Latest news with #CadanMurley
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Last-gasp Van Poortvliet try gives England series win over Pumas
England's Cadan Murley, center right, and Argentina's Nicolas Roger fight for the ball during a rugby test match in San Juan, Argentina, Saturday, July 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nicolas Aguilera) England's Cadan Murley, right, reaches for the ball during a rugby test match against Argentina in San Juan, Argentina, Saturday, July 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nicolas Aguilera) England's Cadan Murley, center right, and Argentina's Nicolas Roger fight for the ball during a rugby test match in San Juan, Argentina, Saturday, July 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nicolas Aguilera) England's Cadan Murley, right, reaches for the ball during a rugby test match against Argentina in San Juan, Argentina, Saturday, July 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nicolas Aguilera) SAN JUAN, Argentina (AP) — Jack van Poortvliet's last-gasp try earned England a 22-17 win over Argentina and another test series victory in Pumas country on Saturday. An England team without 15 British and Irish Lions upheld its record of never losing a series in Argentina since the first tour in 1981. Advertisement The match was headed for a 17-17 draw until, with a minute left, Argentina spilled possession on its 40-meter line and England counterattacked. Replacement back-rower Guy Pepper burst into the open, ran over or drew the last three defenders and gave backup scrumhalf Van Poortvliet a clear run to the tryline. George Ford couldn't convert from the sideline, missing his first goalkick off the tee in the two tests, but the tour captain was rapt with his young team's success against a Pumas team which beat the Lions three weeks ago. 'We found a way in the end,' Ford said. 'We had a lot of opportunities in the 22 but we just couldn't execute. I like our fight, our togetherness, showing how much we care for each other. We should have scored more tries but the attitude of the group is great.' After a ding-dong first half in which the lead swapped four times, Ford's tying penalty was the only score in the second half until the end. England spent most of the second spell in Argentina's half but the Pumas hustled and scrambled in defense. Advertisement Overall, England had 17 visits in Argentina's 22 in the match but scored only three tries. But it was just enough after hammering the Pumas 35-12 in La Plata last weekend. ___ AP rugby:
Al Arabiya
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Depleted England Clinical Against the Pumas in La Plata
England without 13 British and Irish Lions stunned recent Lions conqueror Argentina 35–12 in test rugby on Saturday. Argentina beat the Lions 28–24 in Dublin two weeks ago for the first time and left most of the team intact for its first test at home this year. But Argentina's failure to score any points in a first half it dominated came back to bite it as England opened the new half by suddenly running the ball and scoring three tries in seven minutes. The Pumas came back with two tries to forwards Pablo Matera–his 110th appearance tying Agustin Creevy's national caps record–and Pedro Rubiolo. But that's all England allowed in an impressive show of depth and ruthless efficiency. It even finished with a flourish. Replacement wing Cadan Murley scored the fourth try and co-captain George Ford, who became the eighth man to play 100 England tests, capped off a surprisingly emphatic win with 15 points and a try assist.
The Independent
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Co-captain George Ford to win 100th cap as England blend youth and experience against Argentina
George Ford will become the eighth Englishman to reach a century of caps for his country after being named co-captain of Steve Borthwick 's side against Argentina. Fly half Ford will lead the side in combination with another centurion as Jamie George provides yet more experience in the front row, while Henry Slade, Freddie Steward and Sam Underhill are among those to provide experience elsewhere. Bath wing Will Muir and Gloucester centre Seb Atkinson are primed to start on debut with flanker Guy Pepper, a teammate of Muir's at the Premiership champions, in line for his first cap off the bench. There is no Immanuel Feyi-Waboso after his suspension; Cadan Murley is set to return to the side for the first time since the opening game of the Six Nations after being named as one of two backs on the bench. 'George has been a standout player for over a decade,' head coach Borthwick said. 'Reaching 100 caps is a remarkable achievement, and it speaks volumes about both the professional and the person he is. Everyone in the squad is incredibly proud to share this moment with him. 'We're excited to be playing in Argentina and to test ourselves against a strong, in-form side,' said Borthwick. 'Having beaten the British & Irish Lions in Dublin, they come into this series as favourites. They're brilliantly led by Julián Montoya, and we know it will be a huge challenge.' England XV to face Argentina in La Plata (Saturday 5 July, 8.40pm BST): 1 Fin Baxter, 2 Jamie George (co-capt.), 3 Joe Heyes; 4 Charlie Ewels, 5 Alex Coles; 6 Ben Curry, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Tom Willis; 9 Ben Spencer, 10 George Ford (co-capt.); 11 Will Muir, 12 Seb Atkinson, 13 Henry Slade, 14 Tom Roebuck; 15 Freddie Steward.
Telegraph
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Cadan Murley interview: Pressure got to me on England debut, but I have more to give
In the modern game, with Test matches dotting July and the imminent British and Irish Lions tour stretching into August, players must pause on the cusp of a summer tour and feel as though they have endured a non-stop stretch of three or four seasons. Cadan Murley is a case in point. While his 2024-25 campaign has already been packed with storylines, the 25-year-old Harlequin is straining to finish off with one more comeback tale. To rewind and recap, Murley needed to overcome an injury to begin this term. When he was unleashed, he bagged a brace for England A in November. Over what he describes as a 'topsy-turvy, frustrating season' that ended with Harlequins seventh in the Premiership table, Murley's prolific try-scoring was one of few constants for his club on the domestic front. Somewhere in the middle was Dublin, and a long-awaited Test debut that represented a lurching roller-coaster in itself. Murley blasted out of the blocks, latching on to Henry Slade's grubber to dot down for England within nine minutes. That's how you make your @EnglandRugby debut 😎 Cadan Murley 👏👏👏 #GuinnessM6N — Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 1, 2025 In the second half, as Ireland squeezed, a couple of glaring errors cropped up in the back field. Murley would persist, though. He defended robustly – most of England's issues came down the other flank – and bustled through to put Tom Curry clear late on. All the while, Murley was battling a stress fracture that eventually sidelined him until mid-April. 'It's still the proudest day of my life to date,' he insists. 'It's something I wouldn't have dreamed of doing even getting into my teens. To have played around 130 times for Harlequins and represented my country is incredible. But having that little taste has now made me want it so much more – so much more. 'I think I'd been in camp so many times that when the moment came, there was so much going on in my head. I thought: 'I really have to make my mark here'. In some ways, I think I really did. In other ways, the pressure of everything brought about little brain farts. That's what happens in professional sport and people judge you. 'I still really want to show what I can do in an England shirt because I think I have more to give.' Learning to thrive under pressure Passionate yet phlegmatic, Murley does not attempt to dodge talking about the difficult moments; spilling a Jamison Gibson-Park box-kick and being man-handled back over his own try-line. 'You don't lose, you learn and I've just got to learn from these things,' he shrugs. 'It gave me the sense of what it is like to be an international and what level you have to be at. 'Before that, I'd played over 100 games for Harlequins. I hadn't gone into a game thinking: 'This is it, everyone is rooting for you, you have to perform'. There is so much pressure on it that you can overthink. Now I know what that's like, hopefully I can go one better.' The setback that Murley sustained at the Aviva Stadium ranks as 'one of the weirdest injuries' of his burgeoning career. He felt slight soreness during the build-up, as though someone had stamped on him. Physios did not detect any structural damage, and match-day arrived. 'In the warm-up, I felt fine,' Murley continues. 'Then it was off a little counter-attack in the first half, I stepped off my left foot and it was like: 'Oh, that is sore.' At half-time I needed pain-killers to sort it out. 'Adrenaline gets you through and I was walking around afterwards. I had an X-ray and there wasn't much there, but stress fractures show up over time. I went and saw a specialist, who said I'd had a 'stress response' but that it could develop. The swelling tends to start inside the bone and there is a lot of pressure and swelling. I was going to have a week on crutches and then another scan. 'That scan showed a stress fracture all the way through my fourth met [metatarsal], which ruled me out for a few months and it's a weird rehab process because you can't do anything for it apart from sit around, take calcium and vitamin D tablets and wait for the bone to heal. 'It was a good opportunity to reset my body, fix my body and put a plan in place to come back quicker and stronger and get back into that jersey.' Feeling backed by Borthwick Upon introducing new players to the top level, Steve Borthwick has continually stressed his desire for them to stick around; the implication being that rookies will be granted time to settle. With that in mind, it is encouraging that Murley felt nothing but support from the England head coach – not that he will take a second Test for granted. 'He seemed buzzing for me,' Murley says of Borthwick. 'I'd like to hope there is a plan in place for me [to come back], but there have been so many good English wingers in the league this year that it all comes down to form and who's playing best, doesn't it? We'll see who gets on the plane.' Named alongside Tom Roebuck, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Will Muir as one of four specialist wings in the latest England training squad, Murley appears in a strong position ahead of this weekend's uncapped meeting with a France XV and the subsequent trip to Argentina and the USA. An encounter with Rodrigo Isgro, his fellow Harlequin and one of the 'freakish athletes' available to the Pumas, is a big draw. Two perhaps underappreciated factors pressing Murley's case are his leadership and his own explosive dynamism. Jon Murley, awarded an OBE in 2018, spent 37 years in the military as a member of the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers. He doubled up as Cadan's coach as the family moved around, and still rates as an inspiration to his son. 'If you can hold a group of 20 teenagers, you're doing pretty well,' Cadan says. 'Dad is a great speaker.' Having recently helped Richmond to the top of National 1, earning promotion into the Championship, Murley junior wants to progress as a coach by completing his level three qualification. At Harlequins, he has been Alex Dombrandt's vice-captain, tapping into what Jon has taught him, and is particularly passionate about breaking down hierarchies so youngsters can thrive. 'In this day and age, you have so many good 18, 19, 20-year-olds coming through,' Murley explains. 'There's still a need to earn respect but I think you've got to treat everyone the same. That's the sign of a good leader.' Another inheritance from his father, Murley believes, is a relish for off-field work. Andre Esterhuizen, the Springboks centre and a former Harlequin, recently labelled Murley as the most impressive back he had come across in the gym – quite the statement given the specimens in South Africa. Murley's personal best on the squat rack is a set of three at 220kg and he has 'put up 155kg for a couple' on the bench press as well. Thanks largely to James Wild, a sprint consultant with a PhD in biomechanics and motor control, Murley has become more dangerous in open spaces. Having joined Harlequins as an inside centre only to edge wider, improving top-end speed has been a continual pursuit. Sitting on 18 tries from 18 appearances in all competitions, his peak velocity over the year so far has been 10.3m/sec, reached when chasing down Christian Wade in a loss to Gloucester at Kingsholm around Christmas. A more ambitious mind-set with ball in hand has been laid bare at other points; notably when evading Freddie Steward to score against Leicester Tigers and for a solo stunner at Ashton Gate. Clinical counter from Harlequins 💥 Nobody can catch Caden Murley ⚡️ #GallagherPrem #HARvLEI — Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) December 28, 2024 Harlequins would eventually slip to defeat, but Murley gave them hope before half-time with his second finish, searing between Gabriel Oghre and Bill Mata before rounding Benhard Janse van Rensburg. WHEELS 🏎️ Cadan Murley is rapid! 🤯 #GallagherPrem — Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) June 2, 2025 'When you do break the line, speed kills,' he says. 'It's how you transfer and keep speed after you break the line. Before, I might have looked around and given Van Rensburg a chance. Now I'm thinking: 'I'm backing myself here'. 'We do so many drills where there are changes of direction at pace and trying to beat people. It's about foot-patterning, and it's such a good skill to have as a winger. 'Speed and power, ultimately, are so important in the modern game of rugby. You get limited opportunities when games are tight and you need to convert your line-breaks. If you can work on those, you can help that.' Even at the tail-end of a long and winding season, Murley exudes the enthusiasm of a man who does not want it to end quite yet – until he has achieved what he wants.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bristol thrash Quins to book semi-final derby spot
Gallagher Premiership Bristol (26) 52 Tries: Kloska, Batley, Ravouvou, Mata, Ibitoye (2), Grondona, Janse van Rensburg Cons: MacGinty (6) Harlequins (12) 26 Tries: Murley (2), Dombrandt, Hammond Cons: Benson (3) Advertisement Bristol secured their Premiership semi-final at Bath in style with a superb attacking display in a 12-try epic at Ashton Gate. The Bears needed a win to be sure of a top-four spot and made the perfect start, registering a bonus point inside 24 minutes with close-range scores from George Kloska and Joe Batley and explosive Kalaveti Ravouvou and Viliame Mata tries. Cadan Murley's fine first-half double reduced the gap to a 14-point lead at the break. Gabriel Ibitoye extended the advantage to 31-12 soon after the restart but memories of the 2021 'Bristanbul' comeback by Quins at Ashton Gate loomed large as the visitors notched quickfire tries from Alex Dombrandt and George Hammond to go within five points. Advertisement However, scores from Santiago Grondona and Ibitoye settled the nerves before Benhard Janse van Rensburg brought up the half-century as the Bears booked a trip to their West Country neighbours on Friday night. Blistering start sets the tone for Bears Noah Heward made his first Bears start at full back since January after injury while Pat Lam handed Argentina international lock Pedro Rubiolo his Bears debut. With a semi-final spot out of reach Danny Wilson made three changes to the Quins starting XV as Jamie Benson made his first Premiership start at fly-half while Luke Northmore returned at centre and Nick David started at full back. Advertisement It took just 93 seconds for the hosts to break the deadlock as quick hands from MacGinty sent Ibitoye flying down the left wing and despite some good defence from Quins near their own line, prop George Kloska plunged over near the posts, with MacGinty slotting the extras. The second try arrived inside five mins as lock Joe Batley stretched to touch down over the line after another powerful drive, with MacGinty again converting. A penalty kick into the corner and a deep lineout paved the way for Luke Northmore to cross for Quins after an angled run on 10 minutes but the try was chalked-off for a forward pass from Dombrandt, who was then held-up over the line by Fitz Harding after a bulldozing run straight from the restart. Quins got back in it on 17 minutes when Murley raced onto a clever chip forward from Benson on the 22 to catch a high bouncing ball and plunge over, allowing Benson to add two points from infront of the posts. Advertisement Bristol extended their lead just three minutes later as Harry Randall found space on the right and Fijian flyer Ravouvou raced down the whitewash to acrobatically dive over in the corner for his 11th try of the campaign, though the conversion sailed wide. The onslaught continued and Mata produced a brilliant angled run and bulldozed his way under the posts through some rather static defence for Bristol's fourth try and a bonus point on 24 minutes, with MacGinty notching the conversion to make it 26-7. Bears' 16th try bonus point of the season is a new Premiership record. Batley was denied a second try by another forward pass to the left wing before MacGinty's pass was intercepted by Hammond in midfield and a long ball out wide paved the way for Murley to step inside his man and scorch down the left from inside his own half for his 11th try of the season just after the half-hour, though Benson missed the conversion attempt from out wide. Gabriel Ibitoye beats Jamie Benson to the line and finished as joint top try-scorer with Ollie Hassell-Collins with 13 [Getty Images] Bears battle back after nervy start Six minutes after the turnaround Quins replacement Sean Kerr almost broke away but Bears won back possession and Ravouvou's break down the left and some fine passing across the width of the field paved the way for Ibitoye to stroll into the right corner for his 12th try of the campaign, a new club record, against his former club, though the conversion was unsuccessful. Advertisement Bears nerved started jangling, as memories of the 28-point collapse in the 2021 semi-final against Quins returned as the visitors notched two converted tries in three minutes. Dombrandt reduced the arrears after a slick dummy through the line from Benson created space and Quins added another from close range on 52 minutes after a break from Northmore, with Hammond diving through a crowd to touch down on the line, with Benson's third conversion making it a five-point game. The hosts could breathe again on 58 minutes when Grondona plunged over to end a series of goalline probes, with MacGinty adding the two points, and some lightning hands and feet from MacGinty saw the ball spread to Ibitoye on the left to jink his way to the line for try number 13, the joint most in the league this season, with MacGinty adding the extras from the whitewash to restore the 19-point lead and bring up 1,000 in his Premiership career for Bears and Sale. As Quins wilted in the Bristol sunshine Bears were denied a penalty try for Benson's slap into touch behind the posts, however Janse van Rensburg barged through a gap to dot down behind the posts to bring up the half-century, with MacGinty adding his sixth conversion. Advertisement The hosts saw out the final 10 minutes without further alarm to register their biggest ever win over Harlequins, secure their return to the semi-finals for the first time in four years and book a mouthwatering clash at the Rec on Friday night. 'We know how to beat Bath' Pat Lam, Bristol director of rugby, told BBC Radio Bristol: "I am very proud of this group, this is probably one of the highlights of my time at Bristol Bears. "We know there's areas we can improve on. To be missing stardust players for several months at a time, the squad has really gelled together to get us through the tough times." Advertisement [On the derby date at the Rec on Friday night] "We're excited. Bath have only lost three games this year, and we've beaten them twice. "We've played them 14 times since we've been back in the Premiership, won all of them at Ashton Gate, once at the Principality and we've won more at the Rec than we've lost. "We know how to beat Bath. The challenge is it's now a semi-final. I have to get the game plan right." Quins head coach Danny Wilson said: "We started the game terribly today and it put us in a bit of a hole. "We were back in it at 31-26, but then Bristol capitalised on their opportunities. Advertisement "They are a very, very good side if you let them let rip. It has been a painful end to the season." Bristol: Heward, Ravouvou, Janse van Rensburg, Williams, Ibitoye; MacGinty, Randall; Thomas, Oghre, Kloska, Rubiolo, Batley, Grondona, Harding, Mata. Replacements: Thacker, Woolmore, Lahiff, Owen, Luatua, Marmion, Byrne, Bates. Harlequins: David; Isgro, Beard, Northmore, Murley; Benson, Porter; Baxter, Walker, Lamositele, J Green, Hammond, Kenningham, Evans, Dombrandt. Replacements: Jibulu, Els, Streeter, Launchbury, Lawday, Murray, Kerr, Halfpenny. Referee: Luke Pearce
