  
This site last updated 9th February 2012
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Same again England to face Italy
ENGLAND today named an unchanged 22 to play Italy in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations match at Stadio Olimpico.
Seven players were capped for the first time in the Calcutta Cup win over Scotland and the same starting XV and bench will travel to Rome.
Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: "We have had a good week in spite of the weather and reflected on the game, reviewed and learnt from it and will look to improve the quality of our performance this week.
“We have decided to leave the starting team the same to allow them more time to gel together and we are expecting our bench to come on and make an impact as they did last week. Italy will be a very difficult challenge with nearly 700 caps in their starting line-up and it promises to be an outstanding occasion at the sold-out Stadio Olimpico.”
England
15 Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
14 Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
13 Brad Barritt (Saracens)
12 Owen Farrell (Saracens)
11 David Strettle (Saracens)
10 Charlie Hodgson (Saracens)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
1 Alex Corbisiero (London Irish)
2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
4 Mouritz Botha (Saracens)
5 Tom Palmer (Stade Francais)
6 Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
7 Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt)
8 Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints)
Replacements
16 Rob Webber (London Wasps)*
17 Matt Stevens (Saracens)
18 Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
19 Ben Morgan (Scarlets)
20 Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)
21 Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins)
22 Mike Brown (Harlequins)
*Uncapped
Joe Simpson (London Wasps) and Joe Marler (Harlequins) will travel as reserves.
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North Under 18 coach in confident mood
NORTH Under 18s RU Head Coach Peter Taylor is in very positive mood as he looks ahead to his first Divisional Championship in charge at Broadstreet RFC, Coventry on the weekend of February 17/19.
The former Harrogate and Yorkshire lock joined the Under 18 set-up this season and has been delighted with every aspect of the preparations and the attitude of the North squad.
“I know that last season Martin Pepper had plenty of problems with the weather which disrupted his build-up to the Divisional Festival, but this year we’ve been very lucky with our plans and we’ve had everything we were looking for,” says ex-RAF man Taylor. “We had a trial at West Park Leeds, where we pruned the squad to 26 and we followed that up with a Development Weekend at Altrincham Grammar and a game against Sale Academy.
“We beat Sale 26-0, which was a really good result and a massive positive in getting us up and running.
“From my perspective, I couldn’t have asked for more in terms of where we’ve got the players to and now we’re really looking forward to the game against the South West.
“The amount of rugby that has been watched even before we got to the trial stage has been huge and trial was very competitive. So we’ve accumulated a plethora of information about the lads and I think we’ve got the selection process right.
“The lads all deserve to be there and they’ve all bought into it. Hopefully we can now have a good get-together in Leeds this coming weekend.
"We’re a team that won’t rely on star individuals, but in pulling together as a group. They’re a cracking bunch of lads and the general mood amongst the other members of the coaching team who were part of the preparations last year is that we are well advanced and set up to do well.
"The North play their first game on Friday week (February 17) against the South West under floodlights at Broadstreet (kick-off 5pm). Two days later they face the Midlands at 11am.
Durham’s Guy Van Den Dries, one of six Barnard Castle players in the team, will captain the side.
North Under 18s: Matthew Dudman (Prince Henry's Otley, Leeds Carnegie & Yorkshire), Sebastian Tullie (Bradford GS, Otley & Yorkshire), Bruce Clegg (Barnard Castle & Durham), Michael Haley (Myerscough College & Lancashire), Ralph Dowds (King Edward VII, Lytham & Lancashire), Alec Beaumont (Barnard Castle & Durham), Peter Weightman (Gosforth HS, Northern & Northumberland), William Boardman (Leeds Grammar School), Otley & Yorkshire), Nathan Bailey (Gosforth HS, Gosforth RFC & Northumberland), Sam Allen (QEGS, Wakefield, Doncaster & Yorkshire), James Flynn (Stockport GS, Manchester & Cheshire), Matthew Beaumont (Bradford GS & Yorkshire), Alec Clarey (Barnard Castle & Durham), Conor McGrath (Myerscough College & Lancashire), Luke Cole (Prince Henry's, Otley, Old Brodleians & Yorkshire), Jacob Nickson (Arnold School, Fylde & Lancashire), Oliver Parkinson (Myerscough College & Lancashire), Daniel Potts (Barnard Castle & Durham), Declan Dunn (Prince Henry's, Otley, Sheffield & Yorkshire), Cameron Neild (Manchester GS, Sale Sharks & Cheshire), Liam Riley (East Durham, Darlington Mowden Park & Durham), Guy Van Den Dries (Barnard Castle & Durham), Anthony Harrison (Barnard Castle & Durham).
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Teenage contingent boosts North Senior Women's team
NORTHERN candidates for a place on the pathway to representative honours with the England Women’s RU team will be hoping to put down a marker this weekend when the first game of this season’s divisional programme is held at Sheffield RFC’s Abbeydale headquarters on Sunday, February 12 (2pm).
The RFUW Divisional Programme, which embraces Under 15, Under 18 and Senior players, forms an integral part of the RFUW Player Pathway, which can see players progressing from club rugby to representing their county, their division and their country, with Emily Braund, who got her first cap for England last weekend in the RBS 6 Nations match against Scotland, the latest example of a player who has followed that route.
Players selected for the Divisional Programme have been chosen by their Constituency Body and if they are successful at that level, the can earn an England trial or qualify for the Under 18s and Under 15s RFUW National Talent Development Groups.
The composition of the North Senior squad which opens the programme in South Yorkshire on Sunday, weather permitting, is one which excites Rob Thompson, the North’s Talent Development Officer.
“I’m very pleased with the make-up of the squad and really looking forward to seeing the team in action,” he says: “I’m delighted that six players have progressed from last season’s Under 18s into the senior squad and that we have eight new players to Divisional rugby involved.
“This season the North squad has a lot of new faces and the fight to get in was tougher than last season. The squad is not only looking to improve on last season’s one win, but to develop each of the players and enable them to push forward this season to be more involved in the England player pathway.”
The North Senior Women’s squad is: Danielle Wiseman (Waterloo, Lancashire); Meadhbh Westwood (Waterloo, Lancashire), Vicky Pinks (Leeds Met, Yorkshire), Ashleigh Neale (Birkenhead Park, Cheshire), Julie Hope (Carlisle, Cumbria); Alessandra Lewis (Waterloo, Lancashire), Claire Shutler (Saracens, Lancashire); Sarah Batley (Leeds Met, Yorkshire), Rachael Thomas (Waterloo, Lancashire), Charlotte Evans (Sheffield, Yorkshire), Lucy Brook (Waterloo, Lancashire), Daria Hinz (Waterloo, Lancashire), Corinne Allmark (Waterloo, Lancashire), Ruth Nash (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, Yorkshire), Abbie Scott (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, Northumberland)
Replacements: Fran Walker (Waterloo, Lancashire), Emma Hutchinson (Waterloo, Lancashire), Heike Niemand (Leodiensians, Yorkshire), Jenny Evans (Unattached, Cumbria), Stephanie Veal (Waterloo, Lancashire), Danae Zamboulis (Birkenhead Park, Cheshire), Victoria Britland (Team Northumbria, Northumberland).
The programme: February 12: Seniors - North v London & SE, Doncaster, KO 2pm; February 19: Under 18s – Midlands v North, Five Ways, KO 245pm; Under 15s – Midlands v North, Five Ways, KO 1pm; February 26: Seniors - North v Midlands, Blackwell Meadows, Darlington, KO 2pm. March 18: Seniors – South West v North, Stroud RFC, KO 3pm; U18s – South West v North, Stroud RFC, KO 1.15pm.
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Northumberland Development Team to play against Durham Development, Wednesday 8th February 2012, 7.30pm at Druid Park.
1 Jo Waffer Percy Park
2 Carl Hill Ashington
3 Karl Campbell Morpeth
4 Phil Ludford Northern
5 Aaron Hall Berwick
6 Ben Bell Morpeth
7 Jack Davidson Percy Park
8 Greg Dixon (C) Percy Park
9 Adam Faulkner Gosforth
10 Phil Morse Percy Park
11 Ali Blair Percy Park
12 Alex Clarke Northern
13 Ash Smith Percy Park
14 James Bird Alnwick
15 James Phillips Morpeth
Replacements
Jon Coffey Northern
Gareth Black Berwick
Darren Oliver Alnwick
Ed Cawthorn Tynedale
Paddy Harper Northern
Frank Hutchinson Alnwick
James Hamilton Alnwick
Jo Forsythe Morpeth
Oliver Walker Northern
Mark Smith Tynedale
Marcus Welsh Tynedale
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SSErugby.com offers incentives and support to community rugby clubs in England
LEADING energy provider SSE, a National Community Partner of the RFU, has today launched SSErugby.com, a brand new website dedicated to grassroots rugby clubs in England, giving them extra support to make their lives that little bit better, with one lucky club set to win £10,000 of SSE energy credits.
SSErugby.com is a season-long programme of rewards, resources, and opportunities designed specifically to help meet the needs of local rugby clubs across the country. As well as offering unique insight into the rugby world from ambassadors such as Tom Croft and Danny Grewcock.
Whether a player, coach, volunteer or even a casual supporter, all users have to do is register to the site and assign themselves to their local club to start benefiting from the following:
Annual Energy Reward – Opportunity to enter your local rugby club to win an incredible £10,000 worth of SSE energy credits or an energy makeover worth up to £8,000
Monthly Club Rewards – Exciting rewards and prizes to be won every month, from training sessions with ambassadors to essential kit and training equipment.
Ambassadors – Tom Croft, Danny Grewcock and John Bentley will be sharing regular blogs and videos around their thoughts on community rugby, as well as offering coaching tips and running training sessions at amateur clubs.
Community News – Exclusive news stories from the heart of the grassroots game, and regular video blogs and coaching tips from featured Community Rugby Coaches (CRCs) across England.
Members that sign up now can take part in an exciting opportunity to win a motivational team talk from legend John “Bentos” Bentley for the day at their club. Whether the team talk is good, bad or just downright ugly, Bentos will whip the team into shape and inspire them for their next upcoming league fixture. All entrants have to do is register to SSErugby.com and send in a video of their own team captain delivering a motivational team talk.
England flanker Tom Croft commented: “SSErugby.com is a great initiative for players and clubs to get involved with, and earn real rewards and opportunities to improve the grassroots game. I’m really looking forward to getting involved and meeting some great clubs. So what are you waiting for, register now!”
Stephen Forbes, Director of Sales, Marketing and Energy Services for SSE commented: “The development of SSErugby.com is aimed to support local rugby clubs and their surrounding communities all over the UK. As a National Community partner of the RFU we are working continuously to ensure the grassroots game is fully supported and SSErugby.com does just that.”
Steve Grainger, Rugby Development Director for the RFU, commented: “Based on the findings of their recent survey to identify the tools and resources grassroots rugby clubs most need, SSE’s interactive site and the associated rewards will make a real difference to our rugby clubs.”
For more information and to register now, visit: www.SSErugby.com
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England Women's team named to take on Italy in RBS 6 Nations
England Women’s Head Coach Gary Street hasrung the changes ahead of Sunday’s Six Nations clash against Italy, kick off 2pm GMT, at the Centro Sportivo in Parabiago, Milan.
On the back of England’s opening nine try, 47-0, victory against Scotland, England head to Italy in confident spirits. Lichfield Number 8 Sarah Hunter will skipper England with captain Katy McLean rested on the bench. There are also first Six Nations starts this season for Worcester’s Rochelle Clark, Darlington Mowden Park Sharks’ Tamara Taylor, Wasps’ La Toya Mason and Bristol’s Kim Oliver.
Hooker Amy Tuner and prop Laura Keates come off the bench to form a new front row partnership with Clark, whilst Ceri Large and Mason are the half backs for this match. Wing Georgina Roberts is also called off the bench to start alongside Kay Wilson whilst Lichfield’s Emily Scarratt moves to full back.
Street, whose side are gunning for a seventh consecutive title and another Grand Slam, said: “I am delighted to welcome back some of our more experienced players for our game against Italy. They will bring calmness and experience to our squad and help to take our performance up another level, whilst some of our younger players; Ceri Large, Laura Keates and Izzy Noel-Smith will have the chance to stake their claim for the shirt as they start.
“We had a good result against Scotland to kick start our campaign, but there is a lot to improve on, including our execution and I will be looking for the team to do that this weekend. Italy had a good second half against an on-form French side last weekend, conceding only one try in that period, so we are expecting an even tougher game this Sunday.”
England
15 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield)
14 Georgina Roberts (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
13 Rachael Burford (VC)(Richmond)
12 Kimberley Oliver (Bristol)
11 Kay Wilson (Bristol)
10 Ceri Large (Worcester)
9 La Toya Mason (Wasps)
1 Rochelle Clark (Worcester)
2 Amy Turner (Richmond)
3 Laura Keates (Worcester)
4 Rowena Burnfield (Richmond)
5 Tamara Taylor(Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
6 Isabelle Noel-Smith (Bristol)
7 MarliePacker (Bristol)
8 SarahHunter (C) (Lichfield)
Replacements:
16 Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield)
17 Claire Purdy (Wasps)
18 Emily Braund (Lichfield)
19 Hannah Gallagher (Saracens)
20 Georgina Rozario (Lichfield)
21 Katy McLean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
22 Katherine Merchant (Worcester)
February 5th 2012, Scotland v England, Lasswade, Edinburgh, WON 47-0
February 12th 2012, Italy v England, Parabiago, Nr Milan, KO 2pm GMT
February 25th, 2012, England v Wales, Twickenham Stadium, KO 615pm
Live on the BBC Red Button and on www.bbc.co.uk/sport. Free entry to the stadium after the men’s Six Nations match.
March 11th, 2012, France v England, Stade Charlety, Paris, KO 1245pm GMT
Live on Sky Sport HD2 Red Button.
March 17th 2012 England v Ireland, Esher RFC, KO 2pm.
Live on www.rfu.com/englandwomenlive.com. Tickets can be purchased on game day on the gate or online at http://www.esherrugby.com/ticket_sales.html, priced £10 for adults, £5 for Under 16s.
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Rugby Football Union signs four-year partnership renewal with O2
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) today announced that it has extended its partnership with O2. O2 has been a proud sponsor of the RFU and England Rugby since the game turned professional in 1995, making it one of the longest running sports sponsorships. The new four year partnership will see O2 supporting the senior elite teams and the wider game in England beyond the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
The new partnership maintains O2’s presence on Senior England, Saxons and Women’s team kit and will also see O2 continue as the exclusive telecommunications provider to the RFU.
Over the next four years O2 and the RFU will work in partnership to create an enhanced digital experience for rugby fans at Twickenham Stadium, at home and across clubs in England. This will include expanding online platforms and further developing initiatives such as O2 Inside Line, using technology to bring fans closer to the team and the players.
The new agreement will also see O2 extending its highly successful Priority offering to rugby fans on O2.Through Priority, customers on O2 will have priority access to tickets for England matches at Twickenham stadium in addition to other benefits and experiences.
As part of the ongoing partnership O2 will continue its involvement with the RFU’s grassroots rugby programmes, building on the success of past campaigns including O2 Scrum on the Beach and O2 Touch, underlining both O2 and the RFU’s commitment to making rugby even more accessible to all.
RFU Chief Commercial Officer Sophie Goldschmidt said; “We are delighted to be extending our partnership with O2. They have been a long term supporter of rugby at both the grassroots and elite level. O2’s commitment to further develop our partnership and deliver even richer and more engaging rugby experiences to fans and players is fantastic. This is aligned with the RFU’s goals to further grow the game in innovative ways.”
O2 CEO Ronan Dunne said; “We’ve been a proud sponsor of England Rugby for over 16 years and together with the RFU we are committed to building upon our achievements and creating great experiences for customers and fans. Working together with the RFU we will continue to look at how we can use technology to extend the rugby experience beginning with expanding Priority for rugby fans on O2."
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Sky Sports to televise England Women's Six Nations match against France
Three of England Women’s RBS 6 Nations matches will be available to watch live this season, with broadcaster Sky Sports confirming they will now televise England’s championship clash against France.
Sky Sports, who most recently televised England’s historic 10-0 victory over New Zealand last autumn at Twickenham Stadium, will broadcast England’s match against France on March 11th at Stade Charlety in Paris, kick off 1245pm GMT, on Sky Sports HD 2 Red Button.
The game is set to be a thriller with the top two ranked teams in the tournament going head-to-head. And although England are the reigning Grand Slam champions, going for a record seventh consecutive title, France were last victorious over England just two months ago, taking a 16-15 victory in South West France.
Sky Sports Rugby Union Producer Gus Williamson said: “We are delighted to be showing England Women on Sky Sports again. This is a top game in the RBS 6 Nations and having beaten world champions New Zealand in the autumn, England will be looking to maintain momentum and successfully defend their crown as RBS 6 Nations Champions, live on Sky Sports. This match really compliments our continued support of women’s rugby and is certain to be a match that fans of the game won’t want to miss. ”
England Head Coach Gary Street added: “We are delighted that Sky Sports are going to be showing our match against France. Matches between England and France are always fiercely contested, with just one point separating the two sides in our last encounter. With France taking that win against us in the autumn we will be keen to reverse that result and maintain our Six Nations title campaign, but there’s no doubt it’s going to be tough with matches in France always providing an intimidating but electric atmosphere.”
Rugby fans will also be able to watch live match action when England take on Wales at Twickenham Stadium on February 25th on the BBC Red Button and the BBC Sport website, whilst England’s final Six Nations clash against Ireland on March 17th will be streamed live through www.rfu.com/englandwomenlive.
England’s Six Nations Fixtures:
February 5th 2012, Scotland v England, Lasswade, Edinburgh, KO 5pm
February 12th 2012, Italy v England, Parabiago, Nr Milan, KO 2pm GMT
February 25th, 2012, England v Wales, Twickenham Stadium, KO 615pm
Live on the BBC Red Button and on www.bbc.co.uk/sport. Free entry to the stadium after the men’s Six Nations match.
March 11th, 2012, France v England, Stade Charlety, Paris, KO 1245pm GMT
Live on Sky Sport HD 2 Red Button
March 17th 2012 England v Ireland, Esher RFC, KO 2pm.
Live on www.rfu.com/englandwomenlive.com. Tickets can be purchased on game day on the gate or online at http://www.esherrugby.com/ticket_sales.html, priced £10 for adults, £5 for Under 16s.
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England’s Six Nations Fixtures: |
Watch England Women take on Ireland in the RBS 6 Nations live on rfu.com
Rugby fans will be able to watch live web streaming of England Women’s final RBS 6 Nations match against home nations rivals Ireland in March.
Through RFU.com, the match on March 17th at Esher RFC will be available at www.rfu.com/englandwomenliveahead of the 2.00pm kick off. Users will be able to watch the match live and then in full for up to three days after the match, while highlights of England’s games against Scotland, Italy and Ireland will also be available on RFU.com.
With England looking to defend their Grand Slam crown and secure a seventh successive Six Nations title this series is set to be a thriller. England kick off their campaign against Scotland on February 5th before travelling to Italy on February 12th.
England’s first home game is against Wales on February 25th at Twickenham Stadium and the match will be live on the BBC Red Button and the BBC Sport website. England are back on the road again for their penultimate match against France on March 11th before the defending champs take on Ireland.
An impressive five camera feed with match commentary from some of the game’s leading commentators and former England stars, as well as post-match interviews, will provide rugby fans with broadcast quality viewing as England and Ireland go head-to-head.
RFU Digital Editor, Tom Hines, said: “Over 6,000 people watched RFU.com’s live streaming of England Women’s autumn tests against New Zealand. With the women’s game growing all the time and England defending a Grand Slam, there’s a growing appetite for watching England’s Elite Women that we need to satisfy.”
England’s Six Nations Fixtures:
February 5th 2012, Scotland v England, Lasswade, Edinburgh, KO 5pm
February 12th 2012, Italy v England, Parabiago, Nr Milan, KO 3pm
* February 25th, 2012, England v Wales, Twickenham Stadium, KO 615pm
March 11th, 2012, France v England, Stade Charlety, Paris, KO 145pm
**March 17th 2012 England v Ireland, Esher RFC, KO 2pm.
* Free entry to Twickenham Stadium following the final whistle of the England men v Wales match.
** Tickets can be purchased on game day on the gate or online at http://www.esherrugby.com/ticket_sales.html, priced £10 for adults, £5 for Under 16s.
Ends…
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