Scott Johnson is the new director of coaching at Ospreys after the Australian agreed to leave his current role as USA coach at the end of the season. The move, which has been widely tipped for some time, will not greatly effect the current set-up with Sean Holley continuing as head coach and Jonathan Humphreys [...]
Extending season bad idea say RFU
The RFU are strongly apposed to the idea of the Guinness Premiership being extended by six games as clubs look to push forward with the plans. Many of the 12 clubs in the league think that the extra fixtures could help make them as much as £500,000 extra in revenue, which they believe is needed [...]
Chris Cusiter signs for Glasgow
Glasgow Warriors have signed Chris Cusiter from Perpignan on three-year-deal and the Scot says he is delighted to be returning home. The 26-year-old scrum-half has been in France for two years and will play out the remainder of the season with Perpignan, before starting his career with Glasgow. He commented, “I believe it’s the right [...]
Favourites tag doesn’t faze Gatland
Wales coach Warren Gatland says his side shouldn’t be bothered by being favourites to win the Six Nations competition. Last time around Wales completed a comprehensive Grand Slam and if they can repeat the performance, they will become just the sixth side in the tournament’s history to achieve the feat back-to-back. Gatland is confident his [...]
Kidney happy to hand O’Driscoll captaincy
Ireland coach Declan Kidney believes he has made the correct decision in once again offering the captaincy to Brian O’Driscoll for the upcoming Six Nations competition. O’Driscoll already holds the record for the highest number of Ireland appearances as captain with 52 and Kidney believes this experience could prove vital. “He has the leadership qualities [...]
England players sent home from Portugal
Three England players have been sent home from the training camp in Portugal, as coach Martin Johnson attempts to give them match time. Delon Armitage, Nick Kennedy and Sale’s Mathew Tait have all been released back to their clubs in the hope they can get some games under their belts before the Six Nations opener. [...]
Stevens devastated by drugs ban
Bath prop Matt Stevens has spoken about his addiction after being suspended for failing a drugs test. The 26-year-old England man has now been removed from the Six Nations squad, despite the drugs found in his system not being performance-enhancing. Although Stevens did not openly admit what exact drugs he had taken, he made an [...]
Easter extends Saints stay
Mark Easter has signed a new two-year contract with Northampton that will keep him at the club until at least 2011. The back row has made 64 appearances for Saints in his 4 years at the club and believes he has made the right choice in opting to stay. “It really is a great club [...]
Jackson shock call up for Scotland
Scotland have called up rookie Ruaridh Jackson for the upcoming Six Nations competition, with Geoff Cross also given the chance to earn his first cap. Jackson has only been a pro since May and has just one Glasgow Warriors appearance to his name this season. However, Scotland head coach Frank Hadden has been impressed with [...]
Young delighted with Blues’ spirit
Cardiff Blues director of rugby Dai Young was full of praise for his side, after their 12-15 victory over Gloucester ensured them a quarter final place in the Heineken Cup. Tom James saw red for Blues after a head-butt on Olivier Azam and despite being 9-3 down at the interval, Blues fought back to claim [...]
Peel left out of Welsh squad
Dwayne Peel will not feature in the Six Nations competition after being sensationally left out of the Welsh squad by Warren Gatland. The 28-year-old scrum half was deemed third choice behind Mike Phillips and Gareth Cooper and therefore wasn’t named in the 28 man squad. Gatland explained his decision, commenting, “We had a very hard [...]
Irish all round in England squad
Eight London Irish players have been named in the two England squads (Elite & Saxon) for the upcoming Six Nations competition and that’s music to the ears of coach Toby Booth. Delon Armitage, Shane Geraghty and Nick Kennedy are included in the elite squad and all are tipped to figure at some stage in the [...]
Foden & Morgan get the call for England duty
Martin Johnson has named his squad for the upcoming Six Nations competition with Ben Foden and Olly Morgan both receiving call-ups. Northampton full-back Foden could win his first cap if selected to play in any of the matches, while Morgan will be hoping for a chance to show what he can do in the same [...]
Henson boost for Ospreys
Gavin Henson will return to the Ospreys side for the crunch game against Perpignan, as the Welsh club try to advance in the Heineken Cup. Henson has been missing with a shoulder injury and most recently because of the birth of his second child. The news isn’t so good for Perpignan’s Dan Carter. The New [...]
Saracens duo ruled out
Saracens will be without Michael Owen and Neil de Kock for the majority of the season after it was revealed they have both picked up serious injuries. De Kock broke his arm in the victory over Bristol last Sunday and will be missing for up to 12 weeks as he recovers. Owen’s injury is even [...]
Haskell in demand as Ospreys join the race
Wasps and England back-row James Haskell is being tracked by Ospreys, Sale Sharks and Toulouse as the race for his signature hots up. The 23-year-old star’s deal is up at the end of the season and Wasps remain confident he will sign a new contact. However, with so much attention from elsewhere, reports suggest Haskell [...]
Anxious wait for Six Nations hopefuls
Martin Johnson is set to name his England squad for the Six Nations on Wednesday, with key decisions to make following injuries to some of his stars. Five changes to the 32-man elite squad announced October are permitted based purely on form with other openings created through injuries, suspension or Test retirements. With Josh Lewsey [...]
Tindall banned from driving for 3 years
England centre Mike Tindall has been slapped with a 3 year driving ban, after he was caught driving whilst over the legal alcohol limit. The 30-year-old was stopped by police for speeding in his Range Rover Sport on the M4 last year, before being asked to take a blood test to measure his alcohol levels. [...]
Stcherbina career could be over
Marc Stcherbina believes he might have played his last professional rugby, as he continues his rehabilitation following a serious neck injury. The Newport Gwent Dragons centre needed an operation to repair the damage he suffered during his side’s defeat to Toulouse on 6 December. “It is wait and see… and I’m going to see the [...]
Bracken leaves Bristol for Harlequins
Peter Bracken has left Bristol after a torrid time with the club and opted to join up with Harlequins. 31-year-old Bracken joined Bristol from Wasps in 2007 but has only made 14 appearances for the club as a result of persistent shoulder injuries and loss of form. Bristol coach Richard Hill commented, “Bracks is a [...]
White sets sail for Clermont
Jason White has decided to leave Sale at the end of the season to join French club Clermont Auvergne on a two-year deal. The 30-year-old flanker has been at Sale since 2003 when he joined from Glasgow Warriors and has amassed over 100 appearances for the club. Despite being sad about leaving Sale, Scottish international [...]
Vainikolo’s season goes from bad to worse
Gloucester’s Lesley Vainikolo has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after going under the knife to repair damage on a ruptured Achilles tendon. The 29-year-old has had a tough few months after being arrested for grievous bodily harm, following an incident in Bath and is set to appear before Bristol Crown Court [...]
England without Rees for Six Nations
England will have to make do without Tom Rees for the Six Nations competition, after the Wasps’ flanker injured his knee in the victory over Harlequins. The 24-year-old suffered damage to his medial knee ligament and will require extensive rehabilitation before he can consider returning to action. Surgery has not been ruled out which would [...]
Wilson punished for dangerous tackle
Northampton’s Roger Wilson has been banned 5 weeks after what has been described as a ‘dangerous tackle’ on Harlequins flanker Will Skinner. Wilson pleaded guilty to the offence but has still been given a lengthy ban which sees him miss a number of games until he is eligible for a return on February 10th.
Callard hopes to help Cipriani
Jon Callard is hoping to help Danny Cipriani with his kicking technique in order to reduce the number of errors the Wasps’ fly-half is making. Callard, who is the England kicking coach, believes most of Cipriani’s problems stem from low confidence which is hampering his undoubted ability. In recent weeks, Cipriani has seen kicks charged [...]
