Scrumdown
In 1891, just before the departure of the British Isles Rugby team for South Africa, Sir Donald Currie, owner of the Union Castle Line presented the squad with a golden trophy.
With the trophy came a very clear instruction to present the trophy to the team that gave the most spirited opposition during a tour match.
After a hard fought match Griqualand West became the first ever holders of the trophy that would, over the next century or so become the Holy Grail that South African provincial Rugby Teams would work tirelessly to possess.
As a Lions supporter the Rugby fare during the playoff stages of competitions can become a bit dreary unless you fancy watching the teams you’ve booed all season.
After all, it’s been a while since the team from Johannesburg had a sucessful play off game.
Personally, I don’t normally watch a great deal of Rugby when the Lions are having a weekend off, but this week I made an exception, and what a treat it was.
As the cold of Winter starts to really be felt on the Highveld, Lions Rugby have started a drive to collect blankets for those souls less fortunate than those of us here on Rugby Talk.
The collection will take place in earnest at the Lions – Sharks match this weekend.
The MTN Lions have released their team to face the Hurricanes in Wellington this weekend.
Lions Flanker Michael Rhodes has been banned for 6 weeks by a SANZAR judiciary for a dangerous tackle on Highlanders winger Siale Piutau.
New Zealand media have been reporting over the weekend that Dunedin Police are investigating an alleged sexual assault case involving one of the touring Lions players.
SARU have started a weekly Club Rugby media release.
Herewith this weeks communication.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
SARU Media Release
National Club Rugby Round-up – A weekend of upsets
Lions mentor John Mitchell has made a number of changes to his starting 15, as well on the reserve bench for the match against the Brumbies on Saturday.
Through the night, a sporting legend and the man that inspired a generation of European golfers finally succumbed to the big C.
Severiano Ballesteros passed away at his home in Northern Spain from respiratory problems caused by a brain tumor.
The MTN Lions have announced a 26 man touring squad for the four match tour of Australia and New Zealand starting on Saturday 14th May 2011 against the Brumbies in Canberra.
The MTN Lions hosted the Toyota Cheetahs Friday evening at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg in their last home game before heading off on an Australasian tour.
In a match that the Lions players, management, staff and I’m sure all of their spectators both at the ground as well as watching on television would in all likelihood want to forget as soon as possible, they were handed a Rugby lesson by their once Super Rugby partners from Bloemfontein.
Ever since the demise of that “arranged marraige” that was the Cat’s, the two orphaned children that were born out of it, namely the Cheetahs and the Lions have competed non-stop, year after year to avoid the wooden spoon in Super Rugby, and 2011 appears to be no different.
It’s been debated before, but I thought it about time, as a Lions supporter to ask the question again. “Can South Africa sustain a competetive 5th Super Rugby franchise?”
Former Lions and Springbok prop Brian Mujati is having an exceptional season in Europe with his English club Northampton Saints.
So much so that Peter Bills of the Independent newspaper feels he may be the type of Tighthead Prop that Bok coach de Villiers should be looking to take to New Zealand for Rugby World Cup 2011, but realises that in South Africa, talent alone decides very little at the end of the day.
Herewith the full article. Continue reading
As we sit here in March 2011, the Cricket World Cup has hit the end of the group stages, & barring the heroic victory by Ireland over the very oldest of enemies, England, the minnows have by and large been crushed by the established Cricket playing nations.
Later this year the greater sporting love of most Rugby-Talk bloggers, Rugby Union will hold it’s version of the World Cup in New Zealand. Can we expect the same sort of pattern with the smaller nations or can we expect an upset or two?
On a cool, damp Saturday evening, the Lions hosted the Western Force in what was a “must win” game for both sides.
After what was an error ridden and somewhat depressing game of Super Rugby, the majority of the 13 535 paying spectators must have wished they’d stayed at home and watched in warmth and comfort.
In the last Super Rugby match of the weekend, the Toyota Cheetahs hosted the Lions in a bottom of the table clash in Bloemfontein.
In what was effectively a make or break game for both sides, it was the visitors from Johannesburg who emerged with the points that they hope will ressurect their Super Rugby season.
A perfect Autumn evening in Johannesburg. Not too hot, no wind, and no threat of rain.
Perfect that is until the Blues from Aukland spoilt it all for the vast majority of the 26 532 people at Coca Cola Park in downtown Johannesburg.
In their opening Super Rugby match of 2011, the Stormers prevailed over a valiant Lions side at Newlands yesterday.
The DHL Stormers host the MTN Lions this evening, in what for the home side will be their 2011 Super Rugby opener.
The weather for Cape Town today is expected to be hot and dry, peaking at 30°C, and we can expect the Rugby to be just as hot. Continue reading
An estimated Fourty five thousand spectators arrived at Coca-Cola Park on Friday evening to watch the first Super Rugby match to be played in Gauteng in 2011.
Fears that the inclement weather would keep the spectators away was unfounded, despite the fact that the game started in a slight drizzle.
Less than a week until Super Rugby 2011 kick off in it’s new expanded format.
Although our friends in the Cape will argue that the traditional “North v South” game is the Stormers v Bulls, for many Rugby Lovers in Gauteng, the North v South refers to the Jukskei River, and the rivalry between the teams from the country’s Administrative Capital city, and the African continent’s economic “Capital” city.
Yet another of the Springboks of yesteryear, Dirk de Vos who represented South Africa in the 1960’s and 70’s has passed away.
The Assupol Super Club Series, which pits 20 Rugby Clubs from 6 provincial unions kicked off this weekend.
This years competition includes top clubs from the Blue Bulls (7), Limpopo (1) Pumas (2 ), Falcons (5), Leopards (3) and Lions (2). Continue reading
It seems the powers that be in Rugby just can’t let sleeping dogs lie. New interpretations, definitions, and clarifications on the Rules of the game were recently distributed by IRB via the South African Rugby Referees Association.
Some you may have previously seen or been aware of, some not. The full list is under. Continue reading
Following a directive to all referees from the IRB issued on 21st January 2011, Rugby followers can expect to see dangerous (high) tackles penalised more severely than previously.
Continue reading