London Welsh team news

Posted on Dec 16, 2011 in British and Irish Cup, London Welsh

London Welsh head to Dublin and Donnybrook on Sunday needing a victory against Leinster A if they are to have any chance of reaching the quarter-finals of the British & Irish Cup.

The Exiles will also be keen to bounce back after slumping to their first defeat in seven outings last weekend away to Nottingham, before their huge local derby with Esher at Old Deer Park on Boxing Day.

Welsh currently sit second in Pool 4 a point behind leaders Llanelli, who travel to Bedford Blues on Saturday, and four points clear of third place Melrose, who visit London Scottish the same day.

By the time Welsh take to the field at Donnybrook, Jones’ men will know whether they can still top the pool, or will be aiming for one of the two best runners up spots up for grabs.

Head coach Lyn Jones makes six changes for the trip to Dublin, including one positional. Will Hurrell comes back into the side on the right wing, with Liam Gibson moving to the left and Joe Ajuwa dropping out.

The rest of the changes all come in the forwards. On loan Wasps hooker Nathan Morris starts, while Gary Johnson and Matt Corker form a new second row partnership. Ed Siggery starts in place of Lee Beach at blindside flanker. Ed Jackson captains the side.

There’s a place on the bench for Ben Russell for what will be his first appearance since the 38-0 friendly win over Oxford University on November 8, as well as new addition and Varsity winning scrum half Sam Egerton, who recently helped the Dark Blues to a 28-10 win over Cambridge at Twickenham.

London Welsh: 15. Edd Thrower, 14. Will Hurrell, 13. James Lewis, 12. Seb Jewell, 11. Liam Gibson, 10. Alex Davies, 9. Jack Moates, 1. Tom French, 2. Nathan Morris, 3. Billy Moss, 4. Gary Johnson, 5. Matt Corker, 6. Ed Siggery 7. Michael Hills, 8. Ed Jackson ©.

Replacements: 16. Dan George, 17. Guillermo Roan, 18. Adam Brown, 19. Ben Russell, 20. Martin Purdy, 21. Sam Egerton, 22. Ashley Smith

Wasps name squad for the JP Morgan 7s Final

Posted on Aug 2, 2011 in London Wasps, Premiership, Sevens

London Wasps have named their squad to play in the JP Morgan Asset Management Sevens Series Final on Friday August 5th.

Wasps join Harlequins, Bath, Saracens, Sale Sharks and Newcastle Falcons in the Final of the competition at the Stoop having qualified for the event in the Northampton leg of the series.

Wasps have named a youthful looking side with a number of the club’s rising stars set to feature. Senior squad players Alex Cheeseman and Jack Wallace will return having impressed in the regional leg, while academy stars Nathan Morris, Jonah Holmes and Joe Burton are set to feature alongside England U20 player Sam Jones who is making his first appearance since the Junior World Cup Final.

Also in the squad are a number of guest players including Esher players Richard Millard and Greg Sullivan and Joe Ajua whose pace caught the eye in the last round.

The format of the final will see the six teams split into two groups, with the winners of each group playing each other in a final.

There will be six games in the pool stages with each match consisting of two seven minute halves with a two minute break.

London Wasps will open proceedings with a game against the hosts, Harlequins, at 7pm before facing last year’s runners up, Newcastle, at 8.15pm before the knockout stages begin.

The evening is due to finish at 10.30pm with live music and family entertainment ensuring a great night out for everyone.

The event will be broadcast live and exclusively on ESPN. Coverage will include pre-game build up and post-match analysis for all the matches directly from pitch side.

London Wasps’ High Performance Manager, James Wade, said: “It is a great credit to the boys involved that we have reached the final. The JP Morgan Asset Management Sevens Series is a good chance for those players who might not normally get an opportunity to show what they can do on such a big stage."

“The event is great for fans who get to see the next generation of players in a high intensity, high paced environment.”

“The regional stages have all been really enjoyable events and I am sure that the Final will go one step further, with a number of talented guys showing what they can do.”

Team to play in the JP Morgan 7s Final at The Stoop

1 Joe Burton
2 Alex Cheesman
3 Richard Millard
4 Jonah Holmes
5 Mark Billings
6 Nathan Morris
7 Jack Wallace
8 SamJones
9 Greg Sullivan
10 Joseph Tariperiajua
11 Christopher Lewis
12 Tom Nicholls

England U18 name side to face France

Posted on Feb 18, 2010 in Rugby News

England Under 18 return to action on Sunday against the only side to have dented their impressive 14-match winning run. England, coached by John Fletcher and Peter Walton, haven’t been beaten in an international at this level since an 11-3 defeat against Australia in Brisbane in 2007.

But France – visitors to Newbury this weekend – edged past them in a training game last season and will threaten all over the field, according to former Newcastle Falcons boss Fletcher.

Fly half George Ford (Rishworth & Leicester Tigers) leads the side at Monks Lane and Fletcher makes seven changes to the team that beat Australian Schools 30-28 at Sale in December.

Injured Dulwich College and Harlequins lock Sam Twomey (knee) and Harrow and London Wasps flanker Billy Vunipola are replaced by George Merrick (Whitgift & Harlequins) and Will Skuse (Bryanston & Bath Rugby) respectively, while props Luke Cowan-Dickie (Truro Coll & Exeter Chiefs) and Anthony Brennan (Twyford CofE & London Wasps) make their first starts.

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