Jonny May is Aviva Premiership Rugby Player of the Month

Posted on Mar 19, 2013 in Gloucester

Gloucester’s ‘Roadrunner’ has been named as the Aviva Premiership Rugby Player of the Month for February.

Jonny May came back with a bang – after a long injury – and into the Aviva Premiership spotlight winning the award after a stunning month.

“Jonny reminds me of Roadrunner -Beep beep,” said Aviva ambassador and World Cup winner Will Greenwood.

“He has genuine foot speed that I could only dream of and keeps working hard to develop other areas of his game.”

Greenwood believes May has also won the praises of the coach who took England to that famous World Cup win 10 years ago.

“Clive Woodward can’t stop raving about the lad which is a pretty good endorsement,” Greenwood added. “I always enjoy watching him play, he makes things happen.”

May won the Award after an impressive month, which saw him return from almost five months out with injury to score two tries and force a penalty try that saw Gloucester Rugby complete a stunning late win against Worcester Warriors.

May won the award from an impressive shortlist that contained Bath Rugby’s Peter Stringer, Exeter Chiefs outside-half Gareth Steenson, Saracens flanker Will Fraser and London Wasps’ flyer Christian Wade.

May was today presented with a trophy by Aviva’s Andrew Harrison and receives £250 to donate to a charity of his choice.

May was selected for the award by a media panel which included Sky Sports’ Stuart Barnes, the Daily Telegraph’s Mick Cleary, Five Live’s Alistair Eykyn, Ian Stafford from the Mail on Sunday, the BBC’s Jill Douglas and from Getty Images, Dave Rogers. The panel is chaired by Premiership Rugby’s Communications Director, Paul Morgan.

Billy Vunipola Wins Gatorade Game Changer Award For December

Posted on Jan 10, 2013 in London Wasps

Billy Vunipola has won the Gatorade Game Changer Award for December for his performance against Sale Sharks at Adams Park. The Game Changer rewards the player responsible for the most effective single performance each month, according to Opta’s Performance Statistics®.

Vunipola registered 11 carries, 11 tackles and beat five defenders in open play whilst covering 111 metres when Wasps took on the then bottom team.

Vunipola is the fourth player this season to receive the Gatorade Game Changer Award. Each of the Game Changer winners will be competing for the Game Changer of the Season Award in May. Last season’s Award was won by Exeter Chiefs’ Gonzalo Camacho.

On being presented the Award by Gatorade, an Official Performance Partner to Premiership Rugby, Vunipola said: “The season so far has been really good for us, everyone is in high spirits and looking forward to a strong 2013. It is always great to have performances recognised with awards such as the Game Changer.”

Internationals return to Leinster squad ahead of trip to Edinburgh

Posted on Jan 3, 2013 in Leinster

The Leinster squad trained in UCD on Monday afternoon ahead of Friday night’s trip to face Edinburgh in Murrayfield in the RaboDirect PRO12 (KO: 7.35pm) with a number of internationals expected to return to the fray.

Andrew Conway received a dead leg when competing for a ball in the air during Saturday night’s victory over Connacht. It is anticipated that he will be fit to train during the week and available for the trip to Edinburgh.

Richardt Strauss is expected to return to the fray over the coming weeks and Shane Jennings, who was a late withdrawal from Saturday’s line up due to illness, is expected to return.

Jennings could be joined by a number of other Ireland internationals – such as Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Sean O’Brien and Jonathan Sexton – who were unavailable last weekend. Kevin McLaughlin, meanwhile, was rested as a precaution after sustaining a shoulder knock against Ulster the previous weekend and is also expected to be in the mix.

There are no other fresh injury concerns for the province and the management are hopeful that Ireland trio Luke Fitzgerald, Rob Kearney and Brian O’Driscoll – who continue to make positive strides in their respective rehabilitation programmes – will come into the frame this week ahead of Thursday’s lunchtime team announcement.

Isa Nacewa is also set to return either this week or next after suffering deep tissue bruising to his arm in the recent Round 4 Heineken Cup clash against ASM Clermont Auvergne.

In a further boost, second row Mark Flanagan – who has been unavailable since undergoing a back operation in July – is set to be available for Clontarf in the AIL this weekend away to St. Mary’s College.

Speaking ahead of Friday night’s game, Leinster Coach JOE SCHMIDT said that he was pleased with his side’s efforts as they face into a big month for the province both in the PRO12 and Heineken Cup competitions.

"I was pleased with the effort from what was a relatively young and inexperienced group of players. We defended well playing into the strong breeze in the first half as Connacht put a lot of pressure on us. It was a great confidence boost to get seven points just before the interval and we put together some positive phases in the last quarter of the game to build a bit of a buffer on the scoreboard.

"Despite the cold wind, the crowd helped spur the players on as always and it was great to be back at the RDS with the really positive support we receive there.

"With other teams in the top half winning this weekend we didn’t lose any ground at least, so we’re still just outside the play off qualification spots. It means we’ve still got plenty of work to do but at least we’re close enough to be in the scramble for the semi-finals.

"We know from experience how difficult it is to win over in Edinburgh. A lot of our players have played under Michael (Bradley) at different levels for Connacht, the Wolfhounds or with the Ireland senior squad when he took interim charge a few years back – and all speak highly of him.

"Edinburgh will be keen to get back to winning ways after their narrow defeats to Glasgow over the Christmas period and they showed real character to come back and almost snatch the win last weekend after Glasgow got away to a flying start.

"Games between ourselves and Edinburgh are always tight affairs. We narrowly beat them earlier in the campaign in the RDS (22-16) and it was nip-and-tuck last season over in Murrayfield when we managed to come out on the right side of a contest that see-sawed right up until the finish (28-36).

"They have a big abrasive set of forwards and proven international performers throughout. With a player like Tim Visser in their ranks, who is racing clear at the top of the try-scoring charts again this year, we can’t afford any defensive lapses. Greig Laidlaw controls the game for them at either scrum-half or outside half and they have a number of very effective ball carriers led by the likes of Dave Denton and Netani Talei.

"With a short six-day turnaround, the focus in the early part of this week is about nursing knocks and reintegrating players back into the group as a number of players haven’t had much game time in recent weeks.

"It can be easy to allow your mind to drift because January is shaping up to be a big month for us in the context of the season across both competitions, but we’re very much focused on Edinburgh and what is sure to be another stiff test this weekend."

Launchbury voted Aviva Premiership Rugby Player of the Month

Posted on Dec 18, 2012 in London Wasps

Joe Launchbury has been voted the Aviva Premiership Rugby Player of the Month for November.

The London Wasps forward was chosen as the month’s stand out performer by a panel of distinguished rugby media – including writers, broadcasters and photographers. The award is given according to performances in all competitions played by Aviva Premiership Rugby players.

The Wasps Director of Rugby, Dai Young, was full of superlatives for the young lock “Congratulations to Joe on more recognition on what has been a fantastic few weeks for him.  This is very well deserved and I am sure it is one of many accolades that will come his way in the years ahead.”

“Joe has had an incredible few weeks when the world got to see the abilities, which those at Adams Park have been aware of for some time,” said Judging Panel chairman, Paul Morgan.

“He was one of the stand out players in the 2011-12 season and has picked up where he left off. The great thing you couldn’t meet a more down to earth young man. He’s set for a wonderful career.”

Joe spoke of the pride he felt for being named November’s Player of the Month: “There are so many fantastic players across the Aviva Premiership that I’m both surprised and chuffed to be given this award. November was a great month for me personally and I really enjoyed playing with two teams – both England and Wasps – playing some really good rugby. My focus now is on helping my Club in three very important league games against Sale, London Welsh and Bath.”

“Aviva have given me £500 to donate to the charity of my choice – and I would like to give this to the clubs charity, Mind. The charity works closely with people who suffer from mental health problems and gives advice and to support to thousands across the UK.”

Louisa Cheetham, Senior Sponsorship Manager at Premiership Rugby’s title sponsors Aviva added:“Joe’s meteoric rise into the England starting team once again highlights the incredible young talent being nurtured in the Aviva Premiership. He’s a very deserving winner and I suspect this won’t be the last time he receives the award.”

David Paice and George Robson join England squad as cover

Posted on Oct 29, 2012 in England

David Paice (London Irish) and George Robson (Harlequins) (pictured right) have been called into the England squad training at St George’s Park ahead of the QBE Internationals.

Paice and Robson are injury cover for Northampton Saints players Dylan Hartley (knee) and Courtney Lawes (knee), who have both come into the camp to be assessed by the England medical team.

Darwin born Paice first played for England Saxons in 2008 when he played against Ireland A and he made his senior debut in the 2008 summer tour of New Zealand.

Robson played for England at both Under 16 and Under 18 level and made his first appearance for Quins in the Zurich A League during 2005. He then made his First XV debut for Quins on 18 February 2006, when he came off the bench in the 52–12 win against Coventry at the Stoop.

Robson spent a month at the Natal Sharks Academy at Durban during the summer of 2005.