A rugby miscellany compiled by JOHN O'SULLIVAN
"There's a lot of disruption but we wanted to use this game to kick on for the Premiership. We put out the strongest available side and the scoreline was exactly what was intended."– London Irish head coach Toby Booth after the 37-20 win over Northampton yesterday.
Economic fall-out: IRFU return 700 tickets for Ireland clash against Italy in Rome
THE harsh economic climate in Ireland is certainly reflected in the numbers of supporters travelling to Rome to follow Declan Kidney’s Ireland team for their opening game in the Six Nations Championship against Italy at the Stadio Flaminio. The Irish invasion of Rome for the previous five Six Nations games against Italy at the picturesque stadium regularly exceeded the official allocation granted to the IRFU, making it almost akin to a home match.
However, for next Saturday’s encounter over 700 of the IRFU’s 5,500 ticket allocation have been returned. The Italian Federation are now seeking to sell those tickets to Italian supporters and hence the game is not yet a 32,000 sell-out.
The trip to Rome had captured the hearts and minds of Irish supporters but the economic situation has had an impact; at least for the time being.
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Leicester Tigers have confirmed they will take up their full allocation of 12,500 tickets for their Heineken Cup quarter-final clash with Leinster at the Aviva Stadium. The match, a repeat of the 2009 final, is likely to be a sell-out, with tickets for Leinster season-ticket holders scheduled to go on sale tomorrow at the 52,000-capacity arena.
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Newport Gwent Dragons coach Paul Turner has been suspended by the struggling Welsh region ahead of an investigation into disciplinary matters. The suspension occurred following a board meeting at Rodney Parade last Thursday and among the items believed to have been discussed was a recent altercation between Turner and a journalist. His assistant, Darren Edwards, has been put in temporary charge of the team.
A Dragons’ statement read: “Head coach Paul Turner has been relieved of his duties pending a hearing into disciplinary matters. As previously announced, the region’s LV= Cup games against Sale Sharks and the Scarlets will be led by the assistant coaching team . . .
“There will be no further comment on this issue until disciplinary proceedings have been completed.”
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ITALY are hopeful captain Sergio Parisse will be fit for Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Ireland despite suffering a dislocated finger. The number eight suffered the injury during Stade Francais’ Top 14 game with Castres last Thursday. Tests showed the injury to be less serious than originally expected.
“Fortunately the dislocation didn’t cause any nerve damage and we’re confident he will recover to play against Ireland in Rome,” said Italy team doctor Roberto Pozzoni.
Limerick plan: To break record for the haka
REPRESENTATIVES from sports clubs and organisations in the Limerick area turned out in force to attend the official launch of the city’s reign as European City of Sport for 2011.
Limerick is the first city in Ireland to be designated European City of Sport (2011), and over €5 million in revenue from new sporting events has already been secured for it as a result of its new-found official status.
During the launch event Shannon Development’s Eoghan Prendergast (a member of Garryowen RFC) outlined the preliminary calendar of events, among them four new ones secured by Shannon Development. They are the European Duathlon Championships (April 15th-17th), the World Powerlifting Championships (November 11th-19th), the Single Speed Cycling World Championships (August 26th-28th) and the EPC European Powerlifting Singlelift Championships (June 2nd-5th).
Among the more unusual events planned is a Guinness Book of Recordsworld record-breaking attempt for the haka with up to 3,500 participants taking part.
It will take place in front of City Hall in April to coincide with Munster’s Magners League game against Leinster. The current record for the haka is 3,268.
Campbell honour: Kyle to present Ireland Funds award
ON Friday week, two days before Ireland host France at the Aviva Stadium, the Ireland Funds organisation will honour former Old Belvedere, Leinster, Ireland and Lions outhalf Ollie Campbell with a special award. It will be presented to him by another Irish rugby icon, Jack Kyle.
Former Ireland fullback Hugo MacNeill, chairman of The Ireland Funds, which supports a broad range of charities pointed out: “Through events such as these worldwide and through the generosity of our growing number of donors we were able to award €10 million in grants to organisations over the past 12 months.”
The Worldwide Ireland Funds launched their Promising Ireland Campaign which pledges to raise $100 million (€73.5m) for Irish charities by 2013. Anyone wishing to attend the Ireland Funds’ annual rugby lunch at the Shelbourne Hotel can contact Nicki Lynch (01) 662-7878 or nlynch@irlfunds.org. They can also visit the website: www.irlfunds.org
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Gareth Steenson offered a flawless kicking display for the Exeter Chiefs as they romped to a 35-10 victory over a young Leicester Tigers side in the LV=Cup match at Sandy Park. The former Ireland underage international converted all five of Exeter’s tries. Former Ireland Under-21 captain Dave Gannon played in the secondrow, while fellow Irishmen Ruadhri Murphy, Eoghan Grace and Paul McKenzie started on the bench. The Tigers also included a player of Irish interest, Stephen Macauley, who played on the Clongowes Wood College team that won the Leinster Schools’ Senior Cup last year.
