Sunday 31 August 2014

Rugby World Cup 2015 will be bigger and better than anything that has gone ...


And though the Rugby World Cup is ostensibly being held in England, the

physical proximity of Wales, Scotland and Ireland means their players will

also be similarly affected.



Domestic players have to be ready for unparalleled coverage of every aspect of

their playing career from the rugby media. They also have to understand that

their off-field activities, tweets, private lives and relationships will

also come under the examination of the lifestyle media. If players thought

the scrutiny in New Zealand 2011 was disproportionate, the 2015 RWC will be

significantly worse.



It is against this background that domestic players have to frame their

performances and behaviour and it will not be easy. The standard response to

questions about World Cup prospects is ‘I’m just focusing on the next game’

and though that is the correct approach, it is nigh on impossible for a

player, probable or aspirant, to focus that way.



This conundrum is exacerbated by the fact that he knows he has to play well

for his club to stand any chance of being selected in the national team and

that means being in the right physical and mental state from the off.



That said, it is not possible for a player to peak for every single match and

every club’s performance plan reflects this; they are geared towards getting

their players to peak at times identified by the club as crucial.



Conversely, the player’s national squad also has a preparation plan and it

will have a different and probably conflicting focus.



Balancing the two requires enormous care from the player, his club and country

and the margins at this level are so fine that if this goes wrong it will

negatively affect the outcome for all three parties.



It is a problem that is almost unique to rugby union because in rugby league,

football and cricket there is no tournament that is universally accepted by

players, fans and media as being pre-eminent.



The other fundamental conflict for a player is one of loyalty. Week in, week

out, they train and play with colleagues who have no chance of going to a

World Cup and for whom domestic success is the highest aspiration.



Any player with a vestige of loyalty wants to support that aim but he also

wants to take part in what might be a once in a career chance to play in

rugby’s greatest event; no current domestic player is likely to play in

another RWC on these shores. If a player is seen to be insufficiently

committed to either cause it can easily create friction and resentment which

is difficult to resolve.



All this could have been even worse for Welsh players, who must be thankful

that their union and regions have at last come to a new agreement about who

does what, for whom and for what reward.



Had this not been achieved Wales’s already difficult task of qualifying from a

group also containing England,
Australia

and Fiji would have been made impossible.



When you look at what has now been agreed you have to ask why was this not

achievable months ago, as the basic issues are not overly complicated. The

full effects of this unnecessarily bitter dispute will be shown in the

coming months, suffice to say that the sort of brinkmanship shown by both

sides would not be in any model preparation plan.



It is inevitable that nearly every game this season will reference the World

Cup – should he be in? Has he played himself out? It will go on and on, so

be prepared to put up with it. That it will be so is because what is coming

will be unique, exciting and the prize is one for which it is worth

sacrificing everything. For all concerned, how could it be any different?


Article source: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/rugby-vickery-talks-welsh-lions-152327766.html


Rugby World Cup 2015 will be bigger and better than anything that has gone ...

Grass roots rugby coaches defend the game after a leading public health expert ...

Grass roots youth rugby club coaches defended the sport after a leading scientist argued it must change “completely” to keep children safe.


Leading public health guru Allyson Pollock urged the doctors’ union, the British Medical Association (BMA), to campaign against the sport arguing its “violence is not ancillary”.


Prof Pollock, of London’s Queen Mary University, made her claims in a new book – and she says there should be a tightening of rules to stop children being exposed to the risk of serious injury.


Her claims come in the wake of a string of serious injuries to players in recent years, with Blues player Owen Williams still recovering from a devastating injury.


Yet youth team coaches insisted that the game was safe for young


Beddau RFC coaches under sevens to under 16s and Coach Leigh Christopher defended the youth game.


He said: “At the end of the day, it’s a contact sport. You can get an injury in any sport. Football players get injured, just as rugby players can get injured.


“Rugby is a community sport and I think it’s great to see children taking part. It has a lot of benefits – it disciplines them, it motivates them, they meet a lot of people and make news friends. It really brings the community together.


“You are going to take a knock in rugby but it’s all part of the sport.”


Jason Halse, coach at Llanharan RFC, which has minis and juniors sides, argued that the sport is safe for children as long as they are coached in the right way.


“It all depends on whether children are taught properly,” he said. “You know that if you don’t hold your head in a certain position when tackling, then there’s the potential for serious injury. But if you are taught properly, by a coach who has played the game, then you are better protected.


“There are too many rules now as it is at the minute. Any more would just bring the game down.”


In her criticisms of the game, Prof Pollock said: “We already know that rugby is a major cause of injury, that far from relaxing the rules we should be tightening them further for children, changing the game completely and allowing it to evolve to a safer form of play.


“If rugby were a new medical drug it would be withheld until its efficacy and safety had been proven.


“We would not want our children to be given medicine to improve their mental or physical health if there was little knowledge of its risks and no attempt had been made to collect data on it.


“Why should rugby, with its harmful side effects, be any different?” Prof Pollock called on the BMA to step in after it dubbed boxing a “totally unsuitable activity for children”. “The BMA could say the same about rugby, but it has so far been silent,” Prof Pollock said.


“If the BMA was willing to stand up to specious arguments over boxing, will it now do the same over rugby?” The BMA said it “doesn’t have a policy” on rugby.


Prof Pollock claimed rugby had become “increasingly dangerous” since it turned professional in 1995.


The WRU said player welfare was “at the heart of everything we do”.


A spokeswoman said: “The Welsh Rugby Union has thorough safeguarding policies and procedures, which are regularly reviewed and updated.


“We are about to roll out an extensive concussion awareness programme throughout the community game and, in conjunction with St John Cymru Wales, we deliver rugby specific first aid courses which club coaches, team managers, match officials and volunteers are strongly urged to complete.”


Teams benefit financially if they have qualified first aiders.


“The WRU is proud of the values and standards represented through rugby and is aware of the benefits of being involved at all levels in the national sport of Wales,” the spokeswoman said.


Tackling Rugby: What Every Parent Should Know, by Allyson Pollock, is published on October 7 by Verso Books, priced £9.99


Article source: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/rugby-vickery-talks-welsh-lions-152327766.html


Grass roots rugby coaches defend the game after a leading public health expert ...

University of Derby leads research on rugby injuries



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RUGBY players who suffer injuries similar to car-crash victims while playing the sport have been offered a better chance of recovery, thanks to research led by the University of Derby.


Professor Nick Draper, university head of life sciences, and PhD student Angus Lindsay have designed a way of testing the impact on the players themselves.


The project – a collaboration between the University of Derby and University of Canterbury in New Zealand – has been investigating the impact on Canterbury rugby players for two years, working with researchers at the New Zealand Rugby Union and the Canterbury Health laboratories.


The New Zealand team found damage to Canterbury rugby players after games were in the range expected from serious trauma.



A set of biochemical tests was carried out to measure the level of damage using only urine and saliva, eradicating the need for blood tests, enabling them to investigate 44 samples per game – before and after the game for each player.


Prof Draper said: “Our research measured several bio-chemicals in the urine and saliva to gain a global view of how players responded to the physical stress of an individual game. For instance, when a player damages a muscle, a bio-chemical marker of this damage can be traced in the urine using high-performance liquid chromatography.


“We can then interpret this to examine the extent of such damage.


“During the research, the measurements tested the level of muscle damage, inflammation, immune resistance and mental stress. The measurements can be used to assist coaches and medical staff to manage players’ recovery and training during different phases of competition.”



Article source: http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2014-15/rugby/story/239007.html


University of Derby leads research on rugby injuries

Humphreys calling for time as Gloucester Rugby look to start anew



After a disappointing season that saw the Cherry Whites finish ninth, Nigel Davies was shown the exit door after just one campaign in charge.



Replacing him in the hotseat is former Ireland fly-half Humphreys, who ended a 22-year association with Ulster as first player and then director of rugby to head the Gloucester revival project.



But with 26 players coming in to the squad and a new coaching team hastily assembled since he was appointed to the job in June, the 42-year-old warns an immediate return to the upper echelons of the Aviva Premiership won’t happen overnight.



“We’d love to get off to a flying start and you need a little bit of luck to do that,” Humphreys said.



“Nobody knows how long it will take for 26 new players, eight new members of staff, to come together.



“So far, so good – the experience that a lot of the players have brought coming in is of international quality, and a lot of the coaches have experience in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.



“We’re all aware of what’s required, we’d probably like another month of pre-season but we’ve just got get on with it now – there’s no excuses.



“Laurie Fisher comes to us having also been at Munster for three years so he’s well aware of the Northern Hemisphere game, he’s played against teams in Europe we’ll be playing against over the next few weeks.



“But he’s got a way of playing, I’ve got a view of how we play, John Muggleton’s got his and Nick Walshe has too. Our players have a certain style they’re used to and the new ones coming in do too, so all these things and how we’re going to put them together will take time.



“But the quality of players coming in will allow you to overcome some of those deficiencies and do enough to compete.”



And as he looks to turn the club’s fortunes around, Humphreys insists he has been giving a helping hand by those who came before him.



“Some of the issues that Gloucester had last year have been addressed and that’s some credit to the previous administration in terms of who they’ve signed,” he added.



“Richard Hibbard and (John) Afoa have come in, (Mariano) Galarza the Argentine hasn’t yet arrived but again the front five, there’s power there. And then Greig (Laidlaw) and James (Hook) are international quality players, they’ve been successful at all levels.



“They’ve performed well in the games so far and I have no doubt they’ll be both influential and successful in the Aviva Premiership. They all might well make an impact straight away, what we need to make sure that impact is complementing the whole team.”



The Aviva Premiership Rugby season kicks off on Friday 5 September. To buy tickets for any match click here.



GLOUCESTER RUGBY’S OPENING FIXTURES

September 6: Northampton Saints v Gloucester Rugby

September 13: Gloucester Rugby v Sale Sharks

September 19: Gloucester Rugby v Exeter Chiefs

September 26: London Welsh v Gloucester Rugby

October 4: Gloucester Rugby v Leicester Tigers

October 11: Saracens v Gloucester Rugby




Article source: http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2014-15/rugby/story/239007.html


Humphreys calling for time as Gloucester Rugby look to start anew

Crews called to Blackbrook rugby club fire

Crews were called in the early hours






First published



in News



Last updated





FIREFIGHTERS were called to a blaze at an amateur rugby club’s home in the early hours of this morning (Sunday, August 31).



Crews from St Helens and Whiston Fire Stations attended Blackbrook Amateur Rugby League Rugby Club on Boardmans Lane, Blackbrook shortly after 1.30am.



The exact location of the fire and the cause are unclear at this stage. However, it is believed that a shelter nearby the clubhouse suffered serious damage and that the club itself suffered minor damage from the heat of the fire.



In a statement Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said: “On arrival fire crews used a main branch to deal with a fire.



“The exterior of the club house sustained minor damage caused by the heat from the fire. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.”



Full story to follow




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Article source: http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2014-15/rugby/story/239007.html


Crews called to Blackbrook rugby club fire

Wales reveal training bases for next year"s Rugby World Cup



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WALES’S two training bases for next year’s Rugby World Cup will be in Cardiff and London.


The Vale Resort on the outskirts of Cardiff and London Irish RFC will be home to Warren Gatland’s side during the competition.


Gatland’s squad, who reached the semi-finals of the competition in New Zealand three years ago, will spend their time between the two venues for the duration of their four pool encounters.


“A great deal of effort has been put in to select the approved bases and we are very pleased to be based at two excellent sporting venues,” said Wales’s head coach.



“The selection of team bases are extremely important for the squad’s preparation and we were very impressed with the packages on offer from the approved venues.


“We are very familiar with the Vale and their pedigree for hosting sporting teams is second to none. In addition, London Irish’s new complex at Hazelwood, which they moved into this summer is another great base, which really suits our needs.


“The tournament is only just around the corner and all of our preparations are focused on the next 12 months.”


Wales will kick off their World Cup campaign at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday, September 20 when they will face the winner of the two-leg repechage final between Russia and Uruguay.


England lie in wait for the second pool fixture at Twickenham six days later before Wales return to Cardiff to face Fiji on October 1.


Wales’s final pool game is against Australia on October 10 at Twickenham.



Article source: http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2014-15/rugby/story/239007.html


Wales reveal training bases for next year"s Rugby World Cup

England crush Spain 45-5 to record their second successive victory ahead of ...


If the victory over Samoa had been based on the pace of the likes of Thompson

and Natasha Hunt, Tuesday’s win was founded on their superiority in the

forward exchanges.



Flanker Marlie Packer led the way with two tries in a display that will give

Street food for thought when he selects his side to face Canada, who are

also unbeaten after wins over Spain and Samoa.



Laurie Keates was another forward who crossed the line while front-foot ball

and the control from fly-half by Ceri Large also created the momentum for

Kay Wilson, Danielle Waterman and Claire Allan to score tries.




Pivotal: Ceri Large makes a break from fly-half



Street, who had the luxury of resting 10 players from the Samoa win, will now

be picking from a position of strength when preparing for the Canada game as

England look to secure their place in the knock-out stages.



England have scored a total of 16 tries and over 100 points in their first two

Pool A games and the consolation score by Spain’s Marina Bravo on Tuesday

has been their only defensive slip.



“We had a plan going into these first two games: we wanted to give

everyone a chance and we wanted to see all 26 players in action,”

Street said. “I thought that we started quite slowly today but we knew

that we would have to be patient, and that proved to be the case. Space

eventually came our way and we got ourselves into some good positions.



“Looking ahead to Canada, we have some fresh legs who will come into

contention, but there will be some tough calls to make ahead of what

promises to be a very difficult game.”



A moment of sublime play had broken the deadlock for England after a scrappy

first quarter with Large nudging a perfectly-weighted chip kick though for

Wilson to score after Waterman had ghosted up the left touchline.




Waterman’s quick feet took her over for England’s second try just before

half-time before the forwards turned the screw after the break.



An impressive driving maul culminating in a try for Keates, a second-half

replacement, and the bonus point was secured moments later, with Allan, the

makeshift wing in Thompson’s absence, going over after a break by Large and

support by Amber Reed, Packer and Sarah Hunter.



It marked the end of any effective Spanish resistance. Packer scored the fifth

try with a remarkably powerful burst that took her through six defenders.



A raft of changes from the bench allowed Spain to capitalise from some sloppy

defending as Bravo cut inside from a tapped penalty to score the first try

England have conceded in the tournament.




While England could not quite maintain their momentum, appropriately the final

say was left to the forwards, with Packer driven over for her second try

from marching maul.



Wales saw their semi-final hopes ended in an emphatic 25-2 defeat by Australia

in Marcoussis. Wales, who were convincingly beaten by hosts France in their

opening game, were no match for the Australian side.



Sharni Williams and Tricia Brown scored tries as Australia built a 17-0

interval lead, and Brown then added a second touchdown, with Wales replying

through a solitary Robyn Wilkins penalty.



Wales wind up their campaign against South Africa on Saturday, while Australia

face a group decider against France.


Article source: http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2014-15/rugby/story/239007.html


England crush Spain 45-5 to record their second successive victory ahead of ...

Irish women"s rugby captain found the sport "boring" at university





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Article source: http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2014-15/rugby/story/239007.html


Irish women"s rugby captain found the sport "boring" at university

Whistling while she works. Rugby ref Sara has her sights set on Rio in 2016



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She’s the only English, female referee on the international rugby sevens circuit – and she’s got an eye firmly on the next Olympics.


As well as ref-ing for the seven-a-side game, Sara Cox, 24, from Broadclyst in East Devon, is also one of two women, English referees on the international 15s circuit.


As well as these coveted roles, she also referees for the National League 3 South West Men’s 15s and is aiming to referee at the 2016 Olympics when the sport of rugby sevens makes its debut. The other thing she wants is to see more women involved in the sport, but she is adamant that it’s attitude, not gender, which is the determining factor.


“It takes a certain type of personality to be a referee,” she says. “You have to be able to take angry coaches screaming at you and keep your level of fitness high. I’ve had it all – the wolf whistles, men asking me, ‘should you really be doing this?’ and heard the whispers ‘it’s always been a gentleman’s sport. It’s only recently that women have put their stamp on it.’



“But this attitude is becoming less and less common. And I let my refereeing do the talking – it does everything I need it to do. I’m a referee, not a female referee. There are no barriers that prevent women from being referees. It’s for you to prove as a person you can do it; gender doesn’t come into it.”


As a teenager the former Clyst Vale Community College student played for Exeter Saracens and Cullompton and had honours at county and regional level, three times trialling for England Under-21s, deciding on her third go, aged just 17, to try her hand at refereeing.


“I was too young to go into coaching so I thought, what can I do next?” she continues. “I was always quite lippy on the pitch, so I thought what better way to continue to be involved than to pick up a whistle and have a go? For whatever reason, I really, really loved it.”


From refereeing on the Sevens Women’s Grand Prix circuit, a Europe-wide competition, Sara was trialled by the Rugby and Football Union and then scouted by the International Rugby Board while refereeing at a game at Twickenham.


Over the last 12 months her role has taken her from Australia, Dubai, France, Spain and Brazil to Atlanta, Amsterdam and Moscow for both Euro and World Cup games predominantly as an International Women’s Rugby Sevens referee.


“I love sevens,” she reveals. “It’s so fast, and it’s 14 minutes to concentrate instead of 80! I’m built for speed and I like the intensity. For me it’s the excitement of those 14 minutes where everyone on the pitch has the same aim and I’m facilitating it. The buzz and the reaction of the players and the crowd, and the atmosphere … you can’t beat it.”


Sara has to be on top of her game, keeping up with the players physically but also mentally – knowing where the ball is, having the law book at the forefront of her mind, working out if one has been broken and, if so, what to do about it, all in a split second.


“A decision can change a game,” she says. “There are times when you don’t get it right, but it’s about getting that margin of error closer. These players are playing for titles and funding and, when the Olympics come, medals for their country – I have to make sure I’m top of my game.


“We make mistakes, and if anyone says they don’t they’re lying because we’re human. I’ve gone out in front of 20,000 spectators at Twickenham, aired on Sky TV and made a wrong call. You can make an howler at this level; it’s the way you deal with it.


“The most important thing is to put your hand up. Players will forgive you, until it becomes a pattern. But it’s a learning point; you learn and the players learn and you have to make sure you don’t do it again.”


Sara also has to keep her eye on players who cheat. “Players will always try to cheat – they want to see what they can get away with – but it’s for me to set that boundary and not let them get away with it.”


With no funding or pay, Sara is in it purely for the love of the sport, and she intends to be at the Rio Games in two years.


“Selection has already started,” she says. “It’s not a given that anyone performing well now will be selected. I’ve got to stay fit, get the game experience and tick the right boxes. I can’t control their decision but I can control how fit I am and the way I perform. It means everything to get there.”


By day, Sara is a marketing executive for Coastal Recycling at Marsh Barton, where the bosses have been hugely supportive. But despite her success on the international circuit, the refereeing Sara continues to do locally with young people still means as much to her.


“When one of the young players storms ahead and scores a try,” she adds, “that for them is their World Cup. To have facilitated that and be a part of their legacy with the game – what more could you want?”



Article source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/8794781/Yarde-to-make-England-debut-Eastmond-starts


Whistling while she works. Rugby ref Sara has her sights set on Rio in 2016

Plymouth Albion 17 Bristol Rugby 46: Ryan Edwards scores another hat-trick as ...



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RYAN Edwards scored a second hat-trick in as many games as Bristol concluded their pre-season campaign with an eight-try victory over GKIPA Championship rivals Plymouth at Brickfields.


The Welsh winger – who crossed three times against Clifton on Tuesday evening – did his chances of featuring against Worcester in next weekend’s Championship opener no harm at all.


Plymouth grabbed an early lead – but Bristol scored five tries before half-time to lead 27-7 at the interval, before scoring three more in the second half.


Director of rugby Andy Robinson was delighted with how the performance underlined the depth of talent at his disposal – with a number of players taking their opportunity to impress.




Eoghan Grace opened the scoring for Plymouth from close range in the third minute following Ben Foley’s break from deep, before Edwards grabbed the first of his three tries from Charlie Amesbury’s pass and Bristol hit back instantly with a slick move.


Scrum-half Craig Hampson, a summer recruit from Leeds, gave his side the lead when he picked up from a close-range scrum, threw a dummy, and stepped through a gap to score, with Adrian Jarvis converting.


Edwards was on the mark again as Bristol built a 17-7 lead within 18 minutes, finishing off Hampson’s chip through, before the point-a-minute scoring rate continued when hooker Max Crumpton dotted down out wide after Amesbury’s break and Glen Townson’s offload. Ross Rennie – Bristol’s captain for the day – made it 27-7 in the 25th minute following a penalty and a line-out drive.


Bristol started the second half well, forcing a penalty try following a scrum, before Plymouth hit back when Pete Homan intercepted Luke Eves’ pass and set up Rayner to score. Lock Tom Jubb then took another chunk out of the Albion deficit when he capped a spell of home pressure to score from close range, making it 34-17.


Edwards completed his hat-trick with a smart finish, taking Auguy Slowik’s pass and beating Homan on the outside, while Amesbury concluded the scoring in the dying minutes when he crashed over in the corner following another smart Bristol move.


Plymouth Albion: B Foley (J Henry 41); L Warner, T Howley-Berridge, B Woods (B Foley 73), P Homan; L Rayner (J Shanahan 58), J Williams (J Davies 55); A Tiedemann (T Heard 55), T Stagg (S Matavesi 31 (T Cowan-Dickie 64)), T Fidler (J Gibbons 41), N Patrick (R Langley 41), T Jubb, I Grieve (capt), E Grace (S Simmonds 55), A Bone (A Cannock 71).


Scorers: Tries – Grace, Rayner, Jubb. Con – Rayner.


Bristol: A Slowik; R Edwards, J Tovey (M Cooke 41), L Eves (C Sheedy 71), C Amesbury; A Jarvis (L Slowik 58), C Hampson (L Baldwin 41); J O’Connell (E Genge 41), M Crumpton (R Johnston 55), J Hall (G Cortes 41), J Joyce, G Townson, M Mama (J Ovens 41), R Rennie (capt; O Robinson 41), B Skirving.


Scorers: Tries – Edwards (3), Hampson, Crumpton, Rennie, penalty, Amesbury . Cons – Jarvis (2), Cooke.


Referee: S Harding. Att: 842.



Article source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/8794781/Yarde-to-make-England-debut-Eastmond-starts


Plymouth Albion 17 Bristol Rugby 46: Ryan Edwards scores another hat-trick as ...

Rugby-All Blacks back to the dark places as championship resumes




SYDNEY Aug 31 (Reuters) – It must be galling for the other three teams in the Rugby Championship when New Zealand roll out of a 51-20 humbling of the world’s third best team with a shrug of the shoulders and a “yeah, it was good, but it could be better”.




That, of course, is the drive for perfection that has made the All Blacks utterly dominant in world rugby – a dominance that looks unlikely to be challenged when the southern hemisphere championship resumes after a bye week next Saturday.



The world champions, who host Argentina in Napier, have maintained radio silence this week having said all they wanted with their six-try humbling of the Wallabies at Eden Park last Saturday.



Challenged by their coaches to silence talk of a decline after a 12-12 draw in Sydney in their championship opener, the world champions responded with a ruthless demonstration of power rugby built on an awesome display by their tight five.



“They wanted us to really dominate them, we had to go to a few dark places but I think we did that,” hooker Dane Coles told reporters after the match in Auckland.



“We drew a line in the sand and we’ll just have to keep on improving. I don’t want another kick up the backside, it’s just a matter of personal pride.”



If nothing else, the All Blacks will need another big performance from their pack against the Pumas, who bossed the Springboks at scrum time in their 33-31 loss to South Africa in Salta last weekend.



Flyhalf Dan Carter looks unlikely to play any role in New Zealand’s first four matches of the tournament as he recovers from a leg break, leaving Aaron Cruden further opportunity to stake a claim for a permanent starting role.



Otherwise All Blacks Steve Hansen can boast a consistency of selection that South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer and Australia’s Ewen McKenzie can only observe with envy.



McKenzie will be down to his fourth choice hooker when the Wallabies take on South Africa in Perth next weekend, not the ideal situation for a front row that was taken apart by the All Blacks at Eden Park.



His stocks of wingers is also thinning out after Pat McCabe was driven into retirement by a third neck fracture in two years.



The two victories over Argentina put South Africa top of the standings but Meyer, like McKenzie, must deal with enforced manpower changes before he even considers tinkering with a side that has disappointed in their first two outings.



He was forced to call loose forward Warren Whitely into his squad to replace the injured Willem Alberts after Juan Smith declined to stay with the team for the Australasia tour as he had not been happy with his performance against the Pumas.



The defeat to South Africa last week put Argentina bottom of the standings and they might be forgiven for looking more to the match against Australia on Sept. 13 rather than Napier for their maiden victory in the championship.



They cannot even realistically look to any sense of complacency from the defending champion All Blacks, who are unbeaten in 14 tests over three years since the Rugby Championship replaced the Tri-Nations.



“We just have to keep our feet on the ground, we know we can put a performance on the field like we did tonight so the challenge is to do it again against Argentina,” All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick said after an outstanding performance against Australia. (Editing by Patrick Johnston)



Article source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/8794781/Yarde-to-make-England-debut-Eastmond-starts


Rugby-All Blacks back to the dark places as championship resumes

Rugby star to help tackle school bullying



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EX-WALES rugby captain Gareth Thomas is leading a new campaign to help beat playground bullies.


The Grand Slam winner will visit schools across the country to talk to pupils as part of the “Balls to Bullying” initiative.


The campaign coincides with the start of the new academic year, when many youngsters face the daunting move from primary to secondary school.


Sarn-born Thomas, who came out as gay while still playing professional rugby, said tackling bullying was something close to his heart.



He said: “I think the time when kids move up to big school is a really serious fault line in the system.


“You’re in a new environment. You don’t walk as confident, you don’t talk as confident. You’re vulnerable.


“People might not believe it to look at me — because I’m a big lad — but bullying has a lot to do with my life story, who I am and where I come from.


“I’m taking the Balls to Bullying campaign into schools because I hope my reputation as a sportsman in a tough game is a way of connecting with children who may be vulnerable to bullies.”


He added: “My experience shows that being bullied has nothing to do with being weak.”


A survey by recruitment firm Prospero Teaching this week found that 73 per cent of teachers had had no specific training on bullying among children transferring from primary to secondary school.



Article source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/8794781/Yarde-to-make-England-debut-Eastmond-starts


Rugby star to help tackle school bullying

Dylan Hartley dreaming of more trophies at Northampton

Saints, who start their season against Gloucester on Friday, beat Saracens in May to win the title after suffering heartbreak 12 months earlier against Leicester


England hooker Hartley says they want to emulate Wasps and Leicester – the only clubs to retain their title.


He said: We lost in the final the year before and semi-finals three years in a row, so we have had so much heart, there was so much relief it was a bit of a monkey off our backs.


“But you have got to look at what it took. A last minute try against Leicester and then a 100th minute try in the final so it doesn’t happen easily.


“Now what we have got to is repeat that and go again. Not too many teams have defended their title so that is a major challenge,” he said.


Article source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/8794781/Yarde-to-make-England-debut-Eastmond-starts


Dylan Hartley dreaming of more trophies at Northampton

Five hot rugby union prospects to follow during the new season


1. Tom Stephenson (Northampton)


The England Under‑20s centre made an immediate impact for the Saints last season, making nine starts and coming off the bench in four matches, including the Premiership final, after one appearance in 2012-13. Comfortable at either 12 or 13, he has pace and power, and passes adeptly.



2. Henry Slade (Exeter)


England are not short of fly-halves but the 21-year-old, named in the Saxons squad at the start of the year, will increase Stuart Lancaster’s options if he kicks on from the second half of last season, when he was preferred to Gareth Steenson by the Chiefs. A 6ft 2in pivot, he has an unruffled air and plays with freedom.



3. Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues)


At 25, Dacey is older then most players dubbed prospects, but it is less than four years since he was converted from back‑row to hooker. A try-scorer in the mould of Alan Phillips, the Cardiff/Wales hooker in the 1970s and 80s, he has the size, at more than 17st, that Wales’s head coach, Warren Gatland, likes, and is highly mobile.



4. Jordi Murphy (Leinster)


The 23-year-old made his Irish senior debut as a replacement against England this year. He was born in Barcelona and named after the city’s patron saint. He can play anywhere in the back row. Renowned for his ubiquity and workrate, his emergence is timely after Stephen Ferris was forced to retire through injury.



5. Adam Ashe (Glasgow)


The 21-year-old made his debut for Scotland against South Africa in June before he had a professional contract. He was in New Zealand on a rugby scholarship when called up but has since signed for Glasgow. A specialist No8, Ashe has the ball-carrying prowess Scotland have lacked in recent years.



Five hot rugby union prospects to follow during the new season

Sydney Convicts retain gay Rugby World Cup

The Sydney Convicts have retained the Bingham Cup – the gay and inclusive Rugby World Cup – in a 31-0 grand final thrashing of the Brisbane Hustlers in Sydney.


Australian teams dominated the three-day international tournament that ended with the one-sided decider in Rose Bay on Sunday. The Sydney Convicts, Australia’s first gay rugby union club, fielded three teams in the tournament and their A team took out the top prize for the fourth time in the tournament’s history. Convicts A beat Convicts B 58-0 in the semi-finals.


Held for the first time in the southern hemisphere since it began in 2002, the bi-annual competition was contested by 24 teams from 15 countries. NSW Governor Marie Bashir, US Ambassador to Australia John Berry, NSW rugby league State of Origin legend Steve Mortimer and local Liberal MP Malcolm Turnbull were all on hand for the seventh Bingham Cup decider.


The match follows a momentous week in Australian rugby, with the Australian Rugby Union announcing an inclusion policy to tackle homophobia.


The competition is named after Mark Bingham, a gay rights advocate who died in the 11 September terrorist attacks. Bingham, a gay American rugby player, led the passenger revolt against hijackers of United Flight 93 that crashed in a Pennsylvania field, killing all 44 on board.


His mother Alice Hoagland is a prominent campaigner for LGBTQ rights and came to Australia for the event.


“It’s such an honour for me to be considered the mother of this great big group,” she said. “I lost my son on 9/11, but I gained a couple thousand sons.”



Sydney Convicts retain gay Rugby World Cup

So, is it REALLY safe for your child to play rugby?

Rugby must change “completely” to keep children safe, a leading public health guru has warned.


Allyson Pollock has urged the doctors’ union, the British Medical Association (BMA) to campaign against the sport, arguing its “violence is not ancillary”.


Prof Pollock, of London’s Queen Mary University, made her claims in a new book – and she says there should be a tightening of rules to stop children being exposed to the risk of serious injury.


She said: “We already know that rugby is a major cause of injury, that far from relaxing the rules we should be tightening them further for children, changing the game completely and allowing it to evolve to a safer form of play.


“If rugby were a new medical drug it would be withheld until its efficacy and safety had been proven.


“We would not want our children to be given medicine to improve their mental or physical health if there was little knowledge of its risks and no attempt had been made to collect data on it.


“Why should rugby, with its harmful side effects, be any different?”


Prof Pollock called on the BMA to step in after it dubbed boxing a “totally unsuitable activity for children.”


“The BMA could say the same about rugby, but it has so far been silent,” Prof Pollock said.


“If the BMA was willing to stand up to specious arguments over boxing, will it now do the same over rugby?”


The BMA said it “doesn’t have a policy” on rugby.


Prof Pollock claimed rugby had become “increasingly dangerous” since it turned professional in 1995.


She asked: “Why is it not better regulated?


“The law can be used to protect people.”


At Cardiff’s University Hospital of Wales, a quarter of sports injuries in Aamp;E are rugby-related.


“The injuries seen in AE are only the tip of the iceberg. Many more complaints are dealt with at school or by a GP,” Prof Pollock said.


She argued parents’ views on the sport might change if they knew more.


“Imagine as a parent you were told that over the course of a season, the average risk of serious injury to a player is 17%, or one in six, and that in some schools it is as high as 33%, or one in three,” Prof Pollock said.


“The decision to allow your child to play might alter, especially when coupled with information on the nature and severity of injuries and their long-term consequences.


“It might also change your attitude to injury insurance cover, particularly if you are advised to indemnify your own children against the risk of non-catastrophic injury.”


She claimed “one might expect” authorities to highlight risks – but said they have not.


Prof Pollock’s son Hamish was badly injured playing rugby. She discussed kids injuries with other parents.


“Sometimes these have resulted in long-term disabilities and, on two occasions, death.


“Parents have told me of their own personal struggles to come to terms with their child’s suffering and their frustration at how little is being done.”


Some schools insist rugby is compulsory.


Prof Pollock said: “Parents are faced with a choice of allowing their child to be exposed to a risk of injury or removing them from school,


“And there is social pressure too.”


Prof Pollock claimed she had been subjected to hostility while researching her book.


“Among those who placed obstacles in my path are certain politicians and some rugby professionals, teachers, academics and doctors who behaved at times in ways that were despicable and extraordinary.


“I experienced at first hand bullying and intimidation.”


Some resorted to “personal abuse and smear and sought to undermine the science and rigour of our work.”


“I have received hundreds of revolting, offensive, crude and sexist emails and tweets, usually contending that a woman who does not play rugby should not voice an opinion on the sport,” Prof Pollock said.


Jan Cosgrove of children’s rights group Fair Play for Children described the matter as “serious”.


He said: “The WRU must examine what advice it is going to give to schools and clubs.


“There are a pattern of injuries affecting younger players and they have to take notice of that.


“There can be life changing consequences.


“Serious injuries in rugby can affect a person’s whole life. But if it is what kids want to do how much risk can you allow them to be subjected to?


“If it is an issue of compulsory games it is a different issue.


“You can say you are manning them up or whatever, but kids need to be asked a lot more about what it is they are supposed to be doing.”


The WRU insisted player welfare was “at the heart of everything we do.”


A spokeswoman said: “The Welsh Rugby Union has thorough safeguarding policies and procedures, which are regularly reviewed and updated.


“We are about to roll out an extensive concussion awareness programme throughout the community game and, in conjunction with St John Cymru Wales, we deliver rugby-specific first aid courses which club coaches, team managers, match officials and volunteers are strongly urged to complete.”


Teams benefit financially if they have qualified first aiders.


“The WRU is proud of the values and standards represented through rugby and is aware of the benefits of being involved at all levels in the national sport of Wales,” the spokeswoman said.


*Tackling Rugby: What Every Parent Should Know, by Allyson Pollock, is


published on October 7 by Verso Books, priced £9.99.



So, is it REALLY safe for your child to play rugby?

Saturday 30 August 2014

Harry to play wheelchair rugby

As the driving force behind the Invictus Games, Prince Harry has been a major backroom player but he will also take a role centre stage – playing wheelchair rugby.


Harry will be part of an exhibition match featuring gold medal-winning Olympians Dame Kelly Holmes and Denise Lewis, chart-topping musician Example and Zara Phillips and her husband, former England rugby star Mike Tindall.


Former England rugby coach Sir Clive Woodward and his ex-star player Jonny Wilkinson will go head to head as team managers when the game is staged at the Copper Box Arena next month.


Phillips said she was “very excited” to be involved in the Invictus Games – a Paralympic-style event for wounded servicemen and women from the UK and 13 other nations.


She said: “I have seen wheelchair rugby being played before but I haven’t played. I can’t imagine I’m going to be very good at it, but obviously we’ll bring our A game.”


The equestrian, who won silver in team eventing at London 2012, added: “I’m looking forward to being part of an amazing games. Having servicemen and women from all over the globe come together and compete in sport is going to be fantastic.”


Harry is expected to play on Sir Clive team’s along with Tindall and Dame Kelly while Wilkinson will coach Phillips, Lewis and Example, and both teams will feature injured servicemen and women and professional wheelchair rugby players.


The players will take to the court to entertain the crowds before the knockout stages of the wheelchair rugby tournament are held.


The Invictus Games will be staged in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Lee Valley Athletics Centre, with more than 400 wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women – serving and veteran – from 14 nations competing in a range of events over four days from September 11-14.


Harry has devoted the past 18 months of his working life to making the competition a reality after being inspired by a similar event in America, the Warrior Games.


Dame Kelly, who was a physical training instructor in the Army, said: “As an ex-military soldier, I’m extremely honoured to be part of the Invictus Games.


She added: “I’m very much looking forward to being part of the games and I’m sure I will be in awe of all the events and all those taking part. I wish everyone good luck in their preparation and look forward to taking part myself.”


Example said: “I’m humbled and honoured to be asked to take part and looking forward to getting out there and giving wheelchair rugby a go. It looks brutal. Fun, but brutal.”


Article source: http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Bath-Rugby-bolster-Academy-ranks-new-players/story-21747471-detail/story.html


Harry to play wheelchair rugby

Rugby World Cup"s golden halo will light up the Aviva Premiership as ...


It will. Injury permitting, Mallinder will have some cast-iron certainties in England’s

squad: Ben Foden, Luther Burrell, Dylan Hartley, Alex Corbisiero, Courtney

Lawes and Tom Wood, not to mention Wales’ George North, USA’s Samu Manoa,

Samoa’s Kahn Fotuali’i and the Pisi brothers, Ken and George.



Then there are others in England contention like Lee Dickson, Stephen Myler,

Alex Waller, Calum Clark and Sam Dickinson, even if the latter misses the

first months of the season after a neck operation.



With Stuart Lancaster having been allowed to defer the naming of his Elite

Player Squad, that means places are up for grabs.



“I think it is a good thing,” says Mallinder, even though it was originally

the clubs that demanded the squad’s early naming in order to plan ahead. “To

pick that group of players for the autumn Stuart is going to watch the first

games. It is not going to affect my recruitment if it is now or in two

months’ time.”



The notion of competition for places increasing the quality of Premiership

play is taken up by Bath’s head coach, Mike Ford. “We’re in a position where

we’ve got nine or 10 possibles for the England squad,” he says. “Out of them

David Wilson is nailed on, Rob Webber as well probably, but the other six or

seven are marginal, so we know that if we stick together as a team that will

help those individuals.”



Indeed, you can see the likes of Henry Thomas, Dave Attwood, George Ford, Kyle

Eastmond, Jonathan Joseph, Ollie Devoto and Anthony Watson raising their

games to merit selection.



The rugby league convert Sam Burgess, the undoubted news story of the early

season, may have a say, too. His arrival is much anticipated. Asked about

its exact timing, his deadpan new boss Ford said: “I’m not sure.” A smile

then began to emerge. “Three o’clock, Oct  15.”



So Bath will be enthralling to watch as they strive to break the top-four

hegemony of Saracens, Northampton, Leicester and Harlequins that has existed

for the last three seasons. They came close last year, and their 14 wins

would have seen them into at least fourth place in every other season that

the Premiership has featured 12 teams since 1999‑2000. But the competition

will be even stronger again this season.



Gloucester have recruited superbly and it is inconceivable that they can be as

poor again. Richard Hibbard, John Afoa, Tom Palmer, Greig Laidlaw and James

Hook can take an already outstanding group of players to another level.

David Humphreys is a wonderful acquisition and handing Billy Twelvetrees the

captaincy could aid his quest for the England No 12 jersey.



That this season’s competition might be better than last season’s is a quite

wondrous thought, because the 2013-14 Premiership was the finest I have

seen. Naturally there was some dross at the bottom of the table, but the

stuff at the top was compelling – full of spite, physicality, and pace.



The final had its own drama, with Northampton’s victory in the last second of

extra-time, but the competition reached its apex on a Friday night in May

when Northampton and Leicester slugged out an epic semi-final.



Despite Northampton’s first title, courtesy of a vast array of heavyweight

ball-carriers, I still think Saracens were the best team in the land – their

19 league wins were the most since 2000 – and that will be proven with

silverware this time. For Saracens to be asked to play the Heineken Cup

final and Premiership final in consecutive weeks last season was blatantly

unfair.



Yes, Toulon managed it, winning the Top 14 after defeating Saracens the week

before, but not everyone, not even Saracens, can boast their depth. Saracens

are the closest to it in England: as London Welsh’s head coach Justin

Burnell put it, there is “little difference between their first and fourth

choice players”.



Granted, Northampton had a European final of their own the week before – the

Challenge Cup – but it was not of the same intensity and they had an extra

day’s rest before the Premiership final. Thankfully the new European Rugby

Champions Cup final will take place earlier this season, on May 1.



Northampton at full strength are a fearsome prospect, but there are concerns

about their depth after an inactive close season. As Mallinder admits: “We

have got one of the smaller senior squads, but we really trust our younger

lads coming through.”



London Welsh have made more than 20 signings this summer. And Burnell was a

welcome addition to the launch last week, uttering the words “crikey” and

“respectful” so many times that we were left in no doubt as to his take on

the task ahead. To stay up would be a huge achievement, one of which they

should capable of, because Newcastle look poor.



That is the narrative and scene for the rubber-neckers. At the other end of

the table you will find the quality and the real battle – for silverware and

World Cup places.




Steve James’ verdict on the season ahead



Champions Saracens. Have not signed heavily but still have significant

depth.




Relegated Newcastle. London Welsh are the obvious answer but there is a

special spirit there. Newcastle were dire last season, surely the worst ever

to survive.




Dark horses Gloucester. Ninth place last year was a disgrace. New

director of rugby David Humphreys will improve things.




Top try scorer Leicester’s Niki Goneva last season, but Wasps’

Christian Wade was injured for most of the year. It will be Wade this

season.




Foreign star Northampton’s Samu Manoa, always a gigantic presence. If

Welsh is foreign, Richard Hibbard will become a darling of Gloucester.




Breakthrough star Bath’s Anthony Watson. Has pace, quick feet and is

not small.




European champions Toulon will miss Jonny Wilkinson, so it will either

be Saracens or Clermont.


Article source: http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Bath-Rugby-bolster-Academy-ranks-new-players/story-21747471-detail/story.html


Rugby World Cup"s golden halo will light up the Aviva Premiership as ...

Five things to watch out for in the new rugby union season

1. WATCH AND WEEPU


London Welsh return to the Premiership in place of relegated Worcester and a shopping spree of 25 players includes All Black scrum-half Piri Weepu, who arrives from Auckland Blues with 71 Test caps and a World Cup winner’s medal. Former England fly-half Olly Barkley has been signed from Scarlets.


2. MOVERS AND SHAKERS


As well as Weepu, watch out for Sam Burgess at Bath from October. The rugby league forward, currently with South Sydney Rabbitohs, has been bought out of his contract by Bath for £270,000. Could he make the England Six Nations squad? In other moves, Freddie Burns has switched from Gloucester to Leicester and former England forward Luke Narraway moves from Perpignan to London Irish.


3. EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP


After plenty of wrangling and the threat of an English/French breakaway, the European clubs have replaced the 24-team Heineken Cup with a 20-team tournament. England supply seven teams, France six with the rest coming from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. It kicks off on 17 October; BT Sport and Sky Sports share live coverage.


4. PRO12 SHIFTS TO SKY


Sky Sports begins a deal to show the Guinness-sponsored 12-team competition in Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. The first game in a new Sky slot of 2.40pm on Saturday is the game between Scarlets and Ulster.


5. WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN


There’s barely a year to go until the tournament opener between hosts England and Fiji on 18 September 2015, throwing extra emphasis on this season’s Six Nations and autumn internationals. World Cup tickets will be on general sale from 12 September with an Olympic-style ballot to determine who gets what.


Article source: http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Bath-Rugby-bolster-Academy-ranks-new-players/story-21747471-detail/story.html


Five things to watch out for in the new rugby union season

Cardiff Blues write open letter to fans as Welsh rugby looks forward to ...

Cardiff Blues chief Richard Holland has written an open letter of thanks to supporters as a new era begins in Welsh rugby following this week’s peace agreement.


Chief executive Holland praised the “outstanding” support the region has received during a turbulent period that has seen the future of the four professional Welsh teams thrown into doubt.


The WRU and Regional Rugby Wales finally put pen to paper on a new six-year agreement on Thursday after well over a year of bitter disputes over money and control of players.


The £60m-plus deal, which runs through to 2020, will bring additional revenue to the professional game and ends months of uncertainty for Welsh rugby fans.


In his letter to supporters, Holland said: “It has been a landmark and historic week for Welsh rugby with the new Rugby Services Agreement (RSA). At Cardiff Blues we are naturally very pleased that the RSA is now in place and we can look forward to the new season at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park with renewed excitement and positivity.


“Following long and detailed negotiations, the RSA provides a new and positive outlook for Cardiff Blues and regional rugby for the next six years. This truly marks a new era for the professional game in Wales and everyone at Cardiff Blues and across our region is determined to continue the hard work of recent years to ensure our great game prospers at all levels.


“There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a very challenging period of negotiation for us all; such was the importance of the outcome that we have now achieved. But what was a true source of inspiration throughout this time were our sponsors, partners and, most crucially, our fantastic fans, all of whom have remained incredibly supportive whilst living with increased degrees of uncertainty.


“I write to you today to express my sincere thanks and gratitude. Our fans have remained positive throughout uncertain times and stood side by side with us. The level of backing we have witnessed from our fans and corporate partners has been absolutely outstanding.”


The full details of what the deal means




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Holland also expressed his excitement at the season ahead in the wake of a busy summer at the Arms Park.


New Director of Rugby Mark Hammett has taken over from Phil Davies, and the signings of Kiwi Jarrad Hoeata, Josh Turnbull, Tavis Knoyle, Craig Mitchell, Manoa Vosawai Adam Jones and Gareth Anscombe all point to a bright future.


“For every player in our squad this is a new start under a new Director of Rugby and I’m sure that fierce competition for every jersey and the renewed ambition within our region will drive us forward,” Holland added


“Our first home game of the Guinness PRO12 season is on Sunday, September 14th when we welcome Glasgow Warriors. It would be fantastic to see a big crowd at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park for the opening day on home soil. The strength of support we receive helps makes our home one of the most iconic in world rugby so please get right behind your Cardiff Blues.”


Article source: http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Bath-Rugby-bolster-Academy-ranks-new-players/story-21747471-detail/story.html


Cardiff Blues write open letter to fans as Welsh rugby looks forward to ...

Skipper backs more rugby joy as England"s women turn pro

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Article source: http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Bath-Rugby-bolster-Academy-ranks-new-players/story-21747471-detail/story.html


Skipper backs more rugby joy as England"s women turn pro

"The problem with rugby players in Ireland is that they"re comparing every ...

Who knows, maybe things could have turned out a very differently for Tom Court.


The Brisbane-born Irish international prop formed part of a mass exodus from Ulster this year before Ravenhill was renamed, the province’s poster-boy turned director of rugby jetted off and the head coach was asked to pack his desk.


Court is nothing if not adaptable. He arrived in Ireland in 2006, a late-comer to rugby, but not the slightest bit hesitant in upping sticks and heading for the far side of the world.


“It was pretty much halfway through the Super Rugby season,” remembers the prop approaching his 34th birthday.


“I played the first three games and then because of contract issues I had a decision to make.”


Eight years older; with Belfast his new home, his fiancée now his wife and five-year-old Madeline and three-year-old Theo in tow, he looks back a little bemused by how quickly he was able to settle on a plan of action.


“I made the decision within a week and was on a flight a week later.


“I was working full-time, managing a company, I had a contract pretty much lined up for the following season with the Reds and I’d just got engaged and bought a house. But I bit the bullet and flew over here for the opportunity to see how it went.”


His move to London Irish took a considerable longer period of soul-searching.


By this time last year he had spoken informally with head coach Brian Smith and Bob Casey, but he was more than comfortable where he was.


“I think I just wanted [Ulster] to say say ‘no, no, don’t go’, but it doesn’t happen like that,” says Court before he quickly brings reality back into the equation.


“It’s just one of those things where there were a lot of things in play. Anyone who says money wasn’t an issue is lying, because it always comes into play. But with Ulster it wasn’t a massive issue, it was regards to ‘did I feel I could keep pushing myself as hard as I could for two years?’ And I said probably not.




View gallery


.Tom Court gets a red card from referee Luke Pearce


“I thought if I stayed at Ulster it was going to just fizzle out, and fade into the background being one of the old guys that trains with all the young guys sit looking at going, ‘would you bugger off somewhere and get a real job’. I didn’t want it to be like that, I felt I still had a lot to offer.”


He leaves behind an Ulster side in turmoil, David Humphreys has joined him in the Premiership and that left Mark Anscombe short of an ally in a power struggle with the players.


The squad will have had numerous reasons, but Court feels some sympathy for the Kiwi, feeling he suffered by the proximity of a coach that has delivered instant success in both jobs he has taken up in Ireland.



“I wasn’t somebody that got asked whether Mark should stay or go. I got on with Mark very well on a personal level. Whether boys had issues with his coaching ability or whether it was little details… the problem senior players in Ireland have got [is] they’re comparing everyone to Joe Schmidt now.

“Joe is another level. I could easily say he’s the best coach I’ve ever dealt with – which is disappointing because I was only with him for a couple of camps. His attention to detail and his precision and knowledge and everything is second to none.


“Everyone compared to him is going to come off second best. It’s always going to be tough. And I guess guys had just been with Joe and seen the stuff he’s offering, so going back is always going to be a bit of a let-down.”




View gallery


.Sean O


Court will start among the replacements for London Irish’s friendly against Munster tonight in Waterford. He’ll waste no time kidding himself that the move across the water spells the end of his international career. “I’m not Jonathan Sexton”, he jokes.


This is no abrupt end either though. Court’s years toiling away at tighthead proved fruitless. And by the time he hit his prime as a loosehead Cian Healy was fast on his way to becoming one of the world’s best at number one. Throw Dave Kilcoyne, Jack McGrath and James Cronin into the mix and, well…


“You could see the writing on the wall with the amount of competition coming through. It’s probably, if not the hardest-fought position, one of the hardest-fought positions in Ireland. The amount of depth we’ve got at loosehead is unbelievable.



“That’s great to see from an Irish supporter’s point of view, from a point of view of being one of the guys who wants a jersey, it’s a pain in the arse.”

“I got 32 caps more than I ever thought I would. When I started the game, it was just for a bit of craic. It took off fast.”


“I was in the camp for November, had a word with Joe, realising what was going to happen. It’s hard to argue with because he needs guys on hand and available so that he can build up together with the team and get to the World Cup.


“Saying that, the decision I made had a lot to do with needing to spend a bit more time with the family – I was probably getting a bit stale at Ulster and felt I needed a fresh start and something new.”


Before a scrum has been set this season, the change of scenery and beginning of a three-year contract has reinvigorated Court. The Australian Irish international always had a look about his face that told you he was enjoying himself on the field. Yet as he grows older and continues to steer clear of injury, his appreciation grows for a life that could have been completely different if he hadn’t made such bold decisions in 2006.




View gallery


.Stephen Ferris and Tom Court


“The fresh start gave me a bit of a new lease on life. It makes you appreciate how fortunate you are to do things like this for a living. Especially after last year seeing two close friends Stevie [Ferris] and Paddy [Wallace] finish up.



“You just have to make the most of it and just try to suck every bit of enjoyment you can out of the game.”

In total 69 exclusively live games from the Aviva Premiership will be shown on BT Sport 1 – BT Sport 2 ESPN all now available to viewers in the Republic of Ireland as part of the Setanta Sports Pack.


New subscribers can sign up to Setanta Sports for just €1.


Walsh banking on balance as Munster’s attack moves in new direction


Pre-season training just ain’t what it used to be for rugby players




Article source: http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Bath-Rugby-bolster-Academy-ranks-new-players/story-21747471-detail/story.html


"The problem with rugby players in Ireland is that they"re comparing every ...

Top 14: Ratini lifts Grenoble as Castres bounce back

Top 14: Ratini lifts Grenoble as Castres bounce back


Rory Kockott in action for Castres



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Teams



  • Bayonne

  • Bordeaux-Begles



  • Also see




    Alipate Ratini scored a magnificent hat-trick to lead Grenoble to a first Top 14 win of the season, 37-23 over Bordeaux-Bègles.


    They were matched by Lyon and Oyonnax who also picked up their first wins, against Brive and Stade Français respectively.


    And Castres picked up a bonus-point win against Bayonne meaning that every team has now won after three rounds.


    Earlier in the day La Rochelle had produced a magnificent display to down Toulouse 37-25 and pick up their first win since returning to the top flight.


    The evening match saw Racing Metro hand Toulon their first Top 14 defeat of the season after running out 17-10 winners.


    Castres 30-6 Bayonne
    Stade Pierre Antoine


    Castres bounced back from a disappointing defeat at Toulouse to cruise past Bayonne at Pierre Antoine.


    The home side edged the first half before really finding their feet after the break to pick up a bonus-point win.


    Bayonne showed a lot of ambition early on, and were able to take the lead through Blair Stewart when Remi Lamerat was penalised for not releasing a tackled player in a ruck.


    Castres were under pressure but they responded with a penalty from Rory Kockott, before crossing for what looked like the first try, only for the TMO to decide he had been held up.


    Bayonne found themselves down to 14 men midway through the half when Dwayne Haare was given a yellow card for a succession of penalties by the visitors.


    Castres took advantage, with Kockott scoring a penalty before Marcel Garvey scored the game’s first try. The diminutive winger was on hand when Castres spread the ball wide and after consultation with the TMO the try was given. Kockott converted to make it 13-3.


    Back to 15, Bayonne managed reduce their deficit just before the break with Stewart slotting his second penalty of the afternoon.


    The home side were first to score in the second half, with Lamerat setting up a try for Julien Dumora. The France centre made the initial break before the ball came out to Remi Tales. The fly-half spotted Dumora and threw a miss-pass which the full-back collected to go under the posts.


    And Castres added another just before the hour to move into bonus point territory. Hooker Brice Mach was the beneficiary of a rolling maul, and Kockott’s conversion made it 27-6 to last year’s runners-up.


    Geoffrey Palis added a penalty soon after to stretch the lead further, and despite his late sin-binning for an intentional knock-on, Castres held out to keep their bonus point.


    Grenoble 37-23 Bordeaux-Bègles
    Stade des Alpes


    Alipate Ratini was the star of the show for Grenoble as they ended Bordeaux-Begles’ unbeaten start to the season in emphatic style.


    The Fijian scored three of his side’s five tries as they claimed a bonus-point success to make up for two narrow losses on the road at Clermont and Montpellier.


    Grenoble, back on home soil for the first time this season, made the quicker start, scoring the first try of the game after just two minutes.


    It started from a great dummy by Gio Aplon, after Grenoble had spread the ball wide, and the Springbok full-back then picked out Nigel Hunt who crossed. Jonathan Wisniewski converted to make it 7-0.


    In an open game Bordeaux threatened regularly, but Grenoble were able to add to their score midway through the half when Bordeaux were caught offside, Wisniewski making no mistake to stretch the lead.


    The visitors were really struggling, and on 33 minutes they conceded once more as Rory Grice went over. The powerful number eight took advantage of great work by the Grenoble lineout to go over, and the try was given after consultation with the TMO.


    Bordeaux responded with a penalty from Lionel Beauxis, making his first start of the season, but it was Grenoble who finished the half in control, with Ratini showing his pace to score after an initial break from Wisniewski. The fly-half converted to make it 22-3 at the break.


    The visitors made the better start to the second half, earning an early penalty through Beauxis to reduce the deficit. And the French international added another soon after as Bordeaux started to get into the game.


    But Grenoble quelled the fightback quickly through their Fijian flyer Ratini, the winger scoring his fourth try of the season already after Wisniewski had switched play. The fly-half converted to stretch the lead to 29-9.


    Wisniewski added a penalty to increase the lead, but Bordeaux hit back with a consolation try for new signing Yann Lesgourgues, who played a penalty quickly to dart over. Beauxis made no mistake with the conversion.


    Ratini was not done though, and he completed his hat-trick ten minutes from time when the ball was turned over and spread wide, and once more he had too much pace.


    And despite Sofiane Guitoune’s late try, it was Grenoble who ran out comfortable winners earning a deserved bonus point.


    Lyon 24-6 Brive
    Matmut Stadium


    Toby Arnold scored twice to help Lyon to their first win on their return to the Top 14.


    In a game notable for the chronic indiscipline from both sides, the home team were able to produce the moments of quality to pick up the win.


    Brive dominated possession in the first half but struggled to turn it into points, with Lyon much the more clinical side.


    Gaetan Germain scored the first penalty of the afternoon for the visitors but Lachie Munro replied with two of his own to give Lyon a 6-3 lead.


    Lyon were struggling in the scrum, and lost Anthony Roux to a yellow card when Laurent Cardona lost patience with the repetition of infringements, but it didn’t stop the home side.


    Vincent Martin, who joined the club from Toulon, produced a great break before finding Arnold. The winger showed his pace and a great sidestep as he cut inside to score the first try of the game. Munro missed the conversion but Lyon led 11-3 at the break.


    The second half was marked by indiscipline from both sides, with Germain and Munro exchanging penalties before Damien Lavergne was sin-binned for Brive after failing to bind in the scrum.


    Lyon extended the lead through replacement Stephen Brett with 25 minutes left, and just after, Brive winger Benito Masilevu was sin-binned for a tip-tackle as the home side began to take control.


    That was the start of a ridiculous period of play, with Brive losing two more players, Said Hireche and Kevin Buys, in quick succession, while Emmanuel Felsina was sin-binned for Lyon.


    But the home side finished the stronger with Arnold grabbing his second try, which Brett converted to seal the win.


    Oyonnax 33-6 Stade Français
    Stade Charles Mathon


    Oyonnax proved much too strong for Stade Français as they cruised to a first win of the campaign at Charles Mathon.


    Last year the Parisians were one of just two sides to win at Oyonnax, but they were never in this contest, eventually conceding four tries.


    Yves Donguy made the perfect start for the home side, scoring two tries in the opening quarter to give Oyonnax a big early lead.


    The former Toulouse winger took advantage of a poor clearing kick by new man Krisnan Inu, allowing Donguy to go over on the left as he got back quicker than Inu.


    Urdapilleta stretched the lead with a penalty before Donguy scored his second after Monti Ioane was again put under pressure. The winger had managed to get across but failed to collect Urdapilleta’s cross-kick straightaway, and then Donguy was quickest turned the ball over in the ruck to dot down and make it 13-0.


    The visitors were really struggling up front, as Oyonnax scrum had them on toast, but they managed to stay in touch with a Jerome Fillol penalty just after the half-hour and were helped out when Urdapilleta missed his third shot at goal of the afternoon on the stroke of half-time.


    The scrum was causing problems on both sides, and when it went down once more early in the second half, Antoine Tichit and Davit Kubriashvili were both sin-binned.


    Urdapilleta appeared to have found his kicking boots, slotting a second penalty of the afternoon, but Fillol responded in kind to reduce the deficit to ten points with half an hour remaining.


    But it was the home side who looked the more dangerous, in particular thanks to their scrum, and Urdapilleta added another penalty when Stade were penalised five metres out from their line.


    Oyonnax still needed another try to secure a bonus point, and it came late on when Sergio Parisse threw a horrible pass to Jules Plisson. The replacement fly-half could only hack the ball forward and it went straight into the hands of Urdapilleta who sprinted under the posts.


    And there was still time for another try, Roimata Hansell-Pune showing his strength for the umpteenth time to break through some would-be tacklers and diver over.


    Racing 17-10 Toulon
    Stade Amedee-Domenech


    Racing-Métro scored a try in each half as they handed Toulon a first Top 14 loss of the season.


    It was an edgy start to the game, with neither side really able to impose themselves and it was the home side who were able to draw first blood when Craig Burden was sin-binned after 15 minutes.


    Racing took full advantage with a lineout deep in Toulon territory, and after a series of charges it was Luc Ducalcon who made ground before the ball was spread again and François van der Merwe crashed over. Sexton converted to make it 7-0.


    Toulon could have reduced the deficit but Frederic Michalak’s first kick at goal went horribly wrong, never threatening the posts. Toulon were able to hit back with a try of their own through James O’Connor.


    Michalak started it, spreading the ball wide in his own half, and Josua Tuisova made the most of the space to sprint into Racing territory. Brice Dulin came across to tackle him, but the Fijian flipped the ball to O’Connor, who shrugged off Maxime Machenaud to go over in the right. Michalak added the conversion.


    Burden made his return but Racing were next on the scoreboard, Machenaud slotting a penalty as Sexton was getting treatment for a knock to his shoulder.


    The second half started in quicker fashion. Teddy Thomas showing quick feet to get out of trouble when covering back, and rather than kicking clear, Racing spread the ball wide.


    Casey Laulala showed his elusiveness to make ground on the right and Racing kept the pressure on with both forwards and backs making ground.


    Having reached the Toulon 22, Machenaud threw a dummy before darting through a gaping hole to go over untouched. He converted his own try to make it 17-7 with half an hour remaining.


    Sexton was still struggling with injury and was replaced by Johan Goosen. He nearly responded in kind with a penalty from inside his own half, but while he had the distance, the direction was awry.


    Toulon had a chance to score their first try of the game with 20 minutes remaining, when they had the Racing defence scrambling, but when the ball arrived in David Smith’s hands, an overlap had disappeared, and the Australian was stopped short.


    Machenaud was next to try his luck with a penalty in the final minute, and although he too was off-target, Racing were able to regather the ball and kick it out for the win.




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    Article source: http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Bath-Rugby-bolster-Academy-ranks-new-players/story-21747471-detail/story.html


    Top 14: Ratini lifts Grenoble as Castres bounce back