Compiled by JOHN O'SULLIVAN
Rugby history under the hammer
AN INTERESTING piece of Irish rugby memorabilia was sold by Cobhams Auctioneers in Chester, England, recently fetching the princely sum of €1,630 (£1,500), a figure that included the buyer's premium.
Lot No 52 centred on the sale of an 1889 Irish international rugby cap awarded to John Joseph Cotton.
It was described in the brochure as a “Green velvet six panel cap with gold tassel and trim embroidered with shamrock to front and ‘1889’ to peak.
“Makers name imprinted inside of W Laird, 13 Corn Market Belfast.
“Awarded to John Joseph Cotton for his one and only appearance for Ireland playing as a forward at St Helens Ground in Swansea v Wales on March 2nd, 1889.”
An aside to the sale clarifies that the John Joseph Cotton in question was born in 1863 and was the son of Alderman William Francis Cotton, Lord Mayor of Dublin.
Apparently his father disliked his son playing rugby so much that John Joseph played under the name of William to avoid any embarrassment to his father.
Perpignan impress under the bright lights of Paris
MUNSTER’S RECENT playing woes won’t be eased when studying the DVD of Perpignan’s 20-14 victory over Stade Francais at the Stade de France in the French championship at the weekend. The Irish province meets the French side home and away in successive Heineken Cup matches in December.
Perpignan thrived before 80,000 spectators in the national stadium, scoring fantastic tries to Maxime Mermoz and Jerome Porical. Stade’s Scottish fullback Hugo Southwell had registered the game’s first try.
The home side came in to the game as the form side, following Heineken Cup victories over Edinburgh and Bath, but they wilted again under the bright lights at the Stade de France. Last season they played in St Denis on four occasions but only managed a return of three losses and a draw.
Stade play back-to-back fixtures against Ulster in December, the French side electing to play their home match in Belgium.
Super Rugby host still undecided
A DECISION on where the 15th Super Rugby franchise will be located will go before an independent arbitrator after the executive committee of Sanzar, which comprises the South Africa, New Zealand and Australian rugby unions, reached a stalemate.
With the Australian Rugby Union pushing for the new team to be based in Melbourne and South African officials supporting the Southern Kings bid, a result was never likely following a lengthy meeting in Brisbane.
The Sanzar executive committee did not vote, referring the matter to arbitration, a process that will be set up quickly, with a final decision binding.
The new franchise will be in place for the start of the 2011 season.
Young props under the radar
A POPULIST cry among some media pundits is to bemoan the lack of young props available to Ireland coach Declan Kidney and his predecessor Eddie O’Sullivan, but scratching the surface seems to suggest otherwise. Quite apart from Cian Healy, Darragh Hurley, Jamie Hagan and other young Irish-based props in the various provinces, there are three plying their trade in England who might be worth a look by the national management.
Kieran Brookes, Paul Doran- Jones and John Andress are three Irish qualified props attached to Guinness Premiership rosters. Brookes, a member of the Newcastle Falcons squad, has just turned 19 and came on in the club’s two recent Amlin Challenge Cup matches in Europe, replacing former All Black tighthead and club captain Carl Hayman in both games.
He’s played for Ireland at under-18, under-19 and under-20 level, the latter while still 18 and is a highly-regarded prospect. At 6ft 1in and 19 stone should not be ignored. Until he plays A or Sevens levels he could still be snaffled by England.
Former Trinity student, the Welsh born Doran-Jones is a member of the first team squad at Gloucester and came on early as a replacement in Saturday’s game against Wasps. He has also played underage for Ireland and Leinster (he can play both sides of scrum) as has the Belfast-born, one-time Ulster academy prop Andress, who started for Harlequins at the weekend.
Only one uncapped player for Wales
Newport Gwent Dragons flanker Dan Lydiate is the only uncapped player in Warren Gatland’s Wales squad for the autumn Tests against New Zealand, Samoa, Argentina and Australia.
Ospreys backrow forward Ryan Jones has retained the captaincy of a 29-man group that also includes three players - centre Jonathan Davies, prop Craig Mitchell and flanker Sam Warburton - who made their international debuts during the summer tour of the USA and Canada.
Scrumhalf Dwayne Peel is also named, despite being unavailable for the All Blacks clash on November 7th due to the release policy at his club Sale Sharks.
Gannon helps Southland to final
DAVE GANNON, who captained Ireland in the 2003 Under-21 World Cup final defeat to New Zealand in Glasgow, helped Southland to reach the penultimate stage of the New Zealand Cup. Gannon, who left Connacht for New Zealand during the summer, came on as a replacement with 20 minutes remaining.
Southland tackled their way into Ranfurly Shield folklore with a 9-3 triumph over Canterbury in Christchurch, ending half a century of heartbreak. The “Log of Wood” will reside in Invercargill until next season, the first time it has been in New Zealand’s deep south since their one-match reign in 1959. Southland will now meet Wellington in the semi-finals.
