Samoa sevens star Mikaele Pesamino signs for Sale

Sale have completed the signing of Samoa wing Mikaele Pesamino from New Zealand province Auckland.

The 26-year-old was the International Rugby Board sevens player of the year in 2009/10 and the leading try-scorer in this year's World Series with 56.

"This is a massive signing," said Sale head coach Mike Brewer.

"He had the choice of joining other clubs in the UK but has chosen Sale. He's incredibly quick and I'm sure our supporters will be very impressed."

Pesamino scored three tries in the Samoan XV-a-side team's 73-12 victory over Papua New Guinea last year, a win which saw them qualify for the 2011 World Cup.

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The 6ft 2in winger, who was born on the Samoan island of Upolu, has played for Auckland in the Air NZ Cup since 2007.

Sale have been busy in the transfer market this summer following a disappointing season in which they narrowly avoided relegation.

Utility back Matty James, full-back Paul Williams, props Aston Croall and Karena Wihongi and lock Wame Lewaravu are among the new faces at Edgeley Park for the new season.

The 2006 Premiership winners take on Newcastle in their opening game of the new season in September.

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Regions and WRU on collision course...again

THE Welsh Rugby Union and the four regions are on a major collision course again – this time over sevens rugby.

The two sides are heading for a showdown less than a year after the new Participation Agreement heralded in a new deal and peace broke out.

The agreement, reached after months of haggling, gave Wales coach Warren Gatland greater access to the leading players, limited the amount of matches they could play in a season, allowed for a free weekend before the start of a major competition like the Six Nations and brought in a summer international.

But also in the deal thrashed out was a clause agreeing that primacy be given to IRB sevens competitions as and when required. Wales won the World Cup Sevens competition in Dubai in 2009, with Craig Hill and Tom Isaacs, then with Newport and the Dragons, part of the squad. But they fell away again this year, part of the reason being that few leading players were available. Buy online Six Nations Hospitality Packages with the best prices available! We are covering in Six Nations 2011 Hospitality and Tickets.

However, the Commonwealth Games are being held in Delhi in October and sevens is one of the events being contested.

Champions New Zealand are the big favourites with players like Hosea Gear, who scored a hat-trick of tries in the Maoris’ win against England last month, available.

The WRU want to make a show in this competition, they don’t want Wales to be embarrassed, and as a consequence they are expected to invoke the Participation Agreement clause demanding the release of players.

The regions are aware of it and they fear the loss of top players for a number of Magners League games, especially with sevens warm-up matches planned, while the actual competition clashes with the opening rounds of the Heineken Cup.

Wales have been drawn against South Africa, also their opponents in the full World Cup next year, Tonga and hosts India in the Commonwealth Games and coach Paul John, who was in charge for Wales’ World Cup triumph, is on the road this week spreading the sevens gospel.

He began in north Wales yesterday and visits the four regions during the rest of the week.

“The sevens game is getting bigger and bigger on the world stage and in 2016 is set to be included in the Olympic Games for the first time,” said John.

“That has meant countries like Russia have really taken a new look at the sport and the IRB World Series gets stronger and stronger every season.

“We have been drawn in a tough pool with South Africa and Tonga, but it will be a great opportunity for the Welsh players to prove themselves on a major stage.

“With rugby sevens an Olympic sport for 2016 we are constantly looking to improve the standard and competitiveness of our sevens players while sevens also provides a great platform to improve skills and technical ability for the 15-a-side game.” Buy online England v France Hospitality Packages with the best prices available! We are covering in England v France 2011 Hospitality and Tickets.

Call to ban rugby scrums in schools

Rugby scrums should be banned in schools to protect children involved in a sport which is "not safe enough" for them, an expert has warned.

Professor Allyson Pollock, director of Edinburgh University's Centre for International Public Health Policy, called for the ban after research into child injuries.

The study was carried out during 190 rugby matches at five schools.

There were 37 injuries recorded, with 20 taken to accident and emergency.

The tackle was the "commonest phase of play causing injury" with the head and face the most injured body part, along with sprains or ligament damage.

Prof Pollock, one of the study's authors, said: "High tackles and scrums should be banned. The sport is not safe enough for schoolchildren and not enough is being done to protect the safety of children.
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She said moderating play may change rugby, but it was better to have a safe game than a dangerous one.

"Concussion is under-reported because it's not being monitored properly. Repeated concussions may have severe long-term consequences," the professor added, warning that teachers and coaches have a duty of care towards children.

"If youngsters were coming back from school trips with these rates of injuries it would be enough to trigger a major inquiry."

In the 193 matches played by 470 children in Scotland between January to April last year, the injury incidence during the match play was 10.8 injuries per 1,000 player hours.
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Out of 37 rugby injuries amongst the youngsters, 29 were sustained by children aged between 14 and 17 and eight in the 11 to 13 age group.
Injury surveillance

A spinal injury was admitted overnight in hospital and the 19 other injuries seen at accident and emergency were discharged without admission.

Eight of the injuries resulted in time off school. Five of those injured were off school for one day, one was off for three days, one for five days and the spinal injury caused the youngster to be "off school long-term", the research said.

The study, to be published in the Journal of Public Health, also said a rugby injury surveillance system in Scottish schools should be "strongly encouraged".

The Scottish government helped to fund the research.

A government spokeswoman said: "We initiated preliminary work around this study and we will now look closely at the findings of the research.

"While the Scottish government is fully supportive of school rugby, it's very important we have accurate data about injuries sustained on the pitch to ensure that young people are not being exposed to disproportionate risks."Buy online England v France Hospitality Packages with the best prices available! We are covering in England v France 2011 Hospitality and Tickets.

Evans forced to retire

Thom Evans has lost his battle to return to action following a serious spinal injury.

The 25-year-old Scotland winger damaged two vertebrae following a collision with Wales full-back Lee Byrne during the RBS Six Nations.

Evans was stretched off in a neck brace and needed emergency surgery to stabilise his spine.

However despite working hard in rehab over the past four months to get back to full mobility, Evans has now told family and friends that he has now accepted medical advice that he will not play again.

And former Scotland winger Roger Baird, who mentored Evans, believes the news is sad for the game and the player.Buy online Six Nations Hospitality Packages with the best prices available! We are covering in Six Nations 2011 Hospitality and Tickets.

Blow

"It is devastating for Thom because all you want to do is play top-class rugby for as long as you can, and there is no doubt he would have contributed a lot to Scottish rugby in the years to come," Baird told The Scotsman.

"It is also a huge blow for the Scottish game and the Glasgow and Scotland teams because we just don't have players with his searing out-and-out pace.

"Although he was quite late to rugby we spoke a lot about his defence, positioning and other things and he took them all on and didn't make the same mistake twice.

"He is genuinely brave and strong, with good intelligence for the game, and I could only see him getting better.

"But you also have to get things into perspective. The great thing is that Thom is able to walk."Buy online England v France Hospitality Packages with the best prices available! We are covering in England v France 2011 Hospitality and Tickets.