Dirty Balls

Preview: Ospreys v Treviso

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:15:08 +0000

Lee Byrne will run out for his first start of the Magners League season after being named by the Ospreys for Friday’s clash with Treviso.

Newcastle v Wasps: Teams

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:11:40 +0000

Newcastle will be buoyed by the return of leading scorer Jimmy Gopperth for the visit of Wasps on Friday.

Japan target two World Cup wins

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:55:40 +0000

Japan coach John Kirwan has set his side a target of two group game victories at next year’s rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Flood to miss Tigers’ openers

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:55:02 +0000

Leicester fly-half Toby Flood will miss his side’s opening two Heineken Cup matches after being ruled out for two months with knee-ligament damage.

WRU defend Henson marketing campaign

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:45:47 +0000

Wales Rugby Union have defended their choice to use Gavin Henson to model their new kit – despite the controversial centre opting to star in the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.

…click on the headline to read the full story

Bath sweating on James’ results

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:27:03 +0000

Bath are bracing themselves for news fly-half Butch James could be facing a lengthy spell out with a shoulder injury.

Glasgow looking to rediscover Away form

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:21:03 +0000

Glasgow Warriors head coach, Sean Lineen, is hoping that his side can replicate the same kind of form on the road this season following their away record of four wins, three losses and two draws on the road to the inaugural Play-Offs last season.

Henson prefers rugby to dancing

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:14:08 +0000

Speaking ahead of his appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, Gavin Henson says he does not know why he is doing it.

Taylor trouble for Connacht

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:57:01 +0000

Ezra Taylor is in a race against time to be fit for Connacht’s opening Amlin Challenge Cup fixture against Italian side I Cavalieri Estra on October 9 after the back row was ruled out for around six weeks.

Connacht team to face Scarlets

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:50:48 +0000

Eric Elwood has named his squad that will travel to Wales to face the Scarlets.

Anxious wait for James

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:46:43 +0000

Bath are bracing themselves for news fly-half Butch James could be facing a lengthy spell out with a shoulder injury.

Hill – Time to play with confidence

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:30:00 +0000

Head Coach Richard Hill has urged his Worcester Warriors to shake off the shackles of the opening weeks of the season and play with freedom as they entertain Rotherham Titans in the RFU Championship at Sixways on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

World Cup on track despite quake

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:23:19 +0000

New Zealand mark a year until the start of the Rugby World Cup, less than a week after Christchurch was devastated by a 7.1-magnitude earthquake.

Evans hails Lineen

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:20:29 +0000

Glasgow centre Max Evans claims a half-time rollicking from coach Sean Lineen helped inspire the side to victory against Leinster.

Ford won’t be thrown in – Cockerill

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:06:42 +0000

Leicester boss Richard Cockerill insists he will resist the temptation to throw talented fly-half George Ford into the deep end.

Sinbad – "This weekend is about us"

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:05:01 +0000

Talking to the club website this week, Gloucester Rugby winger James Simpson-Daniel acknowledged that Leeds Carnegie will be a tough challenge this weekend but that the squad have been focussing internally in training.

Leicester Tigers media conference

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:57:17 +0000

Leicester Tigers will stage a media conference on Tuesday, September 14 to preview the Aviva Premiership Rugby fixture against London Wasps (to be played at Adams Park on Saturday, September 18, 3.05pm).

The World Cup countdown has begun!

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:53:41 +0000

The 2011 Rugby World Cup is exactly one year away today and excitement is building all over planet rugby, especially in New Zealand.

Cannon to kick off Wasps career at Kingston Park

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:47:59 +0000

London Wasps Director of Rugby Tony Hanks has today named his side to face Newcastle Falcons in the Aviva Premiership Rugby Round 2 clash at Kingston Park tomorrow evening.

Fit again Jones rediscovers confidence

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:45:26 +0000

Munster starlet Felix Jones is desperate to make up for lost time in this season’s Magners League after recovering from a career-threatening neck injury.

…click on the headline to read the full story

Challenge ahead for Bayonne

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:44:36 +0000

Bayonne coach Christian Gajan insists his side will have to raise their games if they are to maintain their early season form.

Gopperth back for Falcons

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:44:27 +0000

Newcastle Falcons welcome back Golden Boot winner Jimmy Gopperth for Friday night’s Aviva Premiership Rugby home opener, as they take on London Wasps at Kingston Park (kick-off 8pm).

O’Connor backing super Cooper

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:42:52 +0000

James O’Connor reckons that New Zealand’s plans to target Quade Cooper in Saturday’s clash in Sydney may come back to haunt them.

Catch the coach to Esher Rugby

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:30:00 +0000

Supporters are reminded that they have until this Saturday matchday to book their place on the coach to watch the RFU Championship clash between Warriors and league newcomers Esher Rugby on Saturday, September 18.

Tigers refuse to rush Ford

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:26:48 +0000

Leicester boss Richard Cockerill insists he will resist the temptation to throw talented fly-half George Ford into the deep end.

Bayonne’s credentials to be tested

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:57:51 +0000

Bayonne’s coach admits that the early season Top 14 leaders face a stern test of their credentials when they host champions Clermont on Friday.

Rennie admits fitness takes priority

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:27:30 +0000

Edinburgh flanker Ross Rennie is desperate to return to the Scotland squad this autumn – but admits his international ambitions must play second fiddle to his fitness fight.

…click on the headline to read the full story

Rennie admits fitness takes priority

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:27:30 +0000

Hook happy in midfield

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:17:38 +0000

James Hook insists he is happy continuing his role at centre despite talk of a move back to fly-half.

Tigers expect physical challenge, says Robinson

Dirty Balls — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:02:53 +0000

Leicester Tigers can expect a challenge up front when they take on Exeter Chiefs at Welford Road on Saturday (5.30pm), says Lee Robinson.