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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The European Rugby Cup, the body which organises the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup, has announced the four referees for the 2010 semifinals in each competition.

The Steinhoff UCT Internal League had some great games last week and it seems to be heating up as teams cannot afford to drop points during this week's matches.

England U20 head coach Mark Mapletoft is full of enthusiasm about his side mounting a serious challenge for the world title at the IRB U20 World Championship.

There are many crucial matches this weekend, especially in France where the Top 14's league matches come to an end.

FNB UJ picked up a second successive away win in the Pirates Grand Challenge - beating Pirates 34-15 on their turf on Friday night.

The South African Under-20 team will have the chance to showcase the immense talent that is available at youth levels as the South Africa Rugby Union seek both transformation and structure to prevent other countries from poaching South African rugby players.

The Reds have continued to surprise, the Stormers produced a wonderful display and the Lions-Sharks match was a thriller. We give some statistics, including totals. Which was the least penalised team this week? Which is the least penalised team over all? Who scored the most tries? Who conceded the most tries? Who was penalised most often? least often? Which team has not had a sanctionary card? That sort of thing is here.

Varsity Cup champions, FNB Maties, claimed a third successive WP Super League victory - beating NNK 66-0 at Coetzenburg on Saturday afternoon.

FNB Pukke finished strongly to earn a well-deserved 48-24 Grand Challenge win over neighbours, Impala, in Rustenburg this weekend.

It was a big day for Sri Lankan rugby when they beat Singapore to climb into the top league of Asian rugby, the league which Japan usually win. It was a strange day in Switzerland when a match was postponed because of a volcanic eruption in Iceland. And there was a strange score in Wales when Neath won.

The Ikey Tigers recorded their first win of the 2010 WP Super League - beating Stellenbosch's second team, Victorians, by 50-20 at the Green Mile on Saturday.

Three Varsity Cup players have been named in a strong SA Under-20 squad that will take part in the IRB Junior World Championships in Argentina in June.

FNB UCT have made a few changes to their line-up for Saturday's clash against Stellenbosch rivals, Victorians, at the Green Mile in Cape Town.

rugby365.com reader, turned columnist, Anton van der Merwe in his Statistically Speaking series takes a look at scrum stats.

Super 14 newcomers Patrick Lambie and Wandile Mjekevu as well as rising Springbok Sevens stars Branco du Preez and Sampie Mastriet were included in a strong SA Under 20 squad that was named on Thursday to take part in the IRB Junior World Championships in Argentina in June.

Have you ever heard of the statement, 'There is no such thing as an easy win'? Well, the teams in last night's Steinhoff Internal League matches at UCT surely proved that, with most of the sides having to dig deep to get their first log points on the board.

The FNB Shimlas rugby team might have had a disappointing end to the 2010 Varsity Cup - but, overall, they were pretty satisfied with their campaign.

This year, perhaps more than ever in the Varsity Cup's three-year history, corporate UCT rallied behind its young players taking part in the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

Archie Sehlako of the KwaZulu Natal Referees' Society has been appointed to referee at the prestigious Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament in Japan.

There are referees appointed from Amsterdam to Zululand and many places in between. Those below are the top referees of several countries. Blow them are the thousands who see that rugby is played fairly in so many parts of the world, many of them not glamorous.

rugby365.com reader, turned columnist, Anton van der Merwe takes a closer look at the much talked about breakdown, or tackle area, and ask if the game has really improved?

The Super 14 certainly does produce action and excitement. This week, apart from the Christchurch match, the results were clear cut. We give some statistics and then produce our running totals, showing the Bulls back in line after their wayward performance in Auckland.

FNB Maties made it two from two in the WP Super League, with a crushing 31-8 win over Villager's at the Danie Craven Stadium on Saturday.

UJ went down to Hamilton's in the final of the world-famous Melrose Sevens on Saturday.

New Tuks head coach Blikkies Groenewald has only one slogan for the 2010 Carlton Cup Competition: 'Win, win, win!'.

The Heineken Cup quarters were thrilling and there were some great contests in Super 14, but there was also a sad non-match. The match between Poland and Moldova was postponed because of the death of Poland's president and instead of a rugby match there was a Requiem Mass.

UCT got their 2010 Super League campaign off to a shaky start with a 40-40 draw at Helderberg on Saturday.

Saracens produced an excellent display to secure their first Guinness Premiership away win since October 2009, with a 30-19 win at relegation-threatened Sale Sharks on Friday night.

The Ikey Tigers, runners-up in the recently-completed Varsity Cup, will get their WP Super League campaign underway against Helderberg on Saturday afternoon.

FNB Maties got their 2010 WP Super League campaign off to a good start with a 36-28 win over fellow Stellenbosch side, Victorians, at the Danie Craven Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The 2010 UCT Steinhoff Internal league will kick-off on Wednesday, April 14; with a few new inclusions set to spice things up considerably.

Rugby has so many activities and levels of participation. These results are just the cream on the top, a sample of the organisation and enthusiasm that go into rugby.

See which team has scored and which team has conceded most tries, which team has been penalised most often. We shall also this week look at the effects of home and away in penalty awards.

The Heineken Cup is back with quarterfinals and there is enough other activity to keep referees out of mischief..

The star-studded South African Students Sevens team romped to glory in the Casablanca University Sevens tournament this past long weekend.

First Paul Marks and Pro Legoete were stood down as on-field referees in the Super 14 for performances regarded as inadequate. Now Garratt Williamson, a referee who was performing as an assistant referee, has also been stood down, as was Josh Noonan earlier in the Super 14.

A draw is seldom satisfying and their 26-all draw with the Crusaders was not at all satisfying for the Hurricanes, some of whom had complaints about two of the three Crusader tries.

Contrary to stories doing the rounds the International Rugby Board has not dropped Marius Jonker, the South African referee, from its panel of 19 referees from who it appoints referees to Test matches.

The IRB has also announced the appointment of four new referees to its matches and also the retirement of one of the great referees of rugby history - Chris White of England.

In Group B of the FIRA-AER under-18 European Championship in northern Italy Portugal had a big win over Spain to win Promotion to Group A..

The International Rugby Board today made known its four panels for international matches - the panel of test referees, the panel of assistant referees for Tests, the panel of TMOs for Tests and the referees for the Junior World Championship in Argentina in June.

The International Rugby Board has announced the appointments for mid-year Tests. It has announced the appointment of four new referees to its matches and also the retirement of one of the great referees of rugby history - Chris White of England.

It was a tale of two days, as the Varsity Cup finalists - Stellenbosch and UCT - were at each other again on Wednesday night.

Varsity Cup winners, flanker Sam Mabombo and winger Tythan Adams, have been drafted in to the SA Under-20 training squad that will participate in a seven-day pre-World Championship camp in Saldanha from next Thursday.

The SA Students Sevens team - jam-packed with Varsity Cup stars - left for Morocco earlier this week, where they will be taking part in the Casablanca University Sevens tournament.

FNB Tuks sal eers teen Dinsdag op die vroegste weet wie by Freddie Grobler (vir die Carltonbeker-reeks in elk geval) as hoofafrigter oorneem.

France will play Ireland in the final of Group A of the FIRA-AER European Under-18 Championship being played in Northern Italy.

FNB Maties head coach Chean Roux has paid tribute to his fellow coaches and the hard work of his players, after Stellenbosch secured a hat-trick of Varsity Cup titles with a hard-fought 17-14 win over FNB UCT on Monday evening.

Dagbreek en Vishuis het Maandag, 29 Maart teen mekaar gespeel in die 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisliga Finaal, in die Danie Craven Stadion. Dit was 'n perfekte dag vir rugby en die tafel was gedek vir 'n stryd tussen die twee sterkste spanne van die kompetisie.

With the dust having finally settled on the 2010 Varsity Cup Final, UCT head coach John Dobson was understandably disappointed with the outcome of Monday night's match.

Lions wing Wandile Mjekevu and Sharks fullback Patrick Lambie have been drafted into the SA U20 training squad that will participate in a seven-day pre-World Championship camp in Saldanha from next Thursday.

Steinhoff Vishuis se sege in Maandagmiddag se eindstryd van die Steinhoff Koshuisliga het nogmaals die Universiteit van die Vrystaat (UV) se krag op koshuisvlak onderstreep.

Europe's competitions are hurtling to a climax, the Super 14 is rattling on and in Northern Italy there is an Under-18 championship, all needing the best of referees' efforts.

FNB Shimlas No.8 Boom Prinsloo walked off with the overall Player that Rocks Award on Monday evening, after being voted as the Player of the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

The Maties won their third consecutive Varsity Cup title with a 17-14 win over FNB UCT in Monday's night final in Stellenbosch.

Romania's victory over Spain in Bucharest means that they end third on the European Nations Cup and have a chance to qualify for the World Cup via repechage. And Samoa had another famous Sevens victory.

Bloemfontein's Vishuis won the 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships, after demolishing Dagbreek 22-7 in an exciting final at Stellenbosch's Danie Craven Stadium on Monday.

Tiaan Jonker has described his appointment, as Monday's Varsity Cup Final referee, as a 'huge honour' in his promising refereeing career.

FNB UCT have been forced into a crucial late change ahead of tonight's Varsity Cup Final meeting with FNB Maties at the Danie Craven Stadium.

Op Maandag, 29 Maart - om 4.15nm - speel Steinhoff Dagbreek vir die tweede keer in sy geskiedenis in die Steinhoff Koshuisliga Finaal - op die Danie Craven Stadion.

The Maties and the Ikeys have met before in a Varsity Cup Final - back in 2008. We take a look back at those line-ups ahead of Monday's 2010 final at the Danie Craven Stadium - seeing which team could have the edge in terms of previous final experience between these two outfits.

Nick Fenton-Wells will captain UCT in Monday's Varsity Cup Final, having watched the 2008 finale from the jam-packed Danie Craven Stands.

Hanro Beyers Louw, linkervleuel van Steinhoff Vishuis, se skopskoen kan heel moontlik die verskil tussen wen en verloor wees wanneer hulle in Maandag se eindstryd van die Steinhoff Koshuisliga teen Steinhoff Dagbreek (Maties) slaags is.

It's the Varsity Cup Final that everybody has been waiting for - even if it did take two years to materialise once more. The only question that remains now, is whether FNB UCT can upset the FNB Maties applecart in tomorrow's final at the Danie Craven Stadium.

Hooker Cornel Nieuwoudt will lead Steinhoff Dagbreek into battle against Steinhoff Vishuis in Monday's Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Final at Stellenbosch's Danie Craven Stadium.

Matthew Dobson has attracted plenty of plaudits in this year's Varsity Cup, thanks to some impressive performances for the rampant Stellenbosch side.

Romania beat Spain 48-3 in Bucharest on Saturday, thus ensuring that they will end in third place on the European Nations Cup and so qualify for repechage and so keep their hopes alive of attending the 2011 World Cup.

There will be more than just silverware and bragging rights at stake in Monday's Varsity Cup Final in Stellenbosch between FNB Maties and FNB UCT. There will also be plenty of cash up for grabs - thanks to sponsors FNB.

The 2010 Varsity Cup Final, between FNB Maties and FNB UCT, has sold out three days before Monday's 6.30pm kick-off at the Danie Craven Stadium.

Steinhoff Vishuis have announced their side for Monday's Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships Final against hosts, Steinhoff Dagbreek. Monday's final, at the Danie Craven Stadium, will get underway at 4.15pm and will be televised live on SuperSport.

The FNB Maties have made just one change to their starting line-up ahead of Monday's Varsity Cup Final against FNB UCT at Coetzenburg. (Kick-off 6.30pm.)

FNB UCT head coach John Dobson has announced an unchanged matchday 23 for Monday night's Varsity Cup Final meeting with FNB Maties in Stellenbosch.

The Hurricanes were close to unseating the Bulls, the Sharks had their first win and the Blues- Brumbies encounter was wonderful. We give some stats from each match and then the running totals of tries, penalties and so on.

Europe?s top Referees and Referee Managers met in London on Thursday for the annual Northern Hemisphere IRB High Performance Referee Conference under the central theme of global and consistent performance.

It seems like just the other day that the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International was born. And, as a 'parent' of this exciting tournament, Francois Pienaar could not be any prouder of his so-called 'baby'.

Both losing semifinalists are backing the Maties to make it a hat-trick of titles, ahead of Monday's 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International Final.

In response to a request from the Welsh Rugby Union, the International Rugby Board, the body whose main concern is the laws of the game, has ruled on a matter relating to the ingoal.

Tiaan Jonker will referee the 2010 Varsity Cup Final between FNB Maties and FNB UCT at Stellenbosch's Danie Craven Stadium on Monday evening. (Kick-off 6.30pm.)

Steinhoff Dagbreek se eerste rugbyspan staan bekend as die Bloutrein. Daar bestaan baie bespiegelinge oor die afkoms van die naam, maar een ding is verseker, die truie is blou en hy loop soos 'n trein!

Ikey Tigers head coach John Dobson praised his team's maturity, after their impressive 27-21 Varsity Cup semifinal win over the FNB Shimlas in Cape Town on Monday.

The United States national team will hold its first training camp of the season from April 2 to 4 at the Strake Jesuit High School in Houston - a crucial gathering for the Eagles.

The 2010 Six Nations is over and France have the Grand Slam they deserved. We have some statistics, with totals, which will tell you about the teams - who scored the most tries and who conceded the most penalties; that sort of thing.

After four impressive wins this year, Steinhoff Vishuis will be cautious not to stumble at the final hurdle when they come up against Steinhoff Dagbreek (Stellenbosch) in Monday's Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships Final.

Warm op die hakke van ons keuses vir 'Blyers' en 'Glyers', kies Rapport se JJ Harmse sy Varsitybeker XV - suiwer gebaseer op die spelers se vertonings tydens die 2010 FNB Varsitybeker aangebied deur Steinhoff International.

Chean Roux was pleased with the Maties' 'clinical' 47-11 semifinal win over the Pukke on Monday evening, but the Stellenbosch head coach would like to see more of the same in next week's FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International Final against FNB UCT.

The big match of the weekend is in Bucharest. To have a chance of getting to the World Cup in 2011, Romania must win. But mainly the weekend is about club, province and region action.

Kimberley, now home to many ex-Maties and Ikeys players, is a hive of betting activity ahead of the 2010 Varsity Cup Final between Stellenbosch and UCT this coming Monday.

The 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships Final will take place at the Danie Craven Stadium on Monday, March 29 at 4.15pm - the third year in succession that the event will take place in Stellenbosch.

The 2010 Varsity Cup Final - between FNB Maties and FNB UCT - will take place at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Monday, March 29. Kick-off is at 6.30pm.

The FNB Maties will host a third successive Varsity Cup Final at the Danie Craven Stadium, after smashing FNB Pukke 47-11 in their semifinal meeting at the selfsame venue on Monday evening.

Steinhoff Dagbreek played an intelligent game to edge out Steinhoff Maroela 21-15 in their 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships semifinal in Pretoria on Monday evening.

Steinhoff Villagers' (Pukke) hopes of making the final of the 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisliga were well and truly shattered on Monday night when they got smashed 57-3 by a rampant Steinhoff Vishuis (Shimlas).

The Ikey Tigers moved into their second Varsity Cup Final with a composed 27-21 semifinal win over a game FNB Shimlas side in Cape Town on Monday.

It was the last round of the European Nations Cup on Saturday with two important matches, won by Georgia and Romania. Germany's last chance to avoid relegation failed just.

FNB Shimlas coach Jaco Swanepoel has made a late change to his bench ahead of this afternoon's Varsity Cup semifinal clash against the Ikey Tigers at Groote Schuur.

As the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International nears its business-end, we would like you - our loyal website readers and supporters - to begin voting for YOUR Player(s) of the Tournament.

Dis nie aldag dat jou pa jou afrigter is en boonop dieselfde posisie as jy gespeel het nie. Hierdie rare geval speel hom in die Steinhoff Koshuisliga af waar pa Sias van Rensburg die afrigter van Steinhoff Villagers (Pukke) is waar sy seun (Sarel) die vasskop stut van die span is.

The Ikey Tigers - along with the FNB Maties - have been one of the better teams in the history of the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International. However, the Men from Cape Town have not tasted final success yet - despite coming close on two occasions.

Monday's four semifinal sides - Maties, UCT, Shimlas and Pukke - have all played against each other once before this season, in the league phase of the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International. Just how many players, however, will be lining up to face up to each other for the second time this year?

Vishuis se mees ervare speler, Gerhard Meyer (agtsteman) is oortuig sy span beskik oor die skietgoed om vanjaar die Steinhoff Koshuisliga te wen.

'n Klompie beserings in die FNB Shimla-kamp het die afrigtingspan genoodsaak om vyf veranderinge (een daarvan takties) aan die 23-tal vir Maandag se halfeindstryd van die FNB Varsitybeker aangebied deur Steinhoff International - teen die Ikeys in Kaapstad, aan te bring.

It is the last round of the European Nations Cup, sometimes refereed to as the Six Nations B, and it is the time to decide who the champion will be. There will also be a clearer view of who will end third and thus have a chance to go to New Zealand via repechage.

Lourens Adriaanse will captain the FNB Maties in their 2010 Varsity Cup semifinal clash against the FNB NWU-Pukke on Monday night (kick-off 6.30pm).

UCT squad captain Nick Fenton-Wells will lead his team into battle against Shimlas, in Monday's FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International semifinal at the Green Mile. (Kick-off 4.15pm.)

So, after seven weeks of intense league action - it's all down to this; the semifinals of the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International and the final fight to see who will contest the third-ever final in this exciting tournament.

The 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships moves into the Last Four on Monday, with four teams set to fight it out for a place in the 2010 final on Monday, March 29.

The FNB NWU-Pukke will go into Monday evening's Varsity Cup semifinal clash against the FNB Maties without their scrumhalf and talisman Andries Mahoney.

Toks van der Linde has urged the South African rugby public - and, in particular, the various universities' alumni - to get behind their teams ahead of the semifinals of the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

Steinhoff Vishuis (Kovsies) are expecting a tough assignment come Monday, when they take on Steinhoff Villagers - from Pukke - in one of the semifinals of this year's Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships.

The Madibas are a far cry from the despondent squad you might expect after picking up the Wooden Spoon in this year's FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

With the 2010 Varsity Cup semifinals just days away, we look at the various permutations facing the last four teams remaining in the competition.

FNB Tuks se sesde plek op die puntelys van die FNB Varsitybeker-reeks, aangebied deur Steinhoff International, beteken desnoods dat alle betrokkenes hand in eie boesem sal moet steek ten einde 'n herhaling hiervan in 2011 te voorkom.

Maandagaand se deurslaggewende kragmeting - teen UJ - op Shimlapark, waar die FNB Shimlas 51-32 gewen het, was beslis nader as wat die telling weergee.

Die FNB Pukke-span, verlede jaar se finalis in die FNB Varsitybeker aangebied deur Steinhoff International, sal hul dringendheid oor die algemeen moet verbeter voor hul herontmoeting met Maties in Maandag se semifinaal.

Top referees Ben Crouse and Dilbert November have been appointed to officiate next Monday's Varsity Cup semifinals in Cape Town and Stellenbosch.

There are still a lot of points being scored in the Super 14 - 372 in this round, an average of 62 points per match. Of course, it includes the massive thrashing the Lions received. We give some stats from each match and then the running totals of tries, penalties and so on. The totals tell you who has scored most tries, conceded fewest tries, been penalised most and had most disciplinary action.

The tackle remains a nettle on the rugby field. The IRB has been returning to basics in the application of the law and now gives a ruling to help with the applications of the law, one which, it seems, will be a perennial problem.

Albert van der Merwe, van die Maties se Steinhoff Dagbreek span, skryf vir ons 'n verslag na sy span se 15-5 oorwinning oor die Steinhoff Tornadoes (UK) op Maandag - 'n resultaat wat hulle 'n plek in die Steinhoff Koshuisliga semifinale verseker het.

Playing selector is always a fun exercise. With that in mind, we have had a stab at selecting the form players in the 2010 Varsity Cup up till now - from the four teams that qualified for the semifinals (Stayers XV) and the four teams that have been knocked out (Leavers XV).

Ikeys ace Tim Whitehead will make his Super 14 debut for the Stormers this weekend - the latest Varsity Cup player to make the step up to the toughest provincial tournament in the southern hemisphere.

With the four Varsity Cup semifinalists confirmed, we caught up with the teams' respective coaches to get their views ahead of next week's play-off matches in Stellenbosch and Cape Town.

After a weekend which included the drab affair at Murrayfield and the scintillating affair at Stade de France, we give some statistics from the matches, including some total so that you see who scored most tries and who was penalised most.

For the third year running - it was again a case of so close, yet so far, for UJ's FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International semifinal hopes.

It's the last day of Six Nations and it ends with the big one, Le Crunch, at Stade de France. There are also vital matches in ancient Trabazon on the Black Sea - an interesting venue - and Lisbon, the loser of the latter may well be out of hope of qualifying for the World Cup. There is a lot to keep referees on their toes.

It was a case of 'job done' for the Ikeys against Tuks on Monday night, but only - according to captain Stu Commins - after a rollicking half-time talk from head coach John Dobson.

It was a close call at the end, but FNB TUT Vikings head coach Alex de Kock was never worried about the outcome of Monday's Varsity Cup 'Wooden Spoon' Final against the Madibas.

It is going to take a miracle for the FNB Pukke to beat the FNB Maties in Stellenbosch next week.

The Laws of rugby football are, in a sense, a compendium of failure. Somebody does something that looks wrong or not quite kosher or causing an unwanted effect and that becomes law. This has happened now with deciding the end of a match, after the incident which ended the Wales-France encounter.

What a match in Paris! After the dull stuff of Murrayfield the match between France and Italy sparkled. The French were full of sparkle and it seemed to rub off on Italy who ended brightly. It was the most entertaining of this year's Six Nations.

The UCT Ikey Tigers claimed a third home semifinal in a row, after beating FNB Tuks 38-24 in a hard-fought Varsity Cup encounter at a windy Groote Schuur on Monday night.

Former Springbok wing Breyton Paulse believes the FNB Maties will be hard to stop as the business-end of the 2010 Varsity Cup approaches, but he has warned them of the 'one-off' pressure they will face in the semifinals.

Now that it has been decided that Georgia and Russia will be going to the 2011 World Cup the battle to keep hopes alive is for third spot on the European Nations Cup.

Today's final-round Varsity Cup clash between FNB Pukke and FNB Maties will matter for nothing when 24 former students - from both universities - go head-to-head in a golfing challenge in Potchefstroom on Tuesday

Steinhoff Dagbreek (Maties) edged out the Steinhoff Tornadoes 15-5 to qualify for the semifinals of the 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships.

Die Wes-Kaapse universiteite, die FNB Maties en die FNB-Ikey Tigers, sal - vir die derde agtereenvolgende jaar - gasheer speel wanneer die halfeindwedstryde van die van die FNB Varsitybeker, aangebied deur Steinhoff International, aanstaande week plaasvind.

Western Cape rivals, the FNB Maties and the FNB Ikey Tigers, will - for the third year running - host next week's semifinals in the third edition of the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

The FNB TUT Vikings avoided a second successive Varsity Cup Wooden Spoon, thanks to their 45-40 last-round win over a game FNB NMMU in Tshwane on Monday evening.

FNB Shimlas moved into their first-ever Varsity Cup semifinal with a 51-32 win over FNB UJ in a lively encounter in Bloemfontein on Monday evening.

Steinhoff Villagers (Pukke) have finished second in the Northern Section of the 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships - their 25-22 win over TUT's Steinhoff Patriot in Tshwane on Monday booking them a semifinal place.

Steinhoff Vishuis het met 'n reuse sege oor Steinhoff Madibaz - van NMMU - goeie momentum voor volgende Maandag se halfeindstryd van die 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisliga opgebou.

The FNB Maties ended the league phase of the 2010 Varsity Cup unbeaten - recording a 33-17 win over FNB Pukke in Potchefstroom on Monday afternoon.

FNB UCT captain Nick Fenton-Wells has been added to the Ikeys bench ahead of today's last-round league fixtures in the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

'Any rugby player just wants to play - I'm no different and I cannot wait for Monday.' Those are the words of fit-again FNB Maties skipper Cameron Peverett who, rather belatedly, will make his first start of the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

If Steinhoff Villagers can finish the majority of the chances they create, they should come away with the spoils in their last-round Steinhoff Koshuisliga fixture this coming Monday.

'n Paar randspelers van Steinhoff Vishuis kry Maandag 'n laaste kans om hul afrigter te beindruk wanneer hulle teen Steinhoff Madibaz (NMMU) te staan kom. Dis die laaste ronde van die 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisliga en Jan Earle, afrigter, hoop om na Maandag te weet wat sy beste span is wat die volgende week in die halfeindronde in aksie sal wees.

The Steinhoff Tornadoes have been forced into making a few last-minute changes to their starting line-up for Monday's do-or-die Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships clash against Dagbreek from Stellenbosch.

A move towards an integrated competition calendar for Tier Two Unions could soon become a reality after a meeting between the International Rugby Board and key stakeholders agreed to work towards a schedule that will further enable Unions to bridge the gap to Tier One status.

It is a question that has been on everyone's lips - what did UCT loosehead prop Ashley Wells say to Western Cape Premier Helen Zille when he received his Varsity Cup Player that Rocks Award from her on Monday, February 22?

Die terugkeer van drie sleutelspelers sal die FNB Shimlas-span versterk vir sy deurslaggewende tuiswedstryd Maandag in die 2010 FNB Varsitybeker aangebied deur Steinhoff International.

Maties captain Cameron Peverett will make his first start of the 2010 Varsity Cup season when the defending champions travel to Potchefstroom for their final league match of the year against FNB Pukke.

The Steinhoff Northerns Madibaz have announced their starting XV for Monday's final league match of the 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships.

Marcel Brache, who has been so impressive at outside centre for FNB UCT, has been moved to fullback for Monday's very important final-round league encounter against FNB Tuks in Cape Town (kick-off 6.30pm).

We caught up with Shimlas speedster Beast Ndwandwa who has already scored four tries in the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

The FNB NMMU Madibas will go into their 'Wooden Spoon Final' against the TUT Vikings without inspirational skipper and scrumhalf Luso Booi.

With the defending champion Maties having already sewn up a third successive home semifinal, there will be plenty to play for - elsewhere - in Round Seven of the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

Lutho Nyeka, known for his organising skills in the FNB TUT Vikings midfield, is back in the selection mix ahead of Monday's Varsity Cup 'Wooden Spoon Final' against FNB NMMU.

Wily Pukke coach Rudy Joubert has made a few minor adjustments to his team's starting XV for Monday's top-of-the-log Varsity Cup clash against the defending champion Maties.

Hooker Cornel Nieuwoudt will lead his Steinhoff Dagbreek team to Cape Town on Monday - in the Stellenbosch side's final Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships fixture of the season, a game which is effectively a quarterfinal against UCT's Tornadoes.

The same fifteen UJ players, who rewrote the history books last Monday against NMMU, have been handed the task of winning Monday's Varsity Cup 'quarterfinal' against Shimlas in Bloemfontein.

The Nadoes are now surely the underdogs ahead of Monday's 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships do-or-die match-up against Stellenbosch rivals, Dagbreek.

The International Rugby Board has announced that Samoa will host the 2010 Pacific Nations Cup.

It has been FNB Tuks' Varsity Cup story of 2010: an ever-growing injury list and yet more changes to their starting line-up.

Two of SANZAR's panel of referees will not be getting appointments to Super 14 matches until they have made improvements to their performances.

This is the penultimate round of Division 1 of the FIRA-AER's European Nations Cup, the so-called Sis Nations B. Two things are to be decided - who will be champions and who will come third.

We give some statistics from the three closely-contested matches this weekend and then some totals in which you can see which team is most penalised, which kicks most, which scores the most tries and so on.

SANZAR has announced the match official for Weeks 6-8. They include the return of Stuart Dickinson and Nathan Pearce from injury and relatively new men in Jaco Peyper, Jonathon White and Garratt Williamson.

The Ikey Tigers have suffered a bitter blow, in the aftermath of Monday's 17-23 Varsity Cup loss to Stellenbosch, with hooker Dayne Jans ruled out of action for the remainder of the 2010 rugby season.

Hoe om op die regte tyd jou beste vorm te bereik (te peak), is iets wat vir baie spanne steeds 'n misterie en 'n raaisel bly.

No, not his age, but in Saturday he will referee his 50th Super Rugby match when the Chiefs play the Crusaders in Hamilton, a top match.

Disappointment was a word mentioned often by John Dobson after his team's 17-23 defeat to the Maties in Varsity Cup earlier this week - but the Ikey Tigers head coach now has his eyes fixed firmly on redemption against Tuks next Monday.

The International Rugby Board has announced details of an exciting new format for the IRB Pacific Rugby Cup 2010, which will be played from May 5 to 29.

Maties coach Chean Roux has labelled his team's Varsity Cup Derby win over UCT as their worst performance of the season, but he was still a relieved man after the Men from Stellenbosch secured their sixth successive victory of 2010.

The refereeing appointments for Round Seven of the 2010 Varsity Cup - an exciting week of fixtures, all of which offer up interesting permutations - have been made; with Ben Crouse, Tiaan Jonker, Mlungiseli Mdashe and Bongani Maloni all in action.

FNB Tuks mag wel enige realistiese aanspraak op 'n plek in die halfeindronde van die FNB Varsitybeker aangebied deur Steinhoff International kwyt wees, maar Shaun Davids en sy troepe kan die kaarte steeds deurmekaar krap in die laaste groepwedstryde van die 2010-reeks.

UJ will not have the luxury of savouring their record 97-14 win over NMMU as much as they would have liked to - because the next and more deciding challenge is just around the corner.

Steinhoff Maroela (Tuks) sal die volgende twee weke gebruik om die foute reg te skaaf wat hom so byna 'n plek in die halfeindronde van die 2010 Steinhoff-koshuisreeks gekos het, se die afrigter, HJ Swanepoel.

They might be seventh and last, respectively, on the 2010 Varsity Cup log - but there is still 'everything to play for' when the FNB TUT Vikings host FNB NMMU next Monday in the Wooden Spoon 'Final'.

The Maties retained their unbeaten status in the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International when they edged a resilient UCT 23-17 in a classic encounter at the Danie Craven Stadium on Monday night.

Week 4 of Super 14 and only six matches as the Buills and the Western Force had byes. We give some stats from the week and then some totals so that the activities of each side are obvious. There is the same side with most tries but a new side as the most penalised.

Die Maties het hul onoorwonne status behou in die 2010 FNB Varsitybeker-reeks, aangebied deur Steinhoff International, deur die weerbarstige UK se Ikeys naelskraap met 23-17 in 'n klassieke ontmoeting op die Danie Craven-stadion Maandagaand te klop.

Adilo Coutriers has been named at fullback for the FNB TUT Vikings, as the winless Men from Tshwane chase their first Varsity Cup win since 2008.

Former Tornadoes centre Marcel Brache has gone from unknown, to superstar in less than three months.

No other match, since the advent of the Varsity Cup in 2008, has enjoyed a build-up as big as tonight's top of the log fixture between the defending champion Maties and UCT's Ikey Tigers.

Precocious Golden Lions talent Jaco Taute has been drafted onto the FNB UJ bench for tonight's crucial Varsity Cup clash against FNB NMMU at the UJ Stadium.

Not only is tonight's top-of-the-log Varsity Cup match between Stellenbosch and UCT a clash between the best two teams since the inception of the competition, but it also pits the tournament's longest-serving, and most successful, coaches against each other.

It was a must-win game for both teams, but Shimlas were the better rounded team and scored four tries to beat Tukkies 27-23 in their FNB Varsity Cup match presented by Steinhoff International, at LC de Villiers on Monday night.

Steinhoff Bastion (UJ) kan na Maandagaand se wen in die Steinhoff Koshuisliga 'n klein liggie aan die einde van die tonnel sien brand.

The Pukke had a point to make and they sent a strong message to the other contenders as they turned their season around with a convincing 51-17 win over the visiting TUT in Potchefstroom on Monday night.

Steinhoff Bastion (UJ) speel vandag teen Steinhoff Patriot (TUT), in 'n wedstryd wat heel mootlik hulle laaste in hierdie jaar se Steinhoff Koshuisliga mag wees (afskop 4.30nm).

FNB Maties held off a second-half UCT onslaught to earn a 23-17 victory in front of a jam-packed Danie Craven Stadium on a sweltering Monday Night in Stellenbosch.

The result was probably never in doubt, but the margin was the burning question. In the end the UJ produced a record 97-14 victory over the hapless NMMU outfit in Johannesburg on Monday.

Steinhoff Maroela is deur na die halfeindronde van die 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisliga, nadat hy Steinhoff Villagters vanaand met 25-22 in Pretoria geklop het.

You can go for weeks and weeks in the Super 14 with something like two thousand things referees have had to look for each weekend and there is no controversy. Then comes a weekend when controversies flourish. It happened this weekend. They were not every-day controversies, either, but they concerned tries given and not given.

Adriaan Bornman, kaptein van Steinhoff Maroela, moet 'n groot paar skoene volstaan nadat Stanley Twiname in die beginspan van FNB Tuks ingesluit is.

Six Nations back with the others chasing France who are on the road to Rome. France continues to get closer to play-offs and the teams are falling regularly in the Super 14 with only the Bulls unbeaten. So the top referees are swanning about the world with their little whistles.

Only one Test but lots of other big matches to try the mettle of top players. Look at the Leicester result, and Toulouse, and the Reds in Hamilton. Those are just a few big results.

Ofskoon hy nie daar kon wees toe Steinhoff Villagers hul voorbereiding vir Maandag se Steinhoff Koshuisliga-wedstryd teen Maroela afgesluit het nie, glo hy nie dit sal die span nadelig beinvloed nie.

As one of the key men for the in-form FNB Maties this season, No.8 Tertius Daniller believes his teammates need to maintain their composure if they are to beat FNB UCT in their top-of-the-table Varsity Cup clash on Monday evening.