Rugby World Cup winning fly-half Jonny Wilkinson has retired from international rugby union after 91 matches for England.
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.
The Waratahs will kick off their Super Rugby 2012 preparations with the first of two trial matches against Samoa in Tamworth on Friday February 10, 2012.
A second match will take place at the Sydney Football Stadium the following week with full details due to be confirmed shortly.
Air New Zealand’s newest Boeing 777-300ER will receive the biggest All Blacks livery ever seen, continuing the nation’s premier airline’s proud association with New Zealand rugby.
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.
In recent days there has been some speculation that Francois Steyn could be moving back to South Africa, and of course the speculation started who could vie for his services.
One of the candidates touted to have offered Steyn employment, of course, is the Golden Lions Rugby Union, but apparently that is not the case… yet.
Sporting fans from across Australia have paid Reds maestro Ewen McKenzie the ultimate honour by selecting him as the nation’s best coach for 2011.
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).
All Blacks loose forward Adam Thomson has had his World Cup jerseys stolen from his apartment in Dunedin, leaving him “heartbroken”.
14 July 1956 – Carisbrook, Dunedin: All Blacks 10 / Springboks 6
Test matches are won by taking your changes. The prevailing thought after this test match was that New Zealand deserved to win mostly because they took their chances while South Africa made it easy for them by employing the wrong game tactics, with poor decision making on attack and annoying ball handling errors. Reg Sweet writes in his book ‘Springbok and Silverfern’: “New Zealand had three chances throughout the match. New Zealand took them, and so New Zealand won. It was as straight forward as that.”
The Springbok forwards surprised everyone and were without a doubt the better team in the scrum pushing the All Blacks on repeated occasion’s meters back in the scrum. New Zealand worked out some strategies to counter Claassen in the lineout as the game progressed -making it a bit more of an even contest in the latter stages of the match- but South Africa still won the lineout contest comprehensively 28-35. South Africa won the scrum count 12-21. Reg Sweet wrote: “New Zealand’s pack, astonishing sight, was attempting to heel at times while obviously on the back pedal.”
The Third Tournament of the HSBC Sevens World Series 2011 / 2012, known as the Nelson Mandela BaySouth Africa Rugby Sevens tournament played on 9 and 10 December 2011.
This week the tournament was in OUR back yard, the first games started at 11:37 on 9 December 2011, SA Time. We only had a lively general Discussion Article and not a Live Article with Score Updates as the games proceed.
This was exactly that, the Discussion Article, here you will find all the scores.
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!
News from Newlands is that the WP / Stormers have signed U21 centre JP du Plessis.
Former Springbok & Sharks centre Adrian Jacobs is unlikely to play Super Rugby for the Stormers in 2012 after he snubbed an offer to train with them.
The South African Rugby Union (SARU), with the backing of the National Lottery and Department of Sport and Recreation, plans to launch a major academy project that is aimed at developing promising young players.
The RFU have revealed that Saxons coach Stuart Lancaster will be interim England coach for the 2012 Six Nations championship.
The Golden Lions Rugby Union received notification this morning via social networking website www.twitter.com that a rumour has been circulating that the Golden Lions Rugby Union are bankrupt and can only afford to pay their players’ salaries until the end of the month.
The Stormers pre-season training squad for the 2012 Super Rugby season has finally been named and is listed below, noting that the squad is not finalised for the 2012 season and players may be added at any time. Continue reading
The Crusaders, who were affected drastically by the earthquake that shook Christchurch earlier this year, have announced a loss of nearly $700 000 for a difficult financial year which ended on 31 August.
Dawie Theron, coach of the South African Under-20 side, is satisfied with the significant amount of work his training squad put in during their camp in Stellenbosch, which concluded on Wednesday.
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.
The International Rugby Board has revealed that one player tested positive for doping during the World Cup in New Zealand.
A really fascinating day at the Beyond Sport Summit – highlighted by an entertaining panel discussion including Michael Johnson and Oscar Pistorius, and chaired by Bob Skinstad – was interrupted slightly upon getting three bits of truly bizarre sporting news …
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.
Chris Ashton was last night banned until next year for pulling the hair of a fellow rugby player.
Springbok utility back Frans Steyn could be on his way back to South Africa at the conclusion of his contract with French club Racing Metro, which expires at the end of June next year.
Welcome to the latest edition of Ask John where renowned rugby historian John Griffiths will answer any rugby-related query you have!
The Super Rugby side may be at a low ebb but optimism is plentiful, writes Josh Rakic.
YOU get the sense World Cup-winning Springboks coach Jake White did his homework on Australia before agreeing to a four-year deal with the Brumbies. After all, he was a Johannesburg school teacher.
Rugby in New Zealand has been slowly but surely working its way toward financial ruin.
Spiralling costs and falling crowds have stretched resources to breaking point.
Vodacom Bulls prop Rossouw de Klerk will miss the start of the 2012 Vodacom Super Rugby season due to a foot injury.
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has admitted he was “surprised” the International Rugby Board did not cite French player Aurelien Rougerie for the infamous eye gouge in the Rugby World Cup final.
Speaking for the first time about the incident, McCaw said the final against the French got “filthy” when he was eye-gouged.
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.
Almost by default, the national selectors may appease their fiercest of critics for the Proteas’ upcoming three-match Test series against Sri Lanka, which starts at Centurion’s SuperSport Park on December 15.
Former Springboks and Vodacom Bulls legend Victor Matfield will join the Vodacom Bulls on a consultancy basis for the 2012 Super Rugby season.