Tag Archives: aviva premiership news

While the search for a long-term replacement for former director of rugby Jim Mallinder continues, Northampton Saints have appointed veteran Australian coach Alan Gaffney as an interim technical coaching consultant. The vastly experienced Gaffney, who has most recently worked as the National Elite Programmes Coach with Rugby Australia, has prior experience coaching in the English Premiership having served as the …

Northampton Saints confirmed today that they have parted ways with long-serving director of rugby, Jim Mallinder. According to a statement on the club’s website, the board made the decision to oust Mallinder, who took over at Northampton in 2007 and whose decade-long stint at the club’s helm is the longest of any director in the entire Aviva Premiership, due to …

Toulon have parted company with manager Diego Dominguez and promoted recently hired backs coach Mike Ford to the top role in the club. The Argentine-born ex-Italian international has been under pressure to produce results in recent weeks following a sluggish start to the Top 14 season, and with additional reports of unrest in the camp, owner Mourad Boudjellal has now dispensed with his head …

In his latest exclusive column for Pundit Arena, Max Lahiff talks through a typical Monday morning at Bath Rugby and how much of the mood is based on whether the team has won, drawn or lost at the weekend. Monday morning, a glorious new beginning or monotonous slog… it’s all perspective I suppose. As a pro rugby player the only …

Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young has revealed that backrower Sam Jones will be out of action for five months following the double injury he sustained in England’s training camp earlier this week. The 24-year-old flanker, who has been in imperious form this season, broke his leg whilst taking part in a judo session during England’s training camp in Brighton. …

Any possibility of Wasps number eight Guy Thompson pulling on a Wales jersey in the near future is very unlikely, according to Wales Online. The Rugby Paper reported on Sunday that Wales had made inquiries about the talented 29-year-old forward, a player who has been in fine form this season. Since joining Wasps in the 2013-14 season, the dynamic star has made a 100 …

Connacht have confirmed the signing of 28-year-old lock forward James Cannon from Wasps. The news was confirmed in a press statement on the Connacht Rugby website on Monday afternoon, and revealed that Irish-qualified Cannon, who stands at 6ft 8, has already joined up his new team-mates in Galway and was included in the province’s European Champions Cup squad, which was …

Wasps head coach Dai Young has said that fly-half Danny Cipriani’s head injury “is nothing serious” following the playmaker’s departure from Wasps 20-15 win over the Northampton Saints on Saturday in Franklin’s Gardens. Cipriani was withdrawn early in the second half after colliding with Saints number 8 Louis Picamoles and did not return to the pitch as Jimmy Gopperth would move …

Former England and Northampton Saints prop Alex Corbisiero has said that he “probably won’t play in the Premiership or in English Rugby again” if he can receive further media opportunities after signing with American broadcaster NBC as part of their Premiership Rugby coverage for this season. Corbisiero, 28, announced last December that he was taking a 12-month unpaid sabbatical from professional rugby …

Hurricanes full back and former New Zealand U20’s star Jason Woodward has agreed to join Premiership newcomers Bristol, with the club confirming the signing on the club’s official website earlier this afternoon. Woodward joins Andy Robinson’s squad after two successful seasons with the Hurricanes where he started 10 games last season en route to the club’s maiden Super Rugby championship. The …

With Europe’s top rugby leagues still only getting into gear after a long summer break, it’s a good time to rank the continent’s top ten clubs at present. There is Irish representation but our initial list is dominated by some massive English and French clubs. Quelle surprise! ______ 10. Leinster The last few years have been painful for the three-time European champions, …

Aviva Premiership Round 2 pairs together last season’s best four teams in a compelling set of fixtures. How will champions Saracens fare at Sandy Park and will Leicester Tigers’ pack prove too strong for Wasps? Here are the top five battles to watch from these two crucial Premiership matches. They’re going to be close… _____ Leicester Tigers v Wasps (Saturday) …

Wallabies and NSW Waratahs hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau headlines a host of Super Rugby players linked with a move to the Aviva Premiership with newly promoted Bristol reportedly interested in acquiring the 31-year-old forward. According to the Bristol Post, Polota-Nau has reportedly said his goodbyes to his Waratahs teammates, and is on the verge of signing for Andy Robinson’s side at the conclusion …

After England’s successful tour of Australia in the summer, the Aviva Premiership got back underway last weekend and we’ve rated the top English performers (including England qualified) from the opening round of League action – with one eye on the upcoming November’s Test matches. 1. Mako Vunipola – Saracens Vunipola gave another impressive performance in a game where Saracens struggled to make …

Following Taulupe Faletau’s unfortunate injury in the early stages of his Aviva Premiership debut against Northampton at the weekend, 2015 finalists Bath will be looking for someone to plug the gap at the back of the scrum whilst the Welsh talisman recuperates. The obvious person to fill this void is Scotland back row Dave Denton and he will most likely …

St. Albans is a city district just outside London which lies east of Hemel Hempstead and west of Hatfield, about 19 miles north-north west of London. In Roman times the town was a common destination for travellers heading north on the old Roman road of Watling Street, so it’s kind of fitting that today it is now the new home of Springbok flanker Schalk Burger, a …

The Aviva Premiership has begun! It’s been an enthralling, fanatic and energetic start to the 2016/17 season. Saracens carried on their dominance over English rugby with the largest win of the weekend against Worcester Warriors. Leicester Tigers produced a record breaking comeback against Gloucester to come out on top at Kingsholm. Meanwhile in Newcastle, the Falcons managed to pick up …

Just twelve minutes into his competitive debut for Bath, Taulupe Faletau suffered an injury that could keep him out of the black, white and blue jersey for some time. Before the game fans from all over the country were licking their lips at the prospect of the battle between French number eight and pure powerhouse Louis Picamoles and the consistent, …