Newbridge all change

The five-man Newbridge coaching staff yesterday resigned en bloc in the wake of the club's poor start to the Welsh League season.

The coaching co-ordinator Roger Powell, the team manager Keith James, the fitness advisor Alan Rockliffe and the coaches, Mike Gray and Gerry Lewis, all had their resignation accepted by the rugby committee.

"We were prepared to work our two months' notice, but the club felt it would be better if we parted company now," James said. "It is a sad day."

Newbridge are bottom of the Welsh First Division with only one win from six games this season, and have conceded 197 points in their last three league matches.

The former Australian prop forward Tony Daly will make his debut for Saracens in Saturday's Courage League game at London Irish. Daly, who scored Australia's winning try against England in the 1991 World Cup final at Twickenham, has been capped 41 times by his country and has recently been playing for Queensland.

Saracens are still without Daly's fellow countryman Michael Lynagh, whose recovery from a shoulder injury is now set to keep him out until after the early-season break.