Rugby: Force back row to provide Wallaby backbone

The Western Force back row will feature prominently in the upcoming test arena with Matt Hodgson, David Pocock and Richard Brown all selected in the Wallabies squad announced today.

The trio was a force to be reckoned with in the later part of the Super 14 season following the return of Pocock and Brown from injury, and could carry the responsibility for Australia against the likes of England, New Zealand and South Africa.

The selection of Hodgson is great reward for his stellar 2010 campaign. The versatile forward was a man mountain in the back row and the only player at the club to start and finish every game.

"It's one of your biggest highs playing for Australia and then getting injured and missing out was hard, it sort of drove me this year to put my hand up again and make selection and get that test cap that I want," Hodgson said.

"Robbie gave me a call yesterday morning, so it was good to pick up that unknown number. It is good to get that call early.

"He just sort of congratulated me on such a good performance in the Super 14 at the start of the year, and said just to continue working and keep aiming for that jersey that I want to get."

For Brown and Pocock the recent Super 14 presented challenges in other forms as injuries to both players in round one forced them to watch from the sidelines for half a season.

But true to form the pair returned ready for action and made a telling contribution to a positive second half of the year for the Western Force and are keen to add to their test caps.

"I'm a little relieved to make the squad after only playing half a season so I'm pretty excited," said Brown.

"I was always hopeful but I was just happy to come back in the second half of the season regardless of whether I made the Wallabies.

Other Western Force players selected for Wallabies duties include prop Pek Cowan, lock Nathan Sharpe, the most experienced player selected in the 30-man Australian squad, and full-back James O'Connor, the youngest member of the 2010 class.

With 79 tests to his name already Sharpe will provide the leadership and experience to a young squad, something he has done with distinction throughout his career and again this season at the Force.

"Sharpie doesn't talk a lot about how his performance is but that probably sums the guy up, he's had probably one of his best seasons in his time in Super Rugby and the way he's led us through the year has been instrumental for a lot of blokes," said Hodgson.

"I know it made me keep going at the start of the year when we were up against a brick wall. He's a good bloke and his form has been great this year.

"He is probably the best Captain I've ever had. The way he leads us on the field is the same as off the field. He's got that good combination with all the blokes from the older guys to the younger guys, everyone respects him."

Tough forward Ben McCalman has been acknowledged for his excellent debut Super Rugby season with inclusion in the 10-man Australian Barbarians squad that will train alongside the Wallabies and play two midweek matches against England next month.

Winger Nick Cummins is also part of that squad and will be hoping to impress after picking-up an injury on the opening day of last year's Wallabies training camp.

"I'm really happy for Ben to get his chance I think it's well deserved, especially in his first year, it's just a huge effort," Brown said.

"For Nick, people know he's a talent and he is a colourful character too, so it should be good to have him along. He has done well to come back from his injuries and I think we all know what it takes to come back after a few setbacks."

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Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu receives ‘ambassador’ accolade at tourism awards – York Ebor Horse racing Festival

TOURISM chiefs hailed the Archbishop of York the answer to their prayers when they presented him with the top award at a major ceremony.

The annual York Tourism Awards, organised by Visit York, were held at the National Railway Museum last night, to celebrate excellence in the city’s crucial tourism industry.

Fourteen winners, picked from hundreds of entries, were presented with their awards at the event hosted by writer and broadcaster Gervase Phinn.

The award for Tourism Ambassador 2010 went to Dr John Sentamu for the role he plays both nationally and internationally in putting York on the map.

Since his arrival in the city in 2005, visitors have met the Archbishop offering open-air baptisms, he has visited flood victims in Cumbria and made visits overseas.

Visit York chairman John Yeomans said: “The Archbishop has contributed greatly to raising the profile of the city and we’re delighted he has accepted this award in recognition of the work he does both in York and across the globe.”

Last year he rode My Will, a Paul Nicholls horse, but could only manage 3rd. However, this year he’s on the favorite, Big Fella Thanks, who also happens to be trained by Nicholls. Big Fella Thanks had a great race last year as he finished 6th at the tender age of 7 so with Ruby Walsh in charge he might live up to his billing.

Tony McCoy, who this year is riding Don’t Push It, is one of the greatest jockeys of the modern era with over 3000 career wins which have brought him virtually every prize going except the coveted Grand National. Racing in the Aintree Grand National 2010 will mark the 15th time he has attempted the course so he is more than familiar with it but so far has only managed 3rd place.

Sam Twiston-Davies may not be a celebrated jockey but he’s making plenty of headlines for the Aintree Grand National 2010. At 17-years-old he’s competing to become the youngest winner since Bruce Hobbs won with Battleship in 1938. Hobbs was also aged 17 at the time. He’s riding a decent horse in Hello Bud, trained by his father Nigel, but his inexperience may take its toll.

Dr Sentamu, who was unable to attend the award ceremony in person, said it was a “great honour”.

He said: “York is one of the greatest cities in Britain. It’s not just the great tourist attractions we have here like the Minster, the Jorvik Viking Centre and the Railway Museum that draw people into the city – no, I put it down to the incredible people we have here in York. Yorkshire people may be famous for being straight talking, but they are also renowned for being warm-spirited, kind-hearted and very welcoming to our visitors. I think that’s the main reason people keep coming back – and also one of the main reasons I have won this award!”

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Paco Boy shines at Sandown – Glorious Goodwood Horseracing Festival

Richard Hannon jnr firmly believes Paco Boy will be hard to beat this season after he started the campaign in effortless style by sweeping away the opposition in the Bet365 Mile at Sandown.

Last year's winner of the Group Two event progressed to score in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer but was roughed off after his mid-summer Sussex Stakes second in preparation for his five-year-old campaign.

The 11-10 favourite looked a cut above in the parade ring before the field headed to post and he cruised into contention on the outside under Richard Hughes.

After snatching the lead passing the furlong marker, Hughes was little more than an onlooker as his willing partner stretched over three lengths clear of international campaigner Pressing.

Hannon jnr, son and assistant to his father Richard, said: 'I just spoke to Dad on the phone and he agreed with me that the horse is definitely better this year.

'He will go to the Lockinge now and I wish that race had been today as he was so well. He's been gasping for a race for the last six to eight weeks and he kicked two windows out of his box as he's so fresh.

'I think he will struggle to find one to beat him after today.

'After the Lockinge there are races like the Queen Anne and the Jacques le Marios and connections are looking at all sorts of races in all sorts of places.'

The colours of Ballymacoll Stud were successful in the Bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes for the second year running as Glass Harmonium followed up stablemate Tartan Bearer's 2009 win under Ryan Moore.

Another to strike at Royal Ascot, the Michael Stoute-trained four-year-old made giant strides under the champion jockey - who was sporting a black eye after being hit by a piece of turf in the previous race - and the 11-1 chance displayed plenty of heart to hold the determined Redwood by a head.

Stoute said: 'He was a little bit behind schedule in early March so he will have needed the run and there may be more than normal progress from this.

'He's a horse we've always liked and I hope he can really go on and progress.

'He will stay a mile and a half but we won't go down that route at the moment and the Tattersalls Gold Cup is a race that springs to mind.'

Luca Cumani had jetted off to saddle Presvis in the Audemars Piguet QE II Cup in Hong Kong and missed his Mabait making it four wins on the bounce in the hands of Kieren Fallon in the Poker At bet365.com Handicap.

Cumani's son, Matt, said: 'This was a sighter to see how he had come on and he has obviously come on a lot.

'It looks like he will get further but a mile will be fine for him for now.'

Adam Kirby ensured the Flat riders were not beaten at their own game by lifting the Casino At bet365.com Flat v Jump Jockeys Handicap.

The annual clash between the stars of each code is always the subject of plenty of weighing room banter but Kirby had the right ammunition on his side in Halsion Chancer (8-1), a workmate of John Best's 2000 Guineas hope Inler.

Best's assistant Martin Smith said: 'It's a bit of a boost for Inler - the horse has worked with him two or three times.

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FORFAR-BASED RUGBY COACH'S AUTUMN INTERNATIONALS!

LOCAL rugby coach Colin Robertson has completed his own special 'Autumn Internationals 2010' after two decades of working with the nation's rising stars.

Much of his work in achieving the full England set was achieved during a 20-year career with the SRU in which Colin worked in a series of development and coaching roles, taking him firstly at national level to the technical coach position with the U-19s in the 1990s.

From 2004-07 he was head coach of the U-18 side before moving to take on the same post with the U-20 squad in World Cup and Six Nations campaigns.

The withdrawal of an U-17 coach opened the door for Grampian Institute of Sport manager Colin to take up the milestone appointment for the latest group of fixtures, which included an outing last week against a Newcastle Falcons Academy outfit.

"It's an honour to have the full set and I believe I'm the first person to have been head coach and assistant coach for all the age groups at national level - the only team I haven't coached is Scotland!" said Colin.

"There have been many highlights - the U-18 team in 2007 was the most successful, beating Wales, France and Italy in the Six Nations and there were only five points in the game against England.

"Coaching the U-20s to a World Cup where you are playing five games and maintaining that level of performance was also a memorable experience, and the with the U-19s we beat England and South Africa in World Cups so there have been many great memories," he added.

Pride over Colin's achievement is also shared at Strathmore Rugby Club in Forfar, particularly amongst the Strathie Sharks junior section which he has been instrumental in building since moving to the town from his native Gala in 1992.

Colin's closest Strathie interest centres around the progress of his son Struan's involvement in the club's Under-15s but, through his former SRU development role, he is very familiar with the good work being done at venues like Inchmacoble.

"It is the opposite end of the spectrum from the national teams, but Strathie is a great community environment," added Colin, who is counting on the club meeting one of his, so far, unfulfilled dreams.

"It is a frustration that nobody from Angus has played for Scotland and it would be great to think that with clubs like the Sharks continuing with their development that it could happen."

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Fai Mika hopes a move to Tasman will catapult him into the Samoan reckoning for next year's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Mika who made 29 appearances for Southland since debuting in 2007 will head north tomorrow after transferring to Tasman on a one-year deal.

The versatile 29-year-old, who can play both sides of the scrum, has struggled for regular starting opportunities with the Stags behind Highlanders props Jamie Mackintosh and Chris King.

He was optimistic the shift to the Makos would see him gain more playing time as he looks to crack the Manu Samoa squad for the first time.

"It's a big move, but one I'm really excited about," Mika told The Southland Times yesterday.

"I've always wanted to try out for the Samoan boys. It's a matter of getting game time. I went to the (Samoan) trials a couple of months ago and they said they had heard of me, but never seen me play."

Tasman have been big improvers in the Air New Zealand Cup in recent seasons and Mika said he was excited about the chance to bolster their propping stocks.

Mika will play his club rugby for Waimea, in Nelson, and was looking to play his first match in the next few weeks.

He said it was extremely difficult to be leaving Southland at a time when the union was on a massive high after winning the Ranfurly Shield for the first time in 50 years late last year.

"It is sad, but it's also exciting ... It's hard to beat that Ranfurly Shield. It's unreal. I still get shivers up my spine just thinking about it."

Southland appear to be pretty well covered in the front row, with rising talents like Micheal Peterson and Nic Barrett expected to play more of a role in the Stags squad this season. Mika predicted that both players had big futures ahead of them.

Rugby Southland boss Roger Clark said Mika had been a fantastic servant for the province.

"He's done a really good job. There's a lot of history there, too, with his brother. We've got plenty of props. It's a win-win situation."

Clark felt the time was right for Peterson and Barrett to make the step up to Air New Zealand Cup level.

"We've got two local boys, who are raring to go. They're both very good players ... We're not in the business of hoarding people."

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New Zealand-wide Rugby Festival Revealed - England V New Zealand Rugby

Rugby is the catalyst but plans for a nationwide festival during Rugby World Cup 2011 will also showcase Kiwi culture, food and wine, and passion for the outdoors.

As the countdown to RWC 2011 continues, the New Zealand public has had a first glimpse of the six-week festival - scheduled to run in the lead-up to and during the tournament - with the unveiling this week of the first confirmed events.

From wild foods and adrenalin hits to fine wine and waka-racing - locals and visitors to Rugby World Cup 2011 will have the chance to experience the full spectrum of Kiwi life and culture, ensuring a non-stop party atmosphere throughout New Zealand.

According to the official coordinating body - the New Zealand 2011 office, the festival will be the biggest ever staged in New Zealand and will feature more than 1000 events.

While the New Zealand 2011 office is a government organisation, the festival will be largely driven by the regions.

Festival Director Briony Ellis says every region is taking the opportunity to showcase the best of its culture, people and landscapes, as well as local flavours and attractions.

She says the festival will touch every part of New Zealand, well beyond the 23 centres hosting games and teams.

Many events highlighting iconic New Zealand activities and landmarks are already showing on the online festival programme - www.corporatehospitalitygroup.com which will continue to grow in the lead up to the tournament.

On the South Island’s West Coast, locals are planning to serve up an exciting new food fest - the Great West Coast Whitebait and Wildfoods Challenge - that promises to put some of New Zealand’s iconic and unusual wild foods on the plate.

Visitors will be invited to sample and judge the challenge dishes that will be created at restaurants and eateries the length and breadth of the West Coast - from huhu grub bruschetta to the regional must-have fresh whitebait pattie sandwich.

Wellington is planning a rugby village, centred around a giant wharewaka - or canoe house - on the waterfront. The new development, scheduled for completion in early 2011, will be close to Te Papa national museum and the civic centre. Auckland is also planning a central city waterfront development.

Rugby will also dominate central Christchurch as the city turns Cathedral Square into a World Cup playground, featuring a giant dome and rugby field, for up to 10,000 fans.

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Danny Cipriani lays down a World Cup challenge to England coach Martin Johnson

Danny Cipriani has challenged England coach Martin Johnson to pick him for next year’s World Cup. The sidelined fly-half pledged his availability for selection in an exclusive interview on Saturday night.

Ignoring Johnson’s warning that his transfer to Melbourne Rebels on a two-year contract would effectively rule him out of the tournament, Cipriani said: ‘If I am playing well enough at the time, I would like to think I could make the England squad for next year’s World Cup.

‘I have not had a chat about this with Martin Johnson, but it is my intention to make myself available.’

Last night the 22-year-old, who lines up for Wasps against London Irish today, was full of confidence about his move and his hopes for an Test recall.

He said: ‘Playing for England has always been my ambition, and it still is.

‘I am pleased with the decision I have made to join Melbourne Rebels, and I want to come back to England a better player for the experience.

‘I see it as a break to improve me as a player and as a person. I hope to return to the England squad faster, fitter and better than before.

‘If I play well enough for Melbourne, I would like to think that I could make the 2011 World Cup.’

Although Cipriani has slipped to sixth in England’s fly-half pecking order, he is still highly regarded at Twickenham.

Cipriani’s celebrity status has not endeared him to Johnson, but yesterday he said his

girlfriend, actress Kelly Brook, would be joining him in Melbourne for a trip he hopes will restore his status as the heir to Jonny Wilkinson.

Further south, Dunedin is planning live entertainment and a big television screen in the Octagon that will create a focal point for fans in the heart of the city.

Queenstown - New Zealand’s adventure tourism resort - won’t be hosting any games but is still expecting to draw crowds of tourists and locals into its own lakefront fan zone.

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