IRFU and Ulster sign up Court and Wallace

Posted on Dec 16, 2011 in Irish Rugby, Ulster

The Irish Rugby Football Union and Ulster Rugby announced today that centre Paddy Wallace and prop Tom Court have each agreed new contracts to remain playing in Ireland.

Paddy Wallace has signed a one year deal which will see him contracted to the IRFU and Ulster Rugby until June 2013 while Tom Court has agreed a two year term which will see him wear Ulster colours until June 2014.

Both players were part of the Ireland Squad that reached the quarter-final stage of this year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Paddy Wallace, currently the longest serving member of the Ulster squad made his debut against Swansea in August 2001. Educated at Campbell College Belfast, Paddy was part of Ireland’s U19 Rugby World Cup winning side in 1999 and represented Ireland at U21, A and Sevens level before winning his first senior cap  when he came on a replacement against South Africa in November 2006. He was a member of Irish squad who won the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2009.

Tom Court joined Ulster Rugby from Australia at the start of the 2006-07 season. Irish qualified through ancestry, he was one of the best shot-putters in Australia and was a late convert to rugby union, taking up the game at the University of Queensland. From there he was invited to join the Queensland Reds Rugby Academy and played for New Zealand Province Manawatu, before returning to Australia to feature in the Reds Super 14 squad. No sooner had he arrived in Belfast than he was taken to the USA and Canada as part of the Ireland A Churchill Cup Squad and having won his first full Irish cap in the 2009 Six Nations Championships he is now a regular member of Ireland’s match day squad.

“I’ve had a great run here so far and Belfast is very much home now for my young family, so I’m delighted to have signed a new contract with Ulster.” commented Court. “I think we’ve made some real progress over the past 2-3 seasons, the Ulster team is as tight as ever and it’s a brilliant boost for me to sign a new deal and ensure that I’m part of that set-up.”

“It’s great to get the contract agreed early, and to have the certainty about where I’m going to be for the foreseeable future. Now I can just concentrate on the rugby.  Winning silverware with Ulster will be my main goal, and if things go well with Ulster then hopefully Ireland will fall into place.”

Munster team v Leinster

Posted on May 27, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

David Wallace will win his 200thcap as Munster name an unchanged starting XV for tomorrow’s Magners Grand Final clash with European champions Leinster at Thomond Park Stadium (5.05).

The match day 23 shows just one change from the squad that saw off Ospreys in the semi final with Johne Murphy named on the bench in place of Simon Zebo.

Otherwise it’s as you were for McGahan’s side as they chase a title they last captured in 2009.

Wallace, playing in his 17th game of the season becomes just the sixth Munster player to reach the 200thcap mark, having made his debut against Connacht in August 1997 alongside Ronan O’Gara.

Munster: F Jones; D Howlett, D Barnes, L Mafi, K Earls; R O’Gara, C Murray; M Horan, D Varley, J Hayes; D O’Callaghan, P O’Connell capt; D Ryan, D Wallace, J Coughlan. Replacements: M Sherry, W du Preez, S Archer, D Leamy, N Ronan, P Stringer, P Warwick, J Murphy.

Referee: Nigel Owens.

Ireland team to play Italy

Posted on Feb 1, 2011 in Rugby News

The Ireland team to play Italy in Rome this Saturday in the opening game of the 2011 RBS 6 Nations Championship contains one new cap and nine changes to the side from the game against Argentina last November.

Fergus McFadden will win his first cap for Ireland and is selected on the right wing and will play in a new combination back three with Keith Earls picked on the left wing and Luke Fitzgerald being chosen at full back for Ireland for the first time. The final change to the backline sees Tomas O’Leary come into the scrumhalf position after missing all of the Guinness Series in November due to injury.

In the pack, Rory Best returns to the side at hooker with Mike Ross earning his first start in the championship at tight head prop. Paul O’Connell is another who returns to the team to earn his 71st cap in the second row.

The back row is also a new combination at international level with Denis Leamy selected alongside David Wallace and Sean O’Brien, who earns his first RBS 6 Nations start for Ireland.

Ireland Team (to play Italy, RBS 6 Nations Championship, Stadio Flaminio, Rome on Saturday, February 5th, 15:30)

15 – Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
14 – Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
13 – Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) Captain
12 – Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 – Keith Earls (Thomond/Munster)
10 – Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
9 – Tomas O’Leary (Dolphin/Munster)
1 – Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2 – Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3 – Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4 – Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5 – Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
6 – Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
7 – David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
8 – Sean O’Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)

Replacements:
16 – Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht)
17 – Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
18 – Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster)
19 – Shane Jennings (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)
20 – Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
21 – Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
22 – Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)

Young guns Luke Wallace and Ross Chisholm re-sign for Quins

Posted on Jan 6, 2011 in Rugby News

Harlequins are have announced the re-signing of two more exciting, young English qualified players, Ross Chisholm and Luke Wallace, who will be upgraded to the Senior Squad from next season. Their new, first team contracts will see them remain at the London club until at least June 2013.

Both players have made big steps since making their first team debuts against Newcastle last season in the LV-= Cup. Currently on loan with Esher, Chisholm and Wallace are products of the Quins EPDG system and  the, ever more successful, Quins academy.

At only 20 years old Ross Chisholm has already  made 7 appearances (4 of them starts) for the Quins, scoring  three tries in that time. Although more accustomed to the full-back role, Chisholm can also play in the centres or on the wing if needed. Quick, with good handling skills and a talented kicker, Chisholm continues to put the pressure on full back, Mike Brown. He has also appeared for the England U18.

“I am delighted to have been offered the chance to continue my career at Quins, a club which is close to my heart having come through the school boy ranks. Quins play an exciting  brand of rugby and  I am looking forward to pushing for a first team spot”

Talented open-side flanker, Luke Wallace, is already pressurising the established Quins back row for a starting spot, after making his first competitive start for the club against Newcastle this season. Like Chisholm, Wallace has progressed through the EPDG system and has already made 7 appearances for the first team. A young player with a great work ethic, Wallace can seem to be everywhere on the pitch.

“I think the club is in the right place and I am really excited about the next few years with Harlequins. I want to continue to push Will Skinner and Chris Robshaw for the number 7 shirt but also to keep learning from him and all the senior players. It is such a positive environment and I am looking forward to the group pushing for silverware.”

Harlequins Academy Manager, Tony Diprose, says:

“Both Luke and Ross have already shown huge potential in the rugby opportunities they have had at a young age. They are a credit to their parents, school, teachers and coaches back in Sussex, in both their work ethic and attitude. I look forward to them emulating recent Academy graduates Joe Marler and George Lowe in establishing themselves as first team regulars.’

Ulster team news

Posted on Jan 6, 2011 in Rugby News

Ulster have named their starting XV and replacements to play Treviso in the Magners League at Ravenhill this Friday night (ko 7.05pm).

In the back line, only Simon Danielli retains the same position he played in the New Year’s Day derby against Munster at Thomond Park. While Paddy Wallace moves from out-half to inside centre, elsewhere it’s all change as D’Arcy replaces Smith at full-back, Trimble, rested last week, features on the right-wing, Nevin Spence is recalled to partner Wallace in the centre and Humphreys and Pienaar form the half-back partnership.

Up front Tom Court, another player rested last week as part of the player management programme and BJ Botha start in the front row with captain Rory Best. Johann Muller returns to action partnered by Tim Barker who retains his place from last week while Chris Henry and Pedrie Wannenburg start ahead of TJ Anderson and Robbie Diack in the back row.

Stephen Ferris is the notable inclusion on the bench having recovered from a leg injury sustained in training ahead of the December game against Bath at The Rec.

Ulster, who defeated Treviso 9-19 in the away fixture at the end of November, will be looking to get their Magners League campaign back on track after defeats to Leinster and Munster over the festive period, particularly with important games in Europe ahead. Benetton Treviso won both legs of their festive derbies against Aironi over the holiday period.

Gates open at 5.30pm and tickets for the match will be available to purchase on the gates.

Ulster (15-9) Adam D’Arcy; Andrew Trimble, Nevin Spence, Paddy Wallace, Simon Danielli; Ian Humphreys, Ruan Pienaar (1-8) Tom Court, Rory Best (Captain), BJ Botha, Johann Muller, Tim Barker, Chris Henry, Willie Faloon, Pedrie Wannenburg

Replacements (16-23) Nigel Brady, Bryan Young, Declan Fitzpatrick, Dan Tuohy, Stephen Ferris, Paul Marshall, Ian Whitten, David McIlwaine