A roundup of today's other rugby news in brief
‘Daunted’ Kidney honoured at UL
THE MAN who masterminded Ireland’s first grand slam in 61 years described himself as daunted yesterday after being honoured for his contribution to Irish sport.
Ireland coach Declan Kidney was speaking at the University of Limerick, where he received an honorary doctorate in recognition of his success with the Munster and Ireland rugby teams.
“It’s a bit daunting to be put out in front of everybody, but to be representing the players and the backroom team that are associated with any rugby team, especially with Ireland and Munster, is a really humbling experience,” said the Corkman.
“Being honoured in Limerick, when you’re into rugby like I am is such a huge honour, because you know that the hub of the game has been played here over 100 years, and to be associated with all those legends that have played the game in the past is quite a privilege,” he continued.
Members of the Munster and Ireland rugby squads, including Lions captain Paul O’Connell, were among those who attended yesterday’s ceremony, where Kidney spoke of his team’s appetite for success in the coming season.
“I know these players and any time they put on an Irish jersey they will want to represent Ireland to the best of their ability and if we can keep doing that then the results will swing as they always do in sport.
“Some days it might go for us, we might get a few days where it won’t go for us, but it won’t be for the want of trying on any given day,” he said.
Kidney added: “Every team will come gunning for us this year. We’ve a different type of fixture list in that we play tri-nation teams four times this season as against once last season. We’ll be away to England and we’ll be away to France, so ( we face) bigger challenges again.
“But that’s what you want to be checked out on when you’re playing sport.
“You want to check out yourself against the best and we’ll be doing that in the coming season.”
Pay demands halt ARU trial match
THE AUSTRALIAN Rugby Union (ARU) have cancelled a trial match to decide the squad for their end-of-season tour of Japan and Britain after players demanded they be paid.
The ARU had organised a match between the Wallabies and an Australian Barbarians team in Sydney next week to give fringe players the chance to push for selection. However, the game was cancelled when the Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA) argued the players should be paid.
“The players’ attitude was if the game is being played for commercial gain, we want to be paid,” RUPA chief executive Tony Dempsey said.
The Wallabies are currently facing heavy criticism at home from both the media and former players after a poor season, in which they finished bottom of the Tri-Nations with just one win from six matches.
Brawlers suspended for three weeks
GLOUCESTER CAPTAIN Gareth Delve and London Irish backrow George Stowers have each been suspended for three weeks following their brawl at the Madejski Stadium.
The two players came to blows after Stowers’s dangerous tackle on Gloucester scrumhalf Dave Lewis in the final minute of London Irish’s 40-10 victory on September 13th.
Stowers received a two-week ban for the tackle and a further one week suspension for striking Delve, who had reacted to the challenge with a flurry of punches.
Both players are free to play again on October 12th but will miss the first round of Heineken Cup fixtures.
New format and new sponsor for Challenge Cup
THE EUROPEAN Challenge Cup begins its new format this season with its first title sponsor since 2004, writes Gerry Thornley. The ERC yesterday confirmed a three-year deal with Amlin, in which the leading FTSE-listed specialist insurer will become the new title partner of the competition.
There will be a compensatory route into the secondary competition from the Heineken Cup this season. While the two best runners-up from the premier competition will join the group winners in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup, the third, fourth and fifth best runners-up will go into the Challenge Cup knock-out stages.
There they will be joined by the five pool winners of the Amlin Challenge Cup, which will feature 20 teams from England, France, Ireland, Italy, Spain and Romania.
The three best runners-up in the Challenge Cup will no longer advance to the knock-out stages. This season’s winners of the Challenge Cup will not only gain automatic qualification for the 2010-’11 Heineken Cup, but will also earn an additional Heineken Cup spot for their country.
Thus, Connacht’s only chance of progressing to the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup will be to win their pool. However, were one of the other Irish provinces to finish as third, fourth or fifth best runners-up in the Heineken Cup and then win the Challenge Cup, it would probably ensure all four Irish provinces would play in the Heineken Cup next season.
Rugby fixtures
TODAY
Schools’ Under-18 Interprovincial: Connacht v Leinster, Dubarry Park (1:00).
TOMORROW
A Interprovincial: Ulster v Munster, Shaws Bridge (3.30).
FRIDAY
Magners League:Connacht v Ulster, Sportsground (8.00); Glasgow Warriors v Ospreys, Firhill Arena (7.05).
Under-19 clubs Interprovincial Championship:Ulster v Munster, Ravenhill (5.00). Under-20 Interprovincial Championship: Ulster v Munster, Ravenhill (7.30); Leinster v Connacht , at Donnybrook (7:30).
SATURDAY
Magners League:Edinburgh v Leinster, Murrayfield (6.30); Cardiff Blues v Scarlets, Cardiff City Stadium (6.30).
Youths under-18 club Interprovincial:Leinster v Munster, Donnybrook (1:00).
AIB Cup:First round (2.30): Sunday's Well v Malone, Musgrave Park; Rainey Old Boys v Old Crescent, Hatrick Park; Navan v Instonians, Balreask Old; Bective Rangers v Old Wesley, Donnybrook; Midleton v UCD, Towns Park; Nenagh Ormond v Portadown, New Ormond Park; County Carlow v Queen's University, Oak Park; Clonakilty v Bruff, Shannonvale; De La Salle Palmerston v Greystones, Kilternan; Highfield v Thomond, Woodleigh Park; Terenure v Connemara, Lakelands Park; Lansdowne v Ards, RDS; Barnhall v Suttonians, Parsonstown; Dublin University v Banbridge, College Park; Corinthians v Wanderers, Corinthian Park; Belfast Harlequins v Naas, Deramore Grounds.
Limerick Charity Cup Final:UL Bohemian v Young Munster, Thomond Park (2.30).
Senior Friendly:Garryowen v Buccaneers, Dooradoyle (2.30); Shannon v Galwegians, LIT (2.30).
SUNDAY
Magners League:Munster v Newport Gwent Dragons, Musgrave Park (5.05).
