Bath Rugby extend Stringer’s stay

Posted on Mar 19, 2013 in Bath

Bath Rugby have extended the loan period of 98 times capped Irish scrum half Peter Stringer until the end of the season.

Stringer arrived from Munster as short-term cover for the injured Michael Claassens, and immediately brought his vast experience to bear. Having made an instant impact on the field with two tries against Exeter is his debut in the Blue, Black and White, he rapidly became a favourite with the Rec faithful.

Gary Gold, Bath Head Coach, said: “Strings has been superb since he arrived, both on the field and off it. He prepares himself exceptionally well, and knows the game as well as anybody. We are delighted to have retained a man of his experience; his influence will not only help the first team, but the aspiring professionals too.”

Stringer to join Bath Rugby on short-term deal

Posted on Jan 22, 2013 in Bath

Bath Rugby can confirm the signing of Irish scrum-half Peter Stringer as short-term injury cover.

Stringer is a hugely experienced scrum-half, being one of nine players to make over 200 appearances for Munster, and the most-capped scrum-half for Ireland with 98 caps. He has played in three Heineken Cup finals, including scoring in the win over Biarritz in 2006.

Commenting on the signing, Head Coach, Gary Gold, said: “Peter is a world class professional and has an incredible amount of experience he can bring to the squad. He is still keen to compete at the highest level, and we are short at scrum-half at the moment due to injury. I’m sure he’ll be a huge asset to our other nine’s with his invaluable experience and exceptional work ethic.”

TEAM NEWS: Plymouth Albion RFC

Posted on Jan 18, 2013 in British and Irish Cup, Plymouth Albion

PLYMOUTH Albion have received a major boost with the news that back-row forward Herbie Stupple is fit enough to return to action after more than four months on the side-lines.

Stupple has not played since breaking a bone in his shoulder in only Albion’s second match of the season.

But he is named among the Championship club’s replacements for tomorrow night’s final British & Cup Pool 7 match against Munster at Temple Hill, Cork (kick-off 7pm).

“It is really good to have him back,” ,” said Albion head coach Nat Saumi. “He is one of our key players and it is good for the boys to see him coming back.”

Although Albion cannot progress through to the quarter-finals of the cup after losing against Rotherham last week, Saumi insists his team will not be short of motivation in Ireland tomorrow.

“We are going to Ireland to bring some pride back to the club,” said Saumi. “Players have to play for the shirt and show passion.”

Cup holders Munster need at least a draw tomorrow night to be guaranteed topping the group. If they don’t win the door would be open for Rotherham to progress to the quarter-finals.

Albion team

15 Rhodri McAtee

14 Lewis Warner

13 Keni Fislau

12 Bevon Armitage

11 Tom Bowen

10 Ruairi Cushion

9 Paul Rowley

1 Jack Andrew

2 Luke Cowan-Dickie

3 Alex Brown

4 Harrison Tovey

5 Will Carrick-Smith

6 Rupeni Nasiga

7 Sam Hocking

8 Aaron Carpenter (capt)

Replacements

16 Paul Bailey

17 Toby Howley-Berridge

18 Ben Rogers

19 Lloyd Fairbrother

20 Jamie Salter

21 Herbie Stupple

22 Sam Matavesi

Halfpenny and Roberts back in action for Cardiff against Munster

Posted on Jan 4, 2013 in Cardiff Blues

Blues welcome back Jamie Roberts and Leigh Halfpenny to the match day squad to face Munster

Roberts returns and starts at centre having recovered from an elbow injury picked up in the loss to Australia, while Leigh Halfpenny has a place on the bench having also recovered from a neck/shoulder injury picked up in the same match.

Roberts forms a new centre partnership joining Richard Smith who is set to make his Blues starting debut. The strong running centre is a regular for Wales Sevens, having got his first taste of Sevens during the summer of 2011, where he played for Wales in three of the four legs of the FIRA series – in Bucharest, Barcelona and Moscow. He has previously played for Neath RFC in 2009/10 before spending a season in Australia playing for Brisbane Bulldogs.

Romanian prop Tamba on bench

There is also a new face on the bench with twenty-two-year-old Romanian prop forward Petru Tamba set to make his Blues debut. Tamba made his Romania debut against Japan in Bucharest last November and also faced the USA the same month.

Scrum half Alex Walker retains his place on the bench from the Dragons victory. The former Wales Under 18 and 19′s scrum half started his career with Newport Youth, Newport Gwent Dragons U20, and was part of the Dragons Junior Academy.

He gained his senior academy contract with the region at the start of the 2005-2006 season, making one replacement appearance for the region. Walker was an ever-present Dragons team member during the 2006-2007 season.

Like fellow debutant Richard Smith, Walker was named as one of Wales’s ‘core’ contracted players for the 2011/12 IRB World Sevens Series.

Speaking ahead of the match Blues Back Coach Gareth Baber said,

"We go back into European competition in a week or so and going to Musgrave Park is as good as going to another European destination.

"We want to put a performance in that builds on what we’ve done over the festive period and progresses us towards where we want to be going.

"The squad has shown what they are capable of and we want to make sure that they are on top of their game when we face Munster."

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O’Gara becomes Munster’s most capped player against Cardiff

Posted on Jan 3, 2013 in Munster

Ronan O’Gara will become Munster’s most capped player when he takes the field against Cardiff Blues in Musgrave Park on Saturday. He will be winning his 234th competitive cap.

Just four players – skipper Doug Howlett, centre James Downey scrum-half Conor Murray and Man of the Match against Ulster Tommy O’Donnell – retain their places in the Munster starting XV for the visit of Cardiff Blues to Cork (Musgrave Park 7.30)

Keith Earls returns from injury to partner James Downey in the centre while CJ Stander also returns from injury to be named on the bench

Munster: F Jones; D Howlett capt, K Earls, J Downey, J Murphy; R O’Gara, C Murray; D Kilcoyne, M Sherry, S Archer; D Foley, D Ryan; T O’Donnell, S Dougall, J Coughlan. Replacements: S Henry, W du Preez, BJ Botha, B Holland, CJ Stander, D Williams, I Keatley, C Laulala.