Additions to European Club Squads for Heineken Cup / Amlin Challenge Cup Knock-out Stages
As anticipation grows in advance of ERC’s quarter-finals weekend, a Rugby World Cup winner and a two-time Heineken Cup winner are among a number of high-profile players who have been nominated for registration for the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup.
Brad Thorn, who was a member of the victorious New Zealand squad at RWC 2011, has been nominated by reigning Heineken Cup champions Leinster Rugby, and David Wallace, a Heineken Cup winner with Munster Rugby in 2006 and 2008, returns from injury to bolster his club’s quest for a third title in European club rugby’s elite tournament.
Under ERC tournament rules, clubs which have qualified for the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup can nominate up to three players for registration to supplement their initial 38-player European squads.
The 110-time capped Australia back row, George Smith, will add even more quality to the Stade Francais Paris ranks as they aim to go one better than last season when they were defeated in the Amlin Challenge Cup final.
Another vastly experienced Australian, Matt Giteau, is also in line to feature for Toulon who take on Amlin Challenge Cup holders, Harlequins, in the last eight.
Heineken Cup quarter-finalists, Saracens, welcome back former England scrum-half, Richard Wigglesworth, following injury, and Scarlets have added Wales international Tavis Knoyle to their squad as they prepare for an Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final trip to Brive.
The registrations of players who have been nominated by clubs today (Thursday, 22 March 2012) are subject to confirmation by the relevant Unions and by ERC.
ERC can confirm that the following have been nominated by their clubs as registered players for the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup 2011/2012 tournament.
ULSTER RUGBY
Chris COCHRANE
DOB: 18/12/1988
Position: Wing
HT: 1.85m / 6’1”
WT: 83kg / 13st 1lb
Iain HENDERSON
DOB: 11/03/1991
Position: No 8
HT: 1.95m / 6’5”
WT: 112kg / 17st 8lbs
CARDIFF BLUES
Macauley COOK
DOB: 31/12/1991
Position: Lock
HT: 1.93m / 6’4”
WT: 112kg / 17st 8lbs
Kristian DACEY
DOB: 25/07/1989
Position: Hooker
HT: 1.87m / 6’2”
WT: 108kg / 17st 0lbs
James DOWN
DOB: 29/08/1987
Position: Lock
HT: 2.01m / 6’7”
WT: 109kg / 17st 2lbs
EDINBURGH RUGBY
Douglas FIFE
DOB: 08/08/1990
Position: Centre
HT: 1.82m / 6’0”
WT: 90kg / 14st 2lbs
Leonardo Ulises GAMBOA
DOB: 03/10/1975
Position: Prop
HT: 1.80m / 5’11”
WT: 115kg / 18st 1lb
Robert McALPINE
DOB: 26/03/1991
Position: Lock
HT: 2.01m / 6’7”
WT: 108kg / 17st 0lbs
LEINSTER RUGBY
Mark FLANAGAN
DOB: 02/10/1989
Position: Lock
HT: 2.01m / 6’7”
WT: 108kg / 17st 0lbs
Tom SEXTON
DOB: 10/12/1989
Position: Hooker
HT: 1.79m / 5’10”
WT: 99kg / 15st 8lbs
Brad THORN
DOB: 03/02/1975
Position: Lock
HT: 1.96m / 6’5”
WT: 118kg / 18st 8lbs
International Record: New Zealand
MUNSTER RUGBY
Peter BORLASE
DOB: 22/05/1985
Position: Prop
HT: 1.92m / 6’4”
WT: 119kg / 18st 5lbs
Luke O’DEA
DOB: 18/07/1985
Position: Wing
HT: 1.77m / 5’10”
WT: 84kg / 13st 3lbs
David WALLACE
DOB: 8/07/1976
Position: Back row
HT: 1.88m / 6’2”
WT: 103kg / 16st 3lbs
International Record: Ireland
SARACENS
Nicholas AUTERAC
DOB: 12/11/1992
Position: Prop
HT: 1.82m / 6’0”
WT: 116kg / 18st 3lbs
Michael TAGICAKIBAU
DOB: 09/05/1985
Position: Wing
HT: 1.82m / 6’2”
WT: 90kg / 14st 2lbs
International Record: Fiji
Richard WIGGLESWORTH
DOB: 17/06/1983
Position: Scrum-half
HT: 1.76m / 5’9”
WT: 83kg / 13st 1lb
International Record: England
TOULOUSE
Jaba BREGVADZE
DOB: 23/04/1987
Position: Hooker
HT: 1.80m/ 5’11”
WT: 90 kg / 14st 2lbs
International Record: Georgia
ERC can confirm that the following have been nominated by their clubs as registered players for the knockout stages of the Amlin Challenge Cup 2011/2012 tournament.
BIARRITZ OLYMPIQUE PAYS BASQUE
Magnus LUND
DOB: 25/06/1983
Position: Back row
HT: 1.91m / 6’3”
WT: 105 kg / 16st 7lbs
International Record: England
Eugene VAN STADEN
DOB: 16/12/1980
Position: Prop
HT: 1.82m / 6’0”
WT: 116kg / 18st 3lbs
BRIVE
Shane GERAGHTY
DOB: 12/08/1986
Position: Out-half
HT: 1.80m / 5’11”
WT: 88kg / 13st 12lbs
International Record: England
Nicolas JEANJEAN
DOB: 13/05/1981
Position: Full-back
HT: 1.90m / 6’3”
WT: 94kg / 14st 11lbs
International Record: France
Guillaume RIBES
DOB: 18/11/1984
Position: Hooker
HT: 1.70m / 5’7”
WT: 95kg / 14st 13lbs
EXETER CHIEFS
Junior POLULEULIGAGA
DOB: 05/02/1981
Position: Scrum-half
HT: 1.80m / 5’11”
WT: 96kg / 15st 1lb
International Record: Samoa
Peter SHORT
DOB: 10/06/1979
Position: Lock
HT: 1.95m / 6’5”
WT: 124kg / 19st 7lbs
Jonathan VICKERS
DOB: 23/12/1988
Position: Front row
HT: 1.74m / 5’9”
WT: 104kg / 16st 5lbs
HARLEQUINS
Nicholas MAYHEW
DOB: 28/11/1988
Position: Prop
HT: 1.79m / 5’10”
WT: 114kg / 17st 13lbs
LONDON WASPS
Paul EMERICK
DOB: 24/01/1980
Position: Wing / Centre
HT: 1.84m / 6’0”
WT: 98kg / 15st 6lbs
International Record: USA
Vladislav KORSHUNOV
DOB: 13/03/1983
Position: Hooker
HT: 1.80m / 5’11”
WT: 106kg / 16st 9lbs
International Record: Russia
Tom PRYDIE
DOB: 23/02/1992
Position: Full-back / Wing
HT: 1.94m / 6’4”
WT: 94kg / 14st 11lbs
International Record: Wales
SCARLETS
Matthew EVANS
DOB: 14/04/1992
Position: Prop
HT: 1.88m / 6’0”
WT: 118kg / 18st 8lbs
Tavis KNOYLE
DOB: 02/06/1990
Position: Scrum-half
HT: 1.85m / 6’1”
WT: 101kg / 15st 12lbs
International Record: Wales
Damian WELCH
DOB: 28/07/1982
Position: Back row / Lock
HT: 1.98m / 6’6”
WT: 113kg / 17st 11lbs
STADE FRANCAIS PARIS
Benjamin CHABERT
DOB: 13/02/1989
Position: Front row
HT: 1.77m / 5’10”
WT: 105kg / 16st 7lbs
George SMITH
DOB: 14/07/1980
Position: Back row
HT: 1.80m / 5’11”
WT: 103kg / 16st 3lbs
International Record: Australia
Anton VAN ZYL
DOB: 23/02/1980
Position: Lock
HT: 1.97m / 6’6”
WT: 111kg / 17st 6lbs
TOULON
Sebastien BRUNO
DOB: 26/08/1974
Position: Hooker
HT: 1.75m / 5’ 9”
WT: 106kg / 16st 9lbs
International Record: France
Matt GITEAU
DOB: 29/09/1982
Position: Centre
HT: 1.78m / 5’10”
WT: 86kg / 13st 7lbs
International Record: Australia
Sebastien TILLOUS BORDE
DOB: 29/04/1985
Position: Scrum-half
HT: 1.76m / 5’9”
WT: 93kg / 14st 9lbs
International Record: France
