The News Review:
- Easterby relishes big stage after World Cup woe
- Referees appointed for Heineken Cup
- Voyce keen to hit right note with Wasps
- Big season ahead for Carney
- Ulster in the right mood for Glasgow
Easterby relishes big stage after World Cup woe
Ireland Online – Oct 30, 2007
I will probably look at it in a couple of months time and make that decision. ?I intend to focus on playing well for the Scarlets and on the team doing well. ?Llanelli reached the semi-finals of last season?s Heineken Cup where they crashed out with a 33-17 defeat by runners-up Leicester. Their hopes of scaling those heights this term have been significantly damaged by their ludicrously difficult pool. An absurd seeding system based on nationality not results sees the Scarlets drawn alongside Clermont Auvergne champions Wasps and perennial big hitters Munster. Llanelli have a strong European pedigree reaching the semi-finals on two occasions before last season ? and they have been by far the most successful Welsh province in the competition. But this term to qualify for the knockout stages alone would represent an enormous achievement in itself and it is hard to see them figuring in the last eight.
Referees appointed for Heineken Cup
Planet Rugby – Oct 30, 2007
Alain Rolland the referee at the World Cup Final will referee in Round 1. Recently talking about the great experience of refereeing the final Rolland said to us: “It will certainly live in the memories for ever more and I’m already looking forward to my next match!”He will be back in Paris to referee the Heineken Cup match between Stade Fran?s and Harlequins. In that first round there will be others who were referees at the World Cup – Chris White Alan Lewis who refered a quarter-final Nigel Owens and Jo?Jutge who refereed a quarter-final. In addition Christophe Berdos was at the World Cup as a touch judge. Lewis has refereed more Heineken Cup matches than any other referee – 45 so far. White and Jutge each 42 so far… In that first round there will be others who were referees at the World Cup – Chris White Alan Lewis who refered a quarter-final Nigel Owens and Jo?Jutge who refereed a quarter-final. In addition Christophe Berdos was at the World Cup as a touch judge. Lewis has refereed more Heineken Cup matches than any other referee – 45 so far. White and Jutge each 42 so far. Round 1Friday 9 November 2007 Pool 1 Perpignan vs Dragons Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland) Pool 2 Ulster vs Gloucester Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales) Saturday 10 November 2007 Pool 1 London Irish vs Benetton Treviso Referee: Tim Hayes (Wales)Pool 2 Ospreys vs Bourgoin Referee: David Pearson (England) Pool 3 Stade Fran?s vs Harlequins Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland) Pool 4 Viadana vs Biarritz Referee: Peter Allan (Scotland)Pool 5 London Wasps vs Munster Referee: Jo?Jutge (France)Pool 6 Edinburgh vs Toulouse Referee: George Clancy (Ireland) Leinster vs Leicester Tigers Referee: Christophe Berdos (France)Sunday 11 November 2007 Pool 3 Cardiff Blues vs Bristol Referee: Malcolm Changleng (Scotland)Pool 4 Saracens vs Glasgow Warriors Referee: Romain Poite (France)Pool 5 Clermont Auvergne vs Llanelli Scarlets Referee: Chris White (England) Round 2Friday 16 November 2007 Pool 2 Gloucester vs Ospreys [Alan Lewis (Ireland)Pool 2 Bourgoin vs Ulster Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)Pool 4 Glasgow Warriors vs Viadana Referee: James Jones (Wales)Saturday 17 November 2007 Pool 1 Dragons vs London Irish Referee: Christophe Berdos (France)Benetton Treviso vs Perpignan Referee: Andrew Small (England)Pool 3 Harlequins vs Cardiff Blues Referee: Jo?Jutge (France)Pool 4 Biarritz vs Saracens Referee: Malcolm Changleng (Scotland)Pool 5 Llanelli Scarlets vs London Wasps Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)Pool 6 Leicester Tigers vs Edinburgh Referee: Romain Poite (France)Sunday 18 November 2007 Pool 3 Bristol vs Stade Fran?s Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)Pool 5 Munster vs Clermont Auvergne Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)Pool 6 Toulouse vs Leinster Referee: Chris White (England)Round 3Friday 7 December 2007 Pool 2 Ospreys vs Ulster Referee: Chris White (England)Pool 2 Bourgoin vs Gloucester Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland) Pool 6 Leinster vs Edinburgh Referee: Jo?Jutge (France)Saturday 8 December 2007 Pool 1 Benetton Treviso vs Dragons Referee: Romain Poite (France)Pool 3 Harlequins vs Bristol Referee: Peter Allan (Scotland)Pool 4 Saracens vs Viadana Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)Pool 5 Clermont Auvergne vs London Wasps Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)Llanelli Scarlets vs Munster Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)Pool 6 Leicester Tigers vs Toulouse Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)Sunday 9 December 2007 Pool 1 London Irish vs Perpignan Referee: Malcolm Changleng (Scotland)Pool 3 Stade Fran?s vs Cardiff Blues Referee: David Pearson (England)Pool 4 Glasgow Warriors vs Biarritz Referee: Tim Hayes (Wales)Round 4Friday 14 December 2007 Pool 2 Ulster vs Ospreys Referee: Jo?Jutge (France)Pool 4 Biarritz vs Glasgow Warriors Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales) Saturday 15 December 2007 Pool 1 Dragons vs Benetton Treviso Referee: Rob Debney (England)Perpignan vs London Irish Referee: Carlo Damasco (Italy)Pool 2 Gloucester vs Bourgoin Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)Pool 3 Cardiff Blues vs Stade Fran?s Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)Pool 4 Viadana vs Saracens Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)Pool 5 London Wasps vs Clermont Auvergne Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)Pool 6 Edinburgh vs Leinster Referee: Tim Hayes (Wales)Sunday 16 December 2007 Pool 3 Bristol vs Harlequins Referee: Christophe Berdos (France)Pool 5 Munster vs Llanelli Scarlets Referee: David Pearson (England)Pool 6 Toulouse vs Leicester Tigers Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland).
Voyce keen to hit right note with Wasps
Ireland Online – Oct 30, 2007
substring (2 11); document. Rugby?s ultimate prize may not be up for grabs for another four years but there is plenty of silverware to play for between now and then not least the defence of the club game?s top trophy. The Heineken Cup is set to resume and with the top English and French clubs in tow despite the boycott threat that haunted the competition last term. Had an agreement not been reached ? announced on the day of last season?s final – Wasps may not have had the chance to defend the title they won in such convincing style. For winger Tom Voyce such a prospect was unthinkable. ?I only had a vague idea of what was going on? he said of the row between the Rugby Football Union and Premier Rugby about how much cash competing clubs should receive.
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Big season ahead for Carney
Ireland Online – Oct 30, 2007
?I know my mind is not up for this new challenge. ?Carney then took on what many believe could be the biggest challenge of his professional life when on March 15 at the age of 30 he signed for the then European champions on a two-year deal. And it is quite possible that his form and the speed with which he can adapt fully to union from league could be absolutely key if Munster are to win back the Heineken Cup they surrendered to Wasps last season. He played rugby union and gaelic football as a boy but made his name in league. It was at Wigan where he was to become a star as he earnt international recognition by adding to caps for Ireland and then in 2003 becoming the first Irishman to play for Great Britain since Tom McKinney in 1957. That summer would prove to be his breakout season as he was included in the Super League ?Dream Team? the Rugby League World magazine World XIII and voted BBC North West?s Rugby League Player of the Year.
Ulster in the right mood for Glasgow
Belfast Telegraph – Oct 30, 2007
A draw with Leinster was seen as two points gained rather than two lost especially as the side had to fight back from 13-0 down. Next up is Glasgow this Friday before the first two matches in the Heineken Cup. A win at Firhill would further enhance confidence before Europe. Irish flanker Neil Best was instrumental in the first half defensive effort which limited Leinster to two penalties and he believes it was crucial that Ulster took something from the Magners League game they seemed destined to lose. "Nobody is happy with the draw but with the way the game went it was better to go for that than a win and not achieve the two points. We’re not necessarily happy but we’re not disappointed" said Best… It is a new side gelling and we are in it for the long haul but I’m in a hurry" said Lineen. Ulster have a decent record away to Glasgow and normally have a huge travelling support although this will be their first trip to Firhill. Ulster’s finest hour in Glasgow was winning a Celtic Cup semi final before lifting the trophy in 2003. Post a comment Limit: 500 charactersView all comments that have been posted about this article.