The News Review:
- I feel like I’ve become a traitor to Wasps says Alex King
- Tigers face class action
- Woking party cannot halt the Anglo-French juggernaut
- Tigers to meet Wasps in Cup semis
- Regan faces fine for Baa-Baas row
- Gloucester And Connacht Tickets Going Fast
I feel like I’ve become a traitor to Wasps says Alex King
dailymail.co.uk – Dec 2, 2007
But if eitherof us win both games then winning the whole tournament with thatteam is a definite possibility. King may not have been one of the perceived superstars at Waspsduring his 11-year spell there but ask any player at theWycombe-based club about the 32-year-old who won five England capstwo Heineken Cup winners’ medals four Premiership titles and threedomestic cups and there is nothing but total admiration forhim. King’s trusty boot and intelligent distribution controlled the2007 Heineken Cup final last May as Wasps demolished favouritesLeicester 25-9 and this his last game for Wasps was also his 50thHeineken Cup tie a club record only passed this season byDallaglio. But even though he hopes to play his part in Wasps’ downfall heinsisted: “Wasps know how I feel about the club and the players. They’re all mates of mine. Some of them like Fraser Josh andShawsy followed me there from Bristol others like Lawrence andJoe (Worsley) and Tim Payne I’ve known forever and six of themturned up at my wedding last year ? so the club the coaches andthe players are in my heart. “But during the game we’ll all know the score.
Tigers face class action
Times Online – Dec 2, 2007
No team has it in them to lose quite as beautifully as Toulouse. Or so has been the case; there are ominous signs for opponents this season. The away win at Edinburgh in round one of the Heineken Cup was a lamentablydisinterested effort. Murrayfield was too empty for this team of stars butthey did at least win. In the past they have been no less laissez-faire inEdinburgh and lost. There is some degree of toiling permissible to the pointof encouragement in the French rugby style capital. Considerably more daunting was the away win in Biarritz last weekend.
Woking party cannot halt the Anglo-French juggernaut
Guardian Unlimited – Dec 2, 2007
No wonder it went a bit quiet. ‘Right’ somebody might have said ‘who’s going to be the first to give a little?’Perhaps it is just better to get on with what is on the current schedule. Like round three of the Heineken Cup. Oh look five of the six pools are headed by English or French clubs. There is no escaping the imbalance of power. The exception is Pool Three where the Cardiff Blues lead the way after a home win over Bristol and a scrambling draw at Harlequins. At this crossroads of the tournament with back-to-back fixtures against one opponent Cardiff now face Stade Francais twice starting in Paris on Sunday.
Tigers to meet Wasps in Cup semis
BBC News – Dec 2, 2007
Ospreys Wales’ only representative in the last four of the Anglo-Welsh competition will meet Saracens. Both games will be played back-to-back at Millennium Stadium on 22 March with the final in Twickenham on 12 April. The Ospreys losing finalist last year were the only team to qualify with a 100% record from the group stages. Wasps won two and drew one while Leicester and Saracens enjoyed two victories.
Regan faces fine for Baa-Baas row
BBC News – Dec 2, 2007
quot; Premiership players were forbidden from playing in the Barbarians fixture as it fell outside a designated international weekend. Sale prop Andrew Sheridan was forced to pull out of the game at the request of his club even though the Baa-Baas claimed he was contractually obliged to play for them. Bristol wanted Regan to take the weekend off so he could be fit and fresh for their Heineken Cup match with Harlequins on 8 December. But after leading the Baa-Baas to victory at Twickenham Regan said he had no regrets about ignoring Bristol’s orders. quot;It’s always worth playing for the Barbariansquot; said the 35-year-old England forward who played in the World Cup final defeat against South Africa. quot;They’re a great side. quot;I’ll report for training at Bristol on Monday and no doubt we’ll discuss what happens then.
Gloucester And Connacht Tickets Going Fast
Newcastle Falcons – Dec 2, 2007
The weekend before that sees the European Challenge Cup visit of Connacht on Sunday December 16 (kick-off 3pm). The match marks ‘National Geordie Beard Day’ to herald the expected home debut of All Black star Carl Hayman as well as the return to Kingston Park of former Falcons Mike McCarthy and Robbie Morris. Newcastle are looking to challenge their biggest ever European crowd ndash; 7104 in the 2005 Heineken Cup victory over Newport ndash; with strong early sales having been reported. To book tickets for either of these games click here.