Ospreys centre Andrew Bishop has committed his future to the club by signing a new four year deal. The 23-year-old welsh international becomes the 13th player to sign up for an extended stint with the club this year. Ospreys head coach Sean Holley is delighted to have secured Bishop’s services adding, “I’m looking forward to [...]
Jonny in-line for Newcastle return
Newcastle Falcons are confident that Jonny Wilkinson will be fit for the start of the new season, as he continues to regain fitness after shoulder surgery. The 29-year-old fly-half needed the operation to repair cartilage and remains certain that he will be ready for the season opener against Sale on September 7th. Steve Bates, the [...]
Magners League format changes to play-offs
The Magners League will use a play-off system to determine their league champions for the first time in the 2009/10 season. Instead of the traditional league system whereby the team that finishes first are given the Championship, the top 4 will now qualify for a mini knock-out competition, much the Guinness Premiership. Director of the [...]
Foster steps in at Ospreys
Ian Foster, the current head coach at Waikato Chiefs has agreed to the unusual proposition of helping out Ospreys coaches in the run-up to the new season. Foster will spend three weeks at the club, supporting stand-in coaches Jonathan Humphreys and Sean Holley, but is not being considered for the position of head coach. Ospreys’ [...]
Saracens sign US star
Saracens have strengthened their squad ahead of the new season, by bringing in USA international Chris Wyles. The versatile 24-year-old can play in both the full-back and wing positions. Saracens director of rugby, Eddie Jones believes they’ve got a good player on their books. “He had a very good 2007 World Cup in France and [...]
Anglo-Welsh competetion in the pipeline
The WRU and the RFU are in talks to form at least one new competition that would involve clubs from both nations. The EDF Energy Cup is likely to make way for the new format and the change could happen as early as next season, according to sources. Roger Johnson from the WRU commented, “There [...]
Bath star pens new deal
Bath scrum-half Michael Claassens has signed an extension to his contract that will keep him at the club until at least 2010. The 26-year-old South African has been a key figure in the Bath side since his arrival and is delighted to be extending his stay. He commented, “I really enjoyed my first season. There [...]
Jones handed Osprey’s captaincy
Wales captain Ryan Jones has now also been given his club captaincy by Ospreys for the second year in a row. The 27-year-old back-row is a popular figure at both club and international level with Ospreys, Wales and the British Lions. Jones says he is delighted to once again receive the armband and feels he [...]
Boris keen on staging World Cup
Boris Johnson believes that London and England in general would be the perfect location for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. The RFU have submitted an application to stage the competition and the new mayor of London has offered his full support for the campaign. He commented, “I think it would be wonderful for London if [...]
Johnson returns troops to Pennyhill
Martin Johnson has decided to return the England squad to Pennyhill Park Hotel in Surrey, for training sessions and preparation in the run-up to matches. It was at Pennyhill that England prepared prior to the successful 2003 World Cup campaign and Johnson is happy to be heading back there. He commented, “Pennyhill ticks all the [...]
Angry clubs set for showdown talks
Welsh Premiership clubs are set for showdown talks with WRU chief executive Roger Lewis. A number of the clubs involved in the competition are said to be dissatisfied with how it is being run and the prospects for the future. Funding is the main issue and Bridgend chairman Derrick King is adamant that more money [...]
Montgomery is 100 and out
South Africa full-back Percy Montgomery has been dropped to the bench for South Africa’s upcoming match against Australia, less than a week after winning his 100th cap. The 34-year-old is one of the players that has paid the price after the disappointing 19-0 defeat to New Zealand and is replaced by Conrad Jantjes. The full [...]
Farrell hit with injury blow
Saracen’s Andy Farrell will miss the start of the new season after fracturing and dislocating his thumb in a warm-up match. The centre missed two months of the last season with a shoulder injury and could well be sidelined for the same period of time again. Farrell, who has had persistent injury problems since moving [...]
Tuilagi joins Sale
Samoan International Anitelia Tuilagi has joined Sale Sharks on a four-year deal. The 22-year-old international has already had spells with Leicester Tigers and Leeds but Sale coach Kingsley Jones believes he can get the most out of the player. He commented, “Andy is a raw talent and we feel he can bring power to the [...]
Grassroots Welsh rugby gets boost
A £250,000 grant has been secured by the WRU to invest into grassroots Welsh rugby. The Foundation for Sports and Arts has provided the money and it is hoped that the cash will be used by clubs to improve facilities. WRU Chief Executive Roger Lewis commented, “Grassroots rugby clubs are the heart and soul of [...]
New Zealand continue good form
New Zealand won a tight game with South Africa to continue their good form and extend their lead at the top of the Tri-Nations table. Although the game finished 19-0 in the All Blacks’ favour, it was only 5-0 heading into the final quarter. Conrad Smith got the first try early on but it was [...]
10 nations bid to host World Cup
The IRB have confirmed that 10 nations having submitted applications to host the World Cup in either 2015 or 2019. The home nations are all interested in staging the competition, as are Australia, Italy, Japan, South Africa, Jamaica and Russia. IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset commented, “The fact that 10 member unions have signalled their intention [...]
Johnson demands respect and responsibility
Martin Johnson says he will not stand for England players acting irresponsibly and claims the squad are united in their stance not to see a repeat of the fiasco in New Zealand. A number of England players faced serious allegations of a sexual nature whilst in staying at the team hotel in Auckland. Despite no [...]
Ospreys hooker to miss season opener
Richard Hibbard has undergone surgery on his right shoulder and will miss the start of the new season. The 24-year-old Welsh hooker will definitely miss the first game of the campaign against Connacht and could be absent for further matches. However, Osprey’s team physio Chris Towers is optimistic on his condition commenting, “We’ll assess his [...]
Tigers name new coach
Matt O’Connor has been named the new backs coach at Leicester Tigers ahead of the new season. O’Conner, 37, has experience in the role having previously worked with Super 14 side ACT Brumbies and Australia A and says he can’t wait to get started. He commented, “It was a great honour to be asked to [...]
England players secure performance bonuses
The RFU have agreed a 4 year contract with England elite rugby players, which includes big performance related bonuses. It had been claimed that if an agreement hadn’t been put in place soon, players could strike to secure a better deal. The new package is expected to see players earnings boosted to around £185,000 a [...]
Mitchell flies in for Wasps
Lachlan Mitchell has joined Wasps on a two-year deal from New South Wales Waratahs. The 20-year-old Australian centre is seen as a good future prospect and Wasps’ director of rugby Ian McGeechan is delighted to have got his man. He commented, “Lachlan is a player who we feel will both benefit from and add to [...]
Montgomery set to make history
South Africa’s Percy Montgomery is set to make history on Saturday and become the first player to represent the Springboks 100 times. The 34-year-old full back is already the countries all-time leading points scorer and has a World Cup winners medal from this years victory. Africa coach Peter de Villiers expects the same level of [...]
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Williams signs for Harlequins
Gareth Williams has joined Harlequins from Neath on a two-year deal as Quins step up their preparations for the new campaign. The Welsh under 20 scrum-half is expected to compete for a starting place with Danny Care and Andy Gomersall and is thrilled by the challenge ahead. He commented, “I’m delighted to get a chance [...]