Shaun Edwards quits London Irish role to focus on Wales duties

Defence coach Shaun Edwards has quit his consultancy role at London Irish to concentrate on his duties with the Wales national team.

Edwards began working one day a week with the Exiles in September.

London Irish have the worst defence in the Premiership and lie second bottom in the table.

"After consultation with Roger Lewis, CEO of the WRU, I am to concentrate solely on Welsh rugby in the build-up to Rugby World Cup 2015," Edwards said.

A disappointing season

London Irish have won just two league games from 12 this season, conceding 31 tries

"Thus my consultancy work will cease with immediate effect."

Edwards was defence coach for the British and Irish Lions' tour of South Africa in 2009 but was overlooked by his Wales head coach Warren Gatland for this year's Australia tour.

London Irish, who reached the Premiership final in 2009, have struggled this season, conceding 31 tries to lie only one point clear of bottom-club Sale.

Edwards worked alongside Gatland at London Wasps and the club went on to win two Heineken Cup titles.

He linked up with Wales at the end of 2007, with the national team winning the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2008 and 2012 as well as reaching the semi-finals of the 2011 World Cup.

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Celtic V Motherwell at Celtic Park : Match Preview

Celtic V Motherwell at Celtic Park : Match Preview

Celtic V Motherwell at Celtic Park : Match Preview

Celtic V Motherwell - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Brown: SPL title race far from over

Scott Brown has stepped outside the common consensus by insisting that Celtic do not already have the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title in the bag.

Despite the 1-0 defeat by Hibernian at Easter Road on Saturday, which ended a six-match winning run, Neil Lennon's men remain six points ahead of Inverness and with a game in hand.

The Celtic manager's demeanour in the post-match press conference appeared to be of a man who, in the knowledge that traditional rivals Rangers are playing in the Irn-Bru Third Division this season, believes his side are in little danger of losing their SPL crown, a belief shared by almost everyone in Scottish football.

However, ahead of the visit of Motherwell, Parkhead skipper Brown refused to agree.

"The league is far from over," he said. "It is definitely not done and dusted. It was shown against Hibs that it is hard no matter where you play, home or away.

"It's been difficult for us recently but we have to kick on with our home form and get back to winning ways. We have to keep going.

"We are a few points clear and we have a game in hand as well so that is going to help us, but it is going to be tough against Motherwell.

"They have got some good young players, they started off the season well and then had a little dip but they seem to be going really well again.

"So it's going to be a tough game, it is going to be hard but hopefully there will be a big crowd and we get back to winning ways."

The visit of the Steelmen will be the last SPL game Celtic will play before the winter break which Brown believes will be beneficial to the squad.

Chris Humphrey feels fellow Motherwell winger Jamie Murphy's imminent move is overdue reward for his form.

Murphy looks set to play his last game for the club in Wednesday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash at Celtic Park after holding talks with npower League One promotion hopefuls Sheffield United.

Murphy rejected a move to Blackpool on the final day of last January's transfer window in order to help Motherwell seal a slot in the Champions League qualifiers but his salute to the Fir Park fans following Saturday's 2-2 draw with Kilmarnock looked like a farewell.

Manager Stuart McCall expects the 23-year-old to move on after the Celtic Park clash and Humphrey feels his team-mate will go on to bigger things.

The Jamaica international said: "I'm sure it will be emotional for him and I'm sure it was emotional for his last home game. But he will be looking forward to it and will want to leave on a high.

"He has been terrific for the four years that I have been here. I think it's a long time overdue. He has done terrifically well and I wish him all the best.

"Obviously we will see him for the game on Wednesday but he deserves everything he gets because he has been fantastic."

Murphy has scored nine goals in his last 13 games from midfield and Humphrey believes his friend can improve further.

"I think he can be unbelievable," the former Shrewsbury winger said. "He has always had the right head on him to do well and I think he can go on to big things."

Murphy has a difficult game to make a farewell impression with Motherwell having scored just three times in their last 12 visits to Celtic Park, although that meagre return has yielded four points and they sit just six points behind Celtic.



Source : http://www.football.co.uk/celtic/celtic_v_motherwell_at_celtic_park___match_preview_rss3649372.shtml
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Rodgers hanging fire

Rodgers hanging fire

Rodgers hanging fire

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes the time to judge his side will not come until the last two months of the season.

Inconsistency has dogged the Reds throughout the season, highlighted perfectly by their last four matches which saw them lose at home to Aston Villa - who have since gone into freefall - thrash Fulham, lose woefully at Stoke and cruise to victory at bottom club QPR.

"This is a period of time where you have to keep your head down and work hard and give the players every chance to perform," said Rodgers. "The second half of the season, and in particular the last 10 games, I believe you are working to because that is the business end when things are decided."

He added: "When you arrive at that period you want to get yourself in a good position to challenge, whether that is in the league or cup competitions.

"We can still achieve our objectives this season so when you can do that going into the second part of the season it gives you real hope."

Liverpool have been waiting to finalise a deal for Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge but they will not officially be completed before the visit of Sunderland.

Blackpool winger Tom Ince has also been linked with a return to the club he left in the summer of 2011 but those negotiations are proving more difficult.

Aside from that Rodgers is not planning a huge amount of business as he knows there is not a lot of money to go around.

odgers admits it is always difficult trying to secure significant signings in January but he is happy with the backing he is getting from owners Fenway Sports Group.

"Even if managers have a player they think they might lose they don't want to lose him in January, they at least want to get him through to the end of the season," he said. "The support the club will give us will be excellent. The owners have been great and I have no complaints in terms of where we are as a club at this time."



Source : http://www.football.co.uk/liverpool/rodgers_hanging_fire_rss3649359.shtml
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Shaun Edwards steps down from London Irish rule to focus on Wales

Shaun Edwards: Focussing on Wales

Shaun Edwards: Focussing on Wales

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