London Welsh team news

Posted on May 22, 2012 in London Welsh

London Welsh head to Mennaye Field for the 1st leg of the Championship final looking to reverse their recent run of poor form at the home of the Cornish Pirates.

The Exiles have lost on their last three visits to Mennaye Field and have not beaten the Pirates in their last three meetings.

When the sides met at Mennaye Field earlier in the season, the Pirates enjoyed a comfortable 27-6 victory – Rudi Brits, Dave Ward and Matt Evans scoring the home side’s tries.

That followed a 17-17 draw at Old Deer Park, in which Alex Davies came off the bench to land three late penalties to give the Exiles a share of the spoils.

The Exiles’ previous visit conjures no less favourable memories, coming in last season’s 18-10 Championship semi-final defeat. Welsh led 10-3 at half-time thanks to Matt Corker’s try, but second half scores from Gavin Cattle and Rhodri McAtee sent the Pirates into the final.

The regular 2010/11 season also produced a home win for the Pirates, 22-3. McAtee scoring the only try of the game.

Welsh have to go back to March 2010 for their last win at Mennaye Field, when 22 unanswered points saw the Exiles snatch a 28-24 victory. Nathan Bonner-Evans, Charlie Gower and Ben Thomas the London Welsh try scorers.

The Exiles’ last win over the Pirates came in November 2010 when the Exiles won 23-16 at Old Deer Park. Aled Thomas kicking 18 points and Dom Shabbo crossing for the home side’s only try.

(more…)

Exiles confirm Oxford as the venue for the final

Posted on May 15, 2012 in London Welsh

London Welsh RFC have announced that the Kassam Stadium, Oxford, will be the venue for the ‘Home’ leg of their Championship Final against Cornish Pirates on May 30th.

Pirates will host the first leg – venue to be confirmed – on May 23rd. Both games will be televised on Sky Sports and both will kick-off at 7.45pm.

London Welsh have taken this opportunity to showcase the Kassam Stadium because it is one of the grounds where the club could play next season if they are promoted to the Aviva Premiership.

It is the home of Oxford United F.C. but the stadium was always designed for rugby as well as football. It offers high quality playing and spectator facilities plus excellent floodlighting which was a factor in the club’s decision.

London Welsh will be making special travel arrangements for its loyal band of supporters – full details will be announced in due course

London Welsh claim Premiership eligibility “satisfied”.

Posted on May 11, 2012 in emb, London Welsh

By MARTYN WINTERS. The board of London Welsh have issued a statement claiming they would be “eligible for promotion”  to the Aviva Premiership if they win the championship.

Even though Welsh have never played in the Premiership, they have experienced a revival in their fortunes under the guidance of former Ospreys coach Lyn Jones and now look to return to the former glory days when the likes of JPR Williams played for them and they were one of the most feared sides in Europe.

Speculation that the Exiles are looking at a ground share with Quins at the Twickenham Stoop is gaining ground in the media, but both parties are remaining tight lipped. Harlequins are the only Premiership “London” club to actually play in the Greater London area, with London Irish, Saracens and Wasps sharing football grounds near the capital (respectively Reading, Watford and High Wycombe) and it seems more likely that Welsh would seek a similar arrangement outside the GLA.

Bleddyn Phillips (pictured), Chairman of the club, says the Exiles have co-operated fully with the consultants appointed by the RFU and Premiership Rugby and have given them every assistance to conduct an audit on the two grounds they are considering for use next season in the event of them winning the Championship.

(more…)

London Welsh and Bedford Blues team News

Posted on May 11, 2012 in Bedford, Championship, London Welsh

London Welsh welcome Bedford Blues to Old Deer Park for the 2nd leg of their Championship semi-final knowing that anything less than a ten-point defeat will be good enough to take the Exiles through to the final.

Hudson Tonga’uiha’s try and eight points from the boot of full back Alex Davies gave Welsh a 13-3 win at Goldington Road seven days ago, with James Pritchard replying for the Blues.

The Exiles’ win made it two wins a piece between the sides this season.

The sides’ previous meeting at Old Deer Park saw the home side run out 25-24 winners in December. The Blues, though, nearly snatched victory with the last kick of the game, only for Jamie Lennard’s drop goal to slip wide.

Bedford’s only visit to Old Deer Park in 2010/11 also produced another tight affair, with Gordon Ross’ 79th minute penalty giving the Exiles a 25-22 win.

The 2009/10 season also produced another home win for Welsh over the Blues, 28-17, thanks to tries from Errie Claassens (2) and Paul Sampson.

Bedford’s last win at Old Deer Park came in September 2008 when they came out on top 32-23.

London Welsh:

15. Alex Davies, 14. Nick Scott, 13. James Lewis, 12. Hudson Tonga’uiha*, 11. Joe Ajuwa, 10. Seb Jewell, 9. Jack Moates, 1. Billy Moss, 2. Dan George, 3. James Tideswell, 4. Adam Brown, 5. Matt Corker, 6. Jon Mills ©, 7. Mike Denbee, 8. Ed Jackson.

Replacements: 16. Vili Ma’asi*, 17. Shawn Pittman*, 18. Greg Bateman, 19. Gary Johnson, 20. Lee Beach, 21. Rob Lewis, 22. Simon Whatling.

* Denotes full international

Bedford Blues have named the starting XV which will take on London Welsh in Sunday’s all important second leg of the RFU Championship Semi-Final.

Having lost 3-13 at Goldington Road last Friday, the Blues know that they have it all to do as they visit Old Deer Park needing to overturn a ten point deficit to reach the final of the Championship play offs.

Bedford Blues Director of Rugby Mike Rayer is picking from an almost fully fit squad but does make six changes from the team which started last week. Jamie Lennard replaces Jake Sharp – who took a knock last Friday – at fly half while Neil Cochrane, Phil Boulton, Gregor Gillanders, Sacha Harding and Jon Fisher all start up front in place of Chris Locke, Ben Cooper, Alex Rae, Darren Fox and Don Barrell while Ian Vass comes on to the replacements bench.

Bedford:

15. James Pritchard (c), 14. Ollie Dodge, 13. Brendan Burke, 12. Henry Staff, 11. Josh Bassett, 10. Jamie Lennard, 9. Luke Baldwin, 1. Ricky Reeves, 2. Neil Cochrane, 3. Phil Boulton, 4. Paul Tupai, 5. Mike Howard, 6. Gregor Gillanders, 7. Sacha Harding, 8. Jon Fisher

Replacements: 16. Chris Locke, 17. Sam Walsh, 18. Alex Rae, 19. Don Barrell, 20. Darren Fox, 21. Darryl Veenendaal, 22. Ian Vass

Bedford Blues: Magnificent Seven Sign on Again

Posted on May 11, 2012 in Bedford, Championship

After two sets of fantastic five, Bedford Blues are delighted to announce that a magnificent seven players have signed new deals to remain at Goldington Road for another season.

As Bedford prepare for the second leg of the Championship Semi Final against London Welsh on Sunday, Paul Tupai, Sacha Harding, Phil Boulton, Ricky Reeves, Gregor Gillanders, Mike Howard and Jake Sharp have all inked new deals with the club.

Tupai has become a firm fans favourite since moving from Northampton Saints and despite being the most ‘senior’ player within the squad, Toops still has plenty of fuel left in the engine as he prepares for a fifth season with the Blues.

After celebrating his testimonial season last year, Harding embarks on a 12th campaign with the Blues looking to continue to cement his place as a true Bedford stalwart. Another back row star who will be keen to re-establish himself after a frustrating time with injury this season is Gregor Gillanders. A main stay of the pack in previous years, Gillanders will be chomping at the bit for regular rugby next term and the Blues will without doubt be the better for his availability.

The re-signings of Boulton and Reeves, who joined from Rotherham and Cambridge respectively, will be very pleasing to the Goldington Road faithful as both have proven to be exceptional players in the front row club. Likewise, Howard’s signature means that the former North Walsham man will continue to throw himself head first and whole-hearted into every ruck, maul, tackle and scrum for a further 12 months.

Former Saracens fly half Sharp completes the list and the youngster has been in superb form this season having firmly established himself within the squad. A bump to the head in the game against London Welsh means that the 20 year old misses out on the second leg but will be raring to go for the final should Bedford overcome the ten point deficit.