Nigel Redman to join Worcester Warriors from RFU

Posted on May 22, 2012 in Worcester Warriors

Nigel Redman is to leave the RFU and return to Worcester Warriors as the new forwards coach of the Aviva Premiership club.

The move ends his eight years working for the Union as an RFU National Academy Coach, England Under 20 head coach and Elite Coach Development Manager.

The Cardiff born former Bath and England lock left Sixways to become a National Academy Coach in 2004 and coached the national Under 21 and Under 19 teams before leading England Under 20 to a Six Nations Grand Slam and a Junior World Championship final in 2008.

Since then he has worked with Head of Elite Coach Development Kevin Bowring to support the development of coaches in England teams,  the National Academy, Premiership and Championship clubs, and academies.

Redman, an RFU Level 5 Coach and a graduate of the UK Sport Elite Coach Programme, links up with former Bath and England teammate Richard Hill in July.

Nigel Redman said: “It was a tough decision to make but I’m passionate about coaching people and I’m excited about what is happening at Worcester and want to be part of that process.

“Kevin Bowring, Rob Andrew [Professional Rugby Director] and Nathan Martin [Professional Rugby General Manager] at the RFU have been very supportive in getting me to where I am and in making my decision, and now I’m looking forward to working with Richard Hill, the coaches, players and people at Worcester.

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Vunipola replaces Kvesic in England Under 20 squad

Posted on May 10, 2012 in England U20

London Wasps back row Billy Vunipola will replace injured Worcester Warriors flanker Matt Kvesic in the England Under 20 squad for the IRB Junior World Championship in South Africa next month.

Former Under 18 international Billy, brother of Mako who played in last year’s competition, is in line to make his Under 20 debut after impressing for Wasps in the latter stages of the season.

Aviva Premiership Discovery of the Season nominee Kvesic misses out after having surgery on a shoulder injury, meaning the 20-year-old Warrior won’t add to his 14 Under 20 caps.

Vunipola said: “This is a really exciting opportunity and one I’m looking forward to. Matt’s a quality player and he’ll be missed, but having trained with the squad earlier in the season I know that there’s some real talent in there.”

Kvesic added: “I’m obviously gutted to miss the tournament. After losing in last year’s final against New Zealand I was looking forward to giving it another crack, but it’s not meant to be. I’ve loved every minute representing the Under 20s and I wish the guys the best of luck in South Africa – I’ve got every confidence they’ll give it their all.”

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Aviva Premiership Round 21 preview

Posted on Apr 16, 2012 in Bath, English Rugby, Exeter, Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester, Harlequins, Leeds Carnegie, Leicester Tigers, London Irish, London Wasps, Newcastle Falcons, Northampton, Premiership, Premiership Rugby, Sale Sharks, Saracens, Worcester Warriors

 

ROUND 21 FIXTURES

Friday 20th April

• Newcastle Falcons v Saracens (Kingston Park 7.45pm)  Live on ESPN

Saturday 21st April

• Bath Rugby v London Wasps (Recreation Ground, 2.15pm)
• Gloucester Rugby v Sale Sharks (Kingsholm, 3pm) 
• Worcester Warriors v London Irish (Sixways, 3pm)
• Harlequins v Leicester Tigers (Twickenham Stoop, 3.15pm)   Live on Sky Sports

Sunday 22nd April

• Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints (Sandy Park, 2pm)  Live on ESPN

Highlights show on ITV4 8pm Sunday evenings.

Newcastle Falcons v Saracens

Newcastle Falcons have now won back-to-back Aviva Premiership Rugby matches against Sale and Gloucester, but have not won three in succession in the competition since November 2009.

Saracens were victorious at London Irish on Saturday but slipped to 3rd place in the table – their lowest position since round three. Sarries only defeat in their last eight away games in all competitions was 11-16 at Worcester on 24 February. The reigning champions need just three more points to guarantee a semi-final spot for a third successive year.

Saracens have won their last six encounters with Newcastle in all competitions, with the Falcons most recent victory in the series being 13-9 at Kingston Park in February 2009.

Bath Rugby v London Wasps

Bath Rugby have slipped to four straight reversals in all competitions since beating Worcester at The Rec on 3 March. Bath have lost three of their last four home games.

London Wasps’ only win in their last four matches was 26-24 at home to Gloucester in Aviva Premiership Rugby on 1 April. Wasps only away victory since November was 32-11 at Rovigo in the European Challenge Cup on 14 January.

Wasps won 27-24 when the two teams met at Adams Park in round six, but have not achieved a season’s double over Bath since 2007/08. The Londoners have won on their last two visits to The Rec.

Gloucester Rugby v Sale Sharks

Gloucester Rugby have slipped to four consecutive reversals in Aviva Premiership Rugby but have not lost five in a row in the Premiership since early 2001. Gloucester have not lost three in a row at Kingsholm since April 2005.

Sale Sharks ended a three match losing run with their 16-9 victory at home to Bath on Friday. The Sharks’ solo away win in the Premiership since September was 16-13 at Bath on 3 December.

The last nineteen encounters between the two clubs in all competitions have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst Sale have not been victorious at Kingsholm since a 19-18 victory on 26 August 2000.

Worcester Warriors v London Irish

Worcester Warriors only win in their last four games was 19-9 at home to Newcastle on 23 March.

The Warriors’ five match winning run at Sixways in all competitions ended at the hands of Exeter on Saturday.

London Irish have slipped to seven straight defeats in Aviva Premiership Rugby – their worst ever sequence in Premiership history. The Exiles have won just once on the road this season in the tournament: 14-13 at Northampton in round three.

The Warriors are winless in their last ten Premiership encounters against London Irish since their 20-15 victory at Madejski Stadium on 11 September 2005.

Harlequins v Leicester Tigers 

Harlequins have already qualified for the semi-finals, and if they prevent Tigers winning this game it will be at home, whilst their only reversal in their last seven Aviva Premiership Rugby matches was 23-29 at Gloucester in round 16.

Leicester Tigers have picked up maximum points from their last five Premiership matches and require just two further league points to reach the playoffs for the eighth successive season. Tigers have suffered just one defeat to an English side since Harlequins visited Welford Road on 8 October.

Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints

Exeter Chiefs have won six of their last seven matches in Aviva Premiership Rugby including four victories in a row, whilst victory over Saints would guarantee them a first ever semi-final spot.

Northampton Saints have won just two of their last five away games in all competitions and must prevent the Chiefs winning this game if they are to keep their own hopes of a playoff spot alive.

Exeter’s only competitive victory over Northampton came in this equivalent fixture at Sandy Park last season.

Wing Benjamin to leave Worcester Warriors

Posted on Mar 2, 2012 in English Rugby, Premiership, Worcester Warriors

Worcester Warriors have today confirmed that wing Miles Benjamin will leave the club at the end of the season.

England Saxons star Benjamin is a product of the Academy system at Sixways and has played over a century of games for Warriors over the last five seasons.

Benjamin, who finished as the top try-scoring in the RFU Championship last season, has to date scored 57 tries in 119 appearances for Worcester in all competitions.

“It’s been a very difficult decision to leave Worcester Warriors,” said Benjamin.

“I have really enjoyed my six years at the club and I’m grateful for the opportunities I have had, in particular to the Academy coaching team of Andrew Stanley and Gary Meechan who brought me to the club.

“I will miss the club and the great supporters, but for now my focus is on helping the club achieve its goals for the rest of the season. When I do leave I will wish the Warriors all the best for the future and always watch events at Sixways closely.”

Head Coach Richard Hill praised Benjamin’s contribution to the club during his time at Warriors.

He said: “I have nothing but praise for Miles and what he has achieved at Sixways. He has come through the ranks at Warriors and has developed into one of the best wingers this club has seen in recent times.

“He is a very physical athlete and one of the strongest in the Aviva Premiership on the wing. Miles is, in my opinion, one of the best defenders on the wing in the country.

“There is no doubt that he is a try scorer, a potent finisher. But he also has an all-round game and is good under the high ball and takes any opportunity given to make yards and work hard for the good of the team..

“Miles is also a very polite and genuine person and true professional; he is undeniably a popular member of the squad. We are disappointed to be losing his services at the end of the season, but he will leave with our best wishes for the future and will give everything in his remaining time with us.

“Replacing a player of the quality of Miles, in particular his physicality and defensive qualities, was always going to be difficult. But I am absolutely delighted by our recruitment of Scotland international Nikki Walker, a player who I know will bring both that physical edge and also experience to the club.”

There will be no further comment from Miles Benjamin on this issue at this time.

Ezra Taylor joins Worcester Warriors

Posted on Dec 16, 2011 in English Rugby, Premiership, Worcester Warriors

Worcester Warriors have bolstered the club’s back row resources with the capture of highly rated Samoan international Ezra Taylor.

Taylor, who has featured for both the Highlanders and Queensland Reds in the Super 15, is expected to jet into Sixways in the coming weeks.

The 28-year-old, who stands 6ft 4in tall and weighs 17st 7lbs, has also had a spell playing for Connacht in the Magners League.

Head Coach Richard Hill revealed he had targeted Taylor as a potential recruit for next season but had moved quickly for the Brisbane-born back row, who can also operate in the second row, following injuries to Kai Horstmann, Adam Balding, Neil Best and Matt Kvesic.

“We are delighted to announce the signing of Ezra Taylor and believe he will be a major capture for the Warriors,” said Hill.

“We wanted a powerful player to add to our back row as we have come across, and continue to face, some big players this season, with the likes of Thomas Waldrom at Leicester Tigers and Francois Louw at Bath.

“We originally looked at Ezra over the summer with a view to recruiting him in the future. Phil Davies and I both really liked the look of him at the Pacific Nations Cup for Samoa.

“He has a strong rugby CV, having featured for the Reds, Highlanders and Connacht, and will add a real level of physicality to the squad. Ezra will join us in the coming weeks and there is a good chance he could be involved against Leicester Tigers.”

Born in Australia but raised in New Zealand, Taylor represented New Zealand at Under-19 and school boy levels. He made his debut for Otago in the 2006 Air New Zealand Cup and earned a contract with the Highlanders for the 2007 Super 14 season.

Taylor signed with the Queensland Reds – where he is currently training – for the 2009 Super 14 season. He appeared in 14 matches over two seasons for the Reds.

The back row signed with Connacht for 2010/11 and made his Samoa debut earlier this year against Japan.

“I’m really looking forward to the move and joining the Warriors,” said Taylor. “The club is moving forward in a good direction and I want to fit in and be part of that emphasis.

“The set up sounds awesome and the support structure sounds top class, headed of course by a great coaching staff. I am extremely excited about working with and becoming part of the Warriors family.