Coventry v Bedford Blues

After a terrible week for the Midlanders tonight’s scheduled match against Bedford Blues goes ahead at Coventry City FC`s Ricoh Arena.

Confusion still surrounds the exact method by which former club owner Andrew Green has allegedly placed the club in a state of creditor voluntary liquidation with the RFU reporting that no third party has as yet come forward to identify themselves.

Following hastily arranged talks on Wednesday between the RFU and Coventry president Peter Rossborough it was agreed that tonight’s fixture could go ahead after the City Council and soccer club agreed to help. The Coventry squad are no longer being paid and will rely on gate receipts to make up their wages.

The Coventry Telegraph today reports that club officials have been given six weeks to attract new investment and save the club following a winding-up order served by the Inland Revenue for outstanding taxes totalling £482,061.

Coventry City Council is attempting to secure full ownership of the Butts Park Arena from Deloitte, the administrators of one of Mr Green’s previous companies, in a bid to then lease it back to the rugby club.

Peter Rossborough told the Telegraph,

“ I suspect we’ve got a month to six weeks to show we’ve put our house in order. We need an investor or consortium of investors. There are people out there. We’ve not optimistic, but cautiously hopeful.”

Full story.. www.coventrytelegraph.net/

On the playing front director of rugby Phil Maynard has yet to name his squad but told Rugby Times, “Bedford often reserve their best performance for us andwe reserve our worst performance for them, which makes for a heady cocktail.”

The Blues won 42-6 against Coventry at Goldington Road in September and unconfirmed reports suggest that their squad for tonight is:-

15. Luke Fielden
14. Duncan Taylor
13. Liam Roberts
12. Ian Vass
11. Ollie Dodge
10. Myles Dorrian
9. Nick Walshe

1. Sam Walsh
2. Dan Richmond (c)
3. Phil Boulton
4. Mike Howard
5. Alex Rae
6. Gregor Gillanders
7. Chris Goodman
8. Paul Tupai

Replacements:
16. Chris Locke, 17. Dan Seal, 18. John Harlock, 19. Brett Daynes, 20. Will Chudley, 21. Brad Davies, 22. Ian Davey.

The RFU issued the following statement on tonight’s match:-

The RFU has welcomed the staging of tomorrow's Championship match between Coventry and Bedford Blues at the Ricoh Arena (7.45pm).

The match has been moved to the Ricoh Arena from the Butts Park Arena while the club's future is sorted out.

RFU Management Board Chairman Martyn Thomas said:

"We are pleased that Coventry City Council and the Ricoh Arena are being so supportive in this uncertain period for the club. As we said yesterday the legal status of the club remains unclear and therefore the club should continue to trade

"To have a first rate stadium offered for tomorrow's Championship game is a wonderful gesture and we would encourage rugby lovers throughout Coventry and the area to go along and support."

All Coventry RFC season ticket holders and those who have bought in advance will have their tickets honoured for the match while parking will be available at the Ricoh Arena for £3.

The Tesco Stand will open from 6.30pm for supporters and tickets will be available on the gate, priced at £15 for adults, £10 for concessions (over 60s and students with NUS) and £5 for children under 16.

Daniel Gidney, chief executive of the Ricoh Arena, which is also sponsoring the fixture, said:

"We have worked very hard and very quickly to get this match on in order to buy Coventry Rugby Club some time.

"We hope that even if people aren't rugby fans they come out in force on Friday night to back the club.

"Pricing levels for tickets and car parking are the same as at the Butts and we hope we can attract a good crowd for the match."

Coventry City Council Leader, Cllr Ken Taylor said:

"The Council has been working with the rugby club over many years to secure a long term and sustainable future for a sporting organisation which is an integral and vital part of our city.

"I'm delighted that some hard work behind the scenes over the past few days has meant that the rugby club will be playing at the Ricoh Arena on Friday night, and I hope there's a massive turnout from Coventry people to show their support for our club

"That's the priority for us all now, but the hard work will continue behind the scenes over the coming days and weeks to try and find that long term solution for the club that we all want."

Phil Maynard, Coventry's Director of Rugby, said:

"It's been difficult week but we have a big game on Friday at the Ricoh and it was just vitally important that we got the game on."

Doncaster Knights v Exeter Chiefs

Doncaster Knights head in to tomorrow`s crucial clash at Castle Park in confident mood of claiming another major scalp.

The Knights are well rested following the postponement of last weekend`s British & Irish Cup tie against Pontypridd and having beaten Bristol already this season in Yorkshire intend to inflict the same fate on the Chiefs.

Head Coach Lynn Howells told the Doncaster Free Press,

"When you play against any team at the top of the table - particularly a side who boast a 100 per cent winning record like Exeter - the players don't really need any motivational talk from coaches.

"The lads will be in the zone on Saturday and they'll be determined to be the first side to beat Exeter. Exeter play simple rugby, they have a good pack of forwards and they are a team that don't make many mistakes.

"They're going really well at the moment and we know we're in for a tough game."

Full story www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk

Knights team www.drfc.co.uk

Chiefs Head coach Rob Baxter told the Western Morning News,

“ We have been to Doncaster and performed well before. We know how to play and win up there and it is crucial we stick to our game plan.

We know what to expect from Doncaster and they will have been disappointed with their form at the start of the season. They will want to play well in front of a home ground and use their home advantage."

Baxter has made 13 changes to his starting line-up for tomorrow`s match as the Chiefs revert to their Championship focus and added, “I know some people have worked out the mathematical permutations, but I haven't and I would hate us to get caught out by us thinking we should not worry about this part of the season."

Full story and Chiefs team www.thisiswesternmorningnews.co.uk

London Welsh v Nottingham

Two more teams never far from further financial calamity meet at Old Deer Park tomorrow with both wanting to build on recent good form in the Cup.

The Welsh opened their campaign with comfortable wins on the road against Aberavon and Moseley, whilst the Green and Whites ground out a 5-0 success in the Scottish Borders against Heriot`s before coming from behind to beat Neath at Meadow Lane last Sunday.

However news that Exiles owner Neil Hollinshead is believed to be facing a personal bankruptcy claim, unconnected with the club, which has been adjourned until January is casting a shadow amidst rumours that players` wages have been paid late in several instances this season.

Head Coach Danny Wilson spoke of the improved performances in the Cup and told the Richmond & Twickenham Times,

“I wanted players to put their hand up and Ed has done that and for that reason he will probably start this weekend.

“Nottingham will be a tough task - no two ways about it. They are back to full strength, and I cannot remember London Welsh beating them in recent years.

“The league is incredibly tight this year and a result here and there could decide your fate - a loss of form or a couple of injuries and you are straight down the table. All we can do is try to keep winning.”

Full story www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk

Nottingham are expected to give 19 year-old scrum half Sam Harrison the nod over Tim Usasz who drops to the bench. Teenage duo Callum Green and Nic Carter form an inexperienced second row pairing with several players still sidelined with injuries.

Director of rugby Glenn Delaney told the Evening Post,

“ They will present a big physical challenge. It's all very aggressive on their part. They are the sort of team that if you take them head on, it can be a difficult day at the office. But if you go down there and try to play rugby, you can get round some of their physical players.

"They do try to play, They have a good ten in Gordon Ross, who has played for Scotland and knows how to control the game. We are expecting them to be pretty physical and fired up because they lost their last game against Plymouth. But we've had a pretty good week in training and our guys are ready for the game."

Full story www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/rugby

Moseley v Cornish Pirates

Match preview from this site

Western Morning News view www.thisiswesternmorningnews.co.uk

Moseley welcome back South African fly-half turned centre Andy Borgen for tomorrow`s clash at Billesley Common after three weeks out with a chest infection.

Canadian international Bryn Keys is sidelined through injury (broken leg) whilst full-back Reece Spee has this week left the club to return to New Zealand.

Family illness has meant that the 31 year-old has had to take over the reins of the family business and former Pirates favourite Rob Thirlby is expected to take over the Number 15 jersey.

Influential back row James Rodwell is away on international 7`s duty with England.

Full story /www.birminghammail.net

And www.birminghammail.net

Plymouth Albion v Rotherham Titans

Albion chairman of rugby Graham Dawe has handed a first league start to 19 year-old utility back Mark Lee for tomorrow`s match at Brickfields.

Last time out in the Championship Albion recorded a notable 26-12 win at Old Deer Park and Lee comes in at full-back in place of club captain Kieran Hallett who drops to the bench.

Hooker Joe Clark is preferred to fit again James Owen whilst Wayne Sprangle hopes to overcome a neck strain to take over from the injured Sean-Michael Stephen. Tyler Hotson returns from international duty with Canada to warm the bench

Albion team www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/albion

Dawe told The Herald,

“We have carried on the momentum from London Welsh in the two cup matches. But we can't get carried away with our performances if they don't get us the results we want. There is a fine margin between good performances and what accumulates a result in any league.”

"As a team, you have got to get the balance right. We have got to try and replicate our performances of the past few weeks in tomorrow's game. We have to show the same level of desire we have shown in our last two cup matches.”

"But we have got to show even more intensity this weekend because these (Rotherham) guys know what it's like to beat Plymouth Albion this season and they know how to win at Brickfields."

Full story www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/albion

The Titans who lie one place below Albion in 10th travel to Devon with leading points scorer Jonny West on the bench. Head Coach Craig West has opted for Mike Whitehead at fly-half with Ben Coulbeck retaining the full-back berth.

Former Cornish Pirates centre Nick Buckley misses out through illness whilst Number 8 Tinus du Plessis is rested having picked up an ankle injury on international duty with Namibia.

Team news www.rotherhamrugby.co.uk

The Star`s view www.thestar.co.uk/rugbyunion

Bristol v Birmingham & Solihull

Paul Hull`s team face what should be a five-point formality on Sunday against a Bees side who have been instructed by player/coach Russell Earnshaw to treat the next eleven games as preparation for the relegation play-offs.

With Earnshaw away on 7`s duty for England and the Bees squad still in transition following a raft of personnel chnges in recent weeks an upset at the Memorial Stadium appears highly unlikely.

Hull has told his players to forget the narrow 40-36 win at Sharmans Cross Road in September and concentrate on resuming their Championship form where they left off. He told the Evening Post,

“I was asked before the first British & Irish Cup game whether the break came at a bad time for us, but I think it came at a perfect time.”

"Some guys really needed a rest because they had been playing in every league game.

"Now they have got their rest – and hopefully we will start again as we finished in the league. We've rested some guys and given game-time to others, so we're in a good position at the moment."

Full story www.thisisbristol.co.uk/bristolrugby

Bristol have also announced the signing of former Bath captain Alex Crockett on a short-term deal.

The 28 year-old centre was banned from playing by the RFU in August after refusing to take two drugs tests. He will join Bristol next month and is free to resume playing again on March 1 st.

The West Country club expect to hand him his debut on March 7 th against Nottingham prior to the Championship play-offs.

Full story www.thisisbristol.co.uk/bristolrugby

Bees wing Simon Hunt has told the Birmingham Mail that he would enjoy a shock result at the Memorial Stdium. Full story www.birminghammail.net

Bees squad news www.beesrugby.com