Two more sign on at Goldington Road

Posted on May 23, 2012 in Bedford

Just a week after announcing the capture of Premiership duo Tom Armes and Ben Gulliver, Bedford Blues are delighted to announce two further signings for the next Championship campaign.

With two props leaving the club at the conclusion of the 2011/12 season, the Blues have moved quickly to capture Newcastle front row star Darren Fearn who has been with the Falcons since 2010.

Fearn, 23, was born and raised in Yorkshire and started his playing career with local side Scarborough before moving to Newcastle to study at Northumbria University. After playing for Blaydon in the 2008/9 season and picking up an England Student cap, Fearn was awarded a full time deal with the Falcons which coincided with his studies.

At six foot three inches tall and tipping the scales at the 20 stone mark, Fearn is certain to add plenty of beef to the Bedford front row next term.

Also signing for Bedford this week is impressive Esher fly half Mark Atkinson who has quite the rugby CV despite being just 22 years old.

Atkinson, who can also play at inside centre, started his career with Sale before turning out for Sedgley Park, Rosslyn Park and Wasps prior to joining Esher last season where he put in a scintillating first half performance against Bedford in September only to go off injured at the interval.

Having picked up caps for England Under 18s and Under 20s, Atkinson will provide plenty of competition for the much sought after Bedford Blues number ten jersey.

Commenting on the signing, Blues Director of Rugby Mike Rayer said: “It has been a busy couple of weeks for us at Goldington Road but we are delighted to be able to welcome Darren and Mark to the club.

“Darren is a good, young prop who has Premiership and European experience and will add plenty of momentum to the Blues scrum. Anyone who was at Moseley Road last season will know what Mark can do given the tiniest amount of space and I look forward to seeing him in action in a Blues shirt soon.”

London Welsh “not eligible for Premiership” shock

Posted on May 23, 2012 in London Welsh

In a shock decision, the RFU has ruled that London Welsh have not met the Minimum Standards Criteria for entry to the Premiership.

The Rugby Football Union’s Board of Directors has considered the findings of the independent audit report requested by London Welsh, which determines a club’s eligibility for promotion to the Aviva Premiership in line with the Minimum Standards Criteria (MSC).

The report, carried out by independent auditors, found that London Welsh has not met the MSC for the Aviva Premiership. The independent auditors identified various failures, including not having Primacy of Tenure at their nominated ground. This states that a club must demonstrate that they can host home fixtures at the time stipulated by Premiership Rugby and/or the host broadcaster.

The RFU Board ratified the findings and agreed, should London Welsh win the RFU Championship final following the second leg on May 30, they would not be eligible for promotion and Newcastle Falcons would remain in the Aviva Premiership.

Cornish Pirates did not choose to have an independent audit of the Mennaye Field and so do not fulfil the criteria for promotion should they win the final. As a result, there will be no promotion from the RFU Championship this season.

London Welsh have the right to appeal and would be required to do so within 14 days of this decision.

The Minimum Standards Criteria are set by the Professional Game Board (PGB) – a joint group from the RFU, Premiership Rugby, RFU Championship clubs and the Rugby Players’ Association. They are designed to ensure high standards across the Premiership are maintained both on and off the field.

Gulliver and Armes sign for Bedford Blues

Posted on May 17, 2012 in Bedford

Bedford Blues have signed two Premiership stars for the 2012/13 Championship season – and both will be familiar names to the Goldington Road faithful.

After one season with Worcester Warriors, Ben Gulliver, who previously played for the Cornish Pirates, Plymouth and Coventry as well as a loan spell with Leicester Tigers, is making the move from Sixways.

Gulliver, 30, who stands at six foot five inches tall and weighs in at almost 17 and a half stone will add some much needed fire power and experience to the Blues second row.

Adding a bit of weight in the back row department will be former Bedford Blues Academy player Tom Armes who returns to Goldington Road after a four year stint with Leister Tigers.

Armes, who can play anywhere across the back row, was signed to the Leicester Academy and played in the ‘A’ League with Tigers before making his debut as a replacement in the Premiership win over Northampton in October 2009 followed up a week later by coming off the bench in the historic win over the then world champions South Africa.

The 21-year-old spent time with Championship rivals Nottingham during the 2010/11 season to gain some valuable game time but returns to his roots with a permanent move to Goldington Road.

Blues Director of Rugby Mike Rayer said: “I am thrilled to be able to welcome Ben and Tom to Goldington Road and I think everyone will be excited to see them in action for the Blues next season.

“We all know just how important a player Ben was for the Pirates and how influential he was down in the West Country. I have no doubts that after a stint in the Premiership, he will be fired up and raring to get going for us next term.

“Tom is a fantastic talent who we all know really well and I’m sure he will slot in perfectly within our back row. Tom headed off to Leicester with our best wishes but we are now delighted to welcome him back and I’m certain it won’t take long to get back into the swing of things.”

Premiership coaches visit USA

Posted on May 11, 2012 in Premiership Rugby

PREMIERSHIP RUGBY COACHES VISIT THE U.S.A. TO PROMOTE & DEVELOP RUGBY

Premiership Rugby is travelling to the United States of America at the end of May to play a key role in the development and promotion of rugby in the country.

12 coaches, one from each of the Premiership Rugby clubs, will be travelling to New York along with four members of Premiership Rugby’s Community Team to help promote the game.  The visit follows Premiership Rugby’s successful trip to Brazil in March to help in the development of rugby in South America.

The core values of rugby will be used by coaches in their work with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in New York to help improve self-esteem, community cohesion and other social outcomes.

The visit will run from 28th May to 2nd June and involves the following Premiership Rugby coaches:  Caryl Thomas from Bath Rugby, Marc Dibble from Exeter Chiefs, David Barley from Gloucester Rugby, Thomas Williams from Harlequins, Christophe Ridley from Leicester Tigers, Michael Crump from London Irish, Ian Isham from London Wasps, Gavin Beasley from Newcastle Falcons, Benjamin Mann from Northampton Saints, Richard Spencer from Sale Sharks, Max Malkin from Saracens and Tamara Taylor from Worcester Warriors, alongside Wayne Morris, Sophie Hartley, Helen Clayton and Scott Watson from Premiership Rugby’s Community Department.  

On Thursday 31st May Premiership Rugby coaches will help launch the Great Campaign Sports Festival, a touch tournament in Central Park, and then will be attending an end-of-season awards event in Harlem with youngsters’ friends and family.

On Friday 1st June, the Public School Athletics League High School Rugby 7s Final will be taking place in New York.  During the week leading up to the Final and for the Final itself, two Premiership Rugby coaches and one Play Rugby USA coach will be assigned to mentor each school.

On Saturday 2nd June, Premiership Rugby will be running fan engagement fitness testing sessions in the fans village at the 2012 USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship in Philadelphia, where the Aviva Premiership Rugby trophy will also be on display.

(more…)

London Welsh claim Premiership eligibility “satisfied”.

Posted on May 11, 2012 in emb, London Welsh

By MARTYN WINTERS. The board of London Welsh have issued a statement claiming they would be “eligible for promotion”  to the Aviva Premiership if they win the championship.

Even though Welsh have never played in the Premiership, they have experienced a revival in their fortunes under the guidance of former Ospreys coach Lyn Jones and now look to return to the former glory days when the likes of JPR Williams played for them and they were one of the most feared sides in Europe.

Speculation that the Exiles are looking at a ground share with Quins at the Twickenham Stoop is gaining ground in the media, but both parties are remaining tight lipped. Harlequins are the only Premiership “London” club to actually play in the Greater London area, with London Irish, Saracens and Wasps sharing football grounds near the capital (respectively Reading, Watford and High Wycombe) and it seems more likely that Welsh would seek a similar arrangement outside the GLA.

Bleddyn Phillips (pictured), Chairman of the club, says the Exiles have co-operated fully with the consultants appointed by the RFU and Premiership Rugby and have given them every assistance to conduct an audit on the two grounds they are considering for use next season in the event of them winning the Championship.

(more…)