Hot shot Daniels happy to continue education at Molesey Road

Posted on Jun 28, 2012 in Moseley

Luke Daniels, who shot to prominence last year after working his way up Esher’s youth structure, has committed himself to the club for another year after putting pen to paper on a new deal.

The 20-year-old full back, who played his formative rugby at one of South Africa’s top educational establishments in Grey High School, has only been in the UK for just over a year but has already made a name for himself in rugby circles.

A seven month stint on the sidelines with a shoulder injury almost saw Daniels return home to Port Elizabeth but after deciding to stay, he flourished in the club’s academy side.

10 first team appearances have since followed, with the last – away at London Scottish on the final day of the campaign – seeing Daniels score a contender for try of the season.

County honours with Surrey and England Counties have ensued but the youngster is now really hoping to push on under the tutelage of incoming head coach Ollie Smith.

“As I’m still young I have a lot to learn. I think I have gained a good foundation of skills and have a fierce passion for rugby and Ollie, with all his playing experience, will definitely help me develop as a player,” he said.

“My experience at Esher on and off the field has been amazing thus far. I was obviously gutted when we were relegated but with a really good bunch of the lads staying, to carry on here was an easy decision to make.

“I think the new setup at the club is really positive and I believe we will put up a really strong fight for promotion back into the Championship at the first attempt.”

Surrey beat Leicestershire for County Championship Shield

Posted on May 28, 2012 in County Championship Shield

Leicestershire 12-43 Surrey

Surrey avenged their defeat in the 2011 County Championship Shield Final as they scored six tries in a comprehensive victory over Leicestershire at Twickenham.

Leicestershire took the lead on 13 minutes through winger James Padley’s try in the corner after Surrey scrum half Steve Munford’s long-range penalty attempt four minutes earlier had fallen well short.

Munford was off-target with two more penalty shots in the opening 25 minutes as both sides struggled to maintain possession, but it was as a result of his break that Surrey drew level 14 minutes before the interval.

Munford’s offload after a 30-metre dash saw club mate Matt Higgins go close, and from the breakdown the latter’s second row partner and skipper Armand Roux gathered and crashed over the whitewash for five points.

But no sooner had the South East side equalised than Leicestershire regained the ascendancy, as the Midlanders drove Roux’s opposite number Stuart Bale over the try line from a maul three minutes later, with Mark Lord slotting the extras.

Winger Kris McFedries thought that he had extended Leicestershire’s lead seconds later, only for his effort to be disallowed by referee Mark Liddell for a forward pass.

And Surrey restored parity again on the stroke of half time when they shifted the ball wide inside their opponents’ 22 to Alrich Muller on the wing, with the centre’s score eventually approved by assistant referee Mike Lambert.

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England Women’s EPS & England U20s squads announced for 2012/13 season

Posted on May 24, 2012 in England Women

The England Women’s Elite Playing squad (EPS) and England Women’s Under 20s squad for the 2012/13 season has been named.

The EPS, which has been selected through the traditional England trial process, the RFUW Divisional Programme and the England Sevens Open Trials, includes 12 newcomers.

In the forwards Lichfield’s Emily Braund and Rosemarie Crowley, Richmond’s Emma Croker and Alexandra Matthews, Saracens’ Hannah Gallagher and Bristol’s Kate Newton are all included.

Braund featured in this season’s Six Nations and European Cup campaigns, Croker returned to action after having a baby, Crowley and Newton also both featured in this month’s winning European Cup, whilst Gallagher and Matthews both graduate from the England U20s programme.

In the backs, Natasha Brennan, Lauren Cattell, Fiona Davidson, Abigail Chamberlain, Ceri Large and Sally Tuson are all given the nod.

Brennan made her England Sevens debut last weekend in Amsterdam, Cattell and Davidson step up from the England U20s set-up, Chamberlain returns to the EPS system, whilst Large and Tuson both impressed at the European Cup last week.

England Head Coach Gary Street said: “We have a number of players new to the EPS this season and the England coaching team have a lot of confidence in these players as all of them have had some international experience, in either XVs or Sevens this term. These players have been knocking on the door of the EPS so this is a natural progression for them. With these players having international experience under their belts already it puts the England set-up in a very strong position.

“Overall, this is a very fresh and exciting squad, and having the likes of Lauren Cattell and Alex Matthews included, who are just 18 and 19 respectively, underlines the quality and strength we have got for the forthcoming season but also for the future of England Rugby.”

The EPS will compete in another rigorous and competitive international programme in 2012/13. The XVs will take on France and New Zealand over the autumn, followed by the Six Nations Championship in the New Year. In the summer, England will also travel to New Zealand and the USA to take on the world champions in a three-test series and then compete in the Nations Cup.

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