Dowson has been charged with acting contrary to Law 10(4)(J) in that he “lifted a player off the ground and dropped or drove that player in to the ground whilst that player’s feet were still off the ground such that his head/upper body came in to contact with the ground first," following a report by the citing officer Tony Lanaway.

He has been summoned to appear before an RFU Disciplinary Panel of His Honour Judge Jeff Blackett (chair), Jeremy Summers and Dr Julian Morris at the Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesday, December 6 at 4pm.

David Seymour, who returned from injury off the bench against Leeds Carnegie last week, makes his first start since October 31st. Rob Miller has recovered from the injury that caused his late withdrawal against London Wasps in March, and takes his place on the bench.

Sharks:

Nick Macleod; Ben Cohen, Chris Bell, Kyle Tonetti, Mark Cueto (capt); Charlie Hodgson, Dwayne Peel; Lee Imiolek, Neil Briggs, Henry Thomas, Chris Jones, Wame Lewaravu, James Gaskell, David Seymour, Sisaro Koyamaibole.

Replacements:

Marc Jones, Eifion Roberts, Jack Forster, Nic Rouse, Neil McMillan, Will Cliff, Rob Miller, Iain Thornley.

Sharks’ Executive Director of Sport Steve Diamond said, “Over a period of three years, I recruited many of the players who have done so well for Northampton Saints. They may have hit a lean patch earlier this year, but are sure to benefit from the return of their international players, as they showed in the big win against London Wasps last Sunday. I fully expect the Saints to have a strong end to the season, including a good run in the Heineken Cup.”

‘Northampton Saints takes any such allegations very seriously and is conducting its own investigation to ascertain all the facts of the alleged incident.

‘The club is working with Ben Foden and his representatives, the Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby and will continue to do so during the investigation process.

‘Both Northampton Saints and Ben Foden will also continue to co-operate with all the relevant authorities.’

Holden has made four changes from the starting line -up that beat Sale Sharks in the last round of the competition.

Rob Webber returns for his first start since-mid November to take his place at hooker. The returning vice-captain will add to the leadership on the field and will hope to regain the form he had prior to injury. Webber’s inclusion means that Joe Ward moves to the bench.

The back row remains unchanged from the game against Sale Sharks, with Andy Powell being rested with a view to the volume of games over the next few weeks.

Elsewhere there are also re-calls for prop Zak Taulafo and centre Steve Kefu while lock Simon Shaw returns from a successful international campaign with England in the Six Nations to take his place in the second row alongside captain Richard Birkett.

Looking ahead to the game Leon Holden said: “The game against Northampton this weekend marks the start of a crucial period for us in the Premiership starting with two away games against Northampton and London Irish before we welcome Leeds to Adams Park and head to Twickenham for our St George’s Day Game.

We must take every game on its own merits but a good run of results in this block of fixtures will define our season.”

London Wasps team to face Northampton Saints on Sunday 27th March, KO 1.45pm, live on SkySports1 and HD1:

15 Richard Haughton
14 Ben Jacobs
13 Steve Kefu
12 Riki Flutey
11 David Lemi
10 Dave Walder
9 Joe Simpson
1 Tim Payne
2 Rob Webber
3 Zak Taulafo
4 Simon Shaw
5 Richard Birkett (c)
6 John Hart
7 Joe Worsley
8 Dan Ward-Smith
16 Joe Ward
17 Ben Broster
18 Tom French
19 James Cannon
20 Serge Betsen
21 Nic Berry
22 Dom Waldouck
23 Mark van Gisbergen

Tevita Taumoepeau

Powerhouse prop Tevita Taumoepeau has committed his future to Worcester Warriors by signing a new one-year deal at Sixways Stadium.

Former Tongan international Taumoepeau, a cult hero with fans at Warriors, has become a rock in the Worcester scrum since joining the club in the summer of 2005 from French outfit Bourgoin.

The powerful front row made his debut in Worcester colours against former club Northampton Saints in the Powergen Cup in 2005 and has since gone on to make 121 appearance for Warriors, scoring one try in the league in 2006/07.

Taumoepeau has become a key figure in the Sixways dressing room and that was underlined when he was named Players’ Player of the Year in 2007/08.

“We have received some good news in the shape of Tevita Taumoepeau re-signing for the Warriors on a one-year deal,” said Ruddock.

“Dave, as he is affectionately known by fans and the players, is a hugely popular character who is respected throughout the Guinness Premiership as a formidable scrummager.

“Tevita is passionate about the Warriors and about staying at the club in order to see us improve our fortunes and grow as a team.

“He constantly strives to produce top class performances whenever he is selected and remains a key part of the squad and a huge favourite with our supporters.”

Taumoepeau, who has also previously played for Chiefs and the Blues, said: “I’m really happy at Warriors and have enjoyed my five years at the club.

“It’s great for me to sign a new contract and now I want to play as much as I can to help Worcester move up the league table.”

“Stadium capacity is the number one issue in our league, which is why clubs like Gloucester Rugby, Leicester Tigers, Harlequins and Worcester Warriors have expanded in recent seasons to take advantage of the growing popularity of the sport.

“The plans Keith Barwell and the board have announced are ambitious ones and should help cement Northampton Saints as a powerful presence in a town with a fine rugby heritage. The club has been playing on the Franklin’s Gardens site for over a century and they should be encouraged to maintain the traditions and history that are such a big part of the Saints. It is the kind of model that could well be adopted by other clubs as we see the interest in rugby continue to grow.”

The Junior All Black has been at the centre of the Falcons’ league wins over Bath, Worcester and London Irish, saying: “Our decision-making right throughout the whole team has been getting a lot better in recent weeks, knowing when to do the right thing, and I think that has been a major driver behind the results we’ve been achieving.

“The strategy we have is just to play what we see, so if the run is on we’re going to run it, and if we need to kick we’ll kick.

“It’s not a case of saying let’s kick everything or let’s chuck it about in our own half, it’s down to players to make those calls out on the field based on the situation in front of them at any given moment.

“Everyone wants you to run it from everywhere at times, but sometimes that’s just not the best option.”

Up against a star-studded Northampton team this Friday with a stated intent to spread the play around, Gopperth said: “They like to run the ball, so we should be in for a decent spectacle.

“With guys like Bruce Reihana and Shane Geraghty in their side they will look to play and have a go.

“We’re aware of those threats and have our own plans in place there, but for us it’s mainly just a case of concentrating on ourselves and continuing to improve all the time.

“The win at Bath was huge because it gave us the confidence that we could get results, and I think the last two league games against Worcester and London Irish have just seen us build on that belief.”

As the Guinness Premiership’s form kicker in striking over his last eight shots at goal, the former Hurricanes and Blues marksman said: “It’s good to knock a few over and be on a bit of a run with my kicking, but I missed some crucial ones earlier in the season which I’m still pretty disappointed about.

“I feel like I’m in a good routine now though, I’ve settled into the team, the area and I’m loving it in Newcastle.

“In terms of the footy things are going good after a few wins in the Guinness Premiership, and just life in general here is really enjoyable. The people are friendly, the surf is great and the countryside is beautiful – you couldn’t want much more really.”

Having seen his side hit form after three early draws in a frustrating start to the season, he adds: “I’m getting used to the players around me, and vice-versa for them with myself, so all in all we’re just feeling a lot more comfortable with things.

“My half-back partner Micky Young is an outstanding young player, he’s full of enthusiasm and the things he does out on the pitch really lift the team.

“It’s not just Micky though, there are guys right throughout the side putting their hands up and taking on a lot more responsibility.

“With so many new signings over the summer it was probably unrealistic to expect us to fly out of the blocks right away, but we’re getting things together gradually and I think the results are a reflection of that.”

Looking forward to a Friday night atmosphere as the Falcons look to repeat last season’s double over the Saints, Gopperth said: “I prefer playing in the night games, and I think a lot of the boys are the same.

“There just seems to be a better atmosphere in the evening, it’s something you can really get excited about and hopefully the crowd can get right behind us here for what we know will be a tough game against a very good side.”

Sunday’s 15-11 Guinness Premiership victory at hot favourites London Irish made it three league wins on the bounce for Steve Bates’ side, with the biggest home attendance of the season so far expected at Friday night’s visit of Northampton Saints.

Strong pre-sales indicate that the Falcons are well-placed to build on their top-half-of-the-league position and beat the attendance figure of 5,714, which witnessed a 17-17 draw with Harlequins at Kingston Park back in September.

The good news just keeps on coming for the club with all but the very last few remaining 700 corporate places already sold for Friday night’s encounter, as interest in North-East rugby continues to hot up.

On the same day that the club’s first team defeated second-placed London Irish 15-11 the Falcons Development XV ran in 42 points in beating the Scottish Exiles, with director of rugby Steve Bates saying: “It’s starting to come together for us.

“We had a tough start to the season on the back of so many new arrivals to the squad over the summer, but we always knew it was going to take time and that work is just starting to bear a little fruit these past few weeks.

“We’re not getting ahead of ourselves at all because we know that every game in the Guinness Premiership is extremely tough, but there is a definite buzz in all departments of the club right now.

“Speaking with our supporters at a talk-in last week, there is an enormous amount of goodwill within the region and beyond for the Falcons to be successful.

“We’re just starting to see an upward curve emerging now with ticket sales going well for the Northampton game, the corporate areas virtually sold out and the team being placed in the top half of the league, so we have great foundations on which to build.”

Falcons lock James Hudson echoed those sentiments on the back of Sunday’s victory at his former club, London Irish, stating: “We’re all in this together.

“The boys are really playing for each other, you can see that from the manner of our performances and it’s great that our supporters are coming out and backing the club.

“Those guys sat on a bus for nine hours to come down and cheer us on against London Irish, that really means the world to us and hopefully we can repay their support with our efforts out on the pitch.

“This week against Northampton is a really good chance to put in a great home performance for our fans with a big Friday night atmosphere, the excitement and belief is definitely with us at the moment and we just can’t wait to get back out there.”

Long, a 32-year-old hooker, has joined the club until the end of the 2009/10 season.

A graduate of the Bath Academy, Long played for Bath, Munster and Rotherham before joining Newcastle in 2004, for whom he made 123 first team appearances.

Long, who has two England caps, becomes the fourth England-qualified hooker at Franklin’s Gardens, along with Dylan Hartley, Brett Sharman and Joe Gray.

“Andy will give us experienced cover in a specialist position,” said Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder. “Brett Sharman and Joe Gray have played well while Dylan Hartley has been away with England, but they are both young and in the early stages of their careers.

“It is therefore a bonus to the squad to have someone like Andy around, who has played in the Guinness Premiership for a number of years as well as representative rugby.

“However he hasn’t come here just to make up the numbers. Andy wants a first team shirt and to play more Guinness Premiership rugby for Northampton Saints.”

London Wasps lock Simon Shaw, flanker Joe Worsley and Biarritz centre Ayoola Erinle come into the starting line-up and there is a positional switch at full back where Mark Cueto trades places with Ugo Monye.

Shaw takes over from Louis Deacon and wins his 53rd cap at the age of 36, former Wasps and Leicester centre Erinle makes his first start in place of Shane Geraghty (Northampton Saints) and experienced Wasps flanker Worsley replaces Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers) in the back row.

Deacon, Croft and Geraghty are all named on the bench with Mathew Tait (Sale Sharks) coming into the 22 for the first time this autumn.

England team

• 15 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks)
• 14 Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby)
• 13 Dan Hipkiss (Leicester Tigers)
• 12 Ayoola Erinle (Biarritz)
• 11 Ugo Monye (Harlequins)
• 10 Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon)
• 9 Paul Hodgson (London Irish)
• 1 Tim Payne (London Wasps)
• 2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
• 3 Duncan Bell (Bath Rugby)
• 4 Simon Shaw (London Wasps)
• 5 Steve Borthwick (Saracens, captain)
• 6 Joe Worsley (London Wasps)
• 7 Lewis Moody (Leicester Tigers)
• 8 James Haskell (Stade Francais)

Replacements

• 16 Steve Thompson (Brive)
• 17 David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
• 18 Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers)
• 19 Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
• 20 Danny Care (Harlequins)
• 21 Shane Geraghty (Northampton Saints)
• 22 Mathew Tait (Sale Sharks)

England Women name team to face NZ

England Women have named their starting line-up for Saturday’s Investec Challenge Double Header against world champions New Zealand, kick-off 445pm at Twickenham Stadium.

England Head Coach Gary Street has brought in Richmond centre Rachael Burford to the starting line-up with Lichfield’s Emily Scarratt moving to full back. Saracens’ Charlotte Barras also moves to the wing.

RBS 6 Nations champions England head into the match looking to avenge their 16-3 defeat to the Black Ferns last Saturday, and secure an all important win against the world champions just nine months before the Rugby World Cup kicks-off in London.

Street said: “We have made some changes to freshen up our midfield, and bring something new to the table for this final clash against New Zealand. We learned some important lessons last week, and we know we need to be more disciplined and more effective in everything we do this Saturday. If we do that then we know we have the potential to win this game.

“Playing at Twickenham stadium is a massive opportunity for us to show how good this side is, and how skilful women’s rugby is. Certainly being at home for this crucial match is going to give us that extra five percent on the pitch. We are relishing this opportunity.”

England are without six first choice players for the autumn series with Team Northumbria’s Rochelle Clark (hand) and Katy Storie (back), Lichfield’s Sarah Hunter (arm) and Sarah Beale (back), Worcester’s Karen Jones (knee) and Danielle Waterman (acl) all sidelined with injuries.

Entry to the stadium is free at 4:15pm.

England Team

• 15 Emily Scarratt Lichfield
• 14 Katherine Merchant Worcester
• 13 Claire Allan Richmond
• 12 Rachael Burford Richmond
• 11 Charlotte Barras Saracens
• 10 Katy Mclean (VC) Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
• 9 Amy Turner Richmond
• 1 Claire Purdy Wasps
• 2 Amy Garnett Saracens
• 3 Sophie Hemming Bristol
• 4 Rebecca Essex Richmond
• 5 Joanna McGilchrist Wasps
• 6 Heather Fisher Worcester
• 7 Margaret Alphonsi Saracens
• 8 Catherine Spencer (C) Bristol

Replacements:

• 16 Sam Reeve Worcester
• 17 Rosemarie Crowley Lichfield
• 18 Tamara Taylor Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
• 19 Jane Leonard Team Northumbria / Army
• 20 Georgina Rozario Bristol
• 21 Alice Richardson Richmond
• 22 Fiona Pocock Richmond