Ulster Rugby will host three ‘Try Rugby’ programmes this summer to offer children the chance to hone their skills.
The multi-day rugby and fitness events for boys and girls aged 9-12 years will be held in West and North Belfast in July and in Londonderry in August. Qualified coaches will help the youngsters to develop a range of rugby skills, while fitness experts will also attend to pass on some advice.
Barry Willis, Community Rugby Manager at Ulster Rugby, said: “These ‘Try Rugby’ taster events are a great way to bring rugby to young people. The success and popularity of the senior Ulster team has been one of the main reasons for the continued growth in participation in rugby but another key factor is the significant support we receive from DCAL, who have funded over 20 staff to grow the game in non-traditional areas.
“The camps will provide an excellent opportunity for those who are new to the game and those with some experience, to develop their skills in a fun, safe environment and meet new friends,†he added.
Umberto Scappiticci from Colin Neighbourhood Partnership, who will host the West Belfast event, said: “This is the first rugby event of its kind to be held in this area and it’s tremendous to see.
“Ulster Rugby’s Community Rugby Coach, Roy Lawton, has been doing some brilliant work in the community, particularly in local schools, so this is the natural next step. The camps will allow many more children to take part and enjoy a few days of rugby.â€
You can register by phoning Darryl Petticrew on 02890494806 or by emailing darryl.petticrew@ulsterrugby.com. Full details of the events can be found on www.ulsterrugby.com/domestic.
Try Rugby Programmes
West Belfast – 7-9 July, 10am-1pm, Brook Activity Centre, 25 Summerhill Road, Dunmurry, Belfast, BT17 0RL
North Belfast- 7-8 July, 1-3pm, Hammer Playing Fields. Agnes Street, Shankill Road, Belfast, BT13 1GG
L~Derry- 18-20 August, 10am-12pm, Bishop’s Field Sports Centre, Creggan, L~Derry, BT48 9QG.
Former munster prop Tony Buckley has confirmed his retirement from professional rugby, but the 33-year-old will play on with Ulster Bank League side Kanturk next season.
The 138kg Cork man first played rugby with Kanturk at the age of 15, lending his move home a fitting symmetry after three seasons with the Sale Sharks in England.
Buckley is fondly remembered by many Munster fans, having spent six years with the province and racking up 88 appearances in that time. The 6ft 5ins tighthead also won 25 caps for Ireland over the course of his career.
Stints with Newbridge College at schools level and Shannon RFC were important stepping stones along the way, while his three campaigns with Sale saw Buckley start 15 Premiership games and three Heineken Cup ties.
I have decided to make the tough decision to retire from professional rugby,†Buckley told Munster Rugby. “I have been in talks with clubs from London and Paris and beyond but will instead play for Kanturk rugby club, the club where I started playing around 18 years ago.
“I would just like to thank my family, especially my mother and my wife for all their support throughout my career and the sacrifices they made to ensure I could continue playing until now.
“Also I would like to thank all the coaches and back-room staff who I had the pleasure of working with along the way. In all, I had a really enjoyable career, travelled the world and played for my country, with a lot of success with Kanturk, Newbridge College, Shannon and Munster.
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“I am lucky that I have emerged from professional rugby relatively intact and capable of enjoying my last couple of seasons with the club I started with. For now it’s back to civilian life.â€
Meanwhile, Kanturk have expressed their delight at securing the services of Buckley for their first ever season in the All-Ireland Leagues. The consistently-improving club have been greatly boosted by the arrival of Buckley ahead of their Division 2B campaign.
New for 2014, the Community Champion Award supported by Land Rover rewards a person who delivers significant social change or support in their community.
This could include someone who has taken an active role in a grassroots club linked to a Premiership Rugby club, someone who has been a mentor to a club social inclusion programme participant, or a volunteer who has shown exceptional commitment over the course of the year.
The national and highly commended Community Champion Award winners will be selected from the Premiership Rugby club nominees below and announced at at an award ceremony hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Rugby Union Group in the prestigious Members’ Dining Room at the House of Commons on 3 July.
Community Champion Nominees
Jimmy Deane – Bath Rugby
Will Rattray – Harlequins
Jonathan Barker – London Irish
Nikki Worsdell – London Wasps
Max Proud – Newcastle Falcons
Pennie Crow and Neil Chater – Northampton Saints
Peter Gore – Sale Sharks
Chris Durward-Akhurst – Saracens
The All Party Parliamentary Rugby Union Group Premiership Rugby Awards, now in their ninth year, feature four different categories: the Play Award supported by the All Party Parliamentary Rugby Union Group, the BreakThru Award supported by TNT Express, the Community Impact Award supported by Aviva and, new for 2014, the Community Champion Award supported by Land Rover.
The awards will be attended by a number of MPs, commercial partners and Rugby World Cup winner Jason Robinson.
“Land Rover is committed to supporting grassroots rugby through programmes such as the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup, Premiership Rugby Academies and HITZ. As such we are proud to be able to partner with the Premiership Rugby Community Champion Award,” said Richard Duncan, Sponsorship and Partnership Manager, Land Rover UK.
“The award recognises the crucial and important work that often goes unseen during the rugby season, so it is vital that we recognise these contributions to both the game and our local communities.”
“Choosing a shortlist for the Community Champion Award proved very difficult, with so many worthy nominees,” said Sarah Mockford, Community Champion judge and Rugby World deputy editor.
“It’s great to see professional clubs recognising those who help to drive rugby forward at an amateur level.”
Detectives are investigating possible links between three suspicious fires at sports club premises in less than a week.
The latest blaze happened at around 4am on Saturday (June 28) at the Old Reigatian Rugby Club in Park Lane, Reigate.
Fire crews spent four hours tackling the flames, which caused significant damage to the main clubhouse.
Police said there were no reports of any people trapped or anyone suffering any injuries.
An investigation is now being carried out to determine the cause of the fire, which is being treated as suspected arson at this stage.
Club president, Sir Peter Harrison CBE, has offered a £1,000 reward for any information leading to the conviction of anyone responsible for the blaze.
@Surreyfiredogs Churchfields Bowls Club in Reigate was also devastated by fire
Detective Sergeant Stuart Underwood, from Reigate CID, said: “This is the third suspicious fire in the early hours at a sports club premises in under a week and we are investigating the possibility they are linked.
“Such criminality not only causes significant damage to what are important buildings for the local community, but is also extremely dangerous and can potentially put lives at risk.
“I would like to reassure local residents that we are taking these matters extremely seriously and we will have additional patrols and an increased policing presence in the local area.
“I would advise all local sports clubs and community groups, and residents who live close to them, to be on their guard and report any suspicious activity to police immediately. I would also urge anyone who has information about any of these fires to contact us.â€
Fire damage at Horley Lawn Tennis Club
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The rugby club said that although the outside of the building looked “horrific”, the good news was that the inside was not as bad, although there is a lot of smoke and water damage.
A clean-up operation will take place after the full extent of the damage has been assessed.
“Until that task is complete, there is nothing for members to do,” added a club spokesman.
“There will come a time when the club will need your assistance and we will be sure to tell you when that is.”
The club thanked Reigate RFC and Dorking RFC for their messages and offers of support.
“It is very much appreciated,” added the spokesman.
Anyone with any information about the rugby club fire should call Surrey Police on 101 quoting reference P14186283, or leave an anonymous message with Crimestoppers on 0800555111.
Ulster coach Mark Anscombe is to leave the side with immediate effect
By James Tait
– 30 June 2014
Mark Anscombe has left Ulster Rugby with immediate effect, with Ireland assistant Les Kiss taking over as interim director of rugby.
New Zealander Anscombe was appointed head coach in 2012 on a two-year deal to replace Brian McLaughlin. He led Ulster to the final of the RaboDirect PRO12 in his first season in charge, losing 24-18 to provincial rivals Leinster.
The news comes just weeks after Director of Rugby David Humphreys announced he was leaving to take up a role with Gloucester.
Ulster Rugby chief executive, Shane Logan, said:
“I would like to pay tribute to the contribution that Mark Anscombe made over the past two seasons and to thank him for his hard work and dedication.
“Everyone at Ulster Rugby wishes him well for the future.
“Les Kiss will have an expanded remit for the Province’s director of rugby and will lead the coaching staff, assisted by Jonny Bell and Neil Doak and will manage first team selection.
“His appointment allows us time to recruit for long-term success.”
Les Kiss will start work at Ulster Rugby on July 19.
Vern Cotter does not regret playing a one-off Test match against a nation with the fire-power of South Africa after Scotland lost 55-6 in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
The match followed three weeks on the road for Scotland with international fixtures in North America and Argentina, before they switched continents by flying more than four thousand miles across the South Atlantic Ocean to reach Africa.
The Scotland coach used 42 players over the four games and, against the Springboks, selected a number of younger squad members.
Cotter said: “All in all, we got a good look at ourselves in the last game but we will put that in context of availability, the team, the end of tour and the end of the season.
“It was a mixture of having young players and it coming at the end of the season – as well as the travel.
“Coming to South Africa, there was jetlag the first two or three days. I know from my own Super Rugby experience that it is very difficult to perform on your first week after travelling. I thought the guys put up a brave effort.
 “The tour, in all, has given me the opportunity to see a number of players, assess the depth, get a good impression of what is available and what needs to be developed to become competitive – and we got three wins out of it as well.â€
Les Kiss will take-up the position of interim director of rugby to allow time for a review of the coaching structures at Ulster Rugby to take place.
Kiss will continue as Ireland assistant coach and will combine his duties with the international side with his new role at Ulster.
Ulster Rugby Chief Executive Shane Logan said: “I would like to pay tribute to the contribution that Mark Anscombe made over the past two seasons and to thank him for his hard work and dedication. Everyone at Ulster Rugby wishes him well for the future.
“Les Kiss will have an expanded remit for the province’s director of rugby and will lead the coaching staff, assisted by Jonny Bell and Neil Doak, and will manage first team selection. His appointment allows us time to recruit for long-term success.”
Les Kiss will start work at Ulster Rugby on July 19.
Curtis Landers was injured in a tackle in a game in Port Macquarie, NSW
Was paralysed after fracturing his C2 and C3 vertebrae on 24 May
Five weeks on, he has shocked doctors by taking small steps
Can walk when assisted by nurse and physio staff at Westmead Hospital
By
Sarah Dean
Published:
16:47, 30 June 2014
| Updated:
18:37, 30 June 2014
View comments
The 15-year-old rugby player who broke his neck five weeks ago during a horror tackle has taken his first miraculous steps to recovery.
Curtis Landers, who was paralysed after fracturing his C2 and C3 vertebrae on the field in Port Macquarie, NSW, has wowed doctors and physiotherapists with his staggering rehabilitation.
Curtis was bedbound and in intensive care at Royal North Shore hospital after his May 24 accident, but can now stand on his feet when assisted by nurses at Westmead Children’s Hospital, Sydney.Â
Back on his feet: Curtis Landers can now take small steps after his accident on the rugby field in May
Progress: Curtis was paralysed after fracturing his C2 and C3 veterabrae on the field in Port Macquarie, NSW
An update on the fundraising page set up to support Curtis, said on Sunday: ‘Just got back from visiting Curt over the weekend. Blown away by how much progress he is making.
‘Curt has started going for short walks outside using a support harness and he is really looking forward to starting his hydrotherapy on Tuesday.’
The Forster-Tuncarry Hawks junior player can be seen standing and holding a ball as a rehab staff member holds onto his back, in moving pictures posted on the Facebook page which now has over 12,000 supporters.
On 27 June a friend wrote: ‘Curt had a great day in physio today. More and more progress every day. Keep the determination going mate!’
Miracle: Curtis has wowed doctors and physiotherapists with his staggering rehabilitation
On the move: A Facebook update said ‘Curt has started going for short walks outside using a support harness’
There has been a huge groundswell of support from Curtis’ local community and the top echelons of Australian media and thousands of dollars have been raised for the teen’s future so far.
Warren Blissett, a coach of the rising young star, said: ‘Ideally we want to get a block of land, put a house on it, and put it in Curtis’ name.
‘It’s the good spirit of country folk.’
Famous friends: Curtis had a hospital visit from Laurie Daley (right) and Ray Hadley (left) and was given a Blues jersey signed by the team
The Forster-Tuncurry Hawks are also staging an auction on 31 July in the hope of raising tens of thousands of dollars for their embattled young player.
Radio host Ray Hadley – who visited Curtis in hospital – has already signed on to host the event.
Mr Blissett said Curtis is now able to talk and his mischievous spirit is starting to return.
‘He’s bossing his dad around, telling him to do this, do that,’ Mr Blissett joked.
‘That’s brought a real smile to (his father’s) face. He can see improvement.’
Curtis has also met with NRL hero Alex McKinnon in hospital and a photo of the pair in wheelchairs was posted to the Curtis Landers: Road To Recovery Facebook page.
Supported: Curtis pictured with two friends outside the Westmead Children’s Hospital in Sydney
The Knights forward was also in Royal North Shore undergoing treatment for a fractured c4 and c5 vertebrae he suffered in a devastating tackle on 24 March.
Curtis and McKinnon spent hours talking and swapping support and advice.
While the fourteen-year-old’s father Kevin is ‘still feeling raw emotion’ and enjoying alone time with his son, Mr Blissett heaped praise on the talented rugby league player who is improving by the day.
‘Now that he can communicate, it’s a huge lift in his spirits,’ said an emotional Mr Blissett.
‘He’s got quality, he’s able to speak…He’s so well mannered. He’s one of those boys where if you had to have another son you’d be happy to have him.’
Daily improvement: Curtis shown here recovering in Royal North Shore hospital
Champ: Curtis is a talented rugby league player who recently took part in a Canberra Raiders camp for country recruits
Curtis, a ‘Canterbury Bulldogs nut’, recently played in the Canberra Raiders country recruit camp, where he was coached by rugby league legend Ricky Stuart.
An NRL spokeswoman told MailOnline the idea to have Curtis deliver the ball to the middle of the ANZ turf on Grand Final Day has been submitted to senior events staff and One Community – the NRL’s charitable and community relations branch – and that it will be considered.
She said the plan was dependent on Curtis’ recovery and any grand final day commitments already in place between the NRL, corporate sponsors and other community organisations.
Touching meeting: Knights star Alex McKinnon, also being treated for fractured vertebrae at Royal North Shore hospital, dropped in on Curtis’ room to lend some support and advice for the road ahead
Italian ‘rebel’ rugby league body Federazione Italiana Rugby Football League (FIRFL) has made moves to introduce rugby league to Tuscany, and the birthplace of that famous iconoclast, Leonardo Da Vinci.
A game was held on June 27 in the town of Vinci,, as part of the popular GenioGioco festival. An Italia A national selection played a Barbarian Warriors team consisting of internatioal and Italian development players from the national championship.
An U-18 Italian game also took place, between Italy A and Italy B. Plans to play against a French team were scotched, after some bureacratic issues surrounding the ‘rebel’ nature of the FIRFL.
The matches mark another stage of the devlopment of the FIRFL, which has made a point of working alongside rugby union players and stars, such as former French international Serge Betsen.
One of the aims of the initiative is to introduce the concept of ‘rugby’ to a soccer-mad Italian population.
One of the ways that the FIRFL hopes to do this is by focusing on the values of the two rugby codes, and how they differ to soccer.
“Rugby portrays values, such as loyalty, fairness and team play. If we look at soccer and other minor sports we realise that we must take a different approach,” said FIRFL Federal Councillor Alessandro Coppala.
“We are committed above all to teaching children how to grow by following this vision.”
The FIRFL also makes a point of carrying out work in disadvantaged communities at home and abroad, to spread the gospel of rugby league.
“For years together we have been committed to spreading rugby league to prisons, disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Rome or in support of poor countries: we were recently in Kenya teaching children this sport, but particularly to fix orphanages and lend a hand,” FIRFL Secretary General Pierluigi Gentile explained.
Gentile also outlined how they plan to work alongside rugby union, rather than in opposition to the 15-man code. They see the two codes as “close cousins”, who can offer each other mutual advantage in a soccer-obsessed country.
“We have activated contacts with CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee, in English) to recognize our Federation and we have found some availability,” he added.
“Players and coaches constantly changing between the two codes demonstrates this closeness “
One man working with the FIRFL is national technical coach Luigi Ferraro, who has played to a decent standard in both codes, with Calsivano Rugby, the national Italian union champions, and Magnifici Firenze XIII.
“Organising a national event in a city like Vinci is definitely an important opportunity to raise awareness of the discipline and maybe leave a few small buds so that in future there may be a youth movement,” he said.
“I’m a (former national rugby union player, but in recent years, I took part in the (rugby league) course for coaches and I am proud to be able to make a contribution to help grow this sport.”
A former senior physiotherapist with London Irish and the Cornwall Pirates rugby clubs is set to open a general practice clinic in Cornwall.
Mid Cornwall Physio is the brainchild of Torquil Dick.
The qualified and highly experienced sports physiotherapist who has worked in the Rugby Union Premiership and with Rugby League’s London Broncos, professional ski and snowboard teams in the French Alps and rugby and basketball teams in New Zealand, said he was keen to return to Cornwall where his roots are.
The 37-year-old known as Tog, who has had a spell as a physio with the cast of international musical hit, Riverdance, has now fitted out a state-of-the-art physiotherapy clinic at Ventonwyn Farm, Tregony, near Truro in Cornwall where his wife, Rebecca Tonks, runs the award-winning St Ewe Free Range Eggs.
He said: “I will be treating a wide variety of conditions but my experience in the world of sport has provided me with specialist expertise in sports injuries and injury prevention programmes as well as post operative rehabilitation.
“I waited until after our wedding to open the practice and will operate every day.
“Providing a quality physiotherapy practice includes making it a pleasurable and convenient experience so I’ll be happy to fit in around peoples’ working days and weekends.â€
Pictures: Meet the men with the future of Welsh rugby in their hands
The existing agreement between the Welsh Rugby Union and the regions runs out today.
So what happens next? What changes now? Well, not a lot is the answer.
July 1 will be pretty much like June 30 in Welsh rugby.
It’s a bit like Millennium Eve really. Some people thought the world was going to end come January 1, 2000, with the Millennium bug wreaking havoc. As it turned out, life carried on as normal.
And it will be business as usual in Welsh rugby tomorrow.
Even though no replacement for the existing Participation Agreement has been put in place, it won’t be a case of the regions ceasing to exist.
Although they are technically no longer being funded by the WRU as of tonight, they will still carry on as normal.
The regions are not due any money from the WRU tomorrow, so it won’t be as simple as the tap being turned off immediately.
If the existing PA was rolling over, the next payment from the Union wouldn’t be due for another month or so.
Of course, if no settlement is reached before then, the situation becomes very different.
It will be a case then of how long can the respective regions carry on without WRU funding?
How long will they be able to pay the wages and meet the bills?
Hopefully it won’t come to that and, thankfully, the signs are that it won’t.
At last…Peace in our time could be just around the corner
I know it’s tempting fate, but the prospects for peace seem to be more positive than they have at any time during this whole dispute.
As I understand it, the WRU have put a financial package on the table – as part of a new Rugby Services Agreement – and the regions have accepted it in principle.
So what’s the hold up? Well, there is still a lot of detail to be thrashed out.
Key issues such as the nature of any central or dual contracts, international player release and overseas player quotas all have to be resolved and that could take a few weeks yet.
But, generally, things appear to be progressing well.
There was a seven-hour meeting on Friday when rugby issues – such as the numbers of non-Welsh qualified players – were discussed, with Warren Gatland in attendance.
And a follow up meeting is taking place today.
There are still plenty of ‘i’s to be dotted and ‘t’s to be crossed, but we do seem to be getting there slowly.
Crucially, there seems to be an acknowledgement that a deal simply has to be done. There is no alternative.
So talks continue and for the time being everyone carries on as normal.
The regions were due to receive the latest installment of European competition money today and they are able to plod along for the time being, with the growing hope that the settlement with the Union will soon be signed off
Wales coach Warren Gatland has been involved in key meetings
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The key financial details…
As for the financial details of the new deal, well everyone is remaining pretty tight lipped over that.
Under the existing PA, the regions receive £6.7m between them from WRU central funds.
That covers issues such as international player release and overseas quotas.
Their argument has been that the Union funding has failed to keep pace with spiraling player wages.
The suggestion is they had been looking for about £4m more, taking them up to around £10.7m.
It would appear the two sides have reached agreement over a figure somewhere in the middle.
One figure I have heard bandied around is £8.2m, but both sides are keeping their cards very close to their chest on this front and understandably so.
Central contracts…will they happen?
It’s no secret that the WRU had secured an additional £2m a year from sponsors to cover the central contracting of star players.
Under this arrangement, players would be contracted by the Union but released free of charge back to play for their regions.
That would, in turn, free up money in the regions’ budgets to spend on other squad players.
Whether that kind of arrangement is part of the new RSA deal remains to be seen, while it will also be intriguing to see whether we end up with central or dual contracts.
All will be revealed in the fullness of time. For now, life goes on.
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