Rugby Union: May 2008 Archives

Lawrence Dallaglio was given the perfect send-off as Wasps beat Leicester 26-16 in the Guinness Premiership final.

The Crusaders edged a thrilling Super 14 final in Christchurch to beat the Waratahs 20-12 and land their seventh title.

Wasps have been boosted by the recovery from injury of Phil Vickery ahead of Saturday's Premiership final at Twickenham.

Lawrence Dallaglio is determined to go out with a bang when Wasps take on Leicester in Saturday's Premiership final.

Doncaster Knights' scrum-half Ben Jones has agreed to join Worcester Warriors and signed a one-year contract at Sixways Stadium

Gloucester winger James Simpson-Daniel has pipped Bath's Olly Barkley to the title of Guinness Premiership player of the season.

Charlie Hodgson will get the chance to make the England number 10 shirt his, after being named as fly-half to face the Barbarians.

Newcastle's Australian full-back Matthew Burke has been forced to retire from rugby union due to an ongoing knee injury problem.

Nick Evans could leave New Zealand for Harlequins before the end of the year after his omission from the national squad.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has named nine uncapped players in a 25-man training squad for upcoming Tests with England and Ireland.

Former Wales coach Mike Ruddock believes Wales can beat South Africa on this summer's tour to the southern African nation.

Doug Howlett admitted he had been blown away by the Munster fans after helping the Irish side beat Toulouse to lift the Heineken Cup.

Former All Blacks captain Jerry Collins has been tipped for a move overseas after ending his career with New Zealand.

Bradford Bulls star Shontayne Hape is set to switch codes and join rugby union side Bath on a three-year deal.

Fraser Waters has revealed he is leaving London Wasps after signing a two-year contract to play for Italian side Treviso next year.

Munster's Alan Quinlan said the side had to dig deep in order to defeat Toulouse in the Heineken Cup final on Saturday.

Wasps have pulled off a big coup by landing former France flanker Serge Betsen on a two-year deal.

Leicester are sweating over the availability of prop Julian White ahead of the Premiership final after he was cited for foul play.

Olly Barkley has apologised for the tackle that will keep England team-mate Danny Cipriani out of action for six months.

Leicester centre Dan Hipkiss will replace injured fly-half Danny Cipriani for England's upcoming tour to New Zealand.

Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan pulled no punches in his assessment of Sunday's defeat to Leicester in the play-off semi-finals.

England fly-half Danny Cipriani has been ruled out for six months after suffering a fracture dislocation of his ankle on Sunday.

Ian McGeechan pledged to go back to basics in a bid to inspire the British and Irish Lions to a series win in South Africa next year.

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has named his 42-man 'training squad' as preparations start for the two-Test series with Wales.

Lawrence Dallaglio says he is focussed on winning the Premiership play-offs and not his impending retirement from the game.

Leicester have recalled Alesana Tuilagi for tomorrow's play-off semi-final against Gloucester at Kingsholm.

Saracens have moved quickly to replace the retired Richard Hill and announced the capture of Bulls star Wikus van Heerden.

Steve Borthwick has admitted he is only a 'stop-gap' captain and expects Phil Vickery to resume his duties after the New Zealand tour.

The Rugby Football Union's plans to introduce performance-related pay for England stars has been branded 'unfair' by the PRA.

British and Irish Lions coach Ian McGeechan says the the mistakes made on the 2005 tour will not be repeated in South Africa in 2009.

New England manager Martin Johnson is keen on making London Irish director of rugby Brian Smith the new backs coach.

Injury-hit Wales have left Colin Charvis out of their squad for the summer tour to take on the world champions, South Africa.

Ian McGeechan has been confirmed as the head coach of the British and Irish Lions for their tour of South Africa next year.

Martin Johnson left out Gloucester's Iain Balshaw and Lesley Vainikolo, including 6 uncapped players for England's tour of New Zealand.

Martin Johnson has named Bath lock Steve Borthwick as his England captain for next month's two-Test tour of New Zealand

Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan hopes the "fantastic" home support can help his battered side in their play-off clash with Leicester.

Llanelli Scarlets and Wales centre Matthew J Watkins has penned a two-year deal with Premiership side Gloucester.

Wasps star Paul Sackey feels he will be fit for the Premiership semi-final play-off with Bath after injuring his knee on Saturday.

Ireland skipper Brian O'Driscoll says he will not be giving up the British & Irish Lions captaincy without a fight.

Leicester head coach Marcelo Loffreda believes his side's dramatic 31-28 win over Harlequins may have saved his job.

Leicester Tigers will have to look elsewhere for a new coach as Natal boss Dick Muir has been named as South Africa's new backs coach.

Former England captain Martin Johnson has paid tribute to his World Cup winning colleague Richard Hill who retires this weekend.

Brian O'Driscoll believes new head coach Declan Kidney is the right man to make Ireland a feared force again.

Declan Kidney is "delighted" that he's finally been appointed as Ireland's new coach but admits his immediate focus is on Munster.

England winger Tom Varndell has become the latest player to commit his future to Leicester Tigers.

Gordon D'Arcy will miss Ireland's two summer Test matches Down Under after undergoing more surgery on his broken arm.

Munster director of rugby Declan Kidney is keeping Ireland waiting before deciding whether to accept the head coaching job.

New Zealand star Dan Carter will wait until the end of the season before announcing his plans for the future.

Harlequins appear to have captured All Blacks utility back Nick Evans, who will line up at the Stoop next season.

Wales have been hit by the news that three of their Grand Slam stars have been ruled out of next month's tour of South Africa.

Ospreys full-back Lee Byrne is out of Wales' summer tour to South Africa as he requires keyhole surgery on his left knee.

England stars Matthew Tait and Toby Flood will leave Newcastle at the end of the season as the club looks for stability in the backs.

Osprey's former Wales and British Lions centre Mark Taylor has announced his retirement at the end of this season.

Leicester Tigers have beaten off strong competition to sign Argentina World Cup prop Santiago Bonorino.

Ospreys centre Gavin Henson has undergone ankle surgery and will miss the rest of the season and Wales' tour of South Africa.

Guinness Premiership leaders Gloucester have committed Iain Balshaw to a new contract until the summer of 2010.

Lawrence Dallaglio was given the perfect send-off as Wasps beat Leicester 26-16 in the Guinness Premiership final.

The Crusaders edged a thrilling Super 14 final in Christchurch to beat the Waratahs 20-12 and land their seventh title.

Wasps have been boosted by the recovery from injury of Phil Vickery ahead of Saturday's Premiership final at Twickenham.

Lawrence Dallaglio is determined to go out with a bang when Wasps take on Leicester in Saturday's Premiership final.

Doncaster Knights' scrum-half Ben Jones has agreed to join Worcester Warriors and signed a one-year contract at Sixways Stadium

Gloucester winger James Simpson-Daniel has pipped Bath's Olly Barkley to the title of Guinness Premiership player of the season.

Charlie Hodgson will get the chance to make the England number 10 shirt his, after being named as fly-half to face the Barbarians.

Newcastle's Australian full-back Matthew Burke has been forced to retire from rugby union due to an ongoing knee injury problem.

Nick Evans could leave New Zealand for Harlequins before the end of the year after his omission from the national squad.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has named nine uncapped players in a 25-man training squad for upcoming Tests with England and Ireland.

Former Wales coach Mike Ruddock believes Wales can beat South Africa on this summer's tour to the southern African nation.

Doug Howlett admitted he had been blown away by the Munster fans after helping the Irish side beat Toulouse to lift the Heineken Cup.

Former All Blacks captain Jerry Collins has been tipped for a move overseas after ending his career with New Zealand.

Bradford Bulls star Shontayne Hape is set to switch codes and join rugby union side Bath on a three-year deal.

Fraser Waters has revealed he is leaving London Wasps after signing a two-year contract to play for Italian side Treviso next year.

Munster's Alan Quinlan said the side had to dig deep in order to defeat Toulouse in the Heineken Cup final on Saturday.

Wasps have pulled off a big coup by landing former France flanker Serge Betsen on a two-year deal.

Leicester are sweating over the availability of prop Julian White ahead of the Premiership final after he was cited for foul play.

Olly Barkley has apologised for the tackle that will keep England team-mate Danny Cipriani out of action for six months.

Leicester centre Dan Hipkiss will replace injured fly-half Danny Cipriani for England's upcoming tour to New Zealand.

Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan pulled no punches in his assessment of Sunday's defeat to Leicester in the play-off semi-finals.

England fly-half Danny Cipriani has been ruled out for six months after suffering a fracture dislocation of his ankle on Sunday.

Ian McGeechan pledged to go back to basics in a bid to inspire the British and Irish Lions to a series win in South Africa next year.

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has named his 42-man 'training squad' as preparations start for the two-Test series with Wales.

Lawrence Dallaglio says he is focussed on winning the Premiership play-offs and not his impending retirement from the game.