Brumbies to take on Sonny Bill and Gower

[jargan83]

Brumbies to take on Sonny Bill and Gower

23rd June 2009, 11:30 WST

Sonny Bill Williams and Craig Gower are set to face-off against more Australian opposition when the Brumbies embark on a tour of France next month.

The ACT-based Super 14 franchise has announced a development tour of the country, which will include matches against Williams' Toulon and Gower's Bayonne.

The two former NRL stars made their international rugby union debuts against the Wallabies in Australia earlier this month, Williams turning out for the Barbarians and Gower for Italy.

The Brumbies will close their tour against Toulon, who also boast Australians Matt Henjak and Luke Rooney and England World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson, on August 6.

They will take on Bayonne on July 28.

The other two matches are against Bourgoin-Jallieu in Lyon on July 24 and French champions Perpignan on July 31.

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.as...ntentID=150005

[travelling_gerry]

not the Brumbies properganda unit

JohnPaul Moloney, Canberra Times | June 24, 2009 - 9:11AM

With an ACT Brumbies tour of the rough-and-tumble French rugby provinces now confirmed, it's comforting to Mark Chisholm to know at least he'll have a solid left hook at his disposal.

Chisholm is still recovering from surgery to his right wrist, which means if the reputation of French teams to move from push to shove to punch holds true, he'll be only partly ready.

"My left will be great, my right, not so good," Chisholm joked yesterday.

The Wallabies lock is in a race to prove his fitness for the four-match development tour, which is being entirely funded by a group of French sports promoters.

The ACT will face Top 14 clubs Bourgoin-Jallieu, Bayonne, Perpignan and Toulon within the space of two weeks.

It will be the Brumbies' first visit to Europe and their first overseas development tour since 1998, when they played three matches in Japan.

The club has a strong reputation in Europe and the likely selection of frontline Super 14 players including Chisholm, Stephen Hoiles, Guy Shepherdson, Mitchell Chapman and Tyrone Smith should help ensure healthy gate takings for the promoters.

In exchange for helping draw the crowds the Brumbies get all their expenses paid and "a small fee", according to team manager Rob McQuade.

There will be no shortage of big names in the French sides, with probable inclusions of Sonny Bill Williams, Jonny Wilkinson and Matt Henjak for Toulon and Craig Gower, Rodney Blake and Manny Edmonds for Bayonne. Edmonds is the brother of Brumbies hooker and likely France tourist Huia Edmonds.

For Chisholm, the prospect of getting back on the field in a Brumbies jersey is inspiring his long rehabilitation efforts after he broke his wrist playing the Free State Cheetahs in South Africa.

"I have dark days which [strength and conditioning coach] Rod Lindsell knows about, but it's coming along. I'm meeting with [the] surgeon next week and six or seven weeks from there, who knows?" Chisholm said.

Brumbies coach Andy Friend said the tour dates in late July and early August would suit the Brumbies as the French playing fields would still be firm from the summer.

While the Brumbies have plenty to gain in terms of their set-piece play, given the scrum power typical of French teams, firm, fast fields will give Friend and his coaching staff a good chance to assess backline stocks.

The make-up of the touring squad will be mostly contracted Super 14 players, but the 28-strong squad will also draw from the Brumbies Academy and the Canberra club rugby competition.

"We'll probably give a couple of young fellas an opportunity [in the outside backs] and if someone stands up and shows they can play at that level then it's a fair chance they may well win themselves a contract," Friend said.

http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...522866228.html

[AndyS]

Brumbies confirm French tour

The Brumbies have confirmed dates for next month’s four-match development tour of France which will see the ACT-based side take on French Top 14 Champions, Perpignan, as well as matches against Toulon, Bayonne and Bourgoin-Jallieu.

The tour – completely financed by a French organisation arranging the tour and the participating French clubs – will begin on Friday, July 24 against Bourgoin-Jallieu in Lyon before taking on Bayonne (Tuesday, July 28), Perpignan (Friday, July 31) and Toulon (Thursday,August 6).

While the ACT squad for the tour will be named next week it will include Brumbies contracted players (not involved with the Wallabies), Brumbies Academy representatives and selected club rugby players.
Rest HERE

Nice getting someone else to pay for it all!!

[shasta]

Nice getting someone else to pay for it all!!

Yup. And a good way to suss out all their non-Wallaby talent over four matches. Then invite them to dinner, fill 'em up with vino and put a contract out there.

[Burgs]

Be a great little tag along tour for dedicated Brumbies supporters too!

[Happy]

do you know any Burgs?

[Burgs]

Nah, bit light on the ground around here lately mate.

[Sheikh]

So the Brumbies have "stolen" our players and now our ideas, too!

Was our tour of the UK financed by Emirates? I remember the boys went to watch Arsenal (also Emirates sponsored) play, but I'm not familiar with how the tour was financed.