I was just wondering if anyone follows the English Premiership? I haven't seen a thread for it so i thought i'd start one. I looks like it's going to be another close year at the top. They are currently about 10 games in with Northampton Saints in the top spot. But they have Leicester Tigers, London Irish and Saracens close behind. Although London Wasps and Gloucester are hanging just outside the playoff positions in 5th and 6th respectively. Down the bottom though, poor Leeds are without a win, or a draw. http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/rugby/table.php
I see your a Wasps fan, Rob (and also to other Wasps fans) so i have some player news...... http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/news/24996.php Club Captain Rees, who came back from two shoulder injuries last season, sustained a further injury last month following the fixture against Glasgow. In the interest of Rees' short and long term health and his aspirations to continue to play at the highest level, it has been decided that he will undergo an operation. It is anticipated that Rees will require a six month recovery period and is therefore unlikely to return to play again this season. http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/news/24999.php Scrum half Joe Simpson has this week committed his long term future to London Wasps, signing a further three year deal that keeps him in black and gold until 2014.
Thanks for the updates! Devastating news about Rees, I hope he gets back to full strength for next year. Simpson is a good solid scrum half and should be a good leader in the race to make the playoffs. However, the Wasps real battle for it's future is off the field with the proposed new stadium. The Wasps need this new stadium built in order to compete with the likes of Leicester, Northampton, Bath, Sarries, Exeter etc. Who is your favorite rugby club?
Yeah Rees is a loss but as you said Simpson is a decent player and a good thing he has signed a new contract. Yeah your right if they get the new stadium i think they'll push on and be more consistent at the top. They are a big club so once they get things sorted out off the field they should be a team that Leicester etc will fear. And i'm a Saracens fan. I've always followed Premiership rugby but never really supported a team, until fairly recently. I've always quite liked Sarries and Harlequins though. But Sarries are my team. And England of course.
The sky is the limit for Sarries! This new stadium development in Barnett should be interesting and really good for the club. Wish I could go to the Wasps vs. Sarries Boxing Day match at Wembley Stadium, but I will be away for Christmas.
Saracens team news..... http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/news/25043.php Henson to start on the bench for Saracens vs. Wasps on boxing day, at Wembley stadium. Gavin Henson who signed for Sarries in October is set to make is debut in the London derby. If he does play it will be his first rugby action in nearly 20 months due to injury and apperances on reality TV shows. Many games around the country may not go ahead due to the cold weather but this game will be going ahead because of under soil heating. Gloucester vs. Northampton will not go ahead due to a frozen pitch and the match between Newcastle and Leeds has also been rescheduled and will take place on Monday 27th December.
Sale Sharks have released head coach Mike Brewer from his role http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/news/25047.php The head coach role will now be taken over by academy coach Pete Anglesea until the end of the season.
Wasps name side for trip to Wembley vs. Saracens http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/news/25054.php 15 Van Gisbergen 14 Varndell 13 Jacobs (c) 12 Kefu 11 Lemi 10 Walder 9 Simpson 1 Taulafo 2 Ward 3 Broster 4 Shaw 5 Cannon 6 Worsley 7 Betsen 8 Powell
I guess this a sign of the times for rugby. IMHO Brewer is a good coach and should have been given longer to prove himself.
http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2010-11/rugby/series/118327.html?template=pointstable Team Leicester Tigers 48 Saracens 42 Northampton Saints 38 Gloucester Rugby 36 London Irish 35 London Wasps 34 Harlequins 34 Bath Rugby 31 Exeter Chiefs 27 Sale Sharks 20 Newcastle Falcons 12 Leeds Carnegie 9
Team Leicester Tigers 56 Saracens 51 Gloucester Rugby 44 Bath Rugby 40 Northampton Saints 39 London Irish 39 Harlequins 39 London Wasps 34 Exeter Chiefs 32 Sale Sharks 21 Newcastle Falcons 16 Leeds Carnegie 9 How the Premiership works In the case of equality at any stage of the season, positions at that stage of the season shall be determined firstly by the number of wins achieved and then on the basis of match points differential. A club with a larger number of wins shall be placed higher than a club with the same number of league points but fewer wins. If clubs have equal league points and equal number of wins then a club with a larger difference between match points "for" and match points "against" shall be placed higher in the Premiership League than a club with a smaller difference between match points "for" and match points "against". Should two clubs have the same number of league points and the same match points difference, the club having scored more match points "for" shall be placed higher in the Premiership League than the club having the lesser number of match points "for". If the above does not establish different Premiership League positions then the club in the higher position shall be the club that has achieved the higher aggregate match points scored by it in the same season against the other club. If this still does not establish the position then the club who has won the most matches, excluding its first Premiership League match of the season, then its second Premiership League match and so on, until it can be established which the higher placed club is.
Leicester Tigers 57 Saracens 55 Gloucester Rugby 49 Bath Rugby 40 London Irish 39 Northampton Saints 39 Harlequins 39 London Wasps 38 Exeter Chiefs 36 Sale Sharks 22 Newcastle Falcons 20 Leeds Carnegie 13
http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2010-11/rugby/story/136267.html Saints end losing run Leeds Carnegie 13 - 23 Northampton Saints Northampton ended a run of six straight defeats by beating Leeds 23-13 at Headingley on Saturday afternoon. Stephen Myler scored 18 points as he grabbed a try and landed three penalties and two conversions. He also converted Paul Diggin's second-half try. Leeds could not rediscover the performance that led to a victory over London Irish last weekend as they could only manage two penalties from Adrian Jarvis and a late converted try from replacement Danny Paul
1 Leicester Tigers 57 2 Saracens 55 3 Gloucester Rugby 51 4 Northampton Saints 43 5 Bath Rugby 40 6 London Irish 39 7 Harlequins 39 8 London Wasps 38 9 Exeter Chiefs 36 10 Sale Sharks 24 11 Newcastle Falcons 20 12 Leeds Carnegie 13 Fri 25 Sale Sharks v Leeds Carnegie, Edgeley Park, Stockport 19:45 GMT, 19:45 local Sat 26 Harlequins v Gloucester Rugby, The Stoop, London 14:15 GMT, 14:15 local Sat 26 London Irish v Exeter Chiefs, Madejski Stadium, Reading 15:00 GMT, 15:00 local Sat 26 Bath Rugby v Leicester Tigers, Recreation Ground, Bath 16:30 GMT, 16:30 local Sun 27 Northampton Saints v London Wasps, Franklin's Gardens, Northampton 12:45 GMT, 13:45 local Sun 27 Saracens v Newcastle Falcons, Vicarage Road, Watford 14:00 GMT, 15:00 local
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12572_6815608,00.html Saracens No. 8 Ernst Joubert has been voted the Aviva Premiership Rugby Player of the Month for February. The South African forward was instrumental during the month as Sarries picked up three straight league wins to keep the pressure up on leaders Leicester. A panel made up of rugby media representatives from print, TV, radio and the photographers decided to give him the award. "It's a great achievement. Luckily the team has been playing very well and our wolf-pack have been doing the hard work and making it easier for a guy like me to perform well," Joubert said. Saracens first team coach Mark McCall added: "We've played well recently and picked up some good wins. I think we are getting to the level where we were last year and our defence has been superb. The guys have got faith in each other and the confidence is growing." The chair of the panel - Rugby World editor Paul Morgan - believes the performances of Joubert have been one of the main reasons behind Sarries' recent run of form. "Ernst is the engine room of the Saracens effort that has seen them move to the verge of qualifying for the Aviva Premiership Rugby play-offs. He seems to cover every blade of grass on the pitch and has made a huge contribution since arriving at the club." Joubert moved to Vicarage Road at the beginning of last season and quickly established himself as a key member of the first team
I think that this is the nail in the coffin for Leeds. http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2010-11/rugby/story/137075.html Sale heap pressure on Leeds ESPNscrum Staff March 25, 2011 Sale Sharks 15 - 12 Leeds Carnegie Half-time: 9 - 7 Pens: Hodgson 5 Tries: Fa'afili, Stephenson Cons: Jarvis Sale edged Leeds nearer the Aviva Premiership trap door with a 15-12 victory in their clash at Edgeley Park on Friday night. Fly-half Charlie Hodgson landed five penalties from as many attempts to settle a fraught encounter in which the visitors fully played their part. Leeds, who have spent the season rooted to the foot of the table, claimed well-worked tries from Henry Fa'afili and Michael Stephenson and were largely dominant up front in the opening half. However, Hodgson, who has dug Sale out of so many holes in his 11 years at Edgeley Park, converted three penalties before the break and another two after the restart to ease his side's own relegation fears. Sale will sorely miss Hodgson when he joins Saracens at the end of the season and how Leeds must wish they had a player with such unerring accuracy in their boots. Hodgson's opposite number Adrian Jarvis missed three penalties in the opening 40 minutes - two of which cruelly rebounded off a post - and then failed to convert Stephenson's late try. A 15th defeat from 17 matches means another great escape is surely beyond Back's men, although a losing bonus point at least offers a glimmer of hope. After Hodgson put Sale ahead in the third minute, Leeds quickly steadied themselves and fashioned an impressive response. After several phases deep inside the home side's 22, Leeds worked the ball from left to right and Daniel Browne, Phil Swainston and Scott Mathie were all involved in a sweeping move which culminated in Fa'afili crossing in the corner. Jarvis added a fine conversion and Leeds showed their mettle at the other end of the field moments later when Ben Cohen almost went over, only to be hauled into touch by Stephenson's fine cover tackle. It was exactly the kind of spirit needed from Leeds, although fortune deserted them in the 18th minute when a penalty from Jarvis rebounded off the post. Tensions mounted midway through the half as England hooker Steve Thompson and opposite number Neil Briggs squared up to one another, although no punches were exchanged. In the 24th minute, Hodgson landed a mammoth penalty from inside his own half and three minutes later Jarvis saw another penalty attempt hit the woodwork. Sale began to dominate territory and some stout defending from Leeds kept them at bay before Hodgson's third penalty in the 37th minute put the hosts 9-7 ahead at the break. Leeds centre Luther Burrell, poised to join Sale at the end of the season, went close three minutes after the restart before Hodgson's fourth penalty. Sale began to dominate and another fine penalty from Hodgson stretched their lead in the 55th minute. Leeds did enjoy a period of sustained pressure thereafter but struggled to make it pay as Sale defended stoutly. But with three minutes remaining Stephenson finished off a break in the left corner and, although Jarvis missed the conversion, Leeds deservedly went home with a losing bonus point.
http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2010-11/rugby/series/118327.html?template=results Mar 27, 2011 Northampton Saints 39 - 3 London Wasps Saracens 24 - 9 Newcastle Falcons Mar 26, 2011 Harlequins 53 - 15 Gloucester Rugby London Irish 39 - 17 Exeter Chiefs Bath Rugby 6 - 37 Leicester Tigers Mar 25, 2011 Sale Sharks 15 - 12 Leeds Carnegie Team Leicester Tigers 62 Saracens 59 Gloucester Rugby 49 Northampton Saints 48 London Irish 44 Harlequins 44 Bath Rugby 40 London Wasps 38 Exeter Chiefs 36 Sale Sharks 26 Newcastle Falcons 20 Leeds Carnegie 14 Apr 8, 2011 Sale Sharks v Gloucester Rugby
http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2010-11/rugby/series/118327.html?template=pointstable Leicester Tigers 66 Saracens 63 Gloucester Rugby 54 Northampton Saints 53 London Irish 48 Harlequins 45 Bath Rugby 40 London Wasps 38 Exeter Chiefs 37 Sale Sharks 26 Newcastle Falcons 20 Leeds Carnegie 18
http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2010-11/rugby/series/118327.html?template=results Apr 9, 2011 Bath Rugby 26 - 18 Exeter Chiefs Newcastle Falcons 29 - 30 Leeds Carnegie Apr 8, 2011 Sale Sharks 36 - 31 Gloucester Rugby Leicester Tigers 66 Saracens 63 Gloucester Rugby 55 Northampton Saints 53 London Irish 48 Harlequins 45 Bath Rugby 44 London Wasps 38 Exeter Chiefs 37 Sale Sharks 31 Leeds Carnegie 22 Newcastle Falcons 21 April 2011 Fri 15 Newcastle Falcons v Northampton Saints, Kingston Park, Newcastle 18:45 GMT, 19:45 local Sat 16 Bath Rugby v Harlequins, Recreation Ground, Bath 13:15 GMT, 14:15 local Sat 16 Exeter Chiefs v Saracens, Sandy Park 14:00 GMT, 15:00 local Sat 16 Leicester Tigers v Gloucester Rugby, Welford Road, Leicester 14:00 GMT, 15:00 local Sat 16 Sale Sharks v London Irish, Reebok Stadium, Bolton 16:30 GMT, 17:30 local Sun 17 London Wasps v Leeds Carnegie, Adams Park, Wycombe 14:00 GMT, 15:00 local
Apr 24, 2011 Saracens 35 - 12 Gloucester Rugby Leeds Carnegie 3 - 38 Harlequins Apr 23, 2011 London Irish 20 - 26 Northampton Saints London Wasps 10 - 43 Bath Rugby Apr 22, 2011 Sale Sharks 24 - 30 Exeter Chiefs Newcastle Falcons 13 - 24 Leicester Tigers Apr 19, 2011 Gloucester Rugby 27 - 15 Northampton Saints Apr 17, 2011 London Wasps 51 - 18 Leeds Carnegie Apr 16, 2011 Bath Rugby 19 - 15 Harlequins Exeter Chiefs 12 - 33 Saracens Leicester Tigers 41 - 41 Gloucester Rugby Sale Sharks 20 - 34 London Irish Apr 15, 2011 Newcastle Falcons 15 - 22
Leicester Tigers 73 Saracens 72 Gloucester Rugby 62 Northampton Saints 61 London Irish 54 Bath Rugby 53 Harlequins 51 London Wasps 43 Exeter Chiefs 41 Sale Sharks 32 Newcastle Falcons 22 Leeds Carnegie 22 April 2011 Sat 30 Newcastle Falcons v Bath Rugby, Kingston Park, Newcastle 15:00 GMT, 16:00 local