grootblousmile
Some wonderful International rugby on show this weekend for South Africans… on TV that is!
Here is the schedule:
Defending champions, the Baby Boks, were on Thursday drawn alongside hosts, France, England and the USA when the International Rugby Board and the Fédération Française de Rugby announced the venues, pools and match schedule for the IRB Junior World Championship 2013 in France between June 5-23.
John Mitchell has been ‘requested’ to report for duty at the Golden Lions Rugby Union headquarters in Johannesburg on Friday.
Francois Louw will turn down offers from South African teams and opt for a contract extension at Bath, believes the English club’s head coach, Gary Gold.
The Wallabies have named Waratahs prop Sekope Kepu and lock Kane Douglas to make their starting debuts for Australia’s Test match against France on Saturday.
Veteran Toulon playmaker Frederic Michalak has been named ahead of Francois Trinh-Duc at flyhalf in the France line up to face Australia on Saturday.
England coach Stuart Lancaster has named his team with Leicester Tigers hooker Tom Youngs to make his debut at Twickenham against Fiji on Saturday.
There will be a family ‘feud’ in Dublin on Saturday when cousins Richard Strauss and Adriaan Strauss confront each other for the first time in a Test.
Argentina have recalled veteran centre Felipe Contepomi to their starting XV to play Wales in a one-off international at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
Matt Giteau opted to sign a new contract with Toulon because he realised with Robbie Deans as national coach he had no chance of a Wallabies recall.
Starting lock Sitaleki Timani is among four players who remain in doubt for the Wallabies opening Test against France this weekend.
Suspended Golden Lions Rugby Union coach John Mitchell’s employment saga has taken a new twist as he says he does not want to join Sale Sharks but wants to stay in South Africa.
England have called Gloucester duo Freddie Burns and Billy Twelvetrees into their training squad ahead of the opening Autumn International against Fiji at Twickenham.
Ireland have confirmed that backrow Stephen Ferris will miss Ireland’s opening Autumn International against South Africa this weekend due to injury.
The Southern Kings appear to have given up on their pursuit of foreign imports, while also confirming that they are in talks with another Springbok.
Highly-rated South African referee Jason Jaftha will make his Test debut later this month, the South African Rugby Union announced on Monday.
Argentina have called up former captain Felipe Contepomi for the Autumn Internationals but lost second rower Patricio Albacete as he needs surgery.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer is reportedly targeting tighthead prop Brian Mujati as his 32nd squad member for their European tour.
The New Zealand Rugby Union have released the dates and venues for their 2013 International Rugby season which includes three Tests in June against France.
As the Springboks prepare to travel to Europe for their end-of-year tour, coach Heyneke Meyerhas confirmed that Bakkies Botha will also be on stand-by for their tour along with Marco Wentzel.
Who is the greatest All Black of all time? A survey has found 56% of rugby-mad Kiwis believe Richie McCaw deserves to take the title.
The five New Zealand Super Rugby franchises have announced their squads for the 2013 Super Rugby season with 43 debutants being named in the 159 listed players.
The Southern Kings have been given a player boost by the news that both Western Province Currie Cup hero Demetri Catrakilis and Lions and Bok hooker Bandise Maku will be joining them for the 2013 edition of Vodacom Super Rugby.
Controversial Wallabies flyhalf Quade Cooper has been fined a total of $60,000 for his critical comments about the Australian squad.
Australian Super Rugby sides are allowed 35 players each, moved up from 30 in 2012, in their Extended Player Squads for Super Rugby 2013.
When the Springbok squad of 31 (one more player to be added) was announced on Sunday, my first impression was that there was a squad of fully fit players, bar maybe some niggles after the Currie Cup Final of the day before.
It now appears that there were indeed real injuries to be considered, specifically the injuries of Adriaan Strauss (knee) and Francois Louw (neck) as well as Springbok Captain Jean de Villiers (hamstring).
The worst kept secret in South African rugby has finally been confirmed. Elton Jantjies will be a Stormer in 2013.
All Black coach Steve Hansen on Monday named uncapped scrumhalf Tawera Kerr-Barlow and fellow rookie Dane Coles in his 32-man squad for New Zealand’s upcoming Northern Hemisphere tour.
Rather than do the conventional match report, herewith the Currie Cup Highlights on video for you rugby mad individuals to feed on.
What a match it was, what a final.. and what an unexpected result! Final score was: DHL Western Province 25 / 18 The Sharks.
Well done DHL Western Province, that was impressive.
So here goes….
The Springboks will travel to the Northern Hemisphere next weekend with five uncapped players but without their all-time leading try-scorer and most experienced player, Bryan Habana.
The world champion All Blacks have been boosted by a number of key players committing their futures to New Zealand rugby.
Sharks (12) 18 / 25 (16) WP (Final Score)
The Sharks and DHL Western Province did battle in the Currie Cup Final, Premier Division at Mr Price Kings Park, Durban at 17:00 SA Time (15:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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EP Kings (6) 6 / 16 (0) Cheetahs (Final score)
The Eastern Province Kings and Toyota Free State Cheetahs did battle in the 2nd Currie Cup Premier Division Promotion / Relegation game at Nelson Madela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth at 19:10 SA Time (18:10 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Gloucester looseforward Andy Hazell was suspended for 14 weeks as sanction following a Disciplinary Hearing in Dublin after being Red Carded and Cited in the Amlin Challenge Cup Pool 1, Round 1 match against Mont-de-Marsan at Stade Guy Boniface on Thursday 11 October.
In one of the more brutal and serious incidents in recent years, Andy Hazell was given a Red Card for an incident in the 55th minute of the match for striking (or rather for bating up) Mont-de-Marsan replacement, Sebastien Ormaechea.
Herewith the two teams for this weekend’s Currie Cup Premier Division Final at Mr Price Kings Park, Durban.