Phil Davies “very humbled” at receiving Cardiff call

Posted on May 11, 2012 in Cardiff Blues

By MARTYN WINTERS. Cardiff new boy, Phil Davies, can’t wait to get stuck into running the region.

The ex-Worcester forwards coach was commenting on his appointment as Director of Rugby at the troubled capital city regional outfit. The former Scarlet outlined his plans for the region and his aim to stem the tide of poor results that have stricken the club in recent months.

Davies said: "There are a lot of good jobs in rugby but when you get offered the role of being the Director of Rugby for Cardiff Blues, which is one of the most recognised teams in Europe, then I didn’t have to think twice."

In a nod to the recent run, and his hopes for the future, he commented: "There’s a lot of work to be done but it’s a chance and an opportunity for the next generation to come through and keep the Blues region at the top of the game."

The severe financial restrictions afflicting all the regions in Wales was uppermost in his thoughts when he said: "The salary cap will focus the mind and I genuinely believe we have to work through the change, there maybe growing pains but we can become competitive again."

"There’s a lot of history that goes with the Blues region from the great Pontypridd teams from the 80′s and 90′s when Lynn Howells and Dennis John were coaching and Neil Jenkins was kick goals and Dale McIntosh charging everywhere, to the Cardiff RFC teams of Gareth Davies, Gareth Edwards and Terry Holmes. The heritage is massive and the passion is there."

"We need to get the region to understand that we are proud of that history but embrace it and move forward."

"I’m very humbled and privileged to have this role and will work as hard as I can to make sure it’s successful."

Simon Danielli Announces Retirement

Posted on May 10, 2012 in Scotland, Ulster

Ulster Rugby today confirmed that Simon Danielli has decided to retire from rugby due to a back injury which has plagued the winger throughout this last season

Simon joined Ulster at the start of the 2007/08 season from The Borders and has subsequently been capped 78 times by Ulster, scoring 26 tries.

Born in Edinburgh and educated at Cheltenham College and Oxford University where he studied Philosophy and Theology, Simon played in two victorious ‘blues’ matches

From Oxford he signed a full-time contract with Bath and within 2 years had made his full International debut for Scotland against Italy in 2003, ahead of the start of the World Cup. He has gone on to be capped 32 times by his country, playing in two World Cups and scoring 8 tries.

“Having been advised that I am no longer able to achieve the level of fitness required to play professional rugby, It is with great sadness that I announce my retirement from the game.” Simon commented

“I feel privileged to have been playing for over a decade and have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a professional rugby player, particularly my last five years here at Ulster”

“I would like to thank everyone who has helped me throughout my time here, to all the players, coaches, other members of staff and not least the fantastic supporters at Ulster that rival anywhere else in Europe, creating an atmosphere that has given me many special lifelong memories”

“I wish the boys the very best of luck for the biggest of games next week and long into the future, the club is well on the path to becoming a leading force in European rugby and I will be in the stands cheering them towards this for years to come”

Scarratt set to make her England Sevens debut

Posted on May 10, 2012 in England Sevens, England Women

England Women’s Emily Scarratt is hoping to set the Rugby Sevens world alight this weekend when she makes her international sevens debut in the IRB Challenge Cup at the Marriott London Sevens (May 12-13) at Twickenham Stadium.

Scarratt, 22, has done just that in the XVs game, running out an impressive 39 times for England, scoring 65 international points and competing in the 2010 Rugby World Cup where England finished second, but this weekend’s international sevens tournament will represent a new chapter in her rugby career.

“I’m very excited that this is going to be my first international Sevens tournament,” said the Lichfield player. “With it being at Twickenham hopefully it will be a great occasion, with lots of rugby fans coming to watch a great weekend of international rugby. As long as I can find my lungs and keep my legs with me then hopefully I can successfully transfer my skills over from XVs to Sevens. It will be a challenge but one that I am really looking forward to.”

Scarratt joins the England Sevens squad on the back of victory at the IRB Women’s Challenge Cup in Hong Kong in March whilst the team also reached the final of the Dubai leg of the tournament in December, narrowly losing out to a strong Canadian outfit.

“This England team has already set the bar very high, winning in Hong Kong and finishing second in Dubai,” added Scarratt. “Our Sevens programme is really developing at speed and that is now starting to show in our results. This tournament is even bigger for us as it’s on home turf and obviously we want to win the final Challenge Cup of this season. I’ve played at Twickenham before so I know first-hand how the atmosphere can lift you and hopefully with the crowd behind us again at the weekend we can repeat the success we have enjoyed at Twickenham in XVs.”

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Shaun Edwards to join London Irish

Posted on May 9, 2012 in London Irish, Premiership

London Irish has announced today that Wales’s Defence Coach, Shaun Edwards will be joining the London Irish coaching team.

He will start work after the Wales tour to Australia. Brian Smith also announced today that he will be stepping back up to a more hands on coaching role to run the team’s attack.

Edwards enjoyed a glittering playing career in rugby league representing Wigan on 467 occasions scoring 1,140 points. He won the Challenge Cup nine times with the Club and eight Championship titles. He was the youngest player to play in a Challenge Cup final and the youngest to be capped by Great Britain. He played 36 times for Great Britain, scoring 16 tries, and played in the 1992 and 1995 World Cups with England. He also won one cap for Ireland. Previously he played professionally for Balmain Tigers, in Australia, London Broncos and Bradford Bulls. He was voted Man of Steel in 1990 and is an inductee of the Wigan Hall of Fame.

Edwards started his rugby union coaching career at London Wasps in 2002 as backs coach and became an integral part of the coaching team that guided the Club through one of its most successful periods. Wasps won Premiership titles in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and the Heineken Cup in 2004 and 2007, the latter he won as the Club’s Head Coach.

In 2008 Shaun joined former Wasps colleague, Warren Gatland, as Defence Coach for the Welsh national side. Wales have since won the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2008 and 2012 as well as finishing fourth in the 2011 Rugby World Cup. In 2009 he was part of Ian McGeechan’s British and Irish Lions coaching team for the tour of South Africa.

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Bath Rugby announce strong new coaching set-up

Posted on May 8, 2012 in Bath, Premiership

Bath Rugby have announced the new coaches who will be joining the Club for the 2012/13 season.

Gary Gold, who most recently made a significant impact by returning Newcastle Falcons to winning ways, will join as Head Coach, taking charge of the rugby department. He will be bringing Toby Booth, Mike Ford, and Neal Hatley in alongside Brad Davis as his coaching team for next season. It is a very strong team with a wealth of both international and club rugby experience.

Gold arrives with international, Super 14 and Premiership experience, having spent four years as Assistant Coach with the Springboks, following stints as Head Coach with both Western Province and London Irish. He was part of the South Africa coaching team who won both the 2009 Tri-Nations and British and Irish Lions series of the same year.

Speaking about the move, Gary said: “I’m really looking forward to coming on board at Bath. It’s a very ambitious Club, with a great array of talent within the squad that I’m excited to be working with. There is a good culture developing here, and I’m keen to help further that with my own expertise and experience.”

Toby Booth also has international and club rugby experience, having been forwards coach for the England Saxons in the Churchill Cup, coached the England Students, Universities and Under 21’s, prior to becoming Head Coach at London Irish.

“Bath is a great Club, with clear goals and targets and know where they want to be. I’m really keen to start working with the squad.”

Toby said. “I have enjoyed all my coaching roles, but do feel now is the right time to move on to another Club and challenge.”

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