England Rugby - October 2010 In Review
By Patrick
November 9 2010
The England 7's appeared at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, front-rowers Phil Vickery, Tim Payne and Keith Wood shared some banter about life in the front row, the Raging Bull himself was sadly forced to announce his retirement due to injury, and Kath caught up with Toulon and England's Tom May for an exclusive interview...
ENGLAND RUGBY Scrum Queens to Cover RFUW English women's rugby Premiership This season for the first time, Women’s Rugby Website www.scrumqueens.com will offer comprehensive coverage of the RFUW English women's rugby Premiership. The website, which celebrated one full year of operation this week, has up to now focused predominantly on the international women’s game, but following huge demand and interest, will broaden out to cover the top flight of the English club game from this weekend. The women's Premiership features eight clubs from around the country and Richmond go into the season this weekend as current champions. Their clash this weekend against last year’s runners-up Saracens has the makings of an early classic with an array of England stars likely to line out fresh from World Cup action. Other games this Sunday include: Bristol V Old Albanians; Darlington Mowden Park V Lichfield and Worcester V Wasps.
RFU signs new deal with IHG The non-exclusive partnership makes IHG an official hotel supplier to the RFU. The agreement builds on an existing relationship IHG had with the RFU for the Women’s Rugby World Cup being hosted in England in September 2010.
As part of the extended agreement, IHG has access to a rights and benefits package that includes match tickets, player imagery, and access to the stadium and conference facilities at the Home of England Rugby, Twickenham Stadium. In return, the partnership will see the RFU benefit from IHG’s global hotel brands which include; InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Hotel Indigo and Staybridge Suites. The two organisations will work closely on marketing activity utilising affinity schemes and each others’ marketing channels, providing preferential hotel deals and benefits to the Rugby Football Union’s supporters and rugby playing community. England 7s - Commonwealth Games - Start with 59-7 Victory James Rodwell's hat-trick set England on the way to a 59-7 win over minnows Sri Lanka on the opening morning of the Commonwealth Games Sevens in Delhi. Phil, Tim and Keith on life in the front row England and Lions props Phil Vickery and Tim Payne, sat down with Ireland and Lions hooker Keith Wood to share some banter about life in the front row in a series of videos as part of the "Bushmills Brothers" promotion from Bushmills ® Irish Whiskey. Watch as in the first video, Phil, Tim and Keith provide some great insight into the camaraderie of the scrum and life on and off the rugby field. Pressure & Stress. No sweat for Jonny Wilkinson In this exclusive online web video, England’s World Cup winning superstar, Jonny Wilkinson, reveals his secrets to dealing with pressure and stress. England Women - Elite Sqaud Announced for 2010/11 England Women’s Head Coach Gary Street announced his England Elite squad for the new season. After finishing second in the Women’s Rugby World Cup last month, England are now on the first of a new four year development cycle leading up to the 2014 World Cup and because of this Street has named a squad mixed with experience and youth. All but two of the 26-woman world cup squad are still in the elite squad of 44. Sarah Beale and Amber Penrith, who both featured in the world cup final against New Zealand, have both decided to step down and take some time out from rugby. However, there are also nine new faces in the squad, all of whom have played for the England Under 20s squad. In comes Marlie Packer and Natasha Hunt who have already played England A rugby, while the likes of Stacey Maguire and Kay Wilson will be players to watch for the future. Katy Storie, who played in the 2006 world cup, is the only player from last year’s elite squad to retire. England Counties XV - Appoints Shaun Cassidy as Manager In choosing 40-year-old Cassidy, the Counties have selected a former England Under 21 and England Students player who not only has an extensive portfolio of clubs stretching from the Premiership down through the league structure and overseas, but also a broad touring experience which includes tours to North and South America, Africa, Asia and Europe. “We had an incredibly strong list of applicants and some very good interviews,” said Michael Old: “Shaun’s unique playing record – he played from Premiership down to Level Eight – and his extensive touring experience were important factors because the Assistant Manager’s job does entail a lot of the detailed, day-to-day administration that defines whether a tour operates smoothly and effectively. “When you are on the move on a regular basis the minutiae are so important and Shaun’s experience of touring from a playing, coaching and management perspective all over the world will be invaluable to us.” England & Toulon's - Tom May Exclusive Interview Tom had 264 appearances with the Newcastle Falcons which he joined in November 1988 from Richmond. He has played for England 7s,England A and Elite. Unofficial England caught up with Tom to find out how he is doing.
Lions front-rowers take on balls, stopwatches and ice cubes In our original story last week, England and Lions props Phil Vickery and Tim Payne, sat down with Ireland and Lions hooker Keith Wood to share some banter about life in the front row in the first of a series of videos as part of the "Bushmills Brothers" promotion from Bushmills ® Irish Whiskey. Now Bushmills have released three more videos, as the front row boys get a chance to show their ultra-competitive side in a series of challenges. More time may be needed in training for some though... Full story and more videos here Phil 'Raging Bull' Vickery calls it a day Phil Vickery has today retired on medical advice. He won 73 England caps during a 12-year international career, went on two tours with the Lions and made 190 appearances in total for his two clubs. The prop's senior career will have ended fittingly last month where it had started 15 years before, at Gloucester, the club where he spent 11 years in the front row. He led Wasps in the Premiership game but was then ruled out by shingles. Born in Cornwall, he joined Gloucester from Redruth. He was 21 when he made his international debut, against Wales in 1998, and took part in the World Cup the following year after recovering from a neck injury. He played in the 2003 and 2007 World Cup finals, captaining England in the latter. He was released by Gloucester in 2006 because they were concerned that, after operations on his neck and back, he did not have long left in the game.
England Saxons Fixtures January and February 2011 The Saxons take on Italy A at Worcester on Saturday, January 29 (kick off 3.15pm) before travelling to face the Irish Wolfhounds at Ravenhill on Friday, February 4 (kick off 7.30pm). The Churchill Cup holders beat the Irish Wolfhounds 17-13 at Bath last season and defeated Italy A 31-5 in Treviso. “We’re delighted to be taking part in two important and demanding games early in the New Year before defending our Churchill Cup title in the summer,” said Head Coach Stuart Lancaster, who will be working alongside Andy Farrell and Simon Hardy again this season. “The current Saxons squad has an exciting mix of youth and experience and it is a great opportunity for the players who are just outside the Senior Elite Player squad to put a marker down before the RBS 6 Nations and to take their club form onto the international stage in a Rugby World Cup year.
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