The News Review:
- Aussie Williams is new Ulster coach
- Bristol squad size worries Hill
- Welcome to rugby 2008! – Rugby News, Results, Fixtures and Features…
- Lawrence Dallaglio coy over retirement
Aussie Williams is new Ulster coach
Belfast Telegraph – Dec 31, 2007
Williams, who has been coaching the West Harbour Club in Australia’s Shute Shield during the last two years after being sacked as Scotland coach following three wins in 17 Tests, becomes only the second coach of the professional era to have coached two Irish Heineken Cup teams, Leinster and Ulster – Declan Kidney, the present Munster coach and former Leinster coach, being the other. During his time at Leinster, he guided the Donnybrook outfit to a Celtic League title and to a Heineken Cup semi-final place. Post a comment
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Bristol squad size worries Hill
BBC News – Dec 31, 2007
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The good news for Hill is that Regan should be fit to return to the fray after sitting out training for the week. The bad news is the fixture list. After Saracens in the Premiership come decisive Heineken Cup matches against Stade Francais and Cardiff. “We’ve just got to try and keep as many fit players as we can going and cope with it,” Hill concluded.
Welcome to rugby 2008! – Rugby News, Results, Fixtures and Features…
Planet Rugby – Dec 31, 2007
The game in the north is in as healthy a state as has been for some time. Unions and league governing bodies appear to be working well with each other after a decade of petty squabbles, and the fans are flooding through the turnstiles. This year’s Heineken Cup, another record-breaker in terms of audience figures, is building towards a mesmerising climax already, and with more than just English and French teams in the mix this time. Half of the Six Nations have new coaches – watch out for what Nick Mallett could do for Italy and Warren Gatland for Wales especially – while there will be the usual post-World Cup introduction of fresh young faces who could be global stars by the time New Zealand opens her turnstiles in 2011. Names to watch out for include Danny Cipriani, Morgan Stoddart, Loic Jacquet, and John Barclay. Domestic seasons once again culminate at the end of May, with final after final all over the World. The Magners League’s weekend of final drama is that of May 9… Domestic seasons once again culminate at the end of May, with final after final all over the World. The Magners League’s weekend of final drama is that of May 9. The Heineken Cup climaxes in Cardiff on May 24, The Guinness Premiership and Super 14 a week later. Four weeks later the French Top 14, delayed by the World Cup, will finish on June 28 in the sticky heat of the Parisian summer. The Tri-Nations will once again consist of nine fixtures rather than just six, taking it from early July to mid-September. By that time, Europe’s leagues will once again have kicked off – potentially with the new laws governing their games – just as the Air New Zealand Cup and Currie Cup start to move towards their finales.
Lawrence Dallaglio coy over retirement
Telegraph.co.uk – Dec 31, 2007
” As for Dallaglio, his only comment on Saturday night was: “I’m keeping my powder dry. Meanwhile, what of Black? Having joined in a touchline punch-up during Wasps’ recent Heineken Cup battle with Clermont Auvergne at Adams Park, the Rugby Football Union’s leisure rugby manager was banned from attending any match involving a Premiership club, plus England home games, until the end of May. Besides Black, there may have been others wishing to stick one on Jamie Cudmore, the Clermont flanker, as he rained blows on Tim Payne. As it is, Black missed a cracking win for Wasps, only their third of the season, as Bath slipped to their second defeat. The one thing that escaped Wasps was a bonus point once Rob Webber had started and finished a move after three minutes. Paul Sackey then added two more tries before Bath, who made 11 changes, tightened their belts and outscored Wasps in the second half.