Special visitors: Local families billet players

COBOURG - 

It wasn’t your typical local high school rugby game.

For starters, it’s summer and there is no school, but this game was educational for the Cobourg District Collegiate Institute East Comets.

Cobourg East hosted a team from Amman Valley, Wales last Thursday for the third time. The fact that the Welsh squad, from Ysgol Dyffryn Aman school, won by a large margin did not matter. This is a sport they’ve all played since a young age.

“You get really quick on your feet against a team like this because it’s such a high calibre,” said Cobourg East captain Cameron Tinney. “It’s a great experience getting to know their culture and you learn a lot about the game of rugby.”

Visiting players are billeted by the families of the Cobourg East players, which provides that much more of an opportunity for interaction.

“They become really good friends and we keep in touch afterwards for awhile,” said Tinney, who enjoyed the same experience two years ago.

Ceri Rees, the captain of the Welsh visiting team, agreed the experience was much more than just on the rugby pitch. In addition to spending time with the Cobourg players, they also spent time around town, including the beach.

“(People) can’t do enough for you,” Rees said.

Scott Caister, who coaches the Cobourg East Comets with Dean Smith, said the Welsh team was also visiting Lindsay, Ottawa and Brantford during their trip to Ontario. He was pleased to see them back in Cobourg.

“We look forward to it every two years,” he said. “We have a good reputation with the coaches. They know when their kids are billeted out it’s to nice families. It says a lot about the community that they want to keep coming back.”

On the pitch, Caister said his players were sure to benefit from the experience.

“They get to see how the game is supposed to be played,” the coach remarked. “They move the ball faster and it’s a lot smoother game. It’s the kind of game we keep on striving to get to.”

Smith, meanwhile, said he was “extremely proud of how we played.”

jeff.gard@sunmedia.ca

Special visitors: Local families billet players

Greig Tonks extends contract with Edinburgh Rugby until 2015

The 24-year-old former Northampton Saints full-back signed in the summer of 2012.

He went on to become one of the club’s most consistent performers, starting all but two possible matches, before winning his first senior cap on Scotland’s 2013 summer tour of South Africa.

Tonks said: “I came to Edinburgh Rugby intent on playing as much as possible and hoping to pursue an international career with Scotland so, on a personal level, my time here has gone really well.

“I was happy to achieve my goals in a pretty whirlwind year, so it was an obvious decision for me to try and stay as long as possible, even before the club opened the talks to extend my contract.

“Naturally I’m keen to get more game time for Scotland after getting my first cap but it’s really important to me to have a good season with Edinburgh Rugby.

“As a team we need to perform better. There’s a lot happening behind the scenes to get excited about and hopefully this time next year we’ll be looking back on a better year.”

Managing director David Davies added: “We have been very impressed with Greig.

“He had a very good debut season at the club and we were delighted to watch him get his first Scotland cap in the summer.

“He’s a genuine talent and individual, and the kind of bright young player that we want to develop at this club.”

Greig Tonks extends contract with Edinburgh Rugby until 2015

Rugby League - Sinfield set for landmark

The inspirational Rhinos captain returned to action after a six-week lay-off – and played a typically decisive role with five goals and a drop goal – in a narrow 31-24 derby win at Wakefield.

The 32-year-old, who made his debut at 16, is now on the brink of another remarkable milestone in a career that has seen him become Leeds’ record points-scorer and win six Super League Grand Finals.

His presence is probably the last thing the struggling Broncos need as they bid to pick themselves up from last week’s Challenge Cup semi-final humbling by Wigan in the clash at Twickenham Stoop.

Rhinos coach Brian McDermott said: “For Kevin is it an incredible achievement to have reached 500 games and it is testament to the complete professional he is.

“A good example of why he has reached this landmark is how he looked after himself with his recent injury, the way he lives his life and the sacrifices he makes which ensure that if he gets injured, which is rarely, he is back ready to play sooner than most.

“I am a very lucky coach when I have got people like him in the team.

“Five hundred games as a half-back is incredibly hard because defensively everyone knows about Kev, everyone knows to aim a lot of traffic at him.

“He has done that all his career and he has got a few more years left in him.

“It is scary how many games he might play.”

The match is also likely to be an emotional one for the Rhinos, coming soon after the death of their former coach Graham Murray last weekend.

Murray led the Rhinos to Challenge Cup glory in 1999 and laid the foundations for much of the success that has since followed.

The Leeds players will wear black armbands in tribute.

McDermott said: “Kev and Jamie Jones-Buchanan played under Graham and many at the club have spoken about the lasting legacy he has left at the Rhinos.”

London, three points adrift at the bottom of the table, have little to play for but pride after four days of soul-searching following their 70-0 thrashing by Wigan.

It has been a torrid season for the Broncos on and off the field and the latest result has brought renewed questions about the long-term viability of the club.

McDermott, a former Harlequins coach, is frustrated by that attitude.

He said: “I have a lot of affection for rugby league in London.

“It clearly wasn’t a great day to have another Super League side put so many points past them.

“I suppose it is now time for the critics of London to come out of the woodwork and have a crack.

“But I maintain what you saw on Saturday afternoon wasn’t a reflection of what goes on in the vast majority of rugby league in London.

“The professional team is a small percentage of rugby league in London. Rugby league is hugely healthy in London.

“There is a danger reading too much into it and having a sweeping statement saying London doesn’t work.”

The Broncos have managed just three wins in Super League all season and have conceded 820 points – 381 more than Leeds – but McDermott anticipates a better display this week.

He said: “I think we can forget about their performance at the weekend in the Challenge Cup.

“They will have been bitterly disappointed with that game but we won’t see that type of performance from them on Thursday night.

“They will be determined to get their season back on track and finish the campaign strongly.”

Leeds, who have beaten Wakefield in back-to-back games in the past fortnight, could welcome back Kallum Watkins and Ryan Bailey after annkle and thumb injuries respectively.

The Broncos have brought in centre Ryan Shaw in place of fellow loanee Rhodri Lloyd, who has been ruled out by a knee injury.

London coach Tony Rea said: “The team need to restore some pride in the shirt and themselves in a game against the champions.

“This game represents a challenge that they need to stand up to.”

Rugby League - Sinfield set for landmark

Rugby League - Tomkins focused on Wigan - for now

The highly coveted England international has been heavily linked with a move to Australia’s top-rated competition, particularly with the New Zealand Warriors.

The 24-year-old told Sky Sports News: “I am firmly concentrating on Wigan at the moment.

“We have got a busy period coming up with the Challenge Cup (final) in a month’s time.

“I am aware of the strong rumours that I will be moving to a few different clubs, but I can say hand on heart I have not signed any contracts yet.”

A number of English players are currently prominent in the NRL including James Graham, Gareth Widdop and Sam and Luke Burgess.

Tomkins’ former Wigan team-mate Thomas Leuluai also now plays for the Auckland-based Warriors and the players have spoken.

“I speak to quite a lot of them on a regular basis,” Tomkins said. “They all do love it over there.

“I’ve a good friend, Thomas Leuluai, who plays at New Zealand Warriors, and Sam Burgess and Gareth Widdop are over in Australia. They all love it.

“I’ve spoken to them since they left, so it’s not like I’m just speaking to them now just to get an idea of what it’s like over there.

“But they love it, and the NRL – there is certainly an attraction.

“It is a tougher competition than Super League, I think that’s fair to say, they’ve just got a consistent level right through the league which attracts good players.

“But Super League’s certainly not to be left out of that. I think we’ve got a great competition and some top teams that have been battling it out all season that are coming to a great end of the season.”

Tomkins has seemed destined for stardom since scoring five tries on his debut in 2008.

He signed a bumper five-year contract in 2011 and was named Man of Steel last year after being nominated twice in previous seasons.

His deal means he cannot speak to rugby union or Australian rugby league clubs until at least 2014 but that has not prevented speculation about his future.

Gold Coast Titans and Sydney Roosters are among the other clubs to have been linked with Tomkins’ services.

Rugby League - Tomkins focused on Wigan - for now

Rugby - Lancaster set to name elite squad

Ashton’s selection throughout this year’s RBS 6 Nations was based on reputation and a lack of established alternatives with the misfiring Saracens wing’s defence the area of gravest concern.

The 26-year-old was one of five high-profile players rested for the tour to Argentina alongside Chris Robshaw, Brad Barritt, Danny Care and Toby Flood.

The quintet were assured by Lancaster before and after the 2-0 series victory over the Pumas that they would feature in the EPS squad for the autumn internationals.

Only two dedicated wings were included among the 33 named in January, but both could be axed as patience has run out with David Strettle while Ashton’s ongoing presence hangs in the balance.

Major pressure is being applied by Marland Yarde and Christian Wade, who excelled in South America last month and have finally provided Lancaster with options in what has been viewed as a problem position.

An indication of how far Ashton’s stock has fallen is evident from the decision by the British and Irish Lions to prefer Wade as an injury replacement midway through their tour to Australia.

Even Shane Williams was favoured by a Lions management that included England assistant coach Andy Farrell when the number of injuries hit crisis point, although the former Wales wing’s presence in Japan was instrumental in his selection.

Lancaster was hugely impressed by Yarde and Wade and must decide whether to promote both at the expense of Ashton and Strettle, or keep faith with Ashton and drop Alex Goode who is out until October after undergoing shoulder surgery.

Other changes to the EPS’ backs are likely to be minimal with Kyle Eastmond potentially replacing Jonathan Joseph, although this would leave Lancaster with three inside centres and only one 13 in Manu Tuilagi.

The forwards, who make up 18 of the 33, could see a handful of changes, among them Matt Kvesic’s promotion to the EPS after he emerged as one of the stars of Argentina.

Kvesic is a more traditional openside than Robshaw and he will compete with the Harlequins back row for the number seven jersey for the forthcoming Tests against Australia, Argentina and New Zealand.

The captaincy will be named closer to the autumn, but Robshaw could lose out to Tom Wood, who filled the post in South America.

It is doubtful that number eight Thomas Waldrom will continue among the 33 with Billy Vunipola likely to make the step up from the Saxons.

Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley may finally have exhausted Lancaster’s patience, potentially creating an opening for Rob Webber who captained England against the Barbarians in May.

Hartley is out until September 1 following his latest brush with the disciplinary authorities which resulted in an 11-week suspension for verbally abusing referee Wayne Barnes in last season’s Aviva Premiership final.

Only three locks – Geoff Parling, Joe Launchbury and Courtney Lawes – were included in January and their number could be bolstered by the addition of Dave Attwood, who was outstanding in Argentina.

Some of those capped this summer could find themselves named as Saxons, but Lancaster has made it clear they could still be involved this autumn.

“I can’t think of a time when I have not been able to promote a Saxon to the senior side when the autumn internationals come around,” he said last month.

“There’s always an injury and there’s always a way. For example if Kyle was in the Saxons and he was on fire, built on the back of his tour and deserved to be playing then we would find a way.”

Rugby - Lancaster set to name elite squad

Rugby League - Rovers fans banned over missiles

The banning orders come after two people were charged by police with offences which saw missiles thrown on to the pitch during the Robins’ Super League game at Warrington on July 21.

A club statement read: “As a result of incidents at the recent Warrington Wolves v Hull KR game at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, the club have issued temporary banning orders to two individuals.

“The two people in question were allegedly involved in the incidents that took place on that day and are banned from entering MS3 Craven Park up until their court appearances, which are scheduled for September.

“On the completion of those hearings the club, in partnership with Humberside Police, will make a decision regarding the best course of action going forward in respect of the two individuals.

“The club were extremely saddened by the incidents at the Warrington game and cannot condone that kind of behaviour.

“There will be no further comment made on this matter until after the court appearances of the two people in question.”

Rugby League - Rovers fans banned over missiles

Rugby union: Helsby Rugby Club Under 15s bag Cheshire Bowl triumph

THE under 15s team from Helsby Rugby Club scooped silverware in their first season.

They won the Cheshire Bowl, beating Macclesfield in the final at Old Anselmians.

The Helsby boys ran out 34-5 victors in what turned out to be an exhibition of open rugby.

The win topped off an excellent inaugural campaign for Helsby, who lost only one match.

Team manager Julian Shaw said: “This win puts Helsby on the rugby map. To put in such a great performance on County Final day is testament to the lads’ skill and effort, as well as the leadership and commitment of the coaching team.”

Rugby union: Helsby Rugby Club Under 15s bag Cheshire Bowl triumph