Mullan makes comeback against Currie

Posted on Feb 7, 2011 in Rugby News

England prop Matt Mullan will make his long-awaited playing comeback as Worcester Warriors travel north to face Scottish side Currie in the British & Irish Cup on Tuesday night (kick-off 7.30pm).

Mullan will make his first appearance of the season after recovering from a shoulder injury as Worcester hunt a crucial victory at Malleny Park that will keep the club’s cup hopes alive.

Rob Higgitt, Oriol Ripol, Willie Walker and Joe Carlisle are all named in an attacking back line while Adam Balding will captain the side and form part of a powerful pack eager to produce in the Scottish capital. Highly-rated forward Rob Wood is among those named on the replacements bench.

Andrew Stanley, Head of Skill Development and Academy Manager at Warriors, said: “The game in Currie is a very important one for us and one we must win for our hopes for making the knockout stages.

“Currie have a big set of forwards and a back line that is committed to attack. It is going to be a difficult place to go and we can expect a stern test. It’s imperative we do a professional job in Scotland and get the right result

“It is fantastic news for everyone connected with Warriors to see Matt Mullan back in a Worcester shirt after a number of months out injured. We are all looking forward to seeing him in action and he has been very strong in training.

“Rob Wood will also play his first game for the club after a lengthy layoff after knee problems and will be keen to make an impact off the replacements bench.”

Warriors vs. Currie RFC

15 Willie Walker
14 Mike Penn
13 Rob Higgitt
12 Greg King
11 Oriol Ripol
10 Joe Carlisle
9 Ollie Frost

1 Matt Mullan
2 Ed Shervington
3 Oliver Tomaszczyk
4 Nile Dacres
5 Will Bowley
6 James Freeman
7 James Collins
8 Adam Balding (c)

Replacements
16 Will Radburn
17 Callum Black
18 Mike Hill
19 James Clutterbuck
20 Rob Wood
21 Louis Silver
22 James Whybrow

Warriors look for cutting edge in B&I Cup

Posted on Jan 21, 2011 in Rugby News

Worcester Warriors make a number of changes in the back division for the must-win Pool A British & Irish Cup clash with Plymouth Albion at Sixways Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

Head of Skill Development and Academy Manager Andrew Stanley has called on Warriors to return to winning ways in the competition, as his side hunt a quarter-final berth, and has rotated his backs after defeat in Ireland last time out.

Fly half Joe Carlisle is called up to play alongside experienced scrum half Andy Williams as Willie Walker switches to full back.

A new wing combination will see Oriol Ripol and former Plymouth player Tom Arscott look to give Worcester extra firepower while Samoan centre Dale Rasmussen will team up with Scotland international Alex Grove in midfield.

Stanley retains the same forward pack that impressed at Donnybrook, with captain Adam Balding in the back row alongside Matt Kvesic who is released back from England Under-20 training to feature.

Exciting young scrum half Joel Dudley is rewarded for his impressive cameo against Leinster A with a place on the bench alongside Greg King and Andy Short, who also returns from England training.

“It has been a short turnaround this week since the trip to Ireland and this game gives us a very quick opportunity to put the disappointment of the result away at Leinster behind us,” said Stanley.

“This is a very big game for us, given the fact that we want to do well in this competition and make the last eight. There is good momentum at the club at the moment and we want to continue that trend.

“We have brought some more experience into the back line as we also look to build towards the return to RFU Championship rugby in the coming weeks.”

Tickets remain on sale for the game and will also be available on the day. Call the Warriors Box Office for more information on 01905 454183.

Warriors vs Plymouth Albion

15 Willie Walker
14 Tom Arscott
13 Alex Grove
12 Dale Rasmussen
11 Oriol Ripol
10 Joe Carlisle
9 Andy Williams

1 Callum Black
2 Ed Shervington
3 Tevita Taumoepeau
4 James Clutterbuck
5 Will Bowley
6 James Freeman
7 Matt Kvesic
8 Adam Balding (c)

Replacements
16 Will Radburn
17 Sean McCarthy
18 Mike Hill
19 Nile Dacres
20 Joel Dudley
21 Greg King
22 Andy Short

Grove makes return for Warriors in Ireland

Posted on Jan 14, 2011 in Rugby News

Scotland international Alex Grove will make his first appearance of the season for Worcester Warriors as the squad travels to Dublin to take on Leinster A at Donnybrook in the British & Irish Cup on Sunday (kick-off 1pm).

Centre Grove recently returned from a loan spell with Edinburgh Rugby and gets his first chance to impress Head Coach Richard Hill as he teams up with Greg King in midfield.

Back row Adam Balding will captain the side as Warriors look to maintain an unbeaten record in the cup competition after overcoming Welsh side Newport 58-10 in early December.

Full back Mike Penn makes his long awaited comeback from a knee injury suffered last summer while the experienced duo of Andy Williams and Willie Walker combine at half back.
Tonga powerhouse prop Tevita Taumoepeau will pack down in the front row while lock James Clutterbuck will make his first senior start for the club in the second row.
“The result last time against Newport gave us a good springboard for this competition and impetus that we want to continue into the Leinster game,” said Andrew Stanley, Head of Skill Development and Academy Manager at Warriors.
“We have had a look at the Leinster team that played Plymouth Albion and Cornish Pirates. A lot of their players have had Magners League experience and a few have even played Heineken Cup games.
“We have seen footage and we have a little bit of an inside track on them, I have spoken to a few people to get an overview of how they like to play and we gave prepared as well as possible.”
Warriors vs Leinster A
15 Mike Penn
14 Sam Miller
13 Alex Grove
12 Greg King
11 Andy Short
10 Willie Walker
9 Andy Williams
1 Callum Black
2 Ed Shervington
3 Tevita Taumoepeau
4 Will Bowley
5 James Clutterbuck
6 James Freeman
7 Matt Kvesic
8 Adam Balding (c)
Replacements
16 Will Radburn
17 Sean McCarthy
18 Mike Hill
19 Nile Dacres
20 James Collins
21 James Whybrow
22 Joel Dudley

Hill rings the changes for Knights trip

Posted on Dec 14, 2010 in Rugby News

Head Coach Richard Hill makes a number of changes to his starting line-up as Worcester Warriors head north to tackle Doncaster Knights in a rearranged RFU Championship encounter at Castle Park on Wednesday (kick-off 7.30pm).

Hill makes a total of eight changes to the side that defeated Esher Rugby in the club’s last league game at the end of November with five new faces in the back line as his selection closely matches the team that travelled to Rotherham Titans earlier in the campaign.

Willie Walker starts at full back, top scorer Marcel Garvey is back on the wing and Samoan centre Dale Rasmussen is paired with Rob Higgitt. A new half back pairing will see points machine Andy Goode and scrum half Andy Williams combine.

A change in the front row allows prop Adam Black to pack down with Chris Fortey and Bruce Douglas while Greg Rawlinson returns in the second row and Neil Best is recalled to join Pat Sanderson and captain Kai Horstmann in the back row.

Oliver Tomaszczyk and Adam Balding will add power from the replacements bench while Ollie Frost could play his first league game since signing a new two-year deal at Warriors.

Warriors vs Doncaster Knights

15 Willie Walker
14 Marcel Garvey
13 Rob Higgitt
12 Dale Rasmussen
11 Miles Benjamin
10 Andy Goode
9 Andy Williams

1 Adam Black
2 Chris Fortey
3 Bruce Douglas
4 Greg Rawlinson
5 Craig Gillies
6 Neil Best
7 Pat Sanderson
8 Kai Horstmann (c)

Replacements
16 Aleki Lutui
17 Oliver Tomaszczyk
18 Graham Kitchener
19 Adam Balding
20 Ollie Frost
21 Joe Carlisle
22 Alex Crockett

Worcester call up Andy Short

Posted on Oct 15, 2010 in Rugby News

England Under-20 centre Andy Short will make his full league debut for Worcester Warriors after being named in the team for the top-of-the-table RFU Championship clash with Bedford Blues at Goldington Road on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

Academy product Short, who was previously part of the AASE scheme at Sixways, impressed after coming off the bench against Bristol and is named alongside Dale Rasmussen after Alex Crockett failed to shake off an ankle problem.

Head Coach Richard Hill makes just two changes to his starting line-up from the team that secured a bonus point victory over Bristol last Friday.

Flanker James Collins replaces the injured Jake Abbott to make his third start of the campaign while utility back Willie Walker returns to the replacements bench.

“Andy Short has really impressed me with his performances in the A League and is another exciting and talented product of our Academy set-up. We’re delighted that we have an Academy that is producing players of this quality,” said Hill.

“Playing alongside Dale Rasmussen, I know he will form part of a formidable and strong midfield that we look forward to seeing in action again after they combined so well against Bristol.

“James Collins is a straight swap for Jake and I know he will be keen to make an impact,” added Hill.

“JC was very impressive in the early part of the season and is a similar age and player to Jake. Whilst losing Jake is devastating it does provide an opportunity for JC to push for a continued starting place in the weeks ahead.”

Pat Sanderson, Greg King, Rob Higgitt, Chris Pennell and Matt Mullan join Crockett and Abbott in being unavailable for selection through injury this weekend.

Warriors vs. Bedford Blues

15 Tom Arscott
14 Marcel Garvey
13 Andy Short
12 Dale Rasmussen
11 Miles Benjamin
10 Andy Goode
9 Jonny Arr

1 Callum Black
2 Aleki Lutui
3 Tevita Taumoepeau
4 Graham Kitchener
5 Craig Gillies
6 Neil Best
7 James Collins
8 Kai Horstmann (c)

Replacements
16 Ed Shervington
17 Bruce Douglas
18 Greg Rawlinson
19 Adam Balding
20 Andy Williams
21 Joe Carlisle
22 Willie Walker