Three Is The Magic Number - Aviva Premiership Round 1 Review

Round 1... done! What a weekend of action, Premiership Rugby certainly arrived back in our lives with a bang delivering us with no less than 34 tries over the course of the 6 matches. For the first time in the 2014/15 Aviva Premiership season here is a full Out On The Full Round 1 Review;

(C) Claire Jones Red Hat Photo

Gloucester Rugby arrived at Franklin’s Gardens full of heart and ambition and eager to show what they could do. The home side were firmly focused on sending out a huge message of intent to the rest of the Aviva Premiership and they did just that. Much has been said about the Northampton Saints’ lack of signings however they silenced all of their critics  as their knowledge of each other shone through and they made rugby look effortless. In the individual battles highlighted pre-game; Hartley vs. Hibbard, Corbisiero vs. Afoa and Burrell vs. Twelvetress all of the Saints’ men all came out on top. Every single Saint from one to twenty three delivered however it was Myler and North that were the most electric of them all. After just four weeks together miracles weren’t expected from Gloucester however I expect that David Humphreys would have wanted them to have made a little more of an impact on the Champions. On a positive note James Hook’s quality shone through however on the whole it was a tough, tough night for Cherry and Whites.  Saints, well they were mighty, they looked fit and fresh and even sharper than they did in the Aviva Premiership Final on the 31st May. Final Score Northampton Saints 53 Gloucester Rugby 6 

Rugby returned to South West London in style with Saracens and Wasps opening the 2014 London Double Header. For the first and definitely not the last time this season I will say that it was a game of two halves.  In the opening forty Saracens looked every bit the Aviva Premiership finalists, their defensive line speed was lightening quick and they showcased a whole host of tricks. Wasps’ rugby made for slightly uncomfortable viewing, collectively they were trying that little bit too hard, they gave away needless penalties and didn’t finish anything off. It is fair to assume that Dai Young read the riot act at half time because Wasps looked like an altogether different team in the second. A try from the dynamic Nathan Hughes and two from Christian Wade ignited the game and swung the momentum in their favour. Saracens’ stayed cool and calm and their star winger David Strettle added a further try and made it a one point game. At 27-28 to Wasps the tension built as both sides felt that the game was theirs for the taking. Exactly like the last time that Saracens played on the Twickenham turf it went down to the TMO in the final minute. This time the decision swung in Saracens’ favour, Strettle became the hero of the hour. Wasps’ fight back was gallant and impressive however they’ll take little consolation from their losing bonus point and rue their slow opening 40 minutes. Final Score Saracens 34 Wasps 28

No sooner had the dust settled Twickenham was treated to its second game of the day between Harlequins and London Irish. Like Saracens before them Harlequins looked like a side confident in their own abilities and fresh after a summer of intense conditioning. In the first Danny Care and Mike Brown were sharp as ever and out wide Ugo Moyne reminded us all of his class before injury cut his game short. London Irish, in spite of a decent amount of possession, struggled to really penetrate through Harlequins defensive line. The Exiles picked up their game in the second whilst Harlequins expended a lot of energy trying to wrestle back momentum in their favour. In the end Harlequins had enough however it must be said that it wasn't the greatest game of rugby that I have ever seen in my life! The worst moment of the day for all at London Irish was the sight of Tom Homer limping off and Brian Smith confirmed that his full back has damaged ligaments in his knee. Harlequins' Director of Rugby Conor O'Shea was pragmatic about result when he said; "You win nothing first game, I’m very comfortable with that first half and I know what we have in the locker." Final Score Harlequins 20 London Irish 15

Image @RugbyPodcast

At the AJ Bell Stadium the rugby season kicked off in dramatic fashion however it was a difficult day for Sale Sharks' as their side suffered agony at the hands of Bath Rugby. Bath had a dream start and a dream ending to the fixture, with key tries in the first and final minutes of the game. Stuart Lancaster was a keen viewer from the stands and of the two tens George Ford certainly pushed his England cause a little more than his counterpart. Ford kicked everything that was asked of him and set up the two tries and with Freddie Burns also delivering a strong day at the office at Welford Road it will be a fascinating battle between the three of them over the course of the coming weeks and months. All in all it was a crushing loss for the home side compounded by injuries, one to their captain Dan Braid and the other winger Mark Cueto whilst Bath’s over-arching emotion will be one of relief. Now it is onwards and upwards for both sides as Bath host London Welsh at The Rec and Sale made the trip down to Kingsholm. Final Score Sale Sharks 20 Bath Rugby 29

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At Welford Road the Newcastle Falcons put up a fight against a Leicester Tigers side that was missing no less than 13 individuals due to injuries. Tom Croft was final man to drop out due to a shoulder strain picked up on Friday however they had enough in the tank to secure a bonus point victory regardless. As happened so many times last season the scoreline didn't do the Falcons' performance justice as they fronted up well. Once again they'll be frustrated, Dean Richards felt aggrieved with the run of the green from referee Luke Pearse however positives must be focused on and taken. Richard Cockerill was pleased with the fact that his side avoided their 'potential banana skin' and had nothing but praise for his new fly half Freddie Burns and his Fijian flyer Vereniki Goneva whose hat trick reminded us all why he was the RPA Players Player of the Year last season. On the whole it was job done for Cockers' men and encouraging for the Falcons.  Final score Leicester Tigers 36 Newcastle Falcons 17 

The final match of the weekend was at the Kassam Stadium as London Welsh hosted the Exeter Chiefs. After a long wait Welsh's Premiership campaign didn't start the way that they'd hoped that it would as the Exeter Chiefs arrived and quite frankly trampled all over them. Welsh's early intent was strong and had they converted a clear try scoring chance on 10 minutes things might have turned out differently. As it was the Chiefs fired up the field, scored and knocked all of the wind out of Welsh's sails. Thomas Waldrom almost joined the Premiership's elite hat tricking wingers as he crossed twice and three other individuals Dave Ewers, Henry Slade and Sam Hill all had what can only be described as a stormers. It was difficult and sobering day for Welsh, defensively they didn't cut the mustard, their line out misfired and their lack of ball meant that opportunities were few and far between. Welsh's big names; Weepu, Barkley, May and Molenaar were kept very quiet and for the second time during Round 1 it was difficult to watch. It is back to the training park for Justin Burnell and his side before they step onto the field at The Rec next Saturday whilst Exeter will be satisfied with their performance and look forward to welcoming the Leciester Tigers to Sandy Park. Final Score London Welsh 0 Exeter Chiefs 52 

So, there you have it the Aviva Premiership is up and running and I for one feel so much better. I'm sure that you all know what I mean when I say that a big piece in my life jigsaw has just slotted back into place and in just five days time we will do it all over again for Round 2.  


Northampton Saints Image Red Hat Photo - Claire Jones with all proceeds going directly to Restart the Rugby Player's Association Charity see the full set here

Marcos Ayerza's Testimonal Year

31 year old Marcos Ayerza arrived at Welford Road in the summer of 2006 and since then he has been at the very heart of the side’s success playing in 6 Premiership Finals and 2 Heineken Cup Finals. He is one of the club’s longest service members and constantly puts his body on the line, 193 appearances not out is an outstanding innings of professional rugby and this year it is time to mark such an achievement with Marcos’ Testimonial Year. Testimonial Years are a huge celebration of a player’s career and are organised by a dedicated committee of independent individuals separate to their club or country. Out On The Full is delighted to be working with Marcos and his committee to showcase what will be an action packed year of events and celebrations.

Marcos’ year will begin with a bang in early October (9th) with a stunning Launch Dinner that will be held at Welford Road. As a popular and longstanding member of the Tigers squad naturally Marcos will have his Leicester colleagues there for support and of course to share with us some cracking stories and insights about the main man himself. Tom Croft, Geoff Parling, Tom Youngs and Dan Cole are just a few of the confirmed guests and I expect that the guys are already discussing which stories will and won’t make the cut for the night!!! Also the evening will formally present the full calendar of events and introduce Marcos’ chosen charity beneficiaries; Hope Against Cancer, a Leicester based Cancer Research charity, The Matt Hampson Foundation and the Affinity Trust.  

After launching the year with a bang there are a number of other first class events that have already been confirmed for this year and next. In November there will be a start studded Captains Dinner with past and present Tigers captains all honouring Marcos. The guest speakers include Martin Corry, Louis Deacon, Geordan Murphy and the newly appointed Tigers’ Club Captain Ed Slater. This event sold out in just ten days however I’ve heard that there may be the capacity to increase numbers so do watch this space!

An event that has been popular for a number of years at Welford Road is Ladies Night and this year it will form an integral part of Marcos’ Testimonial Year. On Ladies Nights the entire Leicester squad act as Wine Waiters for the evening and I’ve been reliably informed that Geoff Parling and Jordan Crane have already volunteered to perform on the night. The theme is 'The Tigers Big Reunion' in the style of the ITV Show The Big Reunion and the date has been confirmed as Wednesday 3rd December. Ladies, tickets are a must and gentlemen I’m afraid this one is for the ladies only however I believe that you would be the best friend/boyfriend/husband in the world if you delivered surprise tickets for it! Just a thought!

The celebrations continue well into 2015 with dinners, luncheons and more and Out On The Full will be there every step of the way to deliver event previews and information so that you can get your diaries out and be part of what will be a fabulous year celebrating a true warrior of the Tigers' pack. Out On The Full will also be speaking to Marcos, his fellow Tigers and deliver all to you all of the action from the events. Over the years Marcos’ contribution to the Tigers has been phenomenal and personally cannot wait to be part of celebrating his superb rugby career to date.

All the information you need about the Launch Dinner is at http://matestimonial.com/  or emailing enquiries@matestimonial.com and Out On The Full will keep you fully informed of all Marcos’ events during the course of the coming weeks and months!

London Double Header - It Is Time To Film !

Sport creates magical memories, moments that you cherish for a lifetime and can look back on in years to come and remember the exact feelings and emotions that you felt. As fans we are always at the very heart of it and in the age of the digital camera, the smart phone and devices like the GoPro that means that we can capture these moments and so much more in their full glory. Our broadcasters and television crews do a phenomenal job at showcasing sport to the world however as fans we often capture those little moments that reveal the true intensity of emotion four rows back from the front or up in the gods looking down on proceedings. At the Aviva Premiership Launch a man we all know very well, Craig Doyle, introduced me to Rowan Devereux the COO of FanFootage.

As you all know I love creating content, Out On The Full stemmed from a love of rugby and the desire to share that with others. As well as documenting the sport in written form I take all the photos for Out On The Full and love capturing key moments on film. FanFootage ticks all the boxes for me as it enables the sharing of all of those  personal moments and creates something totally unique to mark the occasion.

As so often is the case on the field Leinster lead the way when it comes to FanFootage after successfully documenting their 2014 RaboDirect Pro 12 Semi Final against Ulster and Final against the Glasgow Warriors. 

However now it is time for the Aviva Premiership to shine. The team at Premiership Rugby are always looking to create bigger and better content and now FanFootage are a part of that. I’m sure that you saw the press release earlier urging you to share your footage from the London Double Header on Saturda to feature as part of the 2014 LDH Showcase. Naturally there is a small screening process to filter out any language that is too colourful in nature or slightly inappropriate scenes however I’m sure that won’t be a problem for you all! The videos enter  the FanFootage mixing pot and a few days later the final London Double Header showcase is launched. Easy! So on Saturday afternoon after you have enjoyed two games of superb rugby get uploading or use their app on the day and make sure that your memories of the day are showcased to all. As you can tell I think it is a superb idea and can't wait to get filming... watch out for the Out On The Full contributions, I always enjoy the pyrotechnics at the start and capturing of the crowd in full flow at try time, the pure elation of that moment is priceless.

Out On The Full Meets Nick Mullins

23 years ago a young man joined the BBC as a Sports Commentator, Nick Mullins, it was the year that Liz McColgan was crowned the BBC Sports Personality of the Year and the year that England won the Grand Slam in the Five Nations. I must admit that I was just 3 years old at the time and do not remember either however that I was a fact that I chose not to share with Nick as we sipped our coffee on a Monday afternoon in South West London.

As BT Sport’s Voice of Rugby, alongside fellow commentator Alastair Eykyn, Nick seamlessly leads us through nine months of Aviva Premiership action and next year he will guide us through the emotional journey of the Rugby World Cup on ITV. Nick, like all of the great commentators, is a part of our sporting history, his words and his voice frame the greatest sporting moments of all time, and I was privileged to spend the afternoon with him to discuss the art of commentary and gain a little insight into how one of the greats does it;

“One of the most important parts of what we do as commentators is to create the frame for the match and for people like Ben, Austin, Matt, Lawrence and Brian now, to come in with their big splashes of colour and bring it to life. Everybody adopts a different approach to commentary but I’m very much about the conversation. At ESPN, as summarisers/pundits/experts, Ben and Austin raised to bar to a height it had never been at before, I respect them and admire them enormously but as the commentator you have to be in charge. It is the commentator’s job is to provide that order and provide the structure for our experts to flourish in.”

The conversation and structure, as he puts it, that Nick brings to a match is a brilliant blend of the more formal information with what can only be described as pure golden gems. Like any true professional he makes his art sound beautifully simple;

"If at the end of the match you felt like you’ve been sitting behind us, or next to us and we’ve not annoyed you too much with our ramblings then we have probably done a good job. I’m very much the viewer and if Austin is getting on my nerves he almost certainly is getting on yours or if you want a member of the team to stop talking then it is up to me to tell them, you can’t tell him but I can, that is one of the privileges of the job.”

“All the time as a TV commentator I am aware that I'm a guest in your living room, sometimes an uninvited guest, sometimes people much rather that I said nothing at all for the duration of the match. You have to be so very careful on TV not to say too much, I’m of the belief that if you don’t have anything to add shut up!!”

Nick is acutely aware that the level of knowledge of a rugby fan today is higher than ever before and that translates into his preparation. In spite of being in the business for two decades his Dad still doesn’t think that he does a ‘proper job’ and asks him what he does during the week; 

"If I’ve got two matches at the weekend, I’ll go and see four teams train and talk to as many members of the club, players and coaches as I can. What I do is journalism; it is about asking the miniscule questions and finding out those details that your viewers don’t have time to find out because they are at work. I suspect that I have got something on every single player in the Premiership that you would only know if you have spoken to them in person and asked the right questions.”

It is asking those minuscule questions that has endeared Nick to the entire world of rugby, those that follow him on Twitter will read his insights and those that listen to his commentary hear them. It is why he knew that James Simpson-Daniel always ran with the ball in both hands because his PE teacher in Middlesbrough made them do laps of the pitch if they didn’t. He shared with me a gem that he hasn’t used yet but such is the generosity of Nick as a person, he said that I could share it regardless;

“Three or four years ago I found out from Toby Flood that he always played with a boot that was a size too small because when he was kicking he loved to have the feel of the boot around his foot. That made my week as a sports commentator that is just gold-dust.”

This season Nick and the rest of the BT Sport team will covering the European Competition alongside Sky Sports and it was interesting to be able to ask Nick about the two providers' relationship and rivalry;

“The great thing about BT and Sky, well certainly for me, is that some of my best mates work as commentators on Sky and we’ll all go out for beers together. The wonderful thing about that competition is that it makes the coverage of rugby better, because there is nothing like competition to get everyone raising their game. We want to be better than them and equally they want to be better than us. We are happy with our team and they are happy with theirs.”

“I hope that it offers some kind of choice to those who watch, I mean you couldn't confuse us. They tend to wear ties and we don't and I think that percolates down through the style and commentary. I suspect that if we were at school together we'd be the one's getting detentions and they'd be getting the gold stars. We are not really an apple for the teacher/gold star bunch but we are very happy with our detentions!!”

With the new domestic season just days away Nick and the BT Sport team are deep in preparation mode however like all of the players and clubs he can’t wait for it to finally start. 

For many years the late, great Bill McLaren was known as the ‘Voice of Rugby’, he was a huge influence on Nick and I’m sure that he would be the first to say that now his great friend is more than deserving of the title. 

Let The Rugby Commence - Aviva Premiership Round 1 Preview

Full Aviva Premiership Round 1 Team News --> Here

Happy New Season!! It is here, we have made it through the worst part of the year, the domestic off season and now real life Aviva Premiership Rugby is just a few days away. The pre-season fixtures gave us a taster of what's to come, an aperitif if you like, however they didn't quite replicate the real thing. Now, it is time for Round 1; 

There is only one way that we can appropriately begin the year and that is at the home of the current Aviva Premiership Champions, the Northampton Saints. Underneath the Friday Night Lights the atmosphere will be spine-tingling, the noise deafening and the rugby electric. The last time that these two met at Franklin’s Gardens in the Aviva Premiership was on the 1st March and the Northampton Saints ran out comfortable 39 – 13 winners. Now, as we all know a lot has changed at Gloucester Rugby over the past four months so I am going to take that result with a pinch of salt.  It will be a brutally physical game, up front the duals between Hartley and Hibbard and Afoa and Corbisiero, as long as they are all selected, will be colossal. Saints have the larger of the big ball carriers with Lawes, Wood and Manoa however Gloucester’s Ben Morgan will certainly be aiming to raise their games in order to impress their new management and indeed Stuart Lancaster. In the backs both sides scream class and any back from either side has the ability to single-handedly change the game. The Hook Laidlaw combination will be fascinating to watch whilst the Myler and Dickson pairing always delights.  Facing the Champions at home is a huge test for David Humphreys and his new side, the last time the Saints lost their opening fixture of the season was back in 2005 and Gloucester haven’t beaten won at Franklin’s Gardens since 2011. However times are changing at Gloucester and if they can gain a win on the road it will be one of the most dramatic starts to any Aviva Premiership season.

On Saturday afternoon the Sale Sharks kick off their campaign against Bath Rugby. The Sharks’ season last year surprised many however it did tail off towards the back end as they lost three of their last four Aviva Premiership fixtures however after a refreshing summer with some new faces in their ranks that losing streak isn't likely to continue. Bath Rugby are a side that aren’t afraid of playing away from home, indeed their Semi Final against Harlequins was their only away loss in 2014, bar the Amlin Challenge Cup Final. Exactly like Friday night’s game this will be one almighty match, Bath’s back row, even without the injured Matt Garvey, are ferocious and Sale also house a number of units in their ranks with Hines, Cobilas, Lund and of course captain Braid. My eyes again will be focused on the half backs; Cipriani and Cusiter versus Stringer and Ford, both should orchestrate proceedings with poise for their sides and the two talented fly halves are certain add individual breathtaking moments. It is a tough one to call, which is why I’m not going to!!!! Both have strong set pieces and exciting backlines and both have a huge desire to kick on and go one better than last season and that starts by gaining a win in Round 1.

In London Saracens and Wasps have the honour of opening the 2014 London Double Header at Twickenham. It is always a fantastic day that starts the year with a bang when thousands of rugby fans descend on HQ and enjoy 160 minutes of competitive rugby. Saracens have looked strong throughout their pre-season campaign and the vast majority of McCall's squad selected for the Double Header were part of the 23 that lost the final. Wasps are a side that have recruited extremely well over the summer, Gaskell and Miller have been outstanding already and with Christian Wade, Joe Simpson and Elliot Daly they have one of the quickest back lines in the entire Premiership. The clash of the back rows will be tremendous with Nathan Hughes, Billy Vuniola, a fit again Will Fraser and James Haskell on the pitch the rugby in the loose will be ferocious. On paper Saracens have more experience and firepower however Wasps should give their London rivals a huge run around and do have the potential to cause an upset on that beautiful Twickenham turf!

The Leicester Tigers' home Welford Road opens its doors for the first time to this season to the Newcastle Falcons and in the Midlands it will be the battle of the Tuilagi’s with one in each squad. Leicester’s dominance at Welford Road is mighty; they have been defeated just once at home in the Aviva Premiership since February 2013 and you expect Saturday’s game won’t be their second. That expectation isn’t disrespecting Dean Richards or his side in the slightest, I believe that they will be competitive and will showcase some great rugby during the course of the 80 minutes however the Tigers’ experience and manpower overrules them. For Tigers Burns' contribution will be extremely important and he must continue where he left off in New Zealand and of course Niki Goneva’s impact will be as prolific as ever, there is no question about that! For Newcastle the pace of Sinoti Sintoi, Noah Cato and their Tuilagi, should take their performance level up a notch from last year. Leicester’s injury list is much larger than they would like with Miles Benjamin, Gonzalo Camacho, Dan Cole, Scott Hamilton, Pablo Matera, Geoff Parling, Laurence Pearce, Michele Rizzo, Adam Thompstone and Brad Thorn all unavailable.If the Falcons do prevail at Welford Road it would, without a doubt, be the headline/shock of the rugby century...

The second of the Double Header fixtures is the more potent of the two London Derbies between Harlequins and London Irish; two sides that known each other very well and have traded personnel over the summer. London Irish don’t have the best record at Twickenham, with just one win in nine matches whereas Harlequins have won all of their past five visits. In fairness to both sides prior wins will matter little when it comes down to it on Saturday afternoon, instead it will be about controlling their emotions and imposing themselves on the game at hand. As always Harlequins’ England contingent will set all of our rugby pulses racing, Joe Marler’s side, that’s strange to type, is a vastly experienced and strong one. London Irish must not shy away from their opponents instead they must front up from minute one, believe in their own abilities and see where that takes them. I fully expect Yarde and Guest to both put in show stopping performances against their former clubs, however it will be a game that is won by the collective and not by individuals.

The final fixture of the weekend is at the Kassam Stadium where London Welsh welcome the Exeter Chiefs. Our Premiership new boys will have had a tough time waiting to start their Aviva Premiership Campaign however keeping their excitement and indeed nerves in check will be vital. Rob Baxter’s Chiefs arrive in Oxford off the back of a very strong pre-season campaign. During the summer they’ve focused heavily on closing out matches as opposed to letting them slip in the final twenty minutes and the proof will be in the Round 1 pudding. The Chiefs and Welsh both are hard working sides and on the pitch it will be a relentless battle of wills; Exeter have the greater level of Premiership experience however their injury list, like Leicester's, is slightly worrying already; Dean Mumm, Jack Nowell, Phil Dollman, Dave Lewis and Luke Cowan-Dickie. For London Welsh it is time to test themselves, they have expressed a desire to impose their own game plan on Exeter instead of simply reacting and that starts from the very first kick off and the very first touch of the ball. Their backline is an exciting one with Weepu and Barkley pulling the strings, May and Molenaar in the centre and Nick Scott, Seb Stegmann and Seb Jewell outside of them. It would be an almighty feat if Welsh could start the year with a win however Exeter will arrive all guns blazing and ready to show that they are streaks ahead of their old Championship rivals.

So there you have it, the full Aviva Premiership Round 1 Preview, as Round 1’s go it is pretty damn good isn’t it!!? Last year’s Aviva Premiership Competition was stupendous, it captivated us all from the very first whistle to the very last and I can guarantee you all that this year’s will be better. I, like you, am more than ready for the season to start, after weeks of talking it is time to stop and watch a spot of Aviva Premiership action... let the rugby commence!

Out On The Full Introduces; Everything 4 Rugby

If you have been keeping an eye on Twitter over the past three weeks then you are more than likely to have come across a series of blog posts from London Welsh’s Tom May. Tom has documented his life in rugby from the very first time he held a rugby ball, right through the course of his seventeen professional seasons to his present position as Centre and Captain of the Aviva Premiership side London Welsh. Tom’s blogs were hugely interesting pieces and they were posted to provide an insight into the reasons why he is launching his new venture Everything 4 Rugby with his business partner and current RC Toulon Captain Carl Hayman.

Everything 4 Rugby is designed to ignite the game of rugby from the grassroots upwards; it is a hub for all amateur clubs, players and supporters of our great game. Naturally in today’s world there is a huge focus on the elite competitions however this is an initiative that is getting to the heart of our game and working with the people that will one day become part of that elite.

The E4R hub is beautifully easy to use and free, individuals can sign up as players, supporters or a club can register as a whole. Once you are signed up E4R is the community heart of the grass roots game. The Club Pages are superb, every single club in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales has their own and the Social Walls collate together all of the club’s Social Media in one place; Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. It is a one stop shop for everything Club related, as heavy social media user I’m a big fan! I love it!

Viewpoint houses the latest news and interviews from individuals from every level of the game, The Store provides outstanding offers and the Tekkers Challenge is where you test yourself against the Challenge of the Week and post the results. Up now is the Crossbar Challenge, which Tom assures me is actually much easier than it looks, I’m yet to be convinced about that!!! Team Talk allows you to share your successes and articles from grassroots leagues around the country and finally the Performance and Coaching section ensure that the elite tricks of the trade reach the right people and all the training, nutrition and recovery advice is in one place. All in all it really is a one stop hub of information, media and enjoyment.

Tom and Carl are already developing the next element of Everything 4 Rugby; a membership scheme where Clubs, Players and Supporters gain an extra level of support. Everything that a Clubhouse needs to operate and function will be assisted with through connecting them with businesses and offers. Equally anything that supporters and players need will be provided too, to ensure that the game is developed at a rate of knots.

Everything 4 Rugby really does exactly what it says on the tin, it has everything that you could need as a lover and player of the game. The knowledge and expertise at the elite level is vast and Tom and Carl’s vision, and site, brings this to the grassroots level and ignites our game from its very heart. It is the culmination of years of knowledge and planning and is a fantastic new resource. Finally the most important bit of information that you need is the Everything 4 Rugby web address; http://everything4rugby.com/ enjoy!

BT Sport - Up and Running

Last night, Rugby Tonight kicked off the start of a bumper year for the BT Sport team, this season not only are they covering 69 Aviva Premiership matches, they will also be featuring European rugby for the first time and have over twenty more episodes of Rugby Tonight to film! It will be a relentless schedule however it is one that the team cannot wait to start as Craig Doyle shared with me;

"The more rugby the better as far as I'm concerned, this is the most fun I've had in 20 years of working in broadcasting. Last year was a great start but we want to up it again, the support from the audience has been amazing and we owe to them to make it even better"

After only one season Rugby Tonight has turned into a rugby institution and a must watch for all rugby fans across the country. From the very first show of the 2013/14 season to the very last the team of Craig, Ben, Austin, Martin, Lawrence, Sarra and Matt delivered us with hours of laughter, rugby insight and memorable moments. From episodes of Mr and Mrs with the guests to the Tour de Flats the team seamlessly combined together a little bit of humour and a lot of rugby expertise. Last night it was time to begin a term and as with every new term at school there was a 'new boy' and BT Sport's new boy was a well known face, fresh off the rugby field.

For those of you that viewed the show you will know that Rugby Tonight continued exactly where it left off; Austin was quickly reminded about his lack of a World Cup Winners medal and raised a few eyebrows with his choice of footwear whilst Craig and Sarra tried to keep the peace! Over the summer Memorabilia Wall has had a face lift and it received it's first and extremely special and poignant piece. The rugby shirt of the late serviceman James Walters, who was a member of the Army Air Corps was retired to the wall by his team mates and wife. His team were the evening's demonstration side and and the entire Rugby Tonight presenting team was extremely honoured that his shirt was being  given to the show. 

Naturally there was a lot of focus on the 'new boy', Mr Brian O'Driscoll. As one of the greatest rugby players of this generation Brian made rugby look effortless and he did exactly the same to live television broadcasting. It was very interesting to watch him during rehearsals; as with his rugby he was extremely diligent. He took it all in, listened to the team members and production crew and let them take the lead. Then, when it came to show time he came into his own and shone, the mark of a true professional. Brian was and is a natural in front of the camera; an outstanding addition to the team. 

All in all Rugby Tonight kicked off with a bang and next week the Smash-O-Meter returns! Currently it is being flown over from LA where it received some summer repair work and I'm sure that shortly after it arrives Wasps' Captain James Haskell will be a guest on the show to see if he can finally knock Dad, as he affectionately called Lawrence, off the top of the leader board. It was superb to be in the BT Sport studio to witness the start of the 2014/15 season and as Craig Doyle highlighted, like all of our Aviva Premiership sides, the BT Sport team will raise their game again this year and personally I cannot wait to see them do it. 

See all the Out On The Full Photos from the Studio --> Here

England Rugby - 12 Months On...

Today we were all delighted by the Rugby World Cup 2015 launch video that featured a number of familiar England Rugby faces and in just a few days time the tickets will go on sale for next year's tournament. Before England get there they have the 2014 QBE Internationals to tackle and today's video turned my thoughts to reflect on the development of our England Rugby side since the 2013 fixtures.

In a little under twelve months England have played 8 more First Team Test matches, they have scored 193 points and conceded 149 points. From the statistics alone you might deduce that it hasn't been a particularly significant year for England Rugby, however I’m sure you’ll agree with me when I say that it has.

Over the course of their 8 Test matches England have grown, they have built match on match, and come of age before our very eyes. England now play a patient style of rugby, one that is confident in its own abilities and does not force proceedings. Their pace and flair is greater than ever before but it is delivered at the right time instead of being constantly forced. Being under the cosh no longer phases Chris Robshaw and his men nor does a huge weight of expectation that they have on them to win. Lying underneath their calm and composed exterior there is a desire to prove themselves, a desire that is greater than ever before; every single member of the England set up knows the weight of expectation that is on them so close to a home Rugby World Cup, they feel it acutely and are getting used to carrying such a burden. This pressure is welcome and indeed necessary because it means that come the 18th September 2015 when they run out at Twickenham Stadium against Fiji they won’t suddenly be hit with a tidal wave of emotions and pressure because they will have shouldered this expectation for months already.

Over the past twelve months England’s depth of talent has deepened to a point where in every position there are at least two or in some cases even three viable options. For Stuart Lancaster and his team selection headaches are constant, and I’m sure welcomed. A Rugby World Cup is not won by fifteen players, it is won by a squad that is filled with talent, a squad that is pushing each other every step of the way and England now have that. The long term injuries to key men last season and the summer scheduling fiasco allowed others to step into the frame and push their causes. To a man they did so with conviction and class and the development of England’s talent pool over the past twelve months has been substantial.

The Summer Tour to New Zealand was the ultimate test of their maturity and like a teenager being sent away to university for the very first time there were a couple of hick ups and life lessons learned. Against the best in the world only constant and unrelenting pressure will suffice in order to succeed; eighty minute performances must be delivered, not sixty or fifty minutes. However their failure to win a test against the All Blacks should not mean that the entire year itself is also labelled in that manner, that would be overly harsh and unjust. England’s reaction to their losses spoke volumes, their standards are higher than ever before, their frank analysis of the results signal a new age in elite English rugby. It is an age where nothing but the most clinical and cut-throat performances are accepted and anything else is shunned. Indeed it is an age that reminds you of a certain famous England squad and their own unremitting quest to be the best in the world.

Twelve months, three hundred and sixty five days, is a long time in rugby and if England make the same amount of progression that they have done since this time last year then there is no reason why they won’t head into the World Cup confident and fully ready to take on the monumentous task at hand. For now the 2014 QBE Internationals are the focus and four from four is the desired outcome. New Zealand... South Africa... Samoa... Australia; a formidable task and another huge stepping stone in this England side's journey. 

Spotlight On - The Aviva Premiership

In anticipation of the 2014/15 Aviva Premiership Season the Out On The Full Spotlight has shone on each of our Aviva Premiership Clubs in turn, from our new entrants London Welsh to the reigning Aviva Premiership Champions the Northampton Saints. Just in case you have missed any below you have the full set of Out On The Full Spotlights for you to enjoy at your leisure;

 

 

 

 

 

 

I do hope that you enjoy the full set of Aviva Premiership Spotlights and the Aviva Premiership Round 1 Preview is on it's way shortly!

Spotlight On - Northampton Saints

2 trophies in the space of 8 days was nothing short of what the Northampton Saints deserved to complete a stellar 2013/14 season. From their Round 1 win over Exeter Chiefs at Franklin’s Gardens they romped to victory after victory in the domestic competition and in Europe they showed equal amounts of heart and determination. Belief and desire drove them to their nail-biting home Aviva Premiership Semi Final victory over the Leicester Tigers and from thereon in you felt that the Final was always Saints’ to lose.

After such an emphatic season Mallinder's men are now marked men, as Tom Wood knows only too well; “There is now a big target on our heads, we don’t have a God-given right to be able to do it again. We have got to earn it all over again. We did last year through sheer hard work and if we go out now with a bit of strut and aura, then that will be a good thing.”

Northampton Saints’ chairman Tony Hewitt’s philosophy is that ‘stability breeds success’ and that is certainly evident in the Saints’ behaviour going into the 2014/15 season. Summer Signings have been few and far between in fact Joel Hodgson is the only new arrival. Joel arrives from the Newcastle Falcons where he quietly went out his business and let his rugby do the talking. He is still young and has a lot to learn however under the tutelage of Stephen Myler and attack coach Alex King I expect him to flourish over the next few years at Saints. Alex Day and Tom Stephenson both graduate from the academy and that completes Saints’ transfer activity. Is it a worrying lack of activity? Absolutely not, in fact I would go as far to say it is inspired and here is why. There are men in the squad that will feel that they didn’t fully show what they could do last year; Alex Corbisero will want an injury free season to really put his mark on his ‘new’ club and even the emphatic George North feels that he could have had a greater impact. The challenge of retaining their title will inspire a team that is packed with talent and firepower; from 1 to 15 they have World Class individuals with a desire to prove to the rugby world that their 2013/14 season wasn’t just a one off.  

The beautiful thing about the Northampton Saints is the fact that they are such a complete side, up front they are powerful and can bulldoze the best packs in the Aviva Premiership. At the back they have beautiful runners that make rugby look so easy. If I were to name individuals I'd be here until next year's Aviva Premiership Final, their talent is that strong. Some are saying that they could be exposed during the International periods and they may be right however as last season showed their squad depth is deceptively strong and should see them through without too many hitches.

The Saints will be a formidable force once again, there is no doubt about the fact that they will open the 2014/15 Aviva Premiership Season with a bang at Franklin’s Gardens against a hugely pumped up Gloucester Rugby side. The intensity and fireworks during the match will set the tone for the entire Aviva Premiership and it will be sensational to watch. Jim Mallinder is a great Director of Rugby and in his hands he has one of the most talented squads in the competition. For the Northampton Saints retaining their Aviva Premiership title is the ultimate objective and it will be fascinating to see whether they can replicate their unforgettable year or even go one better and bag three trophies in 2015!!

Spotlight On - London Welsh

On Wednesday 4th June 2014 London Welsh secured promotion to the Aviva Premiership; their road to the top flight competition was long and ardouous and they had to fight tooth and nail to get there, but get there they did and their reward is a second bite at the Aviva Premiership cherry.

Having not spent too much time with the side I took the opportunity to visit their London home, Old Deer Park, in order to get to know our new recruits a little better. From the moment that I walked in what struck me the most was the absolute togetherness of the squad. It certainly wasn't something that was expecting to find from a side that recently acquired over twenty new players. The club was buzzing, it was filled with excitement and quite simply it was a great place to be.

London Welsh is what you would call a proper rugby club, it has old school values and is far from flashy. The Welsh way is 'to show an unrelenting commitment to the club, work extremely hard and do anything for London Welsh'. Those are the words of Club Captain Tom May, he and the rest of the senior team stated clearly that at Welsh they have absolutely no time for individuals that are looking for the limelight or for people with egos. Instead it is and always will be all about the rugby. 

Two years ago they fought the Premiership battle and lost, so a key question is are they better equipped this time? Club Chairman Bleddyn Phillips believes so due to a number of reasons; first they have enjoyed an extra month of preparation time and no distractions from any 'legal shenanigans' off the pitch. Second  he believes that they have a deeper squad in terms of skills and a stronger sense of spirit than before. Finally and maybe most importantly they know what to expect having competed in the Aviva Premiership once already. Full Back Seb Jewell remembers their last campaign and in his words it feels ‘massively different to last time’. Two years ago there was almost a sense of being a little star struck at the prospect of Aviva Premiership Rugby however this time around the side have a ‘full on, we mean business attitude’ and will not be bowing down to anyone. 

It would be remiss of me to not speak about Welsh’s new signings, of which they are many. The mix is vast, from an experienced All Black to those cherry picked from the Championship and below. Right now the true stars are unknown, you suspect the ‘funny little fella’ as Justin Burnell calls him; Piri Weepu, to shine however if he does, he will not be alone. After a great season at Harlequins there are high expectations for Tim Molenaar and of course former Gloucester man Olly Barkley. Their signings are designed to complement Welsh's existing players and with the talent and experience of individuals like Tom May, Matt Corker, Richard Thorpe, Seb Stegmann and Seb Jewell, Justin Burnell's squad is a strong one. 

Progression, being competitive and most of all doing themselves justice are critical objectives for all at London Welsh. In seven days time they will run out at the Kassam ready for the huge journey ahead of them. There isn't any doubt about the fact that this year will be a step up however with such a superb Head Coach at the helm in terms of his experience and character and one of the strongest cultures in the Aviva Premiership you cannot help but believe that London Welsh will achieve their objectives. If Aviva Premiership survival is the ultimate result of that then it will have been another tremendous and memorable season for all at the Club. 

See the Out On The Full Photos from the launch --> here