Premier Rugby panel to decide on Tongauiha
Rugby story by sport.co.uk, Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:29:19GMT

A formal Premier Rugby panel will sit to decide a solution to the row between Northampton Saints and Saracens over the registration of prop forward Soane Tongauiha.Tongauiha currently plays his rugby at Franklins Gardens, but had agreed to join Sarries for next season, only to have a change of heart and pen a new contract with the Saints.Sarries are adamant that they have a legally-binding document signed by Tongauiha, with both clubs desperate to try and secure the services of the...

Venter happy after Sarries win
Rugby story by sport.co.uk, Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:29:17GMT

Saracens director of rugby Brendan Venter was full of praise for referee Tim Wigglesworth after seeing his side win 30-19 at Sale Sharks.Venter had run into trouble earlier in the season for his views on match officials, but the South African felt that Wigglesworth controlled things well at Edgeley Park.He said: "The referees have made a big difference to whats happening out there."The game had a lot of flow to it and I think it must have been a good game...

Jones praises Saracens performance
Rugby story by sport.co.uk, Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:29:15GMT

Sale Sharks director of rugby Kingsley Jones accepted that his side had been beaten by the better team after they suffered a 30-19 defeat at home to Saracens.Jones side remain in trouble near the foot of the Guinness Premiership table and the Welshman had no complaints about the loss at Edgeley Park.He admitted: "When you play against a side as good as Saracens are - a squad I should say - losing their half-backs and bringing on probably better half-backs is...

Heaslip relieved as Leinster squeeze through
Rugby story by sport.co.uk, Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:29:14GMT

Leinster matchwinner Jamie Heaslip admitted that his side had been fortunate to reach the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup with a nail-biting 29-28 victory at home to Clermont Auvergne.Two tries from Heaslip and 19 points from the boot of Jonathan Sexton were enough for the holders top scrape through, after Brock James failed with two late drop-goal attempts for the visitors.Heaslip said afterwards: "It was a see-saw kind of a game and there were mixed feelings in the dressing-room."Were happy with...

Harlequins put Leeds to the sword
Rugby story by sport.co.uk, Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:29:12GMT

Leeds Carnegies relegation fight has taken a knock after they went down 46-11 against Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop.The hosts made a flying start as Tom Williams crossed the whitewash for the opening try of the day in the 13th minute, with Nick Evans adding the extras.Quins went in at half-time with a 13-3 advantage and it was Mike Browns try in the 54th minute that placed them in total control.Any chance of a Leeds comeback was ended when Calum Clark...

Ospreys bemused by late call
Rugby story by sport.co.uk, Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:29:10GMT

Ospreys captain Ryan Jones admitted he was bemused by a late decision from referee George Clancy during Saturdays dramatic Heineken Cup exit at the hands of Biarritz.Biarritz led 29-28 in the closing moments of their quarter-final meeting in San Sebastian when Dimitri Yachvili knocked on a pass from Ospreys scrum-half Mike Phillips.Play continued and Dan Biggar missed a long-range drop goal, but afterwards Ospreys claimed that referee Clancy had indicated a penalty for a deliberate knock-on."He (Clancy) said it was a...

OGara earns glowing praise
Rugby story by sport.co.uk, Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:29:08GMT

Munster coach Tony McGahan hailed the match-winning display of Ronan OGara after he masterminded Saturdays 33-19 Heineken Cup victory over Northampton.Munster lost Paul OConnell to a groin injury in the build-up to the quarter-final tie but secured their place in the last four of the competition for a ninth time after 13 points from the boot of experienced Ireland fly-half OGara.Paul Warwick and Jean De Villiers and Doug Howlett (2) ran in tries from the Irish province at Thomond Park."Ronan was...

Mallinder calls for response
Rugby story by sport.co.uk, Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:29:07GMT

Coach Jim Mallinder has urged Northampton Saints to put their Heineken Cup disappointment behind them by winning the Guinness Premiership.Saints are second in the league but saw their European hopes ended following a 33-19 quarter-final defeat to Munster at Thomond Park on Saturday.Jon Clarkes solitary try and 14 points from the boot of Stephen Myler were all the visitors could muster."It will take 24-48 hours to get it out of the system and we have to do that quickly because we...

Ruddock takes heart from defeat
Rugby story by sport.co.uk, Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:29:05GMT

Director of rugby Mike Ruddock believes Worcester Warriors showed enough spirit against London Irish to prove they have what it takes to avoid relegation.Worcester went down 23-13 to the play-off chasing Exiles on Saturday to remain deep in relegation danger at the foot of the Guinness Premiership table.They opened up a 7-0 lead thanks to Alex Groves touchdown and Willie Walkers conversion, but Chris Malone kicked the extras for the Exiles following Delon Armitages reply in the 34th minute.On the stroke...

European wins for Wasps and Blues
Rugby story by sport.co.uk, Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:29:03GMT

Wasps and Cardiff Blues both booked places in the last four of the Amlin Challenge Cup following quarter-final victories on Sunday.Tom Varndells hat-trick helped Wasps overcome Gloucester 42-26 in a high-scoring encounter at Adams Park.Ben Jacobs and Serge Betsen had scored early on to put the London club into the ascendancy.However, Gloucester refused to throw in the towel and touchdowns from Peter Eustace and Charlie Sharples kept the meeting between the two Guinness Premiership sides competitive until Varndell cut loose late...