Premiership champions, Saracens have confirmed the re-signings of three of their best players ahead of the new Premiership season.

Jim Hamilton has extended his contract at Gloucester Rugby for 2 years meaning he will stay until 2014. The 28 year old was signed from Edinburgh last season and has made 20 appearances for the West Country side.

Brian O'Driscoll, who has always been at the centre of injury fears, believes he will be available for Ireland's opening world cup match against USA.

O'Driscoll, for whom it will be his fourth World Cup, discussed his hopes to be ready in a press conference.

"Probably at a push I could have played in the England game, but I think it was smart to stay out of it," Said the Ireland captain.

He then added "I should be in good shape to kick things off in the first game."

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David Wallace sustained a knee injury in Ireland's warm up match with England on Saturday following a hard tackle from Manu Tuilagi.

The Ireland flanker will miss all of the World Cup, Heineken Cup Pool Stages and a significant part of the Celtic League Season. He received surgery to his seriously damaged knee ligaments on the evening of the injury and will be replaced by Leinster's Shane Jennings.

Ireland's 30-man squad flew out to New Zealand today ahead of next months world cup.

David Wallace will come as a big loss to Ireland's squad after he was stretchered off and looked in serious pain on Saturday.

New Zealand back-rowers, Kieran Read and Adam Thomson, are preparing to miss the opening weeks of the Rugby World Cup.

Read, who is suffering with an ankle sprain will miss the opening weeks but will probably be able to return later on in the tournament. All Black team doctor Deb Robinson confirmed Read's injury.


"Kieran has torn the ligament between the tibia and fibula at the front of his left ankle."


However, the situtation for Adam Thomson looks a little more serious. He has injured his arm, an area he hasn't damaged before. New Zealand coach Graham Henry expressed his doubt for Thomson.


"I don't think Adam's injured his arm before but it doesn't look good."


However, the team doctor was quick to ensure that his injury would go away in time for him to take part in next months World Cup.


"Adam's MRI scan shows some swelling around the inside of his elbow which should settle quickly."


Read has had 32 International caps and was named as New Zealand's player of the year 2010. While Adam Thomson has appeared 17 times and can play either side of the back row.


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The entire coaching staff at Saracens have signed contracts until 2014.


The Premiership title holders staff include Andy Farrell, father of fly-half Owen, Mark McCall, Director of Rugby, Brendan Venter, controversial Technical Director as well as Paul Gustard, Alex Sanderson and Dan Vickers. All of these names have committed to the London Based club for the next three years up to 2014.

Wasps No.8, Dan Ward-Smith has been forced into retirement with immediate effect after receiving medical advice regarding a back injury.

The back-rower appeared 49 times for London Wasps in 2 seasons playing for the club. He also spent some of his rugby years playing for Plymouth Albion.

London Wasps' Chief Executive, Chris Thomas, paid tribute to Ward-Smith.

"Everyone at the club is desperately disappointed for Dan, who has been a superb professional and a great guy to have around."


Pat Sanderson, and now Dan Ward-Smith, 2 of the Premier Leagues most consistent players have both been forced to retire already this season following injuries. 

Following fears that some of England's key players would not be fit ahead of the start of the World Cup, Martin Johnson has confirmed that the full England squad, which he announced last week, will all be available for next month's World Cup.

Captain, Lewis Moody and scrum-half, Ben Youngs both had knee injury fears but have been confirmed ready. Tom Wood and Nick Easter both had calf muscle injury fears but have also been confirmed as available for England's first world cup match against Argentina on September 10th. All of these players missed England's final warm up on Saturday against Ireland but Mark Cueto suffered a back injury during the encounter.

We will inform you of any more squad updates as they are announced.

Ahead of the Aviva Premiership Season and the start of the Rugby World Cup 2011 we are looking for committed people to contribute to our blog throughout, or for a part of the new rugby season. You will be able to write match previews or reports or general rugby news.

In the post match press conference, James Simpson-Daniel explained how his testimonial against Russia was no pushover game and the Gloucester squad were taking it seriously as they prepared for the start of the Aviva Premiership season.

Philippe Saint-Andre, former Gloucester player and coach has now moved up through the coaching ranks and is set to coach France, replacing previous boss Marc Lievremont.

Saint-Andre started his coaching career at Gloucester and went on to coach Bourgoin, Sale Sharks (who he won the Championship with) and he also appeared for France 69 times, 34 of those playing as captain.

He will officially take charge of the Six Nations runners up on December 1 and will leave his current job as Toulon director of Rugby. Saint-Andre will look forward to the world cup and will hope to see his new side lift the world cup trophy for the first time.

Following possible injury worries for England back-rower, James Haskell, he has been declared fit to participate in Englands final RWC warm up.

Haskell had a foot scan to ensure that know serious damage had been done. The scan revealed swelling in a tendon but nothing more. Haskell also trained fully with the squad yesterday.

He will probably start in Englands final warm against Ireland as England captain, Lewis Moody is still recovering from a knee injury which he endured in Englands first warmup.

Pat Sanderson has been forced to retire following a shoulder injury. Sanderson was probably nearing the end of his career anyway at the age of 33, but he is nearly 34 now.

His career ending injury was suffered five months ago, in March when Worcester took on Bristol in one of the Championship play-offs.

Sanderson has had a very succesful career appearing in a Worcester shirt more than one hundred times and captaining England with an international career spanning from 1998 through to 2007.

England Squad

Tim Payne (London Wasps), Paul Doran-Jones (Northampton), George Chuter (Leicester), Mouritz Botha (Saracens), Joe Worsley (London Wasps), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Hendre Fourie (Sale Sharks), Thomas Waldrom (Leicester), Charlie Hodgson (Saracens), Riki Flutey (London Wasps), Ugo Monye (Harlequins), Charlie Sharples (Gloucester), James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), David Strettle (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins) - injured)

Nations from the world are calmly awaiting the announcement of their sides world cup squad today and for the Scots, the wait is over. The side features 4 of Gloucester's player then mainly Glasgow and Edinburgh players. But representatives selected have also come from a few other English, Welsh and French clubs. Scotlands world cup bid will begin with their opening match against Romania.

With the world cup on our doorsteps, speculation has arisen as to who will win this years compeition. Many believe the All Blacks will win for only the second time. However, yesterday, the Springboks made their case as potential winners of the RWC 2011.

They didn't even need a try to bring down the world cup hosts. Steyn kicked five penalties, making fifteen points and also took a drop goal giving them an additional three.

The All Blacks were left overwhelmed and could only manage one try from Kahui, which couldn't be converted.

South Africa did impress in front of the 45,000 strong crowd but don't rule out the All Blacks just yet!

The Millenium Stadium filled quickly prior to the match but the scoreboard didn't change so quick. England held strong in statistics with 65% possession and 75% territory but the score at the break was only 6-6. Several chances were missed from England but Wales didn't really create a chance. Although it has to be said, if they did make a chance they probably would have taken it.

Tindall created both of Englands main chances - a pass to Banahan who knocked it on before making it to the line and one of his own where his pace wasn't enough.