Rob Kearney named ERC European Player of the Year

Posted on May 22, 2012 in Irish Rugby, Leinster

Rob Kearney (Leinster Rugby) has been named ERC European Player of the Year 2012.

The prestigious award crowns an outstanding season for the full-back who started every one of Leinster’s nine European games as the Irish club triumphed in the Heineken Cup for an unprecedented third time in four years. Kearney succeeds teammate, Sean O’Brien, as the winner of northern hemisphere rugby’s ultimate individual accolade.

The 26-year-old scored six tries during the campaign and pushed himself into contention for the honour with a series of high-quality displays in the tournament’s pool and knockout stages.

Kearney scored two tries in the quarter-final victory over the Cardiff Blues, then followed that up by creating a try for Cian Healy and landing a superb drop goal in the thrilling semi-final success against ASM Clermont Auvergne, before playing a key role in Leinster’s record-breaking 42-14 final win over Ulster Rugby at Twickenham Stadium last Saturday.

Kearney was presented with his award, a specially struck gold medal, by ERC Chief Executive, Derek McGrath, at a ceremony in ERC offices in Dublin today (Monday, 21 May 2012).

“Rob was both rock-solid in defence and inspirational in attack during what was another magnificent Heineken Cup campaign for our 2012 champions, Leinster,” said McGrath. “He scored six tries, ran powerfully, kicked superbly and the sheer all-round quality of his performances made him an excellent choice as ERC European Player of the Year 2012.”

“It really is an honour to have won this award,” said Kearney. “While I am delighted with the recognition, an individual player is powerless without the support of his teammates. So I owe this to the Leinster squad, to the management and to all the backroom staff at the club.”

The search for the best player from the 44 clubs in ERC’s two tournaments, the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup, was undertaken by a Judging Panel which comprised of:

Stuart Barnes (Sky Sports), Raphael Ibanez (2011/12 Heineken Cup Ambassador),  Stephen Jones (Rugby Correspondent, The Sunday Times), Emmanuel Massicard (Editor, Midi Olympique) and Gerry Thornley (Rugby Correspondent, The Irish Times).

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Exiles confirm Oxford as the venue for the final

Posted on May 15, 2012 in London Welsh

London Welsh RFC have announced that the Kassam Stadium, Oxford, will be the venue for the ‘Home’ leg of their Championship Final against Cornish Pirates on May 30th.

Pirates will host the first leg – venue to be confirmed – on May 23rd. Both games will be televised on Sky Sports and both will kick-off at 7.45pm.

London Welsh have taken this opportunity to showcase the Kassam Stadium because it is one of the grounds where the club could play next season if they are promoted to the Aviva Premiership.

It is the home of Oxford United F.C. but the stadium was always designed for rugby as well as football. It offers high quality playing and spectator facilities plus excellent floodlighting which was a factor in the club’s decision.

London Welsh will be making special travel arrangements for its loyal band of supporters – full details will be announced in due course

Edinburgh sign Mike Penn on a one-year contract

Posted on May 8, 2012 in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Rugby have signed Worcester Warriors starlet Mike Penn on a one-year contract.

Born in Wordsley, the flight-footed 22-year-old winger/full-back is a product of the Warriors’ academy and moves north to link up with the club’s defence coach, Billy McGinty, who joined last summer after six years at Sixways.

His arrival augments Edinburgh Rugby’s back-three resources, which include the increasingly prominent full-back Tom Brown, wingers Lee Jones and try-machine Tim Visser, the latter available for Scotland selection this summer.

Edinburgh Rugby head coach, Michael Bradley, said: “Mike [Penn] is a talented young player and is very excited about the opportunity to play for Edinburgh Rugby.

“He’s an ambitious young man and arrives knowing that he has to work hard and have a big year to secure a longer term.

“That kind of pressure can bring the best out of players, particularly when competition for places in our back-three is increasingly fierce.”

Penn arrived late to the sport for a professional player, picking up the oval ball aged 14 for Starbridge rugby club.

When he was16 he signed for the Premiership side’s Academy before earning selection for England under-18 and enjoying a successful spell at associated Championship side Birmingham & Solihull.

He then returned to the Warriors to impress for the A side, making four appearances for the senior squad before taking on a second championship loan spell at Nottingham.

Penn checked into the stadium for a fitness test last month and revealed the visit to the ground and the buzz at the club sealed the deal for the West Midlands flyer.

“My first thoughts when I arrived were centred around the training facilities and the quality of the coaching staff, particularly their ideas and ambitions to take the club forward,” he explained.

“Edinburgh Rugby have been one of Europe’s top sides this season so I’m really looking forward to getting in there, working hard as part of a quality squad and proving myself.

“I couldn’t ask for much more really. The type of rugby they play really suits me, that’s my type of game. I like to play the ball and avoid contact using my pace, I can’t wait to show it on the big pitch at Murrayfield.”

Penn joins eight other new faces making their way to Murrayfield next season, including South African prop WP Nel; All Black back and former Junior World Player of the Year, Ben Atiga; and Welsh caps John Yapp (prop) and Richie Rees (scrum-half), while 19 of the club’s top performing players have also extended contracts.

Michael Penn (22)

DOB: 7 August 1989 in Wordsley, Height: 1.75 m (5′ 9"), Weight 85 kg (13st 4lb)

Position: Full-back/wing

Honours: England U18

Chiefs sign Horstmann

Posted on May 4, 2012 in Exeter Chiefs, Premiership

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter says he is looking forward to working with new recruit Kai Horstmann after the back-row forward today completed his move from Aviva Premiership rivals Worcester Warriors.

The 30-year-old, who has agreed a two-year deal with the Chiefs, has become Baxter’s sixth new capture ahead of the 2012/13 campaign, linking up next term with fellow newcomers Dean Mumm, Ian Whitten, Will Chudley, Alex Brown and Jack Yeandle.

Horstmann arrives at Sandy Park having previously played for both Harlequins and Worcester, the latter of whom he has been with since 2005.

Welcoming the Harare-born forward to the Chiefs, Baxter said: “We are a team that is looking to improve and keep strengthening all the time and we feel Kai is a very experienced Premiership performer.

“He is a guy who I have had a very close look at and I like the way he plays. I think he will fit in very well for us; he’s mobile and athletic; reads the line-out well and the basics of his game stand up very well.”

Having closely monitored Horstmann, who has previously represented both England Saxons and England Sevens, Baxter admitted he was impressed by the player’s all-round capabilities, particularly in a number of his displays earlier this season.

“We’ve had a good look at him and we think he is a guy with a lot still to give,” said the coach. “He’s 30, but that is not that old for a back-row forward. His experience, especially going into the Heineken Cup, is also a big factor for us as is his ability to play in a similar way to the back-row forwards we like.

“As I said, he’s athletic and mobile; a good ball handler; a good distributor; he’s also a good line-out athlete, so those are all things we like in our players. For us we saw this as a good fit all around, especially as Kai was coming to an end of his contract at Worcester, plus we were looking to bring some more experience into what is already a very strong back-row unit.”

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Phil Davies appointed Cardiff Blues Director of Rugby

Posted on May 3, 2012 in Cardiff Blues, Welsh Rugby

Cardiff Blues have announced that Phil Davies has been appointed as Cardiff Blues Director of Rugby.

Davies played his club rugby for Llanelli and enjoyed a distinguished 46-cap career for Wales between 1985 and 1995.

The ex-Wales captain, born in Seven Sisters, spent a decade at Leeds Tykes between 1996 and 2006 taking the Yorkshire club from Division Three into top-flight Premiership rugby. He steered Leeds to their Heineken Cup debut in 2003 and to a Powergen Cup win in 2005. Davies also spent two years at the Scarlets, leading them to their first Heineken Cup semi-final in eight years.

The former Scarlets and Leeds boss Phil Davies joined Worcester Warriors as a forwards coach from his position at the WRU as Wales Under-20s coach and National Academy Manager in August 2010.

Commenting on the appointment, Cardiff Blues CEO Richard Holland said:

“Phil Davies is a hugely respected coach and we are delighted to have secured him as the new Cardiff Blues Director of Rugby.”

“He has shown during his time at the Leeds Tykes, when he took them from Division Three to the Premiership, that he can develop a young team and deliver success.”

“He is hugely knowledgeable about the game, extremely hard working and we look forward to having him with us for the forthcoming season.”

Speaking of his appointment, Phil Davies said:

“I’m really looking forward to starting the job. It’s a role I’ve been passionate about for a long, long time.”

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