The News Review:
- Richard Hill linked with France switch
- Stevens is banned for two years
- The Bull ready to do battle in the big arena
- Ellis returns from streets of Leicester to take centre stage
- Mallett insists Azzurri are underdogs
- This weekend a Heineken Cup quarter final “dress rehearsal”
- Rocky Elsom’s on his way back to Wallabies
Richard Hill linked with France switch
Independent
Hill’s Bristol assistant former England full-back Paul Hull will step in as his replacement at the Memorial Stadium. Bristol chief executive Steve Gorvett said: "We had already agreed with Richard that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season but given the position we are in believe it to be more appropriate for Richard to leave now and for Paul Hull to take over as head coach. After guiding Bristol back into the Premiership Hill also oversaw qualification for the Heineken Cup but the club has struggled this term culminating in a 35-3 home defeat to fellow relegation candidates Newcastle a fortnight ago. Hill then effectively signalled the end of his reign last Friday when he allowed Hull to take charge of the team at Sale a game Bristol lost 32-13. "Richard joined the club when we had just been relegated and quickly built a team for the first season in the First Division and obtained promotion the following season" said Bristol chairman Chris Booy. "Particular highlights of Richard’s time as head coach would be surviving our first year in the Guinness Premiership finishing third the following season and then competing in the Heineken Cup. "I would like to thank Richard for all that he has done for the club and wish him well for the future.
Stevens is banned for two years
Independent
He will not be permitted to train in any rugby environment let alone play a game and there is now a serious doubt over his future in the sport. Certainly a place in the red-rose squad for the 2011 World Cup looks way out of reach. He will not be permitted to train in any rugby environment let alone play a game and there is now a serious doubt over his future in the sport.
The Bull ready to do battle in the big arena
Irish Times
When you wake up the day after a win there isn’t the same soreness. You feel like you can go again. ” While there’ve been a couple of Heineken Cups there’s still a sense of unfinished business with Ireland that they haven’t quite achieved what they should have done. “We’ve won three Triple Crowns which is great but we’d also like to win a championship. That’s definitely something that keeps driving fellas on. ” The World Cup may have lured him into the game but he has long since been consumed by the uniqueness of the championship and everything about a Six Nations weekend. “These are the ones you play for” he says of today’s game.
Ellis returns from streets of Leicester to take centre stage
guardian.co.uk
There’s no intent to hurt people; I don’t play rugby to do that. “His new-found sense of perspective though may yet be the greatest gift of all. When he first burst on the first-class scene scoring a high-profile try at the City Ground Nottingham to propel Leicester into the Heineken Cup final professional rugby seemed an absurdly simple game. The son of a police detective who also played for the Tigers as a back-rower Ellis grew up locally in Wigston and never really bothered much about life beyond the touchline. “Perhaps when I was younger rugby was everything. I’m not saying it isn’t now but you need something else in your life. When you finish training you need something to keep you sane.
Mallett insists Azzurri are underdogs
RTE.ie
Italy and Scotland are both winless in this season’s Six Nations and will be viewing their clash at Murrayfield as a golden opportunity to kick-start their campaigns. The bookies have Scotland as favourites to win and visiting coach Mallett is clearly quite happy with his team carrying the outsider tag into the encounter. ‘If you look at the way Scottish teams have played in the Heineken Cup you see that Scotland have got better players at the moment’ he said. ‘Glasgow beat Toulouse away which was a really good result and Edinburgh have played some really good rugby while the Italian sides have been awful in the Heineken Cup. ‘Scotland have been around this tournament for a hell of a lot longer than Italy. ‘We’ve only been in it for 10 years and in that time we’ve had five wins and a draw. Scotland have had a hell of a lot more than that.
This weekend a Heineken Cup quarter final “dress rehearsal”
European Rugby Cup
Another fascinating contest should come in the midfield with Jauzion and Fritz up against Roberts and Shanklin the barn-storming Roberts rapidly becoming the Welsh find of the season with his powerful runs. Another new star to have announced his arrival this season is Blues wing Halfpenny his try against England his fourth in just five Tests while Toulouse are spoilt for choice in their back three with the supreme talents and finishing power of Heymans Médard Poitrenaud and Elissalde. When the dust settles on another Six Nations Championship in three weeks time all eyes will turn towards the Heineken Cup – and that next French-Welsh contest in Cardiff. php 20:49 –>User comments: (You need to.
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Rocky Elsom’s on his way back to Wallabies
The Australian
Speaking from Dublin where he has lit up the Magners League and Heineken Cup with six man-of-the-match performances in his past dozen outings for Leinster Elsom declared himself fit and available to resume his 40-Test career with the Wallabies. "If they want me I’m available" Elsom told The Weekend Australian yesterday. However the ARU is adamant Elsom’s case will not create a loophole that will allow Australia’s top players to take sabbaticals in Europe or Japan and be selected for the Wallabies from there. Although there is no official policy in place that stipulates a player must have turned out in the Super 14 to be selected for Australia the ARU does specify that no overseas-based player will be considered for the Wallabies.