http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/?service=Rss http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/darcy-keen-to-stake-claim-on-centre-stage-1824836.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/darcy-keen-to-stake-claim-on-centre-stage-1824836.html <p> Gordon D'Arcy, the experienced centre, insists there is greater depth to Irish rugby, from provincial to national level, than ever before. </p> Club Rugby Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/anglowelsh-cup-roundup-watson-scores-on-bath-debut-1820878.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/anglowelsh-cup-roundup-watson-scores-on-bath-debut-1820878.html <p>The Springbok flanker Luke Watson made his debut for Bath in the Anglo-Welsh Cup yesterday, scoring a try in a 21-11 win over the Ospreys at the Recreation Ground.</p> Club Rugby Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/reject-foden-makes-point-to-england-1820879.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/reject-foden-makes-point-to-england-1820879.html ]]> <p>A couple of flashes of brilliance from Ben Foden, discarded by England for the second weekend running despite his sustained excellence at club level, helped settle this low-quality Anglo-Welsh contest Northampton's way.</p> Club Rugby Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/springboks-humbled-by-leicester-1816610.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/springboks-humbled-by-leicester-1816610.html ]]> <p>Peter Wheeler was not wearing a hat last night which will have come as a relief to Austin Healey who had promised that he would eat the Leicester chief executive's headgear if his former club won this game. Healey's gloomy prediction that Leicester would be "tonked" was not just another controversial comment from the "Liverpool Lip" but was based on the sensible premise that a depleted Tigers would stand little chance against the World Cup holders, albeit the Springboks' midweek dirt-trackers.</p> Club Rugby Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/vickery-operation-a-success-1816277.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/vickery-operation-a-success-1816277.html ]]> <p> England prop Phil Vickery will miss the start of the RBS 6 Nations despite undergoing successful neck surgery. </p> Club Rugby Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:39:16 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/international/gloucester-face-strong-australia-side-1813350.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/international/gloucester-face-strong-australia-side-1813350.html ]]> <p> Gloucester will face an Australia side boasting nine full internationals at Kingsholm tomorrow night. </p> International Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:26:48 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/forgotten-club-falcons-post-a-reminder-of-european-potential-1813230.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/forgotten-club-falcons-post-a-reminder-of-european-potential-1813230.html ]]> <p>A match that was rendered undistinguished by appallingly difficult conditions was nevertheless massively significant, according to Newcastle's director of rugby, Steve Bates.</p> Club Rugby Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/quins-battle-for-draw-in-latest-war-of-attrition-1813231.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/quins-battle-for-draw-in-latest-war-of-attrition-1813231.html <p>For anyone thinking this prolonged stint of Guinness Premiership mediocrity will soon pass, Toby Booth, the head coach of London Irish, has some bad news. "Actually, it looks like it's getting worse than getting better," he said after seeing his side dragged into another scrap against Harlequins at the Stoop.</p> Club Rugby Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/thomas-gets-his-kicks-as-leeds-ambush-wasps-1813233.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/thomas-gets-his-kicks-as-leeds-ambush-wasps-1813233.html ]]> <p>The last time Leeds won a Premiership match away from the broad acres, England were still world champions. And the last time they beat Wasps? Don't bother looking it up, because it has never previously happened. The Yorkshiremen made a little history for themselves at Adams Park yesterday afternoon, on the day the Londoners confirmed plans to shift their St George's Day fixture against Bath to Twickenham in the hope of attracting an 80,000 gate. The way they played here, they might just about fill the phone box outside.</p> Club Rugby Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/venter-gives-saracens-fear-factor-1813235.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/venter-gives-saracens-fear-factor-1813235.html ]]> <p>Brendan Venter has always been for real – much too real for comfort, according to the midfield opponents he routinely sliced up during his days as one of the more implacable Springbok centres in living memory – but the same has not always been said of Saracens, the club he has guided to the top of the Guinness Premiership in the few short months since the most recent of the north London club's many managerial upheavals. As one member of their staff said at the weekend: "It used to be the case that when the going got tough, we didn't." And now? "Now," he replied, "it's very different."</p> Club Rugby Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/cockerill-not-crowing-about-tuqiri-1813232.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/cockerill-not-crowing-about-tuqiri-1813232.html <p>Richard Cockerill made a brave attempt to throw the media off the scent of the main story at Welford Road on Saturday evening, but the Leicester head coach was fooling no one.</p> Club Rugby Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/saracens-boys-from-the-high-veld-give-bath-the-lowdown-1812845.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/saracens-boys-from-the-high-veld-give-bath-the-lowdown-1812845.html ]]> <p>After years of accusations that they were under-achieving, Saracens are now being castigated for reaching the top of the Premiership with an unattractive style of play. They just can't win – unless you count the seven victories in a spin which have taken them to the summit.</p> Club Rugby Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/wrecking-ball-armitage-has-a-hand-in-exiles-stalemate-1812846.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/wrecking-ball-armitage-has-a-hand-in-exiles-stalemate-1812846.html <p>London Irish have started to make a habit of winning ugly as their quest for an elusive Guinness Premiership title heads into the winter, but their gritty progress was stalled yesterday by the stray hand of Steffon Armitage.</p> Club Rugby Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/allen-seals-tigers-win-over-workaday-saints-1812847.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/allen-seals-tigers-win-over-workaday-saints-1812847.html <p>The former Australia wing Lote Tuqiri is about to reinforce Leicester's battered and depleted squad. Though Leicester officials declined to confirm Tuqiri's capture last night, news that he had opted for a move to Welford Road on a short-term contract rather than London Irish dribbled out of Australia.</p> Club Rugby Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/tindall-injury-increases-pain-for-johnson-and-gloucester-1812452.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/tindall-injury-increases-pain-for-johnson-and-gloucester-1812452.html <p> Anybody in the same room, no make that the same county, as Martin Johnson last night would have been best off scarpering sharpish to avoid what must have been an almighty vent at the injury misfortune that has again struck England. </p> Club Rugby Sat, 31 Oct 2009 03:47:27 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/england-pull-rank-on-saints-to-keep-foden-safely-under-wraps-1812157.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/england-pull-rank-on-saints-to-keep-foden-safely-under-wraps-1812157.html <p> <b>Leicester v Northampton</b> </p> <p> Northampton have flexed their militant muscles in the direction of the international game on more than one occasion in the professional era, most recently when they prevented their prop Euan Murray from attending a British and Irish Lions get-together last May. </p> Club Rugby Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/gloucester-bid-to-end-woe-at-sale-1811898.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/gloucester-bid-to-end-woe-at-sale-1811898.html ]]> <p> Gloucester boss Bryan Redpath insists his team cannot carry the baggage of a crushing home defeat when they resume Guinness Premiership business tonight. </p> Club Rugby Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:39:10 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/tindall-embarrassed-by-gloucester-flops-1809467.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/tindall-embarrassed-by-gloucester-flops-1809467.html <p>He may have been one of the many injured Gloucester players who missed the game, but the England centre Mike Tindall certainly didn't miss the point in the latest embarrassing defeat for his side.</p> Club Rugby Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/lamb-stars-as-irish-put-leicester-in-a-stew-1809468.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/lamb-stars-as-irish-put-leicester-in-a-stew-1809468.html ]]> <p>"And another one... and another one gone..." You could almost hear the bass line from John Deacon as poor Julian White became the latest coal-face operative to bite the dust on the England selection front in Berkshire on Saturday. </p> Club Rugby Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/saracens-stay-in-hunt-for-magnificent-seven-1809470.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/saracens-stay-in-hunt-for-magnificent-seven-1809470.html ]]> <p>England captain Steve Borthwick reported unscathed for squad duty last night, having led Saracens back to the top of the Guinness Premiership with a hard-fought win over Leeds.</p> Club Rugby Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/saints-outgun-sharks-as-geraghty-presses-claim-1809469.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/saints-outgun-sharks-as-geraghty-presses-claim-1809469.html ]]> <p>There is an elephant in the room with all the talk of England picking Shane Geraghty at inside centre against Australia on Saturday week: the Northampton Saint who joined from London Irish in the summer has played all but one of his club matches this season at fly-half.</p> Club Rugby Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/quins-dig-deep-for-victory-but-pay-price-with-easter-injury-1809471.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/quins-dig-deep-for-victory-but-pay-price-with-easter-injury-1809471.html <p>Harlequins secured a second Premiership win of the season at Sixways on Saturday but their success came at a price as they lost their influential No 8 Nick Easter after little more than half an hour with a calf injury. </p> Club Rugby Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/van-gisbergen-helps-wasps-take-gloucester-apart-1809034.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/van-gisbergen-helps-wasps-take-gloucester-apart-1809034.html <p>A fourth defeat in five Premiership matches does not augur well for Gloucester, especially when you realise that Australia are their next visitors. A few charges from Lesley Vainikolo and Akapusi Qera apart, there was little that raised a cheer in the Shed. Kingsholm used to be a bear pit, but these days the home of the Cherry and Whites is a long way from its fearsome past.</p> Club Rugby Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/black-day-for-red-rose-as-white-deepens-injury-blues-1809035.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/black-day-for-red-rose-as-white-deepens-injury-blues-1809035.html ]]> <p>So another one bites the dust. First Andrew Sheridan. Then Phil Vickery. Now Julian White. At this rate, England will be propping up their scrum on beer crates when they face Australia on Saturday week.</p> Club Rugby Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/guinness-premiership-roundup-falcons-plunge-bath-into-hot-water-at-bottom-1809036.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/guinness-premiership-roundup-falcons-plunge-bath-into-hot-water-at-bottom-1809036.html <p>A slow start to the season became a bad one for Bath when they lost 27-16 at home to Newcastle yesterday. After one win in six Guinness Premiership games – as well as two defeats in the Heineken Cup, by the by – Steve Meehan's team have fallen to 11th in the table.</p> Club Rugby Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/geraghty-puts-cautious-case-for-place-at-the-top-table-1809037.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/geraghty-puts-cautious-case-for-place-at-the-top-table-1809037.html ]]> <p>Two eyeballs-out Heineken Cup ties, against Munster and Perpignan, in the past fortnight appeared to have taken some of the oomph out of Northampton and there were few dissenting voices from the home supporters when Shane Geraghty, the hot tip to receive an England call-up tomorrow, was taken off with more than a quarter of this match to go. There had, indeed, been plenty of groans when Geraghty, possessor of gifts most can only dream of when the ball is in his hands, was kicking high and often. You pays your money...</p> Club Rugby Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/irish-bring-back-armitage-for-champions-visit-1808247.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/irish-bring-back-armitage-for-champions-visit-1808247.html <p> <b>London Irish v Leicester </b> </p> <p> The England flanker Steffon Armitage is one of five changes made by London Irish for the game with Guinness Premiership champions Leicester this afternoon. </p> Club Rugby Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/saracens-hit-by-ninemonth-owen-injury-1807883.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/saracens-hit-by-ninemonth-owen-injury-1807883.html <p> Saracens and Wales back row Michael Owen has been ruled out for the rest of the season with knee ligament damage. </p> Club Rugby Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:48:37 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/meehan-expects-bath-improvement-1807882.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/meehan-expects-bath-improvement-1807882.html ]]> <p> Steve Meehan is confident Bath's season will be "up and running" following a quickfire return to Guinness Premiership action. </p> Club Rugby Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:47:20 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/jennings-ban-for-gouging-upheld-1807449.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/jennings-ban-for-gouging-upheld-1807449.html ]]> <p>The Ireland flanker Shane Jennings yesterday lost his appeal against a 12-week suspension for gouging. Jennings was handed the suspension for "making contact with the eye area" of Nick Kennedy in Leinster's 12-9 Heineken Cup defeat to London Irish earlier this month </p> Club Rugby Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/jennings-loses-gouging-appeal-1807312.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/jennings-loses-gouging-appeal-1807312.html ]]> <p> Ireland flanker Shane Jennings today lost his appeal against a 12-week suspension for gouging. </p> Club Rugby Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:32:26 +0100