O’leary injury opens Lions scrum half chase
Here at Lovell Rugby we have had a look at the Front runners for the replacement scrum half position for the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa after the unfortunate ankle injury suffered by Munster’s and Ireland’s Tomas O’leary. The Irish scrum half was one of 3 scrum halfs orginally selected for the squad but fractured his ankel playing for Munster in the Magners league.
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Posted in Lions News
Adidas Release British and Irish Lions Promotional Posters for the 2009 Tour to South Africa
Adidas have just released a series of promotional images and posters for the coming British and Irish Lions Tour To South. These fantastic images follow on from the players shots released last month.
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Posted in Lions Merchandise, Lions News
Official British and Irish Lions Touring Squad For Tour of South Africa 2009
Following on from our last blog article in which we chose our own British and Irish Lions Squad, the official Lions squad for this years tour to South Africa has now been announced as follows:
Backs: Lee Byrne, Rob Kearney, Shane Williams, Lee Halfpenny, Ugo Monye, Luke Fitzgerald, Tommy Bowe, Tom Shanklin, Jamie Roberts, Brian O’Driscoll, Keith Earls, Riki Flutey, Ronan O’Gara, Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips, Harry Ellis, Tomas O’Leary.
Forwards: Jamie Heaslip, Andy Powell, David Wallace, Stephen Ferris, Alan Quinlan, Joe Worsley, Martyn Williams, Alun-Wyn Jones, Paul O’Connell, Donncha O’Callaghan, Simon Shaw, Nathan Hines, Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Andrew Sheridan, Phil Vickery, Euan Murray, Jerry Flannery, Lee Mears, Matthew Rees. Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted in Lions News
Williams Back and Henson on Bench For Wales Friday Night Clash with France
Gavin Henson could make his first Test match appearance for almost a year when Wales continue their Six Nations campaign against France on Friday night.
Ospreys star Henson (Who wears Nike Mercurial Vapor Boots) will travel to Paris after recovering from a calf muscle strain which sidelined him for the victories over Scotland and England.
He has failed to break up the Cardiff Blues centre pairing of Tom Shanklin and Jamie Roberts though, and will be among the replacements at Stade de France.
Henson, who last played international rugby when Wales clinched last season’s Six Nations title by beating France in Cardiff, takes over from Ospreys colleague Andrew Bishop on the bench.
And his selection comes less than a week after Henson and three of his Wales colleagues - Andy Powell, Jonathan Thomas and Rhys Thomas - were rebuked by head coach Warren Gatland and team manager Alan Phillips.
All four players apologised after what the Welsh Rugby Union termed “varying degrees of regrettable conduct” while they were out in Cardiff celebrating the win over England last Sunday.
Gatland has made a solitary change in the starting line-up, welcoming back wing Shane Williams, as Wales seek a record-equalling ninth successive Six Nations victory.
Williams, scorer of 45 tries in 62 Tests (and who wears Puma V-108 Boots) has shaken off an ankle injury which meant he missed the England game, reclaiming the number 11 shirt from Mark Jones.
“A fit Shane Williams is a player any coach would want in their side so it was a natural decision for him to come in for Mark Jones, with no disrespect to Mark who did a good job for us against England,” Gatland said.
“France are one of the top sides in the championship and they are always going to be tough opposition, especially at home, and this is a must-win game for them if they are to keep their title hopes alive.
“We also know how tough it will be for them with a short six-day turnaround for many of their players who have featured in domestic rugby this weekend.
“We had a similar experience ourselves in between the Scotland and England games and found it hard going, so that is something we must try to take advantage of.”
England’s record run of Six Nations successes came between 2002 and 2004, while the French reeled off nine wins between 2003 and 2005, both countries claiming Grand Slams in the process.
Wales: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Tom Shanklin, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Michael Phillips, 8 Andy Powell, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Ryan Jones (captain), 5 Alun-Wyn Jones, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Huw Bennett, 17 John Yapp, 18 Luke Charteris, 19 Dafydd Jones, 20 Dwayne Peel, 21 James Hook, 22 Gavin Henson
Date: Friday, February 27 2009
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Kick-off: 21.00 (20.00 GMT)
What Do you think the result of the game on Friday night will be?
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Posted in Lions News
Six Nations 2009: Wales vs England
Wales held off a much improved England side to record their second consecutive Six Nations victory of the season, running out eventual 23-15 winners at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
It was meant to be a cakewalk for Wales, but England had different ideas, very different ideas. The question must be asked, was this England finally turning the corner from what has been a long straight road of directionless rugby?
The opening twenty minutes suggested not much had changed from last week, in either camp. Wales were full of endeavour and organised attack, whilst England were a little lost, all too dependent on the boot and up to their old tricks with a lack of discipline. End result, Wales 9-0 to the good and seemingly in position to kick on and record the comfortable victory most had them down for.
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Posted in Lions News
Sackey keen to improve in Cardiff
England winger Paul Sackey has admitted he will have to better his performance against Italy last week if he is to win his Cardiff battle against Wales danger man Shane Williams (who wears Puma V-108 Red/Black rugby boots).
England began their Six Nations Championship campaign with an unconvincing 36-11 win over the Azzurri at Twickenham while last year’s Grand Slam champions beat Scotland 26-13 at Murrayfield to kick off their title defence.
England were criticised for their performance and will have to up their game at the Millennium Stadium to have any chance of overcoming a tough Welsh side, which includes last year’s International Rugby Board player of the year Williams.
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Posted in Lions News
Lee Byrne winning fitness battle
Wales full-back Lee Byrne insists he will be fit to face Scotland on February 8 despite missing Ospreys‘ Heineken Cup clash with Leicester at the weekend.
Byrne picked up an ankle injury against Perpignan two weeks ago, but said sitting out the Leicester game was little more than precautionary after failing a fitness test.
He fully expects to be available for selection when the Welsh open their Six Nations title defence at Murrayfield on Saturday week.
The fullback who has won 20 caps for his country (wearing Adidas predator powerswerve rugby boots) went on to add.
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Posted in Lions News
Matt Stevens tests positive for a banned substance
Bath and England prop Matt Stevens has recorded a positive blood test for a banned substance, following December’s Heineken Cup match against Glasgow.
Stevens has been removed from England’s Elite Player Squad with immediate effect, and so will not be going to the training camp in Portugal next month. He has also been suspended by Bath will be potentially unavailable for the summers British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa
Stevens confessed to his misdemeanour in an interview with Sky News.
“I was tested for a prohibited substance but it’s not performance enhancing, so you can take what you want from that,” he said.
“It’s pretty distressing talking about this. When you think about how much time people have put into my career and I have thrown it away.
“Like any drug problem you don’t know it’s happening and then it mounts up and before you know it you have a problem and an illness.”
Stevens did not specify which drug he had tested positive for, but hinted further at habitual use.
“It started off with just a couple of nights where you take it after a big night out with your friends,” he said.
“It wasn’t a big deal, (but) that’s the problem with drugs, it so quickly becomes a big deal.
“I owe it to everyone to admit that. I want to say I’m truly very sorry.
“I want to change my life and hopefully one day get the faith back that people had in me.”
The Professional Rugby Players’ Association pledged its support for Stevens in a time of need.
“We are shocked by this news, which is very out of character for Matt. He had built a reputation as a fine ambassador for the game, who does a tremendous amount of voluntary work for a number of charities and good causes,” said England PRA CEO Damien Hopley.
“We will be doing everything we can to provide Matt with the support he needs at this very difficult time. The PRA and our members strongly condemn the use of performance enhancing or recreational drugs, and fully support the RFU and iRB anti-doping regulations.”
What are your views?
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Posted in Lions News
Win a trip to see the British and Irish Lions in action at the 2nd Lions Test Match
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Prize details: 24 - 29 June 2009
24/25 June: Depart London Heathrow flying direct to Johannesburg with Virgin
26 June: Arrive in Johannesburg and check in at The Protea Wanderers Hotel
27 June: MATCH DAY: TEST 2 – SOUTH AFRICA V THE LIONS – PRETORIA
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To be in with a chance to WIN this outstanding prize giveaway, simply visit www.lovellrugby.co.uk/competition and enter you information.
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Posted in Lions News
Josh Lewsey announces his International retirement
Josh Lewsey, England’s World Cup-winning full back of 2003, has announced his retirement from international rugby.
Lewsey, 32, won 55 caps, the last of which was in the World Cup semi-final against France in 2007. He scored the game’s only try in a 14-9 win before limping off with a damaged hamstring, an injury that forced him to miss the final.
Lewsey, who wears Nike total 90 laser rugby boots, fell out of favour with Brian Ashton, the England head coach at the time, for this year’s RBS Six Nations Championship and Martin Johnson, the England team manager, ignored him for the autumn internationals despite having included him in the inaugural elite player squad. Last month, Lewsey was released back to London Wasps, with whom his one-year contract expires at the end of the season.
“It is with a huge fondness for the game that I love, and after consultation with Martin Johnson the England team manager, I have decided to retire from representing my country on the rugby field,” Lewsey said.
“I spoke with Martin on the phone earlier this week and as he didn’t consider me to be an integral part of his immediate team moving forward, I have decided that I would be better served committing myself entirely to my club, London Wasps.
“After 55 caps, many training sessions and a vast amount of laughter I’d like to thank all the coaches, medics and especially the players that have made my England career so memorable over the past ten years. Playing, but more importantly winning, for your country is the most special feeling one can achieve. My last game for England was the semi-final of the World Cup in Paris last year and, although I would have liked to have contributed since, scoring the game’s only try was in hindsight a fitting moment to last wear a national jersey.
“Lastly, though having played in 2005, it is still a huge goal of mine to be part of a winning British Lions tour. Therefore, my decision is also made in that I believe performing well in a successful club team week in and week out gives me the best chance possible of being selected for next year’s Lions Tour. “
Martin Johnson, the England Team Manager, said while he was disappointed by Lewsey’s decision he wished him every success with Wasps. “Josh has spoken to me about his decision and while I’m disappointed I fully understand the reasons behind his decision to retire from international rugby and on behalf of the England squad I’d like to wish him every success with his continuing career with London Wasps.
“I know from first hand experience what an asset Josh was to England over an international career that spanned ten years, over 50 caps and two RWC’s including the RWC 2003 final and it was a pleasure to play alongside him. “
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Posted in Lions News