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Tuesday 31st January 2012
KARL DICKSON of Harlequins will join up with England tomorrow to prepare for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations match against Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
Dickson comes in as injury cover from the England Saxons Elite Player Squad for younger brother Lee, who fractured a metacarpal in his left hand during Saturday’s Calcutta Cup win over Scotland and saw a specialist today following consultation between the England and Northampton Saints’ medical teams.
Toby Flood, who played for Leicester Tigers against Newcastle Falcons in Saturday’s LV= Cup Round 4, returns to camp in place of Saracens’ Alex Goode.
The squad meet up at Pennyhill Park tomorrow morning.
Staying at their clubs this week are Courtney Lawes (knee), Manusamoa Tuilagi (calf) and Tom Wood (foot).
FORWARDS: Dave Attwood, Mouritz Botha, Calum Clark, Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole, Tom Croft, Phil Dowson, Dylan Hartley, Joe Marler, Lee Mears, Ben Morgan, Tom Palmer, Geoff Parling, Chris Robshaw, Matt Stevens, Rob Webber, David Wilson, Thomas Waldrom
BACKS: Chris Ashton, Matt Banahan, Brad Barritt, Mike Brown, Karl Dickson, Owen Farrell, Ben Foden, Toby Flood, Charlie Hodgson, Joe Simpson, Charlie Sharples, David Strettle, Jordan Turner-Hall, Ben Youngs
For teams, officials and reviews for week 1 of RBS Six Nations, click here:
Friday 3rd February 2012
KEITH EARLS has been forced to withdraw from the Ireland team to face Wales on Sunday. His new-born daughter is critically ill in hospital in Limerick, and so Earls has rightly chosen to remain with his family at home at this worrying time.
We wish her and the family godspeed and speedy recovery.
Leinster boys will now fill the void: Fergus McFadden will step up to fill Brian O'Driscoll's boots at 13, and Dave Kearney, starting fullback Rob's younger brother, comes in on the bench.
For all starting line ups, officials and previews for week 1 of RBS Six Nations, click here:
Friday 3rd February 2012
Rhys Priestland and Jamie Roberts will both start for Wales in the RBS 6 Nations Championship opener against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Sunday (KO 3.00pm).
Scarlets fly half Priestland and Blues centre Roberts have recovered from knee injuries in time to take their places in a starting line-up which shows six changes to that which faced Australia at the Millennium Stadium in December and just five from that which defeated Ireland in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals six weeks earlier.
Osprey Huw Bennett is set to win his 50th Wales cap, making him only the second hooker to do so (Garin Jenkins has 58 caps), in a squad which features no debutants in its ranks but has three players who will make their second appearance for their country.
Saracens loosehead prop Rhys Gill comes into the side for the injured Gethin Jenkins, after winning his other cap two years ago. Blues wing Alex Cuthbert, who made his debut against Australia before Christmas, makes his first start profiting from the retirement of Shane Williams, with Scarlets wing George North (who played in all 7 RWC matches last year) switching flanks to take the No. 11 jersey synonymous with Wales' top try scorer.
The third player with a single cap to his name is Scarlets hooker Ken Owens, who starts on the bench after making his debut at the RWC in the Pool D clash with Namibia.
Ospreys and British and Irish Lions prop Adam Jones returns to the front row alongside Gill and half centurion Bennett.
The final change from the Australia match sees another Osprey Ryan Jones come into the back row for injured Dragon Dan Lydiate (ankle).
"We have been able to retain continuity in some key areas, we have been working hard and we feel we are approaching this match with the right attitude and with some good preparation work done," said Wales head coach Warren Gatland.
Team to face Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Sunday 05 February KO 15:00 GMT:
15 Leigh Halfpenny 14 Alex Cuthbert 13 Jonathan Davies 12 Jamie Roberts 11 George North 10 Rhys Priestland 9 Michael Phillips 2 Rhys Gill 2 Huw Bennett 3 Adam Jones 4 Bradley Davies 5 Ian Evans 6 Ryan Jones 7 SAM WARBURTON [C] 8 Toby Faletau 16 Ken Owens 17 Paul James 18 Andy Powell 19 Justin Tipuric 20 Lloyd Williams 21 James Hook 22 Scott Williams
For teams, officials and previews for week 1 of RBS Six Nations, click here:
Thursday 2nd February 2012
ENGLAND today named three new caps in the starting team to face Scotland in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations match at Murrayfield.
Saracens Brad Barritt and Owen Farrell will form a new centre pairing at international level, while Northampton Saints’ Phil Dowson makes his debut at No 8.
The match 22 sees five more uncapped players on the replacements’ bench – Rob Webber (London Wasps), Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers), Ben Morgan (Scarlets), Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints) and Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins).
Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: “We have been impressed with how the whole group has come together in the last 10 days and we have done a lot of work on and off the field.
“Now is the time to turn all that into a performance against Scotland that we can all be proud of. It is a massive challenge – Murrayfield, the first game of the Six Nations – but one we are relishing.”
Team to face Scotland in the Calcutta Cup at Murrayfield on Saturday 04 February KO 17:00 GMT:
15 Ben Foden 14 Chris Ashton 13 Brad Barritt* 12 Owen Farrell* 11 David Strettle 10 Charlie Hodgson 9 Ben Youngs 1 Alex Corbisiero 2 Dylan Hartley 3 Dan Cole 4 Mouritz Botha 5 Tom Palmer 6 Tom Croft 7 CHRIS ROBSHAW [C] 8 Phil Dowson* BENCH: 16 Rob Webber* 17 Matt Stevens 18 Geoff Parling* 19 Ben Morgan* 20 Lee Dickson* 21 Jordan Turner-Hall* 22 Mike Brown
Charlie Sharples and Joe Marler will travel as reserves
For teams, officials and previews for week 1 of RBS Six Nations, click here:
Wednesday 1st February 2012
THE Azzurri’s new coach, Jacques Brunel has announced his starting 22 to retain the Garibaldi Trophy in the opening match of the RBS Six Nations Championship 2012, which Italy won in an historic 22-21 victory last year over Les Bleus at Stadio Flaminio.
Brunel has named two uncapped players in the team; Aironi’s Giovanbattista Venditti starts on the wing, and with Luciano Orquera out with a hamstring injury, South African-born Tobias Botes is named on the bench ahead of both Fabio Semenzato and Eduardo Gori. Botes qualifies for Italy under the four-year residency rule, and is Benetton Treviso’s first choice scrum half who can also play at fly half and on the wing.
There are seven changes to the team that lost in Italy's last match to Ireland in the Rugby World Cup in Dunedin last year, and captain Sergio Parisse will earn his 84th cap as he leads his team out at the magnificent Stade de France.
Azzurri veteran utility back, Andrea Masi, who boasts 64 caps, 3 world cups and has missed just one Six Nations tournament in 2006 due to injury since 2003, is determined that Italy can continue to make an impact on the international scene. "We have to concentrate on our attitude, we have to be determined and aggressive because that's the only way to put a more powerful team in difficulty," he said.
"They're better than us but we can have our say, if we're determined and organised we can do something." Having played in France for Biarritz Olympique and Racing Métro 92 alongside the opposition for 5 years before returning home to Aironi, he would know.
Team to face France at Stade de France in the first RBS Six Nations match of 2012 on Saturday 04 February KO 15:30 CET:
15 Andrea Masi 14 Giovanbattista Venditti* 13 Tommaso Benvenuti 12 Alberto Sgarbi 11 Luke Mclean 10 Kristopher Burton 9 Edoardo Gori 8 SERGIO PARISSE [C] 7 Robert Barbieri 6 Alessandro Zanni 5 Quintin Geldenhuys 4 Cornelius Van Zyl 3 Martin Castrogiovanni 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini 1 Andrea Lo Cicero BENCH: 16 Tommaso D’Apice 17 Lorenzo Cittadini 18 Marco Bortolami 19 Simone Favaro 20 Fabio Semenzato 21 Tobias Botes* 22 Gonzalo Canale
For teams, officials and previews for week 1 of RBS Six Nations, click here:
Wednesday 1st February 2012
THE Ireland team to play Wales in the RBS 6 Nations Championship on Sunday, February 5th in Aviva Stadium has been named.
There are three changes to the side that lined out against the same opposition in Ireland’s last game in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Keith Earls will start at centre alongside Gordon D’Arcy with Andrew Trimble coming into the team on the left wing. In the half-backs Jonathan Sexton will win his 25th cap and he is partnered by Conor Murray.
The pack is unchanged from the last game with Paul O’Connell wearing the captain’s armband. The uncapped Peter O’Mahony is named in the replacements.
Team to face Wales at Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Sunday 05 February KO 15:00 GMT:
15 Rob Kearney 14 Tommy Bowe 13 Keith Earls 12 Gordon D'Arcy 11 Andrew Trimble 10 Jonathan Sexton 9 Conor Murray 1 Cian Healy 2 Rory Best 3 Mike Ross 4 Donncha O'Callaghan 5 PAUL O'CONNELL [C] 6 Stephen Ferris 7 Sean O'Brien 8 Jamie Heaslip BENCH: 16 - Sean Cronin 17 Tom Court 18 Donnacha Ryan 19 Peter O’Mahony* 20 Eoin Reddan 21 Ronan O'Gara 22 Fergus McFadden
For teams, officials and previews for week 1 of RBS Six Nations, click here:
Tuesday 31st January 2012
ENGLAND RUGBY has released the following players back to their premiership clubs for a weekend of LV= Cup action: Dave Attwood, Matt Banahan, Calum Clark, Alex Goode, Lee Mears, Joe Simpson, Thomas Waldrom and David Wilson.
With a host of uncapped players in the final training squad this week, Stuart Lancaster's brave new England will be sporting at least 7 debutants at Murrayfield alongside the new captain, Chris Robshaw. The players left in contention to start against Scotland on Saturday in the Calcutta Cup are:
BACKS: Chris Ashton, Brad Barritt*, Mike Brown, Lee Dickson*, Owen Farrell*, Ben Foden, Charlie Hodgson, Charlie Sharples, David Strettle, Jordan Turner-Hall*, Ben Youngs
FORWARDS: Mouritz Botha, Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole, Tom Croft, Phil Dowson*, Dylan Hartley, Joe Marler*, Ben Morgan*, Tom Palmer, Geoff Parling*, Chris Robshaw, Matt Stevens, Rob Webber*y
The squad will reconvene at Penny Hill Park on Wednesday evening, and the the starting 22 will be named on Thursday morning.
Tuesday 31st January 2012
UNCAPPED centre, Wesley Fofana has made the starting line up in the team to face Italy at the Stade de France on Saturday.
New coach, Philippe Saint-André is under no illusion that last year's Six Nations defeat to Italy is not to be repeated under any circumstances, and the fresh vibrant atmosphere in Les Bleus camp is reflected in his confident choice of players to face the Azzurri.
Anchoring influential captain, Thierry Dusautoir at the helm, Saint-André has made five changes to the starting XV that lost the Rugby World Cup Final to the All Blacks in October. In the backs, Fofana replaces Maxime Mermoz who is benched, Julien Malzieu takes the centre position from Alexis Palisson who has no place in the 22, and Francois Trinh-Duc lays claim to the fly half position with Parra as a replacement. In the forward pack, Vincent Debaty is to earn his second cap in the front row with Jean-Baptiste Poux on the bench, and Louis Picamoles has trumped Imanol Harinordoquy to the No.8 shirt who joins the replacements.
"Italy lost to Australia at the World Cup (in the pool stage) but were on level terms at half-time against a team who scored 60 points against us the year before," Dusautoir said. "This is not the Italy of a few years ago. Last year we lost to them but it was only logical after the progress they have made.
"We are going to approach this match knowing how important it is to win the first game, and for a win in Paris in front of our supporters."
Team to face Italy at Stade de France in the first RBS Six Nations match of 2012 on Saturday 04 February KO 15:30 CET:
15 Maxime Médard 14 Vincent Clerc 13 Aurélien Rougerie 12 Wesley Fofana 11 Julien Malzieu 10 Francois Trinh-Duc 9 Dimitri Yachvili 1 Vincent Debaty 2 William Servat 3 Nicolas Mas 4 Pascal Papé 5 Lionel Nallet 6 THIERRY DUSAUTOIR [C] 7 Julien Bonnaire 8 Louis Picamoles BENCH: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski 17 Jean-Baptiste Poux 18 Yoann Maestri 19 Imanol Harinordoquy 20 Morgan Parra 21 Lionel Beauxis 22 Maxime Mermoz
For teams, officials and previews for week 1 of RBS Six Nations, click here:
Tuesday 31st January 2012
SCOTLAND have named one new cap and two other players making their first start in the RBS 6 Nations Championship for Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash with England at Murrayfield.
Lee Jones, the 23-year-old Edinburgh Rugby wing, is the debutant with his club colleagues, back-row forwards David Denton and Ross Rennie, starting in the competition for the first time.
The trio are joined by experienced and battle hardened campaigners – six players in the squad have won more than 50 caps – as Scotland strive to win their opening match in the Championship for the first time since 2006.
In all, head coach Andy Robinson has made eight changes in personnel from the starting XV in Scotland’s last match – the narrow loss to England in the Rugby World Cup in Auckland back in October. Chris Paterson has retired and Joe Ansbro and Ruaridh Jackson are recovering from injury but the five other changes are down to selection.
Robinson said today: "We have experienced players in our team and they must make that knowledge count by helping the team to a successful start on Saturday."
Robinson and the Scotland team are calling on fans at the 67,144 capacity Murrayfield and throughout the country on Saturday to wear blue and show their support for the side.
Team to face England in the Calcutta Cup at Murrayfield on Saturday 04 February KO 17:00 GMT:
15 Rory Lamont 14 Lee Jones* 13 Nick De Luca 12 Sean Lamont 11 Max Evans 10 Dan Parks 9 Chris Cusiter 1 Allan Jacobsen 2 ROSS FORD [C] 3 Euan Murray 4 Richie Gray 5 Jim Hamilton 6 Alasdair Strokosch 7 Ross Rennie 8 David Denton BENCH: 16 Scott Lawson 17 Geoff Cross 18 Alastair Kellock 19 John Barclay 20 Mike Blair 21 Greig Laidlaw 22 Graeme Morrison
For teams, officials and previews for week 1 of RBS Six Nations, click here:
Monday 30th January 2012
ENGLAND SAXONS have called Miles Benjamin (Worcester Warriors), Jonathan Joseph (London Irish) and David Seymour (Sale Sharks) into their squad to face Scotland A on Friday (Galashiels, 7pm) replacing Delon Armitage, Matt Banahan, and Thomas Waldrom.
The Saxons go into the game at Netherdale on the back of a 23-17 win over the O2 Ireland Wolfhounds at Exeter secured by tries from Leicester Tigers No.8 Thomas Waldrom and Saracens scrum half Ben Spencer, and 13 points from Gloucester Rugby fly half Freddie Burns.
Flanker Seymour, 27, and centre Joseph, 20, take over from Waldrom and Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby), who have been added to the senior squad training for the opening match of the RBS 6 Nations at Murrayfield.
Benjamin, 23, replaces Delon Armitage (London Irish) following the latter’s suspension from the Saxons Elite Player Squad. The Worcester wing scored five tries in two Churchill Cup appearances against the USA and Canada last summer.
Monday 30th January 2012
CHRIS ROBSHAW was today named England captain for at least the first two games of the RBS 6 Nations. The Harlequins skipper will lead England into the Calcutta Cup match against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
"It’s a huge honour and a very proud day - hopefully one that will live in my memory for a long time to come. Thanks to everyone who has helped me, especially Quins," said Robshaw.
Harlequins provided England's most successful captain after Martin Johnson in Will Carling with just eight caps under his belt when he became England's youngest ever captain. Both Quins, the legendary Jason Leonard captained his country briefly, as did No.8 Nick Easter momentarily. But Robshaw is only the fourth player in England Rugby history to be given the honour after winning just one cap. The other three were John Daniell against Ireland in 1900, D'Oyly Lyon against Australia in 1909, and Edward Keith Scott against Australia in 1948.
England Head Coach, Stuart Lancaster said: "We have a strong leadership group and I have been very impressed with the way they have all stepped up so far. Chris is a key member of that group and has shown with Harlequins and when I have worked with him in the Saxons that he can lead a team tactically and passionately. I am delighted that he has got this chance at the highest level and I know it will be a very proud moment for him, his club, family and friends when he leads England out at Murrayfield on Saturday."
Monday 30th January 2012
THE Ireland management have named a 32 man squad as preparations reach their final stages for Ireland’s opening game of the 2012 RBS 6 Nations Championship against Wales on Sunday, February 5th.
The majority of the squad that trained in the Limerick camp last week have been retained and there are also call ups for O2 Ireland Wolfhound players Denis Hurley, Dan Tuohy, Chris Henry and Rhys Ruddock, all of whom have been capped previously for Ireland.
David Kearney, Eoin O’Malley, Simon Zebo, Brett Wilkinson and Peter O’Mahony are the uncapped players in the squad to join up with the senior Ireland squad in Kildare.
TRAINING SQUAD:
Rory Best, Tommy Bowe, Tom Court, Sean Cronin, Gordon D'Arcy, Keith Earls, Stephen Ferris, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Chris Henry, Denis Hurley, Shane Jennings, Rob Kearney, David Kearney*, Fergus McFadden, Conor Murray, Sean O'Brien, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Ronan O'Gara, Peter O’Mahony*, Eoin O’Malley*, Eoin Reddan, Mike Ross, Rhys Ruddock, Donnacha Ryan, Jonathan Sexton, Andrew Trimble, Dan Tuohy, Paddy Wallace, Brett Wilkinson*, Simon Zebo*
Monday 30th January 2012
EDINBURGH RUGBY back-row forward David Denton has recovered from injury and will train with the Scotland squad at Murrayfield today as they step up preparations for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship opener against England.
Denton was a late withdrawal from his club’s Heineken Cup victory over London Irish eight days ago after he suffered mild hamstring discomfort but he has been given the all clear to resume full training.
Meanwhile, centre Joe Ansbro (London Irish) is returning to his club and will play no part in this weekend’s Calcutta Cup encounter.
Sunday 29th January 2012
THOMAS WALDROM (Leicester Tigers) and Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby) joined up with England tonight to prepare for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations match against Scotland at Murrayfield.
Waldrom and Banahan, part of the England Saxons side that beat Irish Wolfhounds 23-17 at Exeter on Saturday, take over from Luke Narraway (calf) and Henry Trinder (ankle) who will remain at Gloucester for treatment.
Also staying at their clubs this week are Toby Flood (knee), Courtney Lawes (knee), Manusamoa Tuilagi (calf) and Tom Wood (foot).
The 6 Nations squad training together this week are:
FORWARDS: Dave Attwood, Mouritz Botha, Calum Clark, Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole, Tom Croft, Phil Dowson, Dylan Hartley, Joe Marler, Lee Mears, Ben Morgan, Tom Palmer, Geoff Parling, Chris Robshaw, Matt Stevens, Rob Webber, David Wilson, Thomas Waldrom
BACKS: Chris Ashton, Matt Banahan, Brad Barritt, Mike Brown, Lee Dickson, Owen Farrell, Ben Foden, Alex Goode, Charlie Hodgson, Joe Simpson, Charlie Sharples, David Strettle, Jordan Turner-Hall, Ben Youngs
Friday 27th January 2012
WALES have called Stephen Jones out to their RBS Six Nations training camp in Poland.
The 104-times capped Scarlets fly-half arrives in the Olympic training village in Gdansk as Perpignan pivot James Hook leaves to make himself available for the French club this weekend.
Jones provides extra training cover in the fly-half position and is available for full training from today.
At this stage Blues prop Gethin Jenkins remains the only player in head coach Warren Gatland’s, now 36-man, training squad ruled out of the Six Nations opener against Ireland a week on Sunday.
Tuesday 24th January 2012
WALES have called Scarlets lock/back row forward Aaron Shingler out to their RBS 6 Nations training camp in Gdansk, Poland.
Shingler, who is a Wales 7s international and featured in last year’s IRB world series, will join the 34-man party on Tuesday afternoon and train with the squad until it returns to Cardiff on Sunday.
The Hampshire-born 24-year-old is a former Glamorgan cricketer who grew up in West Wales attending Pontarddulais Comprehensive School and Gorseinon Tertiary College.
And yes - he is the elder brother of Steven Shingler who is still in the centre of the eligibility controversy between Wales and Scotland, even though Steven has pledged his allegiance to the country of his Scottish-born mother. Aaron, the elder of the Shingler boys has represented England U19s in cricket.
Back to rugby and Aaron's eye-catching length of the field try was instrumental to the Scarlets’ 16-13 Heineken Cup victory over Castres Olympique in France last weekend which secured their place in the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals.
Tuesday 24th January 2012
SCOTTISH RUGBY'S Ross Ford, the 27-year-old Edinburgh Rugby hooker, was today appointed Scotland captain for the opening match of the RBS 6 Nations Championship – against England at Murrayfield on Saturday week.
Ford, the 53-times-capped product of Kelso High School, a British and Irish Lion in South Africa in 2009, was hailed by head coach Andy Robinson as a "man who will step up and lead from the front."
Robinson confirmed today that his original intention had been to bestow the captaincy on Ford’s fellow Borderer, back-row forward, Kelly Brown. Brown, however, dislocated his fibula in Heineken Cup action for his club, Saracens, against Benetton Treviso at the weekend, an injury that will require a smal operation which will see him out of action for 8-10 weeks.
Robinson said: "This is a special day for Ross, who has been a key figure in our leadership group and our most consistent performer for some time. I firmly believe he is the man who will step up and lead from the front.
"That said, I’m really disappointed for Kelly Brown. I had asked him to be the captain late last week but unfortunately injury will deprive him of that honour and the chance to lead out his country for his 50th cap. I wish him a speedy recovery."
Monday 23rd January 2012
THERE have been several enforced changes to the Ireland senior and the O2 Ireland Wolfhounds squads.
Paddy McAllister sustained a knee injury while playing for the Ulster Ravens team in the British & Irish Cup and has been replaced in the Senior squad by Leinster loose head prop Jack McGrath.
Munster wing Simon Zebo will move up to play for the Wolfhounds as Luke Fitzgerald has failed to recover sufficiently from injury to either be considered for the game against the England Saxons or for the Ireland training camp. Ulster wing Craig Gilroy has been called into the senior squad to replace Zebo.
Andrew Conway, who was also due to train with the senior squad in Limerick as one of the six additional players, has had to pull out due to injury, with his club mate Fionn Carr replacing him in the senior squad.
TRAINING SQUAD:
Rory Best, Tommy Bowe, Tom Court, Sean Cronin, Leo Cullen, Gordon D'Arcy, Keith Earls, Stephen Ferris, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Shane Jennings, Rob Kearney, Fergus McFadden, Conor Murray, Sean O'Brien, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Ronan O'Gara, Eoin Reddan, Mike Ross, Donnacha Ryan, Jonathan Sexton, Andrew Trimble, Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)
Additional Players: Fionn Carr*, Craig Gilroy*, Jack McGrath*, Ian Nagle*, Peter O'Mahony*, Tiernan O'Halloran*
Monday 23rd January 2012
ENGLAND's senior EPS suffered another blow before the weekend with potential captain, Tom Wood, ruled out for the first two matches of the Championship. An injured toe has meant a protective boot has to be worn for 4 weeks.
On the bright side, this gives Gloucester Rugby's Luke Narraway the opportunity to step up to the seniors from the Saxons, and he will be training with the squad in Leeds this week.
Louis Deacon is staying in Leicester for treatment from the Tigers’ medical staff as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
The culmination of the squad’s pre-RBS 6 Nations training camp in North Leeds will be a training session in front of local schools and clubs. On Friday, 27th January the England squad, in conjunction with the University of Leeds at their flagship outdoor sport facilities at Weetwood, have given every rugby union club and secondary school in Yorkshire the chance to attend.
The 6 Nations squad training together this week are:
BACKS: Chris Ashton, Brad Barritt, Mike Brown, Lee Dickson, Owen Farrell, Toby Flood, Ben Foden, Alex Goode, Charlie Hodgson, Joe Simpson, Charlie Sharples, David Strettle, Henry Trinder, Manusamoa Tuilagi, Jordan Turner-Hall, Ben Youngs
FORWARDS: Dave Attwood, Mouritz Botha, Calum Clark, Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole, Tom Croft, Phil Dowson, Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes, Joe Marler, Lee Mears, Ben Morgan, Luke Narraway, Tom Palmer, Geoff Parling, Chris Robshaw, Matt Stevens, Rob Webber, David Wilson, Tom Wood
Friday 20th January 2012
The IRFU is pleased to announce that Michael Kearney has been appointed as the new Manager for the Ireland international team.
Kearney replaces Paul McNaughton, who has officially stepped down from the role, and comes into the position with a strong record in both rugby and as a successful business man. Educated in Castleknock College and hailing originally from Dunboyne, Co. Meath, his rugby career continued after school as a long term member of Lansdowne FC.
His involvement in Rugby administration includes Chairman of Rugby for Lansdowne FC and President. He then moved into team management for Leinster A and U20s, followed by Ireland U20s, working closely with Ireland U-20 Coach Mike Ruddock.
Outside of Rugby, Michael is a Board member of Snap Printing, the largest print and design group Ireland, as well as a director of Home Instead Senior Care and CEX.
He is married to Eugenie and has three grown children, Michael, Emily and Chloe.
Kearney will join up with the squad next week in their Limerick camp as preparations begin for the start of the RBS 6 Nations Championship.
Michael Kearney said: “I am obviously delighted to take up the position as well as honoured to be involved with the team. My focus now is to get up to speed as soon as possible and give whatever support is necessary to Declan, the coaches and players as we head into the championship.”
Friday 20th January 2012
TOM RYDER, the 26-year-old Glasgow Warriors lock, has been added to the Scotland squad for the opening two games of the RBS 6 Nations Championship, after Fraser McKenzie injured his arm in Amlin Challenge Cup action for Sale Sharks against Brive last night.
Ryder, the 6ft 5in, 18st 6lb lock, who came through the Leicester Tigers youth set-up, qualifies for Scotland through his Glaswegian father, Paul. He joined Glasgow Warriors from Saracens on a 2 month loan but never left.
He helped Scotland A achieve a 100% record in season 2010/11, impressing in the wins over USA Eagles and Italy A.
Ryder spent the opening three months of the 2008/9 season playing for Taranaki in the Air New Zealand Cup.
He said: "I'm delighted and proud to have received the call-up to the squad.
"First and foremost, my focus is on helping Glasgow Warriors win tomorrow's massive Heineken Cup match in Bath, but I'm really looking forward to joining up with the rest of the Scotland squad, putting in a lot of hard work and challenging for a place."
Thursday 19th January 2012
PHIL GODMAN, the 29-year-old Edinburgh Rugby stand-off, has been called into the Scotland squad for the opening two games of the RBS 6 Nations Championship.
Godman, hero of Edinburgh’s Heineken Cup victory in Paris against Racing Metro 92 last weekend courtesy of a last-gasp snap drop-goal, has been added to the squad for training at St Andrews next week.
He is enlisted as Ruaridh Jackson has not yet returned to match action following the leg injury that forced his departure during Glasgow’s RaboDirect PRO12 match at Llanelli earlier this month.
Godman, who won the last of his 23 caps in the 2010 RBS 6 Nations against England, has recovered from a knee injury in training in September 2010. Since returning to the game in September 2011, he always retained "hopes of returning to the international scene.
"That was the plan. You always think about getting back into it for the club but also about playing for Scotland as well. It’s just great to be back playing for Edinburgh and to be back involved with Scotland,” he said.
Monday 16th January 2012
ED KALMAN, the uncapped 29-year-old Glasgow Warriors prop, has been called into the Scotland squad for the opening two games of the RBS 6 Nations Championship. He is called up after his Warriors team-mate, Moray Low, was ruled out of the start of the championship with a knee injury.
Kalman will join up with the squad for a training camp in St Andrews next week. He has played for Scotland A on 12 occasions has been with the Warriors since he joined them in 2007 after one season with Border Reivers.
He is a product of the Whitecraigs club, having played in the Glasgow south-side club for 10 years from the age of 8. While at Belmont House School in Whitecraigs, he played for Glasgow Schools, and he went on to have two seasons in the Glasgow under-20 team from 2000 to 2002. He has also played professional club rugby in England with Newcastle Falcons and Leeds Tykes and was in a winning Cambridge University team in the 2005 Varsity match.
Wednesday 11th January 2012
SCOTLAND and Glasgow Warriors prop, Moray Low sustained a knee injury during the first half of last Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 match away to Scarlets.
Low has since been assessed by orthopaedic surgeon, Graham Lawson, at Spire Murrayfield Hospital. Mr Lawson confirmed that the prop has suffered damage to the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his knee.
Low will miss the start of the RBS 6 Nations Championship. It is common for this injury to require re-evaluation but the expectation is that Low will be absent for at least eight weeks, which would make him available for the last two weeks of the tournament when Scotland face Ireland and Italy away.
Tuesday 10th January 2012
FORMER French captain Lionel Nallet has been called into France's RBS 6 Nations squad after Toulouse lock Romain Millo-Chluski was ruled out with a shoulder injury.
Racing-Métro second row Nallet was the only member of France’s starting lineup in the World Cup final to miss out on selection for the Six Nations in new boss Philippe Saint-André’s first squad.
At the age of 35, Nallet’s days with Les Bleus appeared to be over but he will now get the chance to add to his three Six Nations titles.
And Saint-André admitted he had no hesitation about calling the veteran forward into the side ahead of uncapped pair Mickael De Marco and Christophe Samson.
He said: “We wanted a powerful player with the same profile as Romain, Lionel’s experience as well as his physical and mental qualities led us to call him into the squad.”
When he announced his squad Saint-André had made clear that those players who just missed out on selection would be ready to come into the squad in case of injuries.
He added: “Every player who missed out who I was able to get on the phone is in the starting blocks and ready to give France a hand if needed. They are there, they will keep working and if ever we need them I can assure you they will join up with us straightaway.”
