York and Thornensians punished for fight

Posted on Mar 23, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

A Rugby Football Union Disciplinary Hearing meeting at the Leeds Brighouse Holiday tonight (March, 22, 2011) ruled on the following cases:

1. York RI RFC, who were charged with conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Union and/or the Game, contrary to Rule 5.12, in that their members took part in a fight with members of Thornensians RFC during a match at York RI on September 18, 2010, were reprimanded and penalised 15 league points, suspended until May 31, 2012.

2. Robert Taylor of York RI RFC, who was charged with punching or striking an opponent contrary to Law 10 (4)(a) in the game against Thornensians RFC on September 18, 2010, was suspended for three weeks. He can play again on April 13, 2011.

3. (Name removed by request) of York RI RFC, who was charged with punching or striking an opponent contrary to Law 10 (4)(a) in the game against Thornensians RFC on September 18, 2010, was suspended for four weeks. He can play again on April 20, 2011.

4. Simon Horwell of York RI RFC, who was charged with punching or striking an opponent contrary to Law 10 (4)(a) in the game against Thornensians RFC on September 18, 2010, was suspended for four weeks. He can play again on April 20, 2011.

5. Tui Radravu of York RI RFC, who was charged with punching or striking an opponent contrary to Law 10 (4)(a) in the game against Thornensians RFC on September 18, 2010, was suspended for two weeks. He can play again on April 6, 2011.

6. Thornensians RFC, who were charged with conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Union and/or the Game, contrary to Rule 5.12, in that their members took part in a fight with members of York RI RFC during a match at York RI on September 18, 2010, were reprimanded and penalised 15 league points, suspended until May 31, 2012.

7. Scott Berry of Thornensians RFC, who was charged with punching or striking an opponent contrary to Law 10 (4)(a) in the game against York RI RFC on September 18, 2010, was suspended for three weeks. He can play again on April 13, 2011.

8. Robert Moffatt of Thornensians RFC, who was charged with punching or striking an opponent contrary to Law 10 (4)(a) in the game against York RI RFC on September 18, 2010, was suspended for three weeks. He can play again on April 13, 2011.

9. Adan Smith of Thornensians RFC, who was charged with punching or striking an opponent contrary to Law 10 (4)(a) in the game against York RI RFC on September 18, 2010, was suspended for two weeks. He can play again on April 6, 2011.

The Panel comprised Mike Hamlin (chairman), Antony Davies and  Austin New

Mix of old and new for Wales Sevens

Posted on Mar 21, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Wales Sevens head coach Paul John has named his squad for the forthcoming legs of the HSBC Sevens World Series in Hong Kong (March 25 – 27) and Adelaide (April 2 – 3).

There is a mix of experienced sevens players, including Richie Pugh, Jevon Groves, Rhys Jones and Lee  Rees, and some newcomers, with Tonmawr centre/ full back Warren Davies, son of former Wales flanker and Wales team physio Mark set to earn his first Wales Sevens cap along with Dragons scrum half Nicky Griffiths. Griffiths travelled to New Zealand for the Wellington tournament but was forced to return home injured.

Other inexperienced Sevens players in the side include Kristian Phillips who was in Wales’ Commonwealth Games squad but was injured at the start of the first game. Pontypridd’s Adam Thomas has two IRB tournaments under his belt, while Rhodri Gomer-Davies has four.

(more…)

Albion ready for first away match

Posted on Mar 18, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Plymouth Albion will be looking for some valuable away points when they travel to Esher on Saturday in their second Pool C play-off match.

Graham Dawe’s side opened their play-off campaign with a 37-17 home win over Moseley last week.

They will be hoping to build on that performance in Surrey against an Esher team who also got off to a winning start last week with a 30-22 victory at Birmingham & Solihull.

"We do want to try and pick up as many points as we can on the road," said chairman of rugby Dawe, who believes the pressure is on teams to win at home in the play-offs.

"But to do that we need to be exceptionally strong defensively and offensively we have to take our chances if we get in the opposition 22."

The last four meetings between Albion and Esher at Molesey Road have all been tight affairs.

The teams played out a 10-10 draw there in October, with Esher snatching two points in injury-time thanks to a penalty try after Albion had been reduced to 14 men.

In 2008-09, Esher won a thrilling and tense eight-try match 31-28, while Albion triumphed 25-16 in 2007-08 and 22-15 in 2001-02.

The last meeting between the clubs came in January when Albion scored the only try of the match to claim a 16-12 victory at Brickfields.

Albion, who have scored 12 tries in their last three matches, have named a squad of 23 for the trip to Surrey, with fit-again winger Fionn McLoughlin, who scored at Molesey Road in October, added to the party that was on duty last week against Moseley.

Fly-half/full-back Kieran Hallett and lock Dan Collier are still unavailable.

Albion (from): R Cushion, A Davies, K Fisilau, M Lee, T Kessell, S Johns, F McLoughlin, B Mercer, C Mitchell, S Tu’ipulotu, A Carpenter, R Copeland, G Evans, S Hocking, R Hopkins, T Hotson, G O’Meara, D Morton, G Porter, T Skelding, W Sprangle, S-M Stephen, R Watts-Jones.

Edinburgh commit to Murrayfield

Posted on Mar 16, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Edinburgh today confirmed their commitment to Murrayfield as the club’s long-term home, unveiling plans to play at the national stadium for at least the next five years together with a variety of proposals designed to improve the match-day atmosphere at the capital venue.

The announcement follows the completion of a detailed study of potential alternative homes in and around Edinburgh, which concluded that the range and level of integrated facility at Murrayfield makes it the most viable option going forward.

Edinburgh chief executive Craig Docherty today communicated the intention to remain in EH12 to the club’s season ticket holders, and gave notice of a series of initiatives aimed at improving fans’ match-day experience in season 2011/12.

The most eye-catching of these measures, which will be refined over the coming weeks with the input of supporters, is a proposal to switch seating provision to the east stand and introduce pitchside standing areas on the west stand track and at the north and south ends of the ground.

Whether they choose to sit in the east stand or position themselves pitchside, supporters would be significantly closer to the action than is the case with the current west stand seating arrangements.

Public bar and catering facilities would be located on the east stand concourse, with the Edinburgh Season Ticket Holder bar continuing to operate in the Murrayfield Wanderers Clubhouse. Season ticket holders will continue to benefit from complimentary access to the Saughtonhall Car Park on a first come, first served basis.

Docherty today emphasised Edinburgh’s desire to foster a “club atmosphere” on match-day, and hailed the proposed measures as “potentially very positive” for both the team and their supporters.

He said: “Making Murrayfield the best possible home for our players and our fans is right at the top of the club’s list of priorities. The ideas we’re discussing and asking supporters to contribute to are designed to make Murrayfield a more atmospheric, more inspirational place to play and watch Magners League and Heineken Cup rugby.

“We feel the proposals are genuinely innovative, and would greatly assist in the process of making the place feel like a traditional rugby club.

“The biggest challenge we face at Murrayfield is the size of the stadium, but if fans are sitting in the east stand or standing beside the pitch, we feel they’d be much more likely to feel part of the event.

“Relocating our public bar and catering facilities would also help make the east stand a real hub on match-day, while also reducing the amount of legwork supporters are asked to put in to enjoy their night.”

Docherty (pictured here with Ross Ford, who signed a new two-year contract last week) gave further detail on the decision to remain at Murrayfield for at least the next five years, explaining: “We’ve had a long, hard look at numerous other grounds in and around the city, in the knowledge that playing in the Magners League and Heineken Cup places a variety of minimum requirements on us in terms of the stadium facilities we offer.

“Such essentials as floodlights and undersoil heating are simply not present in many of the grounds that have been proposed and investigated in recent times and, with certain venues, Edinburgh would not have first call on the facilities nor be given access to them year-round. Other grounds present issues such as the playing surface being too small.

"Murrayfield is our home, and we intend to do everything we can to make the most of the possibilities it offers.”

All Blacks to play match before Investec Tri Nations

Posted on Mar 15, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Funds to be raised for Christchurch earthquake appeal…

The All Blacks will play an extra match this year ahead of the Investec Tri Nations, the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) advised today.

NZRU CEO Steve Tew said the tentative date for the match was Friday 22 July, eight days before the All Blacks play their first Investec Tri Nations match against South Africa in Wellington.

“We are yet to confirm the opposition and venue for the match but we are talking to a number of parties and we hope to have all details confirmed by the end of the month.”

The match would also be used to raise funds for rebuild activities in Christchurch with details on the fund-raising activity to be confirmed in due course.

All Blacks Coach Graham Henry said: “With six weeks between the end of the Investec Super Rugby playoffs and the first Test of the Investec Tri Nations, we were keen for another match to help the team prepare for the upcoming international season.  It’s great if we can also use the opportunity to raise funds for the people of Christchurch.”