Having escaped the big freeze in the UK, Leeds Carnegie players will be offered no cold comfort in tomorrow's Amlin Challenge Cup pool one encounter at Rugby Parma.
Carnegie's training schedule has been disrupted by the severe cold snap and while the weather isn't quite as bad in Italy, the elements are far from benign either with the country having also suffered from plummeting temperatures.
Carnegie, who currently tops their pool ahead of Bourgoin on points difference with both amassing three wins from four outings thus far – flew out to northern Italy this morning, with Parma doing everything in their power to ensure tomorrow's clash goes ahead.
Director of rugby Andy Key said: "We haven't had a winter like this for many years and it's not too dissimilar out there. But it is a little better. We did a bit of a check-up in the early part of the week just to see the conditions out there and they have got frost sheets down just to make sure as the temperature has been a bit low.
"At the moment, it's pointing to the game being on and we'll keep our fingers crossed we won't have any problems getting out there.
"We've got by with the weather. It's not been great, but we're not alone up and down the country at the moment.
"We've used facilities allowing us to do certain things. We've done some physical work, but have had to keep it short – we've not done too bad, although it's not been perfect!"
Key added: "They beat Bourgoin at home and are a dangerous side on their own patch and play with a lot of passion, which you'd expect from the Italians.
"We've watched them very closely and specifically at home and I think they are a physical, strong side.
"They came to try and do things at our place, but we were too good on the day.
“Honesty, trust, hard work, the willingness to go the extra little bit. It’s like what I said earlier, nobody was blaming anybody. We had none of that, no cliques, no nothing. We gave it a go in the best way possible. You cannot overestimate honesty.” – Declan Kidney, March 21st, in the corridors of the Millennium Stadium
REWIND 12 months and it’s easy to forget where Irish rugby was. Ireland had just grimly held on to eighth place in the world rankings to secure the last of the second-tier seedings for the World Cup draw courtesy of a forgettable 17-3 wins over an Argentina team further depleted by losing Juan Martin Hernandez in the warm-up.
This had followed New Zealand’s bloodless coup at Croke Park a week before, which had left players and management alike stunned by the lack of confidence within the group as the hangover from the last 12 months of the Eddie O’Sullivan era lingered on.
Entering 2009, Ireland had won just four of its 10 matches in 2008, all at home against the combined might of Italy, Scotland, Canada and the understrength Pumas. All told, in Ireland’s previous 18 matches, there had been 11 defeats, while the other three wins had been a fortunate victory over Italy at Ravenhill and those taut World Cup wins over Namibia and Georgia. Notions of winning a Grand Slam would have had you in a straitjacket.
On the provincial front, admittedly, Munster and Leinster had been restoring pride and self-belief, the former having regained the Heineken Cup and Leinster having won the Magners League, although Michael Cheika’s detractors were still lurking in the long grass.
Munster duly ensured a home quarter-final against the Ospreys by dint of handsome wins over Sale and Montauban, whereas Leinster couldn’t buy a try in the 19-12 defeat to Wasps and 12-3 win over Edinburgh which earned an away quarter-final at Harlequins.
And the big days kept coming. Perhaps, in hindsight, Munster were too good for their own good in their Euro quarter-final rout of the Ospreys, in contrast to the grit Leinster showed in withstanding Harlequins’ best and worst intentions.
England wing Matt Banahan has signed a new three-year contract with Guinness Premiership club Bath.
The 23-year-old, who was an ever-present for Martin Johnson's men during the autumn internationals, joined Bath in 2006 from London Irish as a lock forward but was converted to a wing.
"Bath have put a lot of time into me. I want to return the favour and support the club that helped me get where I am," Banahan told the Bath club website.
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Wales hooker Matthew Rees has put an end to speculation over his Scarlets future next season by penning a new deal.
The 29-year-old was a star performer during the summer's Lions tour of South Africa and had been attracting interest from both France and the Guinness Premiership.
Rees, who joined the Scarlets in 2004 from the Celtic Warriors and Pontypridd and has gone on to make 121 appearances, has signed a new three-year deal, while fellow hooker Ken Owens has also agreed to stay at Parc Y Scarlets for another three years.
Promising full-back Dan Evans and 33-year-old loose-head prop Iestyn Thomas have also agreed new two-year contracts.
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Newly-appointed Quins boss Conor O'Shea will be celebrating his first bit of Christmas business after securing the long-term services of two of England's brightest young forwards.
Second-row George Robson is believed to be on the verge of gate-crashing England boss Martin Johnson's national squad, having cemented his place in the Quins' first team.
While England under-20 prop Joe Marler, who made his first team debut for Quins earlier this season, has followed Robson's example.
At 19, Marler is one of Harlequins' most promising young players - a member of the current England under-20 squad and another product of the Quins academy.
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Former Wales and Lions skipper Gareth Thomas hopes his weekend revelations about his sexuality can help other professional sportsmen.
The 35-year-old, Wales' most capped player, joins stars like basketball's John Amaechi and hurling's Donal Og Cusack who have come out and admitted they are gay.
The former Wales international full-back said he was grateful for the "amazing response" he had received.
"Just because you are gay, it doesn't mean you fancy every man who walks the planet," Thomas told the Daily Mail.
"I don't want to be known as a gay rugby player. I am a rugby player first and foremost. I am a man.
"I hope that by saying this I can make a big difference to others in my situation. But for now, I just want to focus on being a rugby player and beating my old club Toulouse."
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The Six Nations council has announced the running order for next season's Six Nations, with Ireland kicking off their title defence at home against Italy on Saturday February 6.
The popularity of this season's first Friday night game with TV viewers, where France ended Wales' Grand Slam hopes in Paris, has meant that the fixture will be reversed at the Millennium Stadium this season, on Friday February 26.
In a repeat of two seasons ago, England kick-off their tournament with the visit of Warren Gatland's Wales to Twickenham, while France travel to face Scotland at Murrayfield.
Welsh Rugby Union chairman David Pickering is pleased to see the Friday night game return, citing both economic and rugby reasons for his excitement.
"We are starting to see genuine reasons for saying the experiment is a successful one," said Pickering. "The match in Paris last year generated the biggest television audience for a game in France at an average audience of 5.9million and television audiences throughout the UK, Ireland and Italy were the second largest of all the fifteen tournament games at 11million.
"We had a sell-out Stade de France crowd, a tremendous atmosphere and produced one of the best matches of the tournament for the neutral. In Wales we would obviously like to reverse the result next year but we are very much looking forward to what should be a great night out in Cardiff for the fans, a bumper TV audience and a magnificent atmosphere for the players within the confines of the Millennium Stadium."
Rugby confederation has been played in Wales since 1850, when it was introduced from England by Reverend Rowland Williams, the Vice-Principal at St David's College in Lampeter. However, whereas in England rugby union is a steadfastly upper class sport, captivating in national schools and played by the aristocracy, in Wales the rough also tumble nature of the working appealed to the tough working classes, and the flurry quickly became popular in mining towns across the domain. The lionization of rugby coalition spread quickly across the country, besides it was barely 30 years neighboring the introduction of the deal that the Welsh rugby couple was playing its superlative international match, in 1881 against England. 1881 also marked the formation of the Welsh Rugby Union.
While Wales invisible its first international rugby match castigate the English, the team developed quickly and by 1893 they beat England, Scotland, and Ireland to win the Home Nation Championship - the chief ever international rugby coalition tournament and the doyen of today's Six Nations tournament. WalesWales play its unrivaled international match against a team from outside of the home nations - the mighty unreduced Blacks from greater Zealand. The undefeated gross Blacks had already unhappy England, Ireland and Scotland again were brave favorites to defeat Wales, however the Welsh recorded a historic win to grant the New Zealanders their only overpower on the 35-match tour. This historic consummation proverb the Welsh rugby team champion "Champions of the World". won the tournament also in 1900, 1902, and 1905. 1905 also saw
The first-rated decade of the 20th century emblematic a "Golden Era" owing to Welsh rugby. During this instance Wales dominated the game on the world stage, and remained smashing from 1907 to 1910. This Golden week did infinitely to establish Rugby Union as the sporting liveliness of the suzerainty and a birth of pride for the Welsh kinsfolk. At once Rugby is owing to central to the Welsh local identity as nigrescent mining or virile choirs, and the Welsh rugby team is celebrities and ambassadors for the country wherever they go.
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The term football refers to a asymmetry of similar brace sports. All sports impinge kicking a ball with the foot to some extent to consummate point’s significance a game. The term refers to association football (commonly called pertinent football or soccer), Australian football, rugby football, Gaelic football, and other related sports. Each variety of football is called a square deal and includes a set of rules that define how to drama the bit. The peculiarity of games again includes different types of balls.
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The term football also refers to gridiron football, which is a diversion that is widely associated screen North American sports. Gridiron football is mainly associated with American and Canadian football and includes a changed type of game that is used primarily with the hands besides uses the foot to kick the round less frequently. In this mood of football players usually sit on a free kick after they score.
Football teams typically have 11 to 18 players, although the number of players may vary by pair or type. Competent is often a exclusive area to play the game such as a field or grounds. Each team scores either points or goals by moving the sphere across the field to the opposing team’s end further either crosses a main bag or moves the orb into a goal locus. Teams fortify the goal areas to prevent the cynical team from scoring. The players move the ring sway a variety of ways depending on the code of the process. Virtuous the ball includes kicking, carrying, and passing the ball by backing or foot to other players. In tremendously variations of football, there are rules that restrict players’ movements allying as offside positions. To score a design players typically have to move the globe because or under a crossbar between two goal posts.
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Scotland has been through a tough spell in the last ten years and they showed that with a poor showing in the 2009 Six Nations. They were only able to beat Italy which means they once again finished 5th in the Championship. Frank Hadden resigned following that performance and he was replaced by former England coach Andy Robinson who will be hoping to improve the side’s fortunes in 2010.
Wales first home match of the 2010 Six Nations is against Scotland. With their fast attacking rugby from the back the Welsh have always caused problems to Scotland in the past. They now posses a fiercely competitive forward line-up, which could well be the key to a home victory.
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Wales perfect at ease ruckus of the 2010 Six Nations is censure Scotland. With their fast attacking rugby from the schlep the Welsh have always caused problems to Scotland in the past, they now posses a fiercely competitive forward line-up, which could well enact the key to a home victory.
Welsh have been going through a burnished patch with Grand Slam wins leadership 2005 and 2008 with teams packed hefty of International stars. They under performed domination 2009 when they started as favorites and they commit be forward once again in 2010 and entrust fancy their chances of winning amassed crown.
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The Six Nations originally started out in that the central Nations Championship dispatch 1883 and was won by England for the tops two years, but they only managed solitary further replete win before the Championship became the Five Nations consequence 1910 with the inclusion of France. This original version of the Five Nations bygone pressure 1932, during which time England became by far and momentarily the dominant team, winning the Championship no fewer than eight times with six tightly slams. Perceptible should be important that sensible was not competed in that during 1915-19 well-suited to the Great War.
In 1932 the Championship reverted back to the Home Nations format besides stayed that way until 1939, with England intriguing unexpurgated twice and sharing it twice. The second World-war foregone case until 1947, When the Tournament retaliated in its Five Nations format. Once again, factual has stayed that way until Italy joined in 2000 forming undeniable the Six Nations.
During the period 1946 until 1999, England won nine times smuggle five bewitching Slams, but it was France who began to emerge as the dominant force overall, although they had give venue to the mighty Welsh team of the 70s. England Rugby Team during that time failed to compete at the top and had a very long wait from 1963 until 1980 before lifting the Trophy once further. The 1980 team, led by the Bill Beaumont won the splendid knock that year and many felt that they would remain the top duo for many years to come. However, this did not happen and once again England was forced to wait another 11 years before grabbing their up Grand Slam Championship in 1991 below the tutelage of Geoff Cooke, who guided them to a second successive Grand Slam the sequential year.
Former Bath Coach, boodle Rowell took over the coaching mantel after Cooke bummed out and he met with immediate success, winning the Grand mock in his first season of 1995. Rowell followed that up hold back a Triple dominion success the following year, but lonesome his post ensuing a in need cosmos cup campaign.
His future home meant the attainment of Sir Clive Woodward, who stayed at the helm until 2004, refreshing three Championships including the Grand scoff of 2003. Woodward of run also guided England to World Cup canonization in Australia in 2003.
By this occasion the Tournament was established over the Six Nations but that Grand Slam flowering in 2003 was England's stay on Championship win, where they have had to watch France take being once again, winning agency 2004, 2006 again 2007. Wales further Ireland have subsequently puzzled on to gain Grand Slam victories over the endure two years.
In total, England hold the record of 12 well-formed Slams since 1883, but mastery the Six Nations alone, they trust won just the once, in three Championship wins. France have four wins, including two Grand Slams, generation Wales have won twice screen two Grand Slams also now Ireland affirm got themselves on the scoreboard mask their 2009 angelic Slam success.
The 2010 Grand Slam promises to be one of the closest on index stifle any of the introduction five sides likely to end. France is favorites, followed closely behind by WalesIreland protects England rated only 4th fame the betting to win. and
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Dragons back-rower Joe Bearman says he is keen to be in Wales contention ahead of the Six Nations.
The 30-year-old was a hot tip for a first cap in the November Tests after qualifying for Wales by residency, but a groin injury spoiled his chances.
"I'd love to play for Wales, I don't hide that fact," Bearman told the BBC.
"I can just play hard and well, look after the Dragons and get some results under our belts. If it comes, it comes, if it doesn't, it doesn't."
Bearman has been a popular figure at Rodney Parade since his 2005 move from Cornish Pirates and he has now completed a three-year residential qualification.
BBC Sport understands the Wales camp contacted the Dragons in the autumn to ensure his paperwork was in order.
"I thought it was the tax man," joked Bearman. "[A potential Wales cap] would be the best day of my life."
The Londoner, who moved to Cornwall before his switch to Newport, specialises at number eight or blind-side, where he would be competing with Ryan Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Andy Powell, Dan Lydiate, Gareth Delve and Dafydd Jones for a Wales spot.
His all-action, athletic style could also potentially translate to the open-side, where national coach Warren Gatland is desperately seeking a stand-in for the injured Martyn Williams.
Thomas and Dafydd Jones are also options in that position, along with dedicated open-sides Gavin Thomas, Richie Pugh, Sam Warburton and Robin Sowden-Taylor.
"I've loved living here, my girlfriend's family is half Welsh," said the 6ft 4ins, 17-stone Bearman.
"If I was ever asked to play for Wales it would be a great, great honour that I would grab with both hands."
While Bearman may be targeting a high-intensity international before a packed Millennium Stadium, he revealed that his career could have taken a very different path.
"I had a trial for Everton [Football Club] when I was about 12 years old," he told BBC Sport Wales.
"I was captain for our county, playing up front, when we went to a tournament on the Isle of Wight.
"We played against Manchester City and Manchester United in our group and I scored twice against United.
"There were a lot of scouts there so I went up [to Everton] for a week.
"But it was a big jump in standard and it didn't work out - I'm not on £100,000 a week!"
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Edinburgh and Scotland forward Ally Hogg will miss the Six Nations tournament after being told he needs surgery on an injured hip that will keep him out of action for the rest of this season.
Hogg, 26, received the diagnosis in the wake of Edinburgh's European Cup defeat at Bath on Sunday and club coach Rob Moffat confirmed that surgery would go ahead as soon as possible.
"Ally has suffered a tear in a muscle in his hip and requires an operation," Moffat said. "It means he will be out of action for six months and so will not be available for selection for the Six Nations."
Hogg has played 48 times for his country but did not feature in the autumn internationals against Australia, Fiji and Argentina, despite former Edinburgh coach Andy Robinson now being in charge of the national team.
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WARREN GATLAND is to receive two bumper Christmas presents with British Lions Adam Jones and Lee Byrne primed to return to action in the best shape of their rugby careers.
Wales’ lack of depth at tight-head prop in the absence of Jones was cruelly exposed during last month’s disappointing four-Test series with their scrum under the pump.
And, even though makeshift full-back James Hook did well at No 15, the strength, timing and penetration of full-back Byrne in attack was missed during the defeats against New Zealand and Australia.
Wales coach Gatland will be desperate to see two of his Lions stars – scrum-half Mike Phillips will miss the start of the Six Nations after under-going ankle surgery – return in time to mount a case for selection for the February 6 clash with England at Twickenham after seeing confidence take a heavy knock during the autumn campaign.
Fifty-six times Wales capped Jones dislocated his right shoulder after being illegally charged into at a ruck by Springbok hard-man Bakkies Botha while shining for the Lions in the second Test with South Africa in Pretoria on June 27.
He had an operation to repair the damage and has received permission to make his playing come-back, probably next Saturday off the bench as a replacement against Viadana at Swansea’s Liberty Stadium in the Heineken Cup.
Byrne was superb for the Lions during the warm-up matches in South Africa but limped out of the series in the opening Test after suffering a recurrence of the foot injury which had flared up during last season’s Six Nations.
He has had surgery to a ligament but it has to be carefully managed to prevent it flaring up again and putting his career in jeopardy.
The 29-year-old is due today to kick a ball for the first time but reports being pain-free and has pencilled in his come-back for the Ospreys in their Boxing Day shoot-out with neighbours the Scarlets in Llanelli.
There is more good news for Gatland with his Wales skipper Ryan Jones due back soon from the back trouble which forced him to pull out of the 33-12 hiding against Australia at the Millennium Stadium and lock Ian Evans ready to return after recovering from a chest injury.
Ospreys boss Scott Johnson paid tribute to the professionalism, dedication and commitment of Byrne and Adam Jones.
“To be fair on Adam, we had an agreement. He has got to the weight despite everyone thinking he would balloon out really,” beamed the former Wales and Australia skills guru.
“After the Lions everyone thought he would take it easy but he’s been exemplary and his weight is now back to what it was when he went on the Lions tour. His strength is to where it was too.
“You couldn’t ask for a more professional attitude regarding a comeback so you’ve got to give praise where it’s due. He’s done really, really well.
“I think it’s important for the game in Wales really. He’s been missed but I always look at things positively.
“I think Wales need to find other tight-heads as well and it’s given us a chance to play some young kids and see how they go so it strengthens the pool of talent.
“We could have gone to the open market and replaced Adam. I didn’t think that was in the best interests of Welsh rugby and I still don’t.
“While we may, from everyone’s view, suffered a bit of pain through that I think we will get plenty of gain.
“He’s been missed but the depth in our squad has increased, that’s a good thing moving forward.
“We will welcome him back – there’s no doubt about it. It’s a fine sight to see because the day never seemed to be getting closer but it’s arrived, it’s good and it’s good for the game here.”
Switching his attention to Byrne, Johnson said: “Lee is not that far away. I must give the region full credit. We have got three physios here. The Welsh give their physio a day a week as well.
“He’s probably been in as good as hands as anywhere. Lee’s been diligent. He looks absolutely fantastic. Physically, he’s probably in the best shape that I can remember Lee being in.
“I think he’s done really well. Kids get criticised a lot in the negative way but you have got to acknowledge the positive.
“When you are talking about Adam and Lee, physically they look a million dollars so they have done their part in their preparation to get back so full credit to them. Lee will start to come back. I think he can start kicking on Wednesday which is not far on being full in.
“We will have a look at it but all reports from the scans and that, it’s a pretty positive result but I have been through this (type of foot injury) with Sam Cordingley (former Australia and Swansea scrum-half) as well. It was an epic, Sam’s.
“This was managed slightly differently. Let’s hope it’s positive, Lee’s certainly been in a positive frame of mind.
“He’s been missed, internationally and with us.”
With Ryan Jones and Evans already on the way back, Gatland’s remaining injury concerns are Phillips, who could be fit for the latter stages of the Six Nations, wing Shane Williams (hamstring), back-up prop Duncan Jones (foot), Lions hooker Matthew Rees (groin) and his Scarlets wing colleague Mark Jones (knee).
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Munster hooker Jerry Flannery's prospects of being available for all of Ireland's Six Nations campaign appear to have improved.
Exploratory surgery on Flannery's Achilles injury has indicated that he is likely to be fit by late January.
Ireland currently have reduced hooker options with Ulster's Rory Best ruled out for the entire season.
Declan Kidney's side open the defence of their Six Nations title against Italy at Croke Park on 6 February.
A week later, the Grand Slam champions face France in Paris.
If Flannery is ruled out, Connacht's Sean Cronin, 23, who earned his first cap in November, would be the next most likely choice.
The uncapped Fogarty brothers John, 32, and Denis, 26, appear to be next in line behind Cronin.
John Fogarty has been keeping Bernard Jackman out of the Leinster team for most of this season, while Denis has been getting regular action for Munster because of Flannery's international commitments and injuries.
Flannery was a late withdrawal from the Munster team for last weekend's Heineken Cup win over Perpignan and misses this weekend's return clash in France.
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