Mud Rugby
England Rugby's Robinson May Be Fired Before Cup, Andrew Says

Sept. 7 (Bloomberg) -- Rob Andrew, England's new elite rugby director, said Andy Robinson isn't guaranteed to coach the national team at the World Cup and criticized him for picking too many players who aren't good enough.

Andrew was appointed last month to overhaul English rugby after the 2003 world champion slipped to sixth from first in the rankings. Robinson, who retains the final say on selection, is under pressure to revive a team that finished fourth in Europe's Six Nations Championship in each of his two years in charge. The World Cup starts in Paris a year from today.

``I don't think we can say whatever the results'' he'll be in charge for the World Cup, Andrew told reporters at Twickenham, west London. ``We have to look at how things are going.''

During his time as a coach of Newcastle Andrew criticized Robinson for a ``muddled selection policy,'' which included dropping the 18-year-old Newcastle center Mathew Tait after one match and axing Gloucester's Henry Paul midway through the first half of a game.

Rogers cuts his cash in half

DUAL international Mat Rogers's pay packet will be more than halved when he returns to rugby league with Gold Coast Titans after the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Rogers, 31, today confirmed he had accepted a two-year deal with the new NRL franchise for 2008 and 2009.

It's understood Rogers will receive $300,000 a year from the Titans - a big drop from the $650,000 the Wallabies utility gets from the Australian Rugby Union.

Rogers said he wanted a fresh challenge and, while he had yet to achieve all his goals since switching to rugby in 2002, he hoped to do so with a Wallabies win at the Rugby World Cup in France next year.

Rogers hinted the sudden death of his father, former Test rugby league centre Steve Rogers, at the start of the year had been been a factor in his decision.

Rugby World Cup qualifiers Uganda intensify training ahead of ...

African champions Morocco had walloped a lowly Ugandan side 36-6 back in May, when they hosted the Eastern Africans in the first leg in Casablanca.

Uganda's leading website, The New Vision, reported that the 26-man Cranes outfit started a training camp on Thursday at the Kampala Rugby FC ground, in a move to get more acclimatised to pitch conditions, after they had started their warm-up at Kyadondo grounds.

Uganda, coached by former South African international Chester Williams, played a trial match with their U-21 counterparts, before facing a composition of players from various local clubs.

The boys have been going through comprehensive drills in all departments and I am confident so far every thing is moving towards success, assistant coach Yayiro Kasasa told The New Vision.

Kenya: Sports Bosses Can Do Better

Finally, there is something for Kenyan sports fans to celebrate. After a month of humiliating home defeats in various disciplines, the national 15-aside rugby team produced a brilliant team effort to clinch a thrilling win over visiting Namibia in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday.

The victory has broken a losing streaking, coming after a double 3-0 defeat of the national cricket team by Bangladesh and the Australian Academy, a 2-1 shock loss by Harambee Stars to regional lightweights Eritrea and the subsequent ill-tempered departure of coach Bernard Lama, and the rare defeat by a Ugandan rugby side in the Elgon Cup.

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Three in ARU Hall of Fame

Sir Nicholas Shehadie, John Hipwell and the late Cyril Towers were all recognised for their contributions to the game of rugby union when they were admitted into the Wallaby Hall of Fame on Tuesday night.

The Hall of Fame was introduced by the ARU last year and Shehadie, Hipwell and Towers now join inaugural inductees Tom Richards, Col Windon, Ken Catchpole, John Thornett and Mark Ella.

"With so many greats across all eras, it is a daunting task to choose just three for the Wallaby Hall of Fame," Former ARU president and Hall of Fame panel member Phil Harry said.

"Cyril Towers' speed and tenacity made him a try scoring machine; Sir Nicholas Shehadie exuded confidence and leadership, while John Hipwells longevity and resolute displays are legendary," said Harry of the panel's choices.

Three more legends inducted into ARU Hall of Fame

Three of Australia's most famous rugby names have been inducted into the Wallaby Hall of Fame during celebrations at tonight's John Eales Medal Dinner.



Sir Nicholas Shehadie AC, OBE, John Hipwell OAM and the late Cyril Towers became the second intake of Wallabies to be recognised for their contribution to the game after the Wallaby Hall of Fame was introduced last year.



The trio has joined Tom Richards, Col Windon, Ken Catchpole, John Thornett and Mark Ella who became the inaugural inductees last year.



Each year, only a select few of Australias greats from all eras of the international game are inducted into the Wallaby Hall of Fame.