Latest news with #GallagherPremiership
Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Times
Meet the former London Irish coach trying to take down the Lions
T here are times after a couple of cans of Castlemaine XXXX when Jonathan Fisher and Les Kiss look back on their last days of London Irish and wonder, 'What if?' Could the team they were growing in west London would have challenged Northampton Saints and Bath for the Gallagher Premiership title over the past two seasons? The collapse of the club in June 2023 left senior players and staff scattered far and wide. Benhard Janse van Rensburg was snapped up by Bristol Bears, Saracens pounced to sign Juan Martín González and Lucio Cinti, Northampton Saints bagged Tom Pearson and Henry Arundell moved to Racing 92 in Paris. There was also a generation of players still on academy contracts who were lost to London Irish, including Chandler Cunningham-South and two of the best young props in England, Afolabi Fasogbon and Tarek Haffar.
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Premiership winner returns to Edinburgh Rugby after six years away
Second-row forward buzzing to come home Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Edinburgh Rugby have brought Callum Hunter-Hill back to the club, six years after he left for the English Premiership. The experienced lock forward has signed a two-year contract, subject to a medical, and will compete for second-row places with Scotland internationals Grant Gilchrist, Sam Skinner, Marshall Sykes and Glen Young, as well as Robert Carmichael and Euan McVie. Another Scotland lock, Jamie Hodgson, left Edinburgh at the end of the season. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hunter-Hill, 28, spent last season at Investec Champions Cup finalists Northampton Saints and before that he was with Saracens for five years. He helped the latter win the Championship in 2021 and the Premiership final at Twickenham two years later, coming off the bench in the 35-25 victory over Sale Sharks. Callum Hunter-Hill, left, Ivan van Zyl, centre, and Maro Itoje celebrate Saracens' win over Sale in the 2023 Gallagher Premiership final at Twickenham. | Getty Images Born in Melrose and raised in East Lothian, the player said he felt like he was coming home. 'I'm absolutely buzzing and very grateful to be back at Edinburgh Rugby,' he said. 'It's a club that means a huge amount to me. Edinburgh's always been home and I'm proud to be part of it again. 'There's a brilliant group there and having watched from afar, especially last season, the team is so well poised to make an even bigger step forward next year, and I'm relishing the chance to add whatever I can to the squad.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hunter-Hill actually came through the Glasgow Warriors academy and made his professional debut for them against Zebre in 2016. He joined Edinburgh ahead of the 2017-18 season after a loan spell at London Scottish, and made his first appearance for them away to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. He enjoyed a breakout 2018-19 campaign, featuring in 18 matches in all competitions, including home and away Champions Cup victories over Newcastle Falcons. He left Edinburgh at the end of that season to join Saracens, initially on loan. The deal was made permanent and he went on to make 81 appearances for the club across five years, playing in European Champions Cup and Challenge Cup semi-finals as well as helping the club win the English title. Callum Hunter-Hill in action for Edinburgh against Scarlets in 2018. | SNS Group / SRU He has played fewer games in the last two seasons - nine for Sarries in 2023-24 and eight for Northampton in 2024-25 - but Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt expects him to have a significant role in the capital. 'He's a quality player with significant experience at the top level, featuring in some really important games for both Saracens and Northampton Saints,' Everitt told the club's website. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'He brings real quality to our set-piece with his ability to call the lineout, and his size and toughness will bring further physicality to the pack. He will be a great addition to the squad, and we look forward to welcoming him back to the club this summer.'
The 42
3 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
'Just play footy like we normally do' - JGP expects Russell partnership to flourish for Lions
JAMISON GIBSON-PARK BELIEVES his half-back alliance with Finn Russell will develop quickly as the British and Irish Lions prepare to unleash the much-hyped combination for the first time. Gibson-Park and Russell form a creative axis for Wednesday's clash against the Queensland Reds after the Ireland scrum-half was given the green light to make his comeback from a glute injury. As the pre-tour favourites to start the Test series against Australia in the number nine and 10 jerseys, expectations are high for the partnership even if they will have been limited to a single training session together ahead of the Brisbane showdown. In a sign of the urgency to deploy them in tandem, especially after Tomos Williams was ruled out of the tour by a hamstring injury, Russell will be starting his second game in five days. Andy Farrell has urged caution over anticipation levels, stating they will be 'all singing, all dancing everything going to plan, but that won't be the case', but the ultimate fantasy pairing in British and Irish rugby is ready to shine. Advertisement 'We know each other pretty well – we have played against each other enough,' Gibson-Park said ahead of his first outing with the Scotland fly-half. 'Myself and Finn have already had conversations and hopefully we don't have to change too much up, just play footy like we normally do. 'For all the stuff you see of Finn and his ability to break a game open, he's pretty calculated in the way he manages the game as well, so it will make my job easier hopefully. 'There is a gelling period with any nine and 10 combination. When you are largely in charge of driving the game there's going to be a bit of a feeling out period, but it has been good and hopefully we can see it out there on Wednesday.' Russell arrived into Lions camp having piloted Bath to the Gallagher Premiership title and Gibson-Park has since got to know a former rival who is more studious than his joyful on-field persona suggests. 'Finn's a hugely impressive player. Every team he is in, he has a huge impact,' he said. 'He plays the game with a smile on his face and that's refreshing to see sometimes. But you guys don't see him in the meeting rooms, so there is a serious side to him. Related Reads Havili, Frizell among All Blacks in Australia-NZ XV to face Lions Tomos Williams ruled out of Lions tour as Farrell names side to face Reds Lions boss Farrell hails McCarthy, Hansen after Australian tour opener 'He understands the impact he can have on a team and that's pretty important here.' Farrell says the duo have found ways to make up for their lack of game time together. 'They understand one another and understood each other's traits even before they got on the plane because that is what players do,' he said. 'They look out for how the best do things. They are two characters who want to see the game from similar eyes as far as where space is. 'They have attacking mindsets but they both know how important game control is.'
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Jamison Gibson-Park confident Finn Russell partnership will flourish
Jamison Gibson-Park believes his half-back alliance with Finn Russell will develop quickly as the British and Irish Lions prepare to unleash the much-hyped combination for the first time. Gibson-Park and Russell form a creative axis for Wednesday's clash against the Queensland Reds after the Ireland scrum-half was given the green light to make his comeback from a glute injury. As the pre-tour favourites to start the Test series against Australia in the number nine and 10 jerseys, expectations are high for the partnership even if they will have been limited to a single training session together ahead of the Brisbane showdown. In a sign of the urgency to deploy them in tandem, especially after Tomos Williams was ruled out of the tour by a hamstring injury, Russell will be starting his second game in five days. Andy Farrell has urged caution over anticipation levels, stating they will be "all singing, all dancing everything going to plan, but that won't be the case", but the ultimate fantasy pairing in British and Irish rugby is ready to shine. "We know each other pretty well - we have played against each other enough," Gibson-Park said ahead of his first outing with the Scotland fly-half. "Myself and Finn have already had conversations and hopefully we don't have to change too much up, just play footy like we normally do. "For all the stuff you see of Finn and his ability to break a game open, he's pretty calculated in the way he manages the game as well, so it will make my job easier hopefully. "There is a gelling period with any nine and 10 combination. When you are largely in charge of driving the game there's going to be a bit of a feeling-out period, but it has been good and hopefully we can see it out there on Wednesday." Russell arrived into Lions camp having piloted Bath to the Gallagher Premiership title and Gibson-Park has since got to know a former rival who is more studious than his joyful on-field persona suggests. "Finn's a hugely impressive player. Every team he is in, he has a huge impact," he said. "He plays the game with a smile on his face and that's refreshing to see sometimes. But you guys don't see him in the meeting rooms, so there is a serious side to him. "He understands the impact he can have on a team and that's pretty important here." Farrell says the duo have found ways to make up for their lack of game time together. "They understand one another and understood each other's traits even before they got on the plane because that is what players do," he said. "They look out for how the best do things. They are two characters who want to see the game from similar eyes as far as where space is.
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Scotland Ben White star called into Lions squad for tour
Williams, one of only two Wales players picked by the Lions, will return home on Monday after Farrell revealed the damage incurred while scoring the second of his two excellent tries against Western Force on Saturday will sideline him for the 'medium to long term'. Andy Farrell admits Tomos Williams will be a major loss for the British and Irish Lions after he was forced out of the Australia tour with a significant hamstring injury. Ben White has been called up from the Scotland squad that is currently in New Zealand to fill the vacancy and will arrive into camp on Monday, when he will be joined by Blair Kinghorn, who is now available after helping Toulouse win the Top 14 final. For Williams, it is a case of what might have been, as the reigning Gallagher Premiership player of the year had been outstanding in his two appearances on tour, placing him firmly in contention for a Test place against the Wallabies. 'It's shocking news for us all. We're not just going to miss an outstanding player – he played unbelievably well and it was some try that he was actually injured by,' Farrell said. 'We're also going to miss the bloke. We have only been together for a few weeks now but his character is everything you want to have in your group on a Lions tour. He's very popular and that makes it a little bit tougher. 'Ben will be devastated for Tomos, like we all are. But at the same time, he's super excited. 'He obviously had ambition to get into the squad – as did many others who didn't get selected – so now he gets his chance.' Williams' withdrawal is partially offset by Jamison Gibson-Park's recovery from the glute issue that enables him to make his Lions debut against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane on Wednesday. Read more: Gibson-Park forms a half-back partnership with Finn Russell – a playmaking axis that was the pre-tour favourite to start against the Wallabies. Full-back Hugo Keenan and replacement lock James Ryan will also make their first appearances for the tourists after recovering from their respective calf and quad injuries. Lions captain Maro Itoje returns to the second row after being stood down for the 54-7 victory over the Force, forming an engine-room partnership with Ollie Chessum. The Reds match begins a hectic spell of four games in 11 days leading into the first Test against the Wallabies, also in Brisbane, on July 19. 'Here we go now. This is proper touring. Games are coming thick and fast, so this is the exciting part of the tour for us,' Farrell said. 'We've been outlining to the lads what the weeks are going to look like – not much training, actually, just out there on the field and plenty of mental preparation. 'But if you ask any player, what would they rather do? Be involved in big games, playing for the Lions, or training every day? I know which I'd rather do. 'We see it as a great opportunity for ourselves to be fast-tracking our ambition, our potential as a team.'
