adopted.

Alan Lewis to retire

Posted on Apr 15, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

International referee Alan Lewis has announced his intention to retire from refereeing at the end of this season.

With 45 major international test matches to his credit, including a Rugby World Cup quarter final and games across the RBS 6 Nations Championship and the Tri Nations, Lewis is one of the longest serving IRFU International referees. He also holds the record for matches in European competition with an incredible 83 matches, 71 of which were Heineken Cup matches, including three semi finals and the Heineken Cup Final in 2007.

Talking about his decision Alan Lewis said, “Now just feels the right time to finish up. It’s a natural progression and one I have been discussing with my family and Owen Doyle in the IRFU over the past few months. I feel very privileged and honoured to have been involved at this level for so long. I have enjoyed every minute hugely.”

Commenting on the recent announcement of the Rugby World Cup referee selection he added, “Of course there’s a twinge of disappointment (at not being selected), I wouldn’t be human if there wasn’t. The main thing now is to wish all match officials great enjoyment and success in New Zealand.”

Owen Doyle, IRFU Director of Referees said, “What an extraordinary and successful career Alan has had and his record speaks for itself.  He has always brought so much to the game, both on and off the pitch. His dedication and his enthusiasm have been unsurpassed. I am really now looking forward to continuing to work with him, albeit in another capacity. His expertise and communication skills will help enormously in developing the next generation of elite referees.”

Caleb Powell, IRFU President commented on hearing the news and said, “Alan has made an immense contribution to our game, both domestically and on the world stage. His commitment and ability serve as a real example to all those aspiring to referee at the highest level.”