All News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We profile Hoerskool Merensky of Tzaneen.

We profile Duineveld from Upington.

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

We profile Hoerskool Ben Vorster of Tzaneen.

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

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

We profile Hoerskool Menlo Park of Pretoria.

We profile St Alban's College of Pretoria.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

HTS Sasolburg School Profile

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A quick glance at the latest 'You be the Ref' poll on varsitycup.co.za shows that 52% of the readers feel that FNB Pukke will walk away with the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International title this year.

rugby365.com columnist Robbie Fleck believes the 2009 Super 14 has been the most unpredictable of all Super Rugby tournaments...

Gareth Lloyd-Jones will referee the 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International Final between Maties and Pukke at Stellenbosch's Danie Craven Stadium on Monday, March 30.

FNB Tuks head coach Freddie Grobler has little doubt that Maties will retain their FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International title.

The 2009 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships Final between Huis Armentum and Dromedaris will be played at Stellenbosch's Danie Craven Stadium on Monday, March 30.

He was once a World Cup-winning Springbok renowned for his astute decision-making on the field. But it's not an ability Hennie le Roux has lost since retiring from the game, in fact, his rugby-brain is still vividly showcased by the strident views he gives as a Varsity Cup commentator on SuperSport.

It can be argued that any rugby tournament worth its salt is characterised by the very thin line between defeat and triumph. Monday's FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International semifinal between FNB Pukke and FNB Ikeys was a case in point.

Making a good, solid start in any big final is a given - but FNB Maties captain Wesley Wilkins believes it is absolutely non-negotiable when the defending champions host Pukke in the 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International Final in Stellenbosch this coming Monday.

Matt Goddard, who refereed the sad match between the Hurricanes and the Bulls last weekend, will not be refereeing this weekend. He has been stood down.

The defending champion Maties will host their second successive FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International Final, after finishing top of the log and then beating FNB Tukkies 38-14 in Monday night's semifinal in Stellenbosch.

FNB UCT head coach John Dobson was a bitterly disappointed man after his side's 17-19 semifinal loss to a fired-up Pukke team at the Green Mile on Monday afternoon. Disappointed - and naturally so, one might add - but yet also upbeat after another thrilling season of Varsity Cup rugby from the Ikey Tigers.

The Six Nations has rushed to its thrilling end. Thirty matches, 2 400 minutes and it all came down to the last kick in the last minute.

Week 6 already and some sort of statistical record in Wellington when the Hurricanes played the Bulls and a much happier statistical record in Hamilton when the Chiefs played the Blues.

UJ's Dromedaris nailed down a place in the 2009 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships Final with a come-from-behind 35-16 win over the Barbarians from NMMU in Johannesburg on Monday night.

Suddenly, after all the excitement of the final weekend of the Six Nations, everything looks so ordinary, but ordinary is also wholesome and there will be referees out there giving their best to do ordinary really well - and there will be the ordinary number of moans and groans.

Huis Armentum (Shimlas) recorded a comprehensive 45-26 win over Maroela (Tuks) at Shimla Park on Monday night to progress to the final of the 2009 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships.

Stellenbosch head coach Chean Roux praised his team's defence after their 38-14 Varsity Cup semifinal triumph over FNB Tuks in Stellenbosch on Monday evening.

And then there were four... That is the situation that the 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International finds itself in, with the defending champion Maties, UCT, Tukkies and Pukke set to fight it out for a place in next Monday's final.

Defending champions Maties will meet Pukke in the 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International Final at the Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch, next Monday.

A penalty goal with four minutes to go gave the Pukke a thrilling 19-17 victory over the University of Cape Town in the first semifinal of the 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

FNB Tukkies have made a late change to their starting line-up for this evening's Varsity Cup semifinal clash against the defending champion Maties in Stellenbosch.

SANZAR has announced the match officials for Round 7 of the Super 14.

rugby365.com editor Jan de Koning stumbled across some interesting statistics as he researched the most successful Super Rugby runs and found that the Bulls have overtaken the Sharks in at least one department.

Maroela centre and captain Adriaan Bornman will be a major role-player in his team's Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships semifinal against Huis Armentum (Free State University) in Bloemfontein tonight (kick-off 7pm).

Georgia and Portugal took a step closer to realising their ambitions when they beat Russia and Romania in European Nations Cup matches over the weekend.

There were big winners this weekend, especially Ireland who won the Six Nations Cup, the Triple Crown and the Grand Slam - the first Grand Slam for the Irish since 1948.

Dromedaris (UJ) have made three changes to their starting XV for Monday's 2009 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships semifinal against the Barbarians (NMMU) at Johannesburg's West Sports Grounds.

FNB UCT head coach John Dobson has made three changes to the Ikey Tigers' starting XV for Monday's Varsity Cup semifinal clash against FNB Pukke in Cape Town.

Groot opwinding heers in Huis Armentum voor sy eerstespan Maandag tuis in 'n halfeindstryd-kragmeting teen Maroela van Tukkies te staan kom.

In the European Nations Cup, the top four teams will be in action this weekend for Georgia and Russia meet and so do Romania and Portugal.

There is no doubt that the 78-22 pasting they dished out to FNB TUT represented an excellent finish to FNB Shimlas' campaign in the 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International. Unfortunately, it also highlighted a slightly wayward and inconsistent campaign.

It's the decisive round for the Under-20 Six Nations with three teams as possible winners - France, Ireland and Scotland, each team beaten once this year.

The four semifinalists for the 2009 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships have been confirmed and so, too, the dates and kick-off times for these thrilling fixtures which will decide the best koshuis - or residence - team in the country.

Varsity Cup MD Duitser Bosman must have felt like Bill Murray in the hit movie Groundhog Day on Monday night when Tukkies scraped into the semifinals of the 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International - with both of this year's semifinal fixtures a repeat of last year's exciting Last Four matches.

FNB Pukke head coach Rudy Joubert has named an unchanged starting line-up for Monday's FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International semifinal clash at UCT.

The NMMU Barbarians team to play UJ in the semifinals of the 2009 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships in Johannesburg on Monday shows four changes and a few positional switches.

After a no-show in Round Five, rugby365s Robbie Fleck is back on deck this week with his Round Six predictions...

FNB Maties head coach Chean Roux does not believe his team's 23-25 loss to Tuks this past week will have any bearing on next week's Varsity Cup semifinal clash against the same opponents.

FNB Pukke coach Rudy Joubert is keeping his cards close to his chest as the Men from Potchefstroom prepare for their FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International semifinal against the FNB Ikeys next Monday afternoon.

SA Referees have announced the referees for the Varsity Cup semifinals next Monday. They are Pretoria schoolmaster Ben Crouse and Durbanite Archie Sehlako.

Although Shimlas' 2009 Varsity Cup campaign ended on Monday, as they finished just short of reaching the semifinals, many of their players stood out right throughout the competition.

FNB UJ fulfilled their part of the bargain in the quest for a semifinal spot in the 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International by beating NMMU in Port Elizabeth on Monday evening.

As the eight coaches of the eight universities in the Varsity Cup look back at the league stages of the 2009 tournament, we caught up with them to find out if this Rugby really does Rock!

If you're good enough to reach the semifinals, you're good enough to clinch the title - irrespective of your log position. Those are the wise words of FNB Tuks coach Freddie Grobler ahead of next week's Varsity Cup semifinal clash against the defending champion Maties.

Goal met, now for the final.

Former Springbok centre Eben Olivier believes the FNB Maties will retain the Varsity Cup rugby title they won last year, despite the unexpected defeat suffered against Tuks on Monday night.

Winger Kruger van Heerden will remember his 50th cap for FNB Tuks for all the right reasons.

Wayne Barnes has the massive one - the Six Nations decider. He has come in the place of Steve Walsh who is not refereeing at present. At Twickenham there is the oldest Test match in the world, and Marius Jonker, for the second time in his career, will referee that.

Maroela (Tuks) are through to the semifinals of the 2009 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships after beating Monitor - from TUT - 24-13 on Monday in Pretoria.

Dromedaris (UJ) beat the Pukke's koshuis side, Over de Voor, 22-15 in Potchefstroom on Monday afternoon, knocking the Men from Potch out of the 2009 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships.

England had a first half to dream off at Twickenham, Ireland stayed unbeaten at Murrayfield and Italy's made Wales work at Stadio Flaminio. We give some statistics from the matches.

Huis Armentum from the Free State University gained a home semifinal spot in the 2009 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships by virtue of their fine 29-0 win over the NMMU Barbarians at the PE campus on Monday night after leading 15-0 at half-time.

FNB UCT head coach John Dobson is not normally one to settle for a loss, but even he was adamant that it was a case of "job done" against FNB Pukke in Varsity Cup action in Potchefstroom on Monday afternoon.

In Tblissi on Saturday afternoon Georgia beat neighbours Romania 28-23 in a European Nations Cup match which doubles as qualifier for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

SANZAR has announced the match officials for Round 6 of the Super 14.

rugby365 editor Jan de Koning expresses his approval and admiration for the Stormers' performance in what was the one shining light on a dismal South African weekend.

There is an interesting stoppages statistic from a match this weekend - just 59, surely a record for a match of this kind and certainly so in the context of the many stoppages in this year's Super 14. Have a look at the totals to see for yourself.

The 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International heads into its final round of league action on Monday, March 16; with six teams capable of qualifying for next week's semifinals. Semifinal places aside, however, all eight teams in the Varsity Cup have something to play for; home-ground advantage, survival and - well - plain old pride!

Baie is Maandag in Port Elizabeth op die spel wanneer Armentum (Kovsies) en Barbarians (NMMU) mekaar aandurf in die Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Kampioenskap.

What an enormous change in the England side. For one thing they scored five tries and early in the second half led 34-0. All is now set for the decider in Cardiff - Wales vs Ireland.

Huis Armentum (Shimlas) coach Willem Kruger has made two changes to his matchday 22 for the Free Staters' last encounter in the league stages of the 2009 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships.

Wesley Wilkins will lead the FNB Maties into battle in their final league match of the 2009 Varsity Cup - against Tukkies at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.

FNB Pukke were dealt a body blow on Friday when it was revealed that experienced prop Jaco Koch would miss the rest of his team's 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International campaign.

The International Rugby Board has decreed that unattached referees would referee the three Tests between the British & Irish Lions and South Africa. That excludes referees from South Africa, England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

The protagonist in M-Net's new crime drama, The Mentalist, notes that psychics don't exist, merely individuals who pay very close attention. It would seem that FNB Tuks coach Freddie Grobler falls in that same category.

Star FNB UJ flanker Frikkie Maartens has been named at No.6 for his team's must-win Varsity Cup league match against NMMU in Port Elizabeth on Monday evening.

Powerhouse FNB UCT wing Marvin Christians has been handed the No.11 shirt for Monday afternoon's mouth-watering Varsity Cup clash against FNB Pukke in Potchefstroom (kick-off 4.45pm).

The guys from Dromedaris - at the University of Johannesburg - are confident and motivated to end their 2009 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships league campaign with a win; a result that will see them finish top of the log in the Northern section.

Varsity Cup Chairman Francois Pienaar has described this coming Monday's last round of league matches as "quarterfinals rugby", with all eight teams having something to play for - be it semifinal places or simply survival in this exciting tournament.

With one match still to play, Huis Armentum are already assured of a semifinal place in the 2009 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships.

FNB Pukke coach Rudy Joubert has a special tone when he talks, a certain calmness that would inspire huge amounts of confidence.

FNB Shimlas head coach Jaco Swanepoel has swapped his hookers around ahead of Monday's crucial Varsity Cup clash against TUT at the TUT Stadium (kick-off 6.45pm).

FNB Tuks head Freddie Grobler has announced his team for Monday's all-important FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International fixture against the unbeaten Maties in Stellenbosch.

The NMMU Barbarians are riding high in the Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships, following their success - thus far - in the highly-competitive 2009 series.

FNB NMMU might be down following their heavy 3-58 defeat to the mighty Maties in the FNB Varsity Cup competition earlier this week, but they are certainly by no means out.

There are two derbies this weekend in the European Nations Cup as neighbour meets neighbour.

Over de Voor (Pukke) coach Wilbur Kraak has made a few changes to side that beat Monitor by 34-18 this past Monday.

FNB Pukke coach Rudy Joubert has named an unchanged 22 for Monday afternoon's FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International clash against UCT in Potchefstroom.

On Saturday Jonathan Kaplan will run out onto great Murrayfield for his 50th Test, the first referee in the history of the game to do so. Often Murrayfield fires a salute of guns. There should be salutes for Jonathan Kaplan with a firing of guns and fireworks, a blast of trumpets and a skirl of bagpipes. It is a great achievement.

Judging by their current log placing, it would seem that FNB NMMU (seventh on the log, with four points) have nothing more than pride to play for in the 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

Stellenbosch head coach Chean Roux is well aware of the various permutations facing some of the teams in the final round of league action in the 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International. However, all Roux is worried about at present is how his team performs.

Ginger-haired and young, Andrew McMenemy is off to Tblissi this weekend to referee a top European Nations Cup match between Georgia and Romania.

The vultures might already be gathering, but FNB Tuks will still not be side-tracked in their determination to beat Maties - in Stellenbosch - next Monday as they look to secure a place in the 2009 Varsity Cup semifinals.

With three of the four participants in the Northern section of the 2009 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships still in the hunt for just two semifinal places, there is everything to play for in the last group matches on Monday, March 16.

"We need to learn to adjust to the referee's interpretations." Those were the words of FNB Shimlas head coach, Jaco Swanepoel, after his team's 20-23 loss to the University of Cape Town in Monday's FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International fixture.

Pukke's contestants in the 2009 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships, Over de Voor, are oozing with confidence - especially after their 34-18 victory over Monitor (from TUT) on Monday afternoon in Pretoria.

The big occasion for a referee is Jonathan Kaplan's 50th Test at Murrayfield on Saturday. He is the first Test referee in the history of the game to reach this milestone.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FNB Tuks coach Freddie Grobler has named a new-look centre pairing for Monday's Varsity Cup semifinal clash against the FNB Maties at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.

FNB Maties coach Chean Roux has opted for a front row-loaded bench for his side's Varsity Cup semifinal against Tuks at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Monday.

The University of Johannesburg (FNB UJ) recorded an impressive 36-10 win over FNB NMMU in Port Elizabeth on Monday, but it was not enough for them to win a place in the 2009 Varsity Cup semifinals.

The University of the Free State (FNB Shimlas) annihilated the Tshwane University of Technology (FNB TUT) 78-22 in a one-sided Varsity Cup game at the TUT Stadium on Monday night, scoring 12 tries in the process.

FNB Tuks booked their place in the Varsity Cup semifinals after handing FNB Maties their first loss of the season with a 25-23 victory at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Monday.

FNB Pukke beat the Ikeys 17-13 in their Round Seven Varsity Cup clash in Potchefstroom on Monday - but it was not enough to get them a home semifinal, which is what they wanted.

Flank Wikus Botes has been named as captain for the Tshwane University of Technology's (TUT) Round Seven FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International clash against Shimlas on Monday.