Latest - ben-cohen.com

August 23rd
As all of the captains are being announced for the 2007-8 season there is sadness at Franklin's Gardens as Ben Cohen is reported to have left Northampton Saints after the announcement that Bruce Rehiana has been chosen over him for the post of captain for their coming season in National 1. Ben has not been seen at training since last week. Club Chairman Keith Barwell commented that Ben has spoken to him and his coaching team but left the meeting without resolving the problem. Will Ben quit Saints? There is silence from the world cup winner so far. We will have to see......

Ben had a rocky time with Saint's some 3 years ago when he and some of the other top players from the club were looking at moving on. Ben was rumoured to be heading for Leicester Tigers. Bearing in mind his family situation (His wife Abby is expecting twins next month) this must be very unsettling overall.

August 18th
Well done to Newcastle Falcons who despite being without their Seven's star Matthew Tait, won the 2007 Middlesex Sevens Trophy at Twickenham.

This is a first for the Falcons and they are hoping it shapes the season ahead!

Click Through for Falcons Report

August 12th

Following the disappointment of yet again being left behind at World Cup time, Charlie Hodgson has now returned to Sale Sharks for pre season training. He said, “I am now fit again and I would like to thank everyone who has helped me over the last eight months; it has been hard work but I am pleased with the way I feel. The only thing I am now lacking is quality game time. I will be travelling with Sale Sharks for this weekend’s game against Bayonne and then next Friday we have a big game against Samoa at Edgeley Park. We have a good squad at Sale Sharks this season and I can’t wait to get playing again.”

ENGLAND NAME WORLD CUP SQUAD

    

12th August
Backs (14): M Cueto (Sale Sharks); J Lewsey (Wasps), J Robinson (Sale Sharks), P Sackey (Wasps); D Hipkiss (Leicester), J Noon (Newcastle), M Tait (Newcastle); M Catt (London Irish), A Farrell (Saracens); O Barkley (Bath), J Wilkinson (Newcastle); A Gomarsall (Harlequins), S Perry (Bristol), P Richards (London Irish).

Forwards (16): G Chuter (Leicester), L Mears (Bath), M Regan (Bristol); P Freshwater (Perpignan), A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), M Stevens (Bath), P Vickery (Wasps); S Borthwick (Bath), M Corry (Leicester), B Kay (Leicester), S Shaw (Wasps); L Dallaglio (Wasps), N Easter (Harlequins), L Moody (Leicester), T Rees (Wasps), J Worsley (Wasps).

7 Wasp Players
5 Leicester Players
12 from RWC 2003

Omitted: N Abendanon (Bath), D Cipriani (Wasps), T Flood (Newcastle), J Haskell (Wasps), C Hodgson (Sale), T Palmer (Wasps), M Tindall (Gloucester), K Yates (Saracens).

10th August
It's not to late to get over to see the boys 'modelling' the new London Irish kit!

8th August
ENGLAND SQUAD ANNOUNCED for Saturdays match against France.

It's all change bar 4 players for the match at Twickenham this weekend. Some may say that it is madness to change what seemed to be a winning formula. Others may say that Brian Ashton needs to try out other players to make his final selection for the World Cup 30. We just love 'em all and look forward to seeing some great rugby (and some great thighs, of course!).

So, who is in this time? Well, RFTG favourite James Haskell is in the starting line up. Here he is again dressed in his best outfit. Also, we see the gorgeous Olly Barkley back in an England shirt, this time in place of Jonny.

Poor old Charlie Hodgson looks like he is going to miss out on World Cup glory again. His knee can't take the pressure demanded at this level which is a real shame for him.

This week we see Paul Sackey on the wing - he has had a great season for Wasps so we will see. Josh Lewsey is back making it a total of 8 Wasps players in the England 22.

Roll on Saturday!

Abendanon (Bath), Sackey (Wasps), Noon (Newcastle), Catt (London Irish, capt) Lewsey (Wasps), Barkley (Bath), Perry (Bristol); Sheridan (Sale), Regan (Bristol), Stevens (Bath), Shaw (Wasps), Kay (Leicester), Haskell (Wasps), Moody (Leicester,) Dallaglio (Wasps).
Replacements: Mears (Bath), Vickery (Wasps), Corry (Leicester), Worsley (Wasps), Gomarsall (Harlequins), Wilkinson (Newcastle), Cipriani (Wasps)