London Irish stay top after their 39-26 win at the Madejski Stadium over Sale Sharks, with young Exiles wing Jonathan Joseph bagging a try double. London Irish had to withstand a second-half comeback from the Sharks who dragged themselves back from 26-6 to 26-all. The game hinged on a last minute interception, with the score at 32-26, which saw Irish run out 39-26 winners when a try at the other end could have seen a remarkable Sale victory.

Elsewhere Bath Rugby and Harlequins played out an entertaining 6-6 draw at the Twickenham Stoop and London Wasps returned to form with a valuable 8-17 win over Leeds Carnegie at Headingley. The defeat leaves Leeds four points adrift at the foot of the Aviva Premiership Rugby table.

On Friday the Gatorade SweatForce team of Darren and I (Mark) visited Harrow and Whitgift schools in London for a launch event for an exciting new website company Ruckingball, which has been set up by a number of elite rugby players and coaches, including none other than ex England captain Martin Corry. We arrived at Harrow school and were greeted by what seemed like a film set for the latest Hollywood blockbuster. The guys at Ruckingball filmed all of the rugby sessions throughout the day and have produced about 100 video tutorials for the website – check them out at ruckingball.com. We delivered two presentations at Harrow School, each was well received by the kids and they now appreciate the benefits of consuming the sports drink Gatorade during exercise. All of the boys were very inquisitive and asked some really good questions. At lunchtime we finished at Harrow and made our way across London to Whitgift School in South Croydon. Despite following Darren’s sat nav we took a particularly scenic route through the centre of London which was very nice but the journey took at least twice as long as it should have done. As with the first event the second event was very well organised and the boys took a keen interest in the excellent coaching they received from the Ruckingball team and also in the hydration and nutritional information they received from us. Overall, both of the events were a huge success and we look forward to working with the Ruckingball guys again in the future.

Week four saw the arrival of the SWEAT force team in Farnham, albeit after an eventful journey. The weather in the South did not dampen the spirits of Gatorades’ Northern contingent, as they were met by the enthusiastic attendees of the MashSport camp, who also seemed undeterred by the rain. In the shelter of the clubhouse, presentations were made to 55 children, with the aid of new SWEAT force member ED, who helped demonstrate the Effects of Dehydration. After a good grilling from the inquisitive youngsters, the team were able to hammer home the performance benefits of Gatorade with the 3 R’s – Rehydrate, Replace and Refuel.

With day two came better weather and yet another great SWEAT force session. The inherent eagerness of the kids was magnified by the exciting prospect of the afternoons’ trip to Twickenham to watch the England squad train, followed by a chance to meet the players. This made for an excellent crowd during the Gatorade Quiz, with teams eager to demonstrate their knowledge. Once again the SWEAT force team was impressed with how much had been taken on board during the presentations, with the youngsters successfully fending off a challenge from their coaches’ quiz team.

After another fantastic week with the MashSport squad, the SWEATforce team believe that the young players gained information off the pitch that will help them to perform better on the pitch.

Quote of the Week: –

Becca – ‘Adults like Mel and I actually have more sweat glands than you guys do, with about 2.5-3 million.’

Angus – ‘But do adults not sweat less because they use more deodorant…?’

Chobham RFC

The team reunited with the MashSports camp at Chobham RFC. Day one focussed on educating the youngsters on topics surrounding sweat, maintaining hydration and the benefits of Gatorade in preventing dehydration. This information coupled with the coaching provided throughout the week aimed to give them the skill and knowledge base required for optimal Rugby performance. Day two saw the introduction of the SweatForce teams’ new quiz format. The rugby based scoring system went down a storm with the competitive players, and elicited fantastic effort and participation from the teams. The week was a brilliant farewell camp for SweatForce member Mel to leave on a high note before jetting off to volunteer in South Africa. A final thankyou to the coaches at Mashsports who have made the ‘Gatorade girls’ feel part of their team.

Quote of the week;

Mel – “Who’s sweat glands are more active, boys or girls?”

George – “Girls because there’s more deodorant adverts for them on TV”.

Quote of the week:
Mel – “Bananas- Think of them like…Potassium in a stick!”

Saracens RFC
This week the Sweatforce bandwagon rolled into RAF Halton with Darren and Mark speaking to the kids on the Saracens RFC summer camp. Greeted by children drinking 2l bottles of fizzy drinks to quench their thirst during intensive training sessions we knew we had our work cut out!
We got started with 3 presentations in the morning to the three different age groups present (9-17yrs) looking to try and banish some of the bad habits we had seen on arrival and educate the kids about proper hydration tactics and the use of Gatorade to benefit performance.
The kids were all very inquisitive and had plenty of questions to ask, while we were slight nervous as the sounds from the nearby firing range seemed to be getting closer, and cadets were practicing manoeuvres in full combat gear around the training field!
After lunch we looked to implement some of the strategies we spoke about in the morning session by choosing 15 kids to weigh before and after their afternoon session in order to calculate sweat losses. The results were very positive as minimal losses in weight for most showed they were drinking sufficiently during the training to offset sweat losses and showed they took on board the messages of the morning presentations. This was also evident as Gatorade bottles littered the field as the tiered kids traipsed off to dinner!
All in all another successful day in spreading the electrolyte love across the country for the Gatorade SweatForce Team.

The slight nerves felt with it being the maiden session were put to rest due to the warm welcome given by Andy and his coaching team. The camp provided a great environment for the kids to learn; their enthusiasm was overwhelming and made the job easy. Everyone left having learned something (including a certain World Cup winner, who discovered that there were a few more than 35 sweat glands in the body!) and the kids were keen to implement what they had been taught. This was evident when, upon our return to the camp later in the week, we were greeted by hoards of young players eager to demonstrate the knowledge they had gained from the first session. A near-perfect quiz performance from the victorious ‘Dream Team’, after a close-run competition thanks to the strong challengers ‘Muddy Raccoons’ and ‘Team Henry Speedy Gonzalez’ highlighted this further.

After watching the Gatorade Origins film, the kids were excited to sample the different flavours, but lemon emerged as the suprising winner of the taste test.
All in all, this was been fantastic beginning for the SweatForce team, and we look forward to spreading the electrolyte love all over the country!
Quote of the Week: -
Darren – “Why is it a good thing for your pee to be clear before you head out to training?”
Sam – “So you don’t have to flush the toilet…!?”

Gloucester Rugby Academy

This week, one half of the Gatorade Sweat Force team, Rachel, Sam and Mark spent three days at Chepstow Army Barracks. In association with Gloucester Rugby Club, we began the camp with a talk about the science behind sweating and the consequences of dehydration.

With the sun out, and the temperature and humidity high, we thought it would be useful for the players to see exactly how much fluid they were losing through sweat. The players were weighed prior to, and after a hardcore rugby session. Taking into account how much Gatorade they drank, we found varied results, with some players not taking on enough fluid while others were gaining body mass, which we thought was absolutely nothing to do with the free Gatorade on offer! After explaining the importance of replacing the correct amount of fluid, we were able to put their knowledge to the test in a team game.

We all really enjoyed our time at the camp and would like to thank the Gloucester rugby club coaches for all their help and support over the three days.

Gatorade have teamed up with a host of exciting partners including New Balance, Polar, Power Music, Neilson Active Holidays and The National Magazine Company to offer 22 million Gatorade athletes the opportunity to redeem over a £1 million in rewards including top sports equipment, music downloads, money can’t buy experiences and sporting holidays. (Si, has suggested that this taken out as it make the release which long….or does this need to be in for your other partners?

To get involved, individuals will need to collect codes from each bottle of Gatorade that corresponds to a nominal points value. Codes can then be banked online (www.gatorade.co.uk) and via text and used to cash in on a wide range of sports-related rewards. There will also be a weekly prize draw for registered participants of the collector scheme. Each entry will require one point to be spent with the lucky winner winning one of 52 prizes ranging from a training session with this season’s Guinness Premiership Champions to VIP Experiences at Twickenham and Wembley Stadium. Teams can also accumulate codes together to receive Gold, Silver or Bronze tickets.

Gatorade has donated 200 points to Danny, Nick and Ugo as part of the the launch, for them to ‘Give Back’ to the club of their choice. Ugo, who will be sending his points to Lord Wandsworth College, said “Gatorade have kindly given me 200 points which I will be giving to my old school, and hopefully the points can be a starting point for them to get some sporting equipment and help them develop their players. It’s a fantastic opportunity and a great way of getting people involved and getting people active, whether it be training with the Guinness Premiership Champions, or providing equipment to clubs.”

Nick Easter, whose points have been given to Old Alleynians Rugby Club, commented “I have given them to one of my old clubs, and it is great that they can benefit from Gatorade Gives Back, it’s a great idea and promotion”.

Gatorade, the world’s most researched isotonic sports drink, is used by more top athletes than any other sports drink in the world including, Serena Williams and Kaka. Launched in the UK in 2008, Gatorade prides itself on containing no artificial colours, sweeteners, flavours or preservatives. Gatorade will be supporting top sporting teams and events in 2009 including all Guinness Premiership teams, Scottish Rugby, Chelsea Football Club and Ironman UK. For more information visit www.gatorade.co.uk.

Whilst the seasonal deluge means there is no Guinness Premiership game against Gloucester on the horizon, it has still been all hands to the pump as Steve Bates and his coaching staff re-jig the training programme accordingly.

With much attention focused on gym work in readying the troops for a final push through to May, head of strength and conditioning Andy Smith said: “It’s almost like a mini pre-season.”

Having seen last week’s schedule disrupted by the snow ahead of a memorable 12-6 victory away at London Wasps, Smith said: “There were differences in what we did from a normal week, mainly because we didn’t have a full size pitch available to us.

“That allowed us to focus on a little more speed work using the indoor facility at the English Institute of Sport in Gateshead, and the duration of the sessions has been a bit shorter. Whilst the EIS track is very good and extremely quick for training, we made the sessions shorter and increased the recovery time because it is a harder surface. If we had spent the same time on it as we do on our regular training field at Druid Park, then it may have increased the likelihood of injuries.

“Following Sunday’s game down at Wasps the players had a day of recovery on Monday, just a light pool session to get the game out of their legs, a little bit on the CV machines and some massage, and that was really just to set them up for the rest of the training week leading into Sunday’s scheduled game against Gloucester.

“Tuesday was the normal strength session in the morning, and what was apparent was that the boys had recovered very well from the Wasps match having looked after themselves on the journey home and throughout Monday.”

With news of the Gloucester cancellation forcing a midweek change in plans, Smith said: “After Wednesday morning’s strength/power session the word had come through from the club offices that Sunday’s game had been postponed, and that allowed us to schedule an extra speed session at the EIS indoor facility along with some conditioning games.

“The training focus had changed, and it gave us a chance to work on some things that during the season we wouldn’t normally be able to do. Thursday was a scheduled day off in any case, but then on Friday we’ve had the boys back in the gym on a one-on-one basis to work on some really specific areas.

“It’s definitely not a case of beasting the lads because we don’t have a game, we’re just looking at the players on an individual basis over these next few days and getting them in the best possible nick for the rest of the year. Having no game on the weekend will allow a chance for some minor injuries to calm down, and also gives us the opportunity to include some more conditioning work next week ahead of the trip to Albi.”

With advances in post-match recovery now factored into the routine, Smith revealed: “At the start of the season we got each player a set of recovery skins, which they wear to travel to all of the matches, on the return journey and when they are asleep after the game.

“The theory behind it is similar to the flight socks some people wear on planes, it keeps the blood flowing around the muscles, keeps the oxygen around those muscles and prevents a lot of the stiffness that you might get the day after a game.

“The lads didn’t have any booze on the bus back from Wasps, which again helped their recovery, and the players’ attitude towards the whole recovery process has generally been spot-on.”

Assessing the wider issue of the team as a whole, he added: “I’m really pleased with how the players have gone this season from a conditioning standpoint, it’s been a big change for a lot of them but the feedback has been very good.

“At previous clubs during this time of the year a lot of players may have started to break down with niggly muscle injuries but, touch wood, our boys still seem to be very fresh. I think we saw evidence of that with the way we defended down at Wasps, and the way the players are taking responsibility for their physical condition is a real credit to them.

“One example this week was James Hudson setting a new personal best of 130kg in his power clean, which is great for a second row, and he is one of many who are still improving as the season goes on. That will undoubtedly benefit his rugby, but he’s far from the only one making that kind of progress.”

Rooney, who has won international honours for Australia at rugby league, is regarded as one of the hottest properties in the European game after excelling in the Top 14 in recent seasons.

The highly rated 26-year-old has signed a two-year contract that will see him move to Sixways Stadium this summer until at least 2012.

Rooney previously played rugby league for the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League and earned representative honours with City Origin, New South Wales and Australia. He made his Penrith debut in 2001 against the Canberra Raiders and was a member of the 2003 Premiership winning team, scoring two tries in the 18-6 win over the Sydney Roosters.

The flying back, who is an English qualified player through his parents, made the cross code switch and relocated to the south of France to play for Toulon in 2008. In his first season he played 16 games in the Top 14 and scored five tries, also playing six games in the European Challenge Cup.

“We’re delighted to sign Luke Rooney and he is a big capture for us,” said Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock.

“Luke is a very experienced player, currently playing for Toulon in the Top 14. He caught my eye with a man-of-the-match performance against Saracens in the Amlin Challenge Cup and when I looked at a number of other games in which he had played it became obvious he was an incredibly talented player.

“He was also man-of-the-match for Toulon this season against Castres and he has developed his game superbly whilst playing alongside the likes of Jonny Wilkinson in France.

“Luke is a big, strong full back with a massive left boot. He has a lot of top class rugby league international experience under his belt, having previously played rugby league for Australia and for New South Wales in the State of Origin tournament.

“He comes to us with an ambition to play rugby union for England, through his English parents, and I’m sure it won’t be long before Martin Johnson will start looking at him.”

Rooney has spoken of his delight at the move to England and the chance to play in the Guinness Premiership.

“I have been watching the competitive English league closely over the last few seasons – I’m really excited to now become a part of it,” he said.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time in France with Toulon, both on and off the field, and would like to thank the fans and my team-mates for such a wonderful experience.

“The chance to switch to rugby union and test myself in a new environment has really seen my game move up to new level and I know that will only continue with Worcester Warriors.

“Looking around Sixways Stadium, it is clear how much ambition there is for this club to become one of the leading teams in Europe. I plan to play a big part in that while enjoying a new culture and lifestyle.

“My long term goal is to represent England; that has been a major motivating factor in my move to Warriors. I now look forward to making the move, getting out on the field and pulling on a Worcester jersey for the first time.”

Latham joined the Sixways Stadium club in 2008 on a two-year deal and has excelled in the Guinness Premiership and European competition, making 34 appearances for Warriors and scoring 42 points.

The 34-year-old, the second highest try scorer in Wallaby history, will not be taking up the third year option on his contract and is expected to return to Australia with his family.

Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock praised the outstanding contribution of Latham at Warriors when revealing the player’s departure following intense recent speculation over his future.

“Chris Latham has decided not to take up the third year option on his contract at Worcester Warriors due to the fact that his family would like to return to Australia. We wish them every success and happiness back in their homeland,” he said.

“We would like to place on record our thanks to Chris for his magnificent service to the Warriors during the last two seasons.

“He has always had a fantastic relationship with the supporters and that has been highlighted be the fact that he made a special request to us that he let the fans know first, via our official website, about the his future before this statement.

“Chris has been inspirational and his work ethic has been truly remarkable. Having had the opportunity to work with him first hand, I can see why he was by far the best full back in the world for so many years.

“His dedication to the job and his commitment on the field has been inspirational for all at the club to witness. We wish Chris every happiness in his new challenge.”

Chris Latham said: “After much consideration we feel, as a family, that this is the right time to return home to Australia, with my daughter starting high school and my son soon to start school.

“I would like to thank Mike Ruddock and Cecil Duckworth for giving me the opportunity to come to Worcester and to Pat Sanderson and my team-mates for making me feel so welcome. It has been a very enjoyable time in my career.

“I also need to make a special thank you to all the supporters. Their dedication to supporting the team has been absolutely magnificent. That is something I will take away from here as a memory of my time with Warriors.

“I am now fully committed to the rest of the season and looking forward to making sure Warriors fulfil their goals and make the top six in the Guinness Premiership. On a personal level, I’m looking to continuing to play consistent rugby and a big role for the club.”