ENGLAND RUGBY
SEPTEMBER 2009: IN REVIEW

England U18s - 31 Strong Conference Squad 2009/10

There are four survivors from last season's Under 18 Six Nations Festival side in fly half George Ford (Rishworth & Leicester Tigers), flanker Billy Vunipola (Harrow & London Wasps), lock Sam Twomey (Dulwich College & Harlequins) and centre Jamie Elliott (Bedford & Northampton Saints).

Also included is centre Chris Elder (RGS High Wycombe & London Wasps), whose brother Peter was named in the England Under 20 Elite Player Squad earlier this month.

England are unbeaten at Under 18 level for the last two seasons and the coaching staff led by John Fletcher will develop the new team in the four Conference games against the Academy sides from the South West, London & South East, North and Midlands.

England U18 flanker Billy Vunipola

ENGLAND U18 CONFERENCE FIXTURES
September 20: England U18 Conference v South West Academies (Bath, 2.30)
October 30: England U18 Conference v London Academies (Bisham Abbey)
November 22: England U18 Conference v North Academies (Leeds Univ)
January 17: England U18 Conference v Midlands Academies (Northampton)

ENGLAND U18 INTERNATIONAL FIXTURES
December 13: England U18 v Australia Schools (H)
February 20: England U18 v France (H)
March 7: England U18 v Italy (A)
March 28: England U18 v Wales (A)
April 4-11: England U18 Six Nations Festival games v Ireland & Scotland

Full squad and fixture list here

England launch new home kit

Produced by Nike, the lightest and most innovative playing jersey yet sees England return to a classic all-white playing strip with the shirt boasting an open neck collar and iconic embroidered rose.

Along with the shirt, the shorts and socks have been developed to improve comfort and moisture management for the full 80 minutes of the game. For the shorts, Nike has used two fabrics: a woven ripstop as the main fabric, ideal for lifting in the lineout, and a chamois to keep the players' hands dry and the front gusset design provides maximum range of movement for the players in all situations.

Photo: RFU

More here

RAGING BULL debuts leisure & sportswear range on new website

England legend Phil Vickery’s performance rugby wear and leisure clothing range is the fast-growing clothing brand of choice for rugby players and fashion-conscious fans. The new-look website debuts Raging Bull’s new season collection, which includes new designs across Vickery’s sportswear and casual capsules, including his flagship signature rugby jersey, brushed hoody, new long sleeve rugby and sweat pants too.

The website incorporates all-new Spin Me photo-technology, which allows customers to view clothing in 360 degrees and zone-in on the attention to style, detail and quality fabrics used.

Original story here

Olympic decision coming soon for rugby sevens

On October 9 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will decide whether rugby sevens will join the 2016 Olympic Games Programme.

Not since 1924 has rugby featured in the Games when the USA were victorious over France, but last month rugby sevens along with golf was recommended for inclusion by the IOC Executive Board.

Growing year on year the IRB Sevens World Series now visits eight countries, attracting hundreds of players and thousands of fans with Hong Kong regularly selling out its 120,000 capacity stadium. May's Emirates Airline London Sevens at Twickenham was attended by a record 62,000 people over two days.

Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai also attracted thousands last March with broadcast figures shattering all previous records - 28 broadcasters carried live coverage to 141 countries to a global audience of 760 million and for the first time a 16-team women's world cup event was included.

Fans cheer on Fiji at the London Sevens

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RFU crackdown on black market tickets hits 200 mark

The Rugby Football Union has imposed sanctions on 41 clubs, constituent bodies, schools and individuals found to have contravened the 2009 RBS 6 Nations ticket terms and conditions for matches at Twickenham Stadium.

The measures form part of the Union's continued strategic plan objective to reduce the number of tickets sold on the black market and brings the number of sanctions handed out in the past two years to 211, ranging from a suspended 10 per cent reduction in entitlement to a four year total ticket ban.

RFU Business Operations Director Paul Vaughan said: "The fact that we have now imposed over 200 sanctions shows our commitment to reducing the number of tickets reaching the black market. We remain determined to take action against those who breach our ticketing terms and conditions by reselling them to unauthorised operators or even advertising tickets for resale."

Full details here

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