Monthly Archives: May 2012

Shane Williams scored a dramatic last minute try, his second of the game, and Dan Biggar a magnificent touchline conversion to seal the RaboDirect
PRO12 31-30 for the Ospreys over Leinster at the RDS Dublin on Sunday.

It was a fitting send off for Shane in the final game of an illustrious career, and a record fourth PRO12 title for the Ospreys.
The goalkickers continued their tremendous form with the Rhino Vortex Elite ball with Rhino Golden Boot Award Winner Johnny Sexton and Biggar both kicking 6 from 7 attempts.

Rhino are delighted with their first season as ball and apparel sponsor to the RaboDirect PRO12 and we look forward to the coming three seasons.

Shane Williams crosses for the first of his two tries.

Rhino Rugby and the RAF have co-operated to donate a Premiersled scrum machine and other miscellaneous equipment and apparel to the Khelo Rugby charity in Calcutta. The machine was on display on Saturday 26th May at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Sevens organised by the RAF at Iffley Road, Oxford.

There was a collection at the tournament towards the donation of the equipment and an auction this week at an RAF dinner, items including a signed England shirt donated by Rhino, will also contribute to this. Rhino also held a collection day in Somerset some weeks ago when displaying the 6 Nations Trophy on loan from the WRU – anyone having their photo taken with the trophy being invited to make a donation of kit to be sent out to Calcutta with the Premiersled.

The RAF Spitfires 7s team are regular visitors to the Calcutta Sevens in June, and have developed a strong relationship with Khelo Rugby, which encourages disadvantaged children to use rugby’s disciplines and camaraderie to help change their lives. Khelo is supported in turn by UK Charity Rugby Uncle, who also entered a side into the tournament consisting largely of players from Leeds and Hartpury Universities, including current Indian national fly half, Sailen Tudu, who is currently studying at Hartpury and is Khelo Rugby’s most notable success story to date.

Co-incidentally, 'The Rhinos' 7s team from the Kew Occasionals, which we sponsor, played Rugby Uncle in their opening game in Oxford before which captain Dave O’Brien presented the equipment to Sailen Tudu. The Rhinos went down in that game and to BUSA champions UWIC in their group, but went on to defeat Afghanistan in the Bowl semi final before acquitting themselves extremely well in losing 28-20 to Cambridge University in the final. Dave O’Brien inspired a great performance against his old university and with four tries apiece the game came down to The Rhinos’ inability to kick the conversions!

In the main Cup competition final Wales defeated the Henley Hawks 36-10, and in the Plate final the RAF Spitfires defeated UWIC 41-4.

The Kew Occasional Rhinos team.
	Dave O'Brien presents Sailen Tudu with the Rhino equipment.
	F/O Steve Mills and Flt/Lt Tim Barlow of the RAF Spitfires with the Rhino Premiersled bound for Calcutta.

The RaboDirect PRO12 Awards took place at the Cardiff Hilton on Sunday May 6th at the conclusion of the regular season and ahead of the Play Offs and the Final of the competition.

The prestigious Rhino Golden Boot Award for the competition’s leading goalkicker went to Jonathan Sexton of Leinster who achieved a remarkable 90% success rate and received the trophy from Rhino Managing Director Anthony Locke.

The Rhino Collision Kings Award was presented to Glasgow Warriors coach Sean Lineen by Rhino Collision King inventor Richie Gray, who together with his judging panel Phil Keith-Roach, Jim Telfer and Lynn Evans had selected the Warriors as the side showing most efficiency and technique at the breakdown throughout the season.

The Rhino party enjoyed the glittering occasion with players and coaches of the PRO12 sides, tournament officials and fellow sponsors RaboDirect and Specsavers.

Anthony Locke presents Jonathan Sexton of Leinster with the Rhino Golden Boot Award	Richie Gray presents Glasgow Warriors’ coach Sean Lineen with the Rhino Collision Kings Award.

As an Official Supplier to the 2012 Wales Grand Slam team, Rhino Rugby was offered the rare opportunity and privilege to have the 6 Nations Trophy over the last weekend.
The one thing you can’t plan however is the weather and sadly the impact of the appearance of the trophy at the Cheddar Mini and Junior Festival and the Rhino Mendip Sevens on Sunday was impacted by the cancellation and abandonment respectively of these events. The trophy did make an appearance for Cheddar Valley RFC at the White Hart in Cheddar however and at the clubhouse of Winscombe RFC, hosts of the Mendip Sevens where it received an enthusiastic response.

Rhino's plans to use the opportunity to raise donations of kit and equipment to the Rugby Uncle and Khelo Rugby charities focused on Kolkata in India were also curtailed, but even despite the abandonment of the tournaments, Tudu Sailen, Indian national fly half and Hartpury College player who is a product and leading light of these charities and who attended the events, was gratified by the generous donations still made. Rhino is working together with the RAF Spitfires 7s team to donate and transfer a pallet of equipment, including a new Premiersled scrum machine, together with other equipment including these donations to Kolkata within a month following further fundraising efforts at the RAF's Queens Diamond Jubilee Sevens tournament at Iffley Road Oxford on May 26th.

The trophy was also well received at Rhino’s Somerset HQ on Monday morning.

The 6 Nations Trophy at Rhino's manufacturing facility in Somerset.	Winscombe junior members with the trophy.	Curt Russell and Tudu Sailen both of Hartpury College and the Kolkata Jungle Crows, who attended the Sunday events.
The 6 Nations Trophy at Rhino's headquarters in Somerset with Rhino staff.