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2008–09 EDF Energy Cup
The 2008–09 Anglo-Welsh Cup, known as the EDF Energy Cup for sponsorship reasons, was the 38th season of England's national rugby union cup competition, and the fourth to follow the recently adopted Anglo-Welsh format. As in the previous two years, the competition is contested between the twelve teams of the Guinness Premiership and the four Welsh regions from the Pro14, Celtic League. The sixteen teams are arranged into four pools, with one Welsh and three English teams in each. Teams are randomly drawn into groups, as opposed to previous years when English sides were grouped according to proximity to one another. Each team plays the other team from their group only once, meaning that two teams in each group face two away games, whereas the other two teams have two home games. Group stage In the pool matches, teams receive: * Four points for a win * Two points for a draw * A bonus point for scoring four or more tries, regardless of the match result * A bonus point for losing ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Round-robin Tournament
A round-robin tournament or all-play-all tournament is a competition format in which each contestant meets every other participant, usually in turn.''Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged'' (1971, G. & C. Merriam Co), p.1980. A round-robin contrasts with an elimination tournament, wherein participants are eliminated after a certain number of wins or losses. Terminology The term ''round-robin'' is derived from the French term ('ribbon'). Over time, the term became idiomized to ''robin''. In a ''single round-robin'' schedule, each participant plays every other participant once. If each participant plays all others twice, this is frequently called a ''double round-robin''. The term is rarely used when all participants play one another more than twice, and is never used when one participant plays others an unequal number of times, as is the case in almost all of the major North American professional sports leagues. In the United Kingdom, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ollie Phillips (rugby Union)
Ollie Phillips (born 8 September 1982 in Brighton) is an English former professional rugby union player. Phillips captained England Sevens and was named '7s World Rugby Player of the Year' in 2009, while also pursuing a professional career in 15s with four clubs in England and France, where he was voted 'Overseas Player of the Year' in 2011. Early life Phillips was born in Brighton, and studied at Durham University, where he was a member of Van Mildert College, graduating in 2004. He later studied for an MBA at Cambridge, where he won a blue in the Varsity Match. Rugby Phillips captained England Sevens to three World Series Cup victories - including in New Zealand - and six finals. In 2009, he was voted World Rugby Seven’s player of the year. He also played in 15-a-side rugby union at wing and full-back for Harlequins, Newcastle Falcons, Stade Français and Gloucester Rugby. In all, he played in three Heineken Cups, a European Cup Final, and was voted Best Overseas Player ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gloucester
Gloucester ( ) is a cathedral city, non-metropolitan district and the county town of Gloucestershire in the South West England, South West of England. Gloucester lies on the River Severn, between the Cotswolds to the east and the Forest of Dean to the west; it is sited from Monmouth, from Bristol, and east of the England and Wales border, border with Wales. Gloucester has a population of around 132,000, including suburban areas. It is a port, linked via the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal to the Severn Estuary. Gloucester was founded by the Roman Empire, Romans and became an important city and ''Colonia (Roman), colony'' in AD 97, under Nerva, Emperor Nerva as ''Glevum, Colonia Glevum Nervensis''. It was granted its first charter in 1155 by Henry II of England, Henry II. In 1216, Henry III of England, Henry III, aged only nine years, was crowned with a gilded iron ring in the Chapter House of Gloucester Cathedral. Gloucester's significance in the Middle Ages is unde ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kingsholm Stadium
Kingsholm Stadium is a rugby union stadium located in the Kingsholm area of Gloucester, England, and is the home stadium of Gloucester Rugby. The stadium has a capacity of 16,115. It is sometimes nicknamed 'Castle Grim', after the estate where the stadium is built. The new main grandstand, opened in 2007, is an all-seated 7,500 capacity stand along the south touchline. It is currently sponsored by Malvern Tyres. Kingsholm was used as a home stadium for England before they settled at Twickenham and also hosted New Zealand versus United States for a pool match in the 1991 Rugby World Cup. In common with many grounds of English professional rugby union clubs, Kingsholm features several terraced standing areas. The North Stand is such an area and is known for sponsorship reasons as 'The Compeed Shed'. It runs down the whole length of the pitch and holds around 3,000 people. The Shed is known within rugby union for its proximity to the pitch and the low roof, enabling fervent home s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dave Walder
David John Hume Walder (born 7 May 1978) is an English rugby union coach and former rugby union footballer. Walder was kicking skills coach (2014-2017), attack and backs coach (2014-2017), head coach (2017-2023), director of rugby (2022-2023) at Newcastle Falcons. Early life He was educated at Oundle School in Northamptonshire followed by Durham University. He matriculated at Hatfield College, Durham in 1997 for the Sport in the Community course, after being rejected by Hild Bede College. Having initially planned to focus on cricket, his change of college (Hatfield having a strong reputation for rugby) prompted a change of plans and he was eventually offered a professional contract with Newcastle Falcons to start when he finished his degree. During his final season as a student, 1999–2000, he was awarded a full palatinate by the university for achievements in rugby. This included: being selected to represent North East Universities for a match against a team representing t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jeremy Staunton
Jeremy Staunton (born 7 May 1980) is an Irish rugby union fly-half and Fullback, having retired in 2012 while playing for English club Leicester Tigers in the top level of English rugby, the English Premiership. He has also played at every level for Ireland. He was educated at St Munchin's College Limerick and University of Limerick. Staunton began his rugby career with his local team Galbally RFC in County Limerick, Ireland. Later, he played for Garryowen Football Club in the All-Ireland League before earning a contract with Munster in 1999, at the age of 19. He enjoyed five successful seasons with Munster, playing in both the fly-half and full back positions, helping Munster to win the Celtic League in February 2002. Seeing his opportunities limited behind Ronan O'Gara he joined Harlequins in the summer of 2004 before moving on to London Wasps in the summer of 2005. He was part of the Wasps side that won the Powergen Anglo-Welsh cup in 2006, the Heineken Cup in 2007 a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
James Haskell
James Andrew Welbon Haskell (born 2 April 1985) is an English former rugby union player who played chiefly as a flanker for Wasps RFC and Northampton Saints in the Aviva Premiership, and internationally for England. In August 2019 he announced he would become a professional mixed martial artist and is currently signed to Bellator MMA, where he is to compete in their Heavyweight division. In November 2019, it was announced that Haskell would be participating in the nineteenth series of '' I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!''. Early life James Andrew Welbon Haskell was born on 2 April 1985 in Windsor, Berkshire. He was educated at Papplewick School in Ascot, Berkshire and Wellington College in Crowthorne, also in Berkshire. Club career Haskell played for Maidenhead Rugby Club prior to joining (Wasps RFC), where he was part of the highly successful Colts set up. He was a replacement as Wasps won the 2007 Heineken Cup Final. The following season he started as Wasps won ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mark Darren Robinson
Mark Darren "Sharky" Robinson (born 21 August 1975 in Palmerston North, New Zealand) is a New Zealand former rugby union and rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. He played international rugby union for the All Blacks between 1997 and 2001. He played provincial rugby in New Zealand for North Harbour and Super 12 rugby for the Waikato Chiefs and then the Auckland Blues. He briefly played rugby league for the New Zealand Warriors before moving overseas to play with Northampton and then London Wasps, both in England. He retired from professional rugby in 2010. Career in rugby union and rugby league Born in Palmerston North, Robinson grew up in Whangārei. He emerged as a prospective rugby player when he moved to North Harbour during his teenage years, making the Harbour Colts and New Zealand Colts in 1995 playing in the inaugural World under 21 tournament in Argentina. He entered first-class rugby the following year with Harbour. He played for the Chiefs in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ryan Lamb
Ryan Lamb (born 18 May 1986 in Gloucester) is an English former rugby union player who played at fly-half. Club career A former pupil of St Peter's High School, he made his professional debut in the European Challenge Cup quarter final against Brive in 2006 which Gloucester Rugby won comfortably. Lamb started in the subsequent final, as Gloucester defeated his future club, London Irish. He became first choice at Fly-half for Gloucester Rugby as they topped the table during the 2006–07 Guinness Premiership and 2007–08 Guinness Premiership seasons. However, they were thwarted in the play-offs in both seasons by the Leicester Tigers. Gloucester's continued failures in key games saw Dean Ryan lose faith in Lamb. He was dropped after Gloucester's home Heineken Cup defeat to Cardiff Blues in January 2009 amid concern that he failed to exercise sufficient control over games. Lamb was released by Gloucester at the end of the 2008–09 season. Lamb signed for London Iris ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Willie Walker (rugby Union)
William Charles Aroyn Walker (born 19 May 1978) is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer. He played for Gloucester and Worcester Warriors in the Guinness Premiership. He has also played for the New Zealand Maori. Walker is currently the head coach of the Blues Women in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition. Rugby career Walker debuted for North Harbour in 1997. He later played for Otago in 2002 and 2003. He also played for the Highlanders from 2002 to 2003 before going abroad. Walker joined Gloucester for the start of the 2006/07 season on a 2-year contract from World Fighting Bull. He made 24 appearances in all competitions during his debut season, scoring 220 points. This included 2 tries against Bath & Bristol. In his second season, he made 23 appearances in all competitions, scoring 96 points. He scored 2 tries against Leicester Tigers and Bourgoin. On 22 May 2008, Walker signed a 2-year extension to his contract. On 13 September 2008, Walker played a key role in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lesley Vainikolo
Lesley Paea 'I'muli Vainikolo (born 4 May 1979) is a former professional rugby league and rugby union footballer. A dual code international, he has played for the New Zealand Kiwis in rugby league and England in rugby union. He began his career playing rugby league in Australia for the Canberra Raiders of the National Rugby League and later in England for the Bradford Bulls of Super League. He then moved to English rugby union club Gloucester. In both codes, he has usually played as a . Early life and career Vainikolo was born on 4 May 1979 in Nukualofa, Tonga. His family uprooted to Mangere, Auckland in late 1986. He grew up in South Auckland, New Zealand playing rugby union but switched to rugby league as he explains, "I first got into rugby league when I was 11. One of my mates got me into it. His team were short on numbers and my mate asked if I wanted to play. I grew up playing union, so I had the basic skills. I played the game and absolutely loved it. And I've been ho ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rob Debney
Rob Debney (born 15 December 1973) is a former professional rugby union referee who represented the English Rugby Union. He now competes in Ironman competitions. Rugby union career Playing career Amateur career A neck injury stopped Debney's playing career while he was still at school and he began refereeing. Referee career Professional career Debney was a referee for the English Rugby Union from 1999 to 2011. He refereed his first English Premiership match in 2004. He refereed his first 1872 Cup The 1872 Cup – also known as the 1872 Challenge Cup – is a men's rugby union tournament contested every year between the two Scottish professional clubs, Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby. Under the current format, Glasgow Warriors and Ed ... match on 2 January 2009. International career Debney refereed the U21 World Cup final in 2003. Outside of rugby Debney is a Director of Sales at TOMZ Corporation. He occasionally writes rugby union articles for The Times newsp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
