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 Connacht’s legendary flanker Ray Ofisa has been selected for the Samoan National training squad for the World Cup. The 31 year old openside, who made Hugh Farrelly’s Overseas XV earlier this year, joined Connacht in 2006 and has amassed 91 caps for the Province in that time. Known for his aggressive ball carrying and uncompromising attitude in defence Ofisa, who joined Connacht from North Otago, will join his brother and former Connacht player Ofisa Trevaranius and Ezra Taylor in the squad that will begin it’s World Cup training schedule shortly.
The rest of the Samoan squad bears striking similarities to the teams that visited The Sportsground last November and everyone at Connacht Rugby wishes them the very best of luck when the World Cup kicks off this Autumn.
Full Samoan World Cup training squad:
Hookers: Mahonri Schwalger, Tii Paulo, Mikaele Tuuu,Steve Fualau, and Ole Avei.
Loosehead Props: Sakaria Taulafo,Simon Lemalu, Kas Lealamanua, Logovii Mulipola.
Tighthead Props:Census Johnston, Anthony Pereise,Naama Leleimalefaga, James Johnston.
Locks: Kane Thompson, Filipo Levi, Daniel Leo, Joe Tekori, Jonathan Faamatuainu.
Openside Flanker: Ray Ofisa, Manaia Salave’a, Ofisa Trevaranius.
Blindside Flanker :Maurie Faasavalu, Ezra Taylor, Tasina Tuifua
No 8:- Georger Stowers, Henry Tuilagi,Alafoti Faosiliva
Halfback: Kahn Fotualii, Junior Poluleuligaga, Brenton Helleur, Uale Ma’I, Thomas Tusitala.
1st 5/8 – Tasesa Lavea, Tusi Pisi, Faatonu Fili, Roger Warren
Midfield – Seilala Maposua, George Pisi, Johnnu Leota, Eliota Sapolu, Fautua Otto,AneteleaTuilagi, Taputoa Rea, Herman Porter, Timoteo Iosua, Christopher Victor Slade.
Wings: Alesana Tuilagi, Sailosi Tagicakibau, David Lemi, Sinoti Sinoti, Alapati Leiua
Fullback: Paul Williams, Ahsee Tuala, Apoua Stewart.
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TG4 SECURES HEINEKEN CUP AND AMLIN CHALLENGE CUP HIGHLIGHTS
The Irish language television channel, TG4, has agreed a new three-year deal with Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup tournament organisers, ERC, to broadcast highlights of European club rugby’s two premier competitions.
TG4’s exclusive highlights coverage in Ireland will kick off next November when the 2011/12 Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup season gets under way.
ERC’s tournaments are the latest addition to TG4’s expanding rugby schedule which already includes the RaboDirect Pro 12 and deferred coverage of this Autumn’s Rugby World Cup.
The station, which pioneered television coverage of schools rugby in Ireland, also has an extensive portfolio of Gaelic games and other live sports, including the National Hurling and Football Leagues, the All Ireland Under 21 Hurling and Football championships, the Club Championships in Hurling and Gaelic Football, the All Ireland Ladies Football championship as well as global brands such as the upcoming Wimbledon tennis championships, cycling’s Tour de France and Aussie Rules Football.
Pól Ó Gallchóir, Director-General of TG4, said: “We are delighted to have agreed a three-year deal with ERC for coverage of both the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup. The Heineken Cup is the most prestigious European club rugby competition, and with all four Irish provinces in the tournament for the first time next season, this is a major opportunity for TG4 to further develop our rugby coverage.”
Derek McGrath, ERC Chief Executive, said: “As the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup go from strength to strength, we are pleased to be entering into a new relationship in the Irish broadcast market.”
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RABODIRECT ANNOUNCED AS THE TITLE SPONSOR OF NEW RABODIRECT PRO12
It was announced today that RaboDirect, the online banking arm of Rabobank, will become the new sponsor of Rugby’s premier professional club competition in Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. From the start of the new rugby season, the competition formerly known as Magners League will become the RaboDirect PRO12.
 Commenting on the new four year sponsorship John Feehan, Chief Executive of RaboDirect PRO12 said:
“We are delighted to welcome RaboDirect as our new title sponsor alongside our new brand PRO12 . Securing the support of an international business with the reputation of the Rabobank Group will raise the profile of the RaboDirect PRO12 and enhance the investment in the competition. The Rabobank Group are active and engaged sponsors of a number of sporting properties worldwide, including Holland, Italy and Australia and we look forward to working with them.
We are very excited to welcome RaboDirect as our new sponsor at a time when we are launching our new Brand. Our competition has experienced a huge growth over the last few years and it was time to move it to the next level. Our new brand, the PRO12, encapsulates the structure, growth and energy of our competition. We look forward to working with RaboDirect, developing and nurturing the RaboDirect PRO12 competition for many years to come.”
Roel van Veggel, General Manager of RaboDirect in Ireland said:
“We’re absolutely delighted to be embarking on this high profile sponsorship deal. Rabobank Group, throughout its 100 year history, has always sought to put down firm roots in the communities where it operates. At RaboDirect we believe that our values of passion, honesty, commitment and responsibility echo the values of this professional competition and so we’re very confident that we’ve achieved an exceptional fit in securing this sponsorship.
We’re very excited about getting involved in a sport that ignites so much passion not only in Ireland, but in communities in the UK and Italy. Rabobank Group’s expertise in executing sponsorships globally will allow RaboDirect to take this competition to even greater heights. We’re looking forward to generating more enthusiasm for the competition, connecting with an even larger audience of people through their love of rugby, strengthening our ties with local communities and demonstrating RaboDirect’s firm commitment to our customers, most especially in the Irish market where the competition has become most popular in the last number of years”.
Charlie McEwen, Sales and Marketing Director at RaboDirect PRO12 said:
“Our partnership with RaboDirect marks the start of an exciting journey as we plan to build on the growth that the competition has experienced in the last five years. We look forward to working with RaboDirect, using their considerable International experience, to amplify the success we have had in continually improving the competition for all supporters.”
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 08 June 2011 15:05 ) |
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It may be the first time the Heineken Cup is coming to the Sportsground but it won’t be the first time some of Connacht’s players have played in the competition. Johnny O’Connor (London Wasps), Adrian Flavin (London Irish), Gavin Duffy (NEC Harlequins), Frank Murphy (Leicester Tigers) and Mike McCarthy (Newcastle Falcons) have all played in the tournament during their time with other clubs. We caught up with some of them to get their views on the Heineken Cup coming to Galway:
 Former London Irish and current Connacht hooker Adrian Flavin:
“It’s great to be in the Heineken Cup, it’s the highlight of rugby in the Northern Hemisphere, everyone wants to do well in it and we’ll be no different to that. It’s great to see Connacht being drawn against Toulouse, we (London Irish) were the only team to beat them in Europe when they won the Cup in ’03 so I know what the atmosphere can be like playing against them. Playing down there is a completely different experience, the fans, the stadium, the noise; it’s a huge experience.
 Versatile forward Mike McCarthy, who passed the 100 cap mark for Connacht this season said:
“It’s great to play in the top competition as obviously that’s where every team wants to be. You know you are playing against the best teams around. The difference compared to Amlin or Magners i would say is that it is slightly faster, more physical and every team you play will raise their game because they are playing in arguably the best club competition in the world. Having Connacht in the Heineken cup means a lot to everyone not just in Connacht but the whole of Ireland. Obviously it is very special to all the players and management but we are very proud to be in it for our supporters and fans and we look forward to giving them some big days out at The Sportsground. I suppose getting in is the easy part and now we must perform to the best we can. Obviously it’s been a long, long wait for Connacht getting into the Heineken cup but we all feel we deserve our chance having finished above Treviso, Aironi and Glasgow in the Magners League whom are all in the Heineken cup. Even though it’s been our best league finish for a number of years there were a good number of games which we really let slip so we know ourselves that we could have and should have had a better finish but we’re looking forward to the start of next season now and the arrival of Heineken Cup rugby to the Sportsground.”
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| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 07 June 2011 19:32 ) |
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