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Posted 72 days ago
International wing Tommy Bowe will return to play in Ireland with Ulster next season until 2015.
Following agreement from his current club Ospreys, Bowe has been given early release from his contract with the club to allow him to take up a new contract with the IRFU and to play in Ulster for the next three seasons.
Schooled at Royal School Armagh,…
Posted 76 days ago
The Blues have made five changes to the team that narrowly lost to Munster last Friday.
There are two changes in the backs with Ben Blair starting at fullback and Ceri Sweeney at inside centre. Chris Czekaj moves to the wing from 15 in place of Tom James who moves down to the bench.
There are three changes in the forwards. Xavier…
Posted 77 days ago
CARDIFF BLUES’ South Africa-born back-rower Andries Pretorius qualifies for Wales on residency this summer, but here are a few facts about him you probably don’t know…
1. He’s currently reading Jonny Wilkinson’s autobiography and says: “It sounds like he’s got a little bit of OCD.” He’s also a big fan of Bear Grylls’s “phenomenal book” Mud, Sweat and Tears.
2. He can…
Posted 83 days ago
Isa Nacewa, who has now scored 105 points in 12 PRO12 games so far this season, continues in the back three alongside Fionn Carr and David Kearney, with Brendan Macken resuming his centre partnership with Colm O’Shea who started the 42-8 victory over Benetton Treviso two weeks ago.
At half back, Ireland international Isaac Boss again partners Ian Madigan who is…
Posted 83 days ago
More than three months after injuring a shoulder, Nick Williams is ready to come back in the starting lineup named by Aironi to face Newport-Gwent Dragons on Sunday afternoon in Viadana (kick-off at 4,30 in Italy, 3,30 GMT) in round 16 of the RaboDirect PRO12.
The New Zealander number 8 played his last match on November 5th when Glasgow won in…
Posted 83 days ago
Newcastle Falcons have completed a transfer deadline day swoop for Ospreys second-rower James Goode and experienced No.8 Adam Balding on loan until the end of the season.
Goode, 29, who was part of the Grand Slam winning Wales under-21s team of 2003, burst onto the scene with his hometown club Cardiff Blues. Making 15 appearances for the Blues, the renowned line-out…
Posted 85 days ago
London Irish has signed Tom Smith from Ospreys on a two year deal the club can reveal this afternoon.
Smith, who was born in Bristol, has made 60 appearances for the Welsh region scoring two tries. Standing 6 feet 2 inches and weighing just under 17 stones, he will bring plenty of physicality to the Irish back row as well as…
Posted 85 days ago
After losing against two Irish teams, Benetton Treviso continue their Celtic adventure in Wales for Round 16 of the RaboDirect PRO12.
Treviso have been hit hard by injury and six nations selections, missing 15 players in total including Francesco Minto, who replaces Paul Derbyshire. They meet Llanelli on Thursday (ko 19:35) at Parc y Scarlets, just 7 points behind the Welsh…
Posted 85 days ago
The Scarlets will be looking to home and a supportive Parc y Scarlets crowd on Thursday evening as they face a vital game against Treviso in their RaboDirect PR012 top four ambitions.
Having won their last five league games at home at Parc y Scarlets, the West Wales region will be looking to extend winning ways and their best home run…
Posted 86 days ago
Scotland and Edinburgh Rugby winger Lee Jones has capped a breakthrough season with an extended deal that will keep him at the Murrayfield club until 2014.
As one of the season’s stand-out performers, the young Borderer has shown an extraordinary strength and guile as a line-breaking, try-scoring winger, running in five scores in 16 appearances so far this season, two of…
