Haskell: playing for England is top priority

Top priority: Haskell wearing the Red Rose jersey

England flanker James Haskell insists that playing for England tops his list of priorities as he decides where to hang his hat next season.

Out of contract with Stade Francais this summer, but with a one-year option to stay, the 26-year-old said: “I am exploring different options in France and England and I’ll decide in the next two weeks. There are some great teams in the Premiership and French Club dominate European rugby.”

“Playing for England remain my most important criteria, but I believe if I play at the best club level I can still be picked and perform well for England.

Tom Palmer happy to stay at Stade

Tom Palmer: staying in Paris

Despite rumours across the Channel that he might be leaving Stade Francais, Tom Palmer insists he will be definitely playing in Paris next season.

The England lock said: “I still have one year in my contract and I am going nowhere. I love living here and I love the culture in France.

“And to be honest I would like to stay in France after next season when my contract ends. But I will see my options and make a decision only then.”

No.8 Wim Baars relieved as Canterbury on the way to stay in League 2

With two games to go in National League 2, Canterbury RFC pretty much secured their place in the league after a cruising victory against Newbury 81-5 on the weekend. A situation that No.8 Wim Baars is “happy and relieved about.”

“Coming off with the win was really good especially against Newbury. They beat us earlier in the season where they shouldn’t have.

“Everyone at the club is feeling pretty good. We are still a bit apprehensive about what the next results could bring but everyone is pretty positive and fired up.

“We are looking to go forward this weekend, go away and get another win hopefully,” said the 26-year-old.

Foreign imports may wreck future of 'Les Bleus'

Maxime Medard: Young Talent...

Toulouse star Maxime Medard fears the influx of foreigners into the Top 14 will harm the future of French rugby. 

With the number of British players switching to ply their trade across the Channel next season rising week after week, Medard believes French clubs should revert their attention to the youngsters coming through rather than maintain their dependence on foreign mercenaries.

Medard, who was in action today in Toulouse's defeat against Leinster in the Heineken Cup semi-final, said: “I am quite worried about the future of French rugby with all these imported players in the Top 14.

“It’s good for the level of the Top 14 but I regret the fact that certain club are going a bit too far and do not invest enough in youngsters,” added the 24-year-old winger.

Brive ready to offer new challenge to Geraghty

Last call: Geraghty in his last game for England in 2009
against New Zealand

French club Brive have been in contact with Shane Geraghty over a possible move to the Top 14 next season.

“Shane is a very talented young player and has a very interesting profile for our club,” Brive coach Ugo Mola admitted.

“He had a very bright start of his career topped up with England caps. But in the last two or three years, it kind of slowed down and he might be looking for a new challenge here,” he added.

“No place for gouging in rugby” says player who had eye removed

Clarence Harding two week after being gouged

Following Mark Cueto’s ridiculous ban for gouging in the clash between Northampton and Sale, former Gravesend player Clarence Harding who had his right eye removed after being gouged last year believes: “Gouging should be stamp out of rugby. There is no place for it in our sport.”

“The RFU’s made it clear during the different hearings of my case that they want to get rid of gouging for good. But I am not sure, the sanction given to Mark Cueto is right.

“The two Frenchmen were banned for 70 weeks and six months, Mark Cueto for nine weeks and Shalk Burger for only eight. The rugby institutions have to be more consistent if they want to succeed in their mission,” he added

C4 new President excited about new role (Video Interview)

Just before the end of last term, Alex Penn has been elected the new president of Canterbury Christ Church University Mens Rugby Club. The PE Sports and Science student admits he is “very excited about it”.

He said: “I am really relishing the opportunity of being in charge and having the responsibilities more than anything.

“I have loved playing for C4 in the last couple of years and for me, going into teaching, having that experience under my belt can only be good for me.”

Imanol Harinordoquy: I am a No.8 not a seven

Harinordoquy warming up with Biarritz wearing the number 7 jersey...

Arguably the best No.8 in Europe, Imanol Harinordoquy is mainly playing at openside flanker for his club Biarritz. A situation he is not happy about.

“I believe to become the best in the world, you need to play at the same position week-in week-out. This is what I want to do at number eight,” says the Biarritz captain.

James Lunnun: Winning against UKC was good

James Lunnun, left, all smiles after winning Varsity
with Sam Bailey, centre, and Joseph Wood, right.

Nicolas Verdier: What did it mean for you to win the Mark Burgeff Award for service to rugby at this year’s Sport Fed dinner?

James Lunnun: Some very nice people have won it before so I felt very proud to be one of them. I was very surprised as I was not expecting to win it at all. I have heard about the award before but I did not even know I was up for it this year. It was a great surprise.

N. V.: How was Varsity?

J. L.: It was amazing. It was so good to win against UKC. It is always very hard to win Varsity as the team we play is always a league or two above us. But we gave everything we had on the pitch and at training and it paid off at the end.