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Saturday 4th Sept 2010

Bank of Ireland squad launch
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The Carlton Hotel was the venue on Tuesday night for the Bank of Ireland Connacht Rugby Squad Launch. The event was an opportunity for the Bank of Ireland to introduce their renewed sponsorship of Connacht Rugby, a sponsorship that has spanned 14 years, making it the longest running professional sponsorship in Irish sport. Donal Flynn, regional manager of Bank of Ireland west, spoke of his pride in the continued sponsorship. Connacht’s successful season last year, and the hype that surrounded the Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final against Toulon, were instrumental in determining the bank’s view.
Mayor of Galway, Michael Crowe took the opportunity to wish Eric Elwood well in his new role as Director of Coaching. He also urged the people of Galway to get out and support Connacht, a view that was echoed by Connacht Branch President, Jim Foy. This year marks the 125th season for Connacht and there is a lot of optimism that it will be a historic season. Connacht’s season gets underway this Saturday with the visit of the Newport Gwent Dragons to the Sportsground. Kick Off is 5.30pm and tickets can be purchased online via Ticketmaster, or in the Connacht Rugby office in the stadium.

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Aidan O'Halloran, Tom Forde and Donal Flynn of Bank of Ireland with some of Connacht Rugby's new signings

Photo (C) www.inpho.ie

 
Magners League Launch and Awards
Wednesday, 25 August 2010 10:27    Print E-mail

All phots (C) INPHO/James Crombie

Celtic Rugby launched the 2010/11 Magners League campagin with an awards ceremony in Cardiff this week. This year sees the introduction of two Italian sides to make it a 12 team competition accross four nations. Tommy Bowe scooped the Players' Player of the Year Award while Connachts' Michael Bradley picked up the Chairmans Award for outstanding service to rugby.

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Magners Players’ Player Award - Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
Tommy Bowe has scooped an historic hat-trick of awards – the Ospreys’ dynamic wing last night named as the winner of the Magners Players’ Player Award at the inaugural Magners League Awards ceremony staged at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.
It is the third honour bestowed on the Irish star by his peers following the professional players of both Ireland and Wales also naming the 26-year-old as their outstanding player of the 2009 / 2010 season.
"This is a great honour, especially as the votes have come from the other players in the Magners League,” said Bowe of his clean sweep of the individual honours board.
“It was a great season for the Ospreys, culminating in us winning the Grand Final against Leinster in Dublin, and this award rounds off the season very nicely indeed.
"But this has to close the door on the 2009 / 2010 season because the aim now is to go on and successfully defend our title. We know that is going to be a very hard thing to do - and that no team has been able to do that in the past.
"There is a ridiculous amount of young talent at the Ospreys and my first task is to try to break into the team before I can think about anything else. As well as Shane Williams and Nikki Walker, we've got Tom Prydie, Kristian Phillips, Eli Walker and Richard Fussell all challenging for the wing spots."
Bowe faced tough opposition from the Cardiff Blues duo of Xavier Rush and Ceri Sweeney, the league’s top try scorer Tim Visser, of Edinburgh, and Dragons wing Aled Brew.


Magners League Young Player of the Season - Tim Visser (Edinburgh)
Edinburgh’s Tim Visser made it a wing double when he was presented with the Magners League Young Player of the Season award.
Visser, born in Zeewolde, Holland, and an England Schoolboy international, scored a sensational 10 tries in 17 Magners League games – including seven in his last six tournament outings and a Murrayfield hat-trick against eventual champions the Ospreys.
The former Newcastle Falcons flyer finished at the head of the try-scoring charts to lift an award open to those players who were under 23, uncapped at the start of the season and who had played a minimum of 300 minutes in 2009 / 2010.
The other four candidates were forwards, with Leinster’s new Ireland prop Cian Healy being joined by the Scarlets’ Wales squad member Ken Owens and Glasgow Warriors’ Jon Welsh as front row candidates. New Edinburgh captain Roddy Grant was the other nominee.

Magners League Coach of the Season - Paul Turner (Newport Gwent Dragons)
Wales coach Warren Gatland presented Paul Turner with the Magners League Coach of the Season award.
Turner pipped Sean Lineen (Glasgow Warriors) to the title for turning the Dragons into one of the most competitive sides in the League. They lost only twice at home and also beat all four Play-Off sides at Rodney Parade.


Celtic Rugby Chairman’s Award - Michael Bradley (Connacht Rugby) MagnersLaunchBrads
Michael Bradley had 138 games as Head Coach of Connacht Rugby and after eight seasons in charge of the Irish province he has decided to move on. In that time he has made Galway one of the most difficult venues for any team to visit and has made Connacht a highly competitive side.
They beat Leinster last season and Munster the season before that while he has also groomed players like skipper John Muldoon and hooker Sean Cronin for Irish honours.


Magners League Try of the Season - Ken Owens (Scarlets)
Scarlets hooker Ken Owens managed what even wing stars Bowe and Visser failed to do – collect the Magners League Try of the Season award.
The all-action front row forward took the honour for his spectacular score against Leinster at the RDS in February,beating off efforts from Shane Horgan, James Hook, Jim Thompson and Aled Brew.
Owens stepped out of the shadow of Wales and Lions star Matthew Rees last season, featuring in all bar one of his side’s 18 Magners League ties. Having made just 12 starts in his previous three seasons, the 23-year-old began 13 games last time out. His form earned him a first senior Wales call up for the 2010 Six Nations.

Gilbert Golden Boot Award - Chris Paterson (Edinburgh)
Chris Paterson – one of the world game’s elite in winning a century of Test caps – is the 2009 / 2010 season’s supreme marksman and the winner of the Gilbert Golden Boot Award.
He had the remarkable success rate of 88.89% from his 45 kicks at goal on the way to scoring 115 points in just nine tournament appearances last season and hoisting his overall tournament tally to 640 points in 70 appearances.

Specsavers Fairplay Award - Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues received a cheque for £10,000 for being the side with the best disciplinary record in the Magners League. This will be spent on Youth Development at the club.


Magners League Dream Team Captain - Ali Kellock (Glasgow Warriors)
Ali Kellock, who led his side into the Play-Offs, where they lost away to the Ospreys, started 12 of the 18 regular season matches and led the Warriors to 10 wins and a draw in those games.
He took over the captaincy of Scotland on the tour to Argentina this summer and helped the Scottish national side to win their first away series as they beat the Pumas in back-to-back Tests.


Magners League Dream Team 2009 / 2010
Magners League champions the Ospreys supplied four players for the Magners League 2009 / 2010 Dream Team – including individual award winner Tommy Bowe.
He was joined by team-mates James Hook, Adam Jones and Jerry Collins with Brian O’Driscoll, Leo Cullen and Jamie Heaslip making the Dream Team line-up from beaten finalists Leinster.
Players from seven of the teams – the Ospreys, Leinster, Cardiff Blues, Edinburgh, Glasgow Warriors, Munster and the Scarlets – making the final 15.

15 Ben Blair (Cardiff Blues)
14 Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster)
12 James Hook (Ospreys)
11 Tim Visser (Edinburgh)
10 Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors)
9 Tomas O'Leary (Munster)
1 Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues)
2 Ken Owens (Scarlets)
3 Adam Jones (Ospreys)
4 Leo Cullen (Leinster)
5 Ali Kellock (Glasgow Warriors)
6 Jerry Collins (Ospreys)
7 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors)
8 Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)


MAGNERS LEAGUE SIGNS UP ITALIAN BROADCAST PARTNER


Celtic Rugby is pleased to announce that Italian Pay-DTT broadcaster, Dahlia TV, will be showing live Magners League games played in Italy next season.
Established in January 2009 taking over the Telecom Italia Media Pay-DTT business and the related football rights and bandwidth contracts, Dahlia TV is the second largest player in the Italian Pay-DTT market, their signal covering 90% of the Italian population.
The four year deal will see Dahlia TV broadcast at least 19 matches from the home of either Aironi Rugby or Benetton Rugby Treviso during the regular league stage of the tournament. They will also show any Play-Off games involving an Italian team as well as the Magners League Grand Final at the end of May.
“We strongly believe that the Magners League is a wonderful product”, said Fabrizio Grassi, CEO of Dahlia TV. “We aim to invest on it in order to make this product appealing and to make it stand out.
“Our idea is to promote the game in Italy, and enable our audience to watch all the matches by surrounding the game itself with the programme to enhance the strength of the league.
“As a demonstration of Dahlia’s interest for rugby, many other tournaments will be transmitted during the next season 2010/2011."
David Jordan, Tournament Director for the Magners League, added: “I am pleased to welcome Dahlia TV on board, their partnership now ensures that Magners League games will be shown live in all our territories.
“Rugby is fast establishing itself as a mainstream sport in Italy, and this agreement affords the opportunity to fans across the country to watch the progress of their own teams in their inaugural season in the Magners League.”


MAGNERS LEAGUE BROADCAST PARTNERS 2010 / 11


BBC ALBA
BBC ALBA will be the exclusive broadcaster for live Magners League rugby in Scotland for the next four years, continuing until the 2013/14 season. Their package will provide live coverage of at least eight Edinburgh or Glasgow Warriors home games per season.
BBC ALBA has teamed up with Irish and Welsh broadcasters to also provide live coverage of selected away matches for both sides. Coverage of home matches will be provided on Friday nights.
Commentary will be in Gaelic along with expert pitchside analysis and interviews in English.
BBC ALBA is available on Sky 168 and Freesat 110, with each rugby match being made available live and on 7-day catch-up via BBC iPlayer.
For further information on BBC ALBA visit www.bbcalba.co.uk.
BBC Cymru Wales

BBC Sport Wales provides comprehensive coverage of the Magners League in both Welsh and English across its services.
On BBC Two Wales fans can enjoy live games on Friday evenings in Scrum V Live, presented by Gareth Lewis with commentary from Gareth Charles and Jonathan Davies. Digital viewers can press the red button during games for extra commentaries including the Fan Scene with Rick O'Shea.
On Sunday evenings on BBC Two Wales the Scrum V team offers Magners League fans extensive highlights, previews and analysis on all the action. Fans can also catch up with all the latest rugby news on BBC Radio Wales' Scrum V Radio on Thursday evenings from 7.00pm.
Comprehensive coverage, including reports, updates and commentaries are carried during the year on both BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru.
BBC Two Wales is available in Wales on Freeview channel 2, digital satellite (Sky and Freesat) 102, and Virgin 102. Outside Wales BBC Two Wales is available on digital satellite channel 991.
BBC Radio Wales is available across Wales on 93.9-95.9, 103.7,103.9 FM and 882 MW (mid Wales 1125, Clwyd 657). The station is also available on Freeview 719 and digital satellite 0117.
BBC Radio Cymru is available in Wales on 92.4-96.1, 96.8, 103.5-105 FM and is also available on digital satellite 0154 and Freeview 720

BBC Northern Ireland
BBC Northern Ireland has secured the broadcasting rights for live coverage of Magners League rugby for the next four seasons and all Ulster's home matches, as well as those away to the other Irish provinces, will be screened live on BBC Two NI.
The rest of Ulster’s away matches will be available to watch live either via the red button or online via the BBC Sport NI website – www.bbc.co.uk/sportni - if they are being covered by our partner broadcasters in Scotland, Wales and Italy.
Coverage will be presented by Stephen Watson, with Jim Neilly and Ryan Constable in the commentary box.

RTE
RTÉ Television is set to broadcast up to 40 live Magners League games this season as part of its comprehensive rugby coverage. RTÉ Sport will be broadcasting alongside TG4, ensuring Irish audiences will be able to enjoy the Irish provinces in action every week.
RTÉ’s renowned rugby panel of Tom McGurk, George Hook, Brent Pope and Conor O’Shea will be joined by some new faces as part of the live coverage on RTÉ Two. Ryle Nugent, Tony Ward, George Hamilton, Ralph Keyes, Hugh Cahill and Donal Lenihan will provide the commentary.

RTÉ will also offer fans live streaming of matches on www.RTÉ.ie within the island of Ireland, a catch up service on the RTÉ Player and coverage on RTÉ Radio.

S4C
S4C is one of the UK’s premier sports broadcasters. The Channel’s flagship rugby show Y Clwb Rygbi has live coverage of the Magners League almost every week throughout the season.
Viewers can access English subtitles and English-language commentary of live Magners League games is available on the red button on Sky. The programmes are presented by one of the UK’s strongest rugby presentation teams.
The team includes presenters Gareth Roberts, Sarra Elgan and Arthur Emyr, commentators Huw Llywelyn Davies, Wyn Gruffydd, Lyn Davies and Cennydd Davies and analysts such as former internationals Gwyn Jones, Brynmor Williams, Derwyn Jones and Gareth Edwards.
S4C is available in Wales on Sky 104, Freeview 4, Virgin 167, Freesat 104. In England, Scotland and Northern Ireland it is available on Sky 134 and Freesat 120. Much of the coverage is also available to view on line, at www.s4c.co.uk/clic

TG4
TG4 will provide comprehensive coverage on each of the 22 Magners League weekends. Full match coverage and analysis each weekend will track the progress of the Irish provinces, home and away.
Match commentary will come from Gearóid Mac Donncha and Gary Mac Donncha, and there will be previews and full match coverage featuring all the latest enhancements , as well as half-time and post match analysis and interviews with players and coaches.
In addition to hosting live coverage from the grounds in Ireland, TG4’s rugby offering will also include the Irish provinces’ away matches.
TG4 is available nationwide on terrestrial television and on all other delivery platforms throughout Ireland (Channel 104 for UPC cable and Sky subscribers in the Republic) on channel 177 for Sky subscribers in Northern Ireland and on channel 877 for ntl: cable subscribers in Belfast.

DAHLIA TV
Launched in March, 2009, Dahlia TV is an Italian pay television network, available on digital terrestrial television, offering 12 thematic Widescreen channels. For more details go to www.dahliatv.it.

 

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 25 August 2010 14:56 )
 
Celtic Rugby announce new management structure
Wednesday, 25 August 2010 10:26    Print E-mail

Following a Board Meeting in Cardiff on Monday, 23 August, Celtic Rugby can reveal a new management structure and new independent chairman to build on the substantial success that it has achieved with the Magners League.

The former Scotland and British & Irish Lions international Andy Irvine, who is currently Chairman of the British & Irish Lions Committee and a former President of the Scottish Rugby Union, will become Celtic Rugby’s first independent Chairman.

He will take over on 1 September, in time for the launch of the 10th season of tournaments organised by Celtic Rugby two days later. He will replace John Hussey, of the Irish Rugby Union, who has acted as Celtic Rugby chairman for the past seven years.

“As the Magners League prepares to expand through the introduction of two Italian teams to join the 10 clubs from Ireland, Scotland and Wales, I am delighted the Celtic Rugby Board has recognised there is a growing need to support the Tournament’s expansion,” said the outgoing chairman, John Hussey.

“Last season saw the highly successful introduction of a Play-Off system and Grand Final to determine our champions and the changes agreed by the Board are aimed at continuing to shape the ever growing reputation of the Tournament.

”Having a man of the calibre of Andy Irvine to take over from me is a real statement of intent from the Celtic Rugby Board and all the changes we have agreed will help support the growth of the Magners League product and our 12 clubs.”

In addition to the appointment of Andy Irvine as a non-voting Chairman at the head of an eight-man Board of Directors, John Feehan has been appointed Chief Executive of Celtic Rugby following the re-structuring of the Magners League organisation.
This means the tournament will now be managed out of the same Dublin office in charge of both the RBS 6 Nations Championship and the British & Irish Lions. These major and bold initiatives were all approved at a Celtic Rugby Board Meeting held in Cardiff in the day.

Feehan, who is currently Chief Executive of both the 6 Nations and British & Irish Lions, will head up a team that will include 10 permanent members of staff, including the long-standing Tournament Director, David Jordan.

Celtic Rugby was born in 2001 when the then Celtic League was launched. There were nine Welsh, four Irish and two Scottish teams involved in the inaugural campaign and, as Celtic Rugby prepares to enter its 10th anniversary season, the Magners League will grow to 12 teams with the inclusion for the first time of two Italian franchises, Aironi Rugby and Benetton Treviso.

The tournament has taken huge strides both commercially and in on field quality since that first game between Bridgend and Pontypridd on 17 August, 2001. Last season the inaugural Magners League Grand Final at RDS, Dublin, between the Ospreys and Leinster was a sell-out occasion that featured 14 British & Irish Lions.

The vast improvement in the standard of both domestic and international rugby in the three Celtic countries since the Magners League was formed has led to Wales winning two Grand Slams, Ireland one and four major European titles, including three Heineken Cups, being won by teams from the tournament.

Now, in an effort to allow the competition to further grow and develop, the Board has put in place this new structure with the competition being run from the Irish capital.

The structure of the new organisation will include a Board of eight voting members (two from each participating Union) plus the CEO, Tournament Director and the Finance Director in a non-voting capacity. The Board will also have a non-voting Chairman to ensure that overall the well-being of the competition remains the primary focus.

“I consider that this latest episode in the Magners League’s history will reaffirm the importance of this competition in European rugby. I wish John and his team the very best of luck in further developing what I believe is already a dynamic and engaging tournament,” added Hussey.
New Celtic Rugby Chief Executive, John Feehan, declared: “It is my desire to do everything I can to see the Magners League competition reach its fullest potential. Not only do I believe that the competition can be pushed further, I think that my team and I are uniquely qualified and ideally situated to make that a reality.

“The taking on of the Magners League will undoubtedly pose a few challenges, but I know I speak for all of us in saying that we are ready to face them and are looking forward to getting involved with the game at club level.”

The 2010 /11 Magners League campaign kicks-off on Friday, 3 September with matches at Ravenhill between Ulster and reigning champions the Ospreys and Firhill Arena, where Glasgow Warriors will host Leinster.
 
Mike Forshaw – Ironman
Wednesday, 18 August 2010 11:42    Print E-mail

Connacht's new Defence Coach Mike Forshaw recently completed the UK Ironman, we caught up with him to ask him about the experience.

Hi Mike, you’ve just completed the UK Ironman, how long have you been training for this event and where was it on?
I started training in the middle of November ’09 in the very cold English weather, I had about 9 months of training which varied from bike and swim sessions and long run known as ‘brick sessions’ in the triathlon world! The Ironman event was held in Bolton, England on the 1st August this year.


Was it difficult to fit training around your work schedule?
Schedule is the key, I would usually train at 6am followed by an evening session so in reality I was working out for around 15 hours a week and I didn’t really have a problem with work in the middle!


Your experience as a professional player and coach must have helped with the preparation, was there much of a crossover?
I suppose my background helped me but it’s very hard mentally to get into the pool and swim 3 kilometres, 3-4 times a week I love the bike training and running as I am pretty strong in those areas.


How did you get on in the Ironman?
My time of 12hrs 38mis was pleasing as it was a real tough bike course, not helped by strong winds! My split times were Swim (2.5miles) 1hr 17mins, Bike (115miles) 6hrs 50mins & Run (Marathon 26.3miles) 4hrs 2mins and I came 68th in my category!


Would you do it again? What’s next?
I’m not planning anything at the moment, my focus is on work and helping Connacht be as successful as can be in the Magners’ League. I may at some point do another Ironman, probably abroad in a warmer climate!

EricBrianMike564

Mike Forshaw (right) pictured with Head Coach Eric and Brian Melrose  (C) INPHO Photography

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 18 August 2010 13:44 )
 
Connacht Rugby launch Meningitis Trust Open Day
Monday, 16 August 2010 16:59    Print E-mail

Connacht Rugby Open Day in aid of The Meningitis Trust

Connacht Rugby are holding an Open Day in aid of The Meningitis Trust ahead of their preseason clash with Saracens on Saturday August 21st, from 4.30-6.30pmMarcusRebeccaJoyce
Admission will be free for children and adults €10 prior to 5pm (including entry to the open day and ticket for the Connacht V Saracens game). €15 per adult after 5pm.

In return for the continued support from the local community  week in week Connacht Rugby are having a pre match Open Day in aid of the Meningitis Trust on Saturday August 21st from 4:30pm to 6:30pm, prior to the Connacht and Saracens match.

Connacht Rugby are helping The Meningitis Trust with their main goal of reaching every household in Ireland with a meningitis signs and symptoms card. All donations on the day will go to The Meningitis Trust which supports people who has been touched by meningitis and the Trust’s services and support are a lifeline to help them rebuild their lives. It also raises awareness of the signs and symptoms of meningitis and associated septicaemia.

There will be lots of entertainment including bouncing castles, face painting, obstacle courses for children as well as an opportunity to meet Connacht's three Irish internationals: captain John Muldoon, Gavin Duffy and Sean Cronin. Parents will also be given an opportunity to join in on the fun participating in games and kicking competitions for both mums and dads. There will also be plenty of refreshments provided and prizes.

For further information please on the Open Day contact Claire Mulcahy on 091 561568 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and for more information on the Meningitis Trust see www.meningitis-trust.ie or call 1800 523 196
Photo: Marcus & Rabecca Joyce at the launch of the Meningistis Trust Open Day launch
Last Updated ( Monday, 16 August 2010 17:09 )
 
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