Even in the ever-changing world of rugby union, the nine-point try might seem a bit bizarre. So it’s hard to believe that this inflated value of touching down over your opponents’ goal-line is now a selling feature of Global Rapid Rugby, a new competition with amended laws being introduced to the the Asia Pacific region, which, some suggest, might shape the future direction of World Rugby.
If the nine-point try is still a bit alien to most Scots then not to worry. Because out in Hong-Kong, a key driver of Asian rugby, the ‘Power Try’, as it’s being dubbed, is now everyday life to ex-pat and former North Berwick High School scrum half, Jamie Lauder.
Lauder, who played for Edinburgh Under-18s as well captaining Aberdeen University, recently signed a part-time professional contract with the South China Tigers, one of the sides that is showcasing the new competition this year. The 2019 exhibition series will add up to just 14 matches that will feature the Asia Pacific Dragons (Singapore), Fijian Latui (Fiji), Kagifa Samoa (Samoa), South China Tigers (Hong Kong), Western Force (Western Australia).
Then, for 2020, the competition will move into full blown mode by featuring eight teams playing home and away and fighting for a $1 million AUD first prize. The plan is to expand the competition with teams from the east coast of Australia and from New Zealand, as well as Japan and Hawaii.
The Currie Cup First Division will feature added beef in the form of Argentinean outfit, the Jaguares XV, when it kicks off this weekend with a full round of matches.
The South Americans will play in the Currie Cup First Division for the first time after a similar sortie in the Vodacom Cup a couple of years back. They are based in Potchefstroom and will face a short, but tough trip to Welkom, where they will face Griffons, in their tournament debut.
The Argentineans could again prove a handful. Coach Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe himself is a well-known figure in world rugby, having played for the Pumas in three Rugby World Cups, while they have some notable players in their squad as well.
Gonzalo Bertranou (scrumhalf), who played for the Jaguares in the Super Rugby tournament this year, is returning from injury and will be a boost to the squad.
Crusaders (10) 19 / 3 (3) Jaguares (Final Score)
The Crusaders and Los Jaguares did battle in the Final of Super Rugby 2019 at
Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 04:35 Arg Time, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Crusaders (13) 30 / 26 (12) Hurricanes (Final Score)
The Crusaders and the Hurricanes did battle in a Semi Final of Super Rugby 2019 at
Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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The Red Roses secured a bonus-point 38-5 win over USA Women in their Women’s Rugby Super Series opener in San Diego.
In glorious sunny conditions at the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center in California, it was England who opened the scoring when Amber Reed, on her 50th cap, launched a crossfield kick that bounced kindly for Poppy Cleall to feed Kelly Smith to stroll in – Emily Scarratt converting.
The hosts were level five minutes later when a couple of powerful forward drives saw Hope Rogers cross from close range, but Claudia Macdonald’s sniping run off the back of a ruck saw her dart in from 10 metres out for her first England try.
Scarratt then read a USA attacking move to intercept the ball and canter in under the posts, and then converted her own score, before some powerful work from the pack was rewarded when hooker Heather Kerr drove over for the bonus-point, and a 26-5 half-time lead.
Edinburgh have continued to strengthen their squad ahead of next season with the signing of South African scrum-half, Nic Groom.
Groom, 29, joins from Super Rugby side Lions and brings a wealth of experience having amassed over 100 appearances for both the Stormers and Northampton Saints in recent seasons.
The scrum-half was a key man in the 2019 Lions Super Rugby squad that narrowly missed out on reaching the knockout stages of the competition, appearing in 13 out of 16 conference fixtures.
On joining the club, Groom said: “I’m really excited to link-up with Edinburgh. I’ve been keeping an eye on their results from South Africa and it’s definitely a club on the rise. I can’t wait to play my role in the seasons to come.
“My time at the Lions has been awesome. I’ve had the chance to work with fantastic coaches alongside some great players and I’m hugely grateful for the opportunity they gave me to play for them.
“From what I’ve heard, Edinburgh is a great place to live and play your rugby. My family can’t wait for the adventure that lies ahead.”
Jaguares (20) 39 / 7 (7) Brumbies (Final Score)
Los Jaguares and the Brumbies did battle in a Semi Final of Super Rugby 2019 at
Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires, Argentina at 20:05 Arg Time (23:05 GMT, Saturday 01:05 SA Time, Saturday 09:05 AEST).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Rugby’s most capped Scotsman, Ross Ford, today confirmed his decision to retire from playing the sport to take up a role bringing on the next generation of young Scottish players in the Fosroc Scottish Rugby academy.
Ford earned his last – and record-breaking 110th – Scotland cap against Fiji on the 2017 summer tour and has brought an end to a historic career that was accompanied by close to 300 professional club games for Border Reivers and Edinburgh Rugby and a Test appearance for the British & Irish Lions on the 2009 tour to South Africa.
He won his first senior cap for Scotland when he was introduced as a replacement during the opening match of the 2004 Autumn Tests against Australia at BT Murrayfield around two years after making a positional switch from back-row to hooker.
Brumbies (24) 38 / 13 (6) Sharks (Final Score)
The Brumbies and the Cell C Sharks did battle in the Quarter Final Round of Super Rugby 2019 at
GIO Stadium, Canberra, Australia at 12:05 SA Time (20:05 AEST, 10:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Hurricanes (24) 35 / 28 (14) Bulls (Final Score)
The Hurricanes and the Vodacom Bulls did battle in the Quarter Final Round of Super Rugby 2019 at
Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Jaguares (8) 21 / 16 (10) Chiefs (Final Score)
Los Jaguares and the Chiefs did battle in the Quarter Final Round of Super Rugby 2019 at
Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires, Argentina at 19:05 SA Time (22:05 GMT, Saturday 00:05 SA Time, 10:05 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Crusaders (17) 38 / 14 (14) Highlanders (Final Score)
The Crusaders and Highlanders did battle in the Quarter Final Round of Super Rugby 2019 at
Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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There are three categories of team involved in Monday’s first round of knock-out matches – the four with a chance of being champions, the next four with only pride at stake, and the bottom four desperate to avoid relegation.
The top four are playing semifinals while Fiji, Georgia, Italy and Scotland battle to avoid relegation, especially vital for Italy as their are the 2020 host nation.
Of the top four, South Africa, who are the only unbeaten side in the tournament, Australia and Argentina were winners of their pool. France, who are the reigning champions, were statistically the best of the other nine teams
The semis will be played at the Hipódromo, the stadium next to the racecourse at the Jockey Club in Rosario.
The Old Resians Club – a generous place as is the case with the great clubs of Argentina – was founded for the past pupils of Rosario English School – hence the RES of Resians. It is now the San Bartolomé School.
Two tries by Yoann Huget proved the difference as Toulouse capped a superb season by beating Clermont Auvergne 24-18 in the French Top 14 final in Paris on Saturday to lift the trophy for the first time since 2012.
The winger crossed the line in the 28th and 55th minutes to give Toulouse a deserved victory, although five Greig Laidlaw penalties meant the outcome was never a formality.
Toulouse had finished top of the regular season table with a record points tally and reached the European Champions Cup semi-finals while Clermont finished second having scored more points than any other side during the 26-match campaign.
Pre-match billing spoke of a “dream final” and a 79,000 crowd in the Stade de France were treated to a grand occasion even if the game failed to match the blockbuster between the sides in April when Toulouse won 47-44.
Toulouse will not care, though, as they claimed their 20th French championship.
Bulls (31) 48 / 27 (19) Lions (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls and Emirates Lions did battle in Round 18 of Super Rugby 2019 at
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, South Africa at 15:05 SA Time (13:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Stormers (3) 9 / 12 (5) Sharks (Final Score)
The DHL Stormers and Cell C Sharks did battle in Round 18 of Super Rugby 2019 at
DHL Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa at 15:05 SA Time (13:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Brumbies (19) 40 / 27 (10) Reds (Final Score)
The Brumbies and Reds did battle in Round 18 of Super Rugby 2019 at
GIO Stadium, Canberra, Australia at 11:45 SA Time (19:45 AEST, 09:45 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Hurricanes (5) 29 / 24 (24) Blues (Final Score)
The Hurricanes and Blues did battle in Round 18 of Super Rugby 2019 at
Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Jaguares (21) 52 / 10 (10) Sunwolves (Final Score)
Los Jaguares and the Sunwolves did battle in Round 18 of Super Rugby 2019 at
Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires, Argentina at 19:10 Arg Time (22:10 GMT, Satuday 00:10 SA Time, 07:10 Japan Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Rebels (3) 8 / 59 (21) Chiefs (Final Score)
The Melbourne Rebels and the Chiefs did battle in Round 18 of Super Rugby 2019 at
AAMI Park, Melbourne, Australia at 11:45 SA Time (19:45 AEST, 21:45 NZ Time, 09:45 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Highlanders (42) 49 / 12 (7) Waratahs (Final Score)
The Highlanders and Waratahs did battle in Round 18 of Super Rugby 2019 at
Rugby Park, Invercargill, New Zealand at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 17:35 AEST, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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For Wales under-20s lock Teddy Williams, a World Rugby Championship match with Argentina was not even his hardest test of the day.
Tackles and mauls were the stress relief for 18-year-old Williams, one of three members of the Wales under-20 side who is balancing the World Rugby U20 Championship with their A-level exams.
Williams, a pupil at Cardiff Welsh medium school Ysgol Glantaf, sat chemistry in the morning, was driven hastily across the city of Rosario back to the stadium just in time to help his side defeat the hosts 30-25 in a contest that kicked off at 1pm.
“We have three players involved with exams, we are balancing it.”
Jaguares (12) 34 / 7 (0) Sharks (Final Score)
Los Jaguares and the Cell C Sharks did battle in Round 17 of Super Rugby 2019 at
Estadio, José Amalifitani, Buenos Aires, Argentina at 21:40 SA Time (16:40 Arg Time, 19:40 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Stormers (14) 31 / 18 (6) Sunwolves (Final Score)
The DHL Stormers and Sunwolves did battle in Round 17 of Super Rugby 2019 at
DHL Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa at 17:15 SA Time (15:15 GMT, Sunday 00:15 Japan Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Lions (10) 17 / 37 (10) Hurricanes (Final Score)
The Emirates Lions and the Hurricanes did battle in Round 17 of Super Rugby 2019 at
Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg, South Africa at 15:05 SA Time (13:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Waratahs (3) 24 / 35 (28) Brumbies (Final Score)
The Waratahs and the Brumbies did battle in Round 17 of Super Rugby 2019 at
Bankwest Stadium, Sydney, Australia at 11:45 SA Time (19:45 AEST, 09:45 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Crusaders (26) 66 / 0 (0) Rebels (Final Score)
The Crusaders and the Melbourne Rebels did battle in Round 17 of Super Rugby 2019 at
Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 17:35 AEST, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Reds (15) 29 / 28 (21) Blues (Final Score)
The Reds and Blues did battle in Round 17 of Super Rugby 2019 at
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia at 11:45 SA Time (19:45 AEST, 21:45 NZ Time, 09:45 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Highlanders (19) 24 / 24 (14) Bulls (Final Score)
The Highlanders and the Vodacom Bulls did battle in Round 17 of Super Rugby 2019 at
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, New Zealand at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Under 20 World Championship 2019 – Rugby-Talk U20 World Cup 2019
Hi,
We have a NEW SuperBru Pool for all to join!
- The Under 20 World Championship 2019 starts in 5 days, so hurry up and join up for the competition.
As of 2016 we have been doing it a bit differently and opened our Pools up to all readers of Rugby-Talk.com, but we encourage you to register as a subsciber on Rugby-Talk.com anyway, as our banter and commenting about our Pools will mostly take place here on the website and not on the SuperBru banter boards! It is so easy to register and such fun to discuss rugby here.
Lions (13) 41 / 22 (10) Stormers (Final Score)
The Emirates Lions and DHL Stormers did battle in Round 16 of Super Rugby 2019 at
Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg, South Africa at 17:15 SA Time (15:15 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Sharks (10) 17 / 30 (20) Hurricanes (Final Score)
The Cell C Sharks and the Hurricanes did battle in Round 16 of Super Rugby 2019 at
Jonsson Kings Park, Durban, South Africa at 15:05 SA Time (13:05 GMT, Sunday 01:05 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Reds (13) 23 / 34 (15) Jaguares (Final Score)
The Reds and Los Jaguares did battle in Round 16 of Super Rugby 2019 at
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia at 11:45 SA Time (19:45 AEST, 06:45 Arg Time, 09:45 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Chiefs (19) 40 / 27 (20) Crusaders (Final Score)
The Chiefs and Crusaders did battle in Round 16 of Super Rugby 2019 at
ANZ Stadium, Suva, Fiji at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 Fiji & NZ Time, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Sunwolves (12) 19 / 42 (21) Brumbies (Final Score)
The Sunwolves and the Brumbies did battle in Round 16 of Super Rugby 2019 at
Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo, Japan at 07:15 SA Time (14:15 Japan Time, 15:15 AEST, 05:15 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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