Reds (13) 28 / 26 (16) Sharks (Final Score)
The Reds and Cell C Sharks did battle in Super Rugby 2017 at
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane at 11:00 SA Time (19:00 AEST, 09:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Highlanders (9) 15 / 24 (14) Chiefs (Final Score)
The Highlanders and Chiefs did battle in Super Rugby 2017 at
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin at 08:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 06:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Rebels (15) 18 / 56 (25) Blues (Final Score)
The Melbourne Rebels and Blues did battle in Super Rugby 2017 at
AAMi Park, Melbourne at 10:45 SA Time (19:45 AEST, 21:45 NZ Time, 08:45 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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It is finally time for Super Rugby 2017 and for Round 1 this week and weekend.
There is 1 game on THURSDAY 23 February 2017, then 2 games on FRIDAY 24 February 2017 and 6 games on SATURDAY 25 February 2017.
There are no BYE weekends for any teams this week.
The action is kicked off by the Melbourne Rebels and Blues who do battle in Melbourne at 10:45 SA Time (19:45 AEST, 21:45 NZ Time, 08:45 GMT)
The first South African team to see action, the Cell C Sharks, take on the Reds on Friday in Brisbane at 11:0 SA Time (19:00 AEST, 21:00 NZ Time, 09:00 GMT).
On Saturday morning the action starts early when the Sunwolves host the Hurricanes in Japan at 06:15 SA Time (17:15 NZ Time, 15:15 AEST, 04:15 GMT), whereafter the Crusaders host the Brumbies in Christchurch at 08:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 17:35 AEST, 06:35 GMT)and then followed by the Waratahs who host the Western Force in Sydney at 10:45 SA Time (19:45 AEST, 21:45 NZ Time, 08:45 GMT).
On Saturday afternoon and evening the other 5 South African Franchises as well as the Jaguares from Argentina are in action, firstly when the Toyota Cheetahs host the Emirates Lions in Bloemfontein at 15:05 SA Time (13:05 GMT), whereafter the Southern Kings host the Jaguares at 17:15 SA Time (15:15 GMT) and the final game of the round is when the DHL Stormers host the Vodacom Bulls in Cape Town at 19:30 SA Time (17:30 GMT).
Richard Cockerill
Richard Cockerill has been appointed Head Coach of Edinburgh Rugby with effect from the start of next season.
The three-time Premiership winning coach has signed a two-year deal and will relocate to Scotland for the new role after his recent spell with Toulon.
Edinburgh Acting Head Coach Duncan Hodge will remain in his current role until the end of the season and then return to his previous position as backs coach with the club.
Edinburgh Rugby’s assistant coaches Stevie Scott and Pete Wilkins remain in post.
After two spells playing for Leicester and two years at Montferrand Cockerill spent 12 years in coaching roles at Leicester Tigers, rising through the ranks to become Head Coach in 2009 and then Director of Rugby in 2010.
He led the team to Premiership semi-finals every season he was in charge and won back to back titles in 2009, 2010 and a subsequent title in 2013.
During his time with the club he also reached the Heineken Cup Final in Edinburgh in 2009 and won the LV Cup in 2012.
Vodacom Super Rugby 2017
RBS SIX Nations 2017
Hi,
We have 2 NEW SuperBru Pools for all to join!
- The RBS SIX Nations 2017 starts tomorrow (4 February 2017) at 16:25 SA Time, so hurry up and do not delay to register and pick for it!
- Vodacom Super Rugby 2017 starts in about 2 weeks, so for that too!
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.
UJ (6) 18 / 17 (6) Tuks (Final Score)
FNB UJ (University of Johannesburg) and FNB UP-Tuks (University of Pretoria) did battle
in the Varsity Cup 2017 at UJ Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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CUT 0 / 0 Shimlas (Game Postponed)
FNB CUT-Ixias (Central University of Technology) and FNB UFS-Shimlas (University of the Free State) do battle
in the Varsity Cup 2017 at CUT Rugby Stadium, Bloemfontein at 16:45 SA Time (14:45 GMT).
This is the live match discussion Article.
The match is broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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France (13) 22 / 16 (11) Scotland (Final Score)
France and Scotland did battle in the RBS SIX Nations 2017 at
Stade de France, Paris, France at 17:00 SA Time (16:00 French Time, 15:00 UK Time & GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Wales (13) 16 / 21 (8) England (Final Score)
Wales and England did battle in the RBS SIX Nations 2017 at
the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales at 18:50 SA Time (16:50 UK Time & GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Italy (10) 10 / 63 (28) Ireland (Final Score)
The Italian Azzurri and Ireland did battle in the RBS SIX Nations 2017 at
Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy at 16:25 SA Time (15:25 Italian Time, 14:25 UK Time & GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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BrandonThomson
Glasgow Warriors have signed fly-half Brandon Thomson on a short-term deal from the Stormers in South Africa.
He has started training with his new teammates at Scotstoun, after arriving in Glasgow from Cape Town.
The 21-year-old will be at the club for the next two months, with Finn Russell away with Scotland and Peter Horne currently sidelined with an ankle injury.
Thomson has played six times in Super Rugby for the Stormers and has scored 26 points.
He has also represented South Africa U20s at the World Rugby Under 20 Championship and has played for Western Province in the Provincial Cup and Currie Cup.
Pukke (17) 37 / 7 (0 ) Madibaz (Final Score)
The FNB NWU-Pukke (North West University) and FNB NMMU-Madibaz (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University)
did battle in the Varsity Cup 2017 at Fanie du Tiot Sports Grounds, Potchefstroom at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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UCT (12) 21 / 12 (0) CUT (Final Score)
FNB UCT-Ikeys (University of Cape Town) and FNB CUT-Ixias (Central University of Technology)
did battle in the Varsity Cup 2017 at UCT Stadium, Cape Town at 16:45 SA Time (14:45 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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R.I.P. Joost van der Westhuizen
The South African rugby community was in mourning on Monday following the passing of Joost van der Westhuizen, one of South Africa’s greatest-ever Springbok legends.
Van der Westhuizen passed away after a long and courageous struggle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a form of motor neuron disease (MND), for the past 6 years. He was 45 and leaves behind 2 children, Jordan (13) and Kylie (10), as well as his father Gustav, mother Mariana, and brothers Pieter and Gustav.
“Joost will be remembered as 1 of the greatest Springboks – not only of his generation, but of all time,” said Mr Mark Alexander, President of SA Rugby.
Italy (7) 7 / 33 (3) Wales (Final Score)
The Italian Azzurri and Wales did battle in the RBS SIX Nations 2017 at
Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy at 16:00 SA Time (14:00 UK Time & GMT, 15:00 Italian Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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England (9) 19 / 16 (9) France (Final Score)
England and France did battle in the RBS SIX Nations 2017 at
Twickenham Stadium, London, England at 18:50 SA Time (16:50 UK Time & GMT, 17:50 French Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Scotland (21) 27 / 22 (8) Ireland (Final Score)
Scotland and Ireland did battle in the RBS SIX Nations 2017 at
Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland at 16:25 SA Time (14:25 UK Time & GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Hi,
We have a NEW SuperBru Pool for all to join!
- The Varsity Cup 2017 starts today (30 January 2017) at 16:45 SA Time, so hurry up and do not delay to register and pick for it!
- 2 More Pools will be created, one for Super Rugby 2017 and the other for the RBS SIX Nations, within the next day or so, so keep a lookout for them too and join up there too!
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.
UJ (12) 12 / 16 (10) Pukke (Final Score)
FNB UJ (University of Johannesburg) and FNB NWU-Pukke (North West University) did battle in the Varsity Cup 2017 at
UJ Stadium, Johannesburg at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
*******************
Wits (7) 21 / 26 (19) Shimlas (Final Score)
FNB Wits (Wits University) and FNB UFS-Shimlas (University of the Free State) did battle in the Varsity Cup 2017 at
Wits Stadium, Johannesburg at 16:45 SA Time (14:45 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
*******************
The Emirates Lions’ loose forward Warwick Tecklenburg has decided to retire from all Rugby with immediate effect.
I was initially told this news by an acquaintance of the family about a week ago, and was admittedly very dubious.
However, with the player now having returned from a stint in Japan, the news has been confirmed by the Lions’.
Herewith the full media release from the Lions.
Sale winger Tom Arscott has been sacked after he allegedly leaked confidential team information to Bristol before their Premiership game on 1 January.
The 29-year-old met with brother and Bristol back Luke when he visited their team hotel the night before the match, which the West Country side won 24-23.
Sale suspended Arscott on 4 January and carried out an internal investigation.
However, Sale complained to the Rugby Football Union before suspending Arscott.
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) may impose a five-year residency rule on England if World Rugby fails to increase the existing eligibility level.
A player currently becomes eligible when they have lived in a country for three years.
But a campaign led by World Rugby vice-chairman Agustin Pichot is seeking to raise the level by a further 24 months.
He added: “In an ideal world there would be universality of regulation and there’s a helpful way of dealing with this, and that’s by moving the World Rugby regulation from three to five years.”
Cornell du Preez gets Scotland call up
Head Coach Vern Cotter today named a 37-man Scotland squad for the forthcoming RBS 6 Nations Championship.
Among the group is 37-times capped Gloucester centre Matt Scott who – after missing out on selection in the autumn – has earned a recall thanks to a number of impressive performances for the Kingsholm club, scoring 12 tries in 18 games this season.
Cotter has also named uncapped Edinburgh Rugby forwards Simon Berghan (prop) and Cornell Du Preez (back-row).
Du Preez (25) is a popular figure in the capital, scoring 14 tries in 71 appearances. He became eligible to represent Scotland last year after completing three years of residency in the country.
Berghan (26) joined Edinburgh Rugby in 2013 and is eligible to represent Scotland through his grandfather, Andrew Davidson, from Stirling. The 20st, 6’3” prop has made 24 appearances for the capital club.
Berghan and returning Newcastle Falcons’ tighthead Jon Welsh are among the seven props named in the squad, with the national team awaiting the results of a scan this evening (Wednesday) that will confirm the availability of Edinburgh Rugby’s Willem Nel, who injured his neck in the club’s European Challenge Cup win over Harlequins on Saturday (14 January).
WP Nel on the rampage against Harlequins
Tighthead prop WP Nel is among four changes to Edinburgh Rugby’s starting XV to face Harlequins in Saturday’s round five European Challenge Cup clash at Twickenham Stoop (kick-off 1500 GMT, 1700 SA Time).
Scotland cap Nel – who has been out of action with a neck injury since October – comes in to take the number three jersey in one of two changes to the starting pack.
The other amendment comes in the back-row where Hamish Watson – who this week signed a new two-year deal with the club – starts on the openside flank.
In the backline, experienced operator Phil Burleigh returns at inside-centre, with club centurion Tom Brown set to start on the left wing.
Acting Head Coach, Duncan Hodge, said: “There’s a lot at stake for both sides tomorrow, which makes for an exciting tie. Harlequins’ home record speaks for itself, and we have no doubt about the size of task ahead, but there is a good buzz in camp and a belief that we can go down to London and do what is required of us.”
From us here at Rugby-Talk.com,
Hope you have had a fabulous Festive Season and have had a very Merry Christmas! Happy New Year for 2017, may it bring wonderful rugby joy and may South African rugby improve dramatically… it has been a dreadful year in 2016, has’nt it!!
On a personal level, 2016 has been less than kind to me… been through a seperation and divorce, had 2 break-in’s, was wayyyy too busy building and developing properties, worked far too hard, was bitten by a violin spider and had to suffer through a dreadful South African rugby season.
But hey, it can only get better in 2017. As a result of my year, Rugby-Talk.com was on the back-burner much of the time, but after a good recuperative rest in December I have all sorts of plans for 2017 here at Rugby-Talk.com.
Made a SELFIE VIDEO for you guys, but DANG it is not easy to look good on a SELFIE VIDEO!
Here it is…
Eddie Jones has said that Dylan Hartley would continue to captain England if he was fit enough to be selected.
Northampton hooker Hartley is serving a six-week ban for catching Leinster’s Sean O’Brien with a swinging arm in a Champions Cup match in December.
Jones, 56, said last month that the 30-year-old had “let his country down” with the third red card of his career.
But the Australian said on Tuesday that Hartley was “doing everything right” to be England captain for the forthcoming Six Nations.
Racing 92 are to launch legal proceedings against want-away Springbok utility back Johan Goosen over what they allege is”blatant fraud”.
The Parisian club said the 24-year-old, player of the year last season in France, had not appeared “for the last two days and seems to have vacated his residence,”
Last month the Springboks star said he was quitting rugby to return to South Africa.
“As far as Racing 92 is concerned, Johan Goosen still remains bound to the club by an employment contract lasting four years, while his residence, company car, locker and place in the locker-room all remain at his disposal,” said the club, who play Munster in European action this weekend.
Stuart Hogg will start at fly-half for Glasgow Warriors for the first time in the Guinness PRO12 match away to Benetton Treviso this afternoon.
Stuart Hogg
Despite having moved to the stand-off position during games and starting there for the British & Irish Lions, it is the first time Hogg will wear the Warriors number 10 shirt.
Rob Harley could make his 150th appearance for the club from the bench and would join an elite group of six other players who have reached that milestone.
With Hogg moving up field, Peter Murchie starts at full-back and will be flanked by Tommy Seymour and Junior Bulumakau, who has scored in both of his appearances for Glasgow so far this season, with the most recent coming in the win over Edinburgh Rugby at BT Murrayfield on Monday.
Nick Grigg starts at outside centre and was named Man of the Match in Glasgow’s previous trip to Italy this season in the win over Zebre. He once again teams up with Sam Johnson in the centres.
Combining with Hogg, Henry Pyrgos will captain the side from scrum-half.
Reigning 1872 Cup holders Edinburgh Rugby host Glasgow Warriors at Murrayfield in their Guinness PRO12 league match which doubles up as the first leg of this season’s 1872 Cup.
Glasgow Warriors are currently in 6th place on the PRO12 log with 27 points, 10 points off leaders Munster after 10 rounds, while Edinburgh who parted ways with Alan Solomons earlier this season are down in lowly 10th place with a mere 17 points. Both teams are doing fairly well in Europe although Glasgow are playing in the top European Rugby Champions Cup while Edinburgh are playing in the Challenge Cup.
There will be a mouth watering battle of the back rows, especially at number 8 where players who both used to ply their trade in South Africa Josh Strauss and Cornell du Preez have been selected for Glasgow and Edinburgh respectively.
World Rugby comments on the latest developments in the George North head injury incident.
World Rugby notes the outcomes from the independent Concussion Management Review Group investigating the handling of George North’s head injury incident during the Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints Aviva Premiership match on 3 December 2016.
World Rugby’s number one priority is player welfare and our primary concern is the welfare of George and all players. It is therefore disappointing that apparent non-compliance with the sport’s elite head injury protocols led to George remaining on the field of play when he should have been immediately and permanently removed.
World Rugby’s recognise and remove protocols state in no uncertain terms that any player displaying clear or suspected signs of loss of consciousness should be permanently and immediately removed from the field of play. In this case, the Head Injury Assessment should not have been undertaken.
Andrew Coombs
Retired Wales rugby player Andrew Coombs is “disgusted and devastated” his former region Newport Gwent Dragons have ended his insurance policy.
Coombs, 32, injured a knee in April 2015 and had to quit 14 months later.
He says he is left with “thousands of pounds of medical bills for treatment not available on the NHS”.
Davies added: “Like most employers’ medical insurance schemes, cover ordinarily ceases on termination of employment.
“In fact, Andrew remained covered at our expense for some months after his retirement. Andrew’s cover under the policy came to an end as we moved towards self-funding the cost of treatment for players in our employment, due to the escalating costs of insurance.”
Davies also said the Dragons offered Coombs “full and ongoing access to our medical staff and facilities” and that the offer “remains in place”.
George Earle
Cardiff Blues lock George Earle has been banned for eight weeks after being sent off in their European Challenge Cup defeat by Bath.
South African Earle made contact with the eye area of Bath flanker Tom Ellis in the second half of the 38-3 loss.
The first game the 29-year-old will miss is the Pro12 home derby with Newport Gwent Dragons on 26 December.
Earle pleaded not guilty to the charge, but a disciplinary panel ruled he had committed the offence.
He – and tournament organisers – can appeal against the decision.