Sam Tomkins switches code for Barbarians match vs Australia

Posted on Nov 21, 2011 in Barbarians

Stephen Jones pulls out due to regional call

SAM TOMKINS is the latest addition to the Barbarians’ squad for the Killik Cup match against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday 26 November.

The impressive Wigan full-back will complete a unique double by playing against the pride of Australian rugby from both codes on successive weekends. Last Saturday the 22-year-old featured for England against the Australian Kangaroos in the Four Nations’ Final at Elland Road, Leeds; seven days later he dons the famous black-and-white shirt of the Barbarians against Australia’s Wallabies in front of a 50,000-plus crowd at Twickenham.

Confirming the invitation, Barbarians’ commercial director Mike Burton said: “We are delighted that Sam, with the support of the coaches and management at Wigan, has accepted this opportunity to play in such a high-profile union match. The Barbarian club has a tradition of thinking outside the circle when inviting players with league backgrounds, and usually to everyone’s benefit.”

He added: “In recent years the likes of Mat Rogers, Lote Tuqiri, Wendell Sailor and, a few months ago,Willie Mason, have all made a mark when playing for us on the big stage. We are confident that Sam will be equal to the challenge this week.”

Ian Lenagan, chairman and owner of Wigan said: “The Wigan club and Sam are very pleased to accept the Barbarians’ invitation. Sam is an exceptional player in either code of rugby and his selection shows the growing mutual respect between the codes of rugby league and rugby union in England.  It’s a great opportunity for Sam to experience the Twickenham atmosphere and showcase his talents on another major stage.”

The Barbarians will be coached by Graham Henry and Steve Hansen who will select their starting line-up from a 22-man squad which promises to be one of the most experienced representative sides ever assembled. The players, drawn from 10 different countries, share an astonishing 1000-plus test caps between them.

The latest additions to the multi-national party include Italy’s Mauro Bergomasco (88 caps), Salvatore Perugini (83) and Marco Bortolami (88), France’s Sylvain Marconnet (84), Scotland’s Jason White (77) and Ireland’s Peter Stringer (98).

They join a squad that already had Springbok lock legend Victor Matfield, with 110 international matches under his belt, before making his final big-match appearance against the Wallabies. Two years ago Matfield captained the Barbarians to victory over the All Blacks.

Sonny Bill Williams has withdrawn because of a hamstring injury and is replaced by another of New Zealand’s Rugby World Cup squad, Richard Kahui, while further additions are Fiji’s Seru Rabeni and Nemia Kenatale.

Stephen Jones has been withdrawn from the squad as he is required by the Scarlets for their match against Newport Gwent Dragons on Friday evening.

Barbarians’ secretary Alan Evans explained: “We had very positive talks with the coaching staff at the Scarlets. They fully appreciated the honour it would have been for Stephen to play for us at this stage of his distinguished career but unfortunately their fixture commitments next weekend must take precedence.”

Mr Evans also confirmed that other Welsh players previously announced would not be available for the Barbarians as they will be in training camp ahead of Wales’ own match against Australia seven days later.

He said: “Obviously we are disappointed that they can’t play for us on this occasion but we also realise that the Welsh regions and the Welsh Rugby Union’s hierarchy have been incredibly supportive of us for similar matches in recent years. We look forward to inviting these players, and others, again in the near future.”

Barbarians squad:

Sam Tomkins (England RL), Bryan Habana (South Africa), Isaia Toeava (New Zealand), Robbie Fruean (Crusaders), Stirling Mortlock (Australia), Richard Kahui (New Zealand), Seru Rabeni (Fiji),  Danny Cipriani (England), Peter Stringer (Ireland), Nemia Kenatale (Fiji), Keven Mealamu (New Zealand), Adriaan Strauss (South Africa), Salvatore Perugini (Italy), Sylvain Marconnet (France), Eusebio Guinazu (Argentina), Victor Matfield (South Africa), Simon Shaw (England), Marco Bortolami (Italy), Jason White (Scotland), Jerome Kaino (New Zealand), Adam Thomson (New Zealand), Mauro Bergamasco (Italy).

The captain will be announced when the squad assembles in London on 22 November.

Sam keeps the Captain’s armband

Posted on Nov 21, 2011 in Wales, Welsh Rugby

Sam Warburton will continue as national captain for Wales’ Dove Men Challenge clash with Australia at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, 3 December (2.30pm)– and he leads a 28-man squad which retains the majority of Wales’ much heralded 2011 Rugby World Cup side.

Shane Williams, who has announced his retirement from international rugby, plays his final match in Welsh colours, but the game is also billed as a ‘homecoming’ for the Wales squad which boosted national pride by reaching the RWC semi-finals in New Zealand and is a re-match of the tournament’s third-placed play-off game, which saw the Wallabies victorious last month.

Scarlets hooker Matthew Rees, who was originally set to lead Wales in New Zealand before withdrawing through injury, returns to the squad alongside two other players who featured in head coach Warren Gatland’s preliminary RWC training squad – Blues prop Scott Andrews and Ospreys flanker Justin Tipuric,

Ospreys pair Dan Biggar and Ian Evans both return to the international fold, with 22-year-old fly-half Biggar set to add to his eight caps after last featuring for Wales in November 2010 against Fiji.

Lock Evans, 27, made his last appearance three years ago, against New Zealand in November 2008 at Millennium Stadium,and will bid to add to the 16 caps which saw him make his debut on tour to Argentina in 2006 and earned him a Grand Slam winners medal with four RBS 6 Nations appearances in 2008.

Elsewhere three uncapped players join Wales’ RWC stars, Dragons flanker Lewis Evans, Blues wing Alex Cuthbert and Scarlets full-back Liam Williams all look to make their Wales and Millennium Stadium debuts.

“As we have gone with the majority of our Rugby World Cup squad we have maintained continuity by selecting Sam again as captain for this game, but it is a significant boost for us to have someone of the experience and stature of Matthew Rees back in the squad which, in turn, means there is considerable competition in the hooker’s position with both Huw Bennett and Lloyd Burns also with us,”said Gatland.

“The fans have a chance to show the players how proud they are of them after their World Cup performances and it should be quite an occasion at the Millennium Stadium, especially with the Shane Williams factor thrown in, but we won’t be sitting back and soaking up the atmosphere – Shane will want to go out in style and this squad wants to, and needs to, get back to winning ways.

“We have another chance to beat a Southern Hemisphere team, which is always a yardstick by which we measure ourselves, we have the opportunity to avenge the play-off defeat in New Zealand, but we can also send a message to our Six Nations opponents next year, that our RWC performances should not be seen in isolation and this young squad will continue to be a force to be reckoned with as we build to the next world cup in 2015.”

Welsh qualified players based overseas were not made available for selection.

Wales squad, Dove Men Challenge v Australia (alphabetical order)

FORWARDS: Scott Andrews, Huw Bennett, Ryan Bevington, Lloyd Burns, Luke Charteris, Bradley Davies, Ian Evans, Lewis Evans, Toby Faletau, Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Ryan Jones, Danny Lydiate, Matthew Rees, Justin Tipuric, Sam Warburton (Captain)

BACKS: Dan Biggar, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Leigh Halfpenny, Tavis Knoyle, George North, Rhys Priestland, Jamie Roberts, Liam Williams, Lloyd Williams, Scott Williams, Shane Williams

WALES SQUAD

Gethin JENKINS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,006)

DoB: 17.11.80. 6’2” / 1.88m. 18st 9lbs / 118kgs

International record: 82 caps (W 37, L 43, D 2; 20 pts – 4T)

Adam JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,018)

DoB: 08.03.81. 6’0” / 1.83m. 18st 12lb / 120kgs

International record: 75 caps (W 35, L 37, D 3; 10 pts – 2T)

Ryan BEVINGTON (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,081)

DoB: 9.12.88. 6’0”/1.82m. 17st 2lb/109kgs

International record: 6 caps (W 3, L 3)

Scott ANDREWS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,083)

DoB: 01.08.89. 6’2” / 1.88m. 18st 7lbs / 117kgs

International record: 1 cap (L 1)

Lloyd BURNS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,085)

DoB: 09.12.84. 6’0” / 1.83m. 17st 0lbs / 108kgs

International record: 7 caps (W 4, L 3; 5 pts – 1T)

Huw BENNETT (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,017)

DoB: 11.06.83. 6’0” / 1.83m. 16st 8lbs / 105kgs

International record: 48 caps (W 23, L 24, D 1)

Matthew REES (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,033)

DoB: 09.12.80. 6’0” / 1.83m. 17st 1lbs / 108kgs

International record: 47 caps (W 20, L 26, D 1; 10 pts – 2T)

Bradley DAVIES (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,065)

DoB: 09.01.87. 6’6” / 1.98m. 19st 1lbs / 121kgs

International record: 31 caps (W 14, L 16, D 1)

Luke CHARTERIS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,030)

DoB: 09.03.83. 6’9” / 2.06m. 19st 10lbs / 125kgs

International record: 32 caps (W 16, L 16)

Ian EVANS (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,045)

DoB: 04.10.84. 6’8” / 2.04m. 18st 3lbs / 116kgs

International record: 16 caps (W 6, L 9, D 1; 5 pts – 1T)

Sam WARBURTON (CARDIFF BLUES, CAPTAIN – Cap No 1,070)

DoB: 05.10.88. 1.88m / 6’2”. 16st 4lbs / 103kgs

International record: 23 caps (W 12, L 11; 10 pts – 2T)

Dan LYDIATE (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,071)

DoB: 18.12.87. 1.93m / 6’4”. 17st 10lbs / 112kgs

International record: 19 caps (W 8, L 10, D 1)

Justin TIPURIC (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,086)

DoB: 06.08.89. 1.88m / 6’2” 15st 10lbs / 100kgs

International record: 1 cap (W 1)

Lewis EVANS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Uncapped)

DoB: 09.07.87. 1.94m / 6’4”. 15st 3lbs / 97kgs
International record: Uncapped

Toby FALETAU (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,082)

DoB: 12.11.90. 1.88m / 6’2”. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs

International record: 10 caps (W 5, L 5; 10 pts – 2T)

Ryan JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,029)

DoB: 13.03.81. 6’5” / 1.96m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs

International record: 57 caps (W 28, L 27, D 2; 5 pts – 1T)

Tavis KNOYLE (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,076)

DoB: 02.06.90. 6’1” / 1.85m. 14st 5lbs / 91kgs

International record: 6 caps (W 3, L 3)

Lloyd WILLIAMS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,087)

DoB: 30.11.89. 6’0” / 1.83m. 13st 9lbs / 87kgs

International record: 4 caps (W 3, L 1; 10 pts – 2T)

Rhys PRIESTLAND (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,080)

DoB: 07.01.87 1.82m / 6’0”. 13st 9lbs / 87kgs

International record: 9 caps (W 6, L 3; 42 pts – 12C, 6PG)

Dan BIGGAR (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,063)

DoB: 16.10.89. 6’2” / 1.88m. 14st 1lbs / 89kgs

International record: 8 caps (W 4, L 3, D 1; 52 pts – 8C, 12PG)

Jamie ROBERTS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,057)

DoB: 08.11.86. 6’4” / 1.93m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs

International record: 38 caps (W 18, L 20; 20 pts – 4T)

Jonathan DAVIES (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,066)

DoB: 05.04.88. 6’1” / 1.86m. 16st 3lb / 103kgs

International record: 21 caps (W 11, L 10; 25 pts – 5T)

Scott WILLIAMS (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,084)

DoB: 10.10.90. 6’0” / 1.83m. 15st 3lbs / 97kgs

International record: 7 caps (W 4, L 3; 20 pts – 4T)

Shane WILLIAMS (OSPREYS – Cap No 976)

DoB: 26.02.77. 5’7” / 1.71m. 12st 1lb / 77kgs

International record: 86 caps (W 41, L 43, D 2; 285 pts – 57T)

George NORTH (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,078)

DoB: 13.04.92. 6’4” / 1.92m. 16st 5lbs / 104kgs

International record: 15 caps (W 6, L 8, D 1; 45 pts – 9T)

Alex CUTHBERT (CARDIFF BLUES – Uncapped)

DoB: 05.04.90. 6’6” / 1.98m. 16st 5lbs / 104kgs

International record: Uncapped

Leigh HALFPENNY (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,060)

DoB: 22.12.88. 5’10” / 1.77m. 13st 2lbs / 83kgs

International record: 26 caps (W 12, L 14; 72 pts – 9T, 9PG)

Liam WILLIAMS (SCARLETS – Uncapped)

DoB:09.04.91. 6’2” / 1.88m. 13st 5lbs / 85kgs

International record: Uncapped

Sharks name Sam as the man

Posted on Aug 15, 2011 in Premiership, Sale Sharks

Sale Sharks announce the appointment of Sam Tuitopu as their captain. The 29-year-old New Zealander, who has played for Munster and Worcester Warriors since moving from Southern Hemisphere rugby, captained his country at Under 19 and Under 21 levels, and has also skippered Auckland.

Sharks’ Executive Director of Sport Steve Diamond said, “Sam joined us in the Summer and has been outstanding at training, leading by example and motivating others. He has captaincy experience from his Auckland days. It was a difficult decision – there were three or four lads who ‘stuck their hands in the air’ and wanted to be captain – but we thought that Sam would be here with us and not be playing in internationals. That was one of the considerations with the new team and the new environment at the club: it’s the right way.

“We’re not having vice captains. If Sam is unavailable, we’ll pick a captain as we go forward. We’ve got two other leaders in the group – Joe Ward and Nick Macleod – who are our ‘governors’. They look after discipline for us and that’s how it works out for the team.”

Sam Cane and Brodie Retallick to Play for Chiefs

Posted on Jul 26, 2011 in NZ

New Zealand Under-20 team mates and 2011 IRB Junior World Championship winners Sam Cane and Brodie Retallick have signed to play for the Chiefs in the 2012 and 2013 Investec Super Rugby campaigns.

Sam Cane progressed under the guidance of the Ian Foster led Chiefs to make his Super Rugby debut for the Chiefs this year when he was called in as a replacement player from the Chiefs Wider Training Group.

A product of Reporoa College, Cane has come through the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union Academy and Age Group programme and was a member of the Chiefs’ Schools Under 18 team in 2009.  He played for the BOP Steamers in the ITM Cup in 2010 and 2011 and became part of the Chiefs Wider Training Group and Development Team in 2011.  Cane was recently one of three nominations for the IRB Junior Player of the Year. 

Retallick (a 204 cm, 115kg lock), started for the New Zealand U-20 side in the IRB Junior World Championship Final alongside Cane in Italy earlier this year. 

Chiefs Head Coach Dave Rennie said “Sam and Brodie were two of the best performers at the U20 World Cup and we are rapt they have committed to the Chiefs. They both have big tickers, a fantastic work ethic and will hopefully wear the Chiefs jersey for many years to come.”                

Sam commented “I’m very pleased to have signed with the Chiefs.  It has been a goal of mine growing up.  I got a taste of the environment last season and really enjoyed it.  I believe there are exciting times ahead for the Chiefs and look forward to being involved in that”.                               

Brodie commented “I’m very excited to be playing Super Rugby for the Chiefs next season. It’s a great opportunity to further my rugby development in a professional environment with world class coaches. 2011 has been an exciting year so far with the NZU20’s and compressed ITM Cup and I’m looking forward to making the step up to Super Rugby in 2012.”

Chiefs CEO Gary Dawson commented “It is pleasing to both help develop and retain Sam and attract Brodie to play for the Chiefs as highly promising young players in New Zealand rugby and we look forward to Sam and Brodie progressing further and being a big part of the Chiefs future".

All Blacks Season Opener Set to be a Special Night

Posted on Jul 20, 2011 in NZ

The special nature of the All Blacks v Fiji Test for Canterbury is being acknowledged with some extra highlights both on and off the field.

With 51 days to go to Rugby World Cup 2011 this is the first opportunity to see the All Blacks in action this year. The season opening Test is also the anchor for a number of initiatives aimed at raising funds and showing support for the people of Canterbury following February’s devastating earthquake.

NZRU CEO Steve Tew said New Zealand Rugby and many of our partners have joined together to create some great initiatives aimed at supporting Canterbury’s continued rebuild.

“We will host some very special guests from Christchurch at the Test. Our ‘First XV’ were chosen from hundreds of nominees for deserving Cantabrians sent into the Christchurch Press.”

“After everything the people of Christchurch have been going through it’s a privilege to reward this group and their friends and partners with a night out and a first chance to see the All Blacks,” he said.

One excited pair is father and son, Damian and Sam Curtain, from Burwood. Damian nominated his rugby mad 11-year old because the earthquakes had disrupted their normal routine and they were missing their usual Canterbury, Crusaders and All Blacks games.

The proud coach of his son’s Shirley RFC Under 11 rugby team reckons Sam has been smiling for days about the trip and is excited about meeting some All Blacks legends.

Since the September earthquake forced St Paul’s to close Sam’s now attending his third school.

“You just work around a lot of things in this situation but it has been hard on the kids, who’re coping pretty good,” he added.

The evening’s entertainment includes Invercargill born and Christchurch raised singer Jason Kerrison performing his band OPSHOP’s tribute to his home city ‘Love Will Always Win’ and the number one hit ‘One Day’. All proceeds from the tribute single are going to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal. He’ll be joined by 75 pupils from Balmacewen Intermediate School who will be flying the flag for Canterbury in a very special routine to unite the South Island in support of Canterbury.

Jason will also perform the New Zealand anthem while Pacific icon and international soloist Lapi Mariner will perform the Fijian Anthem.

Fans are encouraged to turn up by 6pm to catch the curtain raiser and cheer on six young South Island Rippa Rugby teams – including New Brighton and Burnside from Christchurch. Air New Zealand will be transporting the two Christchurch teams in their “Crazy About Rugby” campervans.  The Rippa Rugby action culminates in a final at approximately 7.05pm. 

Other initiatives to support Canterbury

 

• NZRU is donating all net profits from ticket sales to Canterbury recovery efforts, with the majority distributed through the Government’s Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.
  
• Donating some to the All Blacks official charities, Plunket and KidsCan
  
• Fans at Carisbrook and watching the game on television wishing to make a donation will be able to text 993 to donate $3