Former Blackrock schoolboy shines for Russia

PLANET RUGBY:THE LURE of the Hong Kong Sevens ensured this column took in the final day of a tournament, broadcast live on Sky Sports starting at 5am yesterday morning.

Ireland continue to be absent from the Sevens scene and it’ll be interesting to see what the IRFU eventually decides with regard to the country’s participation at Sevens in the next Olympics.

IOC president Jacques Rogge took part in the presentation ceremonies for the Shield, Bowl, Plate and Cup finals. Given the lack of things Irish, this column enjoyed the performance of former Blackrock College schoolboy Vasily Artemiev, who helped Russia reach the Shield final but could not prevent them from losing to Hong Kong.

In the Bowl final the wonderfully named Canadian flanker Chauncey O’Toole – he made his 15-a-side debut against Ireland last summer – helped his side to an easy victory over Wales.

The ambition of the top to develop young talent in Sevens before they switch was epitomised by the number of teenagers playing: one example, 17-year-old Liam Gill was a central figure in Australia’s Plate final victory over South Africa.

In the main final Samoa beat New Zealand 24-21 to claim the lead in the IRB Sevens Series.

Clermont preparations on track

CLERMONT’S PREPARATIONS for Friday week’s Heineken Cup quarter-final continued smoothly over the weekend with a 41-3 win over the already-relegated Montpellier. But it wasn’t such a good weekend for some of the other French quarter-finalists, with Toulouse and Stade Francais losing heavily, the former going down to another team in European action in a fortnight, Biarritz, by 26-10.

Evans helps inspire Scotland

CERTAINLY ONE source of inspiration for Scotland’s victory over Ireland in the Six Nations Championship at Croke Park must have come from an emotional pre-match speech delivered by the injured Thom Evans. The Scottish wing suffered a serious spinal injury during the defeat to Wales earlier in the tournament, one that could have left him paralysed but for the quick intervention of Dr James Robson.

Evans, a brother of Glasgow and Scotland centre Max, is recovering well, but won’t make a decision about returning to rugby until the end of the season. His next workout will be to take to the catwalk for a charity event in New York at the behest of Scottish rugby fan and legendary actor Sean Connery.

'Rugby Club' more like England club

WATCHING SKY Sports The Rugby Clubduring the week it was amusing to note the unashamed English emphasis to the flavour of the studio discussions involving the intrepid trio of Stuart Barnes, Dewi Morris and Will Greenwood. Graham Simmons had been dispatched to try to bait England coach Martin Johnson and his immediate boss Rob Andrew but was unsuccessful.

The studio panel bemoaned the direction, or lack of it, that was blighting English rugby before offering cursory congratulations to France and coach Marc Lievremont: the same coach who had been pilloried in the same studio during the previous 12 months for his chopping and changing, a regime now being held up as the way ahead.

It was then time to focus on the England women’s Grand Slam, and then watch highlights of the England Under-20 team’s win over France. Ireland’s outright victory in the latter event was relegated to a sentence. The programme might have been more sympathetic to those that actually won things.

O'Shea's day spoiled by Bath

CONOR O’SHEA’S first match day as director of Harlequins didn’t go as he would have wished against in-form Bath, going down 24-13.

There was better news on the Irish front with Roger Wilson scoring the only try in Northampton Saints 14-9 win over London Wasps. There was no Geordan or Johne Murphy as the Leicester Tigers hammered Worcester Warriors, but Jeremy Staunton did contribute his side’s first try.

At least Worcester coach Mike Ruddock and wife, Bernie, got to watch their son Rhys lead Ireland to the Under-20 Six Nations. Rhys made his home debut in Leinster’s 17-14 win over Connacht on Saturday.