Archive for the ‘British and Irish Lions’ Category
Sir Ian McGeechan Joins Bath Rugby
Bath have confirmed the appointment of Sir Ian McGeechan as their new performance director ahead of the coming campaign.
McGeechan has been working in consultancy roles since the end of the British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa and his departure from London Wasps.
He was most recently working in an advisory capacity at Gloucester, assisting head coach Bryan Redpath at Kingsholm over a five-month period.
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Wallaby Great Mortlock To Join Cipriani At The Melbourne Rebels
Former Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock has agreed to a three-year deal with new Super Rugby team, the Melbourne Rebels.
Mortlock (who wears Adidas Predator X Rugby Boots), the highest point-scorer in Super Rugby history, will join the new franchise for their debut season in 2011 after thirteen seasons with the Brumbies.
“Stirling is yet another addition to our growing team of players with strong leadership skills,” said Melbourne coach Rod Macqueen.
Tags: Australia Rugby, Super 14 Rugby, Super 15 Rugby
Posted in British and Irish Lions, England Rugby, Lovell Rugby News, Rugby News | 1 Comment »
Mike Phillips Signs New 4 Year Deal With The Ospreys
The Ospreys have announced that prize asset scrum-half Mike Phillips had signed a four-year contract with the region. It is thought that the Ospreys had to fight off interest from Several French and English Clubs aswell as the Stormers in South Africa.
The news brings an end to speculation surrounding the future of a player who has been at the Ospreys since joining in the summer of 2007, making his debut in a 13-13 Magners League draw against Edinburgh at Murrayfield in October that year, following his delayed arrival at the Liberty Stadium due to his involvement in the Rugby World Cup.
Capped 38 times by Wales and three times by the Lions, 27-year old Phillips (who wears Adidas Predator X rugby boots) has recently returned from an injury lay-off after suffering ligament damage in the win over Clermont Auvergne at the Liberty Stadium last October, coming off the bench in the recent Magners League game against Connacht.
Tags: Mike Phillips Rugby, Ospreys Rugby, Wales Rugby
Posted in British and Irish Lions, Lovell Rugby News, Rugby News | No Comments »
Lovell Rugby Team Of The Year 2009
Here in the office, much debate has gone into picking the Lovell Rugby World Team Of The Year 2009. It really has been a great year for Rugby. After much deliberation, here is our team of the year:
15- Rob Kearney- Ireland
The Leinster Full Back (who wears Nike Laser 3 Rugby Boots) with a siege gun left boot. He helped Ireland win the Grand Slam, Leinster win their first Heineken cup and played outstanding for the Lions in South Africa.
14- Corey Jane- New Zealand
The Hurricanes man is more happy at Fullback, although has had a great year on the wing. He played the majority of games for the All Blacks this season and scored some really important tries. Is as good going forward as is going back, which is vital in the modern game.
Tags: Lovell Rugby News, New Zealand All Blacks, Tour to South Afirca 2009, Wales Rugby
Posted in British and Irish Lions, England Rugby, Heineken Cup, Ireland Rugby, New Zealand All Blacks, Rugby News, Scotland Rugby, Six Nations, Wales Rugby | 14 Comments »
British And Irish Lions Regain Pride Smashing Boks At Coca Cola Park
The British and Irish Lions notched their first win in eight Tests on Saturday, beating South Africa convincingly 28-9 at Coca Cola Park in Johannesburg.
The Lions had been widely-tipped to fall flat on their faces in the third match, but played with the passion and energy you expect from the famous red shirt.
But South Africa will not garner any sympathy. They took to the fields with white armbands emblazoned with ‘Justice 4′, a puerile protest at the two-week ban handed out to the Bakkies Botha. It was an absolutely ludicrous idea, which smacked of Peter de Villiers’ nonsensical thinking and deserves full censure from the IRB. It looks like the players are running the Springbok team.
The Lions started the match brightly looking dangerous with early touches for Flutey, Shane Williams and some fine link play from Martyn Williams. (more…)
Tags: British and Irish Lions, I, South Africa Rugby, Tour to South Afirca 2009
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British And Irish Lions VS Springboks 2nd Test Preview
The British and Irish Lions have made five changes to their starting line-up for Saturday’s second Test against the Springboks in Pretoria.
Full-back Rob Kearney, wing Luke Fitzgerald, hooker Matthew Rees, prop Adam Jones and lock Simon Shaw all gain call-ups for a game the Lions must win to retain any chance of taking the three-Test series.
Kearney (Who Wears Nike Laser 2 Rugby Boots) replaces Lee Byrne, who has been struggling with a foot injury, while Kearney’s fellow Ireland Grand Slam winner Fitzgerald takes over from Ugo Monye. (more…)
Tags: British and Irish Lions, South Africa Rugby, Tour to South Afirca 2009
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Rugby Match Report from South Africa: British and Irish Lions v Sprinboks 1st Test From Durban
Lovell Rugby was lucky enough to have the chance to head of to Durban for the First test Between the Brtish and Irish Lions against the reigning world champions South Africa.
The match was a fight to the death, and high drama as the tourists produced a great final quarter to narrow the gap to within a score. But the game had long been lost in a dreadful first half - in reality, it was the multiple changes that stumped the Boks’ rhythm and nearly cost them their win, rather than any inherent superiority.
The Lions started poorly though? The scrums, so talked up as the focal point of the Lions efforts, were annihilated. Phil Vickery alone was destroyed on five occasions against Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira. The Boks got six points from that alone. Here at Lovell Rugby we think Adam Jones should have come on far earlier. (more…)
Tags: British and Irish Lions, South Africa Rugby, Tour to South Afirca 2009
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British and Irish Lions Get Off The Hook
The British & Irish Lions retained their 100 per cent record on Saturday with a 26-23 win over Western Province in squally Cape Town.
The local men had predicted thunderstorms, an end to the lovely sunny weather Cape Town had been basking in all week. In the event, the storms arrived overnight on the Friday, ushering in one of those vile cold fronts that plague the Western Cape on a weekly basis during the winter.
It rained a torrent shortly before kick-off, with the wind whipping the spray in all directions as it funnelled over the mountain behind the stadium. An ugly, ugly day, leading to an ugly, ugly game, but at least the locals turned up for this one, with Newlands about three-quarters full. There were quite a few Lions fans there as well, trying to sneak in a quick match before the Test series. they’ll be wondering why they bothered. (more…)
Tags: British and Irish Lions, Tour to South Afirca 2009
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Lions Empty Shark Tank
The British and Irish Lions won their fourth tour match on Wednesday, beating the Sharks 39-3 in Durban with an excellent second-half display.
After a poor and disjointed first half, the Lions turned things around, producing a third quarter of power, pace and guile like we hadn’t seen since Johannesburg the week before. Ultimately, the Sharks ended up unable to get their hands on the ball and unable to build up any momentum despite the frequent early errors. (more…)
Tags: Adidas, British and Irish Lions, Super 14 Rugby, Tour to South Afirca 2009
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Steyn To Join Racing Metro After Lions Series
South Africa back Francois Steyn insists he hasn’t given up hope of playing in the next World Cup despite signing a three-year contract with Racing Metro.
The 22-year-old (Who Wears Adidas World Cup Rugby Boots) will move to Paris at the end of the Springboks’ three-match Test series against the touring British and Irish Lions.
But the man who became the youngest ever World Cup winner when the Springboks won in France two years ago is determined to ensure his switch from the Sharks doesn’t affect his international career. (more…)
Tags: French Top 14 Rugby, South Africa Rugby
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