General
Wales have named a 35-man training squad for the 2012 Six Nations, with inside centre Gavin Henson and full-back Lee Byrne both included.
The South African Rugby Union (Saru) could spring a massive surprise next week and retain incumbent Springbok coach Peter de Villiers as a caretaker coach for the upcoming three-test series against England.
The third Cricket ODI between South Africa and Sri Lanka (3 of 5) at Chevrolet Park, Bloemfontein. The game started at 14:30 SA Time on 17 January 2012.
This was a Live Discussion Article where we chatted about the match in progress and where the scores were updated regularly.
The Sharks have named their leaders for the Super Rugby Tournament of 2012.
Stellenbosch University’s Maties have defeated English club Saracens’ second team, the Storm, in a friendly game in Stellenbosch on Wednesday.
Wales’ Rugby World Cup captain Sam Warburton has been named rugby personality of 2011 beating World Cup winning coach Graham Henry to the title.
The first good news story that I have come across in 2012, and one that definitely needs sharing.
When I read this ‘oldish’ article I decided that our resident scrum gurus would love it. Here it is courtesy of the Rugby Site’s Waterboy, Brendon Ratcliffe.
This has nothing to do with rugby, but just another Christmas story. Typical bloke, always in the drink, feigning machinery problems so as to get out of the chores, and eternal girlfriend problems – although in this regard, he sorted that problem pretty quickly! Read on to find out how.
Defending Premiership champions Saracens showed their class on Tuesday with a 19-11 victory over league leaders Harlequins at a sold-out Twickenham.
Hello,
The video says it all really… it says I’ve grown older at a rate of knots (all your fault of course), it says my hair is thinning at the top… and above all it shows I need a rest.
To EVERYBODY who reads Rugby-Talk, who contributes, who blogs, who write Articles on Rugby-Talk and who make this community so special, hearty thanks for yet another year! It is our 3rd Christmas on Rugby-Talk already!
To all of you, if you’re driving a vehicle – do it safely, if you’ll be consuming alcohol – do it responsibly AND do not drive. To those going on holiday or spending some much needed time with family and friends and loved ones over the festive period, may it be a blessed time, a time of joy and celebration, and a time of reflection about what is really important in life.
OK, OK already… here’s the video…
It is just a few days till Christmas, or as the little ones would say, just 6 sleeps. I decided to once again do a Christmas Greetings video for all you muppits, moepels and mopkoppe, but also to keep it till a bit later to force you to come back and back to Rugby-Talk till I hit you with the clanger!
So, this is not your merry, merry, happy, happy article, but a precurser to the clanger.
The question is, what are you all up to for the holidays, what are your plans? Who are you happy about seeing over the festive season and who are you dreading to invite or see? Where are you going and when are you coming back from holiday?
A medical study claims protective skull caps like those worn by Rugby World Cup winner Victor Vito do nothing to protect against concussion.
This really isn’t a sporty story, no really it isn’t, but I couldn’t ignore it. What a player, what an achievement, and what a legend!
The latest development in the rugby wheel is the evolution of the second row forward – the left lock or enforcer lock in particular. Traditionally a bulky, abrasive character, the enforcer lock does the donkey work in the tight-loose, bashes opposition forwards into submission and beefs up the set pieces.
Here’s a story to prove that you really shouldn’t show off in front of your mates
It was in early September 2011 that we reached the milestone of 2 million page impressions on Rugby-Talk.
Well, that milestone has been shattered to bits now, we’ve silently gone over 3 million page impressions, with the last million happening in the short space of only about 3 months!
Thanks a million, or rather a 3-million, to all the Authors, contributors and bloggers on Rugby-Talk for making this web site what it is, for the wonderful atmosphere and the memorable moments.
International Rugby Board Chairman Bernard Lapasset has been re-elected for a second consecutive term in office by members of the IRB Council at its reconvened Interim Meeting in Los Angeles, USA, on Monday.
Dear Santa,
Well, another year has nearly come and gone since you last heard from me, and as you know, I am not usually one to complain about what you send down my chimney, but, I was hoping that this year we could perhaps re-look at my list a little closer.
Incumbent Bernard Lapasset and former England rugby captain Bill Beaumont will learn their fate in Los Angeles on Monday in a second round of voting for the presidency of the International Rugby Board (IRB).
Came across this story from Rob Dylan, and following my Christmas offerings, thought I would post it, as I couldn’t have put it better myself.
Enjoy – By the way, I’ve put sunglasses on the young lad to protect his identity!
Picture not from the actual event
Police in the small Utah state town of Roosevelt thought that a riot was taking place the first time that they saw a haka being performed.
For some reason, around this time of year, as the grind slows down for the festive season, nostalgia sets in, and my mind starts filling with memories. The Windsor Castle is one of those great memories – and there’s an addendum to this one.
Welcome to the latest edition of Ask John where renowned rugby historian John Griffiths will answer any rugby-related query you have!
As we wait, and as we wonder, with some trepidation I tell you, for the announcement of our next coach, thoughts will start turning to the next captain. I have posted an article by Totalflanker as to his thoughts on what makes a good Captain.
Some of the greatest rugby players from around the world will line up at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday 3 December 2011 for the ‘Heroes Rugby Challenge’. The match, which kicks off at 1630 and is supported by J.P. Morgan, aims to raise a substantial sum of money for Help for Heroes, the charity which provides practical support for wounded service men and women.
World No 3 Lee Westwood of England retained his Nedbank Golf Challenge title on Sunday despite shooting a one-over-par 73 in the final round.
I received this via mail from a fellow blogger… not the actual letter… the mail, I mean!
Rugby World Cup winner Mike Tindall has effectively won his appeal to have his fine from the RFU reduced and to be reinstated to the England Elite player squad.
Nick Mallett has revealed that he will not come in for England as an immediate replacement for Martin Johnson but that he will consider the job after the Six Nations.
Former Springbok centre Brendan Venter and Nazeem Adams, head coach of the Western Province Under-19 side, have been appointed as assistant coaches of the South African Under-20 side.
Jake White, who coached South Africa to 2007 World Cup success, dropped a hint on Sunday that he would welcome an approach to succeed Martin Johnson as England coach.
Following on from the Baa-Baas match yesterday, and the inclusion of Tomkins from the rugby league code, I thought I would delve a little deeper into the two codes of rugby union and rugby league and find out why they exist, and perhaps why rugby union is still so jealous of it’s lower class brother.
7 July 1956 – Carisbrook, Dunedin
South Africa 14 / Otago 9
Jan Pickard
Dunedin and Otago has to some extend been to New Zealand rugby what Stellenbosch and Western Province rugby were to South African rugby. Both University cities that lost their respective roles as gateways to the respective national sides due to the professional era and neither Stellenbosch nor Dunedin is today the rugby powerhouses or talent accumulators if not developers it used to be.
World Cup winning coach Graham Henry has chosen 2007 World Cup winning player Victor Matfield to lead the Barbarians in the game against Australia this weekend.