Banahan the small town giant makes big strides
Features
Promising young wingers come in all shapes and sizes but Matt Banahan is something else. Imagine a Pacific Islander's physique transferred to a personable 21-year-old former hockey player from Jersey who stands 6ft 7in tall, weighs 18 stone and covers the ground faster than anyone else in the west. This week he was picked for England Saxons and is aiming to blow Wasps away tomorrow en route to the Guinness Premiership grand final. The next big thing has already arrived.
Source: Guardian Unlimited
Date Published: May 17, 2008
Dallaglio sees a fitting finale for himself only in terms of Wasps' future
Features
Lawrence Dallaglio will fittingly finish his 18-year senior career at Twickenham, the scene of so many of his triumphs, regardless of whether Wasps reach the Premiership play-off final by defeating Bath at Adams Park tomorrow, but the former England captain says he is more motivated about his club maintaining their remarkable record of winning at least one trophy every season since 2003 than personal glory.
Source: Guardian Unlimited
Date Published: May 17, 2008
Gloucester out to win the lap of honour as well as the main race
Features
Gloucester last week finished at the head of the Premiership for the third time in the last six seasons but they have yet to be crowned champions. Masters of the marathon, they still have to adapt to the sprint finish that is the play-off system and at Kingsholm tomorrow they face the side, Leicester, that crushed them in last year's final at Twickenham.
Source: Guardian Unlimited
Date Published: May 17, 2008
Players and RFU to scrum down over England performance pay
Features
The Rugby Football Union and the Professional Rugby Players' Association will next week resume talks over a new pay deal for the national squad which will run for the next four years. Players currently receive £9,000 for each appearance, regardless of the result. The RFU wants to reduce that amount to £5,500 with another £5,500 offered as a win bonus. It means players would be better off after a victory but worse off after a defeat, but the PRA is not keen on performance-related pay.
Source: Guardian Unlimited
Date Published: May 17, 2008
Saints chiefs swell the stadium marchers
Features
Eamonn McManus and Tony Colquitt, former executives with HSBC and Gillette respectively who are now the chairman and chief executive of St Helens, will take the unusual option of walking to tonight's Super League game against the Catalans Dragons at Knowsley Road.
Source: Guardian Unlimited
Date Published: May 17, 2008
Under-pressure Loffreda turns to Tuilagi
Features
Leicester have recalled the Samoa wing Alesana Tuilagi for tomorrow's play-off semi-final against Gloucester at Kingsholm with the Tigers' head coach, Marcelo Loffreda, admitting he still feels under pressure despite the club's unexpected top-four finish.
Source: Guardian Unlimited
Date Published: May 17, 2008
Eagles dare to take centre back on release from prison
Features
Sheffield Eagles plan to select Damien Reid at centre for their National League match at Widnes on Sunday, even though he is in prison. The 24-year-old was given a 12-month sentence at Leeds Crown Court in January after admitting inflicting grievous bodily harm on a friend during a night out and being sacked by Salford, who had signed him from Sheffield last autumn.
Source: Guardian Unlimited
Date Published: May 16, 2008
