The News Review:
- McGeechan leaves Wasps job
- Heineken Cup qualifiers 2009/10
- Dragons sign ex-Wasps front-rower
- Vesty finally finds his feet
- Jeremy Guscott column
- Dragons v Leinster (Sat)
- Skipper Murphy still a key man for the Tigers
McGeechan leaves Wasps job
The Press Association
McGeechan head coach for the Lions’ tour to South Africa which begins later this month spent four seasons at the club and could yet be handed a consultancy role. The 62-year-old said: “We are currently discussing the format of my involvement next year to ensure a successful transition takes place. “McGeechan masterminded success in the Guinness Premiership Heineken Cup and Powergen Cup after replacing Warren Gatland in 2005 but Wasps have endured lean pickings this year. For the first time in seven seasons they failed to lift any silverware and finished a disappointing seventh in the Premiership table. In a further blow to the most prolific English club of recent times they can only qualify for the Heineken Cup if Northampton lose to Bourgoin in the Challenge Cup final next Friday. McGeechan said: “Following discussions with Wasps I will step down from my position as director of rugby. This decision has been part of an ongoing dialogue with the club which began with executive chairman Mark Rigby in January.
Heineken Cup qualifiers 2009/10
European Rugby Cup
While that issue will not be settled until late on that Friday night the 24th place play-off match will be played in Italy a week later on Friday 29 May between Newport Gwent Dragons – the highest non automatic Magners League qualifier – and the losing Italian semi-finalist who finished the higher in the regular Super 10 season. The Scarlets’ win at Cardiff Blues last night ensured their qualification among the 18 teams who have booked their places in European club rugby’s premier competition. Four former Heineken Cup champions – Munster Leicester Tigers Toulouse and Bath Rugby – along with 2009 finalists Leinster will take up five of the six Tier 1 places for the draw for the six Pools of four teams each for the 15th season of the tournament. The Tier 1 teams will all be kept apart in the draw with 2006 finalists and potential Tier 1 side Biarritz lympique still to qualify with just the 26th and final round of Top 14 range matches to be played this weekend.
Dragons sign ex-Wasps front-rower
BBC Sport
In a further boost to the Dragons front row prop Hugh Gustafson has signed a one-year extension to his deal. Londoner McKenzie 27 joined Calvisano in 2007 having won the Challenge Cup with Wasps in 2003 and been part of their 2004 Heineken Cup-winning squad. Calvisano are potential opponents for the Dragons in this season’s Heineken Cup play-off. The Scarlets’ Magners League win over the Blues on Wednesday left the Dragons as the bottom Welsh region for the season meaning they must enter the play-off.
Vesty finally finds his feet
BBC Sport
Fly-half Vesty has been instrumental in Leicester’s drive to the Premiership and Heineken Cup finals. But the versatile back 27 told BBC Radio Leicester he tried to quit the club he loves earlier in the season. "I didn’t want to leave but it was a forced decision. I wasn’t playing and felt like a gym monkey" Vesty said. "I was in the gym every day and that was about it.
Jeremy Guscott column
BBC Sport
It could be his last game at the top level but in some ways it can be dangerous thinking you have got nothing to lose. It is a huge game for Irish. They reached the Heineken Cup semi-finals last year and have qualified for Europe again this year but to win on Saturday would be a breakthrough achievement and give them something tangible for their efforts. Picking up a trophy would mean they have arrived in the big time. They are on the up and I just hope their celebrations after the semi-final win over Harlequins doesn’t mean that was their final. It is going to take a monumental effort to stop Leicester. I was amazed by the Tigers’ semi-final win over Bath last week.
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Dragons v Leinster (Sat)
BBC Sport
But Wales squad call-ups Jason Tovey Luke Charteris Dan Lydiate and Lewis Evans are all included in their squad. The Scarlets’ midweek win at Cardiff Blues means the Dragons face a Heineken Cup qualification play-off in Italy. Leinster include Lions pick Rob Kearney in a weakened squad with one eye on the Heineken Cup final against Leicester. Fellow Ireland internationals Girvan Dempsey and Trevor Hogan are also named against the Dragons but captain Brian ‘Driscoll is rested along with Leinster’s other international stars. Argentina fly-half Felipe Contepomi has a knee injury that will also rule him out of the Heineken finale on 23 May. In all there are nine Academy members in Leinster’s provisional panel with a final 22 expected to be named on Friday.
Skipper Murphy still a key man for the Tigers
Irish Times
In what is assuredly a first from that or any other county in Ireland next Saturday’s finalists in the Guinness Premiership decider at Twickenham will be captained by Geordan Murphy from Naas and Bob Casey from Maynooth. C’mon the Lilywhites as these two keen GAA football fans would put it themselves. Curiously the following week when Murphy captains Leicester against his native Leinster in the Heineken Cup final there will be four products of Newbridge College; the Tigers skipper and his team-mate Johne Murphy as well as Leinster’s Jamie Heaslip and Bernard Jackman. Brian ’Driscoll isn’t the only one having a vintage year. The silken-skilled Geordan Murphy is having quite a testimonial year in his 12th campaign with the Tigers. While his role off the bench in Ireland’s Grand Slam campaign would probably have frustrated him a little he will be forever immortalised for having the honour of applying the finishing catch and kick into the stands when Stephen Jones’ penalty fell short. And he now stands on the threshold of what would be his sixth Premiership medal with the serial Leicester big-trophy hunters as well as his third Heineken Cup winners medal – thereby eclipsing the several Munstermen and Trevor Brennan as the only Irish three-time winner in the competition.