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It's a surprise that this weekend is so ordinary - at least on the surface but there are still many close encounters, many matches to bring the best out of referees.

Francois Louw's omission from the Springbok squad is another mistake by the Bok selectors and coach Peter de Villiers, writes rugby365.com columnist Grant Ball.

New Zealand took gold at the Commonwealth Games. In South Africa there were big winners and losers as the season rises to its climax.

It is semifinal time in the Currie Cup and lots of anxious dancing about because a semi means so much for the teams, not least financially.

The South African Rugby Union needs to give the Springbok Sevens side all the help necessary if they're to challenge seriously for Olympic Gold in 2016, writes Grant Ball in his new rugby365.com column.

Craig Joubert at 32 becomes the youngest referee to referee a Currie Cup Final on 30 October 2010. For any South African referee this match is special. Joubert looks to the final of the Currie Cup, as he answers questions put to him by rugby365.com.

Alain Rolland of Ireland, the 2007 World Cup Final referee, has again withdrawn from his Heineken Cup appointment through injury.

South African Referees announced on Tuesday that Craig Joubert would referee the Currie Cup Final on 30 October 2010, regardless of who the finalists are or where it will be played.

Our new Extra-time feature has attracted plenty of attention in its first week of existence. Some readers, however, seem unsure about just what we're trying to do...

The South African Rugby Referees Association on Tuesday announced its appointments to the Finals to be played on 30 October 2010. Craig Joubert will referee the Final.

The Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup have started with great international activity while domestically South Africa has decided its semifinalists for the Currie Cup. The last, crucial league match at Newlands drew a crowd of over 45 000.

Stu Berry has arrived in Delhi where he is to referee the Sevens at the Commonwealth Games. This is his first report on his experiences.

The Commonwealth Sevens ends, the domestic competitions in South Africa are on the fringe of ending and European Rugby goes into a second round. There are referees whizzing all over the place.

Auckland ITM Cup head coach Mark Anscombe has been appointed as coach of the New Zealand Under-20 team for their 2011 campaign.

Welcome to the second edition of rugby365.com's new bi-weekly feature, Extra-time. This time we tackle weight issues, some more - erm - bad tackles and some, well, 'skills' from Down Under in Australia.

Former Springbok coach Jake White looks at how refereeing decisions impact matches, but says that teams shouldn't complain as that's the nature of the game.

Injuries to referees Alain Rolland of Ireland and Nigel Owens of Wales have forced their withdrawals from the opening round of the European Rugby Cop's competitions, which has led to other changes.

Welcome to rugby365.com's new bi-weekly feature, Extra-time, where we scour the internet to find you some funny bits and bobs... and also some serious moments - all of which help to make this great game of rugby union such a popular sport.

Engela Pretorius has been elected as the first female to chair a referees' society in South Africa, following her election by the Border Referees' Society. The election took place on Sunday, 3 October 2010.

A new course for the development of referees is to be introduced at Stellenbosch University next year.

Europe's international competitions for clubs and regions starts this week - always tough and interesting. In South Africa the Currie Cup's league matches come to an exciting end.

New South Wales have produced a winner of its main competition, the semifinalists of the Currie Cup are decided, and there were surprises in the Magners League.

This weekend all seven of France's Top 14 matches will be refereed by referees from the other Six Nations countries, not France.

There are few changes since the last panels were announced in April. The most notable change is the return of Steve Walsh after a two-year absence.

The International Rugby Board has appointed match officials to the 24 international matches during November - including two World Cup qualifiers.

Controversial referee Steve Walsh's two-year exile from the highest level of the game is set to come to an end in November.

FNB Maties had their treble hopes dashed by a determined College Rovers side in the final of the 2010 SAA National Club Championships in Stellenbosch on Friday.

The Portuguese Rugby Federation has announced the appointment of 42-year-old New Zealander Errol Brain to replace long-standing national coach Tomaz Morais.

The European Nations Cup gets back in business before the winter freeze with two matches. In Ireland their club competition kicks off. The referees are busy and there are big matches for experienced Craig Joubert and comparative rookie Stu Berry.

All that stands between the Varsity Cup champions and an unprecented hat-trick of local club titles - all in one season - are KZN champions College Rovers.

Varsity Cup champs, FNB Maties, kept alive their hopes of an unprecedented domestic treble by moving into the final of the 2010 SAA National Club Championships.

Maties boss Chean Roux is preparing his students for a 'massive game' against Hamilton's when the two WP clubs clash in the semifinals of the 36th SAA National Club Champs at the Danie Craven Stadium on Wednesday.

There is an interesting incident in the match between London Irish and Gloucester, which is worth looking at. And while we are about it we shall look at two other incidents from the match.

It's the semifinal everyone wanted - Maties v Hamilton's in the Last Four of the 2010 Club Championships.

There is actually a Test this week as Tongans fly across the great Pacific to Chile. But there is again lots of top club rugby to keep referees on their toes.

FNB UCT ended their 2010 season - a year that promised a lot - with a 43-41 WP Super League win over Helderberg on Saturday.

Steinhoff Patriot suffered their first defeat in TUT's 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships, with Steinhoff Magalies and Steinhoff Monitor the new pace-setters in the league.

There will be no complacency when Hamilton's face Progress in the pick of the quarterfinals at the National Club Championships in Stellenbosch on Monday.

FNB UJ showed that they will be contenders at the 2010 Club Champs, after beating Tuks in their first-round battle in Stellenbosch. There were also wins for fellow Varsity Cup sides, FNB Maties and FNB Pukke, but Shimlas joined Tuks as fellow first-round losers.

Pierre Berbizier, once a French scrumhalf, then a French coach and now the coach of is possibly in hot water.

FNB Maties coach Chean Roux is hoping that the strength of his team's squad will win the day (or should that be the week?) at the upcoming National Club Championships in Stellenbosch.

It's the Dream Final that everybody has been waiting for; Steinhoff Purple Cobras face-off to their archrivals, Steinhoff Tornadoes, for the bragging rights of becoming the 2010 champions.

Pukke coach Rudy Joubert is confident of going one better at this year's Club Champs - if his team can stay mentally strong throughout the tournament.

Eddie O'Sullivan had to dig deep into his back-up talent pool when he named the United States Select XV for the second annual American Rugby Challenge (ARC) next month in Cordoba, Argentina.

Of the five Varsity Cup teams competing at the Club Champs, FNB Shimlas have undergone the most change since the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

Die spanne van Steinhoff Bastion het vanjaar weer so gemaak en die eindstryde in eerste en tweede ligas van die Universiteit van Johannesburg (UJ) se Steinhoff Koshuisliga, met 16-9 en 19-10 onderskeidelik, gewen.

Steinhoff Patriot continued their dominance in TUT's Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships with a 38-3 win over Steinhoff Tigers last week.

The incident took place in the first half of the match between the Blue Bulls and the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday at a stage when the Blue Bulls were leading 11-10 and kick a penalty at goal. The kick is close to an upright and there is doubt about whether it is over or not. The television match official advises that it is not over.

Hamilton's will put their Club Champs title on the line against five Varsity Cup teams - starting this weekend.

Remember how special Test matches used to be? Now it is special to have a weekend without a Test match, as is the case this weekend, though there is still lots for referees to do.

Richie McCaw's try with 14 minutes to play was a vital component in New Zealand's comeback to beating Australia 23-22 in Tri-Nations action in Sydney on Saturday. In terms of the Laws of the Game it is also interesting.

FNB UJ are one of the form teams heading into the 2010 Club Champs, but coach Hugo van As is hoping that a few 'external factors' will help his team's bid for glory in Stellenbosch.

The 2010 Tri-Nations ended with a thriller in Sydney when New Zealand came from behind to beat Australia by a single point, 23-22. We have some statistics from the match.

Josh Strauss, one of the Lions' Currie Cup finds this season, was almost lost to South African rugby earlier this year.

Former UCT scrumhalf Stuart Commins has been named on the Northampton Saints bench for Saturday's Aviva Premiership clash with Harlequins.

After examining evidence, careful consideration and debate we have produced the final FNB Top 20 of 2010. The easy part of the job was choosing the top two teams. After that it became difficult. In our deliberations we took into consideration the calibre of opposition as much as results.

South Africa slumped from champs to chumps in the 2010 Tri-Nations. In 2009 they were imperious; this time they looked uninterested and ended up rock bottom with one win as Australia beat them 41-39 in Bloemfontein.

The Springboks will play their final Tri-Nations match of the year in Bloemfontein - a rather appropriate venue given the huge Shimlas representation in the Bok side.

FNB Maties celebrated their WP Super League title success with a ruthless 75-7 win over Helderberg on Wednesday night.

Steinhoff Patriot, TUT's representatives in the 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships, started their 2010 Internal League campaign with a big victory.

The Tri-Nations ends in Sydney this weekend, the only Test of the day, with Mark Lawrence to referee it, but there is lots and lots of enthusiastic rugby all over the world with referees striving for perfection.

The European Cup has announced the referees appointed to the first two rounds of the Heineken Cup and to the Amlin Challenge Cup in 2010.

The four top teams in the Steinhoff UCT Internal League came out to do battle for a place in the 2010 final. All teams did exceptionally well but in the end there could only be two.

Pukke's Tannah Stroebel will take an official post on the Varsity Cup organising committee next year - a great opportunity for the long-serving rugby man, but also an astute decision by the VC's powers-that-be.

Sarah Corrigan of Australia has been appointed to referee the Final of the 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup between England and New Zealand at the Stoop on Sunday afternoon.

South Africa played Australia in Pretoria last Saturday, a match of great activity in its early part in which Australia led and eventually South Africa won.

UJ will look to end an 18-year title drought when they kick-off their Club Champs campaign with a tough fixture against Blue Bulls champions and fellow Varsity Cup side, Tuks.

Onderstepoort en Mopanie pak mekaar aanstaande Dinsdag (7 September) in die finaal van die Steinhoff Tuks-huisliga.

UCT star Marcel Brache has been called up to the WP bench for Friday night's Currie Cup encounter with the Lions in Johannesburg - capping a fairytale rise for the former Internal League star.

FNB UCT suffered a gut-wrenching 30-32 WP Super League loss to Victorians at the Danie Craven Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Last week we looked at the difference between New Zealand backs and South African backs in passing. This week we look at the difference between Australian backs and South African backs in the nine-try Test at Loftus Versfeld. This week the South African backs passed more often than they did last week.

There was little rugby for schools this week but still two matches which affect top sides. Paarl Gim had a huge win over Framesby and Noord-Kaap a big win over Hentie Cilliers, both in winning competitions.

The Tri-Nations reaches its penultimate match, the Women's World Cup reaches its final round, England's Premiership and the Magners League. And referees are coming and going all over the place.

FNB Maties won the WP Super League title with two games to spare - an emphatic 54-12 win over last year's champions, Hamilton's, at the Danie Craven Stadium this past weekend sealing the title.

South Africa, comfortable winners of the Tri-Nations last year, won their first Tri-Nations this year. They and Australia have a win each and so are in competition for the wooden spoon. The match in Pretoria started at a hectic rate with five tries in 11 minutes. We give some statistics from the matches.

FNB UCT played to yet another draw in the 2010 WP Super League - their fourth this season.

FNB Tuks have named a training squad of 34 players for the 2010 SAA National Club Championships.

The new season is Spain kicks off on Sunday with a clash between two cup winners for a third cup.

It was an evening of drama on Wednesday as teams played with their hearts on their sleeves to qualify for a semifinal spot in UCT's Steinhoff Internal League.

The Maties have been seeded fifth for the 2010 National Club Championships, which takes place next month.

The Steinhoff Tuks House League title will change hands in 2010, after 2009 champions Maroela failed to make the play-offs.

Varsity Cup teams, FNB Pukke and UJ, will meet in the 2010 Grand Challenge Final - after both sides won their semifinal clashes on Wednesday evening.

At the half-way mark in the Currie Cup, Andre Watson, South Africa's referees boss, has sent out an interim report to his referees on their Currie Cup performances.

The quarterfinals are here and teams know that no mistakes can be afforded if they intend to qualify for a spot in the semifinals of UCT's Steinhoff Internal League.

Boom Prinsloo, the 2010 Varsity Cup Player of the Tournament, has been called up to the SA Sevens squad.

Heelwat Steinhoff Koshuisrugby wedstryde is op Vrydag, 20 Augustus in Potchefstroom gespeel.

The great match of last weekend, Grey College vs Paul Roos, 1 versus 3, ended in a narrow win for Grey but lots of honour for Paul Roos who scored four tries to two.

This week, at UCT, the player profile spotlight falls on a Tornadoes man who loves Vanilla Ice, Jack Parrow, MC Hammer and maybe even a little bit of Snow - he's just saying!

NWU-Pukke coach Rudy Joubert will not underestimate Impala ahead of their Grand Challenge semifinal clash in Randfontein on Wednesday.

The Tri-Nations moves from Johannesburg to Pretoria this weekend where Alain Rolland will referee his second match in this year's Tri-Nations.

What a grand occasion - South Africa vs New Zealand at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon - a noisy, colourful crowd of over 85,000 and on the field drama as the New Zealand score 12 points in the last two minutes to win. We give some stats, a boring thing to do of such an exciting occasion.

Medies 1 het daarin geslaag om die afgelope naweek met Helderberg 1 af te reken.

rugby365.com's law guru takes a closer look at Richie McCaw's crucial try in Saturday's Tri-Nations Test between the Springboks and the All Blacks. Try or no try? Decide for yourself...

Bloutrein en Helshoogte het Vrydagaand oorwinnings behaal in die 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby toernooi in Stellenbos.

FNB UCT bounced back to winning ways in the 2010 WP Super League, with an impressive 27-0 win over NNK at Groote Schuur.

Durb-Bell nearly caused a huge upset, before eventually holding the FNB Maties to a 25-25 draw in a pulsating WP Super League fixture in Coetzenburg on Friday evening.

This is not about keeping up with the game - being physically athletic enough. It's about the brain's athleticism.

John Smit's 100th Test match is set to be a grand occasion, with 90,000 fans packed into the Calabash to see the Springbok skipper reach his milestone. Timmy Hancox takes a look at what happened to past Test rugby centurions on the big day.

In our statistics of Test matches we record the number of stoppages. A clever man has now worked out how long the ball was in hand during Tri-Nations Tests and some big matches in South Africa.

The Maties claimed another win over the Ikeys, this time a 31-18 WP Super League win at the Danie Craven Stadium.

A quick glance at the log, makes Wednesday's internal league games worth watching. Most teams in action tomorrow night still have the chance to qualify for the A-Section (top eight). So prepare yourselves as teams will give it their all come Wednesday night.

There were few but big matches this weekend. Glenwood gave Grey College the best run for their money this season. Drostdy lost by just a few points to each of the Paarl sides and Tygerberg drew with Boland Landbou.

UCT will travel to Stellenbosch tonight to take on Varsity Cup champions, the Maties, in a repeat of this year's final at the same venue.

Inspired by the excitement generated from Soweto's first test match, this week the view from the couch puts a Lambie on the barbie and is quite frankly Smitten. Part-time contributor and full-time fan John O'Connor once again entertains us.

Tukkies sal die Blou Bulle aanstaande maand by die SAA Nasionale Klubtoernooi in Stellenbosch verteenwoordig.

The Tri-Nations is back in action this weekend and uniquely the match is in Soweto in a ground that holds nearly 100,000. This week, too, the Women's World Cup starts in England.

The Men in Maroon, the FNB Maties, were in no mood for charity on Friday night in their WP Super League encounter against False Bay.

Daar was weer baie opwindinde rugby op Stellenbos - in Steinhoff Koshuisrugby aksie - gewees hierdie naweek; al was dit Vrydag die 13de!

The Ikeys left it late, before securing a 37-30 victory over Villager's in WP Super League action on Friday night.

The South African Rugby Union (SARU) announced this week that they will begin the process of appointing an SA Under-20 coach that will lead the Baby Boks for the next three years.

France's competitive, wealthy Top 14 kicks off this weekend. It kicks off with a bang.

FNB UJ hooker Edgar Marutlulle has been promoted to the Golden Lions' starting XV for Saturday's Currie Cup clash against the Cheetahs in Johannesburg.

Pukke het weer die Intervarsity titel ingepalm teen Shimlas, maar daar was ook ander interessante resultate in Bloemfontein op Saterdag.

Recently we had an article asking people which referee they wanted. It produced a lot of comment from readers at this time when referees are so much in the spotlight - much too much in fact for one man should not dominate the 31-man game.

With the latest Bok squad - for SA's Tri-Nations home leg - announced at the weekend, Timmy Hancox has gone a step further and picked his Uncapped Bok XV; of those players not selected and currently parading their form in the Currie Cup. Currie Cup Form XV

This week, in UCT's Steinhoff Internal League, the spotlight falls on Catsville's very own 'Tom Thumb', scrumhalf Sivenkosi Mboneli.

'n Sesdubbele rugbystryd wag Saterdag op Loftus Versfeld tussen Tuks en Polisie.

FNB UCT made it two from two against False Bay this season with a deserved 20-13 WP Super League win in Constantia on Saturday.

NWU-Pukke beat FNB Shimlas 21-18 in their Intervarsity clash in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

What a weird feeling! There are no Tests this weekend. Europe is still warming up and SANZAR is having a domestic week. But in beautiful the whistle is being blow and boot thuds into ball as the 2010-11 Top 14 bursts into life.

Long season, long weekend and schools rugby starts to wind down. Many schools have not played at all. Only four of the top 10 schools on the FNB Top 20 played...

New Zealand hosted Australia at AMI Stadium, once called Lancaster Park, in Christchurch and won 20-10, securing the Bledisloe Cup and needing just a bonus point to be certain of winning the Tri-Nations for 2010. We give some statistics.

Referees have been much under scrutiny lately, only rarely under amiable scrutiny. Many, many people have definite feelings about referees, both individually and collectively, and are happy to shout their opinions mostly to say what referees they do not want.

FNB Shimlas have announced an experienced and powerful line-up for Saturday's Intervarsity battle against Varsity Cup opponents, NWU-Pukke.

The in-form NWU-Pukke are looking ahead to the 'Big One' this weekend - their Intervarsity battle against Shimlas.

Referees have been much under scrutiny lately, only rarely under amiable scrutiny. Many, many people have definite feelings about referees, both individually and collectively, and are happy to shout their opinions mostly to say what referees they do not want.

With tomorrow's Intervarsity battle between Shimlas and Pukke occupying everyone's attention in Bloemfontein - and indeed Potch - the countdown to the 2010 National Club Championships continues unabated.

After a long hiatus the View from the Couch returns this week with an in-depth, spurious analysis of all that is not being said by the pundits; but is being seen by the punters. Part-time contributor and full-time fan John O'Connor entertains us.

Varsity Cup star Buhle Mxunyelwa has been elevated to WP's Currie Cup bench for Saturday's mouth-watering clash against Griquas in Kimberley - a fixture which is turning into something of a Varsity Cup all-stars affair.

FNB UCT have been boosted by the return of a host of provincial stars ahead of Saturday's WP Super League meeting at False Bay.

The latest round of action in Pukke's Steinhoff Internal League saw some pretty interesting results - across all the leagues in Potchefstroom.

Wednesday night's UCT Steinhoff Internal League action at the Green Mile saw the Lions and Catsville face off against each other for supremacy.

Maties Varsity Cup product, Hayden Groepes, will make his first Currie Cup start for the Bulls when they play host to the Leopards in Pretoria on Friday evening.

There was recently a sad incident in the Western Province where a schoolboy hit and hurt a referee in an Under-16A match. After an inquiry the boy has been removed from all contact sport.

This week, at UCT, the spotlight falls on Cobras loose forward Kyle Rennie - a veteran in the Ikeys' Steinhoff Internal League competition.

Kookwater, tops, uit die boonste rakke. Dit is byvoeglike naamwoorde wat sportskrywers en joernaliste gebruik om goeie wedstryde aan hul lesers te beskryf.

The hard decision at the top this week was whether or not to move the Paarl schools after their drawn match at Interschools on Saturday.

South Africa's Cobus Wessels, an International Rugby Board panel assistant referee, has been stood down as an assistant referee for this Saturday's Tri-Nations match between New Zealand and Australia in Christchurch.

The match in Christchurch could decide finally the winner of the 2010 Tri-Nations even though it is only the half-way mark in the competition and Jonathan Kaplan is the man to referee it.

Dagbreek se Bloutrein het Vrydagmiddag hul vyfde agtereenvolgende wedstryd gewen - toe hulle met die span van Helderberg 28-12 af gereken het, nadat hul halftyd 11-6 voor was.

The FNB TUT Vikings qualified for the semifinals of the 2010 Carlton Cup thanks to their 25-13 win over the Silver Valke this past weekend.

FNB Pukke racked up yet another huge victory in the 2010 Grand Challenge League - this time a 91-5 win over Union at Potchefstroom's Fanie du Toit Stadium.

New SARU CEO - and Varsity Cup Chairman - Jurie Roux had his first appointment with SA's rugby media on Monday afternoon.

FNB Maties romped to a 69-3 win over NNK in WP Super League action in Parow on Saturday.

Sauer rugby continued on Friday with the much-anticipated Steinhoff Koshuis League clash against old foes Wilgenhof.

Op Vrydag, 30 Julie, het PSO Barbarians teen Majuba gespeel.

SA referee Craig Joubert received lavish praise from All Blacks coach Graham Henry for the strict manner in which he controlled Saturday's Tri-Nations clash in Melbourne. Aussie boss unhappy with 'harsh calls' | Bok coach on new CEO's 'to-do' list

UCT suffered a disappointing 13-26 loss to SK Walmers in their WP Super League clash at The Track on Saturday.

Australia played New Zealand in Melbourne with the roof closed and the turf soft and the All Blacks rampant, winning 49-28. We give some statistics from a fast and fascinating Tri-Nations match.

Medies 1 het hul onoorwonne veldtog van die afgelope seisoen voorgesit deur Eendrag 1, Vrydag te Tygerberg in 'n driee-fees die onderspits te laat delf.

Jurie Roux - the Chairman of the Varsity Cup - is the new CEO of the South African Rugby Union.

Vrydag 30 Julie het twee van Stellenbos se groot rugby koshuise mekaar aangepak in een van die mooiste wedstryde tot dus ver hierdie seisoen.

The International Rugby Board is revolutionising the way that international referees physically prepare for the demands of the modern Test arena by using the latest Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology.

Wednesday night saw teams play a different style of rugby normally associated with UCT's Steinhoff Internal League. It was all-out aggression from the kick-off. It clearly looked like the teams had decided to take a harder and more physical approach at the Green Mile...

FNB UCT head coach Kevin Foote has made just one change to the Ikey Tigers line-up for Saturday's WP Super League meeting with SK Walmers.

rugby365.com's Tim Human compares Peter de Villiers to Jake White and all the other Bok coaches since 1996. So, how does Mr De Villiers stack up? You'd be surprised... Tip tackles: The new craze? | Hoskins: 'Div on par with Jake' | Bet on the Boks?

This week the ITM Cup, New Zealand's top provincial competition, starts. Three referees make their debuts at this level - Shaun Elliott, Nick Briant and Richard Kelly.

The Varsity Cup 'Pretoria Derby', between TUT and Tuks, saw the Vikings - who finished below Tuks in the 2010 tournament - grab a deserved 40-35 victory at the weekend.

The Free State Rugby Union held an inquiry into an incident of aggression towards match officials involving three players. The players have received long suspensions.

rugby365.com's law guru, Paul Dobson, takes a look at rugby's new flavour, the tip tackle. It's unacceptable and illegal... but how often does it happen in the top level of rugby? Stats: We break down Brisbane | Fourie gets three weeks | Cooper gets two

New Zealand has made known the appointment of referees to the first week of the ITM Cup, New Zealand's top provincial compettion which used to be called the NPC, the the Air NZ Cup. Now it takes its name from the Independent Timber Merchants.

There are fewer changes to this week's FNB Top 20 than in any week in the past 11 years. The top teams have, by and large, won.

UCT's Steinhoff Internal League teams will, finally, return to action this week; with some mouth-watering fixtures set to take place at the Green Mile on Wednesday night.

FNB Pukke het Saterdag weer 'n weghol-sege behaal in die 2010 Grand Challenge, hierdie keer oor Raiders op Potchefstroom.

The Ikey Tigers almost made it two from two against Hamilton's this season - before being forced to settle for a 19-19 draw in their WP Super League fixture against the National Club champions on Saturday.

UJ continued their impressive run in the 2010 Pirates Grand Challenge - their latest performance a 52-16 victory over the University of Witwatersrand at the weekend.

Australia played South Africa in Brisbane and won 30-13 in a match of speed and few stoppages. We give some statistics from the match.

FNB Maties showed no sign of rust, as they got the second half of their 2010 WP Super League campaign off to a strong start - beating SK Walmers 46-18 in Green Point on Saturday.

The Namibian Invitation XV play France Under-18 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Friday night. The team, which is not quite Under-18, has done well in the tournament so far...

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers's conspiracy theories have been met with a strong counter from IRB referees boss Paddy O'Brien, who dismissed suggestions that his officials were not up to standard. Div's biggest media shocker? | Boks' poor record in Brisbane

Varsity Cup Kings, the FNB Maties, will be looking to make it 13 times lucky when they host the National Club Championships in Stellenbosch later this year.

UCT's Yaya Hartzenberg could make his Currie Cup debut on Friday night, after being named on the bench for Western Province's trip to Potchefstroom to face the Leopards.

Die stryd om die gesogte Steinhoff Maties Interkoshuis Eersteliga titel skop weer Vrydagmiddag in volle swang af.

The New Zealand Rugby Union has decided to bring back the use of television match officials in its provincial championship, now called the ITM Cup.

The Springboks move up from wet Wellington to sunny Brisbane for their third Tri-Nations match in three weeks. For the Wallabies it will be their first of 2010. For the third week in a row the referee is Irish, a replacement for injured Bryce Lawrence.

Triple Varsity Cup semifinalists, FNB Pukke, racked up yet another impressive Grand Challenge victory at the weekend - this time beating the University of Witwatersrand by 65-20.

After that long, long holiday some schools are back playing rugby and we are able to produce an FNB Top 20 with a new face in it and some change, though not a lot.

In this round of Tri-Nations action, New Zealand played South Africa in windy, wet Wellington and won with a bonus point as again South Africa suffered disciplinary problems. We give some stats.

Tuks are well on their way to the Carlton Cup play-offs, after their 44-22 second-round win on Saturday against Police, the defending champions.

At Estadio Charrua in Montevideo, Uruguay beat Kazakhstan 44-7 in a Rugby World Cup qualifier on Saturday to stay in contention for the 2011 World Cup.

The All Blacks were again too good and then there were two World Cup qualifiers in which Romania and Uruguay were far too good.

Romania beat Tunisia Romania 56-13 in Bistrita on Saturday, putting them into the last round of two play-off matches against Uruguay.

FNB Tuks kan met 'n oorwinning in die groot derby teen Polisie more in die TuksRugby-stadion 'n deurslaggewende tree nader aan 'n plek in die Carltonbeker-halfeindronde gee.

New Zealand has told international referees to "get fitter" in order to keep up with the pace of the modern game.

Rudy Joubert has announced a strong FNB Pukke side - despite missing some players due to injuries and Currie Cup call-ups - for tonight's Grand Challenge meeting with the University of Witwatersrand.

UJ hooker Edgar Marutlulle has, at last, been rewarded for his outstanding Varsity Cup form with a place on the Golden Lions' bench - in what will be his first taste of Currie Cup Premier Division rugby.

Springbok lock Bakkies Botha has been heavily criticised in the wake of his head-butt on New Zealand's Jimmy Cowan. Many believe he is the ultimate thug in world rugby... Is it harsh? Or are there any other contenders? We have a look...

Two of New Zealand's best known international referees have been honoured in the Queen's Birthday honours - Tom Doocey and Keith Lawrence.

Maties utility Hayden Groepes has signed a four-month contract with the Blue Bulls for the remainder of the 2010 Currie Cup season.

FNB Tuks went on the warpath in the second round of the 2010 Carlton Cup at the weekend.

The Tri-Nations opened at Eden Park in Auckland with a magnificent win for New Zealand in a great display of intense, creative rugby. The Springboks, who beat the All Blacks three times last year, were not in the game.

Apart from the second Tri-Nations match in Wellington there are two World Cup qualifiers this weekend.

FNB Pukke het Saterdag 'n 29-10 oorwinning oor Roodepoort behaal, maar hul vertoning was met basiese foute besaai.

FNB UJ, with flyhalf Ryno Luus in fine form, narrowly missed out on racking up a 100-point scoreline in their 96-10 Grand Challenge win over Alberton on Saturday.

Shimlas powerhouse Boom Prinsloo has been added to the South African Sevens training squad ahead of the 2010/11 IRB Sevens Series and the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

It's been quite a week for former FNB UCT regular Matt Rosslee - who, after putting pen to paper with Griquas for the remainder of the 2010 season, has been handed his first Currie Cup start for the Peacock Blues.

rugby365.com editor Jan de Koning suggests that the Golden Lions Rugby Union could score a perfect political touchdown by moving the battling franchise into Soweto.

Earlier this week we spoke of the scrum problem and invited readers to send in their ideas/suggestions. We then published the ones we had received and now publish another three.

FNB UJ lock David Bulbring, who is still a few months shy of his 21st birthday, has been named to start at lock for the Lions in their 2010 Currie Cup opener against the Leopards on Friday evening.

FNB Shimlas se kookwater-haker PW van Vuuren kan dalk sy Curriebeker-debuut hierdie naweek teen die Westelike Provinsie maak.

Maties forward Rynardt Elstadt will make his Currie Cup debut on Saturday when Western Province travel to Bloemfontein in their season-opening clash against the Free State Cheetahs.

Yesterday we discussed scrum problems and wondered if they could be fixed or had to be accepted as part of rugby life. We asked for suggestions and here are the ideas of some.

Bryce Lawrence, appointed to do the Tri-Nations match between Australia and South Africa in Brisbane on 24 July, is injured and has had to be replaced.

The Leopards will be relying on a host of Pukke's Varsity Cup stars to help get their 2010 Currie Cup Premier Division campaign off to a good start.

On 27 March 2010 Pieter de Villiers and Madel Herselman were married. That happens to lots of people but less often to referees, both of them on provincial panels of South African Referees' Association. In South Africa they are unique - husband and wife referees.

With the Tri-Nations kicking off this weekend, Springbok prop - and iafrica.com columnist - BJ Botha returns to our pages this week to discuss the build-up and the mood in the camp ahead of the tournament opener against the All Blacks in Auckland.

Morne Steyn is a rare breed in Springbok rugby in that he has never lost a Test match against the All Blacks. However, with his fairytale debut season in international rugby over, the Bulls pivot now has to show that he is a man for all seasons.  Bok locks injured

The scrum is a problem. The falling of the scrum is dangerous for the players and tedious for the spectators. The International Rugby Board has sent out instructions and changed laws, and yet even with the top practitioners in the world, it stays a problem. Can it be fixed or is it a running sore in the game? Or just part of the fun for a few?

FNB Pukke, losing Varsity Cup finalists in 2009, scored an incredible 102-3 win over Alberton on Saturday - despite the match being called off 12 minutes from full-time.

Tri-Nations starts with a bang this Saturday when the All Blacks play the Springboks at Eden Park.

FNB UJ claimed a whopping 46-7 Grand Challenge win over Impala on Saturday afternoon.

rugby365.com Editor Jan de Koning takes a look at one of the most crucial positions in the Springbok team, ahead of their opening Tri-Nations match against the All Blacks on Saturday. De Villiers: 'Enough of this soccer' | Flynn excited about 'Bok debut'

Free State - unsurprisingly - dominated the South African Schools team which was announced at the end of the Craven Week in Welkom on Saturday; a team which will be captained by William Small-Smith.

The Free State Cheetahs were crowned Under-18 Craven Week champions for 2010, following their comprehensive 42-21 victory over Western Province in Welkom on Saturday.

Day Five is the big day, especially for those involved in the last match, traditionally the most prestigious, this year between WP and FS. But all 10 of the matches are played with enthusiasm and intensity.

Two teams won all their matches - Boland and Free State - and two teams lost all their matches - Border and Border Country Districts.

With the 2010 Soccer World Cup almost at an end, the UCT First XV decided to get in on the action and try their skills on the soccer pitch. Twelve men-a-side, with the 1st XV looking all 'buff', did their opponents ever have a chance?

They were made to work very hard at times by KwaZulu-Natal, but eventually Free State did more than enough to pick up a deserved 30-20 Craven Week win at Welkom's North West Stadium on Thursday.

Marius van der Westhuizen has been appointed to referee the main match on the final day of the 2010 Craven Week when Western Province play Free State on Saturday afternoon.

Playing the main match at Craven Week is prestigious. To some it is a final of sorts but it is not. There is no winner of the Craven Week, though the winner of the final match is regarded as the winner of a final of sorts and hence the champion.

Free State Cheetahs and Western Province will once again compete in the finale of the Craven Week, as they did last year, following the Free Staters' 30-20 victory over KwaZulu-Natal in Welkom on Thursday.

Griquas Country Districts managed their second win of the 2010 Craven Week, stealing a late 27-25 victory in a thrilling match against the Leopards.

South Western Districts picked up their first win of the week - beating Zimbabwe 21-3 in Day Four action from the 2010 Craven Week in Welkom.

Ikeys stalwart Matt Rosslee - the leading points-scorer in the history of the Varsity Cup - could secure himself a Currie Cup contract with Griquas this season.

The Pumas made it two from two in the 2010 Craven Week with a well-deserved 38-7 victory over Griquas on Thursday afternoon.

In the second Test between South Africa and Italy, played in East London, the referee penalised South Africa for obstruction after a line-out. The South Africans were taken by surprise and did not believe the referee.

The Valke survived a second-half scare to beat Border 26-22 in Craven Week Day Four action in Welkom on Thursday afternoon.

Boland grabbed a nailbiting 36-34 win over the Griffons to end an exciting third day's play in the 2010 Craven Week in Welkom.

The Golden Lions picked up three yellow cards but it could not prevent them from beating the Blue Bulls 23-20 in a hard-fought Craven Week encounter in Welkom on Wednesday.

A host of new faces have been named in the WP Currie Cup squad - many of whom are Varsity Cup stars from Stellenbosch and UCT.

Former Steinhoff Tornadoes star Marcel Brache - a member of the title-winning Nadoes side of last year - will make his provincial debut for Western Province this coming weekend, as a replacement for none other than Bryan Habana.

Western Province showed they mean business at the 2010 Craven Week, after romping to a 58-19 victory over the giant-killing Eastern Province team on Wednesday.

SARU will announce a 32-man High Performance Squad at the end of the Craven Week in Welkom that will compete in international friendlies against France, England and a Namibian Invitational side.

The Limpopo Blue Bulls recorded a big 53-0 win over Border Country Districts on Day Three of the Craven Week tournament in Welkom on Wednesday afternoon.

The Free State Cheetahs announced themselves as one of the teams to beat in the 2010 Coca-Cola Craven Week, following their impressive 35-13 victory over Border in Welkom on Tuesday afternoon.

2010 Varsity Cup stars, Ikeys stalwart JJ Gagiano and Shimlas centre Wayne Stevens, will face up to the Blue Bulls in a Currie Cup pre-season friendly on Saturday afternoon.

It was a dingdong start to Day Three of the 2010 Craven Week in Welkom, as Eastern Province Country Districts beat Namibia 27-18.

Day Two of the 2010 Craven Week saw wins for Griquas Country Districts, Griquas, Pumas, Kwazulu-Natal and Free State. We bring you all the scorers... and more from Welkom.

The fixtures for Wednesday, June 2010, have been drawn up on the basis of strength vs strength based on Monday's matches. All the matches are played at North West Stadium in Welkom.

Based on Tuesday's performances, the fixtures for Thursday, the third day of the 2010 Craven Week being played in cold and windy Welkom, have been drawn up.

As the June window closes on the Tests we have the statistics from four Tests over the weekend - New Zealand vs Wales, Australia vs Ireland, South Africa and the one with the surprise results, Argentina vs France.

The Sale Sharks have confirmed the signing of American Eagles scrumhalf Mike Petri.

New Zealand vs Wales on Saturday, Zimbabwe vs Botswana on Wednesday - that it Jonathan Kaplan's lot this week, a week with much less on the international front.

The first day's action at the 2010 Craven Week at the North West Stadium in Welkom brought wins for Namibia, Boland, WP, WP and the Griffons. We have all the details for you!

Western Province got their 2010 Craven Week campaign off to the perfect start, following their 20-3 victory over the Lions in Welkom on Monday afternoon.

Tuks is die nuwe voorlopers in die tweede ronde van die Blou Bulle se Carltonliga nadat hulle op 26 Junie hul tweede voltal in dieselfde aantal wedstryde behaal het.

The first Craven Week was held in East London in 1964, part of the old South African Rugby Board's 75th jubilee celebrations. Danie Craven, then the president of the Board, had a message for the week. Has anybody taken any notice of any of it?

At the 1995 World Cup's opening match at Newlands a group stood with a placard which read: Ons dink aan jou, Dok. As we get to Craven Week again in 2010 it is good for us to recall who the Craven of Craven Week was.

Craven Week starts in Welkom on Monday. We give the teams as far as we have been able to get them.

Craven Week is upon us - such an important event for schoolboy rugby players. We bring you all the fixtures.

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

Referee Jonathan Kaplan has several refereeing records and will add another when he referees the second Test of the two-Test series between New Zealand and Wales at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.

Keith Brown of New Zealand was appointed to referee the Test in East London between South Africa and Italy, but he has withdrawn and is replaced by Andrew Small who refereed the first Test in the two-Test series.

It started in East London in 1964 and looked set to stay there but since then it has become happily nomadic, moving round the country. This year the caravan stops at Welkom in the Northern Free State.

On the final day of the Academy Week in Northern KwaZulu Natal, there is keen interest in the final match which turns out to be a Western Cape derby - Western Province vs their nextdoor neighbours, Boland.

SA Referees have appointed the referees for the last day of matches at the Academy Week in Vryheid to be played on Thursday, 24 June.

New Zealand wing Julian Savea has been named the IRB Junior Player of the Year 2010, the second of the prestigious IRB Awards to be presented this year.

Western Province will play their neighbours Boland on the last day of the Academy Week being played in Vryheid in Northern Natal.

SA Referees have announced the match officials for the Craven Week in Welkom from 28 June to 3 July 2010.

New Zealand retained the IRB Junior World Championship trophy for the third year in succession after producing a dominant display to beat Australia 62-17 on Monday.

The Varsity Cup's most famous graduate, Juan de Jongh, will make his second Test start - having been named in the Springbok run-on XV to take on Italy in East London on Saturday.

It's warmer in Vryheid today - not hot but warmer. Today's main match will be between Western Province and the Golden Lions - both of whom had excellent wins on Monday.

The Baby Boks achieved a hat trick of bronze medals in the IRB Junior World Championship on Monday after they defeated England 27-22.

The South African Academy Week Started up in Vryheid near the Drakensberg with a cold (2?C) beginning which warmed up into a beautiful, sunny day but with the warning of greater cold to come.

There is a big Under-20 Final in Argentina, club finals in Sydney and the continued Northern invasion of the South.

The 2010 Academy Week starts in Vryheid in Northern Natal early on Monday morning.

The main match on Day Two of the Academy Week on Tuesday 22 June, is between Western Province and the Golden Lions, both of whom had impressive wins on Day One.

The exodus of senior players from the Golden Lions in Johannesburg is continuing unabated.

FNB UCT scrumhalf Stuart Commins has signed a two-year deal with top English Premiership side, Northampton Saints, yet another feather in the cap of the Varsity Cup.

Tuks het die tweede ronde van die Blou Bulle se Carltonliga wel met 'n voltal ingelui, maar die span van Marius Weber het steeds baie stof tot nadenke oor die insinking van daar in die laaste 15 minute in sy spel ingetree het.

Namibia went off to play in the Nations Cup in Bucharest and ended up winning the trophy as the only unbeaten side. It was a great feat. It was the fifth IRB Nations Cup, Namibia's first win.

Eric Sauls insists that his South African Under-20 team has put their 7-36 semifinal defeat against New Zealand behind them, as they prepare for their third-place play-off match against England on Monday.

There was a big surprise in Sydney on Saturday as enthusiastic England overturned the previous week's result.

No.8 Marius Weber will captain FNB Tuks 1 for the first time tomorrow when the students play their opening match in the Carlton League second round.

At the end of the Craven Week for learners with special educational needs in Oudtshoorn this week - a national team was chosen which this year will play at the Academy Week in Vryheid from 20 to 24 June.

The IRB Junior World Championship 2010 Final will be between defending champions New Zealand and Australia.

Stefan Geldenhuys of Laerskool Brits will referee the final match at the Under-13 Craven Week between the Blue Bulls and Western Province at the Botanics in cold Graaff-Reinet on Friday, 18 June.

The Under-13 Craven Week, played in cold Graaff-Reinet, ended on Friday with the Blue Bulls and Western Province enjoying the honour of playing the last match.

The Grant Khomo Week for Under-16 provincial teams ended in Upington on Thursday with a splendid performance by the Western Province side and a surprise victory for Limpopo.

The Under-13 Craven Week, played in Graaff-Reinet, reached Day 3 on Thursday, with a close encounter between Eastern Province and Boland.

The Junior World Championships have rumbled forward into the semifinal stage and the four remaining teams prepare for the next must-win encounter.

The Grant Khomo Week kicked off on Monday with good performances by the Blue Bulls, Western Province, Free State and Boland.

The LSEN Craven Week - for learners with special educational needs - ended in Oudtshoorn on Monday. Of the 14 teams taking place, Eastern Cape and Western Province won their three matches.

England Saxons head coach Stuart Lancaster has announced an experienced side to face Canada in Saturday's cup final of the Churchill Cup.

What on earth do you do about scrums that keep falling down? The IRB has issued directives and the SANZAR countries have put in 'name and shame' possibilities, but still the problem is not solved - not nearly solved.

Day Two of the Grant Khomo Week for Under-16 provincial teams, that kicked off in Upington on Monday, saw good performances by Western Province, KwaZulu-Natal and Boland.

James Simpson-Daniel believes a physical encounter is in store for the England Saxons this Saturday as they prepare to face Canada.

Declan Kidney admits he is treating the centenary match with New Zealand Maori in Rotorua as a Test match, despite changing his entire starting XV from the line-up that got pummeled by the All Blacks.

The annual Under-13 Craven Week kicks-off in Graaff-Reinet on Thursday. We have the Day One fixtures!

The SA U20s will be focused on booking their places in a first ever IRB Junior World Championship final when they take on the Baby Blacks in the second semifinal on Thursday to be played in Rosario.

The FNB TUT Vikings recorded a hard-fought 25-18 Carlton Cup victory over the Naka Bulle on Saturday.

Vir FNB Tuks, wenners van die eerste ronde van die Carltonliga, klap die eerste skote in die tweede ronde eers Saterdag wanneer die houers van die Lucas Strachanskild in 'n wegwedstryd teen Silver Valke te staan kom.

Day Three was the final day of the Under-12 Interprovincial tournament held in Newcastle, KwaZulu Natal.

Marc Lievremont has revealed the composition of the France team will face an Argentina XV on Friday, and has made fourteen changes from the side that were humiliated by South Africa last weekend.

Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa were all confirmed as semifinalists at the culmination of the third round of pool matches at the IRB Junior World Championship.

Canada will go for the glory of raising their first ever Churchill Cup when they meet England Saxons in the Championship Final on Saturday.

Test rugby comes to Witbank, the coal-mining town in the province of Mpumalanga in South Africa, and the referee for it will be New Zealand-born, England-based Andrew Small, who is climbing the refereeing ladder.

A hastily assembled Samoan side snatched a narrow 24-23 win over Tonga in their opening Pacific Nations Cup match in Apia on Saturday.

It was almost a clean sweep for the Southern Hemisphere when the big sides met but eight kicks beat two tries in Tucuman.

Ireland U20 captain Rhys Ruddock has been called up to the Ireland tour squad in New Zealand.

There are four matches for which we give statistics this week - New Zealand vs Ireland, Australia vs England, South Africa vs France and Argentina vs Scotland as the Northern Hemisphere invades the Southern Hemisphere.

Day Two of the Interprovincial Under-12 Rugby Tournament took place in Newcastle. Here are the results with a short report and the scorers for each match.

On the first day of the LSEN Craven Week - for boys with special educational needs - which opened in Oudtshoorn, teams were generally well matched.

South Africa's Under-20 coach Eric Sauls on Saturday named the same starting 15 that defeated Tonga 40-14 in their first Pool C match in the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship for their crucial clash against Australia in Santa Fe on Sunday.

A cold day in Newcastle was very quickly heated by rugby of spectacular proportions by the Golden Lions and Limpopo Blue Bulls who were the first teams to take the field.

New Zealand wing Julian Savea and England fullback Tom Homer wrote their names into the IRB Junior championship record books on day two of the 2010 tournament in Argentina on Wednesday.

The SA Students Sevens team picked up more silverware - this time at the Centrale Sevens in France at the end of last month.

The Hoerskool Windhoek's FNB Davin Sports Festival starts on Thursday. There are South African schools taking part.

France A moved one step closer to their goal of raising the Churchill Cup, when they recorded an emphatic win over Uruguay at Infinity Park in Colorado on Wednesday.

Blue Bulls Under-19 scrumhalf Lohan Jacobs will join the South African Under-20 squad in Parana on Wednesday, after Freddie Muller was ruled out of the IRB Junior World Championship due to injury.

Coach Johan Diergaardt and his team have set off for Bucharest where they playing their opening match in the IRB's Nations Cup against Romania on Saturday. The team is captained buy tough Jacques Burger who these days plays on the flank for Saracens.

With less than three days to go before the 2010 FIFA World Cup kicks-off in South Africa, the Springboks showed their support for Bafana Bafana at a media function in Cape Town.

After a week of training at altitude, England Saxons head coach Stuart Lancaster feels his team is ready for their Churchill Cup opener against the Russian Bears on Wednesday.

The second round of matches from the IRB U20 World Championship takes place on Wednesday, as the teams look to gain some ascendency in their groups.

SA Under-20 coach Eric Sauls has made three changes and one positional switch to his side that will play Scotland at the IRB Junior World Championships in Sante Fe on Wednesday at 7pm (SA time).

The Craven Week for learners with special educational needs starts in Oudtshoorn on 10 June and last till 14 June. This year's tournament is the 29th.

There have been upheavals in the FNB Top 20 this week after some big results. They have led to shuffling in places where it is remarkably hard to shuffle and a slight shuffle can produce a substantial change.

FNB Shimlas captain Wayne Stevens has been signed by the Mighty Elephants for the 2010 Currie Cup.

The first round of matches at the IRB Junior World Championship produced some exciting rugby, with 332 points scored overall and some notable individual achievements. Here we give you a wrap of the team and individual highlights from Saturday's action.

Limpopo has chosen its team for the 2010 Craven Week from the vast expanse of the Northern Province.

Namibia have chosen their team for the 2010 Craven Week to take place in Welkom later this month. It has also announced four other teams for other tournaments in South Africa.

It's all about top matches now as Tests break out all over the world. We bring you the refereeing appointments from across the rugby-playing globe.

We give some statistics for two Tests played on Saturday - Wales vs South Africa in Cardiff and Australia vs Fiji in Canberra.

FNB UCT ended the first half of the 2010 WP Super League on a disappointing note, when they lost 17-27 to a fired-up and physical Durb-Bell team on Saturday afternoon.

Romania are now two matches away from qualifying for New Zealand. In July they play Tunisia. Win that and they play the winner of Uruguay vs Kazakhstan.

England Counties opened their three-match tour of Canada with a hard-fought 20-6 victory over a resolute and physical Newfoundland Rock side in bleak conditions at The Swilers club in St John's.

A Spanish XV meets a Japan XV at Campos de Pepe Rojo in Valladolid on Saturday.

England U20 have named a strong team to take on the hosts in their first game of the IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina.

The Pumas of Mpumalanga where the sun comes up, have chosen their team for the Craven Week in Welkom and for the Grant Khomo Week in Upington.

The Varsity Cup will expand its involvement in South African university rugby, with the creation of a fantastic new second tier competition from 2011 onwards.

Scotland will field three new U20 caps in the IRB Junior World Championship opener against Australia in Argentina on Saturday.

Saturday's WP Super League encounter at Durb-Bell will be FNB UCT head coach John Dobson's final match in charge of the Ikey Tigers in this competition.

Varisty Cup ace Jaco Taute has been named at outside centre in an exciting South African Under-20 starting line-up for Saturday's IRB Junior World Championships opener against Tonga in Parana.

Three players with Super 14 experience and two who feature in the Springbok Sevens team were included in the South African U20 squad that will play Tonga in their opening Pool B clash of the IRB Junior World Championship in Parana on Saturday.

Former Varsity Cup star Juan de Jongh has been named in the Springbok team to face Wales in Cardiff on Saturday - replacing Bath back Butch James, who has been withdrawn because of contractual issues.

After the last trials at Marais Viljoen on Tuesday night, the Golden Lions announced four teams for national tournaments. Monument and then Marais Viljoen dominate selections.

The big match this weekend was at Paarl Gim where No.2 played No.3 and won by two points. That leaves them where they were, but St Andrew's move up after their win in Port Elizabeth. The biggest movers are Florida with their win over Monnas.

The Free State team to march up the road to Welkom for the 2010 Craven Week has been announced. Yet again Grey College has a huge representation - 18 out of 22, three more than last year.

England U20 captain Jacob Rowan believes his team are ready to step up another level and claim a first Junior World Championship title.

Phil Godman lost the Scotland No.10 jersey to an in-form Dan Parks in the Six Nations, but he is hoping to use an opportunity against a Japanese Select XV to get it back.

Boland have made known their teams for the Under-18 Craven Week and the Under-18 Academy Week. There is a variety of schools represented in the two sides, which is not surprising as the Boland covers a vast area with lots of enthusiasm for rugby.

After the thrills and spills of many finals, rugby now settles down to the thunder of internationals at several levels.

Border have chosen their three sides for the various national weeks - Under-18 Craven Week, Under-18 Academy Week and Under-16 Grant Khomo Week.

While SANZAR ponders whether any steps should be taken against Stormers captain Schalk Burger and coach Allister Coetzee, statistics have been released that reveal just how silly they were for criticising match referee Craig Joubert.

We have champions. This was the wekend when champoions were made, especially in the Northern Hempisphere but also there was that notable Final in Soweto.

It was a great day in South African rugby when the Bulls played the Stormers in Soweto on Saturday - a day to rival the opening of the 1995 World Cup and the Final of the 995 World Cup, a day that showed Bulls and its rugby at its cheerful best.

Finau Maka, the big Tongan forward playing for Toulouse has apparently been charged with "modern slavery" and kept in police cells overnight.

The Blue Bulls Schools Rugby Association have announced three teams to represent the union at the Under-18 Craven Week, Under-18 Academy Week and the Under-19 North Vaal Unions Week.

Scarlets academy lock Joel Galley and Ospreys academy prop Will Taylor have been called up to the Wales U20 squad for the forthcoming IRB Junior World Championship.

rugby365.com columnist Anton van der Merwe takes a statistical look at the Super 14 Final, including the man in the middle - Craig Joubert.

As the IRB Junior World Championship nears its kick-off in Argentina, we hear from one of its more illustrious recent graduates.

Engalnd's Elite Referee Unit has continued its succession planning and appointments programme ahead of the 2010-11 season.

Two of South Africa?s best up-and-coming referees, Stuart Berry and Jason Jaftha, have been invited to participate in the XIX Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, on 11 and 12 October 2010.

Western Province have announced its teams for the 2010 Craven Week, the Academy Week and the Grant Khomo Week for Under-16s. In the Craven Week side eight are from Paul Roos and the captain is the Boys' High hooker Stephan Coetzee.

KwaZulu-Natal has announced four teams for the various national weeks later in June. In the three Under-18 teams there are 18 boys from Glenwood - a total of 27%.

Canterbury flyhalf Tyler Bleyendaal has been named captain of the New Zealand Under-20 team which leaves this weekend for the IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina.

We caught up with top South African referee Craig Joubert, the man in the middle this weekend, when the Bulls take on the Stormers in the 2010 Super 14 Final.

Three Varsity Cup players have been named in the Emerging SA Sevens team for the Kenya Sevens, which takes place in Nairobi from June 4 to 6.

The Panthers RFC was formed in 2006, when high-school rivalries were set aside, and a bond was first made between fifteen men from KwaZulu-Natal.

The top 11 positions are so tight that even a small adjustment can mean the change of several places. That is tough on the team going down a way but equally it means that going up several places carries with it no sureties.

It's the Final countdown. There are three big Finals this weekend, days when big grounds will be full, crowds will be expectant and noisy and the rugby intense - one in London, one in elegant Paris and one, for the first time, in Soweto. And that is not the end of it. There will be Finals in Dublin, Suva and Padua which will produce their own excitement and County Finals at Twickenham. And all of this there will be match officials - as sharp as they possibly can be.

Parisian Christophe Berdos has been appointed to referee the final of France's Top 14 between Perpignan and Clermont Auvergne at Stade de France on Saturday evening. It is his first Final.

The FNB TUT Vikings went down 21-27 to Centurion in Carlton Cup action this past weekend.

Reds back row forward Jake Schatz will captain the Australian Under-20 team at the IRB Junior World Championships in Argentina next month.

The semifinals are over at Orlando Stadium and Newlands and the Stormers march to Soweto for the Final. We give some statistics for the semifinals.

After the last round of the Asian 5 Nations, Japan have conformed their place in the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand by beating Hong Kong 94-5 while the Kazaks won the right to go into repechage when they scored a bonus-point 32-25 victory over Korea, who will be relegated next season.

Chris White, a referee of vast experience, will referee the inaugural Magners League Grand Final between Leinster and Ospreys at the RDS in Dublin on 29th May.

In the last day of Asian 5 Nations rugby Japan will stamp its ticket to New Zealand for 2011 but the big question is who will get a second chance.

The International Rugby Board has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that IRB Referees will observe strict application of Law in key areas of the Game following a meeting between the world's top coaches and the governing body in London.

rugby365.com columnist Anton van der Merwe takes a statistical look at the Super 14 semifinals, especially what trends have developed and what can be expected in the set pieces.

Vishuis is bo-aan die puntelys aan die einde van die eerste rondte in die Kovsies Steinhoff Koshuisliga.

Last weekend's final round of league action in the 2010 Super 14 saw a host of old Pukke rugby players involved... and, naturally, making a difference!

'n Kookwater vertoning deur die Shimlas het die rugbyspan van Bloemfontein-Polisie met 70-0 op sy kniee gehad in Woensdagaand se Stadsliga kragmeting tussen die spanne.

Police are investigating the assault of a Free State referee, whose jaw was fractured in two places by a player during a game, the Volksblad reported on Thursday.

Varsity Cup regular Don Armand will lead out FNB UCT in their WP Super League encounter against Villager's at Brookside this evening.

Eastern Province picks two teams for Craven Week - a team to represent the part along the coast from Port Elizabeth (Eastern Province Urban) and a team to represent the intertior, including Grahamstown (Eastern Province Country Districts).

'The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated' is a quote ascribed to the American novelist Mark Twain, but appears apt in the Curious Case of the Springbok assistants...

It's over - all over bar the raucous noises of the knock-out, but the league part is over and our totals now are those for all 14 rounds - who scored most tries and who scored fewest, who got disciplined, who was penalised most and least. There is a list of winners (and losers).

The matches getting the most attention this weekend are the Finals of the Heineken and Amlin Challenge Cups and the semifinals of the Super 14. At those matches, the match officials will be most in the spotlight.

A referee who abandoned a club match before a ball had been kicked has been praised by South African Rugby Union President Oregan Hoskins for setting a positive example for the future of the game in the country.

There are changes to the FNB Top 20 right at the top, where a small change can move a team more places than one would expect.

Griquas have chosen their team for the Under-18 Craven Week in Welkom in June-July.

Oceana defeated Oppidani in NMMU Steinhoff Koshuisrugby League action in Port Elizabeth last (Monday) night, whilst Northerns remained on the winning track with a 'nilling' of the NMMU Under-19 team.

FNB NMMU recorded a win and a defeat in Super League Grand Challenge action in the Port Elizabeth region during the past fortnight.

Traditional tours are back on the calendar after the International Rugby Board Council approved a new global 10-year playing schedule that will shape the Test landscape in the run up to the 2019 World Cup 2019 in Japan.

London Irish wing Marcus Watson has been added to the England U20 squad heading for next month's IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina.

Arabian Gulf achieved a first-ever win over Korea, winning 21-19 in Dubai in their last-ever Test match. Japan, on the other hand, flew fast for New Zealand with a massive, 101-7

South Western Districts have chosen their team for Craven Week and also the teams for the Under-18 Academy Week and the Grant Khomo Week for Under-16 players.

Great decisions have been taken in Europe and in SANZAR countries as competitions reach their climax.

Teams in UCT's Steinhoff Internal League couldn't have ask for a better evening to kick-off Round Two. With open skies and a slight breeze, teams took full advantage of the conditions as they won't be this lucky comes the next few weeks of internal league.

Tuks het sy status as die voorloper in die uitklopronde van die Blou Bulle gestand gedoen deur Saterdag oortuigend met Pretoria af te reken.

The FNB TUT Vikings claimed a 35-27 Carlton Cup victory over the Silver Valke on Friday night.

Internal League teams, Northerns, Oppidani and Oceana, all picked up two successive wins in the NMMU Steinhoff Koshuisrugby League in Port Elizabeth.

FNB UCT were held to a 19-19 draw by a plucky SK Walmers side in WP Super League action at a cold Groote Schuur on Friday evening.

'n Dubbel-ronde in Tuks se Steinhoff-koshuisliga was uitendelik verlede week moontlik nadat reen en die gevolglike nat velde drie weke lank chaos veroorsaak het.

John Dobson is backing his UCT players to bounce back from last weekend's disappointing Intervarsity loss - when they host the unpredictable SK Walmers outfit in WP Super League action at the Green Mile on Friday night.

Diegene wat FNB Shimlas flanker Willie Britz al ontmoet het, sal erken dat hy met die eerste oogopslag 'n baie rustige ou is wat altyd glimlag.

rugby365.com columnist Anton van der Merwe takes a look at how much value should be placed on 'home ground advantage' as we approach the final weekend of this year's Super 14 league stages.

Steinhoff Vishuis het die afgelope naweek gewys hoekom hy die 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby kampioene is toe hy die voorloper in die Kovsie-koshuisliga, JBM, 19-5 geklop het.

Jaco Taute, who played for FNB UJ in the 2010 Varsity Cup, has been named to start at inside centre for the Lions against the Cheetahs this weekend.

varsitycup.co.za caught up with UJ speedster Wigan Pekeur - a man who has had a rapid rise this season; from club rugby to the Super 14.

SANZAR has announced the appointment of referees to the semifinals and the Final of the 2010 Final. Craig Joubert will referee the Final on 29 May while Stuart Dickinson and Mark Lawrence will referee the semifinals on 21 and 22 May.

In the midst of so many high-profile matches, there is a humble one of interest - Lebanon vs Jordan with a woman referee - Anastassya Khamova. But the big interest will be on those high profile matches - semifinals all over Europe and deciding who will play in semifinals and where in the south.

The top two, Grey College and Affies, enjoyed good wins this past weekend, keep their top spots this week and then go into action against each other in what should be a keen match.

FNB UJ, who narrowly missed out on the Varsity Cup semifinals earlier this year, recorded yet another big victory in the 2010 Pirates Grand Challenge - beating Alberton 47-17 on Friday night.

The Cobras were formed in 2006 as a social rugby side, looking to play social rugby. However, this was not the case in the end, as the Cobras soon stamped their name all over UCT's Steinhoff Internal League with their brand of fast-paced and aggressive running rugby.

Lions wing Wandile Mjekevu believes that his experience gained during the Super 14 will hold him in good stead for next month's IRB Junior World Championship which takes place in Argentina next month.

Pierre Berbizier, once France's captain, is no longer playing but he has nonetheless been cited for a rude outburst against an assistant referee after his side, Racing-Metro, lost to Clermont Auvergne.

SANZAR has appointed the referees to the crucial last round of Super 14 matches. The referees in charge of the crucial matches are Bryce Lawrence and Chris Pollock of New Zealand and Jonathan Kaplan of South Africa.

We give some statistics for Week 13 and up to Week 13 of the Super 14. Have a look at the best and the worst disciplined side, the teams scoring and conceding most tries in the summary at the end.

FNB Tuks 1 het eergister die eerste span geword wat Harlequins die seisoen in die uitspeelronde van die Blou Bulle se Carltonliga kon klop.

The ball was in play when the final hooter sounded when the Bulls went left. Bandise Maku of the Bulls, as he was tackled by Zac Guildford passed the ball to Francois Hougaard who scored the try that won the match against the Crusaders - the try that defeated the Crusaders (35-40) in Super 14 action in Pretoria on Friday night.

The Asian 5 Nations (A5N) doubles this year as a qualifier for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, and Japan and Hong Kong's victories improve their chances of qualifying by their victories over Arabian Gulf (60-5) and Kazakhstan (19-15)

There is a lot of crunch around the rugby world, in both north and south. It is a tense time.

The FNB Maties showed their class on Saturday, when they beat FNB UCT 29-14 in their Intervarsity clash at the Green Mile.

Die Shimlas het na die voltooing van die Varsitybeker toernooi hom weer toegespits aan die Bloemfonteinse Stadsbeker Liga.

Scotland U20 head coach Eamon John on Friday named his 26-strong squad for the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina, which opens with a trio of southern-hemisphere opposition.

UJ's Steinhoff Koshuisrugby matches for Week Three were postponed because of the hail storms that surprised Johannesburg on Monday night. These matches will now be played on Sunday, May 9.

'n Man met 'n goue plan. Daar word elke dag daaraan gewerk. 'Sewes' Wolmarans se idol kan dan nou niemand anders as Fourie du Preez wees nie, want dis 'my plek daai'.

All eyes will be on the Ikey Tigers and the Maties - the finalists in the 2010 Varsity Cup - when they go head-to-head in a WP Super League clash at the Green Mile on Saturday, in a match that is also doubling up as an official Intervarsity clash.

Vishuis het weer sy Steinhoff Koshuisrugby wenresep toegepas in 'n flambojante sege oor Armentum in die sesde week van die Shimlas Steinhoff Koshuis-rugbyliga.

rugby365.com columnist Anton van der Merwe puts stoppages are under the magnifying glass in the latest contribution of his Statistically Speaking series.

FNB Maties picked up a morale-boosting WP Super League victory on Wednesday - the perfect tonic ahead of this weekend's Intervarsity meeting with the Ikey Tigers.

Teams in the Steinhoff UCT Internal League braved it out on a cold and wet evening on the green mile. Most teams came out to have fun as there was nothing to play for, others came with one goal, TO WIN no matter what stood in there way.

European Rugby Cup has appointed Wayne Barnes to referee the Final of the 15th Heineken Cup between Toulouse and Biarritz on 22 May at Stade de France. It will be his first Heineken Final.

FNB Tuks is stadig maar seker besig om sy geledere met provinsiale spelers te versterk.

UCT Steinhoff Internal League, the Tornadoes, were established on the fields of Rondebosch Boys' High School in 1999. We profile this successful side and find out just what makes them tick... 'U Cha Cha!'.

FNB Maties coach Chean Roux is hoping to arrest his team's mini-slump ahead of this weekend's Intervarsity clash against FNB UCT - when Stellenbosch play host to Helderberg in a WP Super League fixture on Wednesday night.

There are important qualifiers in France to decide who goes in the semifinal of the Top 14, the last round of England's premiership, the penultimate round of the Super 14 and two sets of World Cup qualifiers. There is still plenty to keep referees employed.

The matches around Labour Day have produced a lot of labour for those doing the FNB Top 20 for there have been shake-ups.

Come Wednesday night, ten UCT Internal League teams will be in action finalising their group standings in the closing stages of Round One.

Two players with senior Wallabies experience headline coach David Nucifora's Australian U20 squad which is expected to be highly competitive at the IRB Junior World Championships in Argentina in June.

Finalists decided for Europe's competitions, semifinalists close to decided for SANZAR's, and Japan closer to New Zealand.

Four 2010 Varsity Cup stars have been invited to attend an Emerging Sevens training camp in Stellenbosch from Wednesday to Friday of this week.

There are two more league rounds to go. We give some statistics from Round 12. You can see how messy some of the scrums were, and which team has had most and fewest yellow cards and penalties, who has scored most tries and who has conceded most tries.

Saturday's Intervarsity clash between FNB UCT and FNB Maties at the Green Mile is not about Varsity Cup revenge, says Ikey Tigers star JJ Gagiano.

FNB NMMU suffered a narrow away loss in the Super League Grand Challenge this past weekend - going down 23-27 to Uitenhage.

Na 'n week se ruskans, skop die Steinhoff International Matie Interkoshuisrugby weer vandag in volle swang af vir die laaste week van die eerste semester.

Reigning Varsity Cup champs, FNB Maties, suffered a second Super League defeat of the season when they went down 18-19 to a fired-up False Bay team in Constantia on Saturday.

FNB UCT recorded a superb 21-12 away win over the National Club champions - and WP Super League champs - Hamilton's in Oranjezicht on Saturday afternoon.

FNB UCT head coach John Dobson has unveiled a star-studded Ikey Tigers line-up for Saturday's crucial WP Super League encounter against Hamilton's in Oranjezicht.

In June the International Rugby Board's Nations Cup will be played at the Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf in Bucharest, Romania.

rugby365.com columnist Anton van der Merwe looks at the line-outs in the Super 14 competition in the latest contribution of his Statistically Speaking series.

FNB Tuks will have their work cut out on Saturday when they play archrivals Police in a Carlton Cup Round One match.

UCT's 2010 Steinhoff Internal League continued to produce upsets, after last night's (April 28) results at Groote Schuur's Green Mile.

Enigeiemand wat al vir Jaco Colyn sien rugby speel het, sal opmerk watter ongelooflike werksverigting die skrumskakel en kaptein van Shimlas op die veld het.

JBM het verlede Donderdagaand weereens bewys dat hy die span is wat in vanjaar se Kovsies Steinhoff Koshuisliga geklop moet word.

NMMU's Steinhoff Internal League action finally got underway on Wednesday, April 29 - that after the initial start was delayed by a week.

Last year 24-year-old Nikki O'Donnell, a keen sportswoman, switched from soccer to rugby because she fancied a change mid-way through the 2008/9 season and joined Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, who now compete in England's Women's Premiership. She then set out on a referees' course with remarkable results.

The Steinhoff Catsville team was founded in 2008 when 22 students decided to get together and have a run around the park with a rugby ball.

Steve Walsh, the experienced referee who has been at the centre of controversies in the 2010 season, has been taken off the match in Canberra between the Brumbies and the Reds. His place is taken by Chris Pollock of New Zealand.

The New Zealand Under 20 squad for the IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina in June has been named.

The FNB Ikey Tigers will be able to call upon a host of Western Province's Vodacom Cup stars for Saturday's WP Super League clash against Hamilton's - and one of those men is none other than Stormers lock Martin Muller.

Heineken and Amlin semis, a step towards qualifying in Tokyo and the race for semis in the Super 14 - a mouth-watering weekend for players, fans - and referees.

The Australian Rugby Union were great proponents of law changes in the interests of making the game more entertainment to help them in their battle for support against Australian Rules, Rugby League and soccer. It is ironical that the two least entertaining teams in the Super 14 are Australian teams - the Brumbies and the Waratahs.

There has certainly been rugby activity on schools rugby fields, but above all at Affies in Pretoria. This has led to changes in the FNB Top 20 this week.

The FNB Maties bounced back from their defeat to Hamilton's at the weekend with a crushing 47-17 win over SK Walmers in Western Province Super League action in Stellenbosch on Tuesday.

With Freedom Day just a few hours away, UCT's Steinhoff Internal League teams will surely use the day off - on Tuesday - to their best advantage ahead of Week Three's action.

FNB UJ continued their impressive form in the 2010 Pirates Grand Challenge, but they were made to work by Impala in their clash in treacherous conditions on Saturday.

The Reds have been the surprise package of the 2010 Super 14 as it rushes to the knock-out stages. We give some statistics from the round with some totals. If you wonder if the match in Canberra between the Brumbies and the Waratahs really was boring, look at the scrum stats and you will know that it was unacceptable.

Top 14 decisions were made, Super 14 decisions are being made and Hong Kong have taken a surprise step closer to possible qualification for New Zealand in 2011.

Varsity Cup champions, the FNB Maties, were beaten for the first time in a competitive rugby fixture this year, when they suffered a 34-44 defeat to reigning WP Super League champions, Hamilton's.

FNB NMMU claimed a 40-24 Super League Grand Challenge win over fierce rivals, Despatch, on Thursday.

The FNB Ikey Tigers are the only unbeaten team in the WP Super League, after defeating False Bay 16-15 in a hard-fought encounter at Groote Schuur on Saturday afternoon.

As one of the form flyhalves in the Western Cape at present, FNB Maties star Andre Kemp is aware that he needs to maintain his red-hot form simply to hold on to the No.10 shirt at the club.

The Ikeys Tigers' brainstrust have kept faith with the team that dealt with Victorians last week for Saturday's Western Province Super League clash against old foes, False Bay, at Groote Schuur (kick-off 4pm).

rugby365.com reader, turned columnist, Anton van der Merwe looks at the referee dimension at the scrums in the latest contribution of his Statistically Speaking series.

FNB Tuks het gisteraand in sy Carltonliga-tuiswedstryd teen die Tshwane-Universiteit van Tegnologie (TUT) baie veggees gewys deur 'n rustyd-agterstand van 3-16 in 'n oorwinning met 22-16 te omskep.

The Steinhoff UCT Internal League was greeted by a light shower of rain. It did not, however, have any effect on the pitch as teams where determined to slug it out and gain the advantage over their opponents!

The FNB Maties recorded yet another convincing WP Super League win - beating Durbanville 31-16 this past Wednesday.

Andre Watson, South Africa's refereeing boss, has produced some figures and comments about the 'shape of the game' in view of the law changes and particular areas of focus this year.

Richard Hill believes that his talented young trio can help England U20s make it third time lucky at this year's IRB U20 World Championship.

Tentatively, we publish the first FNB Top 20 of 2010. In it we seek to honour the top rugby teams in South Africa where school rugby is a phenomenon of skill and enthusiasm.

Fifteen players with Varsity Cup experience have been named in the WP team for Saturday's Vodacom Cup quarterfinal clash against the Blue Bulls in Pretoria.

It's Currie Cup semifinal weekend... so Extra-time is mainly geared towards those two semifinals - in Durban and in Cape Town - and you cannot blame us, really!

We're 14 months away from the next RWC and New Zealand are sweeping all before them. Heard this story before? Think you know the ending? Jan de Koning investigates whether the All Blacks really are chokers. News: Weepu back for Christchurch clash

UCT will, finally, return to WP Super League action - when they host Hamilton's at the Green Mile on Saturday (kick-off 4pm).

Maties star Juan de Jongh is set to become the Varsity Cup's first-ever Test Springbok, after being named in South Africa's matchday 22 for next month's one-off international against Wales in Cardiff.

The Ikey Tigers bounced back to form in the WP Super League - recording a 39-15 win over NNK on Saturday afternoon.

FNB UCT went down 14-16 to Villager's at Brookside on Wednesday, having been forced to play the majority of their Western Province Super League match with just 14 men.