TOUCHLINE The Official Newspaper of The RFU April 2017 Issue 200 LOOKING FOR HISTORIC THIRD SIX NATIONS TITLE England Head Coach Eddie Jones says England are determined to be the first side to win three consecutive RBS 6 Nations titles, having defended their Championship with victories over France, Wales, Italy and Scotland, while missing out on a defended Grand Slam with defeat in Ireland. He will use the summer tour to Argentina to improve the depth of the squad, but said: “We are in a much better position than we were 12 months ago and we are in a much better position than we were six months ago. “I’ve learned more about the players, the team has developed, we are more adaptable and have greater depth. We are moving in the right direction. At the end of the day, we have back-to-back RBS 6 Nations trophies which is a fine achievement.” England’s world record equalling unbeaten run of 18 matches came to an end in Ireland, together with their hopes of becoming the first side in the professional era to win back-to-back Grand Slam titles. Continued on page 2 Please click here for stats about England’s record run GRAND SLAM FOR RED ROSES AFTER SLAM COMES JUNIOR SPRINGBOARD FOR WORLD CUP WORLD CUP CHALLENGE Dean Ryan hailed England Under 20s Grand International Player Development. “Everyone Slam as a great achievement. The U20s – deserves an enormous amount of credit, all captained by Bath back-row forward Zach the coaches and all the people that work in the Mercer – secured their first Grand Slam since programme. I think it is great for them.” 2011 with a hard fought 14-10 victory over The U20s coaching staff used 37 players Ireland in Dublin. across the tournament, and Ryan praised the “Winning a Grand Slam is a great squad’s strength-in-depth. achievement,” said Ryan, RFU Head of Continued on page 2 TURIA TELLWRIGHT England Women’s first Grand Slam since 2012, It also gives us confidence that what we’re courtesy of a resolute 34-7 win over Ireland at doing is right. We know we can get better, fitter Donnybrook, delighted their Head Coach Simon and stronger. Middleton. However, he insists his side will now “That will be our next focus, but to come here concentrate on getting even better. to the lion’s den and beat a side that are going to “The difference between winning and not be hosting the World Cup is massive for us. I’m winning in Ireland would have been huge,” said absolutely thrilled.” Middleton. “The victory gives us a springboard The Red Roses scored tries through Amy now and keeps our winning mentality going. Wilson Hardy, Laura Keates, Amy Cokayne, Continued on page 2 TOUCHLINE – APRIL 2017 1 LOOKING FOR AFTER SLAM COMES JUNIOR HISTORIC THIRD SIX WORLD CUP CHALLENGE NATIONS TITLE Continued from page 1 Ryan’s attention is now focused on the World Rugby U20 especially for their resilience late on. “It was awesome, fair play Continued from page 1 Championships in May and June, and he says England must to Ireland, we were probably too complacent in that second half, Jones says his side can still achieve greatness. “The great thing improve if they are to win successive titles. but I can’t say how proud I am of the boys,” he said. “To go back for us is that we’ve won back-to-back RBS 6 Nations trophies and “To win a World Cup they have to be better than they were on the plane with the boys knowing we’ve won it is amazing. I’m no one has ever won three in a row,” he says. “So we are still in a against Ireland,” he explained. “The team recognises that. over the moon.” position where we could achieve a record in the competition.” The Junior World Cup is the next challenge to see if you England U20 coach Tom Williams added: “We made it hard And with several key members of the squad likely to tour New have the base of a good team, and you have to strive for good for ourselves. However the team have shown a lot of backbone Zealand with the British & Irish Lions this summer, he sees the performance and good progress.” and character and that is what is so promising about this group two-Test series in Argentina as the perfect opportunity to add England U20s sealed the Six Nations title with a 33-5 win of players. We know we can’t rest on our laurels and there is a lot experience to the group. against Scotland on the penultimate weekend, having beaten to work on ahead of the U20 World Championship but we have “2017 has always been about improving the depth of the squad,” Italy 46-0, Wales 37-21 and France 59-17. a good platform to build from.” he said. “I’d like to think at the end of the year we’ll have a greater In Ireland, captain Zach Mercer paid tribute to his team mates, depth, will have three or four players for each position and if we do that I’ll look back at 2017 as a successful year. “We go to Argentina for two Tests, we know they are going to be at full strength. We are playing in towns with hostile crowds ENGLAND PLAYERS LAUNCH and it’ll be a great learning experience. It’s going to be fun, a great cultural experience and a great chance to see where young players are up to and whether they can be exposed to a World Cup in two MITSUBISHI MOTORS EXETER SEVENS years time.” GRAND SLAM FOR RED ROSES SPRINGBOARD FOR WORLD CUP Continued from page 1 Emily Scarratt and Lydia Thompson, with Scarratt ending the match with a personal haul of 14 points. Ireland scored a consolation try of their own through hooker Leah Lyons but it was not enough to prevent England’s first Six Nations win in Ireland since 2011. Their Six Nations saw England Women beat France 26-13 at Twickenham, turning around a 13-0 half time deficit, the biggest half time comeback ever in the Women’s Six Nations. They then ran in 11 tries at BT Cardiff Arms Park, Lydia Thompson’s hat trick helping to put Wales to the sword 63-0. That was followed by a 29-15 win against Italy at the Twickenham Stoop, where Kay Wilson ran in an amazing seven tries against Scotland in the 64-0 victory. MATCH OFFICIALS CHOSEN When England take on Argentina Nigel Owens will referee 15-16 July – Tickets now on sale www.sandypark.co.uk/sevens their first Test in San Juan on 10 June assisted by Johnny England Sevens players Tom Bowen and Charlton Kerr were on adopted nations to support and welcome to Exeter ahead of their Lacey and Egon Seconds. The second Test on 17 June in hand to launch the Mitsubishi Motors Exeter 7s which returns involvement in the tournament. Sante Fe will be officiated by Lacey, with Owens and Seconds this year from 15-16 July. They were joined by Academy player “It’s more than just the on-field rugby, it’s about community assisting him. Calum Sirker, as well as Exeter’s Deputy Lord Mayor and a host of and through the adopt a nation campaign, it gives the Exeter Rugby Football Union referees Matthew Carley, Luke Pearce, local rugby clubs. community an opportunity to rub shoulders with the elite rugby Wayne Barnes and JP Doyle have also been assigned matches The Exeter round will be the final stage of the Rugby Europe players throughout Europe,” said Director of Professional Rugby at for upcoming Tests. Sevens Grand Prix Series 2017 which kicks off in Russia on the RFU, Nigel Melville. Carley takes charge of Australia v Fiji on 10 June and Pearce Saturday, 3 June then moves to Poland from 10–11 June. Tony Rowe, CEO of Exeter Chiefs, said he was looking forward United States v Ireland on the same day. Barnes takes charge “It was great to meet the Exeter locals today and see their to welcoming the tournament once again. “Mitsubishi Motors of Australia v Scotland on 17 June, Doyle has Japan v Ireland a excitement ahead of the Mitsubishi Motors Exeter Sevens this Exeter Sevens has become one of the highlights of Exeter’s week later and Pearce officiates Argentina v Georgia also summer,” said Tom Bowen. “It’s a great tournament and a brilliant sporting calendar, reinforcing its place as the sporting capital of on the 24th. Carley will also be the referee for Australia v Italy experience playing different teams on the European circuit.” the South West.” on 24 June. This year, clubs from the local area have been assigned NEWARK DEVELOPING PLAYERS Newark Rugby Club are celebrating the achievement of having a player selected for the England Counties under-18s squad for a fourth successive season. Fly half Matt Law is following in the footsteps of two wings in Ben Dixon and Ben Usher plus back-row forward James Newman. Law, who has played regularly in the first team this season at the Midlands Two North East club, is a pupil at King’s School in Grantham and his brother Jonny, who is in the Leicester Tigers academy, is part of the club’s successful under-16s squad. He earned his place via the divisional selection process by playing for the Midlands. Club president Alan Swain said: “This achievement could well be unsurpassed by a junior community club and highlights the fantastic work of our senior youth coaching team and the support network of all club officials and parents.