By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Paul_Hesketh]Paul Hesketh
The Rugby World Cup 2011 starts on the 9 September until the 23 October 2011. The following article is an outline of the teams that will be featuring from pool C.
Australia - The Wallabies
Australia are currently ranked second in the IRB World Rankings, they are commonly known as the Wallabies, without question they are a team steeped in history and success. Australia have competed in all six Rugby World Cups, having appeared in the final three times, winning the World Cup on two occasions, in 1991 against England, and in 1999 against France; only South Africa have won the World Cup twice since the inaugural tournament. At the 2007 World Cup Australia crashed out of the competition at the quarter-final stage, this significant early round exit has led many to describe it as Australia's worst ever World Cup performance. The years since have seen the team rebuild with youth at its core; when the 2011 World Cup begins Australia will be ready with a squad that is youthful and experienced. Australia too many will be potential winners, being a southern hemisphere team the conditions are favourable, the squad strong and crowd support will be plenty, all factors that the wallabies will feed off. Star player: Matthew Giteau, Head Coach: Robbie Deans
Italy- Azzurri
Italy has competed at every Rugby World Cup except one since the tournament was first held in Australia and New Zealand in 1987; the furthest progress to date is only to the quarter finals. In an heartland of football fandom, rugby very much holds its own in this sports mad nation; strong recent performances in the six nations including Italy's first competitive win against France have given the Azzurri hope of a very good tournament. In the 2011 six nations winger Andrea Masi was named player of the tournament, the first time an Italian has won such an award. Italy's hope of getting out of the group stages relay heavily on getting a result against Ireland or Australia, both on paper stronger teams who should qualify ahead of them. That said the Italian side is going in the right direction, the win against France could ultimately prove a watershed moment for the Azzurri and there supporters. Star Player: Andrea Masi,Head Coach: Nick Mallett
Russia - The Bears
Russia will compete in their first Rugby World Cup in New Zealand 2011, a long wait for a team that has played the sport since 1936 predominantly under the USSR flag. Since March 2010, however, Russia's form has improved greatly, being placed 18th in the world rankings, above Romania and coming behind the USA. Group C is a very tough group for Russia to progress from, realistically Russia will be aiming to beat the United States and not pick up the group wooden spoon. Like all under dogs the Bears will be an unknown quantity that other teams will do well to not underestimate, something they will hope to exploit come kick off. Star Player: Andrei Ostriko, Head Coach: Nikolay Nerush
United States - The Eagles
The United States has competed at every Rugby World Cup except one since the tournament was first held; this record is only marked with two World cup victories so far. The United States has a fantastic history of rugby heritage in a land of great sporting diversity but with little international success to date. While the United States like Russia is a super power, the United States rugby team is not, group C will prove exceptionally tough for the Eagles to progress from. However the United States does now boast players from some of the top leagues in the world, a sign of progression and growing belief that the Eagles have what it takes to move up a level and start to compete against some of the more established teams. Star player Chris Wyles, Head coach Eddie O'Sullivan
Ireland - Men in Green
Ireland have competed at every Rugby World Cup since the tournament was first held, only progressing to the quarter-final stages to date. The 2007 World Cup was one to forget for the Irish, a tough group of death meant Ireland didn't progress out of this stage, the first time this had happened to the team. Ireland has since won the 2009 Six Nations Grand Slam, having achieved this feat for the first time since 1948; it's a massive boost for this rugby mad nation and gives hope of a great World Cup ahead. In current captain Brian O'Driscoll, Ireland's all-time leader in both tries and appearances, the men in green boast a player considered one of the best in the world. If the players in the rel=nofollow [http://www.cottontraders.co.uk/ireland-rugby-shirt-long-sleeve-classic/invt/ae90004/]Ireland Rugby shirt click and O'Driscoll stays fit, the Irish should comfortably make it out of the group stage; a favorable quarter-final draw may even see them make the semi finals for the first time in their history. Star player Brian O'Driscoll, Head coach Declan Kidney.
The first match of pool C is on the 11 September 2011 15:30
Australia v Italy- North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Rugby-World-Cup-Teams---Pool-C&id=6280099] Rugby World Cup Teams - Pool C
Monday, January 30, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Rugby World Cup Teams - Pool D
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Paul_Hesketh]Paul Hesketh
The Rugby World Cup 2011 starts on the 9 September until the 23 October 2011. The following article is an outline of the teams that will be featuring from pool D.
South Africa- Springboks
The South African rugby team is the current holder of the Rugby World Cup, beating England 15 -6 to lift the Webb Ellis Cup for a record equaling second time in 2007. Since the last World Cup the Springboks results range from all time highs to some indifferent results, they are however still one of the best teams on the planet. The South African team is renowned for scrummaging aggressively with a high level of technical excellence, a ball-in-hand style that often works very well against opponents. Expect a traditional high-pressure, attritional game plan at the 2011 World Cup; this approach is likely to see the Springboks get to the later stages of the competition and if like 2007 could see a successful defense of the Web Ellis. The Springboks possess quality in-depth and are renowned for being extremely difficult to break down over 80 minutes, they have also been drawn in a favorable group consisting of teams that shouldn't prove too much of a problem; complacency will be South Africa's biggest problem but once out of the group stage expect a charge towards the final in Auckland. Star Player: Bryan Habana, Head coach: Peter de Villiers
Fiji - The Palms
Fiji is one of the few countries where rugby union is the national sport, as a team they are very strong and definitely the strongest from the Oceania region. The 2007 World Cup was a great success for the Fijians who got knocked out at the quarter-final stage by future winners South Africa, prior to this they overcame Wales in the second round 38-31; this put Fiji in the top 8 teams in world rugby, no small feat for this pacific island. The Fijian style is very off the cuff and proves to be highly entertaining, their ball handling is generally excellent and is more akin to basketball at times. The Fijian free-flowing style does however expose a defensive fragility that the better teams capitalise on but on their day the Palms are a handful for any team. Group D throws up the mouth-watering repeat of the 2007 game against Wales, described by some as one of the best matches ever. The winner of this match will very likely progress to the next round behind South Africa but the game against neighbours Samoa will be tough and definitely one to watch. Star Player: Sisaro Koyamaibole, Head Coach: Sam Domoni
Samoa- Manu Samoa
Rugby was introduced to Samoa in the early 1920s; the first international was played as Western Samoa against Fiji in August 1924. Samoa did not compete at the first World Cup but have qualified for every tournament since. Samoa in the early years of the World Cup were an unknown, this worked exceptional well for the team and help them to progress to the quarter-final stages in the first three tournaments that they participated in; since these early highs Samoa have failed to get out of the group stages. There are strong links between Samoa and New Zealand even sharing a pre match challenge similar to the Haka called the Siva Tau. Many players switch nationalities between the two nations, often Samoan player's trying to realise a dream of playing for the All Blacks. Manu Samoa is a naturally strong, physical side, who will go toe to toe with any opponent. Group D represents a great opportunity for the side to get out of the group, the games against Wales and Fiji are vital to this - expect a great encounter when these teams meet each other. Star Player: Alesana Tuilagi, Head Coach: Fuimaono Tafua
Namibia- Welwitschias
Namibia has been playing international rugby since the early 1900s; they are the second best team from Africa and the most likely first team candidate to join the second tier of world rugby. Namibia have competed at every World Cup since 1999 but are yet to win a match, with a small player base, and lacking frequent or strong competition, the team has deteriorated in recent years. The Likelihood for Namibia in the 2011 World Cup is that they will again struggle. A potential result if possible will come against Samoa or Fiji but on paper the group D wooden spoon beckons for the Welwitschias. There have been a few excellent internationals out of Namibia; however these players often opt to play for South Africa, a country with strong ties to Namibia as past rulers. The shining hope for Namibia was surprisingly winning the IRB Nations Cup in 2010, proving their progress at international level is on the rise. Star Player: Jacques Burger, Head Coach: Johan Diergaardt
Wales- Dragons
Wales have contested at every Rugby World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 1987; the first one is still the best one. At the 1987 World Cup Wales finished third in the tournament, beating Australia 22-21 in a classic match, since this high the Welsh have seesawed between the quarter-finals and not progressing out of the group stages at all. To put on the rel=nofollow [http://www.cottontraders.co.uk/wales-rugby-shirt-long-sleeve-classic/invt/ae90002/]Wales rugby shirt is every Welshman's dream; engrained in the very fabric of the people of the valleys. Wales will look at group D with optimism, on their day Wales play a fluid, entertaining and often spectacular blend of rugby that creates fans around the world. South Africa will be very tough for Wales, having played each other 25 times and only winning once against the Springboks, the odds are firmly stacked against them. Samoa, Fiji and Namibia should prove more of a contest; maximum points from these three games will see the Welshman into the next round, expect a spectacular game when the opponents are the Palms of Fiji. Since the last World Cup Wales secured a grand slam victory in the Six nations back in 2008 but the years since have seen a decline in performances and results, it will interesting to see what Welsh side shows up in New Zealand 2011. Star Player: Stephen Jones, Head Coach: Warren Gatland
The first match of pool D is on the 10th September 2011 15:30
Fiji v Namibia - Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Rugby-World-Cup-Teams---Pool-D&id=6299143] Rugby World Cup Teams - Pool D
The Rugby World Cup 2011 starts on the 9 September until the 23 October 2011. The following article is an outline of the teams that will be featuring from pool D.
South Africa- Springboks
The South African rugby team is the current holder of the Rugby World Cup, beating England 15 -6 to lift the Webb Ellis Cup for a record equaling second time in 2007. Since the last World Cup the Springboks results range from all time highs to some indifferent results, they are however still one of the best teams on the planet. The South African team is renowned for scrummaging aggressively with a high level of technical excellence, a ball-in-hand style that often works very well against opponents. Expect a traditional high-pressure, attritional game plan at the 2011 World Cup; this approach is likely to see the Springboks get to the later stages of the competition and if like 2007 could see a successful defense of the Web Ellis. The Springboks possess quality in-depth and are renowned for being extremely difficult to break down over 80 minutes, they have also been drawn in a favorable group consisting of teams that shouldn't prove too much of a problem; complacency will be South Africa's biggest problem but once out of the group stage expect a charge towards the final in Auckland. Star Player: Bryan Habana, Head coach: Peter de Villiers
Fiji - The Palms
Fiji is one of the few countries where rugby union is the national sport, as a team they are very strong and definitely the strongest from the Oceania region. The 2007 World Cup was a great success for the Fijians who got knocked out at the quarter-final stage by future winners South Africa, prior to this they overcame Wales in the second round 38-31; this put Fiji in the top 8 teams in world rugby, no small feat for this pacific island. The Fijian style is very off the cuff and proves to be highly entertaining, their ball handling is generally excellent and is more akin to basketball at times. The Fijian free-flowing style does however expose a defensive fragility that the better teams capitalise on but on their day the Palms are a handful for any team. Group D throws up the mouth-watering repeat of the 2007 game against Wales, described by some as one of the best matches ever. The winner of this match will very likely progress to the next round behind South Africa but the game against neighbours Samoa will be tough and definitely one to watch. Star Player: Sisaro Koyamaibole, Head Coach: Sam Domoni
Samoa- Manu Samoa
Rugby was introduced to Samoa in the early 1920s; the first international was played as Western Samoa against Fiji in August 1924. Samoa did not compete at the first World Cup but have qualified for every tournament since. Samoa in the early years of the World Cup were an unknown, this worked exceptional well for the team and help them to progress to the quarter-final stages in the first three tournaments that they participated in; since these early highs Samoa have failed to get out of the group stages. There are strong links between Samoa and New Zealand even sharing a pre match challenge similar to the Haka called the Siva Tau. Many players switch nationalities between the two nations, often Samoan player's trying to realise a dream of playing for the All Blacks. Manu Samoa is a naturally strong, physical side, who will go toe to toe with any opponent. Group D represents a great opportunity for the side to get out of the group, the games against Wales and Fiji are vital to this - expect a great encounter when these teams meet each other. Star Player: Alesana Tuilagi, Head Coach: Fuimaono Tafua
Namibia- Welwitschias
Namibia has been playing international rugby since the early 1900s; they are the second best team from Africa and the most likely first team candidate to join the second tier of world rugby. Namibia have competed at every World Cup since 1999 but are yet to win a match, with a small player base, and lacking frequent or strong competition, the team has deteriorated in recent years. The Likelihood for Namibia in the 2011 World Cup is that they will again struggle. A potential result if possible will come against Samoa or Fiji but on paper the group D wooden spoon beckons for the Welwitschias. There have been a few excellent internationals out of Namibia; however these players often opt to play for South Africa, a country with strong ties to Namibia as past rulers. The shining hope for Namibia was surprisingly winning the IRB Nations Cup in 2010, proving their progress at international level is on the rise. Star Player: Jacques Burger, Head Coach: Johan Diergaardt
Wales- Dragons
Wales have contested at every Rugby World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 1987; the first one is still the best one. At the 1987 World Cup Wales finished third in the tournament, beating Australia 22-21 in a classic match, since this high the Welsh have seesawed between the quarter-finals and not progressing out of the group stages at all. To put on the rel=nofollow [http://www.cottontraders.co.uk/wales-rugby-shirt-long-sleeve-classic/invt/ae90002/]Wales rugby shirt is every Welshman's dream; engrained in the very fabric of the people of the valleys. Wales will look at group D with optimism, on their day Wales play a fluid, entertaining and often spectacular blend of rugby that creates fans around the world. South Africa will be very tough for Wales, having played each other 25 times and only winning once against the Springboks, the odds are firmly stacked against them. Samoa, Fiji and Namibia should prove more of a contest; maximum points from these three games will see the Welshman into the next round, expect a spectacular game when the opponents are the Palms of Fiji. Since the last World Cup Wales secured a grand slam victory in the Six nations back in 2008 but the years since have seen a decline in performances and results, it will interesting to see what Welsh side shows up in New Zealand 2011. Star Player: Stephen Jones, Head Coach: Warren Gatland
The first match of pool D is on the 10th September 2011 15:30
Fiji v Namibia - Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua
Visit Cotton Traders for a great selection of [http://www.cottontraders.co.uk/page/rugby-shop]Rugby Shirts.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Rugby-World-Cup-Teams---Pool-D&id=6299143] Rugby World Cup Teams - Pool D
Thursday, January 26, 2012
2010/2011 Premiership Rugby Final - Leicester Tigers Vs Saracens
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Paul_Hesketh]Paul Hesketh
The Leicester tigers going into this match had back to back titles, and the incredible fact that this was their seventh straight final appearance, but the Tigers simply didn't have an answer to the more disciplined, more resolute even more dogged performance Saracens produced. At the end the air around Twickenham buzzed with talk of who was the outstanding performer, in fairness every player in black stood up, the likes of Schalk Brits, Richard Wiggleworth and Jacques Burger all excelled. The word on most lips was about the ice-cold performance of young Owen Farrell. The nineteen year who went head to head with Toby Flood, England's number one choice fly half and came out the victor, converting five excellent penalties, steadying his teammate's nerves and pushing the Saracens over the line. It was somewhat fitting that after the mammoth number of phases Saracens endured at the end it was Owen Farrell who hoofed the ball into touch to win the game. Owen Farrell's father Andrew a legendary rugby league player for the Wigan Warriors was full of praise for his young son describing his performance as so good it would have been a travesty if he was on the losing side.
After a 30 phase final siege on their own line Saracens finally got its significant mark in the clubs 135 year old history, a first Premiership final victory against the Leicester Tigers the revered kings of rugby in recent years. The general punter and rugby purist will say this game lacked the flair and slickness of last year's repeat final but for edge of your seat excitement and anxiety this game will take some rivaling. Maybe Saracen's had a point to prove after last year's cruel last gasp defeat to Leicester, maybe this was the added determination shown in the ferocious tackling of the final minutes, whatever it was it proved enough to seize the title from Leicester.
After trading penalties for most of the match the defining moment came in the twenty-ninth minute when a quick line out ball allowed Saracens the freedom to attack. The roaming Schalke Brits cut free and delivered a scoring pass to James Short, a neat cut inside was all it needed to get round Agulla; Saracens had broken the Leicester line for the only try of the match. rel=nofollow [http://www.cottontraders.co.uk/rugby-store/leicester-tigers/icat/leicester-tigers/]Leicester Tigers Toby Flood had his chance to gain the advantage but missed two crucial conversions that would on won the game; stirring in its defiance this was Saracens day. The future looks very bright for rugby in Watford, the talent now coming out of the Saracens can only give supporters belief this is the start of a very special time at Vicarage Road. The style of rugby some may say is conservative but on this performance it was nothing other than pure entertainment. Saracens with their first ever English title are only the fifth club to win the Premiership since its existence back in 1997, joining the likes of Newcastle Falcons, London Wasps, Leicester Tigers and Sale Sharks.
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?2010/2011-Premiership-Rugby-Final---Leicester-Tigers-Vs-Saracens&id=6329801] 2010/2011 Premiership Rugby Final - Leicester Tigers Vs Saracens
The Leicester tigers going into this match had back to back titles, and the incredible fact that this was their seventh straight final appearance, but the Tigers simply didn't have an answer to the more disciplined, more resolute even more dogged performance Saracens produced. At the end the air around Twickenham buzzed with talk of who was the outstanding performer, in fairness every player in black stood up, the likes of Schalk Brits, Richard Wiggleworth and Jacques Burger all excelled. The word on most lips was about the ice-cold performance of young Owen Farrell. The nineteen year who went head to head with Toby Flood, England's number one choice fly half and came out the victor, converting five excellent penalties, steadying his teammate's nerves and pushing the Saracens over the line. It was somewhat fitting that after the mammoth number of phases Saracens endured at the end it was Owen Farrell who hoofed the ball into touch to win the game. Owen Farrell's father Andrew a legendary rugby league player for the Wigan Warriors was full of praise for his young son describing his performance as so good it would have been a travesty if he was on the losing side.
After a 30 phase final siege on their own line Saracens finally got its significant mark in the clubs 135 year old history, a first Premiership final victory against the Leicester Tigers the revered kings of rugby in recent years. The general punter and rugby purist will say this game lacked the flair and slickness of last year's repeat final but for edge of your seat excitement and anxiety this game will take some rivaling. Maybe Saracen's had a point to prove after last year's cruel last gasp defeat to Leicester, maybe this was the added determination shown in the ferocious tackling of the final minutes, whatever it was it proved enough to seize the title from Leicester.
After trading penalties for most of the match the defining moment came in the twenty-ninth minute when a quick line out ball allowed Saracens the freedom to attack. The roaming Schalke Brits cut free and delivered a scoring pass to James Short, a neat cut inside was all it needed to get round Agulla; Saracens had broken the Leicester line for the only try of the match. rel=nofollow [http://www.cottontraders.co.uk/rugby-store/leicester-tigers/icat/leicester-tigers/]Leicester Tigers Toby Flood had his chance to gain the advantage but missed two crucial conversions that would on won the game; stirring in its defiance this was Saracens day. The future looks very bright for rugby in Watford, the talent now coming out of the Saracens can only give supporters belief this is the start of a very special time at Vicarage Road. The style of rugby some may say is conservative but on this performance it was nothing other than pure entertainment. Saracens with their first ever English title are only the fifth club to win the Premiership since its existence back in 1997, joining the likes of Newcastle Falcons, London Wasps, Leicester Tigers and Sale Sharks.
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?2010/2011-Premiership-Rugby-Final---Leicester-Tigers-Vs-Saracens&id=6329801] 2010/2011 Premiership Rugby Final - Leicester Tigers Vs Saracens
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Get Adequate Information About Rugby World Cup 2011
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ali_Raza]Ali Raza
Throughout the world, the rugby world cup is ranked as the 3rd largest event. It is due to this fact that it is known to attract a large following and the 2011 rugby world cup is not any different. It is expected to attract more than sixty thousand international visitors and it will be covered by more than two thousand international media houses. For this reason, it is also expected to attract a large TV audience amounting to more than 4 billion people. The world cup is expected to deliver over $ 267 million to the region through direct economical benefits. There are a couple of highlights that make the event more appealing to fans and they include the following.
� Betting
It is due to all these facts it is important to know more about the game and what it has to offer. As people talk endlessly about the game, you should find a way of capitalizing on it in order to make money. There are several online sites designed to make this possible and this is through the following betting. Thanks to such sites, you can place your bet for the 2011 game and enjoy some cash benefits. There are several online sites that give fans the opportunity to bet on their favorite teams. While this is the case, it is advisable to find a reputable site before doing this. In this regard, you should also be on the lookout for free bets.
� Fixtures
The fixtures are comprised of 6 crazy weeks which begin on 9th September 2011 and they end on 23rd October 2011. In order to understand the fixtures it is advisable to find a website that offers the same. This especially comes in handy for people interested in betting. They will receive a clear outline of the games as they are expected to be played as well as the different pools participating in the game. The best thing about getting fixtures ahead of the game is the fact that it keeps sports lovers well informed about what they should expect before the curtain closes down. Additionally, it also offers reliable information about the playoffs and the teams expected to participate in the same.
� Important Facts
The following are some of the 2011 rugby world cup facts that you have to keep in mind in order to enjoy the season.
� For starters, New Zealand got the hosting rights on 17th November 2011.
� At least 20 countries are going to participate in the tournament by playing forty eight games.
� The organization responsibilities are going to be shared by the international Rugby Board, local authorities, major sporting stadiums and the rugby New Zealand among others
As a fan, if you want to get more about rugby world cup, use some of the reputable resources found online. By becoming an informed fan, it becomes increasingly easy to make wise decisions whether placing you want to place your bet or simply ensuring you don't miss any of the games. [http://onlinerugbysportsbetting.com/featured/rugby-world-cup-2011-sports-betting/]Rugby world cup 2011 is what you need to be on the lookout for and through [http://onlinerugbysportsbetting.com/featured/rugby-world-cup-2011-sports-betting/]rugby world cup, you get the opportunity to enjoy a variety of benefits such as the opportunity to bet.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Get-Adequate-Information-About-Rugby-World-Cup-2011&id=6339871] Get Adequate Information About Rugby World Cup 2011
Throughout the world, the rugby world cup is ranked as the 3rd largest event. It is due to this fact that it is known to attract a large following and the 2011 rugby world cup is not any different. It is expected to attract more than sixty thousand international visitors and it will be covered by more than two thousand international media houses. For this reason, it is also expected to attract a large TV audience amounting to more than 4 billion people. The world cup is expected to deliver over $ 267 million to the region through direct economical benefits. There are a couple of highlights that make the event more appealing to fans and they include the following.
� Betting
It is due to all these facts it is important to know more about the game and what it has to offer. As people talk endlessly about the game, you should find a way of capitalizing on it in order to make money. There are several online sites designed to make this possible and this is through the following betting. Thanks to such sites, you can place your bet for the 2011 game and enjoy some cash benefits. There are several online sites that give fans the opportunity to bet on their favorite teams. While this is the case, it is advisable to find a reputable site before doing this. In this regard, you should also be on the lookout for free bets.
� Fixtures
The fixtures are comprised of 6 crazy weeks which begin on 9th September 2011 and they end on 23rd October 2011. In order to understand the fixtures it is advisable to find a website that offers the same. This especially comes in handy for people interested in betting. They will receive a clear outline of the games as they are expected to be played as well as the different pools participating in the game. The best thing about getting fixtures ahead of the game is the fact that it keeps sports lovers well informed about what they should expect before the curtain closes down. Additionally, it also offers reliable information about the playoffs and the teams expected to participate in the same.
� Important Facts
The following are some of the 2011 rugby world cup facts that you have to keep in mind in order to enjoy the season.
� For starters, New Zealand got the hosting rights on 17th November 2011.
� At least 20 countries are going to participate in the tournament by playing forty eight games.
� The organization responsibilities are going to be shared by the international Rugby Board, local authorities, major sporting stadiums and the rugby New Zealand among others
As a fan, if you want to get more about rugby world cup, use some of the reputable resources found online. By becoming an informed fan, it becomes increasingly easy to make wise decisions whether placing you want to place your bet or simply ensuring you don't miss any of the games. [http://onlinerugbysportsbetting.com/featured/rugby-world-cup-2011-sports-betting/]Rugby world cup 2011 is what you need to be on the lookout for and through [http://onlinerugbysportsbetting.com/featured/rugby-world-cup-2011-sports-betting/]rugby world cup, you get the opportunity to enjoy a variety of benefits such as the opportunity to bet.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Get-Adequate-Information-About-Rugby-World-Cup-2011&id=6339871] Get Adequate Information About Rugby World Cup 2011
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Huddersfield Giants
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mohammed_Sarwar]Mohammed Sarwar
Huddersfield is steeped in Rugby League history having been one of the original 22 clubs who formed what was known as the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895. In those days, and up until 1992 the club played at the Fartown ground and are often referred to by that name, particularly by the more senior of their following. From 1994 onwards they have been ground sharing with their soccer counterparts Huddersfield Town at the Galpharm Stadium. This partnership has been a great financial boost to both clubs and gives the rugby league and soccer fans of Huddersfield their very own mecca.
The Galpharm Stadium, originally known as the Alfred McAlpine Stadium, was opened in 1994 and has a capacity of 24,995. The stadium, which cost an estimated �40 million pounds to build, has hosted many high profile games including the World Cup semi finals in 1995 and 2000 where the Huddersfield faithful witnessed the awesome power of the Australian Rugby League national team.
The club is now known as Huddersfield Giants and they play in the European Super League, a competitive league which attracts some serious attention from the media in particular Sky Sports who feature many of the games live on TV. This generates a lot of revenue for the participating clubs. Being the home of rugby league, the north of England proudly boasts several of the European Super League teams. Household names such as Bradford Bulls, Leeds Rhinos, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and Warrington Wolves number amongst these. Games between any of these northern sides attract a lot of attention and the rivalry between the sets of supporters almost guarantees cup tie like tension.
In recent years Huddersfield Giants have built a very rewarding partnership with Co-operative Championship side Batley Bulldogs, This union has all the makings of being successful and the supporters of both sides have warmed to this partnership. Batley is also one of the original twenty-two rugby league football clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895. Many Huddersfield players have gone on to represent their countries, England, Wales, Scotland and even Great Britain.
Huddersfield Giants play in Claret and Gold and have an impressive record in competition over the years. They have won the Championship seven times, the last time being in 1962. They have also won the Challenge Cup on six occasions. They have had their highs and lows having been down as far as the third division, which they were champions of in 1992. The do hold on auspicious record for the most points score in a season amassing a massive one thousand one hundred and fifty six points in the 2001 - 2002 season.
2006 will remain in many supporters memories as one of the finest years in the clubs history. Having signed a host of new players, including the legendary New Zealander Robbie Paul, to strengthen the side the battled through to the Challenge Cup final, having a notable victory in the semi final against the strong favourites Bradford Bulls. Whilst they did not lift the trophy on this occasion it was a season which laid the groundwork for future success.
If you are a Rugby League fan Huddersfield is definitely worth a visit. There are some great, good value hotels in Huddersfield to accommodate you.
Mohammed Sarwar runs one of the best hotels in Huddersfield the [http://www.cambridge-lodge-hotel.co.uk]http://www.cambridge-lodge-hotel.co.uk. It is ideally situated for access to the football stadium and the city attractions.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Huddersfield-Giants&id=6342533] Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield is steeped in Rugby League history having been one of the original 22 clubs who formed what was known as the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895. In those days, and up until 1992 the club played at the Fartown ground and are often referred to by that name, particularly by the more senior of their following. From 1994 onwards they have been ground sharing with their soccer counterparts Huddersfield Town at the Galpharm Stadium. This partnership has been a great financial boost to both clubs and gives the rugby league and soccer fans of Huddersfield their very own mecca.
The Galpharm Stadium, originally known as the Alfred McAlpine Stadium, was opened in 1994 and has a capacity of 24,995. The stadium, which cost an estimated �40 million pounds to build, has hosted many high profile games including the World Cup semi finals in 1995 and 2000 where the Huddersfield faithful witnessed the awesome power of the Australian Rugby League national team.
The club is now known as Huddersfield Giants and they play in the European Super League, a competitive league which attracts some serious attention from the media in particular Sky Sports who feature many of the games live on TV. This generates a lot of revenue for the participating clubs. Being the home of rugby league, the north of England proudly boasts several of the European Super League teams. Household names such as Bradford Bulls, Leeds Rhinos, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and Warrington Wolves number amongst these. Games between any of these northern sides attract a lot of attention and the rivalry between the sets of supporters almost guarantees cup tie like tension.
In recent years Huddersfield Giants have built a very rewarding partnership with Co-operative Championship side Batley Bulldogs, This union has all the makings of being successful and the supporters of both sides have warmed to this partnership. Batley is also one of the original twenty-two rugby league football clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895. Many Huddersfield players have gone on to represent their countries, England, Wales, Scotland and even Great Britain.
Huddersfield Giants play in Claret and Gold and have an impressive record in competition over the years. They have won the Championship seven times, the last time being in 1962. They have also won the Challenge Cup on six occasions. They have had their highs and lows having been down as far as the third division, which they were champions of in 1992. The do hold on auspicious record for the most points score in a season amassing a massive one thousand one hundred and fifty six points in the 2001 - 2002 season.
2006 will remain in many supporters memories as one of the finest years in the clubs history. Having signed a host of new players, including the legendary New Zealander Robbie Paul, to strengthen the side the battled through to the Challenge Cup final, having a notable victory in the semi final against the strong favourites Bradford Bulls. Whilst they did not lift the trophy on this occasion it was a season which laid the groundwork for future success.
If you are a Rugby League fan Huddersfield is definitely worth a visit. There are some great, good value hotels in Huddersfield to accommodate you.
Mohammed Sarwar runs one of the best hotels in Huddersfield the [http://www.cambridge-lodge-hotel.co.uk]http://www.cambridge-lodge-hotel.co.uk. It is ideally situated for access to the football stadium and the city attractions.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Huddersfield-Giants&id=6342533] Huddersfield Giants
Friday, January 20, 2012
The Law Is Not Fair - It Is Just
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Paul_Dolan]Paul Dolan
The title for this post comes from a lecturer that I had in college, she was a retired solicitor and was teaching us a module on law. After she would tell us about some old case we would always bemoan that the judgement wasn't fair and her reply was always "The law is not fair; it is just".
All sports have rules or so players and coaches would say. Referees on the other hand refer to these guidelines as the laws of the game. Tag rugby is no different. There are quite a few laws associated with tag rugby. Now, don't worry I don't intend on listing off every single last one. If you are looking for a definitive run down on the laws of the game. I have placed links to the relevant sites where you can brush up on the laws of the game at the end of this article.
Aside from the actual laws of the game, the game itself has a simple philosophy surrounding it. This is quite simply enjoyment, everyone should enjoy themselves and play for the fun and social aspects to the game. The simplest way that this will happen is when everyone comes to the game in the spirit of participation. That's all well and good you might say, but what if you are a competitive person or the team you play on is of a high skill level and expectation? If this is the case that is fine too, because you will find that the players and teams you will be playing against are of the same mindset. But for 80% of players and teams, it is all about getting out for a few hours during the week and having a few drinks after the game with your friends.
The venues are run in such a way that a carnival atmosphere is created and everyone takes a more relaxed approach to the whole event, even the referee's, believe it or not! Ah yes, the referee, the men and quite often the women in the middle. Tag rugby referee's can come from a few different backgrounds. Some are 15-a-side rugby union referee's, some are former players and only referee tag rugby and others have no previous rugby knowledge but want to start refereeing rugby.
I referee tag rugby and have done so now for the past three seasons, I was a player in my youth and do love watching rugby, so for me it is an enjoyable experience. I have only refereed IRFU tag rugby matches and therefore I can only speak about the IRFU's approach to the sport. The main message that is given by the IRFU to tag rugby referee's is to let the game flow and try to make sure that both teams enjoy the game.
Basically, I and other tag rugby referee's take a holistic approach to refereeing the games. Having said that, the game has laws and those laws have to be enforced as well as adhered to. So, without further ado, here is the shorthand version of five laws that are most commonly seen. I will be explaining the reason for the law, not the actual law itself, for this please go to the websites listed further up this post.
Offside - This law applies to both attackers and defenders. The purpose of the law is to primarily allow the attacking team space. It also reduces the chances of contact occurring and keeps the game fluid. The referee enforces this law by asking the defending team to stay seven meters back from the attacking team.
Contact - Contact between players is strictly prohibited. The reason for this is simple, to reduce the chances of injury to players, especially if there are female players on the field. To avoid contact just remember that the defender must mark the space he/she thinks an attacker will run into and the attacker must attack the space between defenders. This law is strictly enforced by referee's. That is not to say that injuries can occur. For example,in a game I refereed recently one of the players had to leave the field because he pulled his hamstring. This happens so warming up correctly is always advisable.
Tagging - Specifically early or late tagging. This is when a defender tags his/her opponent either before they receive the ball or after the ball has left their hands. The reason this law is enforced is because by doing either of the above the defender is being cynical. The attacker, if tagged early or late will have an advantage but they will have to retrieve their tag and it can also lead to confusion whereby they may stop running momentarily giving the defending team a slight advantage. Referee's will use their discretion when it comes to tagging, if the ball and tag occur together, the referee will usually call "play on", "ball away". Otherwise advantage will be called and a penalty may arise or a yellow card if the offense is repeated.
Roll ball - When a roll ball occurs there are three people involved; the person who was tagged, the defender (marker) and the scrum-half. There are a few laws happening here. First the marker must not encroach upon the scrum-half until they have played the ball, either passed it or picked it up and run with it. The reasons for this are many. For starters it can lead to an accidental collision and possible injury, secondly it can cause irritation to the team with the ball which could manifest itself in tempers becoming frayed and thirdly the mechanics of such an action means that the marker is offside. From the defenders point of view, they are not allowed to block the marker from moving in on the scrum-half, once the scrum-half has played the ball. This is again two fold, potential collision scenario and frustrating the opposition (gamesmanship). Finally, the scrum-half (the person playing the ball), they must play the ball within 3-5 seconds of the ball being placed back to them. Not doing so will result in a penalty mainly because it is seen as time wasting and could also be used as a form of gamesmanship. So, marker stay until the scrum-half either passes, runs or is standing upright with ball in hand. Defender, don't impede the marker and scrum-half play the ball quickly after the rolling back of the ball has occurred.
Kicking - Kicking the ball is allowed, but only out of hand and once the ball doesn't go above shoulder height (mixed games). If the ball is loose on the ground, no player is allowed to put their foot to the ball and kick it. The reason again is down to safety and avoiding collisions or contact. If the ball is kicked too high, then players are watching the ball and not each other, this is where a collision can occur. If the ball is on the ground, the following may occur; a player may be in the act of picking the ball up while another player is in the act of striking the ball with their foot. This could end up in one player being kicked in the face, arm, hand or body and may end up in an injury.
Like I said, for the full outline of all the laws, go to the sites mentioned above. Most of the time, all players and referee's need to apply is some common sense. But as a friend of mine used to say, "Common sense ain't that common!".�
Thanks for reading this post. Next time I might go into some tactics and strategies that can be applied by tag rugby teams during a game.
rel=nofollow http://www.irishrugby.ie/tagrugby/usefulinfo/index.php for IRFU tag laws and here rel=nofollow http://www.tagrugby.ie/Basic-Rules-of-Tag-Rugby.html for ITRA tag rugby laws
There are a few small differences between the IRFU laws and the ITRA laws but small enough that it would be easy to adapt to playing both codes without much adjustment being required.
Paul Dolan aka Tagger
Learn more about tag rugby at http://tagrugbyireland.blogspot.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Law-Is-Not-Fair---It-Is-Just&id=6351693] The Law Is Not Fair - It Is Just
The title for this post comes from a lecturer that I had in college, she was a retired solicitor and was teaching us a module on law. After she would tell us about some old case we would always bemoan that the judgement wasn't fair and her reply was always "The law is not fair; it is just".
All sports have rules or so players and coaches would say. Referees on the other hand refer to these guidelines as the laws of the game. Tag rugby is no different. There are quite a few laws associated with tag rugby. Now, don't worry I don't intend on listing off every single last one. If you are looking for a definitive run down on the laws of the game. I have placed links to the relevant sites where you can brush up on the laws of the game at the end of this article.
Aside from the actual laws of the game, the game itself has a simple philosophy surrounding it. This is quite simply enjoyment, everyone should enjoy themselves and play for the fun and social aspects to the game. The simplest way that this will happen is when everyone comes to the game in the spirit of participation. That's all well and good you might say, but what if you are a competitive person or the team you play on is of a high skill level and expectation? If this is the case that is fine too, because you will find that the players and teams you will be playing against are of the same mindset. But for 80% of players and teams, it is all about getting out for a few hours during the week and having a few drinks after the game with your friends.
The venues are run in such a way that a carnival atmosphere is created and everyone takes a more relaxed approach to the whole event, even the referee's, believe it or not! Ah yes, the referee, the men and quite often the women in the middle. Tag rugby referee's can come from a few different backgrounds. Some are 15-a-side rugby union referee's, some are former players and only referee tag rugby and others have no previous rugby knowledge but want to start refereeing rugby.
I referee tag rugby and have done so now for the past three seasons, I was a player in my youth and do love watching rugby, so for me it is an enjoyable experience. I have only refereed IRFU tag rugby matches and therefore I can only speak about the IRFU's approach to the sport. The main message that is given by the IRFU to tag rugby referee's is to let the game flow and try to make sure that both teams enjoy the game.
Basically, I and other tag rugby referee's take a holistic approach to refereeing the games. Having said that, the game has laws and those laws have to be enforced as well as adhered to. So, without further ado, here is the shorthand version of five laws that are most commonly seen. I will be explaining the reason for the law, not the actual law itself, for this please go to the websites listed further up this post.
Offside - This law applies to both attackers and defenders. The purpose of the law is to primarily allow the attacking team space. It also reduces the chances of contact occurring and keeps the game fluid. The referee enforces this law by asking the defending team to stay seven meters back from the attacking team.
Contact - Contact between players is strictly prohibited. The reason for this is simple, to reduce the chances of injury to players, especially if there are female players on the field. To avoid contact just remember that the defender must mark the space he/she thinks an attacker will run into and the attacker must attack the space between defenders. This law is strictly enforced by referee's. That is not to say that injuries can occur. For example,in a game I refereed recently one of the players had to leave the field because he pulled his hamstring. This happens so warming up correctly is always advisable.
Tagging - Specifically early or late tagging. This is when a defender tags his/her opponent either before they receive the ball or after the ball has left their hands. The reason this law is enforced is because by doing either of the above the defender is being cynical. The attacker, if tagged early or late will have an advantage but they will have to retrieve their tag and it can also lead to confusion whereby they may stop running momentarily giving the defending team a slight advantage. Referee's will use their discretion when it comes to tagging, if the ball and tag occur together, the referee will usually call "play on", "ball away". Otherwise advantage will be called and a penalty may arise or a yellow card if the offense is repeated.
Roll ball - When a roll ball occurs there are three people involved; the person who was tagged, the defender (marker) and the scrum-half. There are a few laws happening here. First the marker must not encroach upon the scrum-half until they have played the ball, either passed it or picked it up and run with it. The reasons for this are many. For starters it can lead to an accidental collision and possible injury, secondly it can cause irritation to the team with the ball which could manifest itself in tempers becoming frayed and thirdly the mechanics of such an action means that the marker is offside. From the defenders point of view, they are not allowed to block the marker from moving in on the scrum-half, once the scrum-half has played the ball. This is again two fold, potential collision scenario and frustrating the opposition (gamesmanship). Finally, the scrum-half (the person playing the ball), they must play the ball within 3-5 seconds of the ball being placed back to them. Not doing so will result in a penalty mainly because it is seen as time wasting and could also be used as a form of gamesmanship. So, marker stay until the scrum-half either passes, runs or is standing upright with ball in hand. Defender, don't impede the marker and scrum-half play the ball quickly after the rolling back of the ball has occurred.
Kicking - Kicking the ball is allowed, but only out of hand and once the ball doesn't go above shoulder height (mixed games). If the ball is loose on the ground, no player is allowed to put their foot to the ball and kick it. The reason again is down to safety and avoiding collisions or contact. If the ball is kicked too high, then players are watching the ball and not each other, this is where a collision can occur. If the ball is on the ground, the following may occur; a player may be in the act of picking the ball up while another player is in the act of striking the ball with their foot. This could end up in one player being kicked in the face, arm, hand or body and may end up in an injury.
Like I said, for the full outline of all the laws, go to the sites mentioned above. Most of the time, all players and referee's need to apply is some common sense. But as a friend of mine used to say, "Common sense ain't that common!".�
Thanks for reading this post. Next time I might go into some tactics and strategies that can be applied by tag rugby teams during a game.
rel=nofollow http://www.irishrugby.ie/tagrugby/usefulinfo/index.php for IRFU tag laws and here rel=nofollow http://www.tagrugby.ie/Basic-Rules-of-Tag-Rugby.html for ITRA tag rugby laws
There are a few small differences between the IRFU laws and the ITRA laws but small enough that it would be easy to adapt to playing both codes without much adjustment being required.
Paul Dolan aka Tagger
Learn more about tag rugby at http://tagrugbyireland.blogspot.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Law-Is-Not-Fair---It-Is-Just&id=6351693] The Law Is Not Fair - It Is Just
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
The Barbarians Rugby Team - Now and Then
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Paul_Hesketh]Paul Hesketh
The Barbarians or the BaaBaas as they are often called are a unique invitational team with its origins in the United Kingdom. To play for the Barbarians rugby team is a great sporting honour, if selected the standard of rugby you play requires a high enough free-flowing quality to prove justifiable wearing the famous black and white jersey. The BaaBaas squad choice is not purely based on players from the United Kingdom, it is an all-star team assembled from around the globe with the colours of their parent club still on show through the players match socks, another tradition unique to the Barbarians heritage.
The Barbarian Rugby Club formed by William Percy Carpmael back in the 19th century; his idea of creating a touring team from all rugby sources to take on club and national sides was an instant hit. This philosophy of using players from all sources was recently proven with the surprise inclusion of Willie Mason. The ex Australian rugby league forward who recently converted to rugby union made a cameo appearance in the latter stages of the game against Wales, even producing a match winning moment of brilliance; a choice like this is why the Barbarians allure and longevity in the game has stood the test of time, even in the modern financially driven rugby arena.
Famous players to wear the black and white shirt range from Bill Beaumont to Zinzan Brooke, David Campese to Gareth Edwards to name just few. In the recent 2011 matches (heavily dominated by French and Italian club players) against the English and Welsh, the Barbarians line up proved it remains a truly competitive challenge for any opposition. While both matches were close hard-fought contests, against England the BaaBaas wrestled back a 17 point deficit, managing to convert this into a 6 point lead, with the final score 38-32 in favour of the BaaBaas, even with a slight underlying air of end of season finality it was a stirring match performance.
Two back to back wins against very well established national teams proves there is still a lot of room in the game for an association like the Barbarians, on average the team plays six games a year and they should very much remain part of the rugby calendar for years to come, its tradition of always selecting one uncapped player is something to commend. To pull on the rel=nofollow [http://www.cottontraders.co.uk/barbarians-rugby-shirt-short-sleeve/invt/ae10426/]Barbarians rugby shirt is part of every professional players bucket list before they hang up their rugby boots.
Visit Cotton Traders for a great selection of [http://www.cottontraders.co.uk/rugby-store/barbarians/icat/barbarians-rugby/]Barbarians rugby clothing
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Barbarians-Rugby-Team---Now-and-Then&id=6368071] The Barbarians Rugby Team - Now and Then
The Barbarians or the BaaBaas as they are often called are a unique invitational team with its origins in the United Kingdom. To play for the Barbarians rugby team is a great sporting honour, if selected the standard of rugby you play requires a high enough free-flowing quality to prove justifiable wearing the famous black and white jersey. The BaaBaas squad choice is not purely based on players from the United Kingdom, it is an all-star team assembled from around the globe with the colours of their parent club still on show through the players match socks, another tradition unique to the Barbarians heritage.
The Barbarian Rugby Club formed by William Percy Carpmael back in the 19th century; his idea of creating a touring team from all rugby sources to take on club and national sides was an instant hit. This philosophy of using players from all sources was recently proven with the surprise inclusion of Willie Mason. The ex Australian rugby league forward who recently converted to rugby union made a cameo appearance in the latter stages of the game against Wales, even producing a match winning moment of brilliance; a choice like this is why the Barbarians allure and longevity in the game has stood the test of time, even in the modern financially driven rugby arena.
Famous players to wear the black and white shirt range from Bill Beaumont to Zinzan Brooke, David Campese to Gareth Edwards to name just few. In the recent 2011 matches (heavily dominated by French and Italian club players) against the English and Welsh, the Barbarians line up proved it remains a truly competitive challenge for any opposition. While both matches were close hard-fought contests, against England the BaaBaas wrestled back a 17 point deficit, managing to convert this into a 6 point lead, with the final score 38-32 in favour of the BaaBaas, even with a slight underlying air of end of season finality it was a stirring match performance.
Two back to back wins against very well established national teams proves there is still a lot of room in the game for an association like the Barbarians, on average the team plays six games a year and they should very much remain part of the rugby calendar for years to come, its tradition of always selecting one uncapped player is something to commend. To pull on the rel=nofollow [http://www.cottontraders.co.uk/barbarians-rugby-shirt-short-sleeve/invt/ae10426/]Barbarians rugby shirt is part of every professional players bucket list before they hang up their rugby boots.
Visit Cotton Traders for a great selection of [http://www.cottontraders.co.uk/rugby-store/barbarians/icat/barbarians-rugby/]Barbarians rugby clothing
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Barbarians-Rugby-Team---Now-and-Then&id=6368071] The Barbarians Rugby Team - Now and Then
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