Mowen to stay Brumbies skipper

Updated January 10, 2013 14:51:12

Ben Mowen will again lead the ACT Brumbies in this season's Super 15 series ahead of Wallabies David Pocock and Stephen Moore, head coach Jake White said on Thursday.

Pocock, who has captained the Wallabies, joined the Brumbies in the off-season from the Western Force, where he also led the Perth-based Super 15 side.

White said number eight Mowen had proven himself to be a valuable leader of the Brumbies.

"Ben's proven above and beyond that he is a quality leader and the right man to be captain of this team into the future," White said.

"There were numerous times through the (last) season that his leadership proved the difference for the Brumbies and it's a pleasure to have him back in the same position for 2013."

AFP

Tags: super-rugby, rugby-union, sport, canberra-2600, act, australia

First posted January 10, 2013 14:51:12

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Dad of fake collar bomb victim named ARU chief

Updated January 10, 2013 11:03:11

Bill Pulver, the father of 2011 hoax collar bomb victim Madeleine, has been announced as the chief executive of the Australian Rugby Union.

Pulver, an experienced Sydney businessman and self-declared lover of rugby, succeeds John O'Neill, who stepped down in October.

ARU chairman Michael Hawker, a former high school rugby team mate of Pulver, said the new appointee meets all the needs of the job.

"We wanted someone with proven commercial success at CEO level, with international business experience and a love of rugby," Hawker said.

"The board also set priorities around good communication skills and an understanding of the world of sports marketing and media.

"Bill has all those attributes."

Hawker highlighted Pulver's roles in sports marketing and media research, as well as his involvement in junior rugby.

The 53-year-old began his business career with global marketing research team AC Nielsen. He held management roles with the group in Japan and London before spending six years in New York as president of the listed internet media and research company Net Ratings Inc.

NetRatings was bought out by global information and measurement company Nielsen in 2007, for a reported $US820 million, and combined with BuzzMetrics to form Nielsen Online.

It is believed Pulver's share options in NetRatings made him a multi-millionaire.

Since 2010 he has been chief executive of Appen Butler Hill, a linguistic technology solutions company, where he will finish up at the end of January.

Pulver became a nationally recognisable figure when his daughter had a fake collar bomb placed around her neck in August 2011.

In November of last year, Paul Douglas Peters was sentenced to 13 years and six months for the bomb hoax.

When questioned about the impact of that incident at the ARU press conference Pulver did not directly refer to the 2011 drama but said it did not discourage him from returning to the public eye in this high-profile role.

"I'm 53 years of age and I've finally decided what I want to do," Pulver said.

"I feel this is a civic duty, my love of rugby is so deep."

"I'm convinced rugby has an extraordinary future in Australia and I'm looking forward to being part of the team to make it a reality."

Pulver added that his family had no reservations about him taking on a public role in the wake of the collar bomb drama.

"They are probably at home watching, licking their lips at what lies ahead. Rugby is a subject we will be happy to talk about."

Pulver played with Hawker at Sydney's Shore school and went on to play the game for the University of New South Wales.

He had been an administrator and coach at Mosman junior rugby club in Sydney and his son Angus was a member of last year's Australian Schoolboys team.

The new ARU chief said he will take a consultative approach in his role but already has some firm goals in place.

Pulver said he wants to lead the ARU in some urgency in pursuit of world rugby's number one title.

New Zealand currently has that title with Australia ranked number three in the world.

Pulver backs his former Shore school mate Hawker in support of keeping Robbie Deans in the head coach role in 2013.

"Robbie will be coaching the Wallabies right through 2013," Pulver declared.

"And then at that point we will consider the coaching positions to take us to the Rugby World Cup in 2015."

Pulver also talked about the need to enhance the entertainment appeal of rugby in the Australian market.

In that respect he wants to lift the profile of Rugby Sevens and also boost women's rugby.

Tags: sport, rugby-union, sydney-2000, australia

First posted January 09, 2013 13:07:45

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Cooper to fight Muay Thai veteran

Updated January 10, 2013 20:00:38

Wallabies playmaker Quade Cooper will not face a powder-puff in his pro-boxing debut on February 8.

Muay Thai title contender Barry Dunnett has been named as Cooper's opponent for his KO to Drugs charity bout at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

Dunnett, 32, has had two previous professional boxing bouts in 2010 but it is in Muay Thai boxing, in which fighters are allowed to use their elbows and knees, where he has built up a healthy resume that includes a Queensland light-heavyweight title fight.

Cooper makes his boxing debut on the undercard of Sonny Bill Williams's heavyweight bout with South African Francois Botha.

The fight will force him to miss the Queensland Reds' second and final preseason trial, against the defending champion Chiefs, before the Super Rugby competition kicks off.

Cooper will play in the Reds' opening trial against the Blues in Toowoomba on February 2.

On the rugby field Cooper was a shadow of his creative self last year, producing a number of below-par performances after recovering from a serious knee injury and featuring in a well-publicised spats with the governing body.

His boxing venture appeared to have the backing of Queensland Reds coach Ewan McKenzie.

"If you are going to put yourself out there in front of a big TV audience and a crowd one-on-one ... you can't help think he is getting some benefit from a confidence point of view," McKenzie told reporters on Tuesday.

"He's been getting his boxing done around normal training. The quality of his rugby training has been outstanding, he seems in a very good space."

AAP/Reuters

Tags: rugby-union, boxing, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted January 10, 2013 17:48:46

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Pocock re-signs with ARU

Updated December 21, 2012 17:03:59

Wallabies skipper David Pocock has inked a fresh deal with Australian Rugby Union, keeping him in the gold jersey for a further three years.

Star openside flanker Pocock, who will link up with the Canberra-based Brumbies this season following six years with Western Force, re-signed with the ARU through 2015.

Acting ARU chief Matt Carroll said the process was "smooth and straightforward".

"David Pocock has made an enormous contribution to rugby, as a player and an outstanding individual, since his debut," he said in a statement.

"2013 will be a big year for rugby and we are very pleased to be able to have David available for the Wallabies when they take on the combined might of the British and Irish Lions in June.

"There's no doubt he will make a valuable contribution to the Wallabies and Brumbies when they face the Lions during this historic Tour to Australia.

"The Lions Tour is a unique Rugby experience that I'm sure David is looking forward to."

Brumbies coach Jake White said he expects Pocock to thrive in the nation's capital.

"To have a guy like David Pocock want to be involved with the Brumbies is very encouraging," White said.

"The attitude and commitment of Brumbies players both during 2012 and as we prepare for 2013 has been outstanding. I see David thriving in this environment. He will fit in here perfectly.

"At the end of the day, we want to make David a better player."

Pocock has 45 Test caps since making his debut in Hong Kong against New Zealand in 2008.

His Super Rugby career began with the Western Force in 2006 and ended when he announced at the end of the 2012 season that he would move east for the Brumbies' 2013 campaign.

A two-time IRB International Player of the Year nominee and 2010 John Eales Medal winner, Pocock recently returned from a knee injury to join the Wallabies on their Spring Tour of Europe.

Pocock is the third Qantas Wallaby to extend his contract with the ARU in recent months after Will Genia and former schoolmate Quade Cooper both re-signed.

Tags: rugby-union, sport, australia, act, canberra-2600

First posted December 21, 2012 17:02:43

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Johnson named interim Scotland coach

Updated December 21, 2012 08:58:53

Australian Scott Johnson has been appointed Scotland head coach on a temporary basis for the Six Nations and next year's tour of South Africa, Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) announced on Friday morning (AEDT).

Johnson had been working as an assistant coach to Andy Robinson, who resigned last month in the wake of a 21-15 loss to Tonga after three and a half years in charge.

"Scott has a wealth of experience of international rugby, which was instrumental in his appointment earlier this year as our senior assistant coach," said SRU chief executive Mark Dodson.

"He has coached with Australia, Wales and the USA and knows what it is to prepare teams to win on the international battleground.

"Scott knows our players and coaches well and is determined to hit the ground running with a successful Six Nations Championship."

Dodson also confirmed that the SRU will continue to seek a long-term successor to Robinson.

Johnson described the appointment as "an honour" and pledged to do his best to get the most out of the players.

The loss to Tonga on November 25 was Scotland's 10th defeat in its last 13 Tests and saw it slump to 12th in the International Rugby Board (IRB) global ranking.

Johnson, who was once caretaker coach of Wales, was appointed as an assistant coach as part of an overhaul that followed Scotland's dismal performance at this year's Six Nations, in which they lost all five games.

The 50-year-old played a part in the successful tour of Australia, Fiji and Samoa, in June this year before losses to New Zealand, South Africa and Tonga in November.

Scotland opens its Six Nations campaign against England at Twickenham on February 2.

AFP

Tags: rugby-union, sport, scotland

First posted December 21, 2012 08:52:17

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ARU adopts independent model

Updated December 10, 2012 14:23:56

The Australian Rugby Union has adopted a new independent governance model after voting for constitutional change on Monday.

Following in the footsteps of the AFL and NRL, an independent board of directors will be appointed as part of recommendations being implemented from the Arbib Review of the sport.

Over coming months a four-member independent nominations committee will be established to recommended new directors for election.

Existing directors will serve out their terms before moving on, but will have the right to be considered again as independent nominees.

The new system will give voice to Super Rugby franchises and distribute votes more evenly across states, territories and also to the Rugby Union Players Association.

Voting numbers have increased from 14 to 16 and each state and territory has the opportunity to secure an additional vote should they join New South Wales and Queensland in passing 50,000 registered players in their region.

The required 75 per cent of members voted on Monday to adopt a new government model following recommendations from the Strengthening the Governance of Australian Rugby (the Arbib Review), which was released in October.

"Today marks an historic occasion for Australian rugby," ARU president Ron Graham said in a statement.

"We have listened to our members and worked with them to get to where we are today.

"I am proud that the decision has been made to take the game to the next level and officially move to having an independent corporate governance structure."

AAP

Tags: rugby-union, sport, australia

First posted December 10, 2012 14:23:56

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Deans gets ARU backing before crucial year

Updated December 13, 2012 08:15:23

Australian Rugby Union chairman Michael Hawker has made a passionate defence of the Wallabies' season ahead of a make-or-break year for coach Robbie Deans.

Deans may struggle to push on beyond his contract which finishes in 2013 following a season in which the Wallabies dropped from second to third in the world rankings and played a brand of rugby which delivered just 15 tries in 15 games.

Hawker admitted 2013 shaped as a significant year for Deans and the Wallabies, with the three-Test British and Irish Lions' Australian tour the biggest indicator of success in the coming 12 months.

"I think for coaches every year is make or break," Hawker said on Tuesday.

"That's the nature of coaching. I don't think Robbie takes anything for granted.

"For us, I think everyone in the Australian public is pretty keen to win all the games.

"So is Robbie, and he'll do the best he can to do that. In the board's view we've got every chance of defeating the Lions next year.

"... Next year is a huge year. (The Lions tour) always creates a huge wave of anticipation in this country, seeing the best of the northern hemisphere come here.

"We're pretty keen to try and thump them."

The Wallabies' dour playing style has not hampered participation rates across the country, with the ARU announcing on Tuesday a fourth consecutive year of growth - with player numbers totalling 323,115 in 2012.

Hawker said it was unfair to criticise the Wallabies simply on their record of nine wins, five losses and a draw - pointing to the unprecedented number of injuries which rocked the national team this year.

Playmakers Will Genia, Quade Cooper, James O'Connor and Kurtley Beale all missed significant portions of 2012, as did skipper James Horwill and world-class flanker David Pocock.

"From the Australian Rugby Union we're happy with where the Australian team is. We'd like to have less injuries and I think if didn't have as many injuries we'd have been right up the top," Hawker said.

"... You've got to put the Wallabies performance in context with how many injuries we've had.

"We've had 55 people play for the Wallabies this year which is a pretty broad number of players and so we've had an unusual level of injury rate.

"... You look at some of the international teams (and) if you took Carter and Richie McCaw out in New Zealand you have a different proposition."

So severe was the injury crisis Hawker revealed it had prompted an internal investigation, the result of which was a new process to handle injured players.

"We've actually just approved a better player management process between the Australian Rugby Union and the Super Rugby franchises to make sure that a player's welfare is managed right collectively across those two levels of the game," he said.

AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted December 11, 2012 21:48:41

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