England EPS update

Posted on Nov 24, 2010 in Rugby News

The following players are returning to their clubs in the Aviva Premiership and the Top 14 in France this evening from the Senior England EPS training camp.

(more…)

Quins team vs. Tigers

Posted on Nov 18, 2010 in English Rugby, Harlequins, Leicester, Premiership

A fortnight after Quins’ LV= Cup win over the Tigers, the London side are back at Welford Road and are hoping for similar fortunes, this time in Aviva Premiership Rugby.

Nick Evans returns to the side in place of Rory Clegg, and restores his 9-10 partnership with Karl Dickson. Jordan Turner-Hall and Ollie Smith, facing his former club, combine in the centre with Tom Williams and George Lowe on the wings. Mike Brown, after missing out on the Newcastle game, is back at full back.

Ceri Jones, Joe Gray and James Johnston make up the front row and Tomas Vallejos and George Robson combine once more in the second row.

Captain Chris Robshaw, Will Skinner and Tom Guest make up a strong back row.

Joe Marler and Rory Clegg miss out through injury; Marler picked up a knock in the LV= Cup game against Newcastle but will be back in contention next weekend. Clegg, who was stretchered off as a precaution against Newcastle, does not have any serious injury and should be available for selection in the next couple of weeks.

Gonzalo Camacho remains with Argentina.

Harlequins team to face Leicester Tigers at Welford Road, Friday 19^th November, kick off 7.45pm.

15 Mike Brown
14 George Lowe
13 Ollie Smith
12 Jordan Turner-Hall
11 Tom Williams
10 Nick Evans
9 Karl Dickson
1 Ceri Jones
2 Joe Gray
3 James Johnston
4 Tomas Vallejos
5 George Robson
6 Chris Robshaw ©
7 Will Skinner
8 Tom Guest
Replacements

16. Chris Brooker
17 Mark Lambert
18 John Andress
19 Ollie Kohn
20 Maurie Fa’asavalu
21 Dave Moore
22 Benjamin Urdapilleta
23 Ross Chisholm

It’s Easter time

Posted on Nov 17, 2010 in Rugby News

Nick Easter leads the England side for the first time in a full international against Samoa at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday (2.30pm).

The Harlequins No.8 takes over from Lewis Moody (Bath Rugby)  in a starting line-up showing four changes to the one that beat Australia 35-18.

Three are in the scrum and one in the back line as England prepare to face a Samoan side beaten 20-10 by Ireland last weekend.

Flanker Hendre Fourie (Leeds Carnegie) makes his first start with James Haskell (Stade Francais) also returning in the back row for Moody and Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers) respectively, while David Wilson (Bath Rugby) is in for Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers) at tight head.

Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby) replaces Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby) at outside centre to win his sixth cap after five previous appearances on the wing.

Cole and Croft are on the bench for the third Investec International of the season with David Attwood (Gloucester Rugby) back among the replacements in place of Simon Shaw (London Wasps).

England v Samoa, Investec International, Saturday, November 20 (2.30pm):

ENGLAND
15 Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
14 Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
13 Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby)
12 Shontayne Hape (Bath Rugby)
11 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks)
10 Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
1 Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks)
2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
3 David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
4 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
5 Tom Palmer (Stade Francais)
6 James Haskell (Stade Francais)
7 Hendre Fourie (Leeds Carnegie)
8 Nick Easter (Harlequins, Captain)

Replacements
16 Steve Thompson (Leeds Carnegie)
17 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
18 David Attwood (Gloucester Rugby)
19 Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
20 Danny Care (Harlequins)
21 Charlie Hodgson (Sale Sharks)
22 Delon Armitage (London Irish) 

Toner wins first Ireland cap against Samoa

Posted on Nov 10, 2010 in Rugby News

Devin Toner will win his first cap for Ireland in the second row this Saturday against Samoa as one of 11 changes, including a positional switch, to the starting team from the side that played against South Africa.

Toner will be partnered by the experienced Donncha O’Callaghan and they will be supporting a new front row of Tom Court, Sean Cronin and John Hayes who are all selected to start.  Denis Leamy and Sean O’Brien are called into the backrow with Jamie Heaslip retaining the No.8 position.

Luke Fitzgerald makes the switch from wing to full back, with Andrew Trimble coming into the vacant left wing position.  Paddy Wallace comes into the team at inside centre to partner Captain Brian O’Driscoll and Ronan O’Gara and Peter Stringer come into the side as the new half back combination.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney will finalise the Replacements later this week.

Ireland Team (to play Samoa, Guinness Series 2010, Aviva Stadium, November 13th, 14:30)

15 – Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
14 – Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 – Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) Captain
12 – Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)
11 – Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
10 – Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
9 – Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)
1 – Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
2 – Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht)
3 – John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
4 – Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5 – Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)*
6 – Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
7 – Sean O’Brien (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)
8 – Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:

To Be Confirmed

*Denotes Uncapped Player

Wood brought into England setup

Posted on Nov 9, 2010 in Rugby News

Tom Wood (Northampton Saints) has been brought into the England Senior EPS today as injury cover for Bath Rugby’s Lewis Moody (general soreness – head).

George Chuter (Leicester Tigers) remains with his club and will play for them against Australia tomorrow night.

The England test team to play Australia in the Investec Internationals on Saturday November 13 (kick off 2.30pm) will be named via the news wires at 12.00pm on Tuesday November 9.