Beach rugby's a winner for Swansea Bay

SWANSEA Bay scored another huge success when it staged the Beach Rugby Wales event at the weekend.

It pulled in a crowd of up to 4,500 spectators, a week after the Mumbles Raft Race and a fortnight after the Wales National Air Show proved hugely popular once again.

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Swansea Council leader David Phillips said he would love to see more events staged at the beach.

“It’s a fantastic resource but what we cannot guarantee is the weather,” said Mr Phillips.

 

“If we have four or five days of sunshine the whole atmosphere and outlook in the city centre changes.

“If we have the sunshine what better place can you have than Swansea Bay?

“The air show is the biggest free outdoor show in Wales. But you could say Swansea Bay is the biggest free show in Wales 365 days a year.

“It’s always telling a story and I think we should sit and appreciate it more often.”

Mr Phillips said the council could not and should not do everything, and events organised by residents themselves were often the most successful.

“Those are the events the council should be supporting because that is what we want people to do,” he added.

“If they have an idea that can contribute to the fun of people’s lives and they need to close roads etc, then the council should be assisting them to do it.”

A change in the weather took some of the shine off what was otherwise a hugely successful Beach Rugby Wales sevens tournament played out by the Civic Centre.

The event, now in its eighth year, was carefully timed to take account of the tides. But, this being Wales, there was no accounting for the elements.

Organiser Ashleigh Walters said: “According to the security staff, at its peak we had 4,000-4,500 spectators.

“The rain held off until the last hour. It wasn’t really raining, more spitting, but the crowd dispersed for the final, which was a shame. It was the first time in eight years that we had rain and it spoilt it a bit but otherwise we had a great day.”

This year’s tournament attracted 36 teams from around the UK.

The women’s plate final was won by Brecon-based Gwernyfed, who beat Tyly Tigers from Tylerstown, while Cardiff’s Y Baa Baariad saw off the British Army in the men’s plate final.

Swansea triumphed twice in the cup finals, with Riley Sports Flamingos defeating the Pontyclyn Falcons in the women’s event and Wind Street’s Minty Baa-Baas overcoming Gowerton’s Gwyr 7s in the men’s.

“Everyone seemed to enjoy it, there was a lot of singing and no issues with the police whatsoever,” said Leigh.

“There were some big names watching too, including Welsh internationals Leigh Halfpenny and Harry Robinson, along with Eli Walker from the Ospreys, which shows how big an attraction it is.

“We filled around 350 hotel beds in Swansea. A lot of people who came down stayed for the weekend.”

“Hopefully there will be another one next year. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”

Beach rugby"s a winner for Swansea Bay

Rugby League - Brough signs new Giants deal

The 30-year-old former Hull, Castleford and Wakefield scrum-half has been in outstanding form for Paul Anderson’s side this season, fuelling a strong title bid.

Brough joined the Giants in 2010 and could now see out his career with the West Yorkshire club.

Brough said: “I am immensely proud to captain this club and I am certain we have some great days ahead of us.

“My family is very settled here, it’s a good club off the field and the lads really are a close group.

“I probably could have moved on but why would I want to?”

Brough has long been one of Britain’s most potent half-backs and showed his talent on the grand stage with a superb display in Hull’s 2005 Challenge Cup win.

Yet it is not until settling at the Giants that he has consistently excelled.

His performances this season – which have yielded 237 points in Super League – have helped his side establish a one-point lead the top of the table with five regular-season rounds remaining.

Brough said: “I am happy with my form so far and feel that maturity is now bringing the best out of me, for which I have to thank the family and some key people at the club who have always had faith in me.

“I really hope I can play a big part in the team going forward to repay this deal with silverware for the fans and chairman.

“At the end of this deal I might be able to squeeze some more games out but it is fair to say it’s obviously my last major contract and I am just delighted that it’s going to be as a Giant.”

Head coach Anderson added: “Danny’s form is clear for everyone to see this year.

“I enjoy working with him as captain and it’s great news that he is here for the long haul.

“I think we both share common goals regarding what we can achieve at this club and having a half-back of Danny’s quality is a huge boost to us.”

Rugby League - Brough signs new Giants deal

Super League name could be scrapped

Scrapping Super League and re-branding the leagues is being considered as part of the RFL’s review of the game.

The finer points continue to be thrashed out by the governing body and clubs as to the format of the game for the 2015 and beyond.

It looks likely that the split option – which sees two leagues of 12 split in to three leagues of eight after 23 games – will get the go ahead, which would see an increase in the number of games, to a minimum of 30 per club.

The issue of re-branding centres on whether the new name should include rugby league in its title, and there is also debate on whether the second tier should be branded as Super League 2, if the Super League name is retained.

Despite previously being rejected, it is believed that the introduction of marquee players to the salary cap is still on the agenda.

The RFL has spent the past month consulting with clubs in Super League, the Championships and the community game.

An Extraordinary General Meeting will be called by the governing body’s independent Board of Directors to put forward the definitive proposals for the league re-structuring, but there remains no timescale on the decision.

Super League name could be scrapped

Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby sign four-year sponsorship deal with ...

Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby have agreed a “substantial multi-million pound” deal that will see both clubs sport BT’s logo on their shirts.

The Scottish sides complete in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup, competitions which are to be screened live next year by Sky.

The announcement of the deal follows an Ofcom ruling last month which rejected BT’s complaints over Sky’s refusal to promote its new rivals on its own channels.

BT will launch three channels later this week, broadcasting live football from the Barclays Premier League in England and Scotland’s newly-formed Scottish Premiership.

Its rugby content includes Aviva Premiership matches and France’s Top 14 – but it will not screen games involving the two sides it has just signed up to sponsor.

However, Marc Watson, chief executive of TV for BT Retail, claims that could change in future.

When asked if the deal with Edinburgh and Glasgow was a ploy to get around Sky’s ban, he said: “When you are looking at a sponsorship arrangement, one of the things you look at is who is going to see your logo, your brand. The audience that follows Scottish rugby is an important audience for us to reach.

“The RaboDirect (PRO12) will be covered by Sky and other broadcasters too in the next few years and that broadcaster exposure is one of the elements – but not the only one – in what is quite a broad deal with Scottish Rugby.

“We launch three channels later this week and it’s a major strategic objective of the company to establish those channels and to make them a success. As we are launching those channels into the marketplace it seems an obvious thing to use this deal to help promote those channels.

“This is a sponsorship deal, not a broadcasting deal. We will look in the future at all opportunities to broadcast sports as they come up and if an opportunity comes up to broadcast (the Scottish) rugby teams then of course we will look at it.

“For the rugby fan, we believe we (already) have a lot that is attractive and that is appealing.”

Mark Dodson, chief executive of the Scottish Rugby Union – which owns both Edinburgh and Glasgow – hinted the deal would see extra money be made available to strengthen both squads.

He said: “This is the most lucrative shirt sponsorship deal we have ever signed – by some margin. It dwarfs any deal we have signed in the past.

“We will always be looking for the best players possible. If that means the player budget rises as a consequence, that is what will happen.

“I’ve given both coaches (Gregor Townsend and Stevie Scott) the reassurance that if there is a top-class player out there that they want, who wants to come to Scotland, we will fund it.”

Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby sign four-year sponsorship deal with ...

Every game a cup final for Crusaders now

North Wales Crusaders fell to their second defeat of the league campaign at the hands of their biggest promotion rivals.

The Wrexham-based side are still in the driving seat with two games in hand, but defeat, and the fact that they failed to pick up a bonus point, means the remaining five league fixtures are all cup finals.

Oldham led 18-4 at the break after a dominant first-half display and, despite a fightback from Crusaders in the opening stages of the second half which saw them pile on the pressure, the Championship One saw the game through with two tries in the final 10 minutes.

The hosts opened the scoring when Hobson sent over Kenny Hughes after collecting Lewis Palfrey’s high bomb to the corner.

Crusaders hit back and forced several drop-outs, and the pressure told eventually; Reardon broke the line on the right and palmed the ball back to Moulsdale to put Birkett in at the corner.

However, two quick and almost identical tries swung the tie right back in Oldham’s favour – Palfrey twice sent the ball high to the right corner, and on both occasions the dual-registered Jon Ford did well to leap high to score.

Crusaders were then penalised for offside on the 40-metre line – and Palfrey took full advantage to slot over an extra two points.

It looked to have got worse for Crusaders when Mo Agoro dived in at the corner after Rob Massam had knocked on, but referee Dave Merrick brought it back for a forward pass.

And that looked as if it could be a game-changing moment, as North Wales went up the other end and scored through Jono Smith.

Dan Birkett crossed over in the right corner soon after following good work from Smith and Bannister, but his effort was also ruled out for a forward pass in the build-up.

Birkett was out of luck and after another move down the right edge with Bannister, he was bundled into touch by the covering Oldham defence.

And they were made to pay for those missed opportunities as Oldham scored two late tries to put the game out of reach.

Firstly, Sam Gee slipped the ball to Jon Ford to reach out and score his hat-trick and then Ford turned provider as he sent Agoro over on the overlap.

Every game a cup final for Crusaders now

Rugby mourns "devastating" loss of mastermind behind cup win

The chief executive of Leeds Rhinos has led tributes to the rugby league club’s former coach Graham Murray, who died in hospital in Australia yesterday, aged 58.

Murray masterminded the Super League side’s last Challenge Cup victory, when they beat London Broncos by a record 52-16 at the old Wembley in May, 1999.

The previous year Rhinos finished second to Wigan Warriors in the Super League table and were beaten by the same opponents in the inaugural Grand Final.

Gary Hetherington, who appointed Murray as Leeds coach after he led Hunter Mariners to the World Club Championship final in 1997, described news of his death as “devastating”.

The Leeds chief added: “He will be fondly remembered by all our fans, players and staff who knew him from his time with us.

“He was very popular and so professional in everything he did. He was an outstanding coach and mentor and he knew about all aspects of rugby league.

“The game has lost a great servant and personality and our thoughts are with his wife Amanda and his daughter Kara.”

Born in Sydney, Murray played as a scrum-half for Parramatta and South Sydney before beginning his coaching career in charge of the reserves at Penrith and then Balmain.

He was head coach of Illawarra Steelers from 1991-1995, but was sacked for siding with Super League in the dispute which split the Australian game in two.

After his two years at Leeds Murray returned to Australia, where he coached both Sydney City Roosters and North Queensland Cowboys to Grand Final appearances.

He suffered a heart attack in March and was admitted to hospital in Brisbane following a second cardiac arrest earlier this month.

The decision was taken to switch off his life support machine yesterday morning and he died several hours later.

Leeds will wear black armbands in Murray’s memory when they play London Broncos at Twickenham Stoop on Thursday.

Castleford Tigers’ coach Daryl Powell was a member of Leeds’ 1999 Wembley team.

Powell said: “I am gutted that such a great man has passed away. I thought he was incredible as a coach and as a man as well.

“Wherever he went you could see players enjoyed his personality and the way he dealt with things, not just about the game, but about life.”

Rugby mourns "devastating" loss of mastermind behind cup win

Wigan Warriors run riot on road to Wembley

It was awful defending from the Broncos, and skipper Luke Dorn in particular, who was left on his backside as Goulding went clear.

Pat Richards – who claimed a 30-point haul – booted the conversion and Wigan soon had their second when prop Lee Mossop marched over the line. In the 24th minute it was Sam Tomkins’ turn to take centre stage, a role he seems born for.

The reigning Man of Steel produced some delightful footwork to weave through the statuesque Broncos defence from close range.

Try number four arrived four minutes later when Blake Green touched down from a grubber kick from Matty Smith. Then it started to get rather embarrassing as Tomkins found Iain Thornley and he ushered Richards over for number five.

Sean O’Loughlin then brilliantly created a try for Charnley, an exquisite long pass sending the England winger over in the right corner to make it 34-0 at the break.

Prop Scott Taylor barrelled over the line and then Smith broke through before Richards walked over for his second. Further tries came from Liam Farrell and Thornley before Charnley’s second gave him his century for the club.

Wane said: “It was a great performance. I can’t tell you how proud I am.”

WIGAN: Tries Goulding, Mossop, Tomkins, Green, Richards 2, Charnley 2, Taylor, Smith, Farrell, Thornley. Goals Richards (11).

Wigan Warriors run riot on road to Wembley