Rugby Union News
All the latest Rugby Union news from the Permiership, Celtic League, Six Nations and Rugby World Cup.
Archive for December, 2007
December 31, 2007 at 12:00 am · Filed under All Rugby Union News
When it comes to Christmas spirit, Dean Richards can be positively Dickensian. "A win's a win, I suppose," he muttered as his Harlequins side trudged across a sodden Sixways surface to thank the travelling support tucked away in a high corner of the main stand. Even though the Londoners had prevailed for the first time in nine attempts and there was a Cornish pasty going free in the interview room, the Great Shambling Bear was in no mood for a knees-up. Bah humbug!
December 31, 2007 at 12:00 am · Filed under All Rugby Union News
Wasps' dress code after matches is pinstriped suits, which gives some of their younger players the look of hopefuls attending a job interview in the City of London. The club captain, Lawrence Dallaglio, does things his own way, eschewing the jacket for a v-neck sweater which ironically makes him appear rather schoolboyish.
December 31, 2007 at 12:00 am · Filed under All Rugby Union News
As wild West Country derbies go, the sheriff had a pretty quiet time of it. Nobody shot up the saloon and there was no need of a posse as Bristol quietly left town. Perhaps the game has become too professional for the rip-roaring days of old, but this stand-off was curiously impersonal.
December 30, 2007 at 5:37 pm · Filed under All Rugby Union News, Irish Rugby Union
Matt Williams is appointed as Ulster's new head coach on a two-and-a-half year contract.
December 30, 2007 at 12:00 am · Filed under All Rugby Union News, Six Nations News
The England head coach, Brian Ashton, having been awarded an MBE in the New Year honours list, found little cause for further celebration at Sixways as the Harlequins captain and England No 8 Nick Easter limped from the field in the 58th minute of a dour basement struggle.
December 30, 2007 at 12:00 am · Filed under All Rugby Union News, Six Nations News
A match which began with Lawrence Dallaglio, Wasps' club captain, accompanied on to the field by his son Enzo as a mascot, ended without the eminent England No 8 making any announcement on his international future, though it had been rumoured beforehand he might. Dallaglio was said to be coughing and spluttering in the dressing room, but it was not emotion at an impending decision. It was down to a flu bug which affected eight Wasps; Dallaglio had spent the last four days in bed and did not train all week.
December 30, 2007 at 12:00 am · Filed under All Rugby Union News, Six Nations News
Leicester did something yesterday that they had not done all season they scored four tries in a Premiership match to earn a bonus point. "The win was important to us after two defeats away," said Marcelo Loffreda, the Leicester head coach, "but the bonus point really made it. We needed that badly."
December 30, 2007 at 12:00 am · Filed under All Rugby Union News, Six Nations News
Gloucester are getting quite good at this, especially at Fortress Kingsholm. It used to be called "Castle Grim". Not any more, at least not by the patrons. The club have invested heavily in improving facilities and it is money well spent. For a match sold out weeks ago, Gloucester did not disappoint their hordes of fans, dominating this West Country derby by the emphatic margin of four tries to nil.
December 30, 2007 at 12:00 am · Filed under All Rugby Union News, Six Nations News
We of the Welsh rugby fraternity won't regret leaving the year 2007 behind at all, but things are not that bleak and I am confident that the new year is worth looking forward to. In fact, I'm getting quite excited about the prospect of the Six Nations restoring some of the morale we lost during the World Cup.
December 30, 2007 at 12:00 am · Filed under All Rugby Union News, Six Nations News
If anybody is breaking the salary cap in the Guinness Premiership and clubs are always dropping hints about the biggest spenders it cannot be Leeds. When they were promoted last season they did not scour the southern hemisphere, chequebook in hand, but looked closerto home. They raided Rotherham and spent the equivalent of sale prices.
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