Castrogiovanni agrees new contract

Posted on Jan 25, 2011 in Rugby News

Martin Castrogiovanni has committed his future to Leicester Tigers after agreeing a new contract with the defending English champions.

The Italy international tighthead prop is approaching 100 appearances for the club and has been a big hit with team-mates and supporters since his arrival at Welford Road in 2006.

Named Premiership Player of the Year in his debut season in 2006/07, Castrogiovanni has won three league titles with Tigers in his first four years with the club as well as playing in the 2009 Heineken Cup Final and 2007 EDF Energy Cup Final.

Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill said: “Castro is a world-class player and we are delighted that he has decided to stay here.

“He has moved to the top levels of the game during his time with us and our environment certainly suits him. He is happy in Leicester, he is very popular with the supporters and with his team-mates.

“Everyone knows that Castro has had opportunities to go elsewhere, but he has shown his commitment to the Tigers and we’re looking forward to his continued contribution in the future.

“Together with Dan Cole and Julian White, we have a group of top-class tighthead props and we want to keep them together to work as a group. With the increasing intensity of the professional game it is certainly an advantage to have top-class options available and to be able to keep players fresh in order to perform consistently at their best.”

Castrogiovanni said: “A player has to think about of lot of things when he is trying to decide on the future, and money is not everything. I have always said that I enjoy my rugby at Leicester Tigers, I like it here and I always had in my mind that I wanted to stay.

“The club and the players have been great for me and I am very happy here.

"The supporters have been brilliant. The support they have shown me, especially recently, has been unbelievable.

“I am extremely happy that we have now come to an agreement with the club.

“I am really proud to be part of this club. I want to give 100 per cent for the shirt because it is a Leicester Tigers shirt.”

Leicester Tigers chairman Peter Tom CBE said: “It is great news for the club that Castro has agreed to stay. He has attracted offers from elsewhere but, in considering all of his options, including his relationship with this club and its supporters, and his lifestyle and business interests here, he has decided that this is where his future lies.

“A large number of our supporters and season ticket holders own shares in the club and thousands of them contribute in terms of ticket sales so they all have a part to play.

“We have tremendously loyal supporters and one of the reasons behind our success is that the revenue we receive from season ticket sales allows us to maximise expenditure on the squad within the salary cap where some other clubs may be unable to do so.

“We also invest significantly in support of the playing side, in preparation, conditioning and training facilities, and in the quality of our back-room staff, all with the aim of maintaining our success in the long term.

“All of these factors are important when players are considering a future with us.

“There is a unique culture at this club which has been established over many years and players know they can develop with us inside a winning, successful environment.”

Ali Williams dons Nottingham shirt for the last time

Posted on Jan 25, 2011 in Rugby News

All Black Ali Williams will pull on the Nottingham shirt for the last time this evening when the Green and Whites take on the Rotherham Titans.

The match, which kicks off at 7.45pm, will see the two closely placed sides do battle in a key test for Glenn Delaney’s men who will be looking for their sixth league win in as many games.

The last three games the sides have contested on Nottingham territory have brought victory for the home sides, with tries from many current Green and Whites first team stars, including David Jackson, Tim Usasz, Jack Cobden, Andy Savage, Neil Fowkes, Ben Johnston and Luke Sherriff.

Tonight will provide Director of Rugby Delaney the final opportunity to hone the extra prowess of New Zealand International Williams, whose arrival to the club at the end of December stunned the rugby world.

Speaking ahead of the fixture, Delaney said: “The squad has been performing at a consistently high level in the Championship for back to back games since last year, so we’re confident about taking that form into this game and getting the result we want in front of the home crowd.

“Having Ali for this key match is an obvious boost to the side. He’s fitted in incredibly well through this month and has been the asset we all knew he would be.

“Overall the squad is looking strong at the moment, with injuries not hampering us too much for the time being. Despite the fixture pile-up we can call on all our key guys this evening and we can be confident of going out and playing our best game.”

Nottingham Internationals donate shirt for Queensland Disaster Relief Appeal

Posted on Jan 20, 2011 in Rugby News

International stars playing for Nottingham Rugby have donated a signed shirt to the Queensland Disaster Relief Appeal following widespread flooding in the Australian region.

The Green and Whites away replica shirt features the signatures of Tim Usasz (USA), Junior Sifa (USA), Ben Johnston (ENGLAND), James Arlidge (JAPAN), Sione Kalamafoni (TONGA), Cesar Sempere (SPAIN) and Ali Williams (NEW ZEALAND).

The donation was set up by Nottingham scrum-half Tim Usasz, who originally heralds from Brisbane and still has close family links with the area in the Australia.

Speaking today alongside his colleagues, Tim said: “It’s great that internationally sports people have come together to make donations which hopefully can be auctioned off to make a real difference.”
On 29 December 2010, the Queensland Premier launched a disaster relief appeal to help those affected by wide spread flooding in Queensland. The Queensland Government made a contribution of $1 million to start the appeal
For more information on making a difference in the disaster relief or to make a donation, please visit: http://www.thepremier.qld.gov.au/

Lewis Moody – RFU reaction

Posted on Jan 18, 2011 in Rugby News

Martin Johnson, England Team Manager, commented, “It is always disappointing to lose a player and leader of Lewis’ calibre but as I have consistently said good teams adapt to injuries and that is what we intend to do. While this could still mean Lewis plays a role in the RBS 6 Nations it does mean that another player gets the chance to step up and make it hard for him to get the shirt back.”

An injury replacement will be named on Monday 24^th January, along with all other injury replacements, once the outcome of round 6 of the Heineken European Cup has been played. The England captain will be chosen and announced in the week leading up to the first game in line with the usual approach. Lewis will remain with his club for his rehabilitation which will happen in close consultation with the England medical team.

Harlequins launch ‘Help a London Child’ Big Game 3 shirt at Hamleys

Posted on Nov 2, 2010 in Rugby News

On Monday 27^th December Harlequins will take on London Irish at Twickenham Stadium in Big Game 3, an event which has become a firm fixture in the sporting calendar at Christmas.

This year, Quins’ charity partner is 95.8 Capital FM’s Help a London Child and, in the tradition of the Big Game, the shirt that the players wear will be designed in the charity colours.

95.8 Capital FM’s Help a London Child improves the lives of thousands of disadvantaged children living in our city, who are facing challenges such as poverty, abuse, homelessness, illness and disability. For every Big Game shirt sold, £15 will go towards this fantastic cause.

After successfully drawing 77,000 people last season to England’s HQ, The Big Game is back promising to be even bigger and better than before.

With 70% of seats being priced at £10 for adults and £5 for children, it not only offers a top class game of rugby between two Premiership sides, showcasing the likes of International stars Danny Care, Nick Easter, Nick Evans, Ugo Monye, the Armitage brothers, Bob Casey and Seilala Mapasua along with a number of others, but it offers the very best of pre-match entertainment.

  “The whole team are really excited about playing London Irish at this year’s Big Game 3, they are a strong side so it will be a tough and challenging match.  We are very proud to be wearing the special Help a London Child match day jerseys. A few of the players have been to the Shooting Star Children’s Hospice to see how some of the money raised by Help a London Child is put to use. It really made us all stop and think about what an important and crucial role the charity plays in enabling places like Shooting Star to provide essential respite care for life limited children and their families.” Chris Robshaw, Harlequins Captain.