All News

The United State's smashing defence will take on hosts Georgia in Tblisi on Saturday in what should be a highly physical and lively affair between two rising nations.

Italy's South African-born lock Carlo Del Fava believes the Azzurri must maintain their strong defensive showings in Test matches this month if they are to beat Fiji in Modena on Saturday.

Scotland hope to build on last weekend's 21-17 victory against the world champion Springboks with a big win against the very physical Samoa on Saturday in Edinburgh.

Beaten in Lisbon last weekend, Namibia now head for the island of Mallorca, their backs to the wall. There is nothing riding on the match except confidence.

Samoan Sevens star Mikaele Pesamino's proposed move to Sale Sharks has suffered yet another setback.

Fiji have made six changes to the side that secured a historic draw with Wales last week, as they look to end their tour on a high when they clash with Italy on Saturday.

Dawie Theron, the new SA Under-20 coach, on Thursday said he was looking forward to work with SARU in an attempt to further develop South Africa?s rugby talent.

Former FNB UCT star Pieter Engelbrecht has been named in the SA Sevens squad for the opening two rounds of the 2010/11 IRB Sevens World Series - in Dubai and George.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has made three changes to his side ahead of what is likely to be a physical encounter with Fiji in Saturday's Test match in Modena.

The International Rugby Board, determined to stamp out spear tackles, have made amendments to their laws in the interest of player safety.

Samoa have made one change for their one-off Test against Scotland in Aberdeen on Saturday, with Toulouse's Census Johnston coming in at tighthead prop in place of Anthony Perenise.

Traditional provincial rivalries will be prominent in next year's National Provincial Championship as provincial rugby bosses chose local derbies in the first ever match selection web conference this week.

US Eagles outside centre Paul Emerick was cleared to play following a disciplinary hearing which arose as a result of the player being cited following the match between Scotland A and the USA last week.

Argentina coach Santiago Phelan has made three changes to his starting XV to play against Ireland in Dublin on Sunday.

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson has challenged his team to step up their performance in Saturday's final year-end Test against Samoa at Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen.'Spoilt child' gets his French recall | Scots bullied Bok bullies | Other world news

Fijian-born All Blacks wing Joe Rokocoko has called for smaller countries such as those in the Pacific Islands to be offered more exposure against rugby's elite to aid their development.

Gordon D'Arcy is looking forward to meeting his former Leinster team-mate Felipe Contepomi when Ireland face Argentina at Lansdowne Road on Saturday, but is well aware of the threat the Pumas pose. Irish injuries mounting as Pumas loom | Frustrated Ferris

The South African Rugby Union has announced the appointment of Griquas coach Dawie Theron as the head coach of the SA Under-20 team for the next three years.

It's the last weekend of the International Rugby Board's window of opportunity for Test matches. The most important on the long term will be played in Bucharest with Alain Rolland as the referee. He refereed the final of the 2007 Rugby World Cup and now the final qualifying match for the 2011 World Cup.

The rugby365.com Team of the Week is dominated by the All Blacks this week, after they once again showed why they are ranked the best team in the world against a spirited Irish side. Ireland pay the price for brave display | Deans questions scrum calls

Five rugby players with Argentine club side San Miguel were killed in a road accident on Sunday as they were travelling to compete in a sevens competition,

There was a wonderful, stylish match in Dublin, a hard clash in London, rain domination in Edinburgh, blushes for the Welsh in Cardiff, friend against friend in Montpellier and hard work in Florence.

The use of Pat Lambie as a substitute shows exactly why South Africa doesn't produce many flyhalves, rugby365.com columnist Grant Ball writes.

Leinster backs Luke Fitzgerald and Rob Kearney have both been ruled out of Ireland's final November international against Argentina.

Martin Johnson believes England's gritty victory over Samoa will stand his side in good stead as they attempt to end their four-year losing streak against South Africa.Report: England struggle against Samoa | 'That is Test rugby' | More news

Inspired by the boot of Morgan Parra, France took revenge for a 41-13 Buenos Aires mid-year thrashing by edging out Argentina 15-9 in Saturday's one-off year-end Test at the Stade de la Mosson in Montpellier.

The rain came down at Murrayfield and South Africa came down a peg or two, their Grand Slam tour a damp squib while in Dublin the All Blacks continued on their seamless way. In Florence the Australian scrum was again a mess while Fiji beat Wales 16-all.

In the second test ever between the two countries Georgia beat Canada 22-15 at the Boris Paichadze National Stadium in Tblisi on Saturday.

Georgia and Canada meet in a friendly in Tblisi on Saturday afternoon. It is the second Test ever between the two countries.

Scotland paid a dear price for their inspired 21-17 win over South Africa at the weekend.

At the at Estadio Universitario in Lisbon on Saturday Portugal beat the touring Namibians 24-12 after leading 12-9 at half time.

The United States Eagles fell at the hands of Scotland 'A' in the third match of their November at Galashiels.

England maintained their unbeaten record against Samoa, overcoming a rugged display by the South Pacific islanders to win 26-13 in a bruising battle at Twickenham on Saturday.

The fall-out over Wales' 16-all draw against Fiji at the Millennium Stadium on Friday, described by coach Warren Gatland as "embarrassing", has already claimed one victim.Match report: Fiji the victors in draw | Wales 'warm up' against England | News

Touring Tonga beat Italy A 16-9 at Stadio Vittorio Pozzo in Biella on Friday night. The visitors led 16-0 at half-time.

England manager Martin Johnson said he was pleased with the way his side had "grittily slugged it out" to maintain their unbeaten record against Samoa.

In its second tour match Canada were too strong for Spain, winning 60-22 in Madrid on Saturday afternoon in the first-ever test between the two countries.

Canada travel East for their match against Georgia in Tblisi. Both teams are qualified for the 2011 World Cup and are using every opportunity to prepare.

This century's history suggests a victory for Argentina over France in Montpellier on Saturday. After all the Pumas have won seven of the nine matches between the two sides this century.

England manager Martin Johnson has warned his team against complacency as they bid to build on the record victory over Australia against Samoa in London Saturday.

Fiji did it again against Wales. They outplayed and out-spirited their more illustrious opponents in Cardiff on Friday to earn a 16-all draw. rugby365.com reports.Relive the drama -minute-by-minute | Wales 'warm up' against England | News

Italy 'A' team coach Gianluca Guidi has been able to call on the services of a host of stars with European experience for the encounter with Tonga at the Vittorio Pozzo stadium in Biella on Friday.

The United States Eagles are coming off an away win against Portugal in Lisbon and will look to do the same against Scotland 'A' on Friday.

"Look after the pence and the pounds will look after themselves." Your mother told you that many years ago, and perhaps it applies to scrumming as well. We are starting from the top instead of from the bottom and continually treat symptoms instead of root causes.

France's dynamic scrumhalf Morgan Parra is determined to set aside memories of probably his worst performance for the national side, when he starts against Argentina in Montpellier on Saturday.  Samoa turn on the style | Easter takes charge | World news

Backing up the challenge laid down by their Siva Tau, Samoa won the battle on the field and the hearts of the Kingsholm faithful with a stylish 66-25 win over the Combined Services on Wednesday.

Toulouse lock Patricio Albacete will make his return to Argentina's starting XV for the one-off Test against France in Montpellier this weekend.

Euphoria and the associated public hype may have followed England's convincing 35-18 win over Australia, but coach Martin Johnson has made every effort to quell the ecstasy of the English media and public.

Samoa named an unchanged starting XV to play England at Twickenham on Saturday, following last weekend's 10-20 loss to Ireland in Dublin.

Namibia have gathered their players from near and far for their two-Test trip to Europe, in which they play Portugal and Spain/.

Argentinian captain Felipe Contepomi would love to lead his side to a repeat against France on Saturday of what he believes was the perfect match - June's 41-13 humiliation of the Six Nations Grand Slam champions.

Harlequins No.8 Nick Easter will lead the England side for the first time in a Test match against Samoa at Twickenham this weekend. rugby365.com reports.Palmer to raise the bar | It's time for the Varsity game | Other news

French sporting icon Sebastien Chabal gets what could be his last chance to prove he is an international No.8 on Saturday against Argentina and he is determined to seize it with both hands.

Even within the current process of scrumming, better scrumming can be achieved. In the rain and the wet in Limerick on a miserable Tuesday night, two packs proved that there is no excuse for the blight of rotten scrumming.

In-form England lock Tom Palmer has urged the side to make sure they use last weekend's dramatic 35-18 victory over Australia as a springboard to further success and not let it be a glorious one-off.

The South African Referees' Association has announced the names of the various panels of referees. There are no changes to the National Panel.

The combined services rugby team are preparing to take on Samoa in their first international match in years and is an opportunity to raise money for the Poppy Appeal.

Argentina will be without injured centre Rafael Carballo and lock Manuel Carizza in Saturday's Test against France.

Samoan hooker Ti'i Paulo has escaped suspension, despite being found guilty of foul play in a November 9 tour match against Irish side Connacht.

What ever is being done to clean up the scrumming mess, it's not working. The slower engagement sequence is not working. Penalising is not working. Perhaps they are starting from the wrong end of the problem.

Racing-Metro powerhouse Sebastien Chabal is to get a run at No.8 for France as coach Marc Lievremont recalled a host of his Six Nations Grand Slam winners for the Test against Argentina in Montpellier on Saturday. French focus on tactics, not revenge

The European Cup has announced the referees for Rounds 3 and 4 of the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup.

Six Nations Grand Slam champions France must focus entirely on their tactics for Saturday's one-off Test match with World Cup semifinalists Argentina and not revenge, their captain Thierry Dusautoir said.

Kees Lensing, Namibia's powerful loosehead prop who has captained his country has caused surprise by hanging up his boots at the age of 32.

Ireland lock Donnacha Ryan has been cited for allegedly stamping on an opponent during Ireland's 20-10 win over Samoa in Dublin on Saturday.

The rugby365.com Team of the Week is understandably dominated by players from England and New Zealand this week, after their utterly convincing victories putting Australia and Scotland to the sword respectively. Boks banish 'slam' talk | Scotland left limping

It was, you may say, as busy weekend. All the top tier countries were involved, and we give statistics from all those matches. Unfortunately the statistics for the matches in Nantes and Verona are not as full.

Leicester centre Anthony Allen was called into the England squad on Monday ahead of this weekend's Test at home to Samoa.

rugby365.com columnist Grant Ball says the Springboks are making it a welcome habit of winning close games, just like great sides of the recent past.

The Southerners continue to invade the North with teams from Argentina, Australia, Fiji, Namibia, New Zealand, Samoa and South Africa. And then the north American sides are joining the rush to Europe while the IRB's window of Test opportunity is open.

France coach Marc Lievremont on Sunday reacted to the disappointing 34-12 victory over Fiji by making eight changes to his squad ahead of the one-off Test against Argentina in Montpellier next weekend.

Argentina captain Felipe Contepomi said his team would need to be more clinical when they face France next week following their 22-16 victory over Italy in Verona.

A late penalty gave Uruguay a 21-all draw with Romania in their World Cup qualifier in Montevideo on Saturday.

The United States of America ran in three tries in Lisbon as they defeated Portugal 22-17 in the first IRB ranking test of their November Tour.

Italy's miserable home run against Argentina continued on Saturday as the Pumas won for the fifth successive time 22-16 at the Bentegodi stadium in Verona.

The International Rugby Board has announced the dates, pools and venues for the IRB Junior World Championship 2011 in Italy, which sees the hosts up against the defending champions in the pool stage.

Japan's preparations for the 1919 Rugby World Cup took a step forward with the naming of a president, some highly placed persons and a general manager for the organising committee.

Canada play the second match of their European tour when they meet Spain in Madrid on Saturday.

There is just one place left for the 2011 Rugby World Cup and the first step towards filling it will be taken when Uruguay meet Romania in Montevideo on Saturday in the first leg of a two-legged race.

Following a tough fought tour-opening loss to professional English club Saracens, the United States are prepared to take on Portugal in the first ranking test of the November Tour.

The chief executive of rugby's governing body believes it is a question of "when, not if" the sport's World Cup is held in the United States.

November has started with several Tests, including matches between the SANZAR countries and the Six Nations counties. We give some stats from Week 1.

Saracens were convincing 20-6 winners against the United states Eagles in the city of London in their midweek clash on Tuesday.

At the annual IRB High Performance Referees meeting at the Lensbury Club in South London on Monday, attended by the world?s top referees and referee managers, the emphasis was - again - on consistency as momentum builds towards Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand.

United States Eagles head coach Eddie O'Sullivan has relied heavily on domestic players for the team that will face Saracens in a midweek tour match on Tuesday.

rugby365.com columnist Grant Ball writes that the lack of praise for forwards coach Gary Gold in the aftermath of the Boks' win has been deafening.

Despite Extra-time's regular compiling artist, Howie Kahn, sampling the delights of New York, we have managed to put together an ambrosial column for you this week.

It's mainly international matches and referees that attract our attention this week, most notably a match in Montevideo on Sunday which has further ramifications.

Colin High, formerly an international referee and much involved in refereeing has received the IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service 2010 at a special presentation during a conference of top refereeing men at the Lensbury Club in Teddington.

Steve Borthwick will lead Saracens when international rugby hits the city of London on Tuesday, as Saracens face the United States Eagles at the Honourable Artillery Company grounds.

As the southern hemisphere invades the north, the rugby365.com Team of the Week returns with the Tri-Nations teams each claiming a northern scalp and dominate our selections. Ireland to pay for Bok loss | Wales recall fiery Powell for Bok visit

Canada won the opening match of their European tour with a 43-12 victory over the Black Devils of Belgium in the mud on a wet Brussels afternoon, the first-ever Test between the two countries.

Left wing Alisi Tupuailai scored a hat-trick to lead Japan to a 75-3 victory over Russia in a Test match at the Prince Chichibu stadium ion Tokyo on Saturday.

Peter Borlase, who on Friday helped Canterbury win their third successive NPC title, will join up with Irish giants Munster next week.

Canterbury won the NPC for the third straight year after downing Waikato 33-13 in the final in Christchurch on Friday.

Belgium and Canada meet on the international rugby field in Brussels on Saturday - the first such match between the two countries.

The Brave Blossoms of Japan face the Russian Bears at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium on Tokyo on Saturday.

Jonathon White of Auckland has been appointed to referee his first Final of New Zealand's provincial championship, now called the ITM Cup when Canterbury host Waikato. It is also the first time these two teams have met in a Final.

Provincial rugby organised in a competition in New Zealand is relatively young and finals date back only to 1992 - not that anybody will be less enthusiasm as they head for Westpac Stadium in Wellington this Saturday when Wellington play Canterbury in the third final of the Air New Zealand Cup.

Eastern Province Kings No.8 JJ Gagiano heads the growing list of professional players from around the globe that will bolster the United States Eagles for their first international tour in four years.

There is one change to the Canterbury team to play Waikato in Friday's NPC Final in Christchurch.

The International Rugby Board is pleased with the outcome of their increased emphasis on certain aspects of law application - the tackle and offside at kicks in particular.

How could Jake White solve the Springbok woes? Which player would Jake White like to have in his team? All these questions and more are answered by the World Cup-winning coach himself...

Waikato coach Chris Gibbes named an unchanged starting XV for his team's NPC Final against Canterbury in Christchurch on Friday.

The Sharks outplayed Western Province to win Saturday's Currie Cup Final 30-10. We give some statistics from this match in Durban.

It's a big weekend this week as the Big Three of the South head North. It is also the Final of New Zealand's ITM Cup. Big referees are now in action.

Why does Danie Rossouw get preferential treatment when other players also need a break? rugby365 columnist Grant Ball asks some questions of Peter de Villiers's latest Springbok touring squad.

What a thriller in Hong Kong when a last minute try and conversion gave Australia a 26-24 victory over New Zealand. We give some statistics.

There was loads of emotion as the South African season came to an exhausting end with three finals and promotion-relegation matches while New Zealand decided on finalists, but the big match of the weekend was the thriller in Hong Kong.

Canterbury will host the final of the 2010 ITM Cup in a bid to win three consecutive titles for the first time after beating Wellington 57-41 in Christchurch on Friday.

Waikato have been bolstered by the inclusion of explosive All Black wing Sitiveni Sivivatu in the starting line-up for their NPC semifinal against Auckland on Saturday.

BJ Botha, writing for iafrica.com, takes a look at this weekend's Currie Cup Final between the Sharks and Western Province... and picks his winner.

The Brumbies have signed the franchise's first international development player, Fijian-born wing Henry Speight - on a two-year deal ahead of next year's Super 15 season.

Despite all the excitement over this coming weekend's Currie Cup Final - between the Sharks and WP - don't forget about Monday's SA Rugby Awards. Extra-time hasn't...

The USA Eagles will welcome back their talismanic captain Todd Clever from injury for their year-end tour of Europe.

The Wellington Lions' drive to dethrone defending champions Canterbury, when they meet in the first of the NPC semifinals on Friday, has been clouded in controversy.

The EP Kings will be relying on a host of Varsity Cup stars - mainly from Shimlas - to bolster their resources ahead of the 2011 season.

Craig Joubert will referee his first Currie Cup Final in Durban on Saturday, one of 25 referees to referee a final since the first final in 1939. It is the 50th Currie Cup Final.

The Currie Cup Final and the last of the year's Bledisloe Cup matches dominate this weekend's matches. Craig Joubert Referees the Currie Cup Final, Alain Rolland the Bledisloe match in Hong Kong. The busy referee is Cristian Raduta of Romania.

The International Rugby Board is introducing a trial, new way of making substitutes during a match. This experiment will apply to the upcoming November Tests.

Dana Teagarden of the USA is about to make rugby history. She is the first woman to be appointed by the International Rugby Board to referee a senior men's Test. It is a huge breakthrough for women referees.

Andre Watson, South Africa's refereeing boss, has sent a letter to referees on the difficult matter of yellow cards which can have such an big effect on a match and its outcome. The communication to his match officials is below.

If you like playing in sunshine, there were places to avoid this weekend where rain and hail tortured the north. New Zealand sorted out semifinalists in the ITM Cup and South Africa started the agony of promotion/relegation.

The year 2010 has been a successful one for Western Province for they have reached finals of a sort in all nine competitions/tournaments they have taken part in - from Under-13 Craven Week to Currie Cup.

For the first time since 2007 Auckland are in the semifinals of New Zealand's provincial competition, the ITM Cup, and they will have a home semi because they ended in second place after they beat Tasman 49-10 at Eden Park despite being without their All Blacks.

Auckland joined Canterbury on Sunday in booking themselves a home NPC semifinal next weekend after a final week of round robin matches that has had officials reaching for the tie-breaker regulations.

Maties captain Lourens Adriaanse walked off with the Western Province Club Player of the Year Award at a function held in Claremont on Tuesday evening.

Seven teams will wrestle for NPC semifinal places in this last week of round robin play, with current frontrunners and Ranfurly Shield holders Canterbury the only team confirmed to host one of the play-offs.

The Wellington Lions have guaranteed themselves a spot in the NPC semifinals after a 27-14 win over Southland in Invercargill in Saturday.

Bay of Plenty lock Culum Retallick has been suspended for two weeks and West Coast prop Blair Mirfin for a similar period, following hearings before New Zealand Rugby Union judicial officer Bruce Squire in Wellington on Wednesday.

In today's edition of Extra-time we look at the bizarre bee invasion in Durban at the weekend, as well as a bad injury-break and, of course, some more picture funnies.

There were two semifinals in the 2010 Currie Cup in 2010. We give some statistics from each match.

Bees came to the Absa Stadium in Durban on Saturday just when the Currie Cup semifinal between the Sharks and the Blue Bulls was about to kick-off. This led to a delay in the kick-off of three-quarters of an hour with a referee in the middle to decide if and when the match could proceed.

The full extent of scrumhalf Piri Weepu's horrific ankle injury has been revealed by the All Blacks coaches, after he was ruled out of New Zealand's end-of-year tour of Hong Kong and Europe.

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.

All Blacks hooker Andrew Hore knows he won't just walk back into the starting line-up, despite winning a recall to the squad without having played a match since May.

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.

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.

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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

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.

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

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

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...

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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...

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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...

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

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.

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'

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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!

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Visitors Samoa avenged their loss in the Pacific Nations Cup - in June - when they roared back from a 10-point deficit to beat Japan 13-10 in a hard-fought Test match played in Tokyo on Saturday.

A late try by replacement hooker Hikairo Forbes, followed by Trent Renata's nerveless conversion, saw Waikato claim a dramatic 38-37 ITM Cup semifinal win over Auckland at Eden Park on Saturday.

The flyhalf battle between Pat Lambie and Willem de Waal in this weekend's Currie Cup Final in Durban represents two vastly contrasting styles, writes rugby365.com columnist Grant Ball.

It's edition six of Extra-time, and we have trawled through an old feature for today's headline act...

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).