The International Rugby Board has dropped a major bomb by insisting that Australian captain James Horwill face a new disciplinary hearing.
The Australian Rugby Union has reacted with “surprise” and “disappointment” to the news that the IRB intervened to demand the re-hearing of the foul play charge levelled against the Wallaby captain, Horwill.
Blues lock Ali Williams will make his 100th appearance for the Blues when they tackle the Sharks at Kings Park on Saturday.
The skipper is set to join an illustrious group of players featuring Keven Mealamu, John Afoa and Tony Woodcock who have played 100 games for the Blues.
British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland rung the changes for Saturday’s crucial second Test against the Wallabies, beefing up his pack for a “do or die” battle against the Australians.
Deon Fourie, who will once again wear the No.7 jersey, takes over the Stormers captaincy.
Fourie steps in for the injured Springbok skipper Jean de Villiers, who has been ruled out with a sternum problem.
Experienced loose forward Dewald Potgieter will captain the Vodacom Bulls for the first time this weekend and will shift to No 8 in place of regular skipper Pierre Spies, who has been ruled out for the remainder of 2013 with a bicep injury.
The Cheetahs have thrown their Springboks straight back into the mix for their must-win clash with the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday.
Western Province and the Stormers are reportedly hunting the services of Cheetahs and Springbok scrumhalf Piet van Zyl.
Two of the newer All Blacks, hooker Dane Coles and lock Jeremy Thrush, have re-signed with New Zealand Rugby, their Hurricanes franchise and Wellington province.
The Sharks confirmed that discussions were held today (Tuesday) between representatives of themselves and John Plumtree (‘the Parties’).
It was mutually and amicably agreed between the Parties to part ways with immediate effect.
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) announced on Tuesday that it would implement a new set of experimental Laws in all local competitions from Friday.
The Laws have been developed by the International Rugby Board (IRB) and are expected to result in more continuity in matches and reduce the risk of serious injuries.
Key features are a new scrum engagement sequence, stricter policing of the scrum feed, adjustments to judicial sanctions and strengthening of concussion protocols.
The Southern Kings will be without captain Luke Watson for the remainder of their Super Rugby campaign, following an injury to his ankle.
Vodacom Bulls captain Pierre Spies will be out for the rest of the 2013 rugby season after tearing a bicep muscle on Saturday while playing for the Springboks against Samoa in the Castle Lager Incoming Series.
The Western Province Rugby Union has plans to offer flyhalf Elton Jantjies and fullback Jaco Taute permanent deals.
There seems to be a lot happening at the Sharks, in front of and behind the scenes, prior to this weekend’s Super Rugby clash between the Sharks and the Blues.
Apparently John Smit said no to Jake White and Clive Woodward (Both World Cup winning coaches) but chose Brendan Venter in stead, read more below.
More news involving John Smit and outgoing coach John Plumtree suggests that the 2 are to meet to see if they can sort out diferences, the package John Plumtree is demanding and the immediate way forward, read more below too.
With Super Rugby back on the weekend, the speculation is also rife about who will play at flyhalf and in midfield, with a host of centres injured but with Butch James back. Will the flyhalf spot go to Butch or Patrick Lambie and will the other beselected at inside centre?
The Springbok Sevens team were given a temporary setback as Junior Boks Seabelo Senatla and Cheslin Kolbe were unable to train with them in Moscow on Tuesday.
The duo, who joined the Blitzbokke on Monday night at their team hotel in the centre of Moscow, have been struggling after three weeks of hard rugby at the Junior World Championship in France and need some time to make the switch back to Sevens.
Rebels (0) 0 / 35 (14) Lions (Final Score)
The Melbourne Rebels and British & Irish Lions did battle in the British & Irish Lions series of 2013 at AAMI Park, Melbourne at
11:40 SA Time (19:40 Melbourne Time, 10:40 BST, 09:40 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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SANZAR has announced the names of the match officials for Round 18 of Super Rugby 2013, with Garratt Williamson starting off the action on Friday.
This weekend we only have 5 Super Rugby matches, seeing as the Australian sides do not play this weekend due to the British & Irish Lions tour in Australia. This is the first of 2 weekends in a row where South Africa and New Zealand catch up on the 2 extra weekends where only Australian sides played in the tournament.
There is 1 match on Friday and 4 matches on Saturday.
Vodacom Bulls players Pierre Spies, Jano Vermaak and Francois Hougaard are all injured and in danger of not playing in Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby match against the Southern Kings at Loftus Versfeld.
The Wallabies suffered a triple blow ahead of the crucial second Test against the British and Irish Lions in Melbourne on Saturday.
Inside centre Pat McCabe and wing Digby Ioane have been ruled out of any further participation in the Test series.
Fullback Berrick Barnes is out of the second Test, but may still feature in the third and final international.
Veteran lock Paul O’Connell has been ruled out of the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia with a broken arm.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Wallabies wing Digby Ioane after he failed to appear in a Melbourne court on an assault charge.
Ioane, 27, is facing a charge of unlawful assault, after he allegedly assaulted a man in the Melbourne suburb of Prahran on March 9.
There are no current moves afoot to establish a global calendar for the Rugby Union season, a senior IRB official said, amid complaints that it is too long.
Brett Gosper, the IRB’s Chief Executive Officer, said it was a matter of complex negotiation for which no one currently had the “heart”.
The citing of Samoa fullback James So’oialo for grabbing the testicles of Springbok hooker Adriaan Strauss during Saturday’s match at Loftus Versfeld was dismissed on Sunday.
The player was cited by Peter Larter (RFU) according to Law 10.4(m), committing an act contrary to good sportsmanship, for an incident which occurred in the 12th minute of the second half.
England centre Manu Tuilagi has recovered from a shoulder injury and will start for the British and Irish Lions against the Rebels on Tuesday.
The injury-hit Wallabies called up veteran flank George Smith among three reinforcements for the squad for next weekend’s make-or-break Test with the British and Irish Lions.
Smith, his Brumbies teammate Jesse Mogg, and Reds centre Ben Tapuai, have been added to the Wallabies group for the Melbourne match – following their 21-23 loss in the opening Test in Brisbane this past Saturday.
Wales (15) 15 / 23 (3) England (Final Score)
Wales Under 20 and England Under 20 did battle in the Final of the IRB Junior World Championship of 2013
at Stade de la Rabine, Vannes at 18:45 SA Time (16:45 GMT, 17:45 BST).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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Resting All Black captain Richie McCaw has returned to the side for the first Rugby Championship Test against Australia in August, but not necessarily as openside flank.
Bokkies (21) 41 / 34 (26) Baby Blacks (Final Score)
South Africa Under 20 and New Zealand Under 20 did battle in the 3rd place play-off of the IRB Junior World Championship
of 2013 at Stade de la Rabine, Vannes at 15:15 SA Time (13:15 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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Springboks (32) 56 / 23 (9) Samoa (Final Score)
The South African Springboks and Samoa did battle in the Castle Lager Incoming Series at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 17:15 SA Time (15:15 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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Scotland (20) 30 / 29 (20) Italy (Final Score)
Scotland and Italy did battle in the Castle Lager Incoming Series at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 14:15 SA Time (13:15 BST, 12:15 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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Wallabies (12) 21 / 23 (13) Lions (Final Score)
Australia and the British & Irish Lions did battle in the British & Irish Lions Series of 2013 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane at 12:05 SA Time (20:05 AEST, 11:05 BST, 10:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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All Blacks (8) 24 / 9 (6) France (Final Score)
The New Zealand All Blacks and France did battle in the June Internationals at Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 09:35 French Time, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Welsh Rugby Union chief Roger Lewis says the home nations need to look at how the money made from the British and Irish Lions tours is divided up.
Lions (7) 33 / 29 (19) Sharks (Final Score)
The MTN Lions and The Sharks did battle in the MTN Lions Challenge at Ellis Park, Johannesburg at 19:10 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Rising star Pieter-Steph du Toit has become a massive signing target for provincial unions this season with no less than three Super Rugby franchises vying for his signature.