Tag Archives: rugby expo

As the England vs Australia game approaches, thoughts turn to previous encounters between the two countries and at Rhino we have particularly fond memories of the 1984 Grand Slam tour by the Wallabies. That tour marked a significant breakthrough for the original roller-based Powerhouse scrum machine invented by Tim Francis and which launched Rhino as a company. The Wallabies used the machine, which they nicknamed ‘Matilda’ throughout their record breaking trip and dominated the scrums against all four home countries, including famously a pushover try against Wales.

Phil and Topo meet Matilda again at Twickers.© www.photofortyone.com 2012

We took the opportunity of Rugby Expo at Twickenham today to stage a reunion between Topo Rodriguez, legendary dual Argentinian and Australian international who propped for that Grand Slam, Rhino co-founder Phil Keith-Roach and an original Powerhouse machine (thanks to Reeds Weybridge RFC). Topo and Phil are amongst the leading scrummaging gurus in world rugby and the former has recently launched his magnum opus ‘The Art of Scrummaging’ following many years of research.

The unthinkable happens...Australia score a pushover try against Wales.

Rhino adds innovation as Official Supplier to Rugby Expo 2011

Rhino Rugby has re-affirmed its commitment to Rugby Expo, the world’s leading convention for professional and community rugby, by signing as an official supplier of the 2011 event at Twickenham on November 23 and 24.

Read the news update on the Rugby Exp 2011 website...

Scrumsmart Event Great Success at Rauris International Rugby Festival in Austria

Over 150 players and coaches from four different countries attended a session of SCRUMSMART at the inaugural Rauris International Rugby Festival near Salzburg in Austria over the weekend of September 19th-2st. The Festival, the brainchild of Rhino Rugby Director and former GB rugby league team manager, Abi Ekoku, and sponsored by Austrian Chalets, featured various sides from the host nation, including an Austrian development squad, which played an international invitation XV, and additionally a womens tournament for sides from Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.

SCRUMSMART is the campaign launched by Rhino, marketing services company ENS and other partners, and endorsed by the RFU and Welsh Rugby Union, to promote safe and effective contested scrummaging in the rugby union game. The session was conducted by Blackheath Director of Youth Development Steve Pope, ably assisted by his co-prop on the invitation XV Paul Shadbolt.

President of the Austrian RFU Andreas Schwab, himself a former international prop, was particularly delighted with the session: "from the point of view of developing basic positioning and technique in respect of many relative newcomers to the game, this was an absolutely invaluable event, and additionally our experienced front row players and forwards learned a great deal from Steve and Paul."

Further SCRUMSMART events are planned in a number of countries in the coming months and the campaign will be exhibiting at the Rugby Expo in London in November.