Aviva Premiership Rugby, how we
all have missed it, in just nine days time the first of the 2014/15 matches
will kick off and today marked the formal end of the off-season as Twickenham
Stadium hosted the Aviva Premiership Season Launch. It was a whirlwind day for
all involved and the atmosphere at the launch was
one of joyous anticipation with every single person in attendance sensing that
this season is going to be something truly special and one that takes the Aviva
Premiership to another level.
Over the course of the 2013/14 season just under 8
million viewers watched the Aviva Premiership action on BT Sport and the broadcasting team’s
anchor, Craig Doyle, was at Twickenham to introduce this year's campaign. Craig was joined by the Chairman of Premiership Rugby Quentin Smith,
Northampton Saints’ Director of Rugby Jim Mallinder and London Welsh’s Head
Coach Justin Burnell for a top table press conference. Jim looked relaxed and
refreshed after the euphoria of last year’s win whilst Justin showed no signs
of fatigue following a busy summer of Premiership preparations. The most telling
comment from Mr Mallinder was regarding the intensity of the forthcoming
competition; "There aren’t going to be any easy matches this year, no team is
going to dare to put out a weakened side against anyone.’ Whilst Justin was
candid about his expectations for newcombers London Welsh; “We want to do ourselves proud. We are here to compete and
we’ll pick up the wins and points where we can.” Finally Craig also revealed that BT Sport will be announcing a number of new signings to boost their on
screen team over the coming weeks.
Following the Press Conference it
was time for the media session in which all of the Directors
of Rugby/Head Coaches and Captains were available for interviews. I took the opportunity to speak to a number
of the Captains to find out from the men on the ground exactly how they were
feeling. The overarching sentiment from all was summed up perfectly by Leicester's Geoff Parling when he said; “Pre-Season is... well pre-season!!! It has been
good but we just want to get on the pitch now and play some matches!!” Dean Mumm was the most
frustrated Captain as his rehab was preventing him from having a ‘proper
pre-season’. In spite of his personal frustration he was extremely pleased with how his side have acquitted themselves over
the summer and excited at their prospects. Exeter’s clear target, like others, is to turn their near losses into wins and Dean spoke to me their ambition to play playing ‘smarter rugby’this season in order to do so. George Skivington described the energy at London Irish as 'the highest it has ever been before' and Tom May said that London Welsh are ready to kick on from where they left off last season in the Championship and are ready for the challenge ahead.
It was a stunning launch event, the players and their management cannot wait to start the year and every single side has a point to prove. At this moment in time we have no idea which sides
will flourish and which will fall just short, in fact the only thing that we can be truly certain of is that 2014/15 Aviva Premiership Competition will make for compelling viewing.
See the Out On The Full Photos --> Here
