Wednesday 27 August 2014

Stuart Lancaster"s England rugby team secure Pennyhill Park as 2015 World ...


Rugby World Cup organisers have confirmed 41 training bases will be used

throughout the tournament in September and October next year.



“It’s great to have Pennyhill Park as our training base,” said

Lancaster.



“It’s a place we are used to – the facilities are first-class,

especially with the new training centre.”



Wales are perhaps the next biggest winners in the team base allocation, with

half of their Pool A preparations taking place at their usual home The Vale

Resort.



Warren Gatland’s men will play two of their four group matches at the

Millennium Stadium, but also take on Australia and England at Twickenham.



Wales will be based at London Irish’s newly-completed all-purpose training

complex Hazelwood.



Gatland is expected to mirror RBS 6 Nations trips to Twickenham, with Wales

aiming to travel to London Irish’s set-up in midweek before their weekend

clashes in the English capital.



“The selection of team bases are extremely important for the squad’s

preparation and we were very impressed with the packages on offer from the

approved venues,” said Gatland.



“We are very familiar with The Vale and their pedigree for hosting

sporting teams is second to none.



“In addition the new Hazlewood complex is another great base, which

really suits our needs.”



Tournament organisers England Rugby 2015 vetted more than 100 applications

from complexes to become team-base venues.



The final list of 41 centres, including pitches, state-of-the-art gyms,

swimming pools and hotels, allow teams the flexibility to based close to

each fixture.



Reigning world champions New Zealand will split their group phase between The

Lensbury and St Mary’s University in west London, the Sport Wales National

Centre and Darlington Mowden Park.



Ireland will move bases between each fixture, making use of Celtic Manor in

Newport, the FA’s centre of excellence St George’s Park, Surrey Sports Park

and the Sport Wales National Centre.



Scotland will rotate between Hartpury College, where Gloucester Rugby train,

Leeds Metropolitan University, the University of Leeds and Newcastle Royal

Grammar School.



Pennyhill Park and The Vale Resort are among the eight training bases for the

tournament’s knockout stages.



Chief executive Debbie Jevans believes organising committee England Rugby 2015

will provide all 20 competing nations with first-class bases.



“We are lucky to have some fantastic facilities right across the country

and the enthusiasm to be part of the tournament has been really encouraging,”

said Jevans.



“We are confident that we now have 41 high-quality training environments

which provide a home away from home for the teams.”



International Rugby Board chairman Bernard Lapasset also hailed the organising

committee’s preparations.



“The teams participating at England 2015 will have access to exceptional

facilities the length and breadth of the host nation.



“It is the attention to detail on and off the field that will elevate

this event to new levels.”



WORLD CUP TRAINING BASES



Argentina: Cheltenham RFC (Cheltenham RFC, Leisure@, Gym 66);

Haileybury School, St George’s Park.
Australia: University of Bath; Dulwich College.
Canada: Cardiff Metropolitan University; West Park Leeds RUFC (West

Park Leeds RUFC, John Charles Centre for Sport); Leicester Grammar School;

Swansea University (Swansea University, Wales National Pool Swansea).
England: Pennyhill Park; Salford (The AJ Bell Stadium, Irlam and

Cadishead Leisure Centre).
Fiji: Milton Keynes and MK Dons (Woughton On The Green, Bletchley

Leisure Centre); Swansea University; London Irish RFC (London Irish RFC,

Elmbridge Xcel Leisure Complex).
France: The Vale Resort; Trinity School Croydon.
Georgia: Woodbury Park and Bicton College (Woodbury Park Hotel and Golf

Club, Bicton College); Bristol and SGS Wise (South Gloucestershire and

Stroud College, Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre); Celtic Manor and

Newport(Newport High School/Active Living Centre, The Celtic Academy).
Ireland: Celtic Manor and Newport; St George’s Park; Surrey Sports

Park; Sport Wales National Centre.
Italy: Surrey Sports Park; Cobham RFC (Cobham RFC, ACS Cobham).
Japan: Warwick School; Brighton College.
Namibia: Loughborough University; Cobham RFC; Plymouth (University of

St Mark and St John, Plymouth Albion RFC, Plymouth Life Centre and Royal

Navy Rugby Union).
New Zealand: The Lensbury and St Mary’s University; Sport Wales

National Centre; Darlington Mowden Park (Darlington Mowden Park RFC,

Middlesbrough FC).
Romania: Sutton Coldfield RFC (Sutton Coldfield RFC, Birmingham

Metropolitan College, Wyndley Leisure Centre, CrossFitB76); Woodbury Park

and Bicton College, Dulwich College.
Samoa: Sutton Coldfield RFC; University of Brighton (University of

Brighton, Prince Regent Swimming Complex); Gateshead (Gateshead

International Stadium, Gateshead Leisure Centre, Gateshead College); Milton

Keynes and MK Dons.
Scotland: Hartpury College; Leeds Metropolitan University and

University of Leeds; Newcastle Royal Grammar School.
South Africa: The Lensbury and St Mary’s University; University of

Birmingham; Gateshead; Eastbourne College and University of Brighton

(Eastbourne College, University of Brighton – Eastbourne College).
Tonga: Cheltenham RFC, Loughborough University; University of Exeter;

University of Northumbria.
USA: Haileybury School; Hartpury College; Leeds Trinity University

(Leeds Trinity University, Kirkstall Leisure Centre); Portsmouth Royal Navy

Rugby Union.
Wales: The Vale Resort; London Irish RFC.
Final Qualification Play-off Winner (TBC): Celtic Manor and Newport;

Loughborough University; Moulton College; Manchester (Broughton Park FC

Rugby Union, The Hough End Centre, Manchester Aquatics Centre).
Knockout phase bases: Celtic Manor and Newport; Swansea University; The

Vale Resort; Sport Wales National Centre; Pennyhill Park; Surrey Sports

Park; The Lensbury and St Mary’s University; London Irish RFC.


Article source: http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/brian-o-driscoll-walks-away-a-champion-1.1727107


Stuart Lancaster"s England rugby team secure Pennyhill Park as 2015 World ...

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