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The trial of a Fianna Fáil TD, his son and four others on assault and public order offences begins this afternoon in Clonmel Circuit Court.

Deputy Mattie McGrath, his son Edmund and the four other accused pleaded not guilty to the charges of assault causing harm and violent disorder at Newcastle, Co Tipperary on 14 August 2006.

In court today, it was alleged that on that date five local youths were set upon by the six accused in the village of Newcastle outside Clonmel.
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A jury of seven men and five women have been sworn in and the trial is expected to last at least a week.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1104/mcgrathm.html

Anyone know the background to this one? I seem to remember soething about the locals taking matters into their own hands but I'm not sure if this was the case?

Ireland Team (V Canada, GUINNESS Series 2008, Thomond Park, Saturday November 8th, 17:15)

15 – Keith Earls* (Young Munster/Munster)

14 – Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)

13 – Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) Captain

12 – Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)

11 – Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)

10 – Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)

9 – Eoin Reddan (Wasps)

1 – Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)

2 – Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)

3 – Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster)

4 – Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)

5 – Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)

6 – Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)

7 – Shane Jennings (St.Mary's College/Leinster)

8 – Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements to be selected from the following 8:

Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster), John Hayes (Bruff/Munster), Ryan Caldwell (Dungannon/Ulster), Alan Quinlan (Shannon/Munster), David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster), Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster), Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster), Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster)

Westmeath's hurlers could be heading north next summer
Thursday, 16 October 2008 15:58

Galway and Antrim are crossing provincial divides on their way into the Leinster hurling championship next year - and, in a shock move, Westmeath could be moving out, it has emerged.

Westmeath, who are not entitled to take part in the 2009 Leinster Championship, today confirmed that are applying to play in next season's Ulster hurling championship.

'We would dearly love to play in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, but we're not allowed to, and that's why we have now decided to apply to compete in the Ulster Championship in 2009,' said Westmeath hurling board chairman Billy Foley.

'We have played in the Christy Ring Cup three times, got to the final on each occasion, and won it twice. We found this year it was extremely difficult to motivate our players for the Christy Ring Cup, which is not in any way to denigrate the teams taking part in it.

'But, in some ways, the Christy Ring Cup has lost some its lustre for us, and that's why we have decided to seek a place in the 2009 Ulster Championship.'

In 2008, every Ulster county fielded a team in their provincial championship - the only province to achieve this goal - and Foley said he hoped for a positive response from the Ulster Council to their application.

'We have a strong underage hurling set-up here in Westmeath. We want to give our young players something to aspire to in terms of senior participation,' he said.

'In a democracy, you would think any county would be entitled to take part in their own provincial championship if they so wish. We have a long tradition of taking part in the Leinster Championship, and that's where we would like to be.

'But we are not entitled to take part next year, and that's why we are looking to Ulster.'

The winners of the Ulster Championship do not qualify for the new-look Liam McCarthy Cup next season, but Foley said Westmeath would benefit from taking part in a vibrant provincial championship.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2008/1016/westmeath.html

Best laugh I've had today.

2009 Munster Hurling Championship draw

Quarter-final
Cork v Tipperary

Semi-finals
Waterford v Limerick
Clare v Cork or Tipperary

2009 Leinster Hurling Championship draw

Quarter-finals
Laois v Galway
Offaly v Wexford
Dublin v Antrim
Kilkenny bye into semi-finals

If they are truely intersted in making Leinster competitive, they should consider getting rid of the seeding arrangement.

[Curbishley quits as West Ham boss]

West Ham have the first managerial casualty of the season:

Curbishley quits as West Ham boss

Alan Curbishley has resigned as manager of Premier League club West Ham United.

Curbishley tendered his resignation on Wednesday and it was accepted by West Ham owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson.

The 50-year-old had grown disillusioned at the club's transfer policy, which had led to the summer sales of Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney.

A statement on the club's website read: "We can confirm we have accepted Alan's resignation as it is in the best interests of both parties."

The statement continued: "We wish Alan all the success in the future. A shortlist of candidates is being drawn up and an announcement will be made in due course about the new manager."

West Ham also moved to justify the summer departures of Ferdinand and McCartney to Sunderland, stating that the sales were "right for the club" and "based on our best long-term interests".

The club added: "In the past week, agreement could not be reached with Ferdinand on a new contract to replace his original deal that had just two years left to run.

"McCartney handed in a formal written transfer request after failing to resolve his personal reasons for wanting a move away."

Curbishley took over from Alan Pardew as West Ham manager in December 2006 and was promised significant transfer funds to help achieve the objectives of a five-year plan, which would ultimately culminate in qualification for the Champions League.

He signed the likes of Kieron Dyer, Lucas Neill and Freddie Ljungberg during a summer of lavish spending in 2007 but his terms of reference changed this summer.

Gudmundsson told Curbishley he had to reduce the club's wage bill and that money was to be focused on training and medical facilities rather than signings.

Full-back Valon Behrami, who arrived from Lazio for £5m in July, was West Ham's only significant signing of the summer, while Jan Lastuvka, David Di Michele and Herita Ilunga joined on loan.

Yet first-team squad members John Pantsil, Bobby Zamora, Richard Wright, Ferdinand and McCartney all departed.

Technical director Gianluca Nani has been responsible for the club's transfer policy since being appointed in March.

Last May a senior boardroom member at West Ham explained to BBC Sport that the club's transfer policy was about to change.

"We have probably the biggest first-team squad in the Premier League and our transfer strategy has to be carefully planned going forward," he said.

"West Ham have a first-team squad of 40, so there is considerable room for manoeuvre. The last thing you should do when you have a problem is to throw money at it."

Curbishley oversaw a miraculous escape from relegation in the 2006/7 season, when Carlos Tevez scored the winner against Manchester United in their final league game.

The club finished 10th in the Premier League last season and are currently fifth in the table.

Former Hammers defender Slaven Bilic has been installed as the bookmakers' favourite to succeed Curbishley, with Harry Redknapp the second favourite.

West Ham's next manager will be their fifth in the seven years since Redknapp left in 2001, a stark contrast to the record of six managers in an 88-year period from 1902 to 1990.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/7596106.stm

Always had a sneaking regard to the Hammers devotion to playing passing football, even though they rarely had the players to match their ambition. No fan of Curbs, but he more or less guranteed survival. Who next Bilic? I don't think he will fancy it. Harry? No money to spend there either. Probably the drirector of football, Nani.

[GPA scheme to promote hurling]

GPA scheme to promote hurling

Wednesday, 28 May 2008 19:39
Halifax and The Gaelic Players Association have launched a new hurling initiative aimed at promoting the game in the non-traditional counties.

The Hurling Twinning Programme, will see counties from the Nicky Rackard Cup paired with their counterparts at McCarthy Cup level.

Aimed at fostering ambition and encouraging participation in hurling, the Twinning Programme will see counties like Donegal teaming up with Kilkenny and Fermanagh visiting Cork, for a 24 month period.

Advice, experience, tactics, training and coaching guidance will be provided by players and coaches from the McCarthy Cup squads during a number of scheduled sessions.

While the Rackard panel will benefit directly from this link, it is also hoped that local coaches, schools and development squads in the region could also be included during the visits.

Leveraging the talent and profile of the top hurling sides is seen as a very effective way to promote the game in the non-traditional hurling counties. The local media will be kept informed about all visits and developments.

Speaking about the new scheme, GPA chief Dessie Farrell said: 'The creation of the tiered championship structure has given weaker counties a chance to develop their panels.

'Hurlers are fiercely loyal to their sport and one another, so we saw the Twinning Programme as a natural way of harnessing that loyalty to help promote the game in the non-traditional regions. To be honest, the top hurlers have been travelling to the weaker counties on a voluntary basis for years.

'The Twinning Programme is formalising that voluntary effort on a wider scale and hopefully, with the help of the players and the local media, it will help to increase the profile of hurling regionally.'

The scheme is part of the GPA's on-going commitment to develop the game and is being organised on the ground by GPA.

It is hoped that, where possible, the Rackard panels would travel to a high-profile championship as invited guests of their 'twinned' counterparts.

The draw to pair the 24 counties took place recently with the following teams being twinned;

Monaghan & Tipperary
Cavan & Waterford
Louth & Clare
Tyrone & Limerick
Donegal & Kilkenny
Non Ards (Down) & Galway
Fermanagh & Cork
Fingal & Laois
Sligo & Offaly
Leitrim & Antrim
Longford & Wexford
Warwickshire & Dublin

Any thoughts lads? Personally I think a far more formal system is needed at the coaching level, as was discussed on the Off The Ball a couple of nights back, and it needs a 10-15 year well resourced plan. However at least the GPA have made a start which may encourage others. Hope they follow through with it and it's not just a PR exercise. Also another thought, it kind of ignores those counties in the middle ground, like my own, where great stirdes are already being made. Let's watch and wait.

[Cavan make two changes]

Couldn't see this thread elsewhere, so here we go!

No news from the Westmeath camp so far, but picked this up off Hoganstand for Cavan:

Cavan make two changes
04 April 2008


Jonathan Crowe and Jason O'Reilly have been drafted into the Cavan team for Sunday's crucial NFL clash with Westmeath in Mullingar.

Crowe replaces John McCutcheon at right half back, while the vastly experienced Jason O'Reilly is retained at top of the left after coming on as a half-time substitute for Gerard Pierson during last Saturday's dramatic win over Cork.

Nothing less than a victory will suffice for the Breffnimen in their bid to avoid relegation to Division 3 next season, while Westmeath still harbour hopes of reaching the Division 2 final.

Cavan (SF v Westmeath): J Reilly; M Hannon, P Reilly, M Brides; J Crowe, A Forde, D Sheridan; D McCabe, J Cunningham; M Reilly, R Flanagan, M McKeever; E O'Reilly, S Johnston, J O'Reilly.

http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=92317

Cavan's very own Chuck Norris/Jack Bauer back in the side - be afraid, be very afraid 

[Pupils 'to take allegiance oath']

Pupils 'to take allegiance oath' 

All school leavers could be asked to swear an oath to the Queen

School-leavers should be encouraged to swear an oath of allegiance to Queen and country, says a report commissioned by Gordon Brown on British citizenship.
Report author, ex-attorney general Lord Goldsmith, says it would give teenagers a sense of belonging.

Council tax and student fee rebates are suggested for people who volunteer - as well as a "Britishness" public holiday.

The government said it would "study" the report's "interesting" findings but is not bound by its recommendations.

However, John Dunford from the Association of School and College leaders said the citizenship ceremony was "a half-baked idea".

Graduation ceremonies

A Scottish Government spokesman said it did not support the plan and did not believe it would find favour with parents or school pupils.

And Labour peer Baroness Kennedy said: "I think this is a serious mistake - I think it's puerile and I think it's rather silly."

Lord Goldsmith, who quit government in June, believes that citizenship ceremonies for teenagers would help improve their sense of what it means to be a British citizen.

  The symbols of a healthy democracy are not to be found in empty gestures and I'm afraid I see this as an empty gesture

Baroness Helena Kennedy
Human rights lawyer

"Certainly there isn't a crisis of national identity, but the research does tend to show there's been a diminution in national pride, in this sense of belonging," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"The citizenship ceremonies, which are just one of the many things I have suggested, are a way of marking that passage of being a student of citizenship to a citizen in practice.

"It does make sense to promote a sense of shared belonging, a sense that you are part of a community with a common venture, to integrate better newcomers to our society and be clearer about what the rights and responsibilities are."

Lord Goldsmith said that while he favours an oath of allegiance to the Queen, the statement could be a pledge of commitment to the country or a statement of what the rights and responsibilities of citizens are.

Republican involvement?

He also stressed that he could not see why Republicans would not want to swear an oath, even though they may not believe in the present system of government.


HAVE YOUR SAY
What about swearing allegiance to the country instead of the Queen?
JP, London
Send us your commentsHowever, Graham Smith of the group Republic, which campaigns for the abolition of the monarchy, told the BBC: "It's offensive to people who do actually cherish democracy and who actually cherish the sorts of liberties we've fought for centuries."

If children refuse to take part, he added, "are they then going to be told or taught that they are somehow less British or less loyal or less patriotic?"

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said there were "far better ways" of creating a sense of belonging for teenagers than asking people to swear allegiance to Queen and country.

"People should not feel that being British is about swearing allegiance - it should be about taking an active role in society," he said.

Citizenship ceremonies already exist for immigrants and the report suggests holding them in schools, where youngsters who are about to leave the school and move on to work or further education could participate.

Treason laws

Lord Goldsmith says a new British national day should be established by 2012 to coincide with the Olympics and what will be the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

It could operate in the same way as Australia Day, which is a public holiday on 26 January and is used to celebrate what it means to be an Australian.

And young people who volunteer could receive a reduction in tuition fees, while others who work in the community could be given a small council tax rebate.

The peer has consulted people in the UK, Europe, North America and elsewhere to pull together a series of proposals aimed at providing a "much clearer vision of what it means to be a citizen".

Lady Kennedy, a human rights lawyer, said the proposal was based on a misconception of what it meant to be proud of a country.

She said: "The symbols of a healthy democracy are not to be found in empty gestures and I'm afraid I see this as an empty gesture."

Lord Goldsmith has called for Britain's old treason laws to be scrapped or reformed. At the moment they include sleeping with the wife of the heir to the throne, which is punishable by life in prison.

The peer has also hinted at updating the national anthem by removing verses which are rarely performed.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7287984.stm

[Priest sent off in unholy row]

Priest sent off in unholy row 

The winner of the Clericus Cup will not emerge for several months
A footballing priest from Burkina Faso has been sent off in a church tournament for throwing his shirt at the referee in Italy.

The incident happened in the Clericus Cup over the weekend with the actions of the priest leading to Paul the Apostle's College being eliminated.

Italian sports officials had expressed hopes that the tournament held at the Vatican City will help restore a positive image of football in Italy, which has been marred by recent violence.

The Clericus Cup is an international football tournament including Catholic priests and seminarians.

There are 16 teams made up of the various catholic colleges and church congregations in Vatican City.

There is also a team made up of the Pope's bodyguards, the Swiss guards.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7287154.stm

[Fewer confessions and new sins]

Fewer confessions and new sins 
By David Willey
BBC News, Rome 


The Vatican has brought up to date the traditional seven deadly sins by adding seven modern mortal sins it claims are becoming prevalent in what it calls an era of "unstoppable globalisation".

Those newly risking eternal punishment include drug pushers, the obscenely wealthy, and scientists who manipulate human genes. So "thou shalt not carry out morally dubious scientific experiments" or "thou shalt not pollute the earth" might one day be added to the Ten Commandments.

MODERN EVILS

Environmental pollution
Genetic manipulation
Accumulating excessive wealth
Inflicting poverty
Drug trafficking and consumption
Morally debatable experiments
Violation of fundamental rights of human nature
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into Hell".

The new mortal sins were listed by Archbishop Gianfranco Girotti at the end of a week-long training seminar in Rome for priests, aimed at encouraging a revival of the practice of confession - or the Sacrament of Penance in Church jargon.

According to a survey carried out here 10 years ago by the Catholic University, 60% of Italians have stopped going to confession altogether. The situation has certainly not improved during the past decade.

Catholics are supposed to confess their sins to a priest at least once a year. The priest absolves them in God's name.

Talking to course members at the end of the seminar organised by the Apostolic Penitentiary, the Vatican department in charge of fixing the punishments and indulgences handed down to sinners, Pope Benedict added his own personal voice of disquiet.

"We are losing the notion of sin," he said. "If people do not confess regularly, they risk slowing their spiritual rhythm," he added. The Pope confesses his sins regularly once a week.

Greatest sins of our times

In an interview with the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Archbishop Girotti said he thought the most dangerous areas for committing new types of sins lay in the fields of bio-ethics and ecology.

He also named abortion and paedophilia as two of the greatest sins of our times. The archbishop brushed off cases of sexual violence against minors committed by priests as "exaggerations by the mass media aimed at discrediting the Church".

ORIGINAL DEADLY SINS

Pride
Envy
Gluttony
Lust
Anger
Greed
Sloth
Father Gerald O'Collins, former professor of moral theology at the Papal University in Rome, and teacher of many of the Catholic Church's current top Cardinals and Bishops, welcomed the new catalogue of modern sins.

"I think the major point is that priests who are hearing confessions are not sufficiently attuned to some of the real evils in our world," he told the BBC News website. "They need to be more aware today of the social face of sin - the inequalities at the social level. They think of sin too much on an individual level.

"I think priests who hear confession should have a deeper sense of the violence and injustice of such problems - and the fact that people collaborate simply by doing nothing. One of the original deadly sins is sloth - disengagement and not getting involved," Father O'Collins said. The Jesuit professor now teaches at St Mary's University in Twickenham.

"It was interesting that these remarks came from the head of the Apostolic Penitentiary," he said. "I can't remember a time when it was so concerned about issues such as environmental pollution and social injustice. It's a new way of thinking." 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7287071.stm

[Sunderland secure Prica signing]

Sunderland secure Prica signing

Sunderland manager Roy Keane has made his second signing in two days with the £2m capture of Sweden striker Rade Prica from Danish side Aalborg.
Keane, who snapped up Manchester United right-back Phil Bardsley on Tuesday, took his week's spending to £4m with the capture of the 27-year-old.

Prica, top scorer in the Danish league last term, has two goals in 13 games for Sweden and has signed until 2011.

"Rade is an experienced striker with a good goalscoring record," Keane said.

"He's hungry to play in the Premier League and will give us attacking options."

Prica began his career with home-town club Ljungby before moving to Helsingborg.

He then experienced life in the German Bundesliga with Hansa Rostock before joining Aalborg in July 2006, for whom he scored 28 goals in 48 appearances.

Jonny Evans and defender Jean-Yves Mvoto are the other new arrivals at the Stadium of Light this window, with the Black Cats currently 18th in the Premier League.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/sunderland/7205754.stm

I really hope I am wrong but I have a feeling Keano has added to his avian collection with these two. I've seen Prica on a number of occasions playing in the Allsvensken for Helsingborg. He was decent at that standard but not outstanding, unlike say Elmander or Kallstrom. Never was a regular for Sweden, even in a time when Henrik only played in the tournament finals. I'll give him this much, he knows about relegation battles, he left Hansa Rostock for Aalborg after they finished rock bottom of the Bundesliga. As for Bardsley, isn't he the kid who thought he was too good to warm the bench at Rangers, given his extensive experience playing for Burnley and Royal Antwerp? Like I said I hope I'm wrong, and given Sunderland is a hard club to get talent into they kind of have to make do for this season in the hope of staying up, but Keano seems to have feet of clay when it comes to the transfer market - signing lads he played with or saw at Utd. just won't get it done long term. Personally what I think they need now is a tough central midfielder, Lilly Savage would have been a decent stop gap, and an experienced centre half - even a Jaap Stamm type would done for the rest of the season.

*Removed due to title change, would have deleted it if possible*

[Keane launches Wag culture tirade]

Keane launches Wag culture tirade
Keane has struggled to bring in his top targets this summer
Sunderland boss Roy Keane has hit out at "weak" Premier League players for allowing their wives and girlfriends (Wags) to dictate their careers.
The former Manchester United captain has been frustrated in his attempts to lure players to Wearside this summer.

He said: "These so-called big stars are people we are supposed to be looking up to. Well they are weak and soft.

"If they don't want to come because their wife wants to go shopping in London it's a sad state of affairs."

Keane has spent nearly £30m on new players this summer but has seen several of his top targets spurn a move to the north-east.

The newly promoted club finished bottom of the league with a record low of 15 points the last time they were promoted to the top flight.

And they are again one of the favourites to be relegated this season.

But Keane feels overbearing wives and girlfriends are to blame for Sunderland's difficulties in attracting top players and feels the current generation of players need to get their priorities in order.

He added: "I can understand the attraction of people wanting to go to London - if you are talking about Arsenal, Chelsea or Tottenham.

"If people want to go somewhere else to another football club then fair enough, as long as it is for a footballing reason.

"But there are players going to clubs in London simply because it is London. To me, that is wrong.

"It is not a football move, it is a lifestyle move and those are the type of people you don't want at your club. It is not a problem for me but it is a fact.

"To me, that player is weak because his wife runs his life.

"That happens at the big clubs as well. I could name four big players and clearly their wives and girlfriends are running their lives because they are doing these photoshoots and that kind of stuff.

"They say they are not comfortable doing it and are being dragged along. Well don't do it."

Joanna Taylor-Murphy, wife of Tottenham and former England midfielder Danny Murphy, disagreed with Keane's comments.

The actress told Radio 5live: "I think he (Keane) is wrong.

"Sometimes players maybe use the wives as an excuse, but in my experience I don't know any players that would let their wives dictate.

"If Danny had two moves on the cards, and one was near the shops and one was somewhere else where the shops weren't so good, but that was where Danny really wanted to go to I can assure you that's where we would be going."

The straight-talking Keane has hit the headlines in the past for tirades against both Manchester United fans, who he labelled the prawn sandwich brigade, and the club's underperforming players.

He left Old Trafford for a brief spell at Celtic after an outburst aimed at some United players on the club's television channel.

But Keane's fierce determination and dedication to the game made him one of the most successful players in the history of English football.

He revealed: "A couple of years ago I nearly went to Juventus. People spoke to me about Turin and told me Milan would be a nicer place to go.

"I told them I wasn't going for the shops, I am going because it is Juventus.

"If there is nothing to do then find something to do. Someone once told me that people who are bored are boring.

"People who get bored coming to the north-east are bored because they are boring. It is nothing to do with the shops.

"Maybe it is because I am not a great shopper but football has got to be a priority.

"You don't need to live in Manchester or London to be happy. You don't need to be surrounded by expensive shops or fancy cars.

"We have had one or two players this year and their wives are clearly part of the package.

"We had one player this summer who didn't even have the courtesy to call us back because his wife wanted to move to London - and shopping was mentioned."

Meanwhile, Keane, whose side take on Birmingham on Wednesday, says he is hopeful of getting in two more players before the transfer deadline closes on 31 August.

He said: "When I first got the job at Sunderland there were one or two players who I felt were not really up to the job, or not 100% focused or were focusing on a contract at another club.

"But I have got the feeling with the squad I am building here that when the whistle goes they will give 100%. That is no guarantee to win a football match but that is all I am asking.

"I am very pleased with the players we have got in but I do believe we need two more players to help the squad."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/sunderland/6947333.stm

O'Sullivan cuts back World Cup squad

Friday, 3 August 2007 14:40

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has trimmed his Rugby World Cup squad down to 37 players from the original training squad of 48.

The squad will now prepare for next week's test match against Scotland at Murrayfield.

The players to lose out were Tony Buckley, Peter Bracken, Ryan Caldwell, Johnny O'Connor, Roger Wilson, Tomas O'Leary, Jeremy Staunton, Luke Fitzgerald, Rob Kearney and Kieran Lewis.

Barry Murphy and Shane Jennings where not considered due to injury.

Coach Eddie O'Sullivan said: 'The team to play Scotland will be selected from the 37-man squad named today.
'While the players that have been omitted may come back into the squad in the case of any injuries, it would be fair to say that these 37 players will form the basis of our final Rugby World Cup squad selection.'

Forwards: Neil Best, Rory Best, Simon Best, Leo Cullen, Simon Easterby, Stephen Ferris, Jerry Flannery, Keith Gleeson, John Hayes, Jamie Heaslip, Trevor Hogan, Marcus Horan, Bernard Jackman, Denis Leamy, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell,
Mick O'Driscoll, Malcolm O'Kelly, Alan Quinlan, Frankie Sheahan, David Wallace, Bryan Young.

Backs: Isaac Boss, Tommy Bowe, Brian Carney, Gordon D'Arcy,
Girvan Dempsey, Gavin Duffy, Shane Horgan, Denis Hickie, Geordan Murphy, Brian O'Driscoll, Ronan O'Gara, Eoin Reddan,
Peter Stringer, Andrew Trimble, Paddy Wallace.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2007/0803/ireland.html

For those of you with an interest in soccer, good article on BBC about the dfferent approaches to conditioning between Anglo-Saxons and Latinos. Some of it is could/should actually be relevant to our own games too.

Preaching the skills gospel 
By Pranav Soneji 

Roger Spry is probably the most famous English football coach you've never heard of.

Not that it bothers him, but for someone who has worked with Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger, Carlos Quieroz, Sir Bobby Robson, Mario Zagallo and Carlos Alberto Parreria, he really deserves a little more recognition in his homeland.

In fact Mourinho used to be his assistant during Spry's spell as conditioning coach at Portuguese side Vitoria Setubal in the early 1990s, where he was number two to former Manchester City boss Malcolm Allison.

It's difficult to imagine the 'Special One' taking orders from anyone, but Spry is a man worth listening to, especially his theories about the skills deficiency in British football.

The affable Brummie has spent the last 25 years in 18 different countries as a conditioning coach, working with players like Portuguese internationals Luis Figo and Deco.

But his interpretation of a conditioning coach is very different to the British definition.

"People assume I work on athletic abilities, but my job is different," Spry told BBC Sport. "English football traditionally has always been based on athletics, we are taught to be athletically and physically strong.

"But in Portugal and South America, the game is based on dance-like movements.

"They emphasise creativity, physical agility and dexterity and above all the ability to disguise.

"I work on a combination of fitness, agility, mobility, with and without the ball - call it technical conditioning."

A former apprentice at Wolves during the late 60s, Spry realised he had more interest in skills development than playing football, adamant there was something missing from what he was being told by his coaches.

The pursuit for the missing component has taken him to Portugal and Brazil, where he learned the 'Joga Bonita' philosophy was based around a martial art banned by the Brazilian government.

Capoeira is a 'fight-dance' martial art which was practised by enslaved Africans transported over to Brazil by the Portuguese in the 19th century.

The movements rely on surprise and improvisation, two integral traits of the Brazilian football philosophy.

"I would say 99% of Brazilian players's movements are based on Capoeria," said Spry, a fluent Portuguese speaker.

"Players are taught them as a part of their coaching curriculum, using these skills to read their opponent's movements.

"That is what Cristiano Ronaldo or Figo will do.

"These guys are very difficult to read because they never do the same thing twice. All their moves are based in their opponent's initial response to their first movements."

Spry is hoping to redress the skills deficiency in British football with the Trick-sok, a tool he hopes will help develop "the footballer's alphabet".

Each part of the foot is separated into different areas using the Portuguese 'lingua da rua' (language of the street) to encourage players to use every single part of the foot from an early age, not just the side.

"We want to encourage players to use the outside, inside, the top, instep and one part of the foot we rarely use in the British game, the heel," said Spry.

"If we see these sorts of things we think they are tricks, but the Brazilians practise these things over and over again until it ceases to become a trick. Instead it becomes a skill.

"It's like teaching someone to write - you teach them the alphabet but what they write is down to their creativity."

But despite waxing lyrical about the Brazilian philosophy, Spry is not about to denounce British coaching methodology in favour of the skills revolution.

Instead he is keen to nurture a newer generation of footballers with a greater emphasis on skills rather than athletic ability.

"We are more interested at winning at a young age, we must get out of this mentality," said Spry.

"You see it at six, young kids playing with parents and coaches screaming at them, the kids are terrified. There are none of those pressures on Portuguese or Brazilian players.

"They are more interested in development. They have a wonderful saying in Portuguese - when you start playing football, the word is play football and you don't spell play 'WORK'.

"Football is freedom and expression, joy - it is a spiritual experience with your friends whether you are playing with or against them."

Spry is currently working as a consultant to the Austrian FA, spending eight days a month working with the national team.

He still keeps in contact with Mourinho, Quieroz and Wenger, but rather than reminisce about the good times Spry is busy spreading the skills gospel to the world.

And he is quite content being the most famous man in football you have never heard of.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/skills/6270994.stm

[Traveller death rates much higher than settled population]

Traveller death rates much higher than settled population25/06/2007 - 13:38:31

Death rates among the Travelling community remain massively out of line with the remainder of the population, according to a research out today.

The study by the Catholic Church's Parish of the Travelling People says 10% of Traveller children die before their second birthday, compared to just 1% of the general population.

It also says half of all Travellers die before they reach the age of 39 and 80% before the age of 65.

Elsewhere, Travellers are 10 times more likely to die in road accidents and three times more likely to take their own lives than members of the settled community.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhkfgbeykfkf/

...lights fuse and retires to a safe distance...

[Home international plans on cards]

Home international plans on cards   
Discussions have taken place for a revival of the Home Internationals Championship - without England but including the Republic of Ireland.
Initial plans are to hold what has been called a 'Celtic Cup' every two years with the first tournament scheduled to start in 2009.

A semi-final round in August 2009 would be followed with a final and a third-place play-off in February 2010.

All four football associations are understood to be keen on the idea.

"There have been discussions over the last two years," a spokesman for the Scottish Football Association told The Scotsman. "The SFA are convinced it would be a good idea to have such a tournament, and that includes the team manager (Walter Smith).

"But because of the current fixture scheduling we would need a lead-in time of at least two years."

The Home Internationals Championship dates back to the 19th century.

The annual mini-league tournament was a focal point of the British football season, enjoying its heyday in the 1960s and 1970s, before being abandoned in 1984.

David Collins, the secretary of the Football Association of Wales, told the Scotsman: "Things are provisional, but if we could pull this off, the interest would be enormous."

"For the fans, the TV companies and potential sponsors, a Celtic Cup tournament would be huge.

"And for the managers of the respective teams it would be an opportunity to look at players in competitive friendlies.

"We are quite positive about the whole thing, although we appreciate a huge amount of work is needed before it could get off the ground.

"But the Celtic countries have had a meeting about it and we each decided to go away and work out ways whereby the tournament could be possible."

England have not been excluded from discussions but, with the Football Association cool on the idea, the Football Association of Ireland were asked to consider participation.

Collins added: "Their reasons for ending the old Home Internationals are well known.

"On the other hand, if we can get the tournament up and running and convince England there are practical solutions to the various issues, then they might want to become involved, anyway."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/6230142.stm

Chavtastic!

A Cumbrian couple's wedding plans are all at sea after the prospective bride dumped her fiance's work van, and all his clothes, into a harbour.
Following a pub row, Emma Thomason, 24, of Whitehaven, loaded her boyfriend's van with his belongings, then rolled it off a ramp at the town's marina.

The argument started when Jason Wilson, 24, wanted to stay out with friends and Miss Thomason wanted to go home.

Mr Wilson said his employer had been "very good" about the £15,000 damage.

The first he knew of the incident was when he was called by his boss Graham Wilson, 29, who is not related.

The 24-year-old plasterer told reporters: "People had seen the van bobbing around in the water. They called the police, who contacted my boss.

"He was furious, but has been very good about it. I'm very grateful. Emma isn't sorry one little bit. She insists that I am the one in the wrong and that it is all my fault.

"She put every single last item of clothing I had in the back of the van. All I was left with were the clothes I was wearing.

"I haven't told her yet that the wedding is off, but I think she can put two and two together."

Harbour drained

The couple, who have been together for seven years and have two children, had booked a £2,000 Caribbean honeymoon just 24 hours earlier.

Miss Thomason is now on police bail after being arrested on suspicion of aggravated vehicle taking without consent.

Police were called to the marina on Sunday night, but it took almost 20 hours to pull the van from the water in a difficult salvage operation, which involved partly draining the harbour.

Mr Wilson's boss admitted he was struggling to see the funny side.

He said: "I'll be asking Jason for an explanation but he's not to blame. She has her own car - why didn't she load his stuff into that and drive it into the marina?

"I just hope the insurance company is prepared to pay out."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/6668571.stm