In all my excitement and suffering badly with sun stroke, I had clean forgotten about my blog this week! …. many apologies.
 
It is on a very sad note that I start this week …. I was very shocked to hear that Sam Heard’s dad passed away at the beginning of last week. I knew Martin and he was a very likeable character who had a great sense of humour. I am sure you will all join me and send Sam and the family and friends of Martin, our sincere condolences at this very sad time and that our thoughts are with them …. take care mate …
 
Well its Wednesday now and at 4:00am in the morning I will be making my way to Edgbaston for the 3rd Ashes Test! The weather does not bode well but as long as I see some cricket over the next 5 days I will be happy. I’m off with John Simmons and some other lads, Andy Hulme, Matt Thomas and Matt Rowe from Mount Ambrose Cricket Club …. my old mucker Andy Knowles is there on Saturday so I am hoping to catch up with him for a beer …. be great to see these guys live just wish KP was playing!
 
Pre-season is shaping up very well and things are building nicely towards our first match against Plymouth Albion a week on Saturday. I am just hoping now that our new playing kit arrives!!
 
Congratulations to Lewis and Di on their recent wedding, they had their "local" reception on Saturday night at the club and it was very well attended. Their actual wedding was in Jamaica …. and, after looking at the pictures, they had a brilliant time ….
 
The Rugby Football Union will today open the hearing into allegations of drug use against former Bath trio Michael Lipman, Alex Crockett and Andrew Higgins, an incident which has been shrouded in mystery.

The three players stand accused of conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game on a number of charges, including "taking prohibited substances and wilful refusal to take a drugs test".

The hearing, which begins at 1000 BST, will be chaired by RFU disciplinary chief Judge Jeff Blackett and is scheduled to last until Friday.

Lipman, Crockett and Higgins have vowed to "vigorously contest" the RFU allegations. In a joint statement issued after the RFU announced they were bringing charges, the three players said: "This is a matter that we take very seriously and will do everything possible in order to clear our names." Lipman, Crockett and Higgins terminated their Bath contracts after being accused of failing to take a drugs test on three occasions following an end-of-season celebration in London on May 10. The players quit immediately before they were due to appear before an internal disciplinary hearing, claiming their positions at the club "had become untenable". They also said Bath’s investigation had been misled by an anonymous source making "scurrilous and unsubstantiated" claims. The RFU then launched their own investigation, led by Twickenham’s disciplinary manager Bruce Rees-Russell.

On June 17, the RFU charged all three players – Lipman and Crockett were co-captains at Bath last season – and stated they intended to call on "a number of players, club management and other third parties to appear before the panel to support the case." By contesting the charges, Lipman, Crockett and Higgins can expect a suspension of around 18 months if they are found guilty by the RFU disciplinary panel. A fourth ex-Bath player, Justin Harrison, was banned for eight months last Monday after admitting three similar drug-related charges, including taking cocaine, in a separate RFU hearing.

South Africa captain John Smit will become the most capped captain in Test rugby when he leads his side out against New Zealand in Durban.

Smit will skipper his side for the 60th time in the Tri-Nations clash on Saturday, surpassing former England captain Will Carling and Australian George Gregan – who share the record of 59 Tests as captain. The accolades have flowed for the amiable Springboks front rower in the lead-up to his milestone match with All Blacks coach Graham Henry the latest to shower praise on the 31-year-old. "He’s a very successful international captain and has won a World Cup (in 2007) which we are very green about," Henry told reporters. "He’s a very fine player. He’s highly respected by his players and he’s a good bloke.

Following an elongated delay in Dublin, the voting process has finally been completed and it is England who will host 2015 while Japan have been handed the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Tuesday’s high-profile event, which was decided by the International Rugby Board member nations, saw the Rugby Football Union beat off rival bidders South Africa and Italy in victory. Leading football grounds including Wembley, Old Trafford, Anfield and the Emirates Stadium are now set to join Twickenham as RWC venues. England submitted a commercial package worth an estimated

As you will all know, Mounts Bay Rugby Club officially folded last night.
 
Over the past 3 weeks we have worked very closely with Mounts Bay to try to come up with a solution that would enable them to continue as a club playing in National Division 2 South. Our initial discussions were positive and at the 2nd meeting we requested a Business Plan to see if it was viable to continue our discussions. Both parties were fully aware of their obligations under the relevant RFU Game and Player Regulations.
 
On Tuesday of this week both clubs met again when a Business Plan was tabled by Mounts Bay. The previous day the RFU issued guidelines and time scales for the clubs to meet. It became obvious at this meeting that there were concerns both with the financial situation and also with the player situation. A meaningful discussion took place but it became evident there was little if any chance of any possible solution.
 
Initially we were working with an 8 man core squad at Mounts Bay, we were looking at putting 3/4 players on loan with a further 8/9 registering with them. Both Exeter and Plymouth Albion had agreed to place players with the club by means of Dual Registration or Loan and Launceston were also considering assisting. At our meeting we discovered that Mounts Bay no longer had any players and we would have to build a squad from scratch. It must also be realised that the squad needs to be position specific, its no good just having 30 players! I also had a major concern over being able to name 5 front row players in every match day squad … all in all a pretty impossible situation.
 
The finance situation was based very much on speculation and it would of have been a real challenge to have made ends meet on their part. Bearing in mind the RFU requirement for the clubs to guarantee the fulfilment of a complete league programme both these situations had to be considered and, as I see it, the correct decision has been made.
 
I commend the officials of Mounts Bay who we have dealt with. They wanted to save their club! You must understand how difficult it must have been for them to come to us. As it stands now the club is no more; their record and achievements, however, speak for themselves and they will remain in the record books for ever. For their part they have expressed their gratitude to us for trying to help and have commended us on the way we handled the negotiations. I sincerely wish those individuals and the true Mounts Bay supporters the very best of luck for the future
 
David Penberthy
Director of Rugby

According to the Mounts Bay official website, Mounts Bay RFC has folded by a unanimous vote by members at the club’s AGM last night.

Everyone at Redruth RFC would like to express their sadness of the loss of a Cornish club whose record of marching up through the leagues will doubtless live forever in the memories of its fans.

Best of luck for the future to all those involved in whatever they now turn their hands to!

Redruth Rugby Club is looking to appoint a full-time Community Sports Coach until April 2011 to assist the club, in partnership with Redruth School, in increasing participation by local young people in rugby with a view to retaining their active involvement in sport.

The successful applicant will need to be working in a National League Club at present to enable them to have a sound understanding of what is required to maintain a young persons long term interest and commitment to an active engagement in the sport . He or she should also have experience and relevant qualifications in physical, nutritional and mental conditioning to ensure the well-being of the young people engaged in the sport. Previous coaching, teaching experience and involvement in rugby-orientated community project(s) is essential.

Anyone interested in this position should apply in writing to:

David Penberthy, Redruth RFC Executive Committee Chairman,
2 Wheal Uny, Trewirgie Hill, Redruth, TR15 2TD.
Tel: 01209 216094 (H); 07966 532404 (M)

by 7th August 2009 attaching your CV.

Some player news to start things rolling this week …. James Mann has decided that he will step down from playing for the Reds next season. Manners is in the process of building a house and requires the time to complete this. With the travelling commitment he found that he could not commit at this time. Losing Manner’s is a huge loss and he has been nothing more than magnificent since he joined the Reds back in 2005. His commitment and dedication has been second to none and I would go as far as to say that he is one of the best forwards I have seen in a red shirt. As a team member you could wish for no one better, he plays and leads by example and is a favourite with everyone. He has suffered with injuries that would normally result in a player giving up … not Manners! I wish him the very best of luck for the future (he has re-signed with Penryn I believe) and would say that he is always welcome back at Redruth should he decide to give it another crack ….truly a great bloke and a great player ….
 
When one door shuts, another opens and I am pleased to say that Gareth Evans has joined us from Plymouth Albion. Gareth is in the Royal Marines and is based in Plymouth. He has played regularly for Albion over the past 4 seasons and will bring a wealth of experience with him …… 
 
I was in contact last week, via email of course, with Matt Stearn. Stearney is in Australia as you well know and loving every minute of it. He passes on his regards to everyone, that’s players and supporters alike, and still follows our progress avidly throughout the season. He is having a wonderful time and does extremely well for himself. His school, Oxford Falls in Sydney, is the home of the Aussie Rugby team and they train there regularly. Two of Matt’s pupils, Luke Jones and Mike Hooper, are likely to be touring England with the Australian Schools team this year … also Stearnery is going to be a dad in November so I know you will all join me in congratulating him and Wendy on their imminent arrival …. he tells me that his little boy will qualify for Australia, Wales or England!! … not a bad choice there! The rugby at his school sounds incredible and during the season, on a Saturday, they have rugby from 8:00am in the morning culminating in the 1st XV match at 3:15pm. They field 15 senior teams along with 8 primary teams and he says they are not the greatest at rugby!! Keep well mate and hope to catch up one day soon ………..
 
Lots of news flying around about the future of Manchester … seems the consortium who were looking to plug the financial gap there have thought again and things are in turmoil again. It has also been reported that Dave Baldwin, the coach and England Counties forwards coach, has resigned. I also note from the Bees website that their pre-season game game against Manchester has been cancelled ….
 
London Welsh’s future seems assured. The following statement has appeared on the London Welsh site this morning which means Esher remain in National 1 next season. The statement reads …
In its statement on 17th July the RFU made it clear that it would make a final statement on London Welsh today, 20th July, in line with all previous commitments.

"The RFU can confirm that over the weekend of 18th and 19th July Red Dragon Rugby Limited completed the acquisition of London Welsh. An extension to the original deadline was agreed by the Management Board of the RFU and was required due to a technical legal issue which has since been satisfactorily resolved.

The acquisition had been subject to a number of conditions which were:

- Any new investor must prove it has the funds to support the club for at least 2 years

- Potential new investors must provide all information required by the RFU to satisfy them before they can become involved with London Welsh

- Any creditors of London Welsh, excepting shareholders and directors, must be paid

- The amateur and community components of London Welsh must continue to be supported

Red Dragon Rugby Limited has satisfied the RFU that the conditions set have been met. As a result, the administrator, Tenon Recovery, applied to the courts this morning to release the club from administration and London Welsh are once again solvent and so will continue to play in the Championship in the upcoming 09/10 season.

However, the RFU can confirm that London Welsh will start the 09/10 season with a 5 point penalty. This is due to the club going into administration and its failure to inform the RFU of their intended administration when they became aware it was likely to happen contrary to RFU Regulation 3.6.

The Rugby Football Union could deliver a

To get things under way this week, I am pleased to say that our first week of pre season has had big numbers in attendance. There has been 45 different players training so far with a further half a dozen away on holiday or absent for some other reason. The boys worked exceptionally hard on each of the sessions and things are settling down nicely.

Obviously there is lots of talk at the moment about the ongoing discussions with Mounts Bay. We have had a very constructive meeting with them and both parties have now gone away to discuss the finer points. We are due to meet again next Tuesday and when more information is available the club will relay it ….. its very interesting and could be of great benefit to us moving forward ….

Played in the Mount Ambrose 6 a-side cricket competition on Sunday … what a great day! Been told many times how good it was and this was first bash …. we played in the first group of "round robin" games but unfortunately did not play again until late afternoon ….  how difficult the game becomes when you have had a few!! Anyway it was all good fun and our team. consisting of Neil ????, Matt Rowe, Nigel Hambly, Craig Williams, Jake Bryant, Dave Williams and myself had a few laughs and felt rubbish on Monday!!!!!!!

England have announced their Elite squad and there are a few surprises in there …. a recall for Jonny Wilkinson but the "chop" for a number of other French based players …. Riki Flutey is the only other French based player to be included … However, Martin Johnson insists that England’s France-based contingent will be available for selection despite their omission from the senior and Saxons squads.

Andy Goode, James Haskell, Tom May, Jamie Noon, Tom Palmer and Steve Thompson – who all featured for England last term – have been left out. However, last season Goode won seven caps despite not being included in either squad while Thompson also came from outside to feature on the tour to Argentina.

"Our selections include players based in France," said Johnson.
"Rob Andrew (director of elite rugby) and I have had extensive discussions with the French clubs, who have recruited English players and these have gone well. "We are looking forward to continuing the positive working relationship with them, which worked so well last season. "We will continue to monitor the form and fitness of the following players with a view to inviting them to training sessions as appropriate – Goode, Haskell, May, Noon, Palmer and Thompson."

Meanwhile harmony seems to be on the agenda at Bath these days with Bath Head Coach Steve Meehan is enjoying pre-season training ahead of the upcoming 2009/10 season. The Recreation Ground outfit endured a year to forget last term after a drug scandal preceded a similar enquiry, which has yet to be resolved. But with a new-look squad knuckling down under Meehan, the Australian boss believes his and the Guinness Premiership club’s future looks bright.

"The response from all the players at pre-season so far has been the best that I’ve seen since arriving in Bath," he said "All the players came back saying ‘We want to distance ourselves from that (the off-season drugs inquiry) – that’s not what we’re about’. "This is the most intense pre-season that we’ve had and I think the players see that as a challenge but also to their benefit. I’m sure everyone’s sleeping well. "Maybe there’s that belief that if we are more of a family we can reach our potential."

Meehan’s long-term future at Bath remains unclear but with Chief Executive Bob Calleja reportedly keen to keep his man, Meehan awaits the club’s next move. "I’d be delighted to stay at Bath but we’ve not discussed anything formally at this stage," he continued. "On the back of what’s happened recently the players have come in and indicated the direction they want to take the club in. They want to set the rules but they want us to police them – and the rules that they’ve put in place are ones I’d want to put in place as well, so there’s a great deal of harmony with regards to belief and where we should be at. "So on the back of all that, why would you go?"

News from down under … and all sorts of things going on there …..

Graham Henry and his assistants Wayne Smith and Steven Hansen have been re-appointed as the All Blacks coaches until 2011, the New Zealand Rugby Union has announced. Henry, who first took charge of the All Blacks in 2004, has been rewarded with a new contract for his outstanding record of success after collecting 57 wins in 66 Test matches.

"Graham, Wayne and Steve are outstanding coaches," said NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs in announcing the deals. "They have a formidable record and we hold them in very high regard. They are totally committed to New Zealand rugby and have become an important part of the wider organisation."

In addition to a winning percentage of 86% in Test matches, Henry and his team have ensured a steady flow of new silverware for the All Blacks. They have won the Bledisloe Cup five successive times, collected four Investec Tri-Nations titles, swept the British and Irish Lions in 2005 and won grand slams in 2005 and 2008.

Sacked Australia winger Lote Tuqiri is heading for court over an alleged breach of contract involved in his dismissal by the ARU. The winger’s manager Les Ross confirmed the proceedings on Thursday, saying an application had been lodged in the New South Wales Supreme Court. The ARU, who have not yet revealed the reason for the extreme disciplinary measure but who have confirmed he was on a final warning, also confirmed that papers had been served. The first hearing will be on August 7.

The Rugby Union Players’ Association (RUPA) on Wednesday said it would investigate the conduct of the ARU and NSW Rugby Union over Tuqiri’s sacking, saying the dismissal had left leading Wallaby players "fearful and intimidated". RUPA chief executive Tony Dempsey said several senior Wallabies were concerned by Tuqiri’s departure and wanted to know specifically why the ARU terminated his contract last week.

The Samoan Rugby Union says there is no choice it will be applying for a spot in the expanded Super 15. SANZAR has asked for expressions of interest from potential new franchises, including an invitation to Samoa, but the SRU CEO Peter Schuster has ruled out the possibility of Pacific Island’s union making a bid. Schuster told NewstalkZB that it would be impossible to get a professional franchise set up in such a limited period of time. He did however add that Samoa may be interested if and when the competition expansions in the future. However, bids are expected from a new South African franchise based in the Eastern Cape (Southern Kings maybe) and potential teams from Melbourne and Australia’s Central Coast. A decision will be made on the location of the 15th team by November.

So that’s it for this week, a little late I know but there is lots happening at the moment!!!!!!!!

Cheers for now

David Penberthy
Director of Rugby – Redruth RFC

Obviously many of you will of heard the story that emerged yesterday regarding Mounts Bay.
 
I feel it only right and proper that I update you on our position in this matter. There are all sorts of rumours and stories floating around at the moment and I will be totally honest with you I am slightly confused as to who I am actually dealing with … however ….
 
Meetings have taken place between the two clubs to discuss the possibilities of Redruth players representing Mounts Bay next season in National Division 2. Discussions have also taken place with regards to Mounts Bay’s home league matches being played at Redruth.
 
Further discussions have taken place internally and the club gave Mounts Bay an indication that it would be prepared to take the negotiations to the next level. In principle the idea was appealing from both a playing perspective and a commercial perspective. That discussion will take place on Monday evening at the club.
 
Our view is that our Development and fringe players need to be playing a good standard of rugby. An opportunity such as this presents that solution, however, there are many rules and regulations that have to be adhered to so it is not as simple as it may look. It will also involve the co-operation of other clubs carrying out a similar exercise with their players. There are lots of things to consider and I and the rest of the management team will make the correct decisions that benefit the club and its players.
 
Commercially, it is also a good proposition on paper, Natioanl League rugby at Redruth every Saturday throughout the season. Again there are many things to consider and we must ensure that there is a sound infrastructure in place at Mounts Bay to enable it to continue as a club.
 
You can rest assured that any decision I and the rest of the committee make will be in the best interest of the club and we will ensure that the club’s nor its player’s future will not be put in jeopardy.
 
In summary, it will be a sad day for Cornish rugby if Mounts Bay fold. Their success has been phenominal over the past 10 years and if there is something that we can do to maintain good standards of rugby in the county then we will … 
 
David Penberthy
Director of Rugby/Executive Committee Chairman

First up this week, a note for your diary …. our pre season game against Plymouth Albion has been changed from Sunday August 9th to Saturday August 8th ……

Had a night out on Saturday night at the Truro School Summer Ball … damn good evening in the company of Chris Allan, Mark Bryant and Paul Harris and partners of course …. it was held in a big marquee in the school grounds and was superbly organised. What was I doing there you may ask??…well we were invited by "Goochie’s wife" and although a little apprehensive to start it turned out to be as good a night as I have had for a while …. even Mark B had a good time on his crutches following a cricketing accident last week ….. damn good band as well …..

Pre-season training gets under way in earnest tonight with our first "field" session. It will be good to see all back on the pitch and see how the new guys fit in … and there are a few! careful planning has gone into pre season with Adrian Edwards taking a leading role …. the off field team remains pretty much the same as last year but there will be one or two changes made to the Physio team … this will be confirmed shortly.
Keep your eyes open for key dates through August, in particular Members Night and Players Re-Union night ….

Well a very eventful Lions tour is over once again, but it is one that has restored a lot of peoples faith in touring abroad. You can see by the vast numbers who have travelled to South Africa for the series etc. Take nothing away from the South Africans, they played very well and showed why they are World Champions, but Lions supporters can a lot of heart from the performances of the squad. Peter De Villiers apart, the bloke should be sacked for the comments he made last week, I am sure the Boks are in good hands and will provide a major challenge to both Australia and New Zealand in the forthcoming Tri Nations series. Going back to Saturday for a moment, what a performance by the Lions, many wondered whether they had it in them but that was soon dispelled with a fantastic opening period. There were huge performances from Mike Phillips, Joe Worsley, both wings proved their worth, Vickery put to bed the myth that he was an easy target and Riki Flutey didn’t do bad for an "average Super 14 player" ….. they thoroughly deserved the win and it was great to read that John Smit acknowledged a great Lions team and performance.
Jamie Roberts has been named as the ‘Player of the Series’ following the three Tests between the British & Irish Lions and South Africa. The 22-year-old played in the opening two Tests before missing the third due to a wrist injury picked up in Pretoria. His midfield partnership with Brian O’Driscoll developed into a potent attacking weapon for the Lions.
Brian O’Driscoll has blasted South Africa coach Peter de Villiers following his controversial comments that suggested the Springboks boss condoned eye-gouging. De Villiers said he felt Springboks flanker Schalk Burger did not warrant a yellow card after he made contact with the eye area of British and Irish Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald during last Saturday’s second Test. Burger was subsequently cited and banned for eight weeks, and de Villiers issued an apology for his post-match remarks.

But Lions centre O’Driscoll, who flew home injured from the tour said: "When I heard those comments I wondered how someone can get away with something like that. "Irrespective of any apology, I find it an absolute disgrace that a coach of a national team can make comments as he did about gouging being part of the game. "Someone made a really good point to me that kids or parents watching an interview like that, questioning whether they should have their kid play rugby or soccer, that’s their decision made right there. "To hear a national coach saying in any shape or form, gouging is acceptable in the modern-day game is despicable. "I find that mind-boggling that you can have a national team coach saying something like that. Essentially, it brought the game into disrepute." The comment of the tour was uncountable De Villiers saying " Rugby is a contact sport …. just like ballet"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

O’Driscoll suffered concussion during the Pretoria clash, that ruled him out of the third Test at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Received an email from Phil Tregonning who lives and works in Port Elizabeth South Africa …. he dropped me a note reference the Schalk Burger incident and my reference to it …. Phil tells me his dad was born in Clinton Road and that he reads my comments each week …. it’s great from my perspective that Cornish people keep in touch with what is going on at the club … I hope all is well Phil especially after the Lions win on Saturday. As you said to me it has been a great series and none of us should allow the happenings during and after the 2nd test overshadow that …. South Africa are a very good team but I am so pleased the Lions were able to end their losing streak … roll on Australia in 4 years … I am hopefully going to make that one ……

Finally, I thought you’d like to see this article quoting Phil Vickery following his immense performance on Saturday …..

Phil Vickery has hailed the "unbelievable experience" of a Lions tour – and warned off those critics who question the viability of rugby’s greatest institution. Vickery, who will be 37 when the Lions head to Australia in four years’ time, bowed out amid memorable scenes as world champions South Africa suffered a first defeat at Ellis Park since 2001. The Lions’ stunning 28-9 triumph equalled their record victory over South Africa, while it also avoided a first series whitewash at South Africa’s hands and ended a run of seven straight Test defeats. Far more significantly than mere statistics though, Vickery and company ensured the Lions brand will continue to roar.

"People can question me until the cows come home about Lions tours, and I will tell them straight – Lions tours should carry on," said the World Cup-winning England prop. "It is the most unbelievable experience you can ever have as a rugby player. "I’ve been fortunate to achieve some fantastic things in my career, but nothing beats wearing the Lions jersey. "It’s just the ultimate, it really is. I hope and pray that Lions tours continue – they are a very special thing to be involved in. "A Lions tour has to be slightly different. It has to be a little bit ‘amateurish’ in that you’ve got to have a bit of fun and drink a few beers, because you have got to get on with people and mix. "You’ve all got to mix and buy into it, and that to me is what makes it very special. I wouldn’t want it any other way."

Vickery’s personal fightback from the depths of despair in Durban a fortnight earlier mirrored an immense Lions display. Mauled by Springboks scrum destroyer Tendai "The Beast" Mtawarira at King’s Park, he turned the tables to play a key role in dismantling South Africa on a ground where they were crowned 1995 World Cup winners. And Vickery, whose impassioned pre-match comments to his colleagues left captain Paul O’Connell vowing to steal them for future Munster team talks, admitted it had been an emotional occasion.

"There was a huge amount of pressure on me with what had happened in Durban, and I was actually quite tearful before the game," he admitted. "Adam Jones [the injured Lion Vickery replaced] sent me a message wishing me good luck, and it was nice to come out the other end being satisfied with your day’s work. That first scrum was fantastic. "It was nice to come off feeling very proud of my own performance, but ultimately the team’s performance. "It has been a fantastic group of people, and I can’t say any more than that. You remember the people you play with, and I’ve played with some superstars on this trip. "Someone said to me the other day it was going to be my last Lions cap. I won on my first one [in 2001], and that wouldn’t it be brilliant if I could win the last one and also get the 50th Test win of my career. "The whole trip for me has just been fantastic. I can honestly say I have never been on a tour with so many good men. "South Africa thoroughly deserved their series win, and I take nothing away from them at all, but I felt we just deserved something out of the tour." O’Connell added: "Phil spoke very well in the huddle. Something he said I will probably take back and plagiarise it with Munster and Ireland. "He galvanised everyone around him. We were all playing for each other, and we were all playing for Phil Vickery."   

Lote Tuqiri’s contract with the Australian Rugby Union has been terminated with immediate effect, it was announced on Wednesday. "The employment contract of Lote Tuqiri has been terminated effective today," a statement read. "ARU has treated this issue as a standard employment matter. "The ARU will not make any further comment on the matter as it may be the subject of legal proceedings." One of Australia’s highest-paid rugby players, Tuqiri was contracted to the ARU until 2012. The ARU had been conducting an investigation into a possible breach of the players’ code of conduct, but the circumstances of Tuqiri’s sacking remain unclear.

On a completely different note, former Bath prop and Welsh international Chris Horsman has retired. Horsman signed for Worcester Warriors in July 2004 and quickly established himself as one of the best props in the English game and a ferocious scrummager. He made his full Welsh debut on 11 November 2005 against Fiji at the Millennium Stadium. He also won a call-up to the Wales squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup after impressing on the domestic stage

"It has been a decision between my health and family and the game I love – I had to make the right choice and do it wisely," said Horsman. "I have had almost 20 operations from rugby and having had cancer twice I have been through it, sometimes the biggest and hardest decision is to say enough is enough. "Rugby has been a huge part of my life for 12 years. I would do it for nothing, I would pay to do it, so I have been very fortunate with the things I have achieved and the people I have met and teams I have played for, particularly Worcester and Wales. "I have a lovely family and beautiful wife, I’m pleased that I have got what I have outside of rugby and that the sport has given me the opportunity for fantastic life experiences and lead the life I have. "The club have indicated that they want me to stay involved in some capacity and it’s something I would like, I would love to keep my links with Warriors, it is a club close to my heart and out of all the clubs I have played for it has made a massive impression on me," he added. "The supporters, Cecil Duckworth and the coaches and players have been fantastic to me. But ultimately it is a decision I have had to make with my family to retire.

I decided to include this because this guy has not only had his battles on the field but massive ones off it. I recall reading his story about the dark days when he discovered having cancer for the first time … a true Rugby Warrior if ever the was one!

France centre Mathieu Bastareaud’s problems deepened on Monday after club president Max Guazzini confirmed he had been hospitalised due to psychological issues. The Stade Francais player admitted last week that he made up the story of being the victim of a Wellington assault before reports later emerged that the 20-year-old may have been punched by a French team-mate. But in the latest twist to the saga, Guazzini has revealed that instead of the youngster heading to the West Indies for an end-of-season holiday, he had instead been admitted to a psychiatric hospital. "Journalists have even gone to his house and that of his parents," said Guazzini, speaking to AFP. "He is completely devastated, he has to be left alone."

Now that pre season is under way and the Lions are on their way home, I can find some more club related stuff to talk about …. pre-season is always difficult but I hope you have found the clips from around the rugby world interesting …
That’s it for this week ….

Cheers for now
David Penberthy
Director of Rugby

The mini/junior section are in need of some volunteers to help with the forthcoming season.
Help is needed for:-

• Cleaning the changing rooms on a Sunday morning (before and after matches).
• Setting up the pitches on a Sunday morning.
• Serving in the Reds shop on a Sunday morning (match days and training).

If anyone would like to help with any of the above, please ring me.

Thank you

Nigel Eathorne, Tel:- 01209 718154