Rugby premiership campaign begins
As the Rugby premiership campaigns begins there are three Midlands teams in the running for sports top honour.
Nottingham rugby player dies in car crash
Nottingham's former Scotland Under-20 international Mitchell Todd has died in a road accident, his club have confirmed.
'Demand based' pricing
The days of knowing exactly how much a match ticket is going to cost you could soon be a thing of the past.
Live updates
Man to paddle along canal in bathtub
A tin bath is the star attraction at this years "Walk for Matt" charity event in aid of the Matt Hampson Foundation.
Rugby-mad Rob Knapp is paddling the 110 miles along the canals from Rugby to Twickenham in an old-fashioned bath tub to raise money for the foundation.
He will be joined by rugby stars past and present for the 5th annual walk which starts on 18th May.
Also taking part is Matt Grimes. He was in the next bed to Matt in Stoke Mandeville hospital where he was recovering from the rugby injury that paralysed him in 2006.
His promising career with Leicester Tigers over, Matt has dedicated his life to raising money for other young people seriously injured through sport.
His foundation provides money for specialist equipment and treatments. It also provides a mentoring and befriending service so young people needn't feel isolated by their disability.
Matt Grimes will be doing the walk on crutches. He has very little use of his legs, so the event will be particularly gruelling for him.
Northampton flanker Tom Wood to captain England
Northampton Saints' flanker Tom Wood will captain the England squad in the summer tour of Uruguay and Argentina.
The squad, featuring 11 uncapped players, includes fellow Saints players Calum Clark, Paul Doran Jones, Courtney Lawes, Ben Foden, Leicester Tigers' forward Ed Slater and Worcester Warriors' forward Matt Kvesic.
Advertisement
Leicester City ground to host Rugby World Cup matches
The King Power Stadium will host three Rugby World Cup matches after being chosen over the Leicester Tigers ground.
The fixtures are:
Sun Oct 4th - Argentina v Tonga
Tue Oct 6th - Amercias 1 v Europe
Sun Oct 11th - Argentina v Africa 1
Two matches will also be held at Villa Park.
Tigers' Cockerill up for director of the season award
Leicester Tigers' Richard Cockerill is among the candidates for Aviva Premiership rugby director of the season.
He's been named on a short-list of four, alongside London Welsh boss Lyn Jones, Saracens' Mark McCall and Wasps' David Young, Premiership Rugby announced today.
The winner will be revealed at the Premiership awards dinner in London on May 9.
Cockerill was born in Rugby, Warwickshire.
Man with cystic fibrosis running London Marathon
A man from Rugby is running the London Marathon to raise money for research into cystic fibrosis.
Daniel O'Toole has the condition himself and says he is running the race to help others.
Worcester Warriors appoint new Director of Rugby
Worcester Warriors have confirmed that Dean Ryan has been appointed Director of Rugby following the departure of Head Coach Richard Hill.Ryan, who spent four successful years as Head Coach of Gloucester Rugby, will begin his role as Director of Rugby following the final game of the season.
The 46-year-old was part of the Scotland coaching team during this season's Six Nations, where he helped to steer the side to back-to-back victories for the first time in 12 years and, with it, their highest finish for seven years.
During his playing days as a number eight, Ryan won four England caps and enjoyed spells at Saracens, Wasps, Newcastle and Bristol.
Advertisement
Worcester Warrior Head Coach leaves club
Worcester Warriors has confirmed that Richard Hill will be leaving his post as Head Coach at Sixways Stadium with immediate effect.
Former England international Hill has been in charge at Warriors for the last three seasons and led the club to promotion to the Aviva Premiership in 2011.
However, following the club’s recent run of form, Bill Bolsover CBE – the club’s chairman of its Rugby Committee, has announced that Hill will leave the club.
Leicester Tigers pair return to England team
Tom Youngs & @tobyflood return to England team v Italy at HQ on Sunday. There are also starts for #TeamParling, Dan Cole and @manutuilagi
From @LeicesterTigers on Twitter:England squad lineup to face Ireland
by Steve ClampHere is the squad line up for the England v Ireland game on Sunday 3pm, Aviva Stadium, Dublin
- 15 Alex Goode (Saracens, 7 caps)
- 14 Chris Ashton (Saracens, 30 caps)
- 13 Brad Barritt (Saracens, 12 caps)
- 12 Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester, 1 cap)
- 11 Mike Brown (Harlequins, 12 caps)
- 10 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 13 caps)
- 9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 29 caps)
- 1 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 6 caps)
- 2 Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps)
- 3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 36 caps)
- 4 Joe Launchbury (London Wasps, 5 caps)
- 5 Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers, 13 caps)
- 6 James Haskell (London Wasps, 46 caps)
- 7 Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, 13 caps) (c)
- 8 Tom Wood (Northampton Saints, 14 caps)
England turns to the Midlands for six nations success
With two more Leicester Tiger's called into the England squad, it brings the contingent from Midlands teams to 10, almost half the entire 23 man squad. 7 come from Leicester, 3 from Northampton Saints.
The latest additions see a return for centre Manu Tuilagi and number 8 Thomas Waldrom, although both will be on the bench. The only change to the starting line up will see James Haskell coming into a reshuffled pack to cover for the injured Ben Morgan.
England will aim to build on their confidence boosting 38 points to 18 opening win over Scotland asthey head to face an Ireland side who themselves started their six nations campaign with a win, beating Wales at the Millenium Stadium.
Today's top stories
