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The South African Rugby Union on Sunday confirmed the appointment of former Springbok loose forward Rassie Erasmus into a senior management position at the organisation.

Stuart Hogg's hat-trick was in vain as Glasgow relinquished ground to Pro12 play-off rivals Munster in a thrilling 35-29 victory by the defending champions.

Cardiff Blues have signed Fijian international prop forward Campese Ma'afu and 24-year-old blindside flank Robin Copeland from Rotherham, ahead of the new season.

The Baby Boks ran in seven tries in their 51-19 demolition of Argentina Under-20 in a fiery encounter at the Markotter Stadium in Stellenbosch on Saturday,

England captain Chris Robshaw got on the scoresheet as Harlequins wrapped up their place in the Premiership semifinals with a 33-17 win over Wasps on Saturday.

Worcester Warriors have secured the services of former England international and Sale Sharks lock Dean Schofield who will join them from French giants Toulon at the end of the season.

New Zealand's Wayne Smith on Friday claimed he has yet to be contacted by the Rugby Football Union about filling the vacant England backs coaching job.

Flyhalf Dan Biggar is set to reach another major milestone this weekend, when he will become the youngest Ospreys player ever to reach 100 caps for the region.

SARU announced on Friday that an agreement has been reached which allows them to negotiate with four coaches employed by the Blue Bulls, with coach Heyneke Meyer's support staff set to be revealed on Sunday.

Ronan O'Gara has called on Munster to launch a worldwide search for their next coach with Tony McGahan set to leave to join Australia at the close of the Pro12 season.

Leinster stormed to an eight-try demolition of Edinburgh at the RDS on Friday, cruising to a 54-13 victory to book a home semifinal in the Pro12 competition.

Rob Miller's try eight minutes from full-time sealed a dramatic 16-9 triumph over Bath to boost Sale Sharks' chances of qualifying for the Heineken Cup.

Cardiff revealed on Thursday that John Yapp and Richie Rees will leave the Blues at the end of the season to join Edinburgh

Preparations for Japan's staging of World Cup 2019 have been further boosted after the International Rugby Board announced that the 2012 IRB Pacific Nations Cup will be hosted by the Japan.

Saracens coach Andy Farrell has turned down the chance to be a permanent member of the England coaching staff in favour of staying with Saracens.

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer will hold three planning camps during the next six weeks as part of his preperations for the upcoming Test series against England in June.

Exeter Chiefs lock Peter Short has confirmed his immediate retirement from the professional game due to injury.

Ulster's All Black prop John Afoa has been suspended for four weeks, following a disciplinary hearing in Dublin on Thursday.

The French Rugby Federation are to appeal the 60-day ban imposed on Toulon Sporting Director Bernard Laporte by the National Rugby League (LNR), the Top 14 club confirmed on Thursday.

The Jantjies family have another Baby Bok - Altonio Jantjies following in the footsteps of Springbok brother Elton when he became a member of South Africa's Under-20 team on Thursday.

London Wasps back row John Hart has been forced to retire from all rugby following injury.

Veteran Wales flyhalf Stephen Jones will leave the Scarlets at the end of the season after many years of loyal service, to take up a new challenge with London Wasps in the English Premiership.

Wales hooker Lloyd Burns has been forced to retire from rugby with a neck injury that has left him with a damaged aorta and possibly needing heart surgery, according to his club Newport-Gwent Dragons.

Springbok and Cheetahs loose forward Ashley Johnson has signed with English Premiership side London Wasps and will join the club in time for the start of the new season in September.

Wales coach Warren Gatland suffered multiple fractures to his feet after falling from a ladder at his home in New Zealand, the Wales Rugby Union confirmed on Wednesday.

The two most successful teams in the history of the Vodacom Cup, Griquas and the Golden Lions, clash in a crucial North Section match in Kimberley on Saturday.

Scotland scrumhalf Mike Blair is set to leave Edinburgh at the end of the season after a ten-year spell with the capital club.

Ulster's All Black tighthead prop John Afoa has been cited for a dangerous tackle made in the European Cup quarterfinal against Munster on Sunday.

Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu has added five Varsity Rugby players to his training group for the last two tournaments of the Sevens World Series in Glasgow and London, while two more new faces will join them next Monday.

Edinburgh's physical dimension will be boosted with the signing of Georgia No.8 Dimitri Basilaia from Valence d'Agen.

Following the decision by Wycombe District Council last July to withdraw its support for a new Sporting Village and Stadium for London Wasps, the club has been searching for new investment and subsequently new owners.

The falling scrum has been an increasing worry to rugby's law-makers and others, spectators for example. For one thing every scrum that falls is dangerous.

Cardiff Blues centre Gavin Evans has signed a two year contract extension with the Welsh region, who will welcome the midfield boost following the injury to Jamie Roberts and the departure of Gavin Henson.

Clermont Auvergne coach Vern Cotter said there was more to the absence of English clubs from the semifinals of European competition than a salary cap after his side thrashed Saracens.

Bath first team coach, Martin Haag, will leave the Premiership club at the end of this season when his current contract expires.

The one is a top motivator for Wales. The other a top hostage negotiator.

Clermont Auvergne flyhalf Brock James has admitted the French side have placed an emphasis on the Heineken Cup this season and it paid off on Sunday, as they beat Saracens 22-3 to reach their first semifinal.

Easter is over, now, but rugby rumbles on unabated. In Europe the pursuit of trophies (and the avoidance of relegation) hots up and in SANZAR lands Super Rugby is as passionate as ever. And in the Philippines there is a tournament which is part of qualifying for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. And everywhere there are determined referees.

The 20th Mauritz Hansen Rugby Week, in which 90 teams take part in five categories, was spoilt this year by the action of one player - a member of the Hans Strijdom school team from Mookgophong (Naboomspruit) in Limpopo. The schoolboy player, already guilty of foul play, assaulted the referee and knocked him unconscious.

Ulster captain Johann Muller put much of side's impressive European Cup quarterfinal victory over Munster down to lessons learned over the past year.

There will be no fear in the Edinburgh camp when they take a step into the unknown and play their first European Cup semifinal, and they have pledged to play with freedom to cause another upset.

Replacement flyhalf Brock James starred for Clermont as they qualified for their first European Cup semifinal by beating Saracens 22-3 in London on Sunday.

Ulster stunned Irish rivals Munster, beating them 22-16 in their European Cup quarterfinal at Thomond Park on Sunday - the hosts' first home defeat in any quarterfinal in all competitions.

Cardiff Blues head coach Gareth Baber admitted his side were 'outclassed' by champions Leinster who handed them a crushing 34-3 defeat in their European Cup quarterfinal on Saturday.

Edinburgh gave Scottish rugby a much-needed boost on Saturday as they became the first club from Scotland to reach the Heinken Cup semifinals with a stunning 19-14 upset of four-time champions Toulouse.

Holders Leinster Rugby laid down a marker as they cruised into the Heineken Cup last four once again with a hugely impressive 34-3 victory over the Cardiff Blues at Dublin's Aviva Stadium.

Aironi, one of Italy's two franchises in the Pro12 competition, have had their license revoked on financial grounds and will not compete next season in the tournament.

Connacht revealed that legendary flank Ray Ofisa will depart from the Irish province at the end of the season.

Where has Howie Kahn put his money this weekend in the Bet.co.za Super Rugby betting challenge?

Tommy Bowe will undergo surgery to cure an ongoing medical issue on Friday, ruling him out of the remainder of the current season - including Ireland's trip to New Zealand in June.

The Worcester Warriors have put their trust in defence coach Phil Larder, who has signed a new contract to stay at Sixways.

Australian Adrian Thompson has been appointed head coach of the Samoa national team, the Samoa Rugby Union (SRU) announced on Thursday.

Hurricanes and Taranaki prop Michael Bent has signed a contract to join Irish side Leinster at the end of the NPC later this year.

With the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup knockout stages set to dominate the European landscape this weekend, the clubs who qualify for the last four of European club rugby's elite tournament will play the semifinal matches at Dublin's Aviva Stadium, and at either Twickenham Stadium or Stade Chaban-Delmas in Bordeaux.

Leinster are bidding to become only the second club to win back-to-back Heineken Cup titles - but forwards coach Jono Gibbes insists they are looking no further ahead than Saturday?s quarterfinal showdown with Cardiff Blues at a packed Aviva Stadium.

Fresh from delivering a Pro 12 Man of the Match performance in the 31-3 win over Cardiff Blues, Alex Dunbar has signed a two-year contract extension with Glasgow Warriors.

South African Under-20 coach Dawie Theron has named an extended training squad for a camp in April to be followed by matches against Argentina in preparation for the Junior World Championships in June.

SARU have thrown their weight behind the Baby Boks, doing everything they can to ensure that South Africa take their rightful place at the helm of international junior rugby in the future.

Bath revealed on Wednesday that Director of Rugby Ian McGeechan will be leaving the club at the end of this season, which coincides with the end of his two-year contract.

The South African Rugby Union on Wednesday named an extended group of players to attend the SA Under-20 training camp from 10 to 23 April in Cape Town.

John Smit made his Heineken Cup debut for Clermont and now South Africa's 2007 World Cup-winning captain is poised to face his former club when Saracens go head-to-head with Clermont in their much anticipated quarterfinal clash at Vicarage Road on Sunday.

Sevens legend Gordon Tietjens will coach New Zealand at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics after signing a four-year contract extension.

The European Cup and Challenge Cup tournaments for the 2012/13 season will kick off on October 11, organisers announced on Wednesday.

Perpignan's relegation battle suffered a blow on Wednesday as influential flank Jean-Pierre Perez was suspended for 20 days - which will see him miss Top 14 games against leaders Toulouse and Stade Francais.

English Premiership club Sale Sharks revealed on Wednesday that they will move to the new City of Salford Stadium next season.

Happy 34th Birthday to former Springbok captain John Smit.

The one plays for the Springboks and the Stormers. The other led the Antz rebellion.

Long-serving Chiefs coach Ian Foster has been named as All Blacks assistant coach to back newly-appointed head coach Steve Hansen in a re-organisation at the helm of the world champion side.

Destructive Welsh inside centre Jamie Roberts has been ruled out of action for six months with a knee injury which means that he will miss the rest of the domestic season and the tour to Australia in June.

Western Province Rugby Union have appointed Thelo Wakefield as Acting President in the absence of Tobie Titus who has taken up a position as a member of the Executive Council of SARU.

USA Eagles coach Mike Tolkin, has confirmed that hard-hitting loose forward Todd Clever will remain captain and will lead the team in its three Test matches in June against Canada, Georgia, and Italy.

Toulouse have won the Heineken Cup a record four times ? and Luke Burgess has already discovered just how special European club rugby's premier tournament is to the French giants.

Brive fullback Julien Caminati has been suspended by the French rugby federation after testing positive for cannabis in a random drugs test.

London Wasps centre Riki Flutey will leave the English club at the end of the season to move his family back to New Zealand.

The three divisions of the Under-18 European Championship head for semifinals this week after the first round over the weekend.

Edinburgh will write a new chapter into Heineken Cup history when they clash with Toulouse at Murrayfield in the opening Heineken Cup quarterfinal on Saturday.

Welsh international Gavin Henson had his Cardiff Blues contract torn up over his drunken behaviour at the weekend.

Melbourne Rebels wing Cooper Vuna has been banned for two weeks, after being found guilty of a spear tackle in his side's 12-43 Super Rugby loss to the Highlanders.

A SANZAR Judicial Hearing has found Western Force lock Phoenix Battye not guilty of a spear tackle during the 45-19 Super Rugby victory over the Reds on Saturday.

Former Brumbies and Waratahs scrumhalf Josh Holmes could be called in as emergency cover for the injury plagued Western Force squad.

It's the oldest Easter Festival of them all - the Saints Easter Rugby Festival in Randburg.

Clermont scrumhalf and first choice goal-kicker Morgan Parra is doubtful for his side's Heineken Cup quarterfinal showdown against Saracens on Sunday.

Former Highlander Mike Delany could be about to join his old team, who are in desperate need of a new flyhalf for the remainder of the Super Rugby season.

Exeter Chiefs wing Gonzalo Camacho is aiming to become only the second player in Amlin Challenge Cup history to win back-to-back titles ? and once again break the hearts of Stade Fran?ais supporters.

The Bulls, hoping to bounce back from their heartbreaking three-point (17-20) loss to the table-topping Stormers at the weekend, have a couple of injury issues to content with.

Griquas edged the Pumas in a one-point thriller in Witbank to remain the only unbeaten team in the North Section of the Vodacom Cup, while Western Province, also undefeated, still lead the southern pack.

Easter time has also meant tournament time, a testimony to South Africa's enthusiasm for rugby and the devotion of those who run the game in schools. Here were have the fixtures for five festivals in one document.

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke does not regard it as a crisis yet, but he is certainly keen to have a look at the reasons for his team's ongoing scrum issues.

Tokyo's first IRB World Sevens Series tournament in a decade was distinctly lacking in fun and pompom girls, but was good preparation for the 2019 World Cup, the International Rugby Board chief said Monday.

It's Easter tide, for some a time for extra religious observance, for some an extra long weekend and for some time to hunt for eggs. For Europe's competitions the things are getting hotter.

SANZAR and Game Manager, Lyndon Bray, have confirmed the appointments of match officials for Week Seven (5 April to 7 April) through to Week Ten (27 April to 29 April).

Following a weekend of brutal arm-wrestles and blow-outs, we have a very handy spread our weekly selection.

World Cup-winning Springbok Francois Steyn is returning to his home country, South Africa, after a three-year sojourn in France.

We are calling on you, the readers, to give us your selections for the form players in each position in each of the conferences, and this week we want to know who the best coach was as well.

Leicester Tigers scrumhalf Ben Youngs has been suspended for one week after pleading guilty to striking London Irish's Jamie Gibson with his knee.

Krugersdorp High School once again looks forward to a cracker Easter Festival with teams coming from in and around Southern Africa.

Paarl Gimnasium's three-day Under-16 tournament got underway on Saturday with three one-point victories.

Controversial Welsh centre Gavin Henson has apologised for drinking and "behaving inappropriately" on a team flight.

A last-minute penalty from halfway by Elliot Daly gave Wasps a 26-24 win over Gloucester and four vital points in their battle against relegation from the Aviva Premiership.

Stormers' captain Jean de Villiers was very happy that his team's plan had come together to enable them to achieve their fiercely contested 20-17 win over the Bulls at Newlands on Saturday.

Western Force lock Phoenix Battye has been cited for alleged foul play during the Super Rugby match against the Reds on Saturday.

Brumbies flyhalf Matt Toomua has been ruled out for the remainder of the Super Rugby season with a serious knee injury sustained during the 29-26 defeat to the Sharks on Saturday.

Noord-Kaap scored a try in the last minute to beat Oakdale by a single point in their match on Day 2 of the Puk Skouspel.

Lions coach John Mitchell has grumbled about his side's second-half performance in their 23-13 Super Rugby defeat to the Crusaders at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Stormers' head coach Allister Coetzee believes his players' physicality was the deciding factor in the team's 20-17 victory over the Bulls at Newlands on Saturday.

There are lots of results this week, mainly because of tournaments all over the country. One really should praise and thank the many schoolmasters who organise tournaments and organise to go to tournaments in their holiday time.

Paarl Boys' High's three-day Under-15 Tournament started on Saturday.

Australia defeated Samoa 28-26 in dramatic fashion the final of the Tokyo Sevens to become the fifth Cup winners in the Sevens World Series 2011/12.

Die jaarlikse Ho?rskool Waterkloof Sportfees het Saterdag afgeskop. Daar neem altesaam 17 rugbyspanne van regoor die land aan die fees deel. Dit fees vind nog Maandag die 2de en Woensdag die 4de April plaas.

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke and captain Pierre Spies believe that the Stormers deserved to win their fiercely contested South African derby match at Newlands on Saturday.

Saracens chief executive Edward Griffiths has called on English rugby chiefs to bring a quick conclusion to talks over the future of the club's head coach Andy Farrell.

The Sharks held off a late charge from the Brumbies for their first Super Rugby win in Canberra in 14 years on Saturday - a 29-26 triumph.

Springbok prop Deon Carstens has been added to the Stormers' 26-man squad for their four-match Australasian tour.

The Cheetahs showcased their impressive attacking skills to run in six tries on their way to a 47-38 victory over the Hurricanes in a sensational display of running rugby in Wellington on Saturday.

The Chiefs recovered from a strong opening salvo by the Waratahs to run away with a comprehensive 30-13 win in their Super Rugby clash on Saturday.

Leinster secured the double over fierce rivals Munster in their gritty 18-9 victory at Thomond Park to secure their place at the top of the Pro12.

The Reds ended their taxing tour with a whimper as they went down 45-19 in Perth to a gritty Western Force team who simply never let the defending Super Rugby champions into the game.

England caused the big upset in the pool stages on the opening day at the Tokyo leg of the IRB Sevens World Series.

Leicester Tigers ran in seven tries as they recorded a 43-13 bonus-point victory over Worcester Warriors at Welford Road on Friday.

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset believes that Tokyo's hosting of a Sevens World Series event this weekend will have long-term benefits for the sport's growth in Japan and throughout Asia.

Ulster kept up the pressure in the race for Pro12 play-off places as they completed a 45-7 bonus-point victory over Aironi at Ravenhill.

Premiership leaders Harlequins cemented their place at the top of the table when they held on to defeat London rivals Saracens in front of a world record club crowd of 83,761 fans at Wembley on Saturday.

The Crusaders were made to work hard, but they turned on the class when it mattered to record a 23-13 victory over the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The Sharks showed great character to secure a valuable 29-26 bonus-point victory over a determined Brumbies outfit in their hard-fought clash in Canberra on Saturday.

The defending champion Reds will make a timely return to their home ground in Brisbane next Friday, after a disastrous three-match tour of South Africa and Australia.

The Chiefs weathered a stern first-half test and ultimately made better use of their opportunities to beat the Waratahs 30-13 in their entertaining clash in Hamilton on Saturday.

The Stormers left it late but they did just enough to hold off a tough Bulls team and claim a tense 20-17 victory in their physically intense South African derby at Newlands on Saturday.

The Cardiff Blues have dropped a bomb with the news that they have slapped a ban on the utility back Gavin Henson.

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder admitted to being frustrated with his team's lack of accuracy in their hard-fought victory over the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The Cheetahs upset the Wellington Hurricanes 47-38 in a helter-skelter 10-try Super Rugby thriller on Saturday to record their first-ever win in New Zealand.

The rugby365.com readers have spoken and we have collated the form players in each position in the different conferences, with a few surprise packages thrown up in each of the teams.

When the Stormers play the Bulls there is no additional sideshows needed to spice up the encounter. Just the history between these two great outfits takes care of the pre-match hype.

The Rebels may pay a dear price for their lack of discipline in the 12-43 defeat against the Highlanders in Invercargill on Friday.

After grabbing his first Ospreys try in last weeks win over Leinster in Dublin, new recruit George Stowers is targeting second place and a home tie in the end of season play-offs.

Another massive Super Rugby Saturday wraps up with four intriguing match-ups bringing things to a close. We take a closer look at the action.

Northampton Saints flank Calum Clark was banned for 32 weeks on Thursday after pleading guilty to hyperextending the right arm of an opponent.

Newcastle Falcons have been boosted by the news that 30-year-old hooker Rob Vickers has signed a new two-year deal.

The rugby365.com team love to have a laugh or two and we will continue to call on our readers to help us out with captions for five of our favourite pictures from the week.

The Highlanders turned up the heat in the second half as they scored 31 unanswered points to secure a 43-12 hammering of the Rebels in Invercargill on Friday.

Lions coach John Mitchell was able to recall a few of his senior players, ahead of their Super Rugby encounter with the Crusaders in Johannesburg on Saturday.

New Zealand-based lawyer Fred Amoa has been appointed chief executive of the Samoa Rugby Union, taking over from Peter Schuster who held the role since 2007.

Former South Africa and Italy rugby coach Nick Mallett on Thursday congratulated Stuart Lancaster on his appointment as England's permanent head coach.

Caylib Rees Oosthuizen may be a Lion cub in rugby parlance, but in a season where many young guns are stepping up he is already far more than just the new kid on the block.

The Melbourne Rebels were unable to secure consecutive wins as the Highlanders steam-rolled over them with a 43-12 hammering highlighted by an Adam Thomson hat-trick in Invercargill on Friday.

There is growing media speculation that former Stormers Director of Coaching Rassie Erasmus will be named as High Performance manager for the South African Rugby Union (SARU).

The FIRA-AER Under-18 European Championship started in Europe with the eight Elite Division sides in action. England and France enjoyed impressive victories.

Sevens' upward trajectory will tilt a little higher this weekend when Tokyo joins the IRB World Series, further expanding the sport's reach before the 2016 Olympics and the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

Playing the Crusaders is a prospect most teams would loathe, but it is a challenge Lions coach John Mitchell looks forward to ahead of his side's clash against the New Zealand giants in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Stuart Lancaster outlined his vision for England to win the 2015 World Cup on home soil after being appointed as the team's new permanent head coach.

Scotland coach Andy Robinson is to continue in the job despite a disastrous Six Nations campaign which ended in a humiliating whitewash, it was confirmed on Thursday.

Follow rugby365s Howie Kahn in the latest Bet.co.za Super Rugby betting update!

Saracens confirmed Friday that talks with the Rugby Football Union were under way concerning the future of assistant England coach Andy Farrell.

The Cheetahs may be bottom of the South African conference standings and also well down on the global table, but they could complete their most successful Super Rugby tour this coming Saturday.

The Lions may be outside the top 10 on the standings, and one from four in the win column, but they believe they are close to turning the corner.

The FIRA-AER Under-18 European Rugby Championship for the Justin Bridou Trophy starts in Madrid on Friday, 30 March with 24 countries taking part.

The Oakdale Rugby Festival ended on Monday, 26 March with surprise package Stellenbosch High School the only side to maintain a 100% record.

It's really beginning to look as if Stellenberg, located in the leafy lanes up Durban Road in the northern suburbs of Cape Town, suffer from that rare ailment, away-game mania.

Stormers forwards coach Matt Proudfoot couldn't help but express his admiration for the way Bulls' play their rugby and knows his team will need to be at their best to stay unbeaten in Super Rugby this season.

The Chiefs, who are currently sitting on the top of the New Zealand conference and second on the Super Rugby table and are ready to tackle the Waratahs on Saturday.

There are some great sides at the Puk Skole-skouspel which starts in Potchefstroom on Thursday.

After becoming the latest Ospreys centurion at the weekend, Ian Evans says he's looking forward to taking advantage of the perks of being a senior player at the region.

Paarl Boys' High hosts its eighth Under-15 Rugby Festival, up from eight schools in 2005 to 20 in 2012.

The experienced Paul Delport did not pass his late fitness test and will therefore not play for the Springbok Sevens at the Japan Sevens in Tokyo, which starts on Saturday.

Three of the biggest names in the game will be in action in an international Sevens tournament, the 7'sPL, in George in December.

There is nowhere to hide in Super Rugby as some of the sides in Round Six must test the depth of the squads as the gruelling Southern Hemisphere competition is packed full of surprises at every turn.

Fiji's victory in the Hong Kong tournament last weekend moved them to within two points of their opponents in the Cup Final, New Zealand, at the top of the current IRB Sevens World Series standings.

It is official. Stuart Lancaster is the new head coach of England, after his appointment was confirmed at a media conference staged by the Rugby Football Union on Thursday.

World Cup-winner Ben Cohen insisted England had made a mistake after announcing Stuart Lancaster as their new full-time head coach on Thursday.

A strong contingent of schools was in action on Day 1 of the Puk Skole-skouspel which kicked off in Potchefstroom on Thursday.

With a number of pressing issues facing South African rugby, it is unlikely that the SA Rugby Union (SARU) will resolve two of the most important concerns at its annual general meeting in Cape Town on Friday.

It is bad news for his legions of Cape Town fans, but Sonny Bill Williams is not going to join the Stormers anytime soon.

The Brumbies have re-shuffled their front row for the clash with the Sharks in Canberra on Saturday, with Ruaidhri Murphy coming into the side for his first start at loosehead.

England scrumhalf Ben Youngs has been suspended for one week by Premiership club Leicester after he was cited for allegedly striking an opponent during the Premiership win away to London Irish.

Dale, who again have a strong side this year, go to Kearsney for the Eastern Festival where they will play strong sides in Paul Roos, Westville and Glenwood, all of whom they have played before.

Stuart Lancaster has been appointed head coach of England by the Rugby Football Union following his impressive work as interim boss during the Six Nations.

Fearless Dirkie Uys once again successfully punched well above their weight on Wednesday, 28 March, the third day of the Copytype Ricoh Tony Stoops Rugby Festival, to beat Port Elizabeth's imposing Pearson 26-12.

The Western Force is determined to make the most of a month long run at home starting with the reigning champion Reds on Saturday.

All Black scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan revealed that his agent is 'on the prowl' for a contract abroad.

The clash at Newlands against a red-hot Bulls team this weekend will be the perfect opportunity for the Stormers to prove that they have progressed from last year and have the ability to win when the pressure is on.

The Vodacom Cup is putting a smile on the face of South Africa Under-20 coach Dawie Theron, as a number of players in the reckoning for the Junior World Championship later this year, are getting valuable game time.

Shane Horgan, a member of Ireland's so-called "golden generation", has retired with immediate effect due to a longstanding knee injury, his provincial side, Leinster, said Wednesday.

Influential Springbok playmaker Cecil Afrika is on his way home to undergo treatment on his injured right knee and will miss the Japan leg of the IRB Sevens World Series in Tokyo this coming weekend.

Gloucester have bolstered their outside backs stocks for next season with the signing of fullback Martyn Thomas from the Newport Gwent Dragons.

Grey High, who have been so dominant at their festival in Port Elizabeth, just squeaked home against Maritzburg College on the final day of the festival.

Legendary prop Tevita Taumoepeau will continue packing down for the Worcestor Warriors after the Tongan star signed a new deal at Sixways.

Two of the Rebels' high-profile imports, James O'Connor and Kurtley Beale, return from injury to take their places in the starting XV that will face the Highlanders in Invercargill on Saturday.

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotsk? wasted no time in drafting in his two frontline props, Coenie Oosthuizen and WP Nel, as they head to Wellington for a Super Rugby showdown with the Hurricanes.

Harold Verster, the MD of Free State Cheetahs (Pty) Ltd and the Central Cheetahs (Pty) Ltd, has decided to go toe-to-toe with a political heavyweight in the province.

Reds openside flank Liam Gill earns his second starting opportunity of 2012, while outside back Joel Rapana will make his Queensland provincial debut at outside centre in Saturday's Round Six Super Rugby clash against the Western Force in Perth.

As banal as it sounds, the stale, moth-eaten apothegm still rings true: 'Defence wins you championships.'

The goal-kicking of scrumhalf Brendan McKibbin continue to keep South African import Sarel Pretorius on the bench, as the Waratahs prepare for their Super Rugby clash with the Chiefs on Saturday.

Under-fire Blues coach Pat Lam has been forced to backtrack on earlier claims about the unfairness of the judicial system.

Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has beefed up his pack for their Super Rugby north-south derby with the Bulls at Newlands on Saturday by naming the physical Rynhardt Elstadt on the flank.

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke has named an unchanged starting XV for the Super Rugby derby encounter with the Stormers at Newland on Saturday.

Big Samoan loose forward Ofisa Treviranus has signed a contract extension with London Irish that will keep him at the Premiership club until 2014.

Maurie Fa'asavalu of the Harlequins and Leicester Tigers scrumhalf Ben Youngs have both been cited for incidents that occured during Premiership matches last weekend.

Italy has chosen the intimidating 72,000-seat Stadio Olimpico in Rome to host their Test clash with world champions New Zealand on November 17 this year.

National Under-20 coach Dawie Theron is delighted with the experience his players are gaining at senior level in the build-up to the IRB Junior World Championship in Cape Town in June.

Chris Noakes have been entrusted with the pivotal No.10 jersey for the Highlanders, when they tackle the Rebels in a Super Rugby encounter in Invercargill on Friday.

Karl Lowe will make his first Super Rugby start in almost two years when the Hurricanes host the Cheetahs in Wellington on Saturday.

The Grey High School Rugby Festival end4ed in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday 28 March. It was a great fesitival, the opening day's rain notwithstanding.

The Brumbies have shown good character in a solid start to the season to top the Australian conference, but lock Leon Power believes it will mean nothing unless they can beat the Sharks this weekend.

The Sharks will welcome back a number of seasoned players for their Super Rugby encounter with the Brumbies on Saturday, but they have lost a key playmaker.

Sam Edgerley's persistence and switch of positions have paid off as he prepares to make a long-awaited England debut in the next leg of the IRB Sevens World Series in Tokyo.

Edinburgh have been bolstered by the news that Ross Rennie and Nick De Luca, two of the club's most prominent players, have signed contract extensions.

SANZAR has announced changes to the match officials for six of the seven Super Rugby matches to be played in Week Six.

The inclusion of Dan Carter is one of four changes to the Crusaders team to play the Lions in a Super Rugby match in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Bath have confirmed that Austrailian midfielder Matt Carraro will leave the Premiership club at the end of the season.

A team of players with championship hopes relished practicing on the beach, away from their impoverished township in southeastern South Africa.

Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett has warned that although the Cheetahs may not have started the season with a bang, they are a crafty team who have shown refreshing adaptability and cannot be written off.

The Bulls will be without the services of two of their star forwards when they travel to Newlands on Saturday for a Super Rugby derby showdown with the Stormers.

As things get heated in Europe's club competitions, the Super 15 is well in its stride. Craig Joubert will tell you that refereeing can be a ticket to see the world.

The Highlanders' progress this season is in danger of being halted by a sudden flood of injuries to key players.

In what must be one of the most astonishing upsets in schoolboy rugby down south in recent years, tiny Dirkie Uys beat fading giants Tygerberg 21-17 on Monday, 26 March - Day Two of the Copytype Ricoh Tony Stoops Rugby Festival, at Hoerskool President.

In every Super Rugby season there is a host of new talent on show as the next generation of starlets either sink or swim in the southern hemisphere's brutal competition.

New All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says New Zealand's top rugby players are not suffering an emotional letdown after last year's World Cup victory despite some rusty performances at the start of the new season.

Rondebosch manager Gustaf Pienaar reports back from his team's tour of Wales.

Connacht have further bolstered their loose forward stocks with the signing of Ulster flank Willie Faloon who signed a two-year contract with the Pro12 outfit.

Sharks coach John Plumtree has called for his team to make a big step up in defence against the Brumbies this weekend, after a disappointing second-half display against the Waratahs last week.

John Barclay has thrown his weight behind Glasgow Warriors by signing a contract extension that will keep the Scotland openside flank with the Scotstoun side for at least one more season.

Ospreys hooker Huw Bennett looks set to miss the rest of the season after it was confirmed that he will undergo surgery on his Achilles tendon.

Lions coach John Mitchell's injury nightmare just went from bad to worse before their clash with the Crusaders. Or, as they say: 'It never rains, but it pours.'

The Waratahs currently have five players with serious injuries, who are all at various stages of their rehabilitation and unavailable for Super Rugby action.

The Melbourne Rebels will welcome back their star signings James O'Connor and Kurtley Beale for the tough trip to play the Highlanders in Dunedin.

Domestic derbies don't come much bigger than the traditional north-south battle, the Bulls versus Stormers - an encounter often equated to Test rugby.

Brumbies openside flank Michael Hooper took a couple of weeks to earn a spot in Jake White's starting XV, but the youngster is now being tipped for high honours by his coach.

England hooker Dylan Hartley has been banned for eight weeks after being found guilty of biting Ireland flank Stephen Ferris in their Six Nations showdown at Twickenham.

Intimidating 24-year-old Sale Sharks centre Luther Burrell will be playing his rugby at Franklin's Gardens next season after signing with the Northampton Saints.

On the final day of the Grey Rugby Festival in Port Elizabeth, the hosts again turned in a great performance in beating Marlow while SACS, whom Grey walloped on Saturday, had an excellent win over Selborne.

Again there were tense encounters between strong sides at the Grey Rugby Festival in Port Elizabeth. It was the second day of the festival on Monday, 26 March.

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotsk? is sweating the fitness of two of his props, as injuries are threatening to derail them ahead of their final tour match against the Hurricanes on Saturday.

The Stormers know what to expect from the Bulls when the two sides clash in their Super Rugby match in Cape Town on Saturday, according to head coach Allister Coetzee.

No fewer than 70 boys have been selected to join the Sharks Academy from the past four Easter Rugby Festivals hosted by Kearsney College, with three of these players also already having progressed to the SA Sevens and the Sharks senior squads.

Former Hurricane Piri Weepu has shouldered the blame for the Blues' defeat to the Wellington side after crucial lapses in defence from the versatile halfback saw his new team lose in heartbreaking fashion at Eden Park.

In the final game of day one of the Grey High School Rugby Festival, SACS from Cape Town came up against the hosts, Grey High and the hosts ran out 32-12 winners.

Leicester coach Richard Cockerill was far from satisfied after seeing his side snatch a 41-32 victory away to London Irish on Sunday, as the Tigers moved into third place in the English Premiership.

The Sharks received a timely boost as they look to steady a rocky ship on the overseas leg of their Super Rugby campaign.

Warren Gatland has been offered the British & Irish Lions' coaching job for next year's tour of Australia, according to a UK media report.

There is no doubt that the Bulls win over the Reds will stand out for obvious reasons and it is also not surprising that they dominate our weekly Super Rugby selection.

It was a thrilling end to the six-year waiting period as Affies and Waterkloof confirmed that schools rugby in South Africa has wealth of talent.

The Reds, reeling from a string of injury setbacks, have called up Cape Town schooled playmaker Sam Lane ahead of their Super Rugby encounter with the Western Force on Saturday.

Parktown Boys' High School, a state school of some 800 learners drawn from diverse areas on the edge of Johannesburg's Braamfontein business district whose feeder areas include Westcliff and Parkview, is hosting its 29th Under-14 rugby festival.

Sevens is coming out of the shadow of the more high-profile 15-a-side game as the stakes are raised ahead of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, say some of the sport's top coaches and players.

In a bid to identify the form players in their position within each conference, we are asking you, the readers, to have your say by voting for your favourites.

Fiji won the Hong Kong Sevens on Sunday in a tight match against New Zealand 35-28 that takes them just two points off top spot in the overall standings for the World Series title.

The Annual Glenwood Rugby Festival for Primary Schools took place at the School from 23 to 25 March, 2012.

The Bulls have allowed themselves very little time for back-slapping, following their 53-point demolition of the defending champion Reds.

The Crusaders have not only managed to put their campaign back on track, they are heading to South Africa confident they can start a winning streak that will make them championship contenders.

Holidays have hit many schools with tournaments all over the place and more to come. And there was the big Pretoria results.

Fiji took a giant step towards a second title with a 35-28 win over New Zealand in the Final of the Hong Kong leg of IRB Sevens World Series on Sunday.

A large appreciative crowd braved the heat to see Kimberley's mighty Noord-Kaap turn in a fine second-half performance to beat local hopefuls Tygerberg 33-13.

A record crowd for a rugby match in Mexico saw the home team comfortably dispatch Jamaica 68-14 to open their NACRA Caribbean Championship account.

They may be the only unbeaten team in the competition and sitting pretty at the top of the standings, but the Stormers are far from satisfied.

The home team needed two tries by tireless No.8 Jandr? Rudolph to subdue a very game Augsburg Gym side 10-6 on the second day of the Oakdale Rugby Festival on Saturday, 24 March.

England scrumhalf Danny Care received a vote of confidence from Harlequins chief Conor O'Shea after helping his team return to the top of the Premiership table with a 14-6 win over Bath.

New Zealand's two most prominent World Cup winners, captain Richie McCaw and flyhalf Dan Carter, may soon head to play in Italy.

All Black ace Dan Carter emerged from his first game since his World Cup-ending injury unscathed at the weekend, orchestrating crucial touches to the Crusaders' 28-21 Super Rugby win over the Cheetahs.

The Queensland Reds, who endured a disappointing end to their two-game Super Rugby tour of South Africa, will hope to put their campaign back on track when they meet the Western Force in Perth in Saturday.

The Grey High School Rugby Festival kicked off early on Saturday morning in wet and rainy weather with a number of high-profile rugby schools from around the country clashing heads in some mouth-watering encounters.

It was the first day of the Grey High Schools Rugby Festival in rain-drenched Port Elizabeth on Saturday with top schools playing interesting matches.

Brad Barritt may have played for South Africa at age-group level and represented the Emerging Springboks, but now he is proudly English and ready to tackle the Boks.

Paarl Gimnasium will be hosting their 20th annual Under-16 tournament from 31 March to 4 April 2012.

Leicester moved up to third in the Premiership table by winning a thrilling encounter 41-32 against London Irish at the Madejski Stadium.

South Africa may have paid a dear price for their 28-0 victory over England in Hong Kong on Sunday.

Saturday, 24 March, was the opening day of the popular Grey High Schools Rugby Festival. Unfortunately the weather was not kind, as Port Elizabeth, not long ago a drought area, suffered a deluge which affected two of the matches.

Replacement Tommy O'Donnell's try 12 minutes from time was enough to keep Munster's Pro12 play-off ambitions on track with a 20-16 win over Connacht in Galway.

Western Province had to dig deep to stay unbeaten in the South Section of the Vodacom Cup, while the Blue Bulls got their first win of the season in the North, where the Pumas still lead the way.

Disappointed Reds coach Ewen McKenzie want his side to show their true character by bouncing back from their 61-8 hammering at the hands of the Bulls in Pretoria.

Hurricanes captain Conrad Smith is delighted his side was able to pull their 26-25 win out of the fire against the Blues, but knows a last gasp effort won't save them every week.

The International Rugby Board has had a fundamental shake-up of its refereeing structure. Most significantly its manager of referees, Paddy O'Brien, is to move from his present post to run Sevens referees, a job the IRB says is significant with Olympic participation in the offing.

The Brumbies created a shock in Super Rugby Round Five with a 33-26 victory over the Highlanders in Canberra to hand the Otago side their first defeat of the season.

Defending champions New Zealand, Fiji and Samoa all sailed through the pool stages of the Hong Kong leg of the IRB World Sevens Series unbeaten on Day Two.

The Crusaders were able to mark their first match at the new Christchurch Stadium with a hard fought 28-21 victory over the Cheetahs in another cracking Super Rugby match on Saturday.

The IRB's new selection committee of Lyndon Bray, Tappe Henning, Donal Courtney and Brian Campsall with Paddy O'Brien as the manager and John Jeffrey as the chairman from the IRB's council has made the appointments of referees to international matches in June. Amongst them is Jaco Peyper, newly chosen to the IRB's top panel which has been reduced from 10 to eight.

The Waratahs have bounced back from a disappointing defeat to wrap up a come from behind 34-30 Super Rugby victory over the Sharks in Sydney on Saturday.

Saracens edged closer to a home Premiership semifinal when they beat Sale Sharks 45-9 at Edgeley Park on Friday.

The Bulls were completely dominant in their 61-8 victory over the Reds, running in eight tries against the injury-plagued Queensland outfit at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Brumbies coach Jake White believes his team's impressive 33-26 win over the Highlanders in Canberra on Saturday is the best result so far this season.

Exeter remained on course for the Premiership title play-offs after claiming a dramatic 28-27 injury-time victory over Gloucester at Kingsholm.

Waratahs coach Michael Foley couldn't hide his relief that his team were able to come out on top in their narrow 34-30 victory over the Sharks in Sydney on Saturday.

Sale coach Tony Hanks parted company with the Aviva Premiership club on Saturday following the club's 45-9 thrashing against champions Saracens.

The Stormers remained the only unbeaten side in this year's Super Rugby competition with a tough 24-19 win over the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.

England's Premiership Rugby will start an experiment this weekend, at the Gloucester vs Exeter Chiefs fixture that could lead to using the television match official in every premiership match next season.

The Top 14 is now very much in the home straight and decisions about play-offs and relegations will be made. For those with a chance of making the play-offs and those in danger of relegation, these are desperate times.

After four brutal rounds of Super Rugby the injuries have started to take their toll and have influenced the complexion of a number of games on Saturday.

Cardiff Blues can confirm that flyhalf Jason Tovey will be joining the region for the 2012/13 season.

The Rebels, who showed incredible strength of character to end a 12-match losing streak and record their first win of the season, are confident they can kick on and avoid last place in the Super Rugby competition this year.

England and Harlequins scrumhalf Danny Care has been questioned about a sexual assault on a woman.

The Melbourne Rebels finally ended their long 12 match Super Rugby losing streak with a nail-biting 30-29 victory over the Western Force at AAMI Park on Friday.

The Reds, who haven't beaten the Bulls in Pretoria in more than a decade, appear to still have a major hangover from Super Rugby's biggest blow-out - a 3-92 loss at Loftus Versfeld in 2007.

Saracens centre Brad Barritt insists he will have no problems slipping seamlessly back into domestic action as the Men in Black ramp up their pursuit of a second straight Aviva Premiership crown against Sale on Friday.

European Rugby Cup, the organisers of the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup have announced the referees for the quarterfinals. The appointments of referees and their assistants are made by the ERC Match Officials Sub Committee in conjunction with the referee managers in each Union. Form in the competition is taken into account.

All Blacks and Blues loose forward Jerome Kaino has signed a two-year deal with Japanese club Toyota, but hopes to be back in New Zealand to compete for a place at the 2015 World Cup.

Series leaders New Zealand and closest rivals Fiji both got off to strong starts as the sixth leg of the Sevens World Series got underway in Hong Kong on Friday.

The season may be young but after a very promising start for all six KwaZulu-Natal schools participating in this year's Grey High School Rugby Festival in Port Elizabeth, it's little wonder that there is a great deal of optimism about in local schools rugby circles at the moment.

A try in the last minute from Hurricanes skipper Conrad Smith handed his team a dramatic 26-25 bonus-point victory over a stunned Blues side at Eden Park on Friday.

The first day of the 2012 Oakdale Rugby Festival, Thursday, 22 March, saw several sides registering impressive wins, but the real crunch matches come in the evening session.

The Blues' dismal Super Rugby season continued Friday when they conceded a last-minute try to hand New Zealand rivals the Hurricanes - a 26-25 win at Eden Park.

All the top seeds advanced safely through Day One at the Hong Kong leg of the IRB World Sevens Series on Friday.

The road to the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England will start not in one of the sport's heartlands but in the unlikely setting of Mexico City on Saturday.

Not even the return of legendary Irish midfielder Brian O'Driscoll could prevent Leinster's 20-match unbeaten run from coming to an end.

Western Force Coach Richard Graham has praised his team's resolve, despite suffering back-to-back defeats to the Rebels.

After skipping last week's Bet.co.za Super Rugby betting update, rugby365s Howie Kahn is back with a fresh amount in his betting balance.

This weekend two of South Africa's top rugby schools will be playing each other after a break of some years.

The first five years of his career may have been an injury-riddled period that raised questions about his future, but Springbok hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle is ready to show exactly what the hype was all about when he was a junior.

The former Chief Executive of one of the world's largest hotel chains has been appointed chairman of the tournament organising body for the 2015 World Cup in England.

The Stormers pack has started the season with a bang and nobody is enjoying the ride more than No.8 Nick Koster who has made his longest streak of Super Rugby starts.

Last year's World Cup in New Zealand is set to be the second most commercially successful edition of all time, the International Rugby Board said Thursday.

Waterkloof are again holding their rugby festival which is so popular, including schools from Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Uitenhage, Bethlehem, Tzaneen, Pietermaritzburg and Middelburg in Mpumalanga.

England hooker Dylan Hartley will face a disciplinary hearing in London next Tuesday, March 27, over allegations he bit Ireland flank Stephen Ferris.

Both Stuart Lancaster and Nick Mallett were set to be interviewed for the post of England head coach on Thursday as the Rugby Football Union closed in on a permanent successor to Martin Johnson.

New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence has a hamstring problem and has withdrawn from active duty in Friday's match between the Blues and the Hurricanes.

After falling in the final moments to the Chiefs last Friday, the Brumbies have made just three changes for Saturday's clash with the Highlanders.

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph has made five changes to his unbeaten team for their Round Five Super Rugby encounter with the Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday.

Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde signed a new contract on Thursday to remain part of Warren Gatland's backroom staff until the 2015 World Cup.

Ulster revealed on Thursday that back row forward Pedrie Wannenburg will leave the club at the end of this season..

Sharks coach John Plumtree has stuck with the majority of his side from last weekend, barring a few enforced changes through injury.

Toulon sporting director Bernard Laporte has been slapped with a Sixty-day ban by the French National Rugby League (LNR) for comments he made about the level of the refereeing during recent Top 14 games.

Gloucester are delighted to confirm that they have secured the signature of one of their brightest young prospects, England Under-20 back Ryan Mills.

The Lions have been forced to re-shuffle their side once again with injuries limiting coach John Mitchell's options for the clash with the Stormers on Saturday.

Reds playmaker Dallan Murphy will receive his first Super Rugby starting XV opportunity after being selected at flyhalf for Sunday's round five affair against the Bulls in Pretoria.

Grey College is on the road once again this weekend. By normal standards the 160km trip north to the town Virginia in the Free State would be regarded as a long journey.

World Cup-winning Springbok utility back Francois Steyn will decide 'within the next week' whether or not to accept an offer from the Sharks to return to South Africa.

The Sharks are ready to end a decade-long drought in Sydney when they tackle the Waratahs in a Super Rugby Round Five encounter on Saturday.

The Rebels have opted to bring flyhalf Danny Cipriani back into the starting line-up to give James O'Connor a little more time and space at inside centre against the Force on Saturday.

Eddie Jones is set to join up with his good friend Jake White again... at the Brumbies.

Moray Low is the latest high-profile international player to commit his future to Glasgow Warriors, signing a two-year contract extension that will tie him to the club until at least the end of May 2014.

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter believes there is still more to come from Ignacio Mieres after the Argentine ace agreed a new contract with the Aviva Premiership club.

Lions mentor John Mitchell believes the spate of injuries affecting his side this year could ultimately be a blessing in disguise.

As anticipation grows in advance of ERC's quarterfinals weekend, a World Cup winner and a two-time Heineken Cup winner are among a number of high-profile players who have been nominated for registration for the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup.

The SACS 1st XV beat Brackenfell 25-nil in the WP Schools Rugby Day at Newlands on Tuesday night.

The only two unbeaten sides left in the Vodacom Cup South Section face off in Cape Town on Saturday, when Western Province host the EP Kings.

The excitement is building in Hong Kong as the 24 teams gear up for 'the most competitive ever' event on the World Series.

Connacht's season has been given a massive boost with four players committing their futures to the club.

Danny Cipriani's return to the Premiership has been welcomed by Stuart Lancaster but the interim England coach warned the flyhalf he would face a tough fight to regain his Test place.

Wales flank Dan Lydiate has been named as the official Six Nations Player of the Championship for 2012, following his impressive displays for the Grand Slam champions.

London Irish have signed Munster and Ireland scrumhalf Tomas O'Leary on a three-year deal.

Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery said Wednesday he was retiring from the game with immediate effect due to a back injury.

Harlequins centre Charlie Walker's feet have finally touched the ground in Hong Kong as he steps straight from the Under-20 Six Nations tournament into the IRB Sevens World Series with England.

Stuart Lancaster plans to use his interview for the England head coach's job to persuade the Rugby Football Union (RFU) to build a centre of excellence to develop promising young talent.

The Springbok team is anxious to do well in Hong Kong where the sixth leg of the Sevens World Series will be held from Friday.

The European heavyweights drew their swords once more and renewed the historic rivalries in the Six Nations, and the rugby365.com team have identified the best talent from up north.

Daniel Pienaar van Uitenhage, een van die groot kragte in skolerugby in die Oostelike Provinsie, sal baie besig wees in vanjaar se rugby seisoen.

The annual Glenwood High School Rugby Festival for Primary Schools will once again be held at the end of the first term, 23-25 March, 2012.

By beating Ireland 20-9 at Adams Park England ensured that they had retained the Under-20 Six Nations trophy.

Melbourne Rebels flyhalf Danny Cipriani has signed a three-year deal with Premiership side Sale Sharks in a bid to make the England team for the World Cup in 2015.

Former Perpignan general manager Jacques Delmas, sacked last November for "gross misconduct", is taking legal action against the club, sources close to the French Top 14 outfit said on Tuesday.

England forwards coach Graham Rowntree has praised Stuart Lancaster for dragging England "out of the gutter", explaining that he has restored the pride in the national team.

Legendary Wallaby openside flank George Smith will join Stade Francais until the end of the season, the French Top 14 club announced on Tuesday.

SARU reported a pre-tax profit of R24m in 2011 ? a year during which participation at the World Cup traditionally increases costs, while depressing the earning capacity of international rugby federations.

Northampton Saints have signed Bulls utility forward and former South African Under-20 captain Gerrit-Jan van Velze, a player they have targeted for some time.

Cardiff Blues scrumhalf Richie Rees will part ways with the Welsh club at the end of the current season and is currently considering various options for his future.

Newcastle Falcons players James Hall, Rob Vickers and Tai Tu'ifua appeared at an RFU disciplinary hearing on Monday following their citings arising from the match against the Harlequins at Kingston Park on March 2.

Astonishingly the Six Nations is already over and Wales rule with a Grand Slam. As one door shuts, another opens, for this coming weekend sees the very first qualifying match for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Northerns played against Sentraal from Bloemfontein in Kimberley and beat them 76-0.

The most-capped player and former Wallaby captain George Gregan will join the Board of the Australian Rugby Union, the ARU said Monday.

In the first FNB Classic Clash of 2012 Pretoria Boys High beat King Edward VII School 21-17 in Houghton, Johannesburg, on a lovely Saturday afternoon after a night of rain. They came from well behind to do so.

England hooker Dylan Hartley has been cited over biting allegations during last weekend's 30-9 Six Nations win over Ireland at Twickenham and could be banned for more than 24 weeks if found guilty.

Kearsney had to dig deep to beat George Campbell, this after building up a healthy three-try 14-point lead inside of the opening 15 minutes of their game on Botha's Hill.

Six Nations champions Wales will face World Cup holders New Zealand in one of four year-end Tests at the Millennium Stadium, the Welsh Rugby Union announced Monday.

Bath back row Andy Beattie is to retire with immediate effect, due to an ankle injury sustained in January.

The first round of the NuPower/Tuks series started this weekend with the titleholders, Waterkloof of Pretoria, kicking off with an impressive victory.

World Cup semifinalists Wales won their third Grand Slam in eight years when they took the Six Nations title at the weekend, a mark that stands comparison with their celebrated predecessors of the 1970s.

Only five unbeaten teams remain after two rounds of the 2012 Vodacom Cup, with Griquas setting the marker in the North Section, while the EP Kings are ruling in the South.

Graeme College of Grahamstown held its 15th Rugby Day on Saturday, St Patrick's Day, again a grand occasion.

Despatch High School hosted a very successful Sports Festival over two days at the Despatch Central Sports fields.

The St Andrew's College First XV played Framesby on Saturday, 17 March on a wet and slippery Somerset Field at the Graeme College Rugby Day. Framesby won 16-6.

Glenwood beat Michaelhouse 14-13 at Glenwood on a windy Saturday.

Grand Slam winners Wales predictably lead the way in our Six Nations Team of the Tournament selection but they have plenty of competition with every team represented in our all-star XV.

Head coach Jacques Brunel believes Italy are still on course to be challenging for the Six Nations by 2015 after a 13-6 victory over Scotland allowed them to avoid the wooden spoon.

"I know we're better than that," was Ireland coach Declan Kidney's verdict as a Six Nations Championship that promised so much for his side ended with a thumping 30-9 defeat by England at Twickenham.

South African born halfback Tobias Botes suffered a broken arm in Saturday's 13-6 win over Scotland at the Stadio Olimpico.

Former Sharks and Springbok captain John Smit will be returning to Kings Park for one final swansong when he leads a World Invitational XV against his former team, the Sharks.

Schools rugby is almost in full swing. In Northvaal there was the Super-Reeks and the Nu Powerreeks. In the Eastern Cape there was the Graeme College Rugby Day. Many of the nation's top schools were in action and in Johannesburg there was the first Classic Clash of 2012, won by Pretoria Boys High.

The pride of George, Outeniqua, scored eight tries on their way to a landslide 52-6 win over hosts De Kuilen out at Kuils River on Saturday, 17 March.

A youthful Wales team seized a third Grand Slam in eight seasons with a hard-fought 16-9 victory over France, delivering on the rich promise that first came to light at the World Cup.

A dominant Queen's College ran in 11 tries at the Graeme Rugby Day to beat Muir College 75-3. Queen's led 40-3 at the break.

Scotland coach has Andy Robinson dismissed any speculation regarding his future in the job after his team were handed the Six Nations Wooden Spoon by defeat to Italy in Rome on Saturday.

Wales won their 11 Grand Slam, when the Dragons recorded a deserved 16-9 win over a game French outfit at the Millennium Stadium, in Cardiff, on Saturday.

Wales coach Warren Gatland said that the overwhelming emotion after leading his side to their third Six Nations Grand Slam in eight seasons was relief rather than joy.

Jacques Brunel's first victory as Italian coach was particularly satisfying as the win over Scotland meant that the Azzurri avoided the Six Nations Wooden Spoon for the first time since 2007.

Nick Mallett all but gave up on becoming England's next permanent coach after they finished the Six Nations with a dominant 30-9 win over Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday.

England continued their resurgence under the guidance of stand-in coach Stuart Lancaster with an utterly commanding 30-9 thumping of Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday.

Wales captain Sam Warburton said the fact that they had been made to work hard for their Six Nations victory over France had made the Grand Slam celebrations all the sweeter for his young team.

Italy handed Scotland the Six Nations wooden spoon when they beat them 13-6 in their final encounter of the 2012 season at Stadio Olimpico, in Rome, on Saturday.

The 2012 Western Province Rugby Union Schools Day takes place at Newlands, the current home of the game in Cape Town, on Tuesday, 20 March (2012).

It's become an all too predictable feature of the Six Nations since Italy joined, but the Azzurri host Scotland in Rome on Saturday in a wooden spoon encounter.

This is a great opportunity for Wales - a chance to add the Grand Slam to their Triple Crown but France are not going to be easy meat.

Johne Murphy, Duncan Williams, John Ryan, Marcus Horan and Sean Scanlon are the latest of the current Munster squad who have signed contract extensions.

This weekend marks the season starting point for both Hilton and Michaelhouse. Early indications are that both private schools will be a lot more competitive this season than they were back in 2011.

Ireland captain Rory Best has said England remain the team to beat in the Six Nations as he looks to finish the tournament with a St Patrick's Day win over the old rivals at Twickenham on Saturday.

Stuart Lancaster will try to strengthen his grip on the "dream job" of coaching England when they face Ireland in the climax of this season's Six Nations at Twickenham on Saturday.

Tonderai Chavhanga came off the bench to score a stunning - but late - second-half try as Newport beat Cardiff 18-14 for just their second win over their Welsh Pro 12 rivals in 11 meetings.

Scotland coach Andy Robinson believes his side can win their first match of this season's Six Nations - if they can improve their defence against Italy at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.

All the pressure will be on Grand Slam-seeking Wales when they meet France in their final Six Nations match on Saturday, French coach Philippe Saint-Andre said.

Wales had a chance to win the World Cup semifinal against France, but Leigh Halfpenny's last-gasp long-range penalty dipped heart-breakingly under the crossbar and Les Bleus stole home 9-8.

Ally Hogg is the latest player to have pledged his future to the ambitious Newcastle Falcons after signing a new three-year deal with the club.

One of the most experienced campaigners in the Glasgow Warriors pack became the 15th leading player to sign a long-term contract extension with the club in recent months.

The death of Welsh icon Mervyn Davies will further motivate Wales when they play France on Saturday with the Grand Slam up for grabs, according to attack coach Rob Howley.

Wales and British Lions legend Mervyn Davies has died after a long illness, the Welsh Rugby Union announced Friday.

Wellington Rugby has emerged from a challenging year, on and off the field, with its finances in the black.

England captain Chris Robshaw implicitly backed Stuart Lancaster to become the team's next full-time coach when he said he hoped the current set-up would "stick together" after the Six Nations.

COSATU is concerned the City of Cape Town will enter into a "cosy" agreement with the Western Province Rugby Football Union on the Cape Town stadium, the trade union federation in the province said on Friday.

Italy captain Sergio Parisse said on Friday that his team must sort out their line-outs if they are to have any chance of avoiding the wooden spoon in this year's Six Nations.

Of course, playing at home helps. You get more support than the visitors and you know the ground much better than they do. You also, it seems, get the bigger share of the penalties.

Gloucester have confirmed that the Tongan international back row forward Sione Kalamafoni will join the club from Nottingham next season.

Worcester Warriors have announced the signing of giant No.8 Semisi Taulava and powerhouse prop Rob O'Donnell from RFU Championship side Rotherham Titans.

She may be attempting to lure the Western Province Rugby Football Union away from its famous headquarters, but Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille still "loves" the iconic Newlands stadium.

Before the 2012 Super 15 kicked off, Lyndon Bray, SANZAR's referee boss, set targets aimed at speeding up the fastest of rugby in the world in two of its facets - the tackle and the scrum.

Former Springbok assistant coach Gary Gold believes appointing Heyneke Meyer as the new man at the helm of the South African team was a stroke of genius and expects him to have great success.

The Western Province Rugby Union and the City of Cape Town have enter into "formal talks" about the possibility of the WPRFU moving base from Newlands to the city's new stadium in Greenpoint.

Siyabonga Tom has been named the captain of the Glenwood First XV rugby team for 2012.

Stuart Lancaster has insisted his focus is solely on Ireland as the debate over whether he should become England's full-time coach intensifies.

Wales coach Warren Gatland has maligned France's decision to leave the Millennium Stadium's retractable roof open for Saturday's final Six Nations match.

It's the first FNB Classic Clash of 2012 - King Edward VII school of Johannesburg and Pretoria Boys High, both noble schools, each with a similar ethos.

French coach Philippe Saint-Andre has made five changes to his side to face unbeaten Wales on the final day of the Six Nations tournament in Cardiff on Saturday.

England have recalled wing David Strettle into their starting side for the Six Nations international against Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday.

Wales hopes of winning the Six Nations Grand Slam were given a boost on Thursday after inspirational captain Sam Warburton was declared fit for this weekend's clash with France.

Dimitri Yachvili has refound his place as France scrumhalf for his team's final Six Nations match against Grand Slam-seeking Wales, insisting his team were ready for a "scrap".

Cameron Anthony, the son of renowned schoolboy coach Paul Anthony, will captain Pretoria Boys High School in Saturday's FNB Classic Clashes encounter against King Edward VII School of Johannesburg.

While tributes have been pouring in from all over the world for Kiwi rugby great Jock Hobbs, his son Michael's Blues teammates are determined to salute the legend through their actions on the field.

Marlow Landbou is holding its 20th rugby festival for Under-13 teams from 23-28 March, with 34 teams from various parts of South Africa taking part.

Tournament favourites Wales dominate the final shortlist for the official 2012 Six Nations Player of the Championship.

Australian coach Michael O'Connor has made three changes to his squad to take on Fiji, France and Scotland at the Hong Kong leg of the IRB Sevens World Series.

The Scottish owner of top English Rugby Union club Sale Sharks is contemplating a bid for stricken Glasgow soccer giants Rangers - but only if no other viable offer emerges.

Leicester Tigers tighthead prop Martin Castrogiovanni returns to the Italy side for Saturday's crucial Six Nations finale against Scotland at the Stadio Olimpico.

England No.8 Phil Dowson is still in the running for Saturday's Six Nations clash against Ireland despite being knocked out in the closing stages of last weekend's 24-22 victory over France.

Scotland recalled centre Nick de Luca on Wednesday ahead of their Six Nations wooden spoon decider away to Italy in Rome on Saturday.

Former Harlequins coach Dean Richards will be Newcastle Falcons' Director of Rugby next season, after serving a three-year ban for his role in the "bloodgate" scandal, it was announced Wednesday.

The match schedule for the IRB Junior World Championships has been announced with hosts South Africa set to get the showcase age grade event underway when they take on Ireland at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.

England centre Brad Barritt is happy to wear a few more stitches if they are earned in the course of victory against Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday.

The Otago Rugby Football Union has been bailed out again, saving them from liquidation.

The match schedule for the 2012 IRB Junior World Championships has been announced with hosts South Africa set to get the showcase age-grade event underway when they take on Ireland at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.

Springbok coach Paul Treu has made three changes to his South African squad for the upcoming IRB Sevens World Series tournaments in Hong Kong and Tokyo.

Richie McCaw, who many have likened to a modern day Jock Hobbs, has paid his respects to the former All Blacks captain and Rugby Union chairman.

SARU have requested a re-scheduling of their planned presentation to SANZAR on an expansion of Super Rugby to 16 teams in 2013 in order to prepare more options for consideration.

John Dobson has turned his hand to writing and we have two copies of his book, The Year of the Gherkin, to give away.

Destructive Leinster flank Sean O'Brien has been given the all-clear for Ireland's Six Nations finale against England at Twickenham on St. Patrick's Day.

rugby365.com founder-turned-rugby-coach John Dobson has turned his hand to writing and we have two copies of his hilarious book, The Year of the Gherkin, to give away.

Italian rugby is indirectly being helped by the scandals surrounding football in the country, according to veteran national prop Andrea Lo Cicero.

The Six Nations reaches its end this weekend with lots of eyes on Cardiff where Wales have a chance of achieving the coveted Grand Slam. And the man to referee this huge match if Craig Joubert.

Following his loan spell with Premiership champions Saracens Irish scrumhalf Peter Stringer has signed with the Newcastle Falcons until the end of the season as they stell themselves for a relegation battle.

Scotland are making progress even if they are facing a wooden spoon decider after four losses in the ongoing Six Nations tournament, Scottish Rugby Union chief executive Mark Dodson has insisted.

Winning the Six Nations with one of the most inexperienced England squads in recent memory would not guarantee Stuart Lancaster the permanent job as coach.

Former Scotland wing and Edinburgh stalwart Simon Webster, whose contract was due to expire at the end of the season and has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons, has left the capital club by mutual consent.

Wales are gunning for the Six Nations' Grand Slam next weekend against France, but a core part of their success lies far across Europe in a sub-zero medical unit in Poland.

After a long and illustrious career French lock Lionel Nallet is retiring from international rugby at the age of 35.

Michael "Jock" Hobbs, a leading figure in New Zealand rugby who helped secure his country's bid to host last year's World Cup, died aged 52 on Tuesday after a long battle with cancer, his family said.

Graeme College are holding their customary rugby day on St Patrick's Day, 17 March 2012 with a great array of Eastern Cape schools.

Stuart Lancaster may have been too modest to talk up his chances of landing the England coaching job full-time, but his two assistants were not after his inexperienced side beat France 24-22 in the Six Nations.

There was not a lot of upset in Round 20 of France's Top 14, unless you consider disappointing Perpignan managing a draw with mighty Toulon. Biarritz eased their relegation anxieties with a win over Brive.

French coach Philippe Saint-Andre surveyed the ruins of his side's Six Nations title hopes after the 22-24 defeat by England and glumly admitted the only target remaining was to prevent Wales from landing the Grand Slam next weekend.

Westville beat Glenwood 13-9 in front of a full house on Bowdens, their home-ground.

The victory of the England senior team over France may be a surprise; the victory of France Under-20 over England was a shock.

Coach Philippe Saint-Andre on Monday made six changes to his squad to take on Wales for the final day of the Six Nations tournament in Cardiff.

London Wasps flank Tom Rees has been forced to retire from the game with immediate effect following medical advice on a knee injury he picked up during a pre-season game last year.

In the very last minute of the Super Rugby match between the Bulls and the Blues, there was an incident after the try which has resulted in a citing. It is not that aspect that interests us but whether there should have been a penalty afterwards or not.

Italy coach Jacques Brunel recalled hooker Fabio Ongaro to an enlarged 31-man squad on Sunday ahead of next Saturday's Six Nations finale against Scotland.

Scotland coach Andy Robinson told his side they'd have to do a "lot of work" if they wanted to beat fellow strugglers Italy and avoid the Six Nations wooden spoon after a damaging 32-14 defeat by Ireland.

Scotland wing Lee Jones was making "good progress" following the head injury that forced him off the field against Ireland, team doctor James Robson said Sunday.

It may be boiling hot in a lot of the country but schools are already getting into rugby action.

It was hot in Kimberley on Saturday and Noord-Kaap proved too hot for Marlow of Cradock to handle, winning 44-8.

Returning centre Gabriel Pizarro helped Aironi to a shock 21-17 victory over Munster for their first win in four Pro12 matches - but the Italians remain rooted to the foot of the table.

England stunned hosts France with a thrilling 24-22 victory on Sunday to erase any hopes the French had of winning the Six Nations title.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland is planning a low-key week for his players as they aim to match the superstars of the Seventies by making it three Grand Slams in eight seasons against France next weekend.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney believes his team is heading in the right direction after a 32-14 win at home to Scotland set them up in style for their Six Nations finale against England.

England's surprise 24-22 Six Nations victory over France at the Stade France on Sunday was down to the players and not the coach, said a modest Stuart Lancaster.

France against England in rugby is the ultimate combat, said the England assistant coach Graham Rowntree on the eve of their Six Nations clash at the Stade de France.

Wales cruised to a comfortable 24-3 victory against a brave but outgunned Italian side who fought hard but were ultimately outclassed in their Six Nations clash in Cardiff on Saturday.

Ireland extended Scotland's winless streak by scoring four tries to record a convincing 32-14 Six Nations victory in a spirited match at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

Ireland extended Scotland's winless streak with a 32-14 Six Nations victory at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

England wing David Strettle pulled out of the Six Nations clash with France on Saturday after suffering an injury, with his place in the starting XV going to Charlie Sharples.

Wales coach Warren Gatland has dismissed suggestions that the pressure of the Grand Slam will have a negative impact on his young team when they square up to France next week.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney hopes history won't repeat itself when his side face Scotland in the Six Nations at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

Scotland coach Andy Robinson insists his side could end their losing streak when they face Ireland on Saturday as long as they cut out the individual errors that have proved so costly in recent times.

We preview three exciting schools matches in Durban this weekend.

Veteran French centre Aurelien Rougerie says he needs to shine against England in their Six Nations clash on Sunday after two successive poor performances put his place in the side in danger.

The opportunity to manage and operate a New Zealand-based Super Rugby team has received five expressions of interest according to the New Zealand Rugby Union.

Wales have made a late change among their replacements for the Six Nations international against Italy in Cardiff on Saturday.