Ireland squad for NZ tour

Posted on May 21, 2012 in Ireland

Ireland head coach Declan Kidney has named a 29 man squad that includes three uncapped players for the three test tour of New Zealand in June.

Declan Fitzpatrick and Mike Sherry are included up front while Simon Zebo is named in the backs as is Darren Cave, who won two caps on the North American tour in 2009.

There are a number of spaces left vacant with a further prop, second row, back row and scrum half to be added before the squad departs for New Zealand.

Brian O’Driscoll returns to the Ireland squad for the first time since the Rugby World Cup and has been confirmed as Captain for the tour.

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England Counties name squad for East Africa tour

Posted on May 16, 2012 in English Counties

The England Counties today named their 26-man squad for next month’s three match tour to Uganda and Kenya.

Eleven counties and 15 clubs are represented within the squad which contains 12 debutants. 

Rob Baldwin (pictured) will captain the tour party, having led the side to a 34-16 victory over the Counties’ Irish counterparts, the Ulster Bank International Team, in March.  Nine other players featured in the spring international, whilst Jim Wigglesworth steps up after impressing for the England Counties U20s earlier this month.

The England Counties squad is the representative flagship of the county and community game and since being founded in 2002 has visited North and South America, Europe and the Far East.  Nine players have previous touring experience but the side will be treading new ground when they head to the African continent.

The squad assembles on the 1st June and the 17-day tour incorporates the largest tour outreach programme ever undertaken.  Working with the Tag Rugby Trust, the squad and management will carry out frequent coaching sessions and visits, aiming to raise the profile of rugby and leave a lasting legacy for the host unions.

The squad plays both Uganda and a combined East Africa side in Kampala before taking on the challenge of an East Africa Invitation XV in Nairobi.

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Three Emerging Talents Join Harlequins Academy

Posted on May 1, 2012 in emb, English Rugby, Harlequins, Premiership

Another three of England’s emerging young players have joined the Harlequins Academy.  Jordan Burns, Harry Sloan and Henry Taylor will become full time members of one of the country’s leading Academies on 1stJuly.

Last week the Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby confirmed that the Harlequins Academy had been assessed as one of best of the 14 Academies in England.

Jordan Burns (pictured), an 18-year-old who can play at scrum half or on the wing, joins from Epsom College. He originally joined the club’s Academy programme when he was 13. He represented England at Under 16 level and played at scrum half and on the wing for England Under 18 Clubs and Schools earlier this season.

Harry Sloan is a 17-year-old centre from Skinners School and first joined the club’s programme when he was 15. He has played for England Under 18 Clubs and Schools for the past two seasons.

Henry Taylor is an 18-year-old scrum half from Cranleigh School.  He joined the club’s Academy programme last year.  He has represented England Under 18 Clubs and Schools at scrum half for the past two years.

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Turner, capped 51 times for England, set to make her first start at hooker

Posted on Nov 2, 2011 in England, English Rugby, Women's Rugby

Amy Turner, (pictured) capped 51 times for England, is set to embark on a new era in her international rugby career tomorrow (Wednesday).

The former England and Richmond scrum half is set to make her move into the English pack after being named at hooker for England’s uncapped game against France on Wednesday, kick off 6pm GMT, at the Jean Bouin Stadium in Marseille.

Switching from scrum-half to hooker in international rugby is an unusual move but for Turner the move isn’t that unique as she first started her rugby career in the Number two shirt.

Turner said: “I have always seen myself as a hooker falling into the scrum half position to be perfectly honest. I was not a scrum half who just wanted to try something new.

“Not many people will know this but I actually played all my junior rugby as a hooker. It just so happened then that our scrum half injured herself and I was the only player there who could consistently pass from the left and right so I stood in. From there I was asked to go to regional trials and it just sort of snow balled. I loved playing scrum half as I could kick the ball, pass and I could do whatever I wanted really, it was just that it was all rather accidental.

“I have always said to myself that when I achieved what I have done as a nine that I would give hooking another go. It’s comfortable and it feels right for me now. Looking ahead I have now got four years to go before the next world cup and my challenge is to be the best hooker in the world by then.”

The match will also mark a significant day for Turner who has not actually played international rugby since England’s defeat to New Zealand in the 2010 Rugby World Cup final. Since that defeat, the 27-year-old has been beset by injuries as well as having to make the transition to the front row and earn her honours in that position.

“After the world cup final I went back to premiership rugby and I expressed my intention to the England and Richmond coaches,” she added. “They were good about it but before I had a chance to make the move I injured myself playing sevens in Dubai. Initially, it was just going to be six weeks out and an operation and I knew I could deal with that. But then there were further complications as I injured myself again, and then again.  So I had to have another operation and basically I spent a year on the side-lines injured which was hugely frustrating.

“Throughout the year I was kept in the picture by the English coaches. The coaches were concerned that I might not be able to last a full 80 at hooker but I have been doing a lot of work on body positions, striking off the ball and working with Simon Hardy, the England Specialist Coach, and he has been awesome. We had a hooking camp recently with him and just being in an environment like that for two days was massively beneficial and now I am in with a shot.”

And if Turner can do enough to impress on Wednesday night, she is hoping that Head Coach Gary Street will make her dreams come true by giving her a starting cap at hooker against France on Saturday in the full international test match at the Pierre de Coubertin Stadium in Chateaurenard.

“For me, I never got a starting cap at nine. I came off the bench for my first cap but it really would mean the world to me to start my first game at hooker but that is something quite rare. I may have 50 plus caps at scrum half, but now I see myself as not having any. If I get that starting cap at hooker I will be over the moon. That is the highest privilege as far as I am concerned. I am now more excited and more motivated than ever. I have got my teeth into a new position and I have a new hunger to my game.”

England team v France

15        Kay     Wilson            (Bristol)

14        Michaela        Staniford        (Wasps)

13        Georgina       Roberts          (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)

12        Kimberley      Oliver  (Bristol)

11        Lydia  Thompson     (Worcester)

10        Ceri     Large  (Worcester)

9          Natasha         Hunt   (Lichfield)

1          Rochelle        Clark   (Worcester)

2          Amy    Turner            (Richmond)

3          Rosemarie     Crowley         (Lichfield)

4          Harriet            Millar-Mills     (Lichfield)

5          Rowena         Burnfield       (Richmond)

6          Alexandra      Matthews       (Richmond)

7          Hannah         Gallagher      (Saracens)

8          Sarah Hunter            (Lichfield)

Replacements:

16        Victoria           Fleetwood     (Lichfield)

17        Laura  Keates            (Worcester)

18        Tamara           Taylor(Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)

19        Isobel Noel-Smith    (Bristol)

20        Rose   Jay      (Lichfield)

21        Sarah             McKenna       (Wasps)

22        Katherine      Merchant       (Worcester)

England Women Autumn International Series

• Nov 2nd France v England, Jean Bouin Stadium, Marseille, KO 6pm GMT
• Nov 5th France v England, Pierre de Coubertin Stadium at Chateaurenard, KO 2pm GMT
• Nov 26th England v New Zealand, Twickenham Stadium, KO 5pm
• Nov 29th England v New Zealand, Esher RFC, KO 7pm
• Dec 3rd England v New Zealand, Esher RFC, 2pm

Tickets for the game at Twickenham on November 26th are available from Ticketmaster.co.uk and group booking are available from the RFU by calling 0871 22 22 017, option 6. Prices range from £65 to £35. Junior tickets cost just £15.

Tickets for the international tests at Esher RFC on November 29th and December 3rd will be available on the gate and cost £10 for adults and £5 for juniors.

Pirates looking to bounce back to winning ways

Posted on Oct 21, 2011 in Championship, Cornish Pirates, English Rugby

Having lost at home to Bedford Blues and then drawn away to Nottingham, the Cornish Pirates will be keen to bounce back to winning ways at home to Esher on Sunday (ko 3pm).

The Pirates welcome back fly-half Ceiron Thomas from injury, thus enabling Rob Cook to return to his accustomed full-back role, and James Doherty is named to skipper the side, taking over from club captain Gavin Cattle at scrum-half.

In the forwards, starting roles are handed to No. 8 Ben Maidment and lock Mike Myerscough, taking over from Blair Cowan and Laurie McGlone, whilst on the bench there’s a seat for centre Andrew Suniula, who has arrived in Cornwall this week after having experienced Rugby World Cup action playing for the USA in New Zealand.

The Cornish Pirates, who lost 13-12 away to Esher in February, will naturally respect the challenge of the ‘EEEs’, as despite them presently lying at the foot of the league table they have gifted performers and a good team spirit to as ever pose a threat.

The sides named for Sunday are as follows:-

Cornish Pirates: R. Cook, G. Pointer, D. Locke, S. Hill, D. Doherty, C. Thomas, J. Doherty (c), B. Maidment, P. Burgess, C. Morgan, I. Nimmo, M. Myerscough, R. Brits, R. Elloway, P. Andrew.

Replacements: C. Rimmer, T. Cowan-Dickie, L. McGlone, B. Cowan, T. Kessell, A. Suniula, R. McAtee.

Esher: R. Kirby, C. Walker, P. Mackenzie, A. Wright, T. Loizedes, M. Atkinson, C. Stuart-Smith, C. Goodman, S. Stitcher (c), M. Macfarlane, I. Kench, P. Parker, R. Boot, S. Mackie, O. Mines.

Replacements: J. Gethings, S. Renwick, J. Campbell, M. Symons, C. Ingall, S. Edgerley, J. Mackenzie.

Referee: Michael Tutty (RFU) Assistants: Shane Lewis & Steve Leyshon