Wales U20 look to step up after shock record defeat

Posted on Jun 17, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Wales Under 20 head coach Richard Webster has highlighted his side’s desire to go out and show what they can do when they face Italy in Treviso tomorrow (5.10pm UK time, live on S4C).

Webster says the squad has pulled together following the shock record defeat to New Zealand on Tuesday, and is determined to perform well on Saturday and in their remaining Junior World Championship games.

Webster said: “We were clearly blown apart by a New Zealand team that capitalised on our every mistake on Tuesday. We weren’t able to get into our game plan due to total lack of possession and territory. However, we have to try and forget about the New Zealand loss for now, because with a four day turnaround between each match, there is no time to dwell on it.

“We showed we are not a bad team with our opening win over Argentina, and we are determined to show that again tomorrow, and in our two play-off games next week.

“Wales finished seventh in this competition last season, and sixth the year before, with three good performances and results, we can better that finish, which is what we are focussed on doing now.

“We beat Italy comfortably in the Six Nations with 14 men, but as hosts who have not yet won a game in this tournament, they will be determined to put in a good performance against us in front of a big home crowd.

“It is down to us to stick to our game plan and come away with the spoils.”

There are 10 changes and one positional from the side that started on Tuesday. Ross Jones (full back), Rheon James (centre) and Lewis Smout (loose head) make their first starts of the tournament, Matthew Morgan and Jonathan Evans return at half back and Macauley Cook returns as captain, with fellow lock Lloyd Peers ruled out with an elbow injury. Also returning to the starting line-up are wing Eli Walker, prop Will Taylor and back rows Luke Hamilton and Ben Thomas. Liam Williams switches back to right wing from full back.

Webster added: “This is a long tournament and we have to manage the squad accordingly. I have every confidence in every one of the 26-man squad to go out and prove what they are capable of.”

Wales team v Italy (Saturday 18 June, 5.10pm UK time, Stadio Monigo, Treviso): Ross Jones (Ospreys / Bridgend); Liam Williams (Llanelli), Owen Williams (Blues / Cardiff), Rheon James (Scarlets / Carmarthen Quins), Eli Walker (Ospreys / Swansea); Matthew Morgan (Ospreys / Swansea), Jonathan Evans (Dragons / Newport); Lewis Smout (Blues / Pontypridd), Kirby Myhill (Scarlets / Llanelli), Will Taylor (Ospreys / Swansea), Macauley Cook (capt, Blues / Cardiff), Cory Hill (Blues / Pontypridd), Luke Hamilton (Blues / Glamorgan Wanderers), Thomas Young (Blues / Cardiff), Ben Thomas (Ospreys / Bridgend).

Replacements: Jamie Sollis (Dragons / Cross Keys), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets / Llanelli), Owen Sheppeard (Blues / Pontypridd), Edward Siggery (London Irish), Lewis Jones (Blues / Pontypridd), Steve Shingler (London Irish), Iolo Evans (Scarlets / Llanelli)

Saints on course for record season ticket sales

Posted on Jun 10, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Northampton Saints today announced that season ticket sales are on target for record levels ahead of the 2011/12 campaign.

The Saints’ on-field successes are continuing year on year, with the 2009 European Challenge Cup and 2010 LV= Cup titles followed by a place in the 2011 Heineken Cup final and back-to-back Aviva Premiership Rugby semi-finals for the first time in six years.

And with three months to go until the start of the 2011/12 Aviva Premiership Rugby and Heineken Cup campaigns over seven thousand supporters have committed their support to the team by ordering a season ticket, representing nearly £2.5 million of revenue.

Chief executive Allan Robson today thanked supporters for their continued commitment and said that packing Franklin’s Gardens will be vital as the team looks to continue its upward curve during the coming campaign.

“We now have a team to be proud of, one that has brought the club silverware and taken us to massive occasions,” he said. “With the added demands of World Cup commitments it is more important than ever that supporters fill Franklin’s Gardens with black, green and gold to get behind the players.

“Every game is just as important as far as the Premiership is concerned, and with the league more competitive than ever the noise and atmosphere created at a full stadium counts for a lot.”

Season tickets remain on sale, with prices starting at £178 for juniors, £189 for concessions and £301 for adults.

When broken down across the season, these prices represent a saving of up to one third of the standard match ticket price. A season ticket is also the only way to guarantee a place at all the big matches against the likes of Leicester, Saracens, Gloucester and Bath in Aviva Premiership Rugby, and the Heineken Cup group matches against Munster, the Scarlets and Castres.

And there are a limited number of seats still available in the Platinum, Gold and Silver price brackets!

Season tickets can be ordered online via www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/tickets

England restore pride and South Africa claim title at record breaking Emirates Airline London Sevens

Posted on May 23, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

England restored some pride by winning their final two games on the second day of a record-breaking Emirates Airline London Sevens.

The two-day attendance of 100,094 at Twickenham Stadium represented the biggest weekend crowd for an HSBC Sevens World Series tournament, surpassing the 100,000 return at the Dubai Sevens in 2008.

An agonising 19-17 second day defeat against Kenya had sent England tumbling out of the Bowl competition but they picked up some silverware at least, beating Canada 22-14 and finishing with a 22-7 victory over Portugal in the Shield final.

The new Emirates Airline London Sevens champions are South Africa, 24-14 winners over Fiji. New Zealand exited at the semi final stage but amassed enough series points to be confirmed HSBC Sevens World Series champions.

Scotland won the Bowl final, beating Kenya 21-19 after Andrew Turnbull’s late try levelled the scores and Peter Horne’s conversion clinched it. The Plate final was won by Samoa, who beat defending London champions Australia 22-12.

Head coach Ben Ryan admitted he was "saddened" that England’s first day performance ended their hopes of challenging for the overall title after they were beaten by France and held to a draw by Argentina.

He now has to pick the side up and make sure they hang on to second place in the rankings at next weekend’s Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens.

““It was more than doubly frustrating, it was saddening on so many levels,” said Ryan.

“We’ve worked really hard around the world this year to reach two finals and four semi finals and with a good performance in Edinburgh it may still be our best overall performance in the 12 years of the series.

“But to go out in such a way yesterday was something we didn’t see coming. We played pretty poorly on the first day and it was the first time in my coaching career I couldn’t think of a reason why it went so badly wrong.”

England’s final game against Portugal was decided by a first-half burst with Mathew Turner and John Brake scoring early tries while Bristol Rugby wing Dan Norton touched down twice to take his weekend’s tally to eight. Pedro Leal claimed a late consolation.

Earlier England were stunned by Kenya when they appeared to be in complete control of the Bowl quarter final.

Ben Gollings, James Rodwell and Norton scored first half tries with Gollings’s conversion opening up a 17-0 lead.

Oscar Ouma and veteran Collins Injera struck back to narrow the gap to 17-12 before Lavin Asego snatched a win with the final play of the game.

Ciaran Hearn scored two tries for Canada to keep them in contention against England but Nick Royle, Rodwell and Norton replied with Brake’s tenacious final try making sure of a badly-needed win.

HSBC Sevens World Series standings (top five): 1 New Zealand 150pts, 2 England 121, 3 South Africa 116, 4 Samoa 112, 5 Fiji 110

Championship Playoffs: record crowd set for Sixways final leg

Posted on May 9, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Worcester Warriors are delighted to announce that a record crowd for this season will watch the RFU Championship final against Cornish Pirates at Sixways Stadium on Wednesday, May 18 (kick-off 7.45pm).

Huge interest in the second leg of the final, and with it a potential return to the Premiership, has seen the Warriors Box Office inundated with requests for tickets since they were made available on Monday.

The club is now pleased to confirm that ticket sales have already smashed through the 7,500 barrier in just one week and with 12 days to go until the massive game at the home of the Warriors.

The crowd will now already eclipse the season record of 7,474 that watched the league fixture with Bristol Rugby in October.

Corporate hospitality is also selling extremely quickly in all areas with some parts of the stadium now sold out. Corporate guests are asked to contact the Sales Team on 01905 454183 as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Charlie Little, General Manager at Warriors, said: “We have seen a phenomenal response from our fans this week to the final with Cornish Pirates and we are delighted to confirm that we will have the biggest crowd of the season at the second leg.

“The outstanding level of support we had at the semi-final played a big role in a positive result and we are now urging supporters to crank up the noise levels again as we need a repeat of that atmosphere. I would encourage fans to act as soon as possible to guarantee a seat for what is sure to be an historic day in our history.

“Evening games under the floodlights at Warriors are always memorable and special occasions and the final with Pirates will be as good as anything they have ever experienced before and is one not to be missed.”

Armitage gets three week ban for punching

Posted on May 4, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

DELON ARMITAGE of London Irish was this evening banned for three weeks for striking Northampton Saints’ Stephen Myler with his hand during the Aviva Premiership match at the Madejski Stadium on April 23.

Armitage, who pleaded guilty, was suspended from May 4 to May 10 and May 24 to June 6 by an RFU Disciplinary Panel of Jeremy Summers (chair), Philip Evans and Peter Budge. 

Summers: “This offence was assessed at being at the low end of the scale of seriousness, and as such led to an entry point suspension of two weeks.

“The player’s record, and the fact that he had recently returned from a period of suspension, was an aggravating feature which warranted an increase in that suspension by one week.

“The overall suspension of three weeks will not apply between May 8 and 23 as the player will have no games in that period.

“He is accordingly ineligible to play from May 4 to May 10 and May 24 to June 6, and will not be able to have any match day involvement during those periods.”