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A host of Maties and UCT Varsity Cup stars have been named in the Western Province Under-21 team for Saturday's clash against Boland in Wellington.

Aksie in Kovsies se rugby-koshuisliga is nou vuurwarm en het ook baie aansien gekry met die universiteit se spelers wat nou vir hul Steinhoff Koshuisspanne in aksie is.

Varsity Cup semifinalists, FNB Tukkies, narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 2009 National Club Championships - meaning just two Varsity Cup teams, Pukke and Shimlas, have made it into the Club Champs.

The new semester's Steinhoff Internal League action got underway at UCT last week with several big encounters and some great rugby.

Varsity Cup-winning FNB Maties outside back, JJ Engelbrecht, has been named on the Western Province bench for Saturday's Currie Cup clash against the Boland Cavaliers in Wellington.

In the Final of the Confederation of African Rugby's Under-19 tournament in Nairobi Zimbabwe smashed Namibia to qualify for nest year's International Rugby Board's Junior World Rugby Trophy (JWRT).

The number of matches is shrinking fast but still both the Greys, Glenwood, Waterkloof, Outeniqua, Selborne Die Brandwag, Bishops, Die Brandwag, AHS Kroonstad, Boland Landbou, Dr EG Jansen, Drostdy, Goudveld, Ben Vorster, Centurion, and Framesby were all in action.

Former Varsity Cup star Mathew Turner has been named in the invitational Help for Heroes squad ahead of Saturday's season-opening Middlesex Sevens tournament at Twickenham in London.

The International Rugby Board has a committee, referred to as Designated Members, whose task it is to keep an eye on the Laws of the Game, the IRB's basic task. From time to time the Designated Members give rulings on aspects of the law which may not be clear. These rulings are requested by national bodies.

On the opening day of the Women?s Nations Cup at Appleby College in Ontario, Canada, South Africa, not one of the powers in women's rugby, surprised France who managed only a last-gasp 17-all draw while England cruised home 36-7 against the USA.

Heimat het met sy sege Donderdagaand oor Vishuis 'n ondubbelsinnige boodskap aan die ander rugbyspanne in die Kovsies' Steinhoff Koshuisliga gestuur.

rugby365 editor Jan de Koning feels it is time to 'cite' the citing officials for their grossly inconsistent behaviour, following the ludicrous decision not to take any further action against Wallaby flyhalf Matt Giteau.

Kenya and Uganda share a mountain and have a cup named after it, the CAR Under-19 tournament ends and the Women's Nations Cup starts.

We profile Hoerskool Noord-Kaap of Kimberley.

South Africa played Australia at Newlands and won 29-17 in a Tri-Nations match. We give some statistics in this match.

The big result was at Newlands as South Africa completed a hat-trick of home Tri-Nations victories.

UJ fullback Earl Lewis scored another hat-trick of tries as the SA Universities recorded a 59-3 win over the Collegiate All-American team in a Tri-Nations curtain-raiser at Newlands on Saturday afternoon.

Brendan Venter's Saracens were well tested by UCT's Ikey Tigers in a pre-season clash at the Green Mile on Friday evening.

Saracens head coach Brendan Venter has selected a powerful starting line-up for his team's friendly match against UCT at Groote Schuur on Friday night - a team that includes current England captain Steve Borthwick.

Chean Roux, the SA Universities' head coach, has made six changes to his team's starting line-up for Saturday's second clash against the Collegiate All-Americans at Newlands.

The University of Cape Town RFC, aka the FNB Ikey Tigers, were Friday censured by the Varsity Cup for their failure to take part in the 2009 USSA Rugby Week, which was recently held at the University of Johannesburg.

Onderstepoort remains new firm favourites to claim championships honours in Tuks' 2009 Winter Hostel League - sponsored by Steinhoff International.

The Ikey Tigers bounced back from last week's loss to SK Walmers by claiming a well-deserved 33-20 WP Super League victory over a tough Victorians team in Stellenbosch on Wednesday evening.

It has been eight years since a non-university team won the National Club Championships, but the open teams are determined to beat the Varsity Cup teams to the silverware in 2009.

This week John OConnor's view takes in the two Tri-Nations tests between South Africa and the Land of the Wrong White Crowd, and includes a valiant attempt at perspective ? very difficult to do when you are bouncing up and down on the couch like a kid who has seen Christmas.

A mouth-watering top-of-the-log clash will kick-start this weekend's action in the Kovsies' Steinhoff Koshuisliga.

UJ fullback Earl Lewis scored a hat-trick of tries as the SA Universities romped to a 72-14 victory over a committed Collegiate All-Americans team at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Wednesday evening.

Afslaan managed a convincing win over Kanniedood in Monday night's Steinhoff Koshuis League action at the University of Johannesburg, while the boys from Bastion remained undefeated in the first division.

Former Maties scrumhalf Neil de Kock will return to Cape Town - and the Green Mile - this Friday night eager to resume hostilities against the Ikey Tigers; only this time in the colours of top English Premiership club, Saracens.

The SA Universities team has been forced into some late changes - one in the starting XV and a further two on the bench - ahead of Wednesday evening's match against the Collegiate All-Americans in Stellenbosch (kick-off 9pm).

There were some big matches this weekend. In Pretoria Glenwood played Affies, in Bloemfontein the two Greys met, Goudveld in Welkom and in Paarl there was that Interschools to beat all Interschools. The results of these matches have had a great effect on our FNB Top 20 for this week.

A third consecutive Carlton Cup Final for FNB Tukkies, but alas no clean sweep on the cards like in 2008.

Pukke No.8 Willem van der Wal will captain the SA Universities team in their two matches against the Collegiate All-Americans - this coming Wednesday and Saturday.

rugby365 editor Jan de Koning goes back into the archives to find a team that compares with John Smit's class of 2009. He has to go back a few decades to find it.

2009 Varsity Cup finalists, FNB Pukke, claimed another Intervarsity win over FNB Shimlas; winning 20-6 at Olen Park on Saturday.

Die vonke gaan spat in die Steinhoff Koshuisliga by UJ wanneer die manne van Bastion, huidige voorlopers in die kompetisie, weer vanaand kragte meet met Dromedaris.

The Tri-Nations charges ahead, this time at Newlands with the Wallabies to play the Springboks. The same trio of referees will be in action for the third week.

FNB Maties continued on their winning ways by claiming a huge 69-5 victory over WP Super League strugglers, Helderberg, on Saturday.

The Ikey Tigers suffered a disappointing 11-16 WP Super League loss to SK Walmers on Saturday.

South Africa played New Zealand in Durban and won 31-19 in a Tri-Nations match. Again the All Blacks were generous in defeat and the South African camp sober in victory. We give some statistics in this match.

For the second Saturday in succession the Springboks were too strong for the All Blacks in the third Tri-Nations match of 2009. It is the main news as the Air New Zealand Cup gets underway and in France there are warm-up matches as the short break for the players seeps away.

Western Province and Springbok hooker Hanyani Shimange will pack down in the FNB UCT front row when the Cape Town-based students take on SK Walmers at 'The Track' on Saturday.

SA referees has made known its committees which assess, coach and select referees for 2009. Amongst those on panels are eight with Test experience.

The South African Universities team has been handed a welcome shot in the arm, with the news that they will be sponsored by the Varsity Cup for their two matches against a Collegiate side from America.

Die Shimla-rugbyspan het drie Cheetahs Curriebeker-spelers nadergetrek om hom vir Saterdag se 67ste intervarsity-kragmeting teen die Pukke te versterk.

The SWD Eagles have made another shrewd signing - in the rather large shape of Ikey Tigers star Jody Burch.

Clubs from ten of South Africa's 14 unions - two of which are top Varsity Cup teams - have already qualified for the National Club Championships to be held at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria from September 20-26.

FNB UCT head coach John Dobson, one of the country's most promising coaches, has been handed a top coaching job in Italy.

Die Suid-Afikaanse Universiteitespan het 'n baie welkome inspuiting ontvang met die nuus dat hulle deur Varsity Cup geborg word vir hul twee wedstryde teen 'n kollegiale span van die VSA.

Eight FNB Maties players have been named in a 25-man SA Universities squad for a series of matches against a touring American student team in early August.

Both of Bastion's teams faced Afslaan in Monday night's Steinhoff Koshuis League matches at the University of Johannesburg (UJ).

The first round matches in the Top Eight phase of Tuks' Steinhoff Winter League played on Tuesday, July 28 saw Boekenhout emerging as the only unbeaten side.

Steinhoff Koshuisrugby champions Armentum on Friday grabbed a crucial 34-15 win over the University of the Free State Under-19 team in the Kovsies Steinhoff Koshuisliga.

This is the first FNB Top 20 of the third term. In several parts many teams have stopped playing. There are still competitions on the go and the southern part of the country carries on enjoying rugby football.

FNB Maties centre Juan de Jongh has retained his place in the Western Province team for Friday night's Currie Cup clash against the Leopards.

Steve Walsh, one of the world's top referees, is back in action, this time in Australia.

Talented FNB Tuks loose forward Gerrit-Jan van Velze has been handed a first-ever Currie Cup start for the Blue Bulls when they host Boland at Loftus Versfeld on Friday evening. (Kick-off 7pm.)

No less than five former Shimlas were part of the Springbok team that got the better of the All Blacks in Tri-Nations action at Bloemfontein's Vodacom Park this past Saturday.

Sindile Mayende of Durban will referee his first Premier Division Currie Cup match's at Newlands this Friday evening when Western Province play the Leopards. Refereeing has been a wonderland for the young man from Alice who came to refereeing by accident.

rugby365 columnist Jon Harris takes a look at the decision to allow Trevor Manuel to hand over the Springbok jerseys at a team function last Friday. He asks if this was a masterstroke or political posturing?

FNB UJ flexed their muscles against Witsies in Pirates Grand Challenge action on Friday night; beating them 60-10.

The Tri-Nations is the main focus of this weekend's rugby and again it will be that massive rivalry, All Black vs Springboks, and this time Nigel Owens of Wales will be the referee.

There was the second round of the Tri-Nations, this time in Bloemfontein, there was the Sevens at the World Games in Taiwan and there was an African tournament in Botswana.

On any given Saturday afternoon I know I will be on a couch. Mostly it is my couch. It could also be the couch of a mate, so long as his fridge is well stocked and his family well trained. But whoever the owner of said couch may be; it is the view from the couch that is all important.

It's high performance all the way this weekend for FNB UCT as they hit the Rugby Performance Centre in Riebeek West to gear up for the second half of the 2009 WP Super League season.

South Africa played New Zealand in Bloemfontein and won 28-19 in a Tri-Nations match. In contrast to some Graeme Henry, the All Black coach, was gracious in defeat, acknowledging that the Springboks had deserved their victory. We give some statistics in this match of remarkably few stoppages.

UJ's Steinhoff Koshuis League got off to a slow start on Wednesday night after the semester break.

On Monday in the wake of three red cards at Craven week which in effect destroyed the chances of three teams, we discussed the possibility of allowing a team to replace a player sent off while he is subject to disciplinary procedures afterwards. Now readers have their say.

FNB Maties, the reigning Varsity Cup champions, will get their 2009 WP Super League campaign underway this weekend when they host Kraaifontein in Stellenbosch.

Varsity Cup teams are once again set to dominate at the National Club Championships, which - this year - will take place at Loftus Versfeld in late September.

Maroela het Donderdag, Julie 23 sy eerste nederlaag van die seisoen in Tuks se winter-huiseliga gely toe hy oortuigend met 21-3 deur Onderstepoort geklop is.

It's all systems go on Wednesday night at UJ when the Steinhoff Koshuis League teams take to the field again after a well-deserved holiday.

Action in the Kovsies Steinhoff Koshuisliga commences on Friday after a near two-month break.

Boekenhout and Sonop, the two undefeated teams in Section Y of Tukkies' Steinhoff Winter Hostel League, cross swords on Wednesday, July 22 at LC de Villiers D.

The Varsty break is almost at its end in Cape Town which means its back to business for all of the teams in UCT's Steinhoff Rugby Internal League.

Tri-Nations moves across the Indian Ocean to Bloemfontein, and the All Blacks come carrying their Bledisloe Cup victory of the first round.

FNB Tukkies recorded yet another convincing win in the 2009 Carlton League - beating Silver Valke 27-7 on Friday evening.

We profile Hoerskool Kroonstad.

Top Varsity Cup side, FNB UCT, will play host to English club Saracens in a series of valuable pre-season fixtures for the highly-rated London-based outfit.

South Africa has just finished its splendid Craven Week in East London - matches played by provincial Under-18 teams in an excellent spirit and yet three matches were greatly affected by red cards for "tip tackles".

New Zealand and Australia opened the Tri-Nations at Eden Park on Saturday in a match which doubled as the first Bledisloe Cup match of the year. We give some statistics of the match.

Tri-Nations started in Auckland when New Zealand came from behind to beat Australia. The All Blacks were not the only winners.

The South African Schools Rugby Association (SAFRA), on Saturday announced the SA Schools team that will participate in friendlies against Italy and England in August.

Having won the two Tests South Africa was well and truly beaten in the third Test and in fact was flattered by the final score. We give some statistics from the match.

Having won the first Test in Durban, South Africa made the series safe with a come-from-behind victory at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, as Morne Steyn made up for the poor goal-kicking earlier in the match. We have the match statistics.

Playing the main match at Craven Week is prestigious. To some it is a Final of sorts but it is not. We give some results of main matches.

Saturday has come at Craven Week 2009 in East London, and that means all the teams are in action starting with the high-scoring "breakfast" game between Namibia and Zimbabwe.

What a shock! You had to look at the scoreboard for confirmation that Western Province had beaten Free State 19-17 in the last match of the 2009 Craven Week in East London. It seemed that Free State had had the match sewn up.

The first South African Schools team was chosen in 1974 and went to Europe on tour. Each year the side gets chosen, as it will be on Saturday night at the end of Craven Week 2009.

Samoa has split from the Pacific Islands Alliance, likely spelling an end to the Pacific Islanders team which plays tests against top nations.

Joey Salmans and Stuart Berry will be refereeing their very first Currie Cup matches this weekend - memorable occasions for each of them.

Archie Sehlako of Natal has been appointed to referee the last match of the 2009 Craven Week, between Free State and Western Province.

Playing with their customary confidence and skill, Free State won this prestige match 32-13 against the Blue Bulls on the fourth day of the Craven Week in East London. The victory and the size of it were both deserved.

Tuks teams, Maroela (Group X), Sonop and Boekenhout (both Group Y), had little trouble in shedding the vacation blues in Steinhoff Koshuis League action on Tuesday.

The big match on Day 4 was between unbeaten Free State and unbeaten Blue Bulls which the confident Free Staters won handsomely.

The fixtures for the final day of the 2009 Craven Week have been made known. The prestige match on the final day will be between Free State and Western Province.

For the second time on the fourth day, and for the third time at this Craven Week, a player was issued a red card for a tip tackle. This time the team punished was Limpopo and this time the Leopards won 26-11.

On the fourth day of the Craven Week again a side played most of the game with a man short and KwaZulu Natal beat SA Academy 23-0, but it was not a convincing win.

Eastern Province Country Districts beat Boland 25-18 in the second match of the fourth day of Craven Week. The sides each scored three tries. The boot of Hanlo Louw made the difference.

The Pumas scored five unanswered tries in a thrilling second half performance to beat the Valke 37-10, scoring some spectacular tries on the way to a crushing victory on Day 3 of the 2009 Craven Week.

Precocious FNB Tuks flyhalf JC Roos has been handed a call-up to the Blue Bulls' bench for Saturday's massive Currie Cup Round Two clash against Western Province at Loftus Versfeld.

Zimbabwe beat Border Country Districts 41-0 on the fourth day of Craven Week action, but the difference between the two sides was even greater than that. It was the most one-sided match at Craven Week up till then.

In the first match of the fourth day of the 46th Craven Week, the Griffons beat the South African Learners with Special Educational Needs 36-13, and thoroughly deserved the victory as they ran and ran.

South African Rugby Union (SARU) manager of referees Andre Watson said on Wednesday that promising young South African referees had an outstanding chance of officiating at the highest level once they had taken up the whistle.

Western Province survived a spirited fightback from the Golden Lions to secure a narrow 26-21 win over their Northern rivals, in the final game of Day 3 of the 2009 Craven Week at the Border Rugby Union Stadium.

After winning in the last play on the first day, Border once again found themselves on the right side of a tightly contested match, beating Griquas 17-15 in a nailbiting encounter on Day 3 of the 2009 Craven Week in East London.

Day 3, a strength vs strength day at least in theory, still produced three runaway wins but it also produced yet another thriller for Border and a top-class match when Western Province met the Golden Lions.

A hat-trick by Ruwayne Beekman earned his SWD 'Jong Arende' team a comprehensive 41-5 victory over Namibia in the first game of Day 3 of the 2009 Craven Week in East London on Wednesday.

Eastern Province bounced back from their loss on Day 1 with a commanding 40-20 win over Griquas Country Districts in the second game of the third day of the 2009 Craven Week in East London

Maties forward Morne Hanekom has been named - along with a host of other Varsity Cup stars - in the Western Province Under-21 team.

Limpopo beat the Griffons 47-13 on the second day of Craven Week in East London. The scoreline did not flatter the boys from the far north of South Africa.

FNB Tuks put one over fellow Varsity Cup team, TUT, in Carlton League action at the weekend.

The scores were level with eight minutes to play when the Free State scored the try which won the match 22-15 on the second day of the 2009 Craven Week.

The big clash on Day 2 was between the Free State and KwaZulu Natal which the Free State won, setting them up to meet the Blue Bulls on Thursday.

The Leopards came from behind to beat the promising Eastern Province Country Districts side 27-20 in the second match of the second day of the Craven Week in East London.

The South African Academy team beat Zimbabwe 44-17 on the second day of Craven Week in East London. Zimbabwe emerged from the match with much credit and admiration.

In the opening match of Day 2 at Craven week the Border Country Districts, who lost all three matches at the 2008 Craven Week, beat the Craven Week newcomers, the South African Learners with Special Educational Needs (SA LSEN) 17-5, scoring all their points in the wind-assisted first half.

The USA Eagles, with UCT's Varsity Cup skipper JJ Gagiano once again in the mix, suffered a big loss to neighbours Canada in RWC qualifying action on Saturday - handing the Canucks an immediate place at the 2011 World Cup.

Griquas Country Districts scored in the closing minutes to earn a 13-11 win over Namibia, despite defending for much of the opening match of the 2009 Craven Week in East London.

Griquas held off a determined Pumas side to secure a 31-22 victory in an entertaining encounter on the opening day of the 2009 Craven Week at the Border Rugby Union Stadium on Monday.

The Blue Bulls beat Boland 52-0 on the second day of the 46th Craven Week, being played in East London, a match marred by a red card.

Western Province sent out an early warning to their Craven Week rivals, with an emphatic 49-15 win over a valiant Eastern Province side on Day 1 of the 2009 Craven Week in East London on Monday.

Border produced a breathtaking finish to the opening day of the 2009 Craven Week, scoring a spectacular try in the final play to beat the Valke 15-10 in front of their home crowd in the last game on Day 1.

A dominant forward pack and the accurate boot of fullback Garth April earned the Golden Lions a well-deserved 34-6 victory of the SWD 'Jong Arende' in a Day 1 Craven Week encounter on Monday afternoon.

Tri-Nations starts in Auckland in a competition which seems wide open for all three nations this year with Craig Joubert to get it going.

Monday, 13 July, was the start of the 2009 Craven Week with outstanding performances from Western Province and the Golden Lions and a thrilling finish between the home side and the Valke.

After losing the first leg of their Rugby World Cup qualifier for 2011, Canada roared back with a big win to qualify. In Apia there was a one-sided first-leg qualifier which may well make the second leg silly.

The Craven Week opens at the Border Rugby Union Ground in East London on Monday, 13 July and runs till 18 July. There will surely be some great players to come out of these well-prepared sides.

John OConnor shares with us his thoughts on rugby, as the British and Irish Lions tour postmortems continue. John is not a full-time columnist, but he does have a unique way of getting his point across.

Craven Week, the greatest schoolboy rugby tournament in the world, seems to have been around forever. But like all things, it had a birth.

Watch the Wimbledon men's final, an epic battle, and there you will see challenges about whether the ball was in nor out, and they use hawk-eye. Watch the cricket between Sri Lanka and Pakistan and there will be referrals to the match referee via television replays. Rugby does it, too. In fact it did it before cricket or tennis.

The Craven Week opens in East London on Monday, 13 July 2009. The fixtures for the first two days are confirmed.

Craven Week in East London from 13 to 18 July 2009 gives opportunities for players to reveal their talents. It is also a great opportunity for referees to show their potential.

In the openening roiund of the Women's Under-20 Nations Cup the defending champions England started off with a big 45-0 win over Canada at Brunel University in West London.

Talented Ikey Tigers hooker Dayne Jans has been handed a trial with the Golden Lions.

New Zealand-born Saracens flyhalf Glen Jackson has been recruited to join New Zealand's professional referee ranks, the New Zealand Rugby Union announced on Friday.Henry stays on for 2011 World Cup | Deans' latest innovation revealed

We profile Hoerskool Merensky of Tzaneen.

Former FNB Tuks flyer Johan Jackson has been named in the Golden Lions' starting line-up for Saturday's Currie Cup clash against the Blue Bulls.

We profile Duineveld from Upington.

We profile Hoerskool Ben Vorster of Tzaneen.

Terwyl Kovsie-studente nog op vakansie is, het www.varsitycup.co.za die eerste kwartaal se aksie in die Kovsies Steinhoff Koshuisliga in oenskou geneem.

Exciting Varsity Cup outfit, FNB Shimlas, won't be lacking any motivation for their most important clash of the season on August 1 when they travel to Potchefstroom to tackle Pukke in the 69th Intervarsity clash between the two old rivals.

We profile Hoerskool Menlo Park of Pretoria.

Stellenbosch Varsity Cup ace Morgan Newman has been named in the Western Province line-up for Saturday's Currie Cup opener against the defending champion Sharks at Newlands.

We profile St Alban's College of Pretoria.

Varsity Cup finalists, FNB Pukke, picked up some silverware when they beat FNB UJ in the final of the 2009 South African Student Sports Union (Sassu) tournament in Johannesburg on Friday evening.

varsitycup.co.za caught up with World Cup-winning 'eye coach' Sherylle Calder, who was part of UCT's 2009 Varsity Cup management team.

The USA Eagles, with UCT ace JJ Gagiano in their midst, have taken a 1-0 lead in their 2011 Rugby World Cup qualifying matches against neighbours, Canada.

Lions gone, Tri-Nations coming and the Currie Cup starts as South Africa's provinces go in search of the Holy Grail which Donald Currie sent out to South Africa in 1891.

Former rugby365 staffer Chris Waldburger, now part of the general populace but still very keen on his rugby, takes a very different look at the Springboks' performance against the British and Irish Lions. In fact, you could say he is on the flipside of the coin!

Having won the two Tests South Africa was well and truly beaten in the third Test and in fact was flattered by the final score. We give some statistics from the match.

The Lions avoided a whitewash in the most emphatic way, playing with determination and skill and giving the Springboks a hiding in Johannesburg.

UCT's Varsity Cup captain, JJ Gagiano, has been named on the bench for the USA Eagles' Rugby World Cup qualifying match against Canada at Blackbaud Stadium - in Charleston - on Saturday.

The United States captured the opening match of a two-leg World Cup qualifier, by beating Canada 12-6 at Blackbaud Stadium on Saturday.

Sergio Parisse and Schalk Burger were both found guilty this weekend and suspended for eye-gouging. They are not the only ones in recent times.

New Golden Lions signing and UCT Varsity Cup star, Pieter Engelbrecht, has been named on the bench for Friday evening's compulsory Currie Cup friendly against the Griffons at the North West Stadium in Welkom.

There is the last Test in the tough series between South Africa and Lions which will take centre stage with Stuart Dickinson to referee it. It would be a great mercy if it were just a sporting occasion.

rugby365's Jan de Koning takes a look at the strained relationship between Springbok coach Peter de Villiers and the media, as well as his often used muddled and synesthetic metaphors.

South Western Districts have chosen their teams for Craven Week, the Academy Week and the Grant Khomo Week.

The Welwitschias of Namibia beat the Elephants of Cote d?Ivoire 54-14 at Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium in Windhoek on Saturday to move a step closer to qualifying for the World Cup in New Zealand 2011. This was a second-round match after the teams had drawn 13-all in Abidjan, an unpleasant match.

Border Country Districts have chosen their team for the Craven Week, this year in East London starting on 13 July.

'n Gulde geleentheid wink vandeesweek vir die Shimla-rugbyspan om verlore aansien te herwin.

Border have 10 players back from the side that went to Craven Week in 2008.

The series winner for the Lions tour has been decided in a tough encounter in Pretoria when 16 points were scored in the last 10 minutes.

Limpopo has announced its school teams for the 2009 Craven and Academy Weeks, with Ben Vorster and Merensky well represented.

SA Referees have announced the referees appointed to various national weeks in South Africa, which, in the case of schools, start with the beginning of the mid-year holidays. The one which gets most prominence is the Craven Week which starts on the second week of July.

A host of Varsity Cup players have been named in the Boland squad for Friday's Currie Cup friendly against the Mighty Elephants in Port Elizabeth.

There are no prizes for guessing which school has most players going to Craven Week but we shall see who comes second, third and so on.

The Valke have announced three Under-18 teams for the upcoming Craven and Academy Weeks.

FNB Tuks skipper Johan de Bruin has signed a contract with the Valke and will captain the Brakpan-based outfit in the 2009 Currie Cup First Division.

FNB UJ romped to an impressive 67-13 win over Roodepoort on Thursday night; a result which sees the Varsity Cup side continue its impressive march up the Grand Challenge log.

The Northern Free State Griffons have announced their school sides for the 2009 Craven, Academy and Grant Khomo Weeks.

Namibia have chosen their four teams for Craven Weeks, Academy Week and Grant Khomo Week.

In the rain, hail and wind the Lions and the Emerging Springboks drew with a try when time was up and a conversion from touch as the rain made it as hard as possible for Willem de Waal.

Griquas have announced two teams for both the Craven and Academy weeks, with a Central team representing Kimberley and surrounds, as well a Country Districts team.

FNB Shimlas, having twice recently lost in the final of the City League, are the 2009 champions of Free State!

FNB Tuks recorded yet another resounding Carlton League victory at the weekend, beating Eersterust 91-0.

FNB UJ could move into first place on the Grand Challenge log should they defeat Roodepoort this evening.

The Emerging Springboks Sevens squad - with three Varsity Cup stars in its ranks - went down in the final of the annual Safari Sevens in Kenya at the weekend.

The big Tests this weekend are those in Sydney and Pretoria with Dave Pearson and Christophe Berdos as the men in the middle.

Most schools are not playing at present, what with Craven Week trials and exams, though some of those who do best at exams actually play at this time. Still there have been some interesting results.

Zimbabwe have announced their team to take part in the 2009 Craven Week in East London, starting on 13 July.

There were some big results this weekend - in the Wellington wet, in warm Durban and in slippery Tokyo where the Junior World Champions were decided.

Scotland A beat France A to win the IRB's Nations Cup in Bucharest on Sunday.

The Golden Lions have chosen their teams for the Craven Week, Academy Week, NWU-Puk Week and the Grant Khomo Week. Not surprisingly Monnas and KES feature p[riminently.

The Leopards have announced their teams to play at Craven Week and at the Academy Week.

South Africa won the first Test in Durban on Saturday. Up 26-7, they put on all their replacements, and Ole and nearly lost as the Lions came roaring back proudly.

After trials and trial matches with Western Province, Boland has announced its four teams - for Craven Week, The Academy Week, the Grant Khomo Week and the Under-13 Craven Week.

The KwaZulu Natal teams for the Craven Week, Academy Week and Grant Khomo Week have been announced. Not surprisingly Glenwood are well represented.

The IRB has announced the appointment of referees for the Final day, including the championship Final which will refereed by James Jones of Wales.

FNB Pukke lock Grant le Roux has signed a one-and-a-half year contract with the Boland Cavaliers, making him the umpteenth Varsity Cup player to move into a full-time professional set-up.

Wing Hosea Gear starred with three tries as a slick Junior All Blacks outfit beat disjointed Fiji 45-17 in the Pacific Nations Cup in Lautoka on Thursday.

France's top referee Joel Jutge has given up the battle against injury and has decided to quit active refereeing and go into administration.

Centre Piet van Zyl has signed a two-year contract with Bourgoin in France's Top 14.

The Lions beat the weakened Southern Kings team in the first sporting match ever played at the brand new Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth. We give some match stats.

There were few matches this last, long weekend, but we have rewarded teams that have particularly done well - Waterkloof, Monument, Selborne and Boland Landbou.

The Namib is a desert and it was tough for the Namibians in sopping wet Abidjan when they played and eventually drew 13-all with Cote d?Ivoire in a qualifier for the 2011 World Cup.

FNB UCT, playing their final Super League match of the first half of the season, recorded a hard-fought 22-19 win over a determined NNK side at the Green Mile on Friday evening.

There are competitions and tour matches and much of interest to referees as the top men swan around the world. The big match will be in Durban with Bryce Lawrence to referee it. Then in Wellington France have a chance to win a series in New Zealand, as they did in 1994. Marius Joubert will be the man in the middle for that one.

The Lions beat the weakened Western Province team at a partially filled Newlands on Saturday with a penalty four minutes from time. We give some match stats.

Three Varsity Cup players - one from FNB UJ and two from FNB UCT - have been named in the 12-man Emerging Springboks Sevens squad to compete in a tournament in Kenya this week.

It's testing time and a test which the All Blacks failed at the House of Pain and which the dilapidated Italian team passed in defeat.

The Ikey Tigers will be looking to finish the first half of their 2009 WP Super League season on a high when they take on NNK at the Green Mile on Friday evening (kick-off 6.30pm).

The IRB's Nations Cup kicked off in Bucharest on Fridayt with voictories fopr France A, Scotland A and hosts Romania.

HTS Sasolburg School Profile

The return of the Junior All Blacks to the Pacific Nations Cup tournament this year will ensure the other four teams will be fighting for second place.

The Western Province team to take on the touring British & Irish Lions side in Cape Town this weekend has a distinct Varsity Cup look to it.

KES suffered their first defeat of the year, which cost them a few places in that close part of the Top 20. In fact the whole of the Top 20 is close.

Varsity Cup players continue to break new ground on a daily basis, with UCT captain JJ Gagiano the latest star player to take yet another step up in the rugby world.

New Zealand referees' High Performance Referee Team is thrilled to announce the inclusion of six new referees.

The past few weeks have been the most frenetic of any student's lives this year, as UCT's Steinhoff Internal League drew to a close and exams started in earnest.

UCT's JJ Gagiano celebrated his fifth international cap for the USA Eagles by scoring his first Test try in a one-off clash against Six Nations side, Wales, in Chicago on Saturday.

FNB Tuks recorded their second big win of the 2009 Carlton League season over Brits, with the 2008 and 2009 Varsity Cup semifinalists racking up over 100 points on Saturday.

Eastern Province have chosen five teams to go to national weeks - two teams for Craven Week, two for the Academy Week and one for the Grant Khomo Week for Under-16 teams.

FNB TUT scored a 117-3 win over Eersterus in Carlton League action at the weekend.

The Lions' tour moves on and Test matches break out all over the world while it is all quiet on matches below Test level.

The WP Craven Week team has been announced and includes six Paul Roos players, including scrumhalf Rick Schroeder, who will captain the team.

varsitycup.co.za caught up with FNB Maties head coach Chean Roux, to get his views after Stellenbosch missed out on qualifying for the 2009 National Club Championships.

Good sides manage to win even when they are not playing so well. The Lions started off this match like a house on fire and contrived to win almost by default as the Cheetahs missed kicks at goal. We give some statistics.

Stellenbosch scrumhalf Conrad Hoffmann led the charge with a hat-trick of tries, as the Maties and Ikeys-heavy Western Province side smashed the Mighty Elephants in a pre-Currie Cup warm-up match in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

France has a champion, the Lions travel on unbeaten and the Junior World Championship gets under way.

The International Rugby Board's Junior World Championship for Under-20 teams kicks off in Japan on Friday. The referees for the first two rounds have been announced.

UCT's Varsity Cup captain, JJ Gagiano, has been named on the USA Eagles bench for Saturday's one-off Test against Wales in Chicago.

Canada and England Saxons are in pole position after the opening pool rounds of the 2009 Churchill Cup.

South Africa asked the International Rugby Board for a ruling when two contradictory actions occur at the same time in in-goal.

The French Rugby Federation asked the International Rugby Board for a ruling on the timing of the final whistle.

On 11 May 2009 the international Rugby Board gave a ruling on play at the tackle, which is important and makes sense. It allows a player who started an action legally to complete that action.

The B&I Lions demolished the Xerox Lions/Golden Lions at CocaCola Park in Johannesburg on Wednesday evening. We give some statistics from that match.

Jean-Pierre Matheu has been appointed to referee the Final of France's Top 14 at Stade de France on Saturday night, the first Final of his career. He is the latest in a long line of referees, stretching back, war breaks apart, to 1892.

Torrential rain in the Mile High City, Denver, on Tuesday did not dampen the Georgia national team's preparations for the fast-approaching Churchill Cup.

A host of Varsity Cup stars - including SA XV centre Morgan Newman - have been named in the Vodacom Western Province team for a pre-Currie Cup friendly in Port Elizabeth this Saturday.

The excitement is in South Africa and France this weekend as the Lions' tour gathers momentum and the French Championship Final is played at Stade de France.

Three Varsity Cup players have been named in a 16-man Emerging Sevens Training squad that will attend a training camp in Stellenbosch from June 10-13.

It seems that being second on the FNB Top 20 is the most vulnerable position of all. This year Paul Roos, Affies, Paarl Boys' High and Outeniqua have all been there and dropped down. Last weekend second-placed Paul Roos were the ones to come unstuck.

JBM Hertzog se eerste rugbyspan het Vrydagaand gewys hulle is die span om in vanjaar se Steinhoff Koshuisliga te klop.

FNB Maties bounced back from their home loss to Hamilton's last week to claim a bonus point win against a determined SK Walmers side on Saturday.

FNB Tuks recorded a crushing 94-0 Carlton League win over a hapless Eersterust team; confirming their place at the 2009 National Club Championships, which - of course - they will be hosting in September.

The University of Johannesburg were simply too strong for Raiders in their Grand Challenge fixture on Saturday.

FNB UCT very nearly caused a shock at the weekend before eventually being denied what would have been a well-deserved WP Super League win over Hamilton's in Green Point.

www.varsitycup.co.za caught up with FNB Pukke captain and star No.8 Willem van der Wal and asked him ten questions.

'n Nuwe inisiatief deur Steinhoff-Internasionaal om koshuisrugby nog meer glans te gee is onlangs begin.

The huge match was the Super 14 Final at a packed Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria which broke all sorts of records. And in Italy Benetton Treviso became the champions for the 14th time.

The people of Pretoria turned their city blue and so did their players in their first-ever home Super rugby final. We give some statistics for the match.

Overcoming a stuttering first-half performance, a South African XV managed an unconvincing 36-7 win over a Namibian Invitation team at the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek on Friday. Golden Lions to 'buy' winning team | LIVE COVERAGE

John Dobson, head coach of FNB UCT, has announced his strongest team possible for Saturday's Western Province Super League meeting against the top of the table Hamilton's.

FNB Pukke, with captain and star No.8 Willem van der Wal back in the mix, recorded a 36-12 Grand Challenge win over Vaal Reefs at the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds in Potchefstroom.

It remains a matter of conjecture what Springbok coach Peter de Villiers hopes to learn from the match in Windhoek on Friday, when a South African XV meet up with a Namibian side bolstered by five Springboks.

Charles Durand, a great referee in his active days and a powerful refereeing boss afterwards died on Tuesday 26 May 2009 at the age of 88.

The Blue Bulls have chosen three teams of schoolboys for the coming weeks - Craven Week, Academy Week and the Northvaal Under-19 Academy Week.

FNB UJ will be without star centre and captain Clinton de Klerk when they travel to Longdale to take on Raiders in a Grand Challenge fixture on Saturday.

Inspirational FNB Pukke captain Willem van der Wal is back at No.8 for his team's Grand Challenge meeting with Vaal Reefs in Potchefstroom on Thursday evening.

Ikey Tigers centre Pieter Engelbrecht has been drafted into the Golden Lions squad to play against the touring British & Irish Lions next week - yet another Varsity Cup player set to take the step up to a higher level this season.

FNB Maties' Morgan Newman will start at outside centre for the South African XV against a Namibian Invitation XV in Friday's one-off clash in Windhoek.

The inclusion of Earl Rose at fullback and Morgan Newman at centre are the big bolters in the South African XV, to play a Namibian Invitation XV in Windhoek on Friday, which was named on Wednesday. All your BRITISH and IRISH LIONS news

In 1993 when Super Rugby had its start, Freek Burger was the top South African referee and he refereed the first Final in South Africa with a South African team playing - Transvaal playing against Auckland.

It's the 17th Super rugby Final this weekend and, for the second time Jonathan Kaplan is the referee.

There are two matches likely to demand greater attention - the Super 14 Final, refereed by Jonathan Kaplan, and the opening match of the Lions' tour refereed by Marius Jonker. The two matches are not far from each other.

Maroela (Groep X), Boekenhout en Sonop (Groep Y) is steeds onoorwonne na die Tuks Steinhoff Koshuisliga wedstryde wat op Mei 19 beslis is.

There are changes this week with important wins for Monument and Wynberg, which have been the main reason for some changes.

It was tense and took a brilliant penalty goal in the last 10 minutes to produce a three-point victory. We give some statistics from the match.

We have just had all the excitement of the two semifinals, neither a cut-and-dried affair, both exciting, both, of course, demanding matches for a referee.

UCT's Steinhoff Internal League resumes this week for the last round of fixtures before the students head into exams and holidays. Wednesday's games will leave all teams with their final standings for Stage One and give us an idea of just where the 2009 competition is going.

Hendrik Conradie, JBM se sport-HK, se hy glo sy koshuis se eerste span kan in 2009 op sy vyfde plek van verlede jaar verbeter.

In a dramatic match in the Steinhoff Kovsies Koshuisliga, Vishuis recorded their first win of the season when they defeated Huis Armentum 28-27 on Friday night.

varsitycup.co.za spoke to FNB UJ star Earl Lewis about the Varsity Cup, his Seven-a-side skills and life away from the game!

FNB Tuks held out for a narrow, but important 14-7 Carlton League - and Varsity Cup 'derby' - win over TUT on Saturday.

Varsity Cup champions, FNB Maties, suffered a last-gasp 24-25 WP Super League loss to Hamilton's in Stellenbosch on Saturday.

FNB UCT made light work of SK Walmers in their Super League clash at the Green Mile on Saturday.

FNB UJ fullback Earl Lewis was in fine form as his team romped to a 54-34 win over Impalas in Grand Challenge action on Saturday afternoon.

The Heineken Cup Final has come and gone before a huge crowd in Edinburgh and so has the European Challenge Cup. Two intense matches have decided the finalists for the Super 14. Italy has decided finalists. The Asian Five Nations has ended and the European championship for Women. It is crunch time - fewer matches but distilled.

The Argentinian Rugby Union has announced two teams of Jaguars, one to play against Uruguay this weekend, the other for the Churchill Cup.

The addition of five players from the Blue Bulls has taken the Namibian Invitations XV, to play a South African selection in Windhoek next Friday, a step closer to completion.

Varsity Cup and WP Super League champions, FNB Maties, will go head-to-head with Hamilton's on Saturday in a top-of-the-table Super League clash in Stellenbosch.

FNB UJ will be looking to bounce back from last week's Grand Challenge loss to Pirates when they take on Impala on Saturday afternoon.

The International Rugby Board has confirmed that Fiji will host the Pacific Nations Cup 2009. The awarding of the key international tournament to the Fiji Rugby Union represents a further boost to the continued development of the sport in the region.

paultreusevens.com caught up with former Varsity Cup star Kyle Brown to find out about the step up to international rugby!

FNB TUT flyhalf Werner Pieterse will lead his team into battle against Tuks this weekend in a Carlton League fixture doubling up as a Varsity Cup derby game.

FNB UCT head coach John Dobson is wary of the challenge his team will face against a 'different' SK Walmers outfit in Western Province Super League action at the Green Mile on Saturday afternoon.

The new laws will come into effect in South Africa on 1 June 2009, in time for the start of the Currie Cup as 10 of the 13 experimental law variations become law.

Die nuweling in vanjaar se Steinhoff K1-liga, Heimat, het reeds gewys hy gaan nie net die getalle opmaak nie, maar het ook die beker in die oog. Met seges oor Armentum en Veritas mik Heimat hoog in die rugbyliga.

Maties wing Lewellyn Winkler has been selected for the Namibian Invitation XV, ahead of next Friday's game against the South African training squad.

Saracens-bound Springbok Derick Hougaard heads a list of five Springboks included in a Namibian Invitation team that will face a South African XV in Windhoek next Friday, May 29. All your Super Rugby news! | LIVE COVERAGE - S14 & HC

Three good match-ups are expected in the Steinhoff Kovsies Koshuis League this weekend - the second last round of matches for the term.

FNB Tuks are still at the top of the Carlton League standings after their crushing 99-5 win over Brits at the weekend.

Whew! It's over. The Round Robin part is over and it seems just yesterday that it began. Some of the totals we have now are completed - team with most tries, team most penalised, team that conceded most disciplinary sanctions - amongst other things. There is even a team without disciplinary problems.

We have made only one change to our starting XV in our weekly Springbok selection and there's another switch on the bench.

The number of matches may be thinning down but some are huge - the Finals of Europe's big two and the semifinals of the Super 14. There are top referees to do these matches with Nigel Owens at Murrayfield.

Maties ace Morgan Newman has been named in a 23-man South African training squad that will face a Namibian Invitation XV in Windhoek next Friday.

Another round of exciting Steinhoff UJ Koshuisugby kicks-off tonight at Milo Park when a confident Oppierif side meets Afslaan and 'Drom' face Kanniedood.

The Spanish Rugby Federation today announced that the Iberian Rugby Cup had been cancelled after the withdrawal first Spanish and then of Portuguese sides.

Defending champions Maroela are still on course for yet another title in Tukkies' Steinhoff Winter Hostel League.

It was an awkward week this for the FNB Top 20 because so many schools did not play. There were trials here and there and then there was some wet in the Cape that meant that three of our top schools did not have a game.

Beaten 62-7 a week ago, Namibia lost their second encounter against the Jaguars 19-7 in Buenos Aires on Friday night.

SANZAR has announced the full complement of match officials for the semifinals which will be refereed by Stuart Dickinson and Bryce Lawrence, two of the refrerees appointed to the Lions' Tests in South Africa later this year.

FNB Tuks claimed a whopping 99-5 Carlton League win over a shell-shocked Brits outfit at the weekend.

Recently there have been two cases in South Africa of player assault on a referee in a lower league club match leading Andre Watson, South Africa's referee boss, to call for life bans for players who physically assault a referee.

Academics will take first preference at UCT this week, with the Ikeys' Steinhoff Internal League fixtures taking a backseat to exams.

Varsity Cup Managing Director Duitser Bosman recently hosted a hunting trip for the Varsity Cup club managers - a worthwhile and enjoyable excursion for all who attended.

There was a huge final at Twickenham and the finalisation of semifinalists in Super 14 and in France while Italy's semifinals had their first round.

We caught up with UCT captain and German international, Bodo Sieber, to talk Varsity Cup, RWC qualifiers and Intervarsity...

FNB UJ suffered a 13-19 Grand Challenge loss to Pirates on Saturday - a result which has put paid to their chances of qualifying for the 2009 National Club Championships.

Varsity Cup champs, FNB Maties, maintained their unbeaten record in the 2009 Western Province Super League with a 41-20 win over Helderberg on Saturday.

FNB Pukke recorded a convincing 41-16 win over Roodepoort in Pirates Grand Challenge action at the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds in Potchefstroom on Saturday.

FNB TUT backed up last week's Carlton Cup win over Silver Valke, with a 29-16 win over Harlequins at the weekend.

Star scrumhalf Donald Stevens has been recalled to the FNB Maties starting line-up for Saturday's WP Super League clash against Helderberg.

This is it - the last round of the league matches before the play-offs. Some major decisions have been made - semifinalists and relegatees. Who plays whom in the semis and who will get to the Heineken Cup still need to be decided.

The Jaguars, and Argentinian selection, play Namibia at La Plata Rugby Club on Friday night, the second of the two-match tour.

Saturday's Western Province Super League match between UCT and Kraaifontein - at the Green Mile - has been postponed due to the severe weather conditions expected in the Mother City.

The SA Vipers Sevens squad, despite having a strong Varsity Cup influence in their playing group, went down to 21-26 to Tunisia in the semifinals of the hotly-contested Tangiers Sevens last weekend.

Star fullback, and Sevens specialist, Earl Lewis has been named in the FNB UJ team for Saturday's Grand Challenge game against Pirates.

The referees for the semifinals and the Final of the Super 14 competition have been announced by SANZAR, easier to do now that referees are appointed on merit regardless of their residence.

Varsitybeker span Shimlas kan vandag reeds tot eerste posisie op die puntelys van die Stadsbeker-kompetisie skuif.

Things are getting really hot in the Super 14 now as we approach the last round of the league matches. We give some statistics.

New WP backline coach Robbie Fleck continues his build-up to the British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa by selecting his Bok halfbacks...

FNB Tuks have announced their starting line-up ahead of Saturday afternoon's Carlton League game against Brits, with lock Johan de Bruin set to captain the students.

The International Rugby Board had appointed South Africans to two World Cup Qualifiers and to the Women?s Under-20 Nations Cup.

In another exciting week of Steinhoff Koshuisrugby action at the University of Johannesburg, Bastion had to work hard to win their first division clash against Oppierif, whilst Dromedaris beat Afslaan.

There were some interesting Steinhoff Internal League clashes on the Green Mile last night, as several of the top contenders were in action - including last year's finalists.

Pukke coach Rudy Joubert has announced his starting line-up for Saturday's Pirates Grand Challenge clash against Roodepoort at the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds in Potchefstroom.

The match that will be most watch this weekend is the Final of England's Premiership with Wayne Barnes to referee it.

The International Rugby Board Council unanimously approved the recommendations made by the IRB Rugby Committee at its meeting on 13 May 2009 and approved 10 of the 13 global Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) for adoption into the Laws of the Game. They come into operation on 23 May 2009.

Karee kan hom vanjaar uit die staanspoor in 'n sterk posisie bevind met presies dieselfde groep spelers as verlede jaar.

Heimat recorded a somewhat unexpected win over Armentum in a Kovsie Steinhoff Koshuis league match on Friday night.

This week there is an important change to our Bok team, with the arrival of the British & Irish Lions team now less than three weeks away.

FNB Shimlas were made to fight by the Crusaders but the students from Bloemfontein still managed a more-than-useful 29-13 'Stadsbeker' win at the Clive Solomon Stadium in Heidedal.

The past two weeks of Steinhoff Internal League rugby have certainly set quite a precedent with some fast paced, try-rich games being plentiful in the first two rounds of competition. This week spectators will be hoping for more of the same as some of the top sides square up against each other on the Green Mile.

2009 Varsity Cup finalists, FNB Pukke, top the Pirates Grand Challenge log after the latest round of league action - but all the teams below them have at least one game in hand.

It may not be tough at the top but it's certainly tough near the top when you have to take on the top side in the FNB Top 20.

FNB UCT head coach John Dobson has admitted to being disappointed by his team's 16-16 draw with archrivals Stellenbosch in their Intervarsity fixture at Newlands on Saturday.

FNB UJ romped to a 46-6 Grand Challenge win over Alberton at Milo Park on Saturday.

FNB Tuks confirmed their position at the top of the Carlton Cup log with a comprehensive 45-11 win over the Naka Bulle at the weekend.

Craig Joubert will blow the final whistle on the league part of the Super 14 when he takes charge of the last match - between the Sharks and the Bulls, a match of no small significance.

FNB Maties and FNB UCT played to a 16-16 draw in a thrilling Intervarsity - and WP Super League - clash at Newlands on Saturday afternoon.

In England the championship finalists have been decided, and the Super 14, Italy's Super 10 and France's Top 14 are heading for the final showdowns, but there were also teams who won competitions in South Africa, Spain, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

FNB TUT fought back from 6-8 down at half-time to record a well-deserved 24-8 Carlton Cup win over Silver Valke on Friday evening.

The Jaguars, a new Argentinian selection, beat the touring Namibian team 62-7 at Club Atletico San Isidro in Buenos Ares on Friday night. It was the Jaguars' first match and the Namibians first match in Argentina.

Romania and Spain play off in Madrid to see which of the two will be crowned Under-21 Champions of Europe - neighbour battling neighbour for the title. The last round will be played at Estadio Universidad Complutense on Saturday, 9 May

Namibia meet the Jaguars in Buenos Aires on Friday, 8 May 2009 at 21.00 at Club Atletico San Isidro.

Round Two of the Steinhoff UCT Kohsuis League got underway on Wednesday night with reigning champions, the Cobras, taking on Kopano res on the Green Mile. The match was not going to be one for the underdogs though, as the Cobras dominated from the outset with some very physical rugby.

Bastion Manskoshuis het Woensdagaand in die Universiteit van Johannesburg (UJ) se Steinhoff Koshuisliga gewys dat hulle hierdie jaar met niks minder as die beker tevrede gaan wees nie, toe albei hulle spanne Kanniedood gemaklik met 59-5 en 42-0 oorrompel het.

FNB UCT head coach John Dobson is backing the smooth and wide Newlands playing surface to help deliver an entertaining Intervarsity clash between his side, UCT, and Stellenbosch on Saturday afternoon.

UCT's Varsity Cup captain, loose forward JJ Gagiano, has been called up to train with the Western Province Currie Cup squad.

FNB Pukke continued their fine form in the 2009 Grand Challenge with a dominant 65-10 win over Randfontein on Thursday evening.

FNB UJ have announced their side for Saturday's Grand Challenge meeting with Alberton.

TUT have announced their team that will do battle with Silver Valke in Carlton Cup action in Blue Bulls country this evening.

FNB UCT backline coach Robbie Fleck, who has coached at Varsity Cup level for the past two seasons, has been snapped up by Western Province for the 2009 Currie Cup.

Injuries have upset the balance of Robbie Fleck's Bok selection, but rugby365.com's columnist takes a look at the make-up of his Bok midfield this week...

The Steinhoff Koshuis League at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) kicked off with a bang last Wednesday.

Vishuis het dit die afgelope paar jaar nie altyd maklik gehad in hierdie Steinhoff Koshuis liga nie en kon verlede jaar die eerste keer in die nuwe millennium 'n beker wen toe hy die plaat met sy sege oor Karee (34-17) in die plaat-eindstryd ingeoes het.

FNB Maties and FNB UCT have both announced powerful starting line-ups for Saturday afternoon's mouth-watering Intervarsity clash at Newlands.

These long weekends do not make things easier as many schools have breaks or play at different times. Gathering scores is less easy.

The SA Vipers - strengthened by the inclusion of several Varsity Cup stars - departed for Morocco on Wednesday to play in the annual Tangiers Sevens tournament.

The Super 12 going down to the wire and there are all sorts of ifs and buts, possibilities and disappointments. Here we give just some statistics for each match plus some match and team totals. You can then see the most and fewest, best and worst of each match and team.

Yes, our team is showing some dramatic changes, most notably in the front row and the back three. And the bench also has a different look.

FNB Pukke have made two injury-enforced changes to their side for Thursday's Grand Challenge meeting with Randfontein.

There are tough matches this weekend for the referees - semifinals in England, crunch matches in Super 14, finals in Ireland, South Africa, Wales and Spain.

FNB Maties coach Chean Roux is looking forward to Saturday's Intervarsity clash against archrivals UCT at Newlands, a match that will see two of the Western Cape's - and the Varsity Cup's - top clubs go head-to-head.

Al die eerste spanne in Groep Y van Tuks se Steinhoff-Koshuisliga speel Dinsdag (Mei 5) hul eerste wedstryde nadat die deelnemers in die ander afdeling reeds almal hul staal begin wys het.

This week's Steinhoff Koshuis fixtures at UCT are set to produce a fantastic night of rugby. With six rugby games to be played on Wednesday evenings, fans should be treated to quite a spectacle.

Phillip Bosch of Eastern Province has been appointed to referee the Final of the Vodacom Cup at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

SANZAR has announced the referees appointed to the matches of Week 13 in the Super 14, the penultimate weekend with sides jockeying for top positions for semifinals, preferably at home.

Varsity Cup finalists, FNB Pukke, took another step closer towards qualifying for the 2009 National Club Championships after beating Vaal Reefs 22-8 in Orkney on Saturday afternoon.

When people complain about the deleterious effect of the experimental law variations point them at two matches - The Hurricanes vs the Blues, which was played under Super 14 laws, and that thrilling, agonising, compelling semifinal between Leicester Tigers and Cardiff Blues.

The Western Cape's Varsity Cup representatives, the Maties and the Ikey Tigers, both recorded big victories in Western Province Super League action on Friday.

The Super 14 is building to a climax with a tight contest for semifinal places. We give some statistics with totals from some facets of the game. You can then see the most and fewest, best and worst of each match and team.

Round 3 was the last of the pool rounds of the IRB's Junior World Trophy being played in Nairobi, Kenya. It was the round that would decide how the final round would be played.

Huis Armentum's triumph in the Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championship has breathed new life into the Kovsie Koshuisrugby League.

Die Steinhoff Kovsie-rugby-koshuisliga het verlede Vrydagaand byna met 'n groot opskudding begin.

The Steinhoff UCT Koshuis League got underway on Wednesday night in typically wet and windy conditions on the Green Mile.

No.8 Nelis Nel will captain FNB Pukke against Vaal Reefs in Grand Challenge action on Saturday afternoon.

Jaco Swanepoel's FNB Shimlas side romped to a 90-3 win over Collegians in 'Stadsbeker' action in Bloemfontein on Wednesday evening, despite leading by just 24-3 at half-time.

Talented Western Province scrumhalf Conrad Hoffman has been named on the FNB Maties bench for Friday night's WP Super League clash against Kraaifontein.

rugby365.com columnist Robbie Fleck has started to assemble his Springbok squad for the upcoming Lions tour, with fullback and wing coming under discussion...

WP Vodacom Cup star Jody Burch will captain FNB UCT in their tricky Western Province Super League clash against Helderberg on Friday afternoon.

FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International champions, FNB Maties, continued on their winning ways in the WP Super League with a hard-fought 19-9 win over NNK at the weekend.

Varsity Cup semifinalists, FNB Tuks, are heading up the club league in Blue Bulls country - having won four of their first five Carlton Cup matches to date.

The Rugby Board has announced the match officials for matches in mid year, a huge number of them, starting with Canada vs Ireland at Thuderbird Stadium in Vancouver and ending with Australia against New Zealand in the Tri-Nations.

Yoh! We have had a big weekend behind us in which several of the country's top schools have been playing against each other. This has had a seismic effect on the FNB Top 20.

By SANZAR's rules, a citing must be done within 12 hours of the match. In exceptional circumstances a late citing is allowed. The citing of Sione Lauaki was out of time and the judicial officer found no exceptional circumstances.

The International Rugby Board has announced its new panels of referees - 17 of them at the top, a development panel, a panel of specialised assistant referees and TMOs.

The 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International has produced yet another Super 14 player, with UCT lock forward Martin Muller joining club mate and utility back Tiger Bax on the Stormers' bench.

FNB Shimlas should have little trouble retaining their unbeaten status in this year's 'Stadsbeker' competition when they lock horns with Collegians in Bloemfontein on Wednesday night (kick-off 8.15pm).

It is the third last round and with many people jockeying for a semifinal berth and home-ground advantage it is a hectic time for teams. That means the pressure on the referees increases.

We have named an unchanged starting XV this week, but our 'bubbling under' bench does show a few changes.

John Dobson's FNB UCT side bounced back from their shock midweek loss to Victorians, beating a strong Villagers side 26-7 in WP Super League action at the Green Mile on Saturday afternoon.

Bryce Lawrence, Christophe Berdos and Stuart Dickinson have been confirmed as the three referee's for the three test matches during the British and Irish Lions' 10-match Tour of South Africa, starting on 30 May, 2009.

The ineptness of South African administrators have succeeded, yet again, to let somebody off the hook - this time, head-hunting Chiefs and All Black loose forward Sione Lauaki.

In Ireland, finalists were decided, in England semifinalists. It's an exciting time.

FNB UCT will be looking to bounce back against southern suburbs foes, Villagers, when the two teams go head-to-head at the Green Mile in WP Super League action on Saturday.

After some time out of the game 'for personal reasons' Steve Walsh has announced that he is to quit refereeing in New Zealand. One of the best referees in the world in his time, he is now only just 36 years of age.

The University of Johannesburg upset the form book in Grand Challenge action this week, beating Varsity Cup finalists, the Pukke, 25-20 in a hard-fought match on Thursday night.

Because there has been a lot of talk about the penalty try that wasn't in Durban last weekend, we talk about it here.

FNB UCT assistant coach Robbie Fleck believes Tiger Bax's elevation to the Stormers bench is a great moment for the Varsity Cup competition.

For the first time in 2009, tentatively, knowing just how fallible the process is, we produce our first FNB Top 20 for 2009 in the certain knowledge that there will be changes.

Things are getting tense now as the top sides jockey for the top places. There are match and individual totals at the end.

There's just one change to our starting XV this week, as we also believe in consistency. But there is plenty of movement on the bench. Jan de Koning brings you this week's picks!

FNB UCT backline star Tiger Bax has been called up to the Stormers squad and will join the side ahead of their final Super 14 match on tour - against the Highlanders in Dunedin this Friday.

Things are tight amongst the Four Home Unions where Magners League and England's Premiership play their last round before the play-offs. There are semifinals in Ireland and then France and the Super 14 are building towards a watershed.

Freelance writer and rugby365 contributor Drew Maclean tells us why the Stormers are on a slippery slope into a mire of mediocrity.

The University of Western Cape (UWC) and Fort Hare, both of whom are pressing hard for FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International qualification, were handed a welcome cash injection this week.

The Junior World Trophy kicked off in Nairobi on Tuesday with a disappointment for the host nation when Namibia beat them.

Australian referees dominate Round 11 of the Super 14 in this new age of merit appointments. But the "big" matches fall to Bryce Lawrence and Craig Joubert while Jonathan, Stuart Dickinson, Mark Lawrence and Marius Jonker cool their heels.

The top two on the Varsity Cup log this year - and last year, FNB Maties and FNB UCT, both made bright starts in the Western Province's competitive Super League A with comfortable wins.

This is the time of final decisions. Cups were won at Twickenham this weekend. In Spain CRC Madrid are the champions and Getxo Artea demoted.

The Pukke have not had a lot of rest since the 2009 Varsity Cup Final. And they certainly won't get it this weekend...

FNB UCT will make a busy start to their 2009 Super League campaign with three games in the space of just one week, starting with this Saturday's clash against Durbanville/Bellville ('Durbell').

rugby365.com's Robbie Fleck looks ahead to this weekend's Super 14 action, tipping the Sharks to avenge last week's shock loss to the Cheetahs...

Agreement on the most contentious of rugby's experimental laws is close and will produce the "perfect game", says Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.

FNB UJ became the third South African team to win the famous Melrose Sevens tournament in the last six years, after a fine 35-21 victory over the hosts, Melrose, in the final at the Greenyards at the weekend.

The Disciplinary Commission of the Romanian Rugby Federation (FRR) has handed down tough suspensions to players involved in a brawl earlier this month between rivals Farul Constanta and Dinamo Bucharest.

The Super 14 ploughed on through the Easter Weekend with a shock result in Bloemfontein on Easter Saturday. We again have statistics for the weekend with some totals down below which will tell you which team has scored most tries and which team has been naughtiest.

There are three finals at Twickenham this weekend and competitions getting more and more crucial in the south as well as the north.

There are some dramatic changes to our Springbok team this week, with some players having literally played themselves out of contention.

SANZAR has named the referees for Round 10 of the Super 14, in which Stuart Dickinson and James Leckie will be involved in eager Derbies.

Apart from the runaway victory at Thomond Park the Heineken Cup quarters were tense affairs.

Nine players were hurt Saturday in a violent punch-up which erupted in a match pitting Dinamo Bucharest against Romanian league rivals Farul Constanta, local media reported.

The Churchill Cup will take place in Colorado this year, marking the first time North America's premier XV-a-side tournament has been staged solely in the United States.

FNB Tuks' Freddie Grobler lives a double life... You see, aside from his Varsity Cup duties - as the Tuks head coach - the likeable 38-year-old will once again be looking after the SA Students' Seven-a-side squad.

Playing selector is fun, so much more so when your team doesn't have to play. We here at rugby365 enjoy having fun so we will play selector again.

Things are really hotting up as we pass the half-way mark for the round robin. And the clash in Durban was really a hot one.

Europe's top competitions get to the quarterfinals this week - big occasions, testing matches for players and referees.

The FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International tournament has once again come and gone - but it is clear that it is going from strength to strength and will be an important part of the South African rugby calendar for many years to come.

SANZAR has announced the match officials for Week 9 of the Super 14. The principle of merit selection is not immediately obvious.

The third last in the IRB's Sevens Series took place in Adelaide and we have cup winners in Ireland and Spain.

Retired All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick has joined the growing band of critics of the Experimental Law Variations, saying it is encouraging players to "cheat".

The 9th AER-FIRA Under-18 European Cup kicks off in Toulon on Saturday, 4 April 2009 with 32 countries taking part.

Ok, so rugby365.com columnist Robbie Fleck called the Crusaders-Bulls match incorrectly. But you can get his other weekend predictions and Super 14 views here, too!

FNB UCT assistant coach Robbie Fleck has praised the Varsity Cup organisers for yet another successful hosting of the tournament, whilst he also believes the event can only continue to get "bigger and better" in the future.

The IRB's working party that met in London on Monday and Tuesday have so far rejected everything seriously different that the experimental law variations tried.

FNB Maties head coach Chean Roux was understandably elated with his team's successful defence of their Varsity Cup title, but he did not have much time to celebrate Stellenbosch's victory.

It seems just yesterday the Super 14 started and here we are half way through the round robin stage. We give statistics for the six matches and then match and team totals.

The experimental law variations (ELV's) have been a topic of discussion at a two day conference in London this week and, while they have done no more than make recommendations, it does seem some of the new laws could be on their way out.

English chiefs were in buoyant mood after leading what appeared to be a successful European challenge to the permanent implementation of the most drastic Experimental Law Variations.

April is upon us already, described by a poet as "the cruelest, cruelest month". We hope that it will be a happy month for all referees, especially in Europe where so many competitions are coming to a head - and a sad bottom in some cases. It willk be a cruel month for some clubs.

Shimlas' Huis Armentum are the best hostel rugby team in South Africa. This came after a convincing 30-16 win over Dromedaris (UJ) in the 2009 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships Final in Stellenbosch on Monday.

The FNB Maties made a clean sweep in the 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International; with one of their players walking off with the Player of the Tournament Award, the Men in Maroon being crowned as the most exciting team of the tournament and, of course, also successfully defending their title on Monday evening.

Maties are the champions. Again. This time, and for the second time, they have won the FNB Varsity Cup, presented by Steinhoff International. Maties, the University of Stellenbosch, beat Pukke, the University of the North West, 11-6 in the final on Monday night at Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.

SANZAR has released the referees appointed to Round 8 of the 2009 Super 14.

Dromedaris (UJ) have made one change ahead of tonight's Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships Final clash with Shimlas side, Huis Armentum.

It's South Africa's best university rugby side against the country's best club team; it's the 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International Final between Maties and Pukke at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.

Nothing but a win will be good enough for Huis Armentum this afternoon. Of course, Armentum, from University of the Free State, will clash with Dromedaris (UJ) in the 2009 Steinhoff Koshuis Championships Final (kick-off 5pm).

Fiji won the prestigious Hong Kong Sevens in a thrilling Final, decided when South Africa missed the last kick of the match.

FNB Shimlas assistant coach Dougie Heymans believes the Maties deserve to start the 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International Final as firm favourites.

The kick-off time for Monday's Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships Final between Huis Armentum and Dromedaris has been changed.

There is plenty at stake for both teams during Monday's 2009 Varsity Cup Final between FNB Maties and FNB Pukke in Stellenbosch, but even more to gain for those not involved in the final!

Na vier oortuigende seges in die 2009 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Kampioenskap, le slegs een hekkie nog in die pad van Huis Armentum en beker-glorie.

Lock Jaco Nepgen has been named in the FNB Maties starting line-up for Monday evening's Varsity Cup Final clash against the FNB Pukke at Stellenbosch's Danie Craven Stadium.

It's not often a UCT 'boytjie' backs a Stellenbosch team, but Ikey Tigers assistant coach Robbie Fleck has doffed his cap at the Maties ahead of Monday's 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International Final.

Dromedaris, the University of Johannesburg's all-conquering koshuis team, would love nothing more than winning the 2009 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships and thereby finishing the season unbeaten.

FNB Pukke head coach Rudy Joubert has named an unchanged starting XV for Monday's 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International Final against the Maties.

The South African Schools team on Tuesday comprehensively outclassed their Italy Schools opponents 86-3 at the GWK Park in Kimberley.

Saturday saw a somewhat frustrating game of rugby for the die-hard Western Province fan in their loss to the Blue Bulls, writes rugby365 columnist Jon Harris.

The International Rugby Board has established the Americas Rugby Championship, which will unite ugby in North and South America in a high performance sub-international structure for the first time.

With the international season well underway we decided to look at some of the international individuals who stood out during the mid-year Tests.

Playing with only 14 players for three-quarters of the match, the U.S. Men?s National Rugby Team struggled to stick to its pattern and fell to the Canadians, 41-18, in the second game of their home-and-away Rugby World Cup Qualifying series in Edmonton on Saturday.

All the fixtures and tournament winners from the 2008/09 IRB Sevens Series.

There is significant interest from Australian Super 14 sides for New Zealand's IRB Junior Player of the Year, Aaron Cruden, which could in turn lead to him playing for the Wallabies rather than the All Blacks.

Australian National Rugby League club Sydney Roosters has signed South African teenager JP du Plessis on a three-year contract, while they are also heading to the Craven Week (SA's premier schoolboy tournament) in search of promising youngsters.

The recently completed Junior World Championship 2009 in Japan has been hailed a success by the International Rugby Board as its set a new benchmark for attendance, while leaving a lasting legacy for Rugby in Japan.

The USA Men?s National Rugby Team won its first test match of the season and snapped its six-game losing streak by beating Georgia 31-13 at Dick?s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City on Sunday.

New Zealand Under 20 wing, Zac Guildford, experienced a major family tragedy after his father, Robert, passed away at the final of the International Rugby Board Junior World Championships in Tokyo on Sunday.

New Zealand Captain Aaron Cruden has been named the International Rugby Board Junior Player of the Year 2009, the second of the prestigious IRB Awards in association to be presented this year.

Canada will achieve its highest ever finish in the seven years of the Churchill Cup regardless of the result against Argentina Jaguars at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Sunday.

Denver Barbarians John Van Der Giessen and Nic Johnson can propel USA Eagles up the world rankings when they play Georgia in Sunday's Churchill Cup Test at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

Fiji ended a three-year losing streak against Pacific neighbor Tonga when it won its opening match in rugby's Pacific Nations Cup 36-22 on Saturday in the Tongan capital.

Ulster scrumhalf Isaac Boss will captain the Ireland A team in their opening game of the Churchill Cup against Canada at Glendale, Colorado on Wednesday.

With British & Irish Lions fever high in South Africa, rugby365 columnist Ebrahim Moerat takes a look at a possible SANZAR selection to rival the tourists.

With all the hype surrounding the arrival of the British & Irish Lions, rugby365 columnist Ebrahim Moerat believes it's time to re-introduce a lost tradition...International Rugby Tours.

The Namibian Invitation team due to face a South African XV in Windhoek next Friday is struggling to confirm players for the fixture, after the Sharks, Cheetahs and Western Province refused to release invited players.

With the Super 14 entering its final fortnight, rugby365 columnist, Ebrahim Moerat, takes a look at which of the SANZAR nations stand to benefit most from Super 14 success.

Following formal representations from European Challenge Cup finalists Bourgoin and the French club's body, the LNR, ERC has agreed to move the Challenge Cup final from Gloucester's Kingsholm to the Twickenham Stoop on Friday, 22 May.

rugby365.com columnist Robbie Fleck tries to get inside the head of British & Irish Lions coach Ian McGeechan... and he also makes his Super 14 picks for the upcoming weekend's action.

With the IPL set to hit South African shores, rugby365 columnist Ebrahim Moerat thinks rugby needs similar spice to rev up the game.

New Zealand Rugby Union boss, Steve Tew has rubbished claims that the SANZAR nations have campaigned for the Experimental Law Variations'(ELVs) introduction, to negate traditional forward strength.

Rugby's Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) look set to be scrapped.

There has been a South African team at the top of the Super 14 standings since Week One - the first six weeks the Bulls sat in first place and at the weekend the Sharks moved to the No.1 spot.