England Counties XV on the hunt for first win in Ireland

The RFU have named the England Counties squad to travel to Ireland in February 2013, to face the Ireland Club XV in Cork.

The squad, made up of players from National Leagues One and Two, includes five players who played in the fixture last year at Preston Grasshoppers, when England won by a record 34-16 scoreline.

Blackheath's Dave Allen, Blaydon's Matt Hall and Robbie Kalbraier, and Ealing's Sam Shires are included in the pack, while last season's man of the match, full-back Peter Hodgkinson of Ealing, is the only back to survive from the Preston fixture.

Since the fixture was created in 2007, Ireland remain unbeaten on home soil, a situation that England Counties team manager Michael Old wants to change. He spoke about the selection process when the squad was announced today: "Selection was very tough this season because of the quality of players throughout the leagues.  We are very pleased with the squad, it looks strong in all areas with plenty of power and pace which we need to take on the Irish, as well as a great mix of experience.

“Owing to the demand that the league schedule places on clubs and players, with the agreement and support of all clubs we have limited selection to two players per club for the 22 man squad.  Whilst this has without doubt been unfortunate on a few players, it has given the opportunity to others who deserve the recognition of their talent and form this season.”

England Counties Squad to play Ireland Club XV in the Ulster Bank International:

Forwards:

Dave Allen*^ (Blackheath) - the flanker has scored a remarkable 11 tries this season including four in the 35-18 victory over Cambridge in October. He has been an ever-present for his side this season, and has played for Wasps and Ulster.

Tom Fidler (Cambridge) - An ever present in the front row for struggling Cambridge, Fidler's performances have earned him the call-up to represent his country for the first time. He returned to Cambridge in the summer, after leaving for Ealing in February 2011 when the side announced their financial troubles. Starting out at Dings Crusaders in National League South Division 3, he has worked his way up the leagues via Newbury and Birmingham Solihull.

Mark George (Stourbridge) - The tight-head prop has played in every Saxons game this season, including two appearances off the bench, as the club now appear to be on the way to regaining their National League One place after relegation last season. He has experience at London Irish and Rotherham Titans.

Matt Hall*^ (Blaydon) - The 30-year-old hooker and head coach is now in his tenth season at Blaydon, where he is an ever-present this season. Hall played against Ireland Club XV at Preston last season.

James Inglis (Esher) - The lock began his career at Harlequins, making one appearance in their season spent in National One (2005/06). He spent one season at Cornish Pirates before signing for Esher in 2008.
Billy Johnson* (Old Albanian) - After starting at Hertford in London One, Johnson earned a contract with Championship Bedford Blues in 2011. Used sparingly at the Blues, he signed for OA's in the summer, where he has played in every match during their inaugural year at National One level.
Robbie Kalbraier*^ (Blaydon) - In his fifth season at Blaydon, Kalbraier also played against Ireland Club XV last season alongside his team-mate Matt Hall. He signed in 2008, from Darlington Mowden Park.
Alex Loney (Fylde) - The prop is now in his second season at Fylde, who he joined from Rotherham Titans. He began his career at Nottingham.
Sam Shires*^ (Ealing) - Shires has scored seven tries in his first season at Ealing. He joined the Trailfinders in 2012, moving south after two seasons at Tynedale.
Ollie Stedman (Tynedale) - Eight tries from the back row is the impressive haul from this ever-present. Stedman replaced Sam Shires at number eight, signing from Westoe. He is an England Under 20 international, with two appearances in the 2011 U20 Six Nations.
Will Warden (Richmond) - The lock is in his second season at Richmond, playing a major role in their promotion season last term. He signed from Loughborough Students, wherre he played for four seasons.
Ben West (Cinderford) - The second row forward has put in some impressive performances in this, his second season at Cinderford, where he moved from National One South outfit Newbury.

Backs:

Jack Adams (Cinderford) - Outside centre Adams is in his first season with Cinderford. Starting his career at Gloucester, he made his debut as a replacement against Sale Sharks in September 2005. After only two replacement appearances that 2005/06 season, he made 12 Premiership appearances the following season, and scored a try in their Heineken Cup defeat at Leinster.
Lewis Barker (Coventry) - Scrum-half Barker is in his second season at Coventry, after a two year spell at the now-defunct Rugby Lions. He made his debut for Loughborough Students in 2007.
Scott Barrow (Fylde) - A former Super League player with St Helens, Barrow joined Fylde in 2012 from Leeds Carnegie. The 32-year-old centre started his union career at Worcester, signing from the Saints, before moving to Orrell and then Glasgow Warriors.
Nev Edwards (Rosslyn Park) - Currently the top try scorer in National One with 12 in 13 appearances, Edwards is in his third season at Park. He began his career at Ealing, signing for Esher after two seasons at the Trailfinders.
Chris Elder (Esher) - In his debut season at Esher, the young full-back played for Henley Hawks previously. He represented England Under 18s in 2009/10.
Matt Heeks (Rosslyn Park) - Heeks signed in the summer from London Scottish, where he spent two spells with a season at Barking in 2010/11. He has represented Scotland Under 20s with two appearances in the 2008 U20 Six Nations.
Peter Hodgkinson*^ (Ealing) - Now in his sixth season at Ealing, full-back Hodgkinson has scored seven tries this term. He also played against Ireland Club XV last season, putting in a man of the match performance.
Will Hurrell (Stourbridge) - Inside centre Hurrell has scored eight tries this season in National Two North, having played regularly for London Welsh in their promotion season last year. He has also played at Nottingham, Coventry and Doncaster Knights, and represented England Under 20s in the 2010 U20 Six Nations.
Ollie Marchon (Old Albanian) - A product of the Saracens academy, Marchon made his England Sevens debut in Dubai last month. He is in his second season at Old Albanians, playing a major part in their rise to National One.
Rory Teague* (Blackheath) - Fly-half Teague began his career at Gloucester in 2003, signing for Bristol after two seasons. Whilst there, he gained his first team experience on loan at Stourbridge, before moving to Lydney. He signed for Blackheath in 2012, after a season at West Country side Cinderford.

*Previous ECXV Cap (7 players)
^played v Ireland at Preston 2012 (5 players)

England Counties Spring International Fixtures:

England Counties v Ireland Club XV (Friday 8 February) Cork, Ireland
England Counties v France Amateurs (Friday 22 February) Ealing RFC

Canadians earn their Blues at Oxford

While I was working for Rugby Canada during their Fall Tour to the UK in November, I had the chance to do some research at Oxford University RFC.

It turned out that there was a strong link between the current Candian squad and the university, with the National Senior Men's Team manager Gareth Rees having gained a 'Blue' for Oxford in the 1990s.

Gareth Rees - An Oxford
Blue in 1993 & 1994
Pic (c) Rugby Canada

Rees of course is a legend in Canadian rugby, having scored a total of 487 points in 55 appearances between 1986 and 1999, a record that stands to this day.

Although Canadians have played for Oxford University through the ages, only a small number have actually earned their ‘Blues’ by representing the university in the annual Varsity Match.

Gareth Rees studied at Oxford from 1993-1995. He earned his Blues in the 1993 and 1994 Varsity fixtures, scoring two penalties, a conversion and a drop goal in the second of these, to add to the try he scored on his first appearance.

Another alumni of the university was Andrew Bibby, who appeared nine times for the Canucks from 1979 to 1985 at centre. He scored a solitary try for Canada, in a test against a New Zealand XV at Burnaby Lake in 1980. He was the first Canadian to earn an Oxford Blue, in the 1980 Varsity game, playing on the wing.

Karl Svoboda gained an Oxford Blue in 1995, after retiring from the international scene that year. A veteran of the first three Rugby World Cups, Svoboda played as hooker in 24 tests, captaining his country twice, including a famous win over an England XV in 1993. Svoboda also gained a Blue after playing in the ice hockey Varsity fixture of 1996.

Stan Mckeen - 2008 Blue
Pic (c) Oxford Mail

Alongside Svoboda in the Oxford front row of 1995 stood Dave Penney. The prop won his first Canadian cap against the USA that year, the first of seven in total. Penney had represented Canada at U21, U23 and B level prior to those full internationals, playing out of Swilers RFC.



More recently, Stan McKeen played in Canada’s back row in 20 test matches from 2004 to 2007, before retiring from the pro game with his club Cornish Pirates, to take a place at Oxford University studying law. He appeared in the 2008 Varsity match in their 33-29 victory over Cambridge.



Kevin Tkatchuk in Varsity action
Pic (c) Oxford University RFC

Winger Sean Fauth, having played 29 times on the wing, including twice at RWC2003, studied for an MBA in 2005/06 after retiring from the game. He also gained a Blue for appearing in the 2005 Varsity match, after playing for Oak Bay Castaways and Pacific Pride.



Former prop Kevin Tkatchuk played in the Oxford Dark Blue in three consecutive Varsity fixtures, from 2001-2003. He recalled the feeling of arriving at Iffley Road for the occasion of a visit from the Australians in 2001: “I will never forget how strange, yet somewhat right, to be cycling to a test match against the current World Champions!”

Tkatchuk is now the Director of Rugby at Wellington College in Berkshire, after a long career at Glasgow Warriors.

North Wales rugby boost at Colwyn Bay

The recent IRB International Series at Colwyn Bay brought out the rugby public of north Wales; but that was only a part of the successful development of the game in the north of the country.

RGC1404 General Manager Rupert Moon - Pic (c) WRU

Former Welsh international scrum-half Rupert Moon, General Manager of RGC1404 - the club born out of a strategic plan by the WRU in 2006, and which has entered the Welsh league system this season – is keen to promote the advances that rugby union has made in what is traditionally seen as a strong football area.

“For the investment made by the IRB, WRU and Conwy Borough Council, we class it as a fabulous success. There was a global audience each weekend, televised in 45 different countries, the majority of whom had it live,” he said.

“For north Wales and Colwyn Bay, and the fact that the international teams worked with local clubs and schools, leaving a legacy of raising standards, that’s exactly what we are trying to do, to raise standards of rugby in north Wales.

“With a third of the population in the north of the country, we have to be inclusive, and that is what the WRU have been striding to do against the challenges of geography."

Parc Eirias in Colwyn Bay - home of RGC1404 

Investment in the Eirias Park complex has been substantial, with an indoor training area, new Grandstand and VIP areas, and upgrade of the existing athletics track, as well as installation of the pitch which has now hosted international rugby, and new floodlights.

Over 5,500 attended the international double headers, a figure that Moon is delighted with. Add to the fact that Eirias Park is partway through a contract to host the Wales RBS Six Nations Under 20 home fixtures, he sees this as a great advert for the game in the north: “No one would have thought five years ago that it was possible to have three under 20s games sold out in the same season in north Wales, or that we would be hosting international double headers in Colwyn Bay.

“The facility has demonstrated that anything is possible. To redevelop the stadium with £6.5 million of funding which opens up not only a world stage but also a community stage. We had local kids from schools involved on the pitch and in the indoor training arena.

“It’s an aspirational culture we are developing. Now we have kids wanting to pull on their regional jersey as well as their club jersey. The influence of the WRU, working alongside partners, has allowed us to develop a college academy. We work alongside Rydal School, and Llandrillo College, to give us a foundation to build from.

“Building from an Under 16s and Under 18s side, we have now got a senior men’s team which has meaningful fixtures. It is about developing but also about aspiring to achieve the next level. The men have been put into a very tough league, with six of our first nine games played away from home.”

The fact that travelling for the RGC players is a major obstacle, to him shows the commitment there is to the game in the area.

“These guys are faced with a ten hour plus round trip on match day. The first player gets on the bus at 6:30am. They are prepared to travel to train, often over an hour and a half to training. Not only at seniors, that happens at the under-age levels as well. That is a huge commitment,” he added.

“We are also working in parallel to develop their coaches and facilities. When we have a RGC home game, we try to invite junior sections, where we coach the kids, and coach the coaches. We have regular ‘coach the coach’ sessions. Our junior sections are packed full from under 8s to under 16s, within the whole of Wales we are one of the best regions for the number of junior sides per club.

“We have to give them something to aspire to that is achievable – club rugby, regional rugby, through to international rugby. You cannot ignore a third of the population.”

The IRB International Rugby Series was streamed live by the IRB on their website, with a global population watching the four fixtures.

The USA beat Russia by 40-26 in the first of the double headers. Three first half tries, from Brian Doyle, Eric Fry and debutant Toby L’Estrange put the Eagles into a commanding 21-9 half-time lead, and although the Bears pulled back through tries from Vladimir Ostrushko and a brace from Andrey Temnov, Robbie Shaw, and two more from Chris Wyles gave the Americans their win.

That was followed by a one-sided affair, as Samoa beat Canada convincingly by 42-12. Robert Lilomaiava was the Samoan dangerman, scoring four, with Tai Tui’fua adding a fifth. James So’oialo kicked four conversions, adding three penalty goals, before the Canadians came back with two late tries from Connor Braid and John Moonlight.

The second double-header saw Tonga come from behind to beat the USA 22-13. Viliami Helu’s try was the Tongan’s solitary first half score, with Robbie Shaw dotting down for Zach Pangelinan to convert, and add a penalty before half-time. But into the second period, Tonga came back with tries from Sione Piukala and Joe Tuineau, while the USA could only manage a penalty kick.

The final game of the series saw the Canadians beat Russia by 35-3. Jeff Hassler scored two, setting up a third for Taylor Paris, while Nick Blevins added the Canucks’ fourth. James Pritchard kicked three conversions and three penalties, while Russia’s points came from an Igor Klyuichnikov penalty kick.