Sport / Rugby union

Poll: Will Leicester retain the Premiership title?

www.guardian.co.uk - England's domestic rugby union season starts tonight, just over three months after Leicester won the Premiership play-off final. Will the Tigers repeat that success in the face of competition from Bath, Saracens and others? More... (Rugby union)

The Aviva Premiership and Magners League season review: Let's get up and running!

www.dailymail.co.uk - When the Aviva Premiership and Magners League campaigns begin this evening, it marks the start of a hugely significant, high-stakes season, leading into the World Cup in a year’s time. More... (Rugby union)

Club-by-club guide to the new Aviva Premiership season

www.dailymail.co.uk - Will defending champions Leicester be able to the modern era's first Premiership hat-trick? Find out who will be pushing them all the way... and more. More... (Rugby union)

Magners League's expansion threatens to 'burn out' players

www.guardian.co.uk - Ospreys coach Sean Holley is warning that the Magners League, with two Italian sides joining in, will lengthen injury listsThe Magners League has an Italian flavour this season with Aironi and Treviso joining the 10 Celtic sides in the tournament but Sean Holley, the head coach of the champions, Ospreys, fears the increased fixtures will accelerate player burn-out.Ospreys boast a glut of current Welsh internationals but with Wales facing a potential 20 Tests in the next 12 months and the region fighting on three fronts, Holley, who is already without two of his Lions, Mike Phillips and Ryan Jones, who were injured on Wales's summer tour to New Zealand, is concerned that too much is being asked of players."Alun Wyn Jones has not had a summer off since he started playing professional rugby: you have to ask at what point is he going to break down," says Holley. "There has to be an answer, but I think it is down to the powers-that-be, not coaches."It is a huge worry. I am constantly having 15 guys on the long-term injury list and that has a lot to do with the length of the season. I would guess that Mils Muliaina will play half the number of games in the build-up to the World Cup compared to Tommy Bowe."At one point in the season a particular player could play consecutive weeks in the Magners, the LV Cup, the Heineken Cup and on the international scene. Four different competitions in four weeks. Four different balls at four different venues. You have to ask yourself is that conducive [to their wellbeing]?"Ospreys start the defence of their title tomorrow night against Ulster at Ravenhill, while the side they defeated in the play-off final in Dublin, Leinster, travel to Glasgow. The four Saturday matches are all evening kick-offs with Aironi, who include the former English Premiership players Ludovic Mercier and Julien Laharrague in their back division, have not been given the gentlest of welcomes. They have to travel to Munster for a 7.30pm kick-off at Musgrave Park. Treviso are at home to the Scarlets.The Aironi No8, Nick Williams, spent two seasons with Munster. "You get to understand how the name of Munster strikes apprehension in the minds of opponents," he says. "During my time there I quickly appreciated that I was part of an historic club."One positive for us going into the game is our unpredictability. Munster have never seen us play. If we can disrupt their set-pieces and contest the breakdown, we can go a long way. Pre-season went well and the boys just have to get a feel of the competitiveness of the league."Leinster lost their head coach, Michael Cheika, to Stade Français at the end of last season. His replacement, the New Zealander Josef Schmidt, has moved in the opposite direction having been backs coach at the French champions, Clermont Auvergne."As fantastic as Michael Cheika was, a change is probably good for the squad," says the Leinster and Ireland centre, Brian O'Driscoll. "A new man has come in, thrown new ideas at us and challenged us in different ways. No player knows it all, no matter how experienced he is: you need to keep learning until the day you retire and it has been nice to hear a different voice."Five teams have won the league, three from Ireland, Munster, Leinster and Ulster, and two from Wales, the Scarlets and Ospreys. Cardiff Blues, the Amlin Challenge Cup holders, have made taking the title a priority."We have always placed an emphasis on the league because we quickly realised its potential," says Holley. "We have won it three times and it is nice to be able to say that. Dai Young [the Blues' head coach] can't. I think given his long tenure there he would be really desperate to win it."Young is. "The league has always been important to us, but it will be a major focus this year," he says. "In the past, it has been a qualification tool for Europe rather than something we have set out to win, if I am honest. Now we are determined to be in the play-offs at the end of the season."The Blues, armed with the Scotland fly-half, Dan Parks, start off at home to Edinburgh. Scotland has yet to provide a champion and Glasgow and Edinburgh both lost players in the summer, Ally Hogg, Kelly Brown and Jim Hamilton moved to the Premiership while Parks pitched up in Cardiff.However, Sean Lineen, the Glasgow coach, says: "It is the most satisfying pre-season I have had as a coach. We have a new training centre and our warm-up games taught us a lot. We had 2,500 at Firhill for one game last month, a number we had not attracted in August before. They made a lot of noise and it is important we give them reason to do that against Leinster."The introduction of the Italian sides means that, more than ever, the season will be a test of resources with most of the sides involved likely to lose large numbers of players during the international windows in November and February/March.It is one reason why a strong start is imperative. Edinburgh, who have Chris Paterson back at full-back, may have one of the most demanding matches on the opening weekend, but they have won in Cardiff on their last three league visits and they at least know all about Parks.Magners LeagueRugby unionPaul Reesguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby union)

Magners League's expansion threatens to 'burn out' players | Paul Rees

www.guardian.co.uk - Ospreys coach Sean Holley is warning that the Magners League, with two Italian sides joining in, will lengthen injury listsThe Magners League has an Italian flavour this season with Aironi and Treviso joining the 10 Celtic sides in the tournament but Sean Holley, the head coach of the champions, Ospreys, fears the increased fixtures will accelerate player burn-out.Ospreys boast a glut of current Welsh internationals but with Wales facing a potential 20 Tests in the next 12 months and the region fighting on three fronts, Holley, who is already without two of his Lions, Mike Phillips and Ryan Jones, who were injured on Wales's summer tour to New Zealand, is concerned that too much is being asked of players."Alun Wyn Jones has not had a summer off since he started playing professional rugby: you have to ask at what point is he going to break down," says Holley. "There has to be an answer, but I think it is down to the powers-that-be, not coaches."It is a huge worry. I am constantly having 15 guys on the long-term injury list and that has a lot to do with the length of the season. I would guess that Mils Muliaina will play half the number of games in the build-up to the World Cup compared to Tommy Bowe."At one point in the season a particular player could play consecutive weeks in the Magners, the LV Cup, the Heineken Cup and on the international scene. Four different competitions in four weeks. Four different balls at four different venues. You have to ask yourself is that conducive [to their wellbeing]?"Ospreys start the defence of their title tomorrow night against Ulster at Ravenhill, while the side they defeated in the play-off final in Dublin, Leinster, travel to Glasgow. The four Saturday matches are all evening kick-offs with Aironi, who include the former English Premiership players Ludovic Mercier and Julien Laharrague in their back division, have not been given the gentlest of welcomes. They have to travel to Munster for a 7.30pm kick-off at Musgrave Park. Treviso are at home to the Scarlets.The Aironi No8, Nick Williams, spent two seasons with Munster. "You get to understand how the name of Munster strikes apprehension in the minds of opponents," he says. "During my time there I quickly appreciated that I was part of an historic club."One positive for us going into the game is our unpredictability. Munster have never seen us play. If we can disrupt their set-pieces and contest the breakdown, we can go a long way. Pre-season went well and the boys just have to get a feel of the competitiveness of the league."Leinster lost their head coach, Michael Cheika, to Stade Français at the end of last season. His replacement, the New Zealander Josef Schmidt, has moved in the opposite direction having been backs coach at the French champions, Clermont Auvergne."As fantastic as Michael Cheika was, a change is probably good for the squad," says the Leinster and Ireland centre, Brian O'Driscoll. "A new man has come in, thrown new ideas at us and challenged us in different ways. No player knows it all, no matter how experienced he is: you need to keep learning until the day you retire and it has been nice to hear a different voice."Five teams have won the league, three from Ireland, Munster, Leinster and Ulster, and two from Wales, the Scarlets and Ospreys. Cardiff Blues, the Amlin Challenge Cup holders, have made taking the title a priority."We have always placed an emphasis on the league because we quickly realised its potential," says Holley. "We have won it three times and it is nice to be able to say that. Dai Young [the Blues' head coach] can't. I think given his long tenure there he would be really desperate to win it."Young is. "The league has always been important to us, but it will be a major focus this year," he says. "In the past, it has been a qualification tool for Europe rather than something we have set out to win, if I am honest. Now we are determined to be in the play-offs at the end of the season."The Blues, armed with the Scotland fly-half, Dan Parks, start off at home to Edinburgh. Scotland has yet to provide a champion and Glasgow and Edinburgh both lost players in the summer, Ally Hogg, Kelly Brown and Jim Hamilton moved to the Premiership while Parks pitched up in Cardiff.However, Sean Lineen, the Glasgow coach, says: "It is the most satisfying pre-season I have had as a coach. We have a new training centre and our warm-up games taught us a lot. We had 2,500 at Firhill for one game last month, a number we had not attracted in August before. They made a lot of noise and it is important we give them reason to do that against Leinster."The introduction of the Italian sides means that, more than ever, the season will be a test of resources with most of the sides involved likely to lose large numbers of players during the international windows in November and February/March.It is one reason why a strong start is imperative. Edinburgh, who have Chris Paterson back at full-back, may have one of the most demanding matches on the opening weekend, but they have won in Cardiff on their last three league visits and they at least know all about Parks.Magners LeagueRugby unionPaul Reesguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby union)

A club-by-club guide to the Premiership season

www.guardian.co.uk - Shaun Edwards makes his predictions on the teams and players to watch in the Guinness PremiershipShaun Edwards More... (Rugby union)

The Breakdown | Premiership returns with salary cap fears and a fight for popularity | Paul Rees

www.guardian.co.uk - Paul Rees offers his thoughts on the new rugby union campaign in the first Breakdown column of the seasonWhat a difference a year makes. Last season's Premiership started amid a storm about spots of blood but it is cricket currently hogging the spotlight with claims of spot-fixing. Rugby union has enjoyed a quiet off-season in Britain, and well deserved after the Bloodgate and drug brouhahas last year and the investigation into allegations of r@pe made against some members of the England squad in New Zealand in 2009, which were proven to be unfounded.Unlike football, rugby union does not suffer from transfer madness in the summer, primarily because very few transfer fees are paid. Players tend to move on when their contracts are up and usually conclude deals at the start of a calendar year when those with less than six months to go on their deals are free to talk to other clubs.There is no rugby equivalent of the football transfer deadline day that gets Sky Sports News so excited. Deal or no deal, voices rise higher than sums paid. Rugby union only commands such attention when shabby cheating is exposed or political wars are fought and its lack of self-generating momentum media-wise will make it hard for Premier Rugby to achieve its dream of overtaking football's Championship in terms of popularity.For all the talk of increased interest and record attendances, the fact remains that the three northern clubs in the Premiership - Sale, Leeds and Newcastle - have, between them, an average gate that is less than Leicester's. The Tigers, who announced this week that they were back in profit, may be an unfair example, but the statistics betray a tension that the game will need to address in the coming years.The salary cap has helped Newcastle and Sale remain relatively competitive, even if they were fortunate that Worcester ended last season so tamely. The likes of Leicester and Northampton have long argued that the cap either needs to be radically reviewed or abolished and they can expect to be joined by Saracens and Bath at least.It may be that, in time, the cap is set to a maximum percentage of turnover rather than be operated at a common, fixed level. If, the argument goes, there is a considerable disparity in income, why should spending on wages be equal?That assumes that all 12 clubs reach the cap's limit. Leeds didn't last season: as the promoted club, they received less in central funds than the rest, as Exeter will this season, but the danger for Newcastle and Sale, unless they increase their turnovers, is that they will overreach themselves just trying to keep up in an era when banks are reluctant to lend.They have both got rid of high earners in the last 15 months, the likes of Jonny Wilkinson, Carl Hayman, Luke McAlister, Sébastien Chabal and Juan Fernández Lobbe all earning their livings abroad. None was replaced in kind and there is the danger with clubs like Leicester, Northampton, Gloucester and Harlequins all improving their facilities in recent years, soon to be joined by Bath while Saracens have expanded their fanbase by regularly playing at Wembley, the cap will not prevent the Premiership becoming a two-tier tournament.Exeter have already complained that their funding this season is unfair because it is set at a lower level than the rest. The flip side is that if they are relegated at the end of the campaign, a parachute payment will ensure that they receive considerably more money than any other club in the Championship, but their complaint is a fair one.If the point of a salary cap is to achieve a levelling out, should some be more equal than others? Exeter at least start their first campaign in the top flight on Saturday at home to Gloucester before what is expected to be a sell-out crowd at Sandy Park.The fixture schedule has proved more beneficial than the funding system. Not only do the Chiefs have a West Country derby before their faithful, but Gloucester have not often travelled well in the last couple of seasons. Leeds took a while to get going last season, but they were helped by the negative mindset that clotted the game then which meant that failure to score tries was not necessarily a disadvantage.The emphasis this campaign will be on using the ball, not kicking it away. Leicester, Saracens and Bath finished last season in style and they can be expected to be the pace-setters this time. Northampton will be with them if they attack more from outside-half.England are talking about showing more ambition and they have the players to sustain a faster game. A year from now the World Cup will be about to start: the latter stages of the tournament are not generally a showcase for adventure, but the mistake after 2007 was to use England's final two matches in France as evidence that the game was badly in need of repair.Never mind what had gone before, not least the quarter-final between New Zealand and France and Fiji's campaign, the consequent meddling cost the game a couple of years when its splendid diversity should have been talked up. The Tri-Nations has shown it is back where it was and it is now up to Europe to grasp the baton.REFEREEING THE BREAKDOWNThe Magners League also starts tomorrow night, augmented by the presence of two Italian teams which will add to the diversity of the tournament, if not the number of away supporters on the terraces.It has spent its existence in the shadow of the Premiership in terms of national media coverage. The lack of relegation has removed fear of failure but it has also taken away a hook. The Scarlets failed to qualify for the Heineken Cup at the end of the season, rescued by Cardiff Blues winning the Challenge Cup and creating an extra vacancy for a Welsh team in the main event, but what was that compared to the prospect of one of the most famous names in the world game losing their status?A perennial debate is which league is better. The Magners is regarded as more conducive to risk, because there is no trap-door, while the Premiership is hailed for its intensity and competitiveness.The Scarlets' Scotland wing, Sean Lamont, who joined the region last season from Northampton, believes that the importance of winning deters Premiership sides from being creative. "Teams look to attack and be entertaining in the Magners because there is no relegation," he argues. "There are more attacking opportunities in the backline. The threat of relegation in the Premiership makes the playing style different."There has been a crucial difference between the leagues: the way the breakdown has been refereed, last season's crackdown on attacking teams notwithstanding. Defenders have long been given more latitude in the Magners, prompting more turnovers and counter-attacking, as the first year of the Anglo-Welsh Cup showed.Time was when defences in the Premiership only had the chance of relief at the breakdown if a tackled player was blown for holding on; otherwise it was a case of a wave of recycling until a mistake was made.Referees have been directed this season to show no tolerance to defenders who go off their feet after a tackle or enter a ruck from the side. It has to be policed properly so that defenders who do stay on their feet are allowed to compete for the ball and force a turnover.It is a question of balance, something that was missing last season and in previous years in the Premiership. Now teams are not afraid to counterattack, they have to be allowed the means to do so.THE HENSON CONUNDRUMIt remains to be seen whether Gavin Henson will appear in the Magners League this season or ever again. He has been hawked around the Premiership, nearly 18 months since he last played before taking an extended sabbatical.He is on unpaid leave from Ospreys, where he is under contract until the end of the season. Henson is said to be ready to return to the game, but he has made no contact with his region who, understandably, are not prepared to release him for nothing.Henson has not spoken to the media so suggestions there is a stand-off are speculative. His continued absence is a waste, not least to Wales whose defence has been porous in his long absence.Who gains from his continued isolation? Perhaps the Welsh Rugby Union could buy out his contract, get him fit again and then place him in sides, such as the Barbarians, to get him battle-hardened ahead of the Six Nations and beyond?IN PRAISE OF ... RICHIE McCAWNew Zealand's Tri-Nations title is a tribute to their captain, Richie McCaw, surely the leading player in the world game and the most influential.His detractors cry cheat because of what, they maintain, he gets away with at the breakdown, but the same used to be said of Neil Back, various Scottish back rows and most Welsh sevens. And then comes France.McCaw is better than most at understanding referees and knowing what he can get away with. He is simply a remarkable player, one of the best of any generation.Rugby unionPaul Reesguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby union)

England's women seal place in Rugby World Cup final after beating old foes Australia

www.dailymail.co.uk - England's women reached the World Cup final after beating Australia 15-0 at the Twickenham Stoop on Wednesday night. More... (Rugby union)

England to face New Zealand in women's World Cup final

www.guardian.co.uk - England defeat Australia 15-0 on back of pack Fiona Pocock, top try-scorer, a doubt for SundayEngland's women last night emulated the men's side who 19 years ago reached the final of their home World Cup across the road from here at Twickenham. On Sunday Catherine Spencer's side will face New Zealand, who have won the last two World Cups and looked formidable in defeating France 45-7 in their semi-final earlier in the evening."This has prepared us perfectly for the final against New Zealand," said Spencer. "It would be great to beat them on home soil and I definitely believe we are good enough to do it. I really believe there is more to come from this unit."If the women are to go one better than England's men in 1991 and knock the Black Ferns off the top of the tree, they will have to subdue the extremely quick New Zealand backs but the hosts were impressive here in a fast, physical encounter.The only shadow over the evening was an injury to the left-wing Fiona Pocock who midway through the first half was prevented from scoring England's second try by a thumping tackle from her opposite number, Nicole Beck that sent the Richmond player hurtling into the advertising hoardings. Pocock left the field on a stretcher and her injured knee will make England's top try scorer in the tournament a doubt for Sunday.England's pack are the best in this tournament and they showed their strength early on with the Australian scrum forced into reverse gear and Spencer, the No8, crashed over for the first try. England dominated territory with some astute kicking from their fly-half Katy McLean and it was no surprise when they scored a second, the pack surging forward to give the full-back Danielle Waterman the chance to squeeze home in the corner.Twelve points up at the break, England continued to dominate territory but some handling errors and a raft of baffling substitutions, including that of the playmaker McLean, prevented them putting the game beyond the Australians' reach.England's cause was not helped when the Worcester flanker Heather Fisher was sent to the sin-bin 12 minutes from the end as her side continued to get on the wrong side of the New Zealand referee Nicky Inwood. Australian substitute Ruan Sims was also shown a yellow card for infringing at a ruck and Alice Richardson further punished her side with a penalty in front of the posts.England will be encouraged by their win over New Zealand when the sides met last year and in Maggie Alphonsi they have an outstanding flanker and Spencer said: "We can improve collectively and individually and an England-New Zealand final is a really exciting prospect."England D Waterman (Worcester); C Barras (Saracens), E Scarratt (Lichfield), A Richardson (Richmond), F Pocock (Richmond); K McLean (Darlington), A Turner (Richmond); R Clark, A Garnett, R Crowley (Lichfield), T Taylor (Darlington), J McGilchrist (Wasps), H Fisher (Worcester), M Alphonsi (Saracens), C Spencer (Bristol, capt). Subs M Stainford (Wasps) for Pockock (22), S Hemming (Bristol) for Croker (45), B Essex (Richmond) for Taylor (55).Tries Spencer, Waterman. Con McLean. Pen RichardsonAustralia T Brown (Queensland U); K Giteau (Tiggeranong), S Williams (Royals), C Campbell (Easts), N Beck (Sydney Univ); T McGann (Newcastle U), C Soon (Warringah, capt); D Meskell (Warringah), S Poluleuligaga (Wests), L Morgan (Royals), C Ross (Warringah), K Porter (Wests), R Trethowan (Narromine), A Hargreaves (Sydney U), D Hodgkinson (Cottesloe). Subs R Clough (Cottlesloe) for Porter (57).Referee: N Inwood (New Zealand)Rugby unionIan Malinguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby union)

'Bloodgate' doctor Wendy Chapman hoping to put Harlequins nightmare behind her and return to medicine

www.dailymail.co.uk - The matchday doctor at the centre of the 'Bloodgate' scandal said she was pleased that she could return to medicine and hoped to put an 18-month nightmare behind her. More... (Rugby union)

Competition: Win Aviva Premiership tickets to the London double header

www.dailymail.co.uk - Sportsmail has teamed up with Aviva - the new sponsors of rugby's Aviva Premiership - to give away 10 pairs of tickets to the curtain-raising London Double Header at Twickenham. More... (Rugby union)

Delon Armitage says he wants the England No15 shirt back

www.guardian.co.uk - London Irish's full-back is set to put his miserable injury-ravaged season behind himOf all the players awaiting the new rugby season none is more motivated than Delon Armitage. "My goal is to get that England No15 shirt back," he says flatly, before revealing how low his confidence sank when his form evaporated last winter. Starting with London Irish's opening game against Saracens in front of 70,000-plus supporters at Twickenham this Saturday, he wants to remind people just how good he can be.If ever there was an illustration of the dangers of playing when not fully match fit, Armitage is the living proof. A dislocated shoulder, the first serious injury of his career, cost him his England place last autumn and made him reconsider what had previously come naturally. It has taken a summer of hard training and a fresh mental attitude to restore the belief he can reclaim the full-back position now occupied by Northampton's Ben Foden.The seeds of recovery were sown on the way home from England's summer tour of Australia and New Zealand as Armitage reflected on his turbulent year. "I've had a bit of flak from people saying I shouldn't have made this season's elite player squad but I thought my form was coming back towards the end of the tour. By the final game against the Maori I was starting to enjoy myself again. The year before I just felt untouchable. I'm trying to get back into that sort of mindset."His problem, he realised, was two-fold: a subconscious fear of further injury and a mind cluttered with low-risk instructions. "It's especially hard when you injure your shoulder. You're conscious of it... if there's a 50-50 challenge you pull out. I know now that my shoulder's ready. I've trained well, my fitness is up there and I'm raring to go again. For me, in the end, it was all about going back to basics and enjoying myself. My mindset now is that it's just a game. Last season I was taking it really seriously ... before I'd just go out and play. In the end it's a simple game. I never used to worry about being in the England squad. I was just happy to be playing."Armitage's free-running qualities should also suit the revival of attack-minded rugby, rather than the dreary kick-chase stuff of last season which made him feel like "a robot". He is also realistic enough to realise something special will be required to dislodge Foden following England's summer Test win in Sydney, in which he featured as a late replacement. "Last season wasn't the best for me and I was quite lucky to get on the tour given the way I was playing. As much as it hurts me to say it, Foden deserves [the shirt]. He has played really well for Northampton for the past two years. I know I'm going to have to work really hard to get my place back but that is my goal this season. It starts this weekend with the first game."Toby Booth, the Exiles's club coach, is among those who sense Armitage, capped 16 times by England, will come good again. "He's looked very good in pre-season. What people don't realise is that Delon had never been injured for a long period in his life. His fight to find form coincided with us having to play him and England selecting him when under-cooked. As a result he struggled. It's about getting your confidence back and doing the things that got you up there in the first place."If the 26-year-old Armitage needs any further motivation he need only look around him. For the first time there are three Armitage brothers in the senior squad, with 18-year-old Guy joining his elder siblings. "I feel like I'm babysitting again," jokes Armitage senior, now a father of two. "Guy's a big boy - 100kg and 6ft 4in - and very skilful so hopefully he can kick on. We look after each other and make sure the young one doesn't do the stuff I did when I was 18."As for Irish's prospects, steering clear of the injuries which afflicted them last time would help. "I still think we've got the squad to compete with the best and win Premierships," says Armitage. "We know we're good enough to win the title and we need to start with a bang." He no longer sounds like a man lacking in confidence.Rugby unionLondon IrishPremiershipRobert Kitsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby union)

Bloodgate doctor Wendy Chapman given warning by disciplinary panel

www.guardian.co.uk - Bloodgate affair comes to an end as doctor warned GMC ruled that her fitness to practise was not impairedA disciplinary panel issued a warning today to the doctor at the centre of the "bloodgate" fake rugby injury scandal.Dr Wendy Chapman, who cut the lip of the Harlequins player Tom Williams to cover up a bogus blood injury and later lied about her role in the event, was told by the General Medical Council yesterday that she could practise medicine again.The GMC's disciplinary panel ruled that Dr Chapman's fitness to practise was not impaired despite her actions, which it said were not in the best interests of her patient. Today it concluded the inquiry by issuing Dr Chapman with a warning.Speaking on Tuesday, Brian Alderman, the chairman of the GMC panel, said Chapman posed no risk to patients or the public. He added: "The panel accepts that there is a public interest in retaining the services of a good doctor."BloodgateRugby unionguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby union)

Register for The Breakdown

www.guardian.co.uk - Get the latest rugby news and analysis by registering for The Breakdown email, written by The Observer's rugby correspondent Eddie ButlerPaul Rees More... (Rugby union)