May 13th, 2012
Teenage fly-half George Ford guided Leicester to an eighth successive Premiership final and ended Saracens’ reign as champions.
Alesana Tuilagi’s well-worked try proved the difference between the teams in a ferocious and frantic first half.
Steve Mafi’s try extended Tigers’ lead but Owen Farrell’s kicking kept the visitors in the contest.
But Ford, who had only started five Premiership games this term, assured Leicester of another Twickenham date.
Leicester made changes to their publicised starting side with Craig Newby replacing Julian Salvi at open-side and 19-year-old Ford starting in place of the injured Toby Flood.
The opening stanzas were fast and furious and the action stopped only for Farrell to stroke over… Continue reading Leicester 24-15 Saracens
May 12th, 2012
Rugby Football Union operations director Rob Andrew has admitted England face a “tough six months”.
England go on tour next month without the backroom team Stuart Lancaster wanted after Andy Farrell and
Wayne Smith rejected offers from the RFU.
After three Tests in South Africa, England face all of the Tri-Nations sides during the autumn internationals.
“The key thing is that nobody panics, which they won’t. I’m sure Stuart won’t,” Andrew told
BBC London.
England’s tour of South Africa
Saturday, 9 June:
South Africa v England, Durban (1600 BST)
Wednesday, 13 June:
SA Barbarians South v England, Kimberley (1330 BST)
May 10th, 2012
Shaun Edwards is to join Premiership club London Irish as defence coach.
Edwards, defence coach for the Wales national team, will replace Toby Booth at the Exiles, but will continue his work with the Six Nations champions.
“He’s a great asset for us and I’m personally excited about working with him,” London Irish director of rugby Brian Smith told BBC Radio Berkshire.
The Exiles announced on Tuesday that
Booth,
Justin Bishop and Neal Hatley had left the coaching staff.
Edwards, 45,
has not coached at club level since leaving London Wasps in November 2011
and his capture is a great coup for the club, who finished seventh in this season’s Premiership.… Continue reading Wales coach Edwards joins Exiles
May 9th, 2012
Bath have appointed Gary Gold as their new head coach.
London Irish boss Toby Booth, former Exiles prop Neal Hatley and ex-England defence coach Mike Ford join Brad Davis in Bath’s new-look coaching set-up.
Bath’s new-look backroom
Gary Gold – head coach
Previously coached Springboks, London Irish, Super 15 side Stormers and Newcastle Falcons
Toby Booth – Forwards coach
Spent a decade with London Irish – four years as head coach
Neal Hatley – Forwards coach
Former London Irish prop and youth academy coach
Mike Ford – Defence coach
Former Rugby League player; Ex-defence coach with England and… Continue reading Bath appoint Gold as head coach
May 7th, 2012
Despite finishing bottom of the Aviva Premiership interim coach Gary Gold believes the Newcastle Falcons will bounce back next season.
The club’s position was sealed following
a 14-10 victory
over their fellow strugglers Wasps on Saturday.
“Harlequins, Northampton and Worcester have all improved as clubs due to relegation, and I would expect the same for the Falcons,” he said.
“They are a great bunch of guys who were up for the fight.”
Gold, who joined the club in January, added: “It was a very emotional day, and the consequences are very upsetting.
“We were fighting for our lives. At 10-0 down there was perhaps a reason to give up, but the players… Continue reading Gold backs Falcons to bounce back
