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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.

Having tasted victory once before on the hallowed turf that is the Danie Craven Stadium, FNB UCT coach John Dobson knows what it takes to leave Coetzenburg on a high - especially when not many people are giving you a chance to win.

The South African Under-20 team on Saturday claimed a 1-0 series win over their Argentina counterparts after the two sides played to a 20-20 draw in their second encounter at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday.

Some coaches prefer long, dramatic pre-match team talks. Maties coach Chean Roux, for instance, is known to be able to motivate his players well before kick-off. But come Monday evening - when the Maties take on UCT in a top-of-the-log Varsity Cup clash - Roux will not have much to say.

All eyes will be on Monday's top-of-the-table clash between the Maties and UCT in Stellenbosch, but there are plenty of sub-plots elsewhere in Round Six of the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

The national selectors on Friday made ten changes and one positional switch to the South Africa U20 starting line-up that will take on the Argentina U20 team on Saturday at Newlands.

UCT openside flanker Mike Morris has recovered from injury to take his place in the Ikey Tigers starting line-up for Monday's mouth-watering top-of-the-log Varsity Cup clash against the Maties in Stellenbosch (8.30pm).

Leopards Currie Cup winger Muhammed Shuaib Samaai has been included in the FNB Pukke team for Monday's must-win Varsity Cup clash against the FNB TUT Vikings.

Winger Wilhelm Loock, who started last year's Varsity Cup Final for the Maties, has been handed a recall to the defending champions' starting line-up for Monday's top-of-the-log clash against UCT in Stellenbosch.

With everything to play for in the last two rounds of the league phase of the 2010 Varsity Cup, UJ will have their minds fixed on clinical performance against NMMU in Johannesburg on Monday.

Shimlas will field an unchanged starting line-up for Monday's crucial away fixture against Tukkies - for only the second time in this year's Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

We caught up with Steinhoff Villagers captain and lock Albert Sorgdrager - to talk about his own game, his rich family history and the 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships.

Mighty Elephants centre Braam Gerber will start in the No.12 shirt for FNB NMMU in a must-win Varsity Cup clash against FNB UJ in Johannesburg this coming Monday.

Monday's 8.30pm kick-off between the Maties and UCT is a top of the log encounter between the top two teams in the 2010 Varsity Cup. It is also a top of the log encounter between the best two Varsity Cup sides in the history of this tournament.

Dilbert November will referee Monday's top-of-the-table Varsity Cup clash between FNB Maties and FNB UCT at the historic Danie Craven Stadium.

Regular flyhalf Shaun Davids will on Monday captain Tuks from fullback when the Pretoria-based side takes on Shimlas in a make-or-break FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International fixture.

UCT rugby fans, who would like to attend Monday's top-of-the-log Varsity Cup clash between the Ikeys and the Maties in Stellenbosch, can purchase tickets from Thursday onwards.

An experienced member of the Pukke forward machine, varsitycup.co.za caught up with hooker Stoffel Duvenage to find out more about him... and life in Potchefstroom.

TUT's Steinhoff Koshuis team, Steinhoff Patriot, will travel to Johannesburg on Monday for a must-win Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships fixture - but also with an eye on the following week's proceedings.

Albert van der Merwe, van die Dagbreek span, skryf vir ons 'n verslag na sy span se oortuigende 61-10 Steinhoff Koshuisliga oorwinning oor die NMMU Madibaz Koshuis span hierdie Maandag.

Monday's slip-up against the Ikey Tigers means that FNB UJ have missed out on a golden opportunity to host a semifinal in the 2010 Varsity Cup.

The exciting on-field action aside, the Pink Shorts campaign in the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International has given rugby fans plenty to talk - and, in some cases, brag - about.

Tim Whitehead, FNB UCT's star midfielder, will start at inside centre for Western Province in Saturday's Vodacom Cup clash against the Sharks at Newlands.

As Vishuis die 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisliga-beker omhoog wil hou - soos Armentum gedoen het in 2009 - sal hulle drasties aan hul fiksheid moet werk.

The South African Under-20 team recorded a convincing 39-7 victory over their Argentinean counterparts, Los Pumitas, in Vredenburg on Wednesday.

Whilst pleased with the character shown by his charges in their crucial 30-23 Varsity Cup win over UJ on Monday, FNB UCT head coach John Dobson believes his side is capable of much more.

At least six of FNB Tuks' potential first-choice players will play no further part in the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

NMMU have had their backs against the wall throughout the 2010 edition of the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International, but coach Kolie Brandt is quietly busy laying the foundation for a competitive Madibas side in years to come.

Although the scoreline might not suggest as much, Pukke's 31-24 win over NMMU in their Varsity Cup in Port Elizabeth on Monday was pretty comprehensive.

The Maties will go into next Monday's top-of-the-log Varsity Cup clash against UCT with yet another new centre pairing, following an injury to inside centre Stephan van der Merwe.

Buiten 'n vrot laaste 15 minute, waarin die FNB Shimlas van hul spelpatroon afgewyk is, het die span se kaptein - Wayne Stevens - nie veel klagtes nie. Shimlas het, natuurlik, Maandagaand op sy tuisveld in Bloemfontein 37-31 oor die FNB TUT Vikings geseevier.

Week 3 was a good weekend for the New Zealand sides, for all five of them won. It was a poor weekend for South African and Australians sides who managed just one win each. The stats will tell you what happened match by match and you can then see which side has scored the most (or the least), which team has been penalised most (or least), and other details.

Former South Africa Schools' star flanks Lean Schwartz and Jean Cook were on Tuesday named in the SA Under-20 starting line-up to play against Argentina U20 in Vredenburg on Wednesday.

Before the Super 14 got going and at the request of the Super 14 coaches, certain existing laws were highlighted as in need of more careful attention and application with a view to making a faster and more creative game. Andre Watson, South Africa's refereeing boss, has taken stock.

The FNB TUT Vikings have already improved on their 2009 Varsity Cup performance list, but a first win since March 2008 still continues to elude them.

The Steinhoff Tornadoes arrived back in Cape Town on Tuesday knowing that they have all to play for against their next opponents, neighbours Steinhoff Dagbreek (who hail from Stellenbosch), after a lacklustre performance against Vishuis on Monday.

Have you ever seen a Super 14 match like the one in Johannesburg? Mind you, have you ever seen any match like it? A team scored 65 and loses! It looks like a misprint. We give some statistics for the Week 2 matches.

Die rekord-nederlaag teen die Maties gistermiddag was soos 'n 'helse harde hou op die kennebak', maar desondanks is Tuks se halfeindronde-lot in die 2010 FNB Varsitybeker aangebied deur Steinhoff International steeds in hul eie hande.

Die Steinhoff Bastion span besef as hulle vandag teen Steinhoff Maroela (van Tuks) kan wen, die pad na die volgende ronde van die 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisliga effens makliker kan wees.

South African Referees scrummaging coach Balie Swart on Monday said he was satisfied with the progress of the SA Under-20 scrum in preparation of their first Test against Argentina in Vredenburg on Wednesday.

Although Steinhoff Vishuis achieved a comfortable 33-5 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships win over Steinhoff Tornadoes on Monday, it was a far from clinical performance by the home side.

Die Maties en Ikeys het hul onoorwonne rekords in die 2010 Varsitybeker-reeks voortgesit in week vyf, toe die suidelike universiteite Maandagaand hul noordelike teenstanders stert tussen die bene huistoe gestuur het na 'n reeks interessante uitslae in die FNB-geborgde toernooi, aangebied deur Steinhoff International.

The Maties and the Ikeys continued their unbeaten records this year, as the South ruled the North in some intriguing Round Five battles in the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

A late Marcello Sampson try helped FNB UCT maintain their unbeaten record in the 2010 Varsity Cup, the Men from Cape Town edging out FNB UJ 30-23 in a classic encounter in Johannesburg on Monday.

Stellenbosch's Steinhoff Dagbreek recorded their first win of the 2010 season - a comprehensive 61-10 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships victory over a hapless Steinhoff Madibaz side in PE on Monday.

Erick Colyn se insluiting in die beginspan is die merkbaarste verandering aan die Steinhoff Vishuis se span vir Maandag se tweede ronde van die 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisliga.

FNB Pukke edged out a game FNB NMMU team in Port Elizabeth on Monday evening - winning 31-24 in a hard-fought Varsity Cup encounter.

Steinhoff Bastion kon Maandagaand nie aan 'n sewe-punt voorsprong vasklou om teen Steinhoff Maroela in die 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisliga te wen nie.

Defending champions, the Maties, rolled out yet another bonus point victory this Varsity Cup season - smashing double semifinalists, Tuks, 64-17 in Stellenbosch on Monday.

It was a hectic weekend - Test matches and top international matches with surprising results and great pleasure for winners.

FNB Shimlas kept their 2010 semifinals hopes alive with a 37-31 win over TUT on Monday night in an FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International match.

In Europe club and regional rugby is building towards the climax to come in April and May. In SANZAR countries the Super 14 is as eager as ever.

Five teams have announced late changes to their matchday line-ups for Round-Five Varsity Cup action today.

NMMU student Kiviet Cewu managed to catch up with NMMU Madibaz captain - and scrumhalf - Happy Mashabela ahead of today's Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships match against Stellenbosch's Steinhoff Dagbreek at PE's Xerox NMMU Stadium (kick-off 5pm).

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 d so on.

With his studies out of the way this season, UCT's experienced Varsity Cup flyhalf, Matt Rosslee, is happy to be putting all his energy into the Ikeys' 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International campaign.

After Round 8 of FIRA-AER's European Nations Cup, the so called Six nations B, Georgia and Russia are nearer qualification for the World Cup in New Zealand.

Skoppe wen wedstryde. En as jou stelskopper meer gereeld mis korrel as wat hy in die kol is, gaan jou span meer gereeld aan die verloorkant wees.

Varsity Cup players Justin van Staden and Francois du Toit have been chosen to train with the SA Under-20 squad ahead of two 'internationals' against an Argentina U20 outfit next month.

Stephan van der Merwe is relishing the opportunity to earn consistent Varsity Cup starts for the Maties.

Shaun Davids, FNB Tuks se Varsitybeker-kaptein, besef daar is mense wat sy kop eis omdat hy na hul mening nie die oplossing op losskakel is nie.

Up till the Irish came across the sea England were unbeaten, but they were well and truly beaten at Kingsholm on Friday night. But the biggest surprise of Round 3 of the Under-20 Six Nations was the extent of Wales's victory over the visiting French. It was a rare smashing.

There has been a new addition to the 2010 Varsity Cup, with CEO Duitser Bosman becoming a proud parent for the third time on Friday, February 26!

The inclusion of Jaco Oosthuizen at flyhalf will probably see TUT take on a more direct approach in their Varsity Cup match against Shimlas in Bloemfontein on Monday.

Die Steinhoff Bastion span van die Universiteit van Johannesburg (UJ) het na hulle teleurstellende 21-23 verloor van Maandag teen Steinhoff Villagers die week hard geoefen om te verseker hulle is reg vir hul volgende wedstyd.

FNB NMMU head coach Kolie Brandt has announced his starting XV for Monday's Round Five, Varsity Cup clash against Pukke at the Xerox NMMU Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

Steinhoff Maroela het net een verandering aan sy beginspan gemaak vir Maandag se Steinhoff Koshuisliga wedstryd teen Bastion (UJ) in die UJ-stadion in Johannesburg.

Competition is heating up in the 2010 Varsity Cup. We preview the exciting Round Five tussles, with semifinal places still up for grabs.

Die terugkeer van die FNB Pukke se twee senters, Wouter Watermeyer (binnesenter) en Kempie Rautenbach (buitesenter) behoort die Potchefstroom strudente heelwat vir Maandag se FNB Varsitybeker aangebied deur Steinhoff International-wedstryd teen NMMU te versterk.

Despite going down 7-24 to Steinhoff Vishuis last week, Steinhoff Dagbreek have announced an unchanged starting XV for Monday's Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships match against the Steinhoff Madibaz (NMMU).

Ikey Tigers head coach John Dobson has picked two new flanks for Monday's mouth-watering Varsity Cup clash against giantkillers, FNB UJ, in Johannesburg.

Craig Joubert's early rugby days were spent on the wrong side of the law; as a youngster he was a talented player - representing Natal in the flyhalf berth for the Primary Schools Craven Week. He chats to rugby365.com about refereeing and technology in the game.

The Shimlas have made no less than nine changes to their matchday-23 for Monday's crucial home Varsity Cup fixture against TUT. Many of those changes, however, have been forced upon coach Jaco Swanepoel.

It's the eighth round of the European Nations Cup, 'Six Nations B, Division 1 of the FIRA-AER compositions, and possibly the last chance for Romania to qualify again for the Rugby World Cup.

Andre Kemp will line up at flyhalf for the FNB Maties against FNB Tuks on Monday, March 1; with injuries and Vodacom Cup call-ups forcing the hand of Stellenbosch head coach Chean Roux.

varsitycup.co.za praat met die groot Shimlas slot Henjo van Niekerk - 'n reus in die lynstane vir die Vrystaters hierdie Varsitybeker seisoen.

After a close win over Steinhoff Bastion on Monday night in the 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships, Villagers will have to wait an extra week to carry that winning momentum into their next fixture - on March 8 against Tuks' Steinhoff Maroela.

NMMU have suffered four successive crushing defeats in this year's FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International, and flyhalf Willem Laubscher insists it is time for some 'tough-talking' to be done in the Madibas change-room.

Tuks het hul deurslaggewende wedstryd in die 2010 Varsitybeker teen die Maties, Maandag op Coetzenburg, so byna sonder hul heelagter en puntemasjien, Justin van Staden, aangedurf.

It is one thing to compete well, but another to master the art of winning. So says FNB TUT Vikings assistant coach Jimmy Watt, whose side has not won a match in the Varsity Cup since March 3, 2008.

FNB UJ - no doubt still on a high after their win in Potch - have retained the same 23 players to take on UCT in Johannesburg this coming Monday.

Ian 'Army' Armstrong, who boasts WP Super League experience for UCT, will start at scrumhalf for the Steinhoff Tornadoes in their second Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships match of the season - this time against the powerful Steinhoff Vishuis side from Bloemfontein.

The people who asked for a fuller application of the tackle law and the requirements of the tackler to comply were the Super 14 coaches. Now there has been some questioning of the application, at least by a coach in New Zealand.

Varsity Cup players from Maties and UCT - the two top teams in the tournament at present - will make up the bulk of the Western Province side for the Cape Town-based team's Vodacom Cup opener against the Boland Kavaliers, in Bredasdorp, this Saturday.

Stuart Dickinson is injured and has had to withdraw from the Super 14 match between the Cheetahs and the Highlanders in Bloemfontein. His place is taken by Pro Legoete of South Africa.

FNB Tuks have paid a high price for their biggest win of the season in the FNB Varsity Cup competition presented by Steinhoff International.

Newcomer Brad van der Westhuizen will make his first-ever start for the Ikeys' Steinhoff Tornadoes, when they play Steinhoff Vishuis (Shimlas) - who smashed Dagbreek 24-7 this past week - in Bloemfontein on Monday, March 1.

Rudy Joubert, afrigter van die FNB Pukke, wou nie verskonings maak na sy span se onverwagse nederlaag (22-23) teen die Universiteit van Johannesburg (UJ) op Maandag nie, maar se die vertolking by die skrums het hulle gekniehalter.

Varsity Cup referee Tiaan Jonker will officiate the crunch Round Five match between the defending champion FNB Maties and double semifinalists, FNB Tukkies, in Stellenbosch this coming Monday.

Die Shimla-afrigtingspan gee toe dat hulle Maandag in Stellenbosch teen die beter Varsitybeker span die onderspit gedelf het.

Daar is geen rede hoekom Steinhoff Vishuis, van Shimlas, nie vanjaar se Steinhoff Koshuisliga kan wen nie.

The organisers of the 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships have announced two fixture changes on Monday, March 8 - due to the adjustments to the kick-off times in the Varsity Cup on that day.

varsitycup.co.za caught up with impressive FNB Shimlas No.2 PW van Vuuren, who is hoping to follow in the footsteps of many Grey College hookers before him.

Maties coach Chean Roux was obviously pleased with his team's fourth successive bonus point victory in the 2010 Varsity Cup - despite, once again, having to deal with inclement weather conditions.

Johny Stavrinou will referee his third Test this Saturday when Greece play Finland in FIRA-AER's Division 3. It's a long way from Durban for this Cypriot.

Steinhoff Patriot coach Johan Visser was understandably disappointed with his team's 15-42 loss to Steinhoff Maroela in their 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships opener on Monday - but more, so, because his players let themselves down.

FNB Tuks se grootste uitdaging vandeesweek in die aanloop tot die Varsitybeker-wedstryd teen die FNB Maties Maandag in Stellenbosch, is 'om net op ons eie spel te bly fokus'.

It's another huge week with massive activity on the international front - Six Nations at various levels, FIRA-AER competitions, Super 14 and British & Irish Cup. Then the Vodacom Cup, an essentially South African competition starts this weekend with teams from Namibia and Argentina. The Namibian team is chosen from their national group who are playing in Namibia, calling themselves Welwitchias.

FNB UJ's second away victory in the 2010 Varsity Cup has given Hugo Van As's charges a sporting chance of qualifying for the play-offs for the first time.

The Varsity Cup will put academics before pleasure for next month's top-of-the-log clash between the FNB Maties and FNB UCT in Stellenbosch; with the kick-off for that much-anticipated match moving from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

The FNB TUT Vikings' first win since March 2008, in the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International, is around the corner - according to head coach Alex de Kock.

Steinhoff Maroela het 'n goeie begin in die 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisliga nodig gehad, want 'ons moes van vooraf aan 'n span bou', het die afrigter, Paul van der Westhuizen, gisteraand na die klinkende oorwinning teen Patriot (FNB TUT) gese.

UCT head coach John Dobson was honest in the assessment of his team's unconvincing 25-19 Varsity Cup win over a fired-up FNB TUT Vikings team at Groote Schuur on Monday afternoon.

After the match between his Waratahs and the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday, Phil Waugh, captain of the Waratahs and an experienced flank forward, complained about the new application of the law because it ceased to allow a contest at the tackle. He has a point.

Die verdedigende kampioen, FNB Maties, het nog 'n bonuspunt-oorwinning in die 2010 Varsitybeker-reeks behaal, maar dit was die FNB UJ wat die grootste opskudding van die vierde rondte gelewer het - deur verlede jaar se naaswenners, FNB NMU-Pukke, in Potchefstroom te klop.

The defending champion FNB Maties scored yet another bonus point victory in the 2010 Varsity Cup, but it was FNB UJ who caused the major shock of the fourth round of action by beating last year's losing finalists, FNB NMU-Pukke, in Potchefstroom.

The Churchill Cup makes a welcome return to the United States this year, once again stopping in the City of Glendale, Colorado, before making its East Coast debut at in Harrison, New Jersey.

The FNB Maties survived a small scare to beat FNB Shimlas 31-15 in Stellenbosch on Monday night - having trailed 14-15 at half-time.

FNB UJ beat last year's losing Varsity Cup finalists, NWU-Pukke, 23-22 in a nailbiting encounter in Potchefstroom on Monday.

FNB Tuks romped to a 63-36 Varsity Cup win over a hapless FNB NMMU side in Pretoria on Monday evening.

The unbeaten FNB UCT scrapped out a 25-19 Varsity Cup win over a fired-up and battling FNB TUT Vikings team in Cape Town on Monday.

FNB UJ and FNB Shimlas have announced some minor changes to their line-ups for Monday's Varsity Cup, Round Four action.

The inclusion of Wesleigh Marais (pictured) and Stanley Twiname in the Steinhoff Maroela starting line-up will be a big morale-booster in their quest to start the 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships on a winning note.

Steinhoff Vishuis recorded a stunning 24-7 away win over Steinhoff Dagbreek in an exciting Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships clash in Stellenbosch on Monday.

Steinhoff Maroela began their 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships on a high note - beating Steinhoff Patriot 42-15 in Pretoria on Monday afternoon.

Steinhoff Bastion van die Universiteit van Johannesburg (UJ) weet hulle kan beter in die 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisliga. Vir die manne is tweede plek nie 'n opsie nie!

The 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships kicks-off on Monday, February 22 and this year's tournament promises to be bigger and better than ever before.

2010 het aangebreek en so ook die jaarlikse Varsity Cup die kompetisie wat elke jaar die beste rugby koshuis in die land kroon.

FNB Tuks head coach Freddie Grobler has made a late change to his team's starting XV for today's Varsity Cup match against NMMU in Pretoria. The change sees Gert Smith start at outside centre instead of Ernie Kruger.

'n Strafdoel in die doodsnikke deur WD Botha het Maandag aan Steinhoff Villagers (Puk) 'n naelskraapse sege oor Steinhoff Bastion (UJ) in die openingsronde van die 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisliga besorg.

The Steinhoff Tornadoes, UCT's representatives in the 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships, got their campaign off to a red-hot start with a comprehensive 38-21 win over a game Steinhoff Madibaz (NMMU) outfit.

As the positional debate continues to follow FNB Maties halfback Conrad Hoffmann during his fledgling rugby career, the Varsity Cup star does not actually mind where he starts for the defending champions.

As the south gets into its Super stride, so the north gets closer to making decisions for the immediate future, such things as play-offs at the top and relegation down below.

Coach John Dobson has been forced into making some late changes to the Ikeys starting line-up for Monday's Varsity Cup clash against TUT - one of which sees the introduction of centre Mark Esterhuizen on the bench.

Die Steinhoff Villagers se bondgenoot in vanjaar se Steinhoff Koshuisliga, is hul ervare span.

Have you ever seen a Super 14 match like the one in Johannesburg? Mind you, have you ever seen any match like it? A team scored 65 and loses! It looks like a misprint. We give some statistics for the Week 2 matches.

Steinhoff Vishuis - hoping to pick up where fellow Free Staters Huis Armentum ended off in last year's Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships - have named their side for Monday's 2010 opener against Steinhoff Dagbreek.

Now in his third year of Varsity Cup rugby, UCT stalwart JJ Gagiano is better suited than most to comment on the success of this incredible student rugby tournament.

The Steinhoff NMMU Madibaz will travel to Cape Town for their opening 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships clash against UCT's, Steinhoff Tornadoes, on Monday.

Madibas head coach Kolie Brandt has moved his star inside back Willem Laubscher back to flyhalf - from inside centre - for Monday's Varsity Cup clash against FNB Tuks in Pretoria.

Stellenbosch student Cornel Nieuwoudt will lead Dagbreek into battle as they kick-off their 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships campaign against Steinhoff Vishuis (Shimlas).

All eyes will be on Potchefstroom and Pretoria on Monday night as the likes of Pukke, UJ and Tuks continue to chase the top two teams in the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International - the defending champion Maties and the Ikey Tigers.

Teenager James King will target a return to action in time to represent Wales at the IRB Junior World Championships in Argentina in mid-year, after being ruled out through injury for a period of up to 12 weeks.

Andre van Zyl will lead Steinhoff Patriot into battle in their 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships opener against Steinhoff Maroela in Pretoria on Monday.

FNB Tuks coach Freddie Grobler has made plenty of changes to his starting XV for Monday's FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International clash against NMMU in Pretoria (kick-off 6.30pm).

Vikings captain flanker Emile Verster was today cleared to play against UCT this coming Monday, despite being sent off in a Varsity Cup - and Pretoria Derby - clash against Tuks earlier this week.

Tuks and UJ will tackle their Varsity Cup fourth-round matches knowing full well that they have to better their current log positions in order to stay in the hunt for the play-offs in the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

Maties se indrukwekkende skakel Conrad Hoffmann speel van die beste rugby van sy loopbaan in vanjaar se Varsitybeker-toernooi, met Speler van die Wedstryd toekennings in die eerste twee rondtes. Hy se egter dat die beste beloning is die ongelooflike ondersteuning wat sy span van die toeskouers in Stellenbosch ontvang.

FNB Pukke head coach Rudy Joubert has made two key changes to his team's front row after this week's 17-16 win over Shimlas; with BG Uys and Johan Coetzee named to start this coming Monday's clash against UJ in Potchefstroom (kick-off 6.30pm).

FNB UJ will field a rather new-look pack of forwards on Monday when they play the Pukke in an FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International fixture.

Steinhoff Patriot, TUT's representatives in the 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships, are confident that they will do their university proud this season.

UCT's 2009 Steinhoff Internal League winners, the Steinhoff Tornadoes, will be playing in their first-ever Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships on Monday afternoon.

Boland referee Francois Veldsman will officiate the Round Four, Varsity Cup clash between the Maties and Shimlas in Stellenbosch this coming Monday.

The tackle is such a big issue at the moment - the burning issue in rugby. But then it has been a burning issue for many years and looks likely to remain so.

Tim Whitehead and Marcel Brache have been reunited at centre for FNB UCT ahead of Monday's meeting with the TUT Vikings in Cape Town (kick-off 4.30pm).

Die Shimla-rugbyspan is aansienlik versterk vir Maandag se FNB Varsitybeker aangebied deur Steinhoff International wedstryd. Hulle pak, natuurlik, dan die tweemalige kampioen, Maties, in die Eikestad om 7.30nm.

SANZAR's refereeing boss, Lyndon Bray of New Zealand, has removed Josh Noonan of New Zealand from his appointment as an assistant referee at Carisbrook on Friday night.

The Steinhoff Nadoes have been hard at work on the touch-field for the last few weeks, getting fit, honing their skills and getting focused for the 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships campaign.

Theuns Kotze, puik heelagter van die Pukke, het Maandag teen Shimlas gewys hoekom hy as een van die vorm heelagters in die Varsitybeker beskou word.

The foremost thing the TUT Vikings will have in mind when they take on the Ikey Tigers on Monday, in the 2010 Varsity Cup, is to make the home team work for every point.

Although Steinhoff Bastion are a complete unknown factor for Pukke's number one koshuis team, Steinhoff Villagers, they are not too worried ahead of their 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships fixture.

Stephan van der Merwe will make his first Varsity Cup start of the year, replacing Dabeon Draghoender, as the defending champion Maties get set to host FNB Shimlas in Stellenbosch on Monday night.

Wandile Mjekevu has all the worries of a regular Law student at UJ. However, he also happens to be a very talented rugby player who, just last weekend, made his Super 14 debut for the Lions.

Jan Earle, the coach of the Steinhoff Vishuis team, believes his 'boytjies' are now a better team than the one that won the Kovsies Koshuisliga last year.

We have now had six matches in two rounds of Six Nations and seven matches in a round of Super 14. It is interesting to see how the scrums are going at a time when much effort has gone into eradicating the resetting of scrums.

Die 16-17 nederlaag Maandag teen Pukke het 'n baie bitter smaak in Jaco Swanepoel, Shimla-breier, se mond gelaat.

Hy word eers op 3 Junie 20 jaar oud, maar Justin van Staden is sy melkbaard ten spyt reeds 'n voorbeeld vir baie ander, meer senior spelers oor hoe om die grootheid van die oomblik te hanteer.

In Murraystraat 93, Brooklyn, is daar gisteraand tot laat feesgevier nadat Sonop die eerste keer in drie probeerslae daarin geslaag het om Steinhoff-Tuks se Uitklop-koshuisliga te wen.

The Madibas are still in good spirits, according to skipper Lusu Booi, despite suffering heavy defeats in the first three rounds of the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

The Maties could be without Dabeon Draghoender, after he picked up a knee injury during Monday night's 43-10 Varsity Cup win over UJ in Johannesburg.

The FNB TUT Vikings are still not the wiser as to the fate - and availability - of their captain, Emile Verster, who was sent off in Monday's 30-42 Varsity Cup loss to neighbours, Tuks.

The 2010 Super 14 has kicked off with, as seems usual, more concentration on the application of existing laws. The Big Four are under the spotlight - tackle, scrum, obstruction and offside ahead of kicks.

Die kans dat FNB Tuks die eerste keer die seisoen 'n onveranderde vyftiental in die veld sal stoot, is skraal.

Freddie Grobler, FNB Tuks se hooafrigter, het gemengde gevoelens oor sy span se vertoning teen die FNB TUT Vikings gisteraand.

They are not invincible, but it will nevertheless take an extreme effort to stop the Maties in the 2010 Varsity Cup - according to FNB UJ head coach Hugo van As.

South African referee, Stu Berry went from the IRB Sevens tournament in Wellington, New Zealand, to the IRB Sevens tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada, a particularly good tournament for him. He writes.

Whilst pleased with his side's 65-9 Varsity Cup win over NMMU, UCT coach John Dobson was even happier with 'other' aspects of the Ikeys' performance.

TUT will know the fate of their captain on Wednesday only - at the earliest - after Emile Verster was sent off in injury-time in their FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International fixture against Tuks on Monday.

There is an hiatus on the Test match scene but there are many other hectic clashes in North and South - enough to keep referees sharp.

What happens if a match is abandoned? It can happen if lights fail or if weather becomes threatening.

Today's UCT v NMMU Varsity Cup fixture, as was the case last year, will once again honour the late Monte Taljaard - the talented UCT flanker who was killed in a car accident in 2008. However, for head coach John Dobson and his young charges, this is no different to any other week at the Ikey Tigers.

There was dram in the second round of the Six Nations with that miraculous burst of scoring at Millennium stadium that gave Wales 17 points in the last four minutes, a great performance by France and a sterling performance by Italy.

Defending champions, the FNB Maties, and their Western Cape rivals, the Ikey Tigers, are now the only remaining unbeaten sides in the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International, at the conclusion of Round Three of this exciting competition.

Up-and-coming South African referee Stu Berry was one of eight referees at the IRB Sevens in Las Vegas, Nevada, and he was the one chosen to referee the Final of the Cup.

Die groot vraag wat moreaand (16 Februarie) beantwoord sal word, is of Sonop sy lank bekerdroogte kan breek nadat hy in 2007 (finaal), 2008 (semi-finaal) en verlede jaar (finaal) nog elke keer in die pylvak van Steinhoff se Tuks-uitklopliga gestruikel het.

FNB Maties romped to a 43-10 Varsity Cup win over UJ in a rainy Johannesburg on Monday evening.

FNB UJ and FNB Shimlas have made a few late changes to their starting line-ups for today's Round Three, Varsity Cup action.

FNB Tuks were forced to dig deep for a 42-30 win over FNB TUT Vikings in a thrill-a-minute Varsity Cup fixture played in Tshwane on Monday afternoon.

In Round 2 Wales beat Scotland in a thriller, France's were too good for Ireland and England just managed to spare their blushes against Italy. We give some statistics from the matches. You would be surprised which team passed least.

NWU-Pukke bounced back from last week's disappointing loss to secure a hard-earned 17-16 home win over Shimlas in their FNB Varsity Cup match presented by Steinhoff International on Monday evening.

The Ikey Tigers were too good for FNB NMMU in their Monte Taljaard Trophy match in a windy PE on Monday evening, with the fired-up visitors winning 65-9.

He has a full season of rock-hard Carlton League rugby on his 'Rugby CV' - but Tuks' third scrumhalf of the season, Zylon McGaffen, still has the proverbial butterflies in his stomach as an unwanted 'ally' on the day of his Varsity Cup debut.

There are three Six Nations competitions - the senior men, the Under-20s and the women, but at this time there are other international matches, taken seriously by those who play and those who organise.

Hy is gedoop Johannes Gerhardus en sy ouers noem hom Johan, maar vir die res is hy bekend as Boom. Hierdie 21-jarige losvoorspeler het verlede Maandag in 'n FNB Varsitybeker-wedstryd, aangebied deur Steinhoff Internasionaal, vier keer agter die doellyn gaan kuier; wat 'n gesamentlike Varsitybeker-rekord is.

Maties prop Lourens Adriaanse is not your average front row forward. But that is not to say he does not do - on the field - what all front rowers should! Off the field, however, it is a different story.

Ikeys captain Stu Commins believes that UCT are well-suited to cope with the windy conditions in PE, as they prepare to travel to the 'Windy City' to take on NMMU this Monday (kick-off 6.30pm).

Russia's victory over Spain in Madrid has almost guaranteed them a place the final tournament of the World Cup for the first time.

UJ flyhalf Andre Smith believes the Varsity Cup has given its players a sneak peak into the lives of fully professional rugby players.

Die beseringspook het vandeesweek behoorlik amok onder die NWU se FNB Pukke gesaai en vyf veranderinge moes aan die beginspan aangebring word.

FNB UJ head coach Hugo van As believes the Bulls' emphatic win in the 2009 Super 14 Final was the closest to 80 minutes of total brilliance SA rugby has seen in many years.

FNB NMMU flyhalf Willem Laubscher admits that the first two weeks of the Varsity Cup have been 'a struggle' for the Madibas, but he is still loving every minute of playing in such a great competition.

The big fish this time for the Russian Bear is in Madrid where they play Spain on Saturday. Victory would take them very close to New Zealand in 2011 for the top two teams in the European Nations Cup qualify for the World Cup without further ado and the third-placed side has a chance through repechage.

Aluzant Munnik will line up at flyhalf for NMMU in Monday's Varsity Cup and Monte Taljaard Trophy clash in PE.

FNB Maties head coach Chean Roux believes the quality of opposition in the 2010 Varsity Cup is the best he has seen in the history of this three-year competition.

It might just be Round Three of the 2010 Varsity Cup, but already we are faced with some crucial matches this week - many of which will affect the overall standings in this competition.

John Dobson has made a few changes to the Ikeys' starting line-up for the Monte Taljaard Trophy match at the Xerox NMMU Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Monday.

Last year the Shimlas were hardly ever able to name an unchanged team, but things seems to be changing in the 2010 edition of the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

The TUT Vikings coaching staff on Friday morning had to take the 'painful decision' to not include seasoned flanker Athi Mtya in their starting line-up for Monday's all-Pretoria Varsity Cup clash against Tuks.

Apart from the matches in the Six Nations competitions, there are also other internationals art around this time.

The timing of Jaco Snyman's recovery from concussion could not have been more convenient as he may well be one of his team's major trump cards in Monday's FNB Varsity Cup match presented by Steinhoff International against the Maties.

Die Universiteit van Johannesburg (UJ) se Bastion Manskoshuis begin Maandag, Februarie 22 op die Fanie du Toit sportsgronde in Potchefstroom hul aanslag op die 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisliga-titel.

Coach Chean Roux has handed the Maties' No.10 shirt to Conrad Hoffmann in the absence of Hayden Groepes. The defending champions will, of course, play UJ in Johannesburg on Monday evening.

A frustrating day at the office. This, in short, is how NWU-Pukke coach Rudy Joubert felt after Monday's 11-18 Varsity Cup loss to the Ikey Tigers in Cape Town.

It could be blessing in disguise that TUT have archrivals Tuks as their next opponents in the Varsity Cup.

FNB Tuks kroon aanstaande Woensdag (Februarie 17) 'n nuwe kampioen in Steinhoff se koshuis-uitklopliga, nadat Maroela se heerskappy gisteraand (Februarie 10) oplaas beeindig is.

Freddie Grobler has been forced to make three more changes to the FNB Tuks line-up for Monday's Varsity Cup - and Pretoria Derby - match against the FNB TUT Vikings.

Steinhoff Vishuis is oorgehaal om nie net mededingend in die 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisliga te wees nie, maar om die titel te buit.

Ex-Bok great Hennie Le Roux - an NMMU Old Boy - has praised the Varsity Cup, labelling the tournament a 'wonderful platform' for young players to showcase their abilities.

Western Cape Premier Helen Zille was an eager spectator at Monday's UCT v Pukke Varsity Cup match, with Ikey Tigers head coach John Dobson labelling her an 'inspiration' afterwards.

FNB Tuks will have a 'no-nonsense' approach in their must-win Varsity Cup match against their Pretoria neighbours, the FNB TUT Vikings, on Monday.

Referees are to be present at Super 14 media conferences after matches this, according to Lyndon Bray, SANZAR's referee coordinator and the manager of New Zealand's top referees.

The South African U20s conceded their second defeat on their two week tour to France after going down 13-3 to a French Selection XV in Paris on Tuesday evening.

Na 'n teleurstellende 2009 Steinhoff Koshuisliga-kompetisie vir die NWU-Pukke se Over de Voor, is die hoofafrigter van Steinhoff Villagers vasbeslote om dinge vanjaar om te swaai in Potchefstroom.

Provincial side Griquas have included a host of Varsity Cup stars in their team for a pre-season friendly against the SWD Eagles in Oudtshoorn on Wednesday.

Conrad Hoffmann, wat verlede jaar genoem is as 'n moontlike langtermyn-oplossing vir Westelike Provinsie in die No.10 trui, gaan waarskynlik nou vir die tweemalige kampioen Maties op losskakel uitdraf in Maandag se FNB Varsitybeker aangebied deur Steinhoff International aksie.

Tiaan Jonker will referee next week's big Varsity Cup battle between the Pukke and Shimlas in Potchefstroom.

FNB UJ's biggest challenge in the coming week will be to close the gap between brilliance and mediocrity, according to head coach Hugo van As.

Swak dissipline is FNB Tuks se grootste enkele tekortkoming en die rede waarom die Universiteit van Pretoria steeds na sy eerste Varsitybeker-sege van die 2010 seisoen soek, meen Blikkies Groenewald, tegniese direkteur van TuksRugby.

Six Nations hurries along and Super 14 bursts out. It is a hectic time. And then Portugal play Georgia, perhaps their last hope of qualifying for New Zealand. Match officials a rushing hither and thither.

The South African Under-20 team containing 14 changes will line-up to take on a French Selection XV in an international friendly in Paris on Tuesday.

UCT vice-captain Stu Commins was understandably elated with his side's 18-11 Varsity Cup win over Pukke on Monday, but he believes it is all a step in the right direction in terms of maintaining the necessary consistency required to win this tough tournament.

The Steinhoff Tornadoes opened their 2010 pre-season with a win against Magic Lions.

Anders as wat die geval na verlede week se wedstryd teen die Universiteit van Kaapstad was, is die Shimlas breier Jaco Swanepoel vandeesweek baie tevrede met sy span se vertoning teen NMMU.

FNB Maties remained in first place on the Varsity Cup log after yet another exciting Monday night's worth action - but UJ, Shimlas and UCT all made their presence felt at the top of the standings at the completion of Round Two.

SANZAR has made known the referees appointed to the first five rounds of the Super 14. They include Steve Walsh, making his comeback to refereeing as an Australian referee.

Connoisseurs of the game should not be disheartened by the many penalties awarded in the first round of the 2010 Varsity Cup.

UCT head coach John Dobson has elected to move two of his Stormers squad members - who started against Shimlas last week - onto the bench for this afternoon's Varsity Cup clash with NWU-Pukke at Groote Schuur's Green Mile (kick-off 4.30pm, live on SS1).

The fixtures for the 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships have been announced; with eight university residences once again set to fight it out for the title of South Africa's best koshuis team!

FNB Maties romped to an emphatic 62-0 Varsity Cup win over an outclassed TUT Vikings outfit at Stellenbosch's Danie Craven Stadium on Monday evening.

FNB Shimlas recorded their first victory in the 2010 Varsity Cup when they smashed NMMU 54-5 in Bloemfontein on Monday evening.

It took a last-minute penalty by UJ flyhalf Andre Smith to tie up the scores at 34-34, as nine tries and a see-sawing scoreline by Tukkies and UJ did the 2010 Varsity Cup competition full justice at Tukkies Athletics Stadium on Monday night.

The Ikey Tigers beat NWU-Pukke 18-11 in a hard-fought and very physical Varsity Cup match in Cape Town on Monday.

We give some statistics from the matches in the first round of the Six nations - tight matches rather than matches of creativity and adventure.

Three teams have made late changes to their 23-man matchday squads ahead of today's Round Two Varsity Cup clashes - the most notable being that of FNB UJ who have drafted in star fullback Earl Lewis from the bench.

Russia's victory over Portugal in the European Nations Cup, edges them closer to a first appearance at the final round of the Rugby World Cup, this time in New Zealand in 2011.

We tracked down in-form Pukke scrumhalf Andries Mahoney to find out more about the man who scored a hat-trick of tries against Tukkies last Monday.

The NMMU Madibas will make the trip to Bloemfontein to face up to the Shimlas on Monday, knowing full well that they have a tough ask in countering the physical Free Staters - especially at the breakdown.

Great ceremonies but not great rugby marked the start of the Six Nations for 2010. Perhaps the most significant result of the weekend was Russia's victory over Portugal making the Russian participation in the World Cup in 2011 likely rather than possible.

History or statistics may well not win matches, but the superstitious amongst us will nevertheless insist that UJ has a distinct psychological advantage over Tuks even before these two neighbouring universities' actual clash on Monday.

FNB Maties, the back-to-back Varsity Cup champions, defended their Premier League title at the Castle Cape Town Tens, beating Hamilton's 19-12 in a physical final on Sunday.

The Danie Craven Stadium in beautiful Stellenbosch, home of the FNB Maties, has one of the most scenic settings in world rugby.

The Nadoes have - over the years - scouted far and wide for talent, but how lucky for them when they came across Damion 'Dutchie' Stander standing aside the training field with a beer in hand one day...

The second round of the 2010 Varsity Cup gets underway this Monday and two matches - in particular - will be worth keeping an eye on.

TUT have named their side to take on the 'Blue Bulls-esque' Maties next Monday, according to Vikings assistant coach Jimmy Watt

Much has been made of the emphasis on the tackler's obligation to release the tackled player. For many it is seen as a new law. But is it.

Justin van Staden will replace injured left-wing Aaron Denenga in the FNB Tuks starting line-up for Monday's Varsity Cup meeting with FNB UJ in Pretoria.

Pukke have announced two changes to their starting line-up for Monday's mouth-watering Varsity Cup match-up against the Ikey Tigers in Cape Town.

Die twee klipharde opwarmwedstryde teen die SWD Arende kan FNB Tuks van groot waarde in hul Varsitybeker-kragmeting teen FNB UJ wees.

A winning Varsity Cup team deserves a full vote of confidence, according to FNB UJ head coach Hugo van As.

Ons moes gewen het, eerder as om gelykop te speel. So se Jaco Swanepoel, afrigter van die Shimlas oor Maandag.

FNB NMMU head coach Kolie Brandt has juggled his team's loose trio ahead of Monday's Varsity Cup clash against FNB Shimlas at Xerox Shimlas Park (kick-off 6.30pm).

The strict application of law in four key areas has seen a decline in the number of reset scrums and kicks in general play, as well as an increase in tries - according to Andre Watson, SA Rugby's Manager of Referees.

Experienced utility back Pete Haw has been named on the left-wing for the Ikey Tigers for Monday afternoon's Varsity Cup grudge match against FNB NWU-Pukke at the Green Mile in Cape Town.

FNB Shimlas head coach Jaco Swanepoel has named an unchanged matchday 23 for Monday's Varsity Cup game against NMMU in Bloemfontein.

Maties boss Chean Roux has - as promised - re-jigged his forwards pack ahead of his team's Varsity Cup meeting with FNB TUT in Stellenbosch on Monday evening (kick-off 7.30pm).

With just over 100 days to go until the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy 2010 kicks off, the International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced the Pools and Match Schedule for the key age grade tournament at a launch in Moscow.

The European Nations Cup - "Six Nations B" - is played over two years, and this is the second year. There is a lot at stake for the six sides.

Andre Watson, South Africa's manager of referees and the leading referee in the world at one stage, has come to the defence of the application of the law which stresses the release of the tackled player by the tackler. He has done so in the face of media queries after the first round of the Varsity Cup.

The FNB Maties will once again be without injured skipper Cameron Peverett when they host the TUT Vikings in a Round Two Varsity Cup fixture in Stellenbosch.

Whilst praising the Varsity Cup for helping Eastern Cape rugby, NMMU coach Kolie Brandt believes South African rugby has a responsibility to do more to promote rugby in the region.

Scrumhalf Lohan Jacobs and flank Lean Schwartz said on Wednesday that the players selected for the SA U20 squad will be aiming to impress the national selectors with outstanding performances during their two week tour to France.

Injuries will force Tuks head coach Freddie Grobler to include at least three new faces in his starting line-up for Monday's Varsity Cup match against UJ.

Jimmy Watt believes the TUT Vikings lost their 2010 Varsity Cup opener in the first 15 minutes - when half-hearted defence led directly to two soft tries for FNB UJ.

John Dobson was disappointed with UCT's 30-30 draw against the Shimlas in Varsity Cup action this past Monday, but the Ikeys coach is already hard at work in a bid to rectify his team's errors ahead of next week.

At the National Referees' course at Newlands and the provincial Referees' course at Hartebeesthoek in January, scrumming dominated discussion of law application. Scrumming is one of the Big Four along with Tackle, Offside and Maul.

Injuries to flanker Warwick Tecklenberg and winger Aaron Denenga will force Tuks coach Freddie Grobler to change his starting line-up for next week's Varsity Cup meeting with UJ.

Ondanks 'n goeie 35-24-sege oor Tukkies in Maandagaand se Varsitybeker-wedstryd was die NWU-Pukke se breier nie heeltemal tevrede nie.

UCT's Orientation Week kicked-off last week and with the 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships - and the Varsity Cup - around the corner, the Nadoes saw this as a brilliant opportunity to raise awareness of these great tournaments.

The Australians are making a big fuss about the possible introduction of a two-referee system in Super Rugby, but it is a systems that has long been in use in South Africa.

Coach Hugo van As was satisfied with the result of UJ's opening Varsity Cup match against the FNB TUT Vikings, but not with the way in which his team executed their gameplan.

FNB UJ began their 2010 Varsity Cup campaign with a 28-14 bonus-point victory over TUT in Pretoria on Monday.

FNB Maties, the back-to-back Varsity Cup champions, started their 2010 campaign with a ruthless 68-20 victory over a spirited FNB NMMU team in Port Elizabeth on Monday.

The Six Nations breaks out this weekend and there are more than just the senior men's teams involved. There is also the second year of the European Nations Cup. Top referees are busy.

An injury-time penalty by Ikeys replacement Doug Mallett earned his side a 30-30 draw against FNB Shimlas in the opening match of the 2010 Varsity Cup in Port Elizabeth on Monday.

UWC were once again too strong for Fort Hare in their annual Varsity Cup curtain-raiser, with the Cape side winning 33-6 at a windy Xerox NMMU Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Monday afternoon.

Pukke showed they mean business in the 2010 Varsity Cup, after claiming a 35-24 victory over Tukkies on Monday evening.

Last year's finalists, Maties and Pukke, showed they mean business in the 2010 Varsity Cup; with both of them securing bonus point wins on Monday.

There were cup finals in Ireland and Japan, serious competitions in five of the six nations and warm-ups south of the equator. Portugal, who resume their FIRA-AER competition with the hope of World Cup qualification had a warm-up match against England Students.

To achieve a better (more entertaining) game SANZAR referees and assistant referees will be focussing on freeing up the ball and creating clarity around rulings at the tackle area and at scrum-time in this year's Super 14 competition.

The ultra-competitive 2010 Varsity Cup officially gets underway on Monday, but there will also be plenty of competition off the field thanks to SuperBru's Varsity Cup competition.

Maties prop Lourens Adriaanse will captain the defending champions in their Varsity Cup opener against NMMU on Monday - prompting the big man to suggest that the brains are, indeed, well and truly in the front row.

UWC and Fort Hare, who will be playing in a Varsity Cup curtain-raiser on Monday afternoon, have named their starting line-ups for what should be an entertaining match.

The Varsity Cup will break even more ground this year, with the 2010 tournament set to feature time-outs - an opportunity for the players to take in some liquid refreshments, but also to allow the coaches onto the field to chat to their players.

The factor of the unknown, as it the case with most the opening matches of the Varsity Cup, can be good or bad, according to FNB UJ head coach Hugo van As.

The experience of loose forward Emile Verster made him a logical choice as the FNB TUT Vikings' new captain for the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup competition presented by Steinhoff International.

It will be a special day in the Marais household on Monday when Wesleigh and Donnovan become the first siblings to represent Tuks in the FNB Varsity Cup competition presented by Steinhoff International.

Every now and again, usually before some important, high-profile tournament, the is talk about changing laws or emphasising some application of laws. This year, just when the Super 14 gets under way it is the Big Four, especially the tackle, especially what the tackler gets up to.

Monday's Varsity Cup double header fixtures at FNB Tuks' LC de Villiers Stadium have been moved to the adjacent Tukkies Athletics Stadium because of problems with the playing surface.

FNB Pukke, the losing finalists in last year's Varsity Cup, have picked a new-look side for Monday's tricky tournament opener against Tuks in Pretoria (kick-off 6.30pm).

The third installment of the Varsity Cup kicks-off at two venues this coming Monday (February 1); with double headers in Port Elizabeth and Pretoria set to get the South African rugby season off to a cracking start.

John Dobson has selected a very experienced starting line-up for UCT's Varsity Cup opener against Shimlas in Port Elizabeth this coming Monday.

FNB NMMU coach Kolie Brandt has selected his side for Monday's Varsity Cup opener against the defending champion Maties, with scrumhalf Lusu Booi leading his charges into battle.

FNB Maties have named a host of WP squad members in their starting line-up for Monday's Varsity Cup opener against NMMU.

FNB Tuks head coach Freddie Grobler has chosen 12 new 'caps' for his team's 2010 Varsity Cup opener against Pukke this Monday.

Five former Blue Bulls U19 players have been included in the TUT squad for their 2010 Varsity Cup opener against UJ.

New TUT Vikings captain - and loose forward - Emile Verster's playmaking skills are not his only attribute.

FNB UJ head coach Hugo van As has little doubt that he will field a 'stabilised team' against TUT when the teams clash in the opening round of the 2010 Varsity Cup.

Throughout the rugby world there are misgivings about citing and the consistency in citing. SANZAR is now taking steps to try to achieve greater consistency and to eliminate the ongoing suspicion that nationality leads to citing bias.

Madibas skipper and scrumhalf Lusu Booi is relishing the responsibility of leading his NMMU side in this year's Varsity Cup.

Nick Fenton-Wells will lead the Ikey Tigers in the 2010 Varsity Cup - an opportunity which he describes as a 'huge honour'.

Clinton de Klerk, UJ's new Varsity Cup captain, believes the highly-competitive nature of this tournament makes a game-by-game approach 'non-negotiable'.

Those who have been to Newlands for the two matches in the tri-series will have seen the referees, Jonathan Kaplan and Mark Lawrence, wearing bands around their heads, needing only a feather to look like Redskin braves.

The headline of this story could just be TUT's war-cry for the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

Met die uitsondering van vyf spelers, gaan die beste beskikbare Shimla-span Maandag die Universiteit van Kaapstad (UK) in die openingsronde van die 2010 FNB Varsitybeker aangebied deur Steinhoff International aandurf.

The special panel of referees for the Varsity Cup enjoyed a camp up at Hartebeesthoek recently to prepare them for the popular series. The referees for February have been appointed.

UJ head coach Hugo van As refuses to make any predictions ahead of his team's 2010 Varsity Cup campaign.

The referees for Round One of the 2010 Varsity Cup have been announced, with Ben Crouse set to officiate the first match of the third Varsity Cup tournament - between Shimlas and UCT in Port Elizabeth.

varsitycup.co.za caught up with new Varsity Cup Chairman Jurie Roux to find out more about him as a person... and also about his plans for the 2010 tournament and beyond.

Skroef Fourie is no doubt still the taste of Bastion - after his penalty goal in last year's Steinhoff Koshuis Final at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) helped his team into the 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby championships.

Vishuis will represent Shimlas at the 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships - no doubt hoping to emulate Huis Armentum's dominance of this competition of last season.

Steinhoff Dagbreek will take over from Majuba as Stellenbosch's representatives in the 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby championships.

SANZAR coaches and referees have accepted joint responsibility at the tackle and the scrums in order to produce a faster, more attractive game.

Maroela will return to the Steinhoff Koshuisrugby championships this year as Tukkies' representatives.

Coach John Dobson declared himself 'satisfied' with UCT's final hit-out against Boland on Monday evening - despite the double Varsity Cup semifinalists going down 12-14 at the Green Mile.

In just the second rugby Test between the two countries Russia smashed Namibia 30-15 in the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek, through there was only one try's difference between the two teams.

During the SA Referees course at Newlands, attended by the top 11 referees in South Africa plus the people who assess them and the people who select them, applying laws to the Big Four were discussed - the Tackle, the Scrum, Offside and the Maul & Obstruction.

Time flies. The first month of the new year is at an end after two hectic weekends of European action and the SANZAR teams are preparing for battle which commences next month. And referees on high alert.

We caught up with new Stormers coaches Matt Proudfoot and Robbie Fleck to find out how the Varsity Cup benefited - and fast-tracked - their respective coaching careers!

FNB TUT Vikings forwards coach Jimmy Watt is confident that his charges are better prepared for the 2010 Varsity Cup than they were for last year's tournament - where they had the dubious honour of collecting the Wooden Spoon.

rugby365.com columnist Keith Moore pays his tribute to the voice of rugby, Bill McLaren.

No, not the referee. For the second time this season in the UK, there has been a case of 16 men playing for the same team for a brief while during a match.

After this crunch weekend, the European Rugby Cup is able to produce the quarterfinalists for both the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup.

With the 2010 Varsity Cup just over a week away now, we introduce the eight players that will be captaining their respective universities this coming season.

Centre Jamie Roberts scored two of the Cardiff Blues' seven tries on Sunday afternoon as they recorded an impressive 45-20 victory over Harlequins, booking themselves a place in the Amlin Challenge Cup.

Sale Sharks threatened to ruin the party for Toulouse but in the end, thanks to a 19-13 win away from home at Edgeley Park, the French giants secured themselves a home Heineken Cup quarterfinal draw.

They were made to work for it but eventually, with a strong second half performance, Biarritz stormed to a 41-20 win over Glasgow in their Heineken Cup, Pool Two, clash on Sunday - securing themselves a home quarterfinal spot.

A hat-trick of tries from Fijian flank Akapusi Qera helped Gloucester end their Heineken Cup campaign on a high in Wales - recording a 32-23 victory over the Dragons in their Pool Two clash on Sunday afternoon.

FNB Tukkies lost 10-36 to Currie Cup side, the Eagles, in a Varsity Cup pre-season clash in George on Friday.

Last year's Varsity Cup finalists, FNB Pukke, claimed a 40-36 pre-season victory over the Griffons in Welkom on Saturday evening.

Munster have qualified as top seeds for the 2009/10 Heineken Cup quarter-finals and will face Northampton Saints in a rematch of Round 6 battle

It was 'mission accomplished' for FNB Maties head coach Chean Roux - despite the students losing 26-59 to a WP Invitation XV at Newlands on Saturday.

A red card for Bath lock Danny Grewcock cost the English side dearly on Saturday night - with Steve Meehan's men struggling to stay with Ulster in their Heineken Cup encounter at the Recreation Ground, going down 28-10 in the end.

The Pumas scored a convincing 35-12 win over UJ in a lively Varsity Cup pre-season encounter in Witbank on Friday night.

An unbelievably dramatic finish to Saturday's Round Six, Pool Six, clash between Leinster and London Irish saw the two teams draw, 11-all, and the Exiles knocked out of the 2009/10 Heineken Cup.

Edinburgh ended off their 2009/10 Heineken Cup campaign with a hard-fought 9-7 victory over Stade Francais at Murrayfield on Saturday afternoon.

Clermont secured their spot at the top of Pool Three with a bonus point win over Viadana in Italy on Saturday afternoon, running in eight tries to record a 59-20 victory.

A simply brilliant Heineken Cup Pool Six match at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday afternoon saw the Ospreys record a dramatic 17-12 win over Leicester and secure themselves a spot in the quarterfinals of the European competition.

The Scarlets got the job done in Brive on Saturday night, recording a tight 20-17 victory over the Top 14 team in their Round Six, Pool Six, Heineken Cup clash.

British and Irish Lions duo Stephen Jones and Matthew Rees return to the Scarlets squad this weekend, as the region faces Brive this Saturday in the final round of its pool six games in the Heineken Cup.

Two of the most exciting wings in England return to action for London Irish just in time for their must-win Heineken Cup, Pool Six clash with Leinster at Twickenham.

Recalled French star Mathieu Bastareaud has been named on the benchs for Stade Francais big Heineken Cup clash with Edinburgh this Saturday.

Bath have named a strong lineup for Saturday's Heineken Cup Cup clash with Ulster - reaffirming their determination not to finish their European campaign without a win.

James Hook has a chance to stake a claim for a starting spot in Warren Gatland?s Six Nations side after being named at inside center for the Ospreys in their must win encounter with Leicester at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.

Clermont head to Italy needing, expecting and determined to get a five point haul against Viadana.

With the 2010 Varsity Cup a little over a week away, the NWU-Pukke - the losing finalists in 2009 - will play their one and only practice match on Saturday.

Perpignan have named a far more first-choice looking side for this weekend 'revenge-seeking' Heineken Cup clash with Treviso at the Stade Aime Giral.

As they prepare for the European Nations Cup and a possible place in the Rugby World Cup, Russia have been spending their time in Southern Africa, mostly in Pretoria but this weekend they go west to play Namibia in the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek on Saturday afternoon.

FNB Maties coach Chean Roux will be using tomorrow's friendly against a WP XV as a 'final trial' for his squad ahead of the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

The high-flying Nadoes have bolstered their squad for the upcoming 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships with a few mean and fit looking players, but none meaner than Brennan Kevin Wright.

With the Varsity Cup set to employ 23-man playing squads in the 2010 season, they will also be working hand-in-hand with South Africa's referees - off the field - in order to establish a strong working relationship.

We have seen what the referees watch and who watches the referee. What happens after that?

South Africa's top eleven referees plus assessors, TMOs and selectors met at Newlands in Cape Town for two days at the end of last week.

'We're ready' - that's the mantra coming out of Northampton this week as they prepare to take on Munster in a must win Heineken Cup clash at Thomond Park on Friday night.

With the 2010 Varsity Cup less than two weeks away now, we caught up with the eight head coaches of South Africa's top rugby universities to find out more about their pre-season training, their ambitions and the law experiments this season...

The Varsity Cup has never been scared of experimentation. From setting the trends off the field with a unique marketing strategy, to taking over Monday nights for two months of the year and, more crucially, allowing the use of the much talked about white card in the 2008 final.

Test referees Jonathan Kaplan, Marius Jonker, Mark Lawrence and Craig Joubert, and the rest of the members of the SA referees? National Panel received their BokSmart certification after attending one of the National Rugby Safety Programmes? courses in Cape Town last week.

The USA Rugby Referees National Panel Development Group announced today the introduction of an unique approach to evaluating and developing referees called The GAME System.

Die Tuks-slot Erich 'Perd' van der Westhuizen sal ses maande nie kan rugby speeel nie, nadat hy sy heup in die opwarmwedstryd teen Rusland - verlede week - ontrwig het.

Former UCT fullback James Richards has been elected as the new captain of Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club.

The 2010 Steinhoff Koshuis Championships is just around the corner and UCT's Nadoes - a legendary team which was first started in the late 1990s - are hoping to make the Cape Town university's presence felt this coming season!

Today's proposed pre-season friendly between UCT's Varsity Cup squad and WP's Vodacom Cup team has been called off.

The Varsity Cup will embark on a campaign this coming season to help players and supporters become even prouder of their country, in what is shaping up as a massive sporting year in South Africa.

With the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International set to employ 23-man playing squads in the 2010 season, as part of an experimentation with SA Rugby, the country's top student rugby tournament will also be working hand-in-hand with South Africa's referees - off the field - in order to establish a strong working relationship.

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes - Who will guard the guards. Ancient Roman Juvenal asked the question and he was not even thinking about rugby referees, but it is a question often asked in a rugby context - who is going to referee the referees?

Maties centre Juan de Jongh, the first Bok Varsity Cup product, has paid tribute to the tournament for his rapid rise to rugby prominence.

Jaco Swanepoel, Shimlas-afrigter, hoop om na Dinsdag se oefeningswedstryd teen die Universiteit van Johannesburg (UJ) op Kroonstad meer antwoorde op 'n klompie vrae te kry.

Law changes have made clear how far the ball must travel at a quick throw-in from touch.

After the departure of coach John Williams, Namibia has appointed a new coach in Johan Diergaardt and he has chosen his first team for a Test against Russia in the Hage Geingob stadium in Windhoek on 23 January.

It is the crunch round of the European compositions this weekend and the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup reach the end of the pool stages and decide who is qualified for the knock-out stages.

The European competitions are reaching a stage when decisions will be made and there were surprises this weekend, including the massive defeat the Saints inflicted on Perpignan, the reigning champions of France.

Two double-headers - in Port Elizabeth and Pretoria - will help launch the 2010 Varsity Cup, as the third edition of this exciting student rugby tournament gets underway on Monday, February 1.

The third chapter of the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International will kick-off on Monday, February 1 and the organising committee and sponsors are urging the rugby public and various university supporters to 'Back your Boytjies' in 2010!

South African Referees is to experiment with the use of on-field referees as television match officials.

The Varsity Cup will be launching a big cancer awareness drive in 2010, with the introduction of the 'Pink Shorts' campaign in this year's tournament.

Leinster and Ireland star Brian O'Driscoll scored a try in the last minutes of the match to help the Irish Province earn a bonus-point from their 27-10 Heineken Cup victory over Brive on Saturday night.

Toulouse secured their qualification for the quarterfinals of the Heineken Cup this season with an impressive, bonus-point, 33-21 victory over Harlequins in France on Sunday evening.

A stunning second half display from the Northampton Saints saw them score four-tries and hammer an understrength Perpignan 34-0 at Franklin's Gardens to keep their Heineken Cup hopes very much alive.

Two tries each from flank Rob McCusker and centre Jonathan Davies helped the Scarlets to derail London Irish's Heineken Cup plans and record a 31-22 victory at the Parc y Scarlets on Sunday afternoon.

FNB Ikey Tigers head coach John Dobson was a happy man, despite his side's 3-21 loss to the Stormers in a lively pre-season encounter in Riebeek West on Saturday morning.

Leicester kept their hopes of a quarterfinal spot alive on Saturday with a comprehensive 47-8 win over Viadana at Welford Road.

Two tries from right wing Julien Arias helped Stade Francais to record a vital 15-13 victory over Bath in Paris on Saturday afternoon in their Heineken Cup Pool Four clash.

Bryan Redpath's Gloucester brought Biarritz's unbeaten Heineken Cup run to a crashing end on Saturday with the Cherry and Whites recording an impressive 23-8 win over the Pool Two high-flyers.

Star flyhalf Brock James scored 17 points for Clermont Auvergne on Saturday evening as they recorded a hard-fought, but impressive, 27-7 victory over the Ospreys in their crucial Heineken Cup, Pool Three, clash.

The Cardiff Blues produced a strong display on Saturday afternoon to record a good 36-19 win over the Sale Sharks in their Heineken Cup encounter at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Munster were full of running on Saturday night, outclassing Treviso 44-7 in their Heineken Cup Pool One clash in Italy and, as a result, have kept themselves in pole position for a spot in the Heineken Cup quarterfinals.

Stade Francais have named Scotland fullback Hugo Southwell at scrumhalf, alongside flyhalf Ignacio Mieres, for this weekend's Heineken Cup clash with Bath in Paris.

Cardiff Blues take on Sale Sharks in the Heineken Cup with both teams needing a win to have a chance of progressing to the quarter-final stages.

FNB NMMU head coach Kolie Brandt is hoping that the notorious Port Elizabeth wind dies down before the opening day of Varsity Cup action in PE on Monday, February 1.

Ospreys Head Coach Sean Holley knows very well how stiff a test a trip to Clermont is, labeling his sides opponents this weekend as 'one of the leading sides in Europe.'

Shane Horgan will become the first Leinster player to reach the 75 Heineken Cup appearance landmark and the wing is named in a back-line which features six Ireland internationals for the visit of the French side.

FNB UCT head coach John Dobson has announced a strong team - including a host of new faces - for Saturday's pre-season friendly clash against the Stormers in Riebeek West.

Verlede jaar moes Jaco Swanepoel, hoofafrigter van FNB Shimlas, toesien hoe 'n swak begin sy span se aanslag op die FNB Varsitybeker, aangebied deur Steinhoff International, in die wiele ry. Vanjaar is die breier van die Kovsies vasbeslote om nie daardie fout te herhaal nie.

Sam Vesty makes his first starting appearance of the season for Leicester Tigers in Saturday's Heineken Cup tie against Viadana at Welford Road.

South African referees expect to see fewer reset scrums as a result of more accurate applications of the scrummaging laws this season, said SA Referees manager Andre Watson on Friday.

Head Coach Bryan Redpath makes four changes to his Gloucester Rugby starting line up as his side return to Heineken Cup action with Biarritz the visitors to Kingsholm on Saturday.

The International Rugby Board has announced the names of the 12 referees to officiate at the Junior World Rugby Trophy to be held in Moscow on 18-30 May 2010.

NWU-Pukke se hoofafrigter, Rudy Joubert, hoop dat sy nuwelinge sal opmaak vir die verliese wat die Potchefstroomse Varsitybekerspan in die afseisoen gely het.

FNB Tuks' 2010 pre-season preparations are in full swing, with the double Varsity Cup semifinalists already playing two warm-up matches at the LC de Villiers Stadium on Wednesday night.

Ed Morrison, the Head of Elite Referees' Development in England, spoke recently about English refereeing in to top divisions, following the accusations of incompetence levelled at them by Brendan Venter, the Saracens' coach.

The University of Cape Town will get their 2010 Varsity Cup preparations underway when they take on the Stormers in a warm-up match in Riebeek West this Saturday (kick-off 10am).

Back-to-back Varsity Cup champions, FNB Maties, will be playing just one warm-up match ahead of the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International - against Super 14 side, the Stormers.

An even greater emphasis on pre-season training that saw teams train until December 18 and restart this year, will ensure the 2010 Varsity Cup will start off on February 1 at an even higher standard than last year.

Ikey Tigers head coach John Dobson has returned from his coaching sojourn in Italy wiser, but also hungrier for success ahead of the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

The International Rugby Board has produced a slightly changed protocol for the technical zone, the area where non-playing team officials must be if they are within the playing enclosure.

England have announced their revised Under-20 Elite Player Squad for this season's major tournaments.

A friend asked on Friday how many things a referee has to watch in a match, and it seemed a good idea to find out.

European matches break out again for the top sides - Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup with lots of referees hoping that the weather will improve.

Sin novedad. There is nothing much to report as the weather took over so much of the weekend's rugby as England completed with the North Pole for cold. Not even sunny Spain got off scot free. Japan got through it all.

The Tigers moved to the top of the 2009/10 Guinness Premiership table after yet another powerful scrummaging display from the defending champions helped them to a superb 34-8 bonus point win over Wasps at a cold Welford Road on Saturday. All your GP news...

Bouncing back from their recent double defeat to Glasgow Warriors, two-try Edinburgh got the better of Cardiff Blues by 21-12 at Murrayfield on Saturday - in the only Magners League match to survive the severe cold snap this weekend.

Outstanding England and B&I Lions forward Tom Croft has been named on the Leicester Tigers bench for Saturday's Guinness Premiership tussle with old foes London Wasps at Welford Road. Irish v Warriors match called off | Snow rest for the wicked...

Munster head coach Tony McGahan has named a powerful starting line-up for Sunday evening's Magners League clash against the Llanelli Scarlets, with B&I Lions prop John Hayes the only regular missing from the Irish team's matchday squad.

London Irish head coach Toby Booth has made six changes - one of which is positional - to his side's starting line-up for Saturday's Guinness Premiership clash against the Worcester Warriors at Sixways (kick-off 2pm).

The Cardiff Blues travel to Scotland on Saturday to take on Edinburgh in the Magners League knowing that they must get some points if they are to have a chance of finishing in a play-off spot this season.

Leinster and Glasgow have been given the all-clear for this weekend's clash in Dublin - a huge top-of-the-table Magners League fixture set to take place at the RDS.

The European Cup (ERC) has announced the referees for the final two rounds of pool matches in the 2009-10 Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup.

With unsafe stadium conditions forcing all of Friday night's matches to be cancelled, we had just two Magners League encounters remaining on the schedule for us to look forward to this coming weekend - one on Saturday and one on Sunday. One of those matches, however, was also called off at the 11th hour.

The torrid weather in the United Kingdom has wreaked havoc with this weekend's Guinness Premiership fixture list with four of the six scheduled matches having been cancelled because of safety concerns.

It's the new year in the frozen north and the sweltering south. There is much celebrating and in the north there is also some rugby, and so some incidents to discuss. The incidents are from two matches in England's Premiership - Sale Sharks against Harlequins in Manchester and London Wasps against Newcastle Falcons. But first there is a matter of balls.

Newcastle claimed their first ever win at Adams Park and got 2010 off to the best possible start with a scrappy, but well-earned, 12-6 win over London Wasps in their Guinness Premiership clash on Sunday evening.

Already the new year is into its second week and as the season turns the bend matches became more important for both the ambitious and the desperate. Pressure on referees increases. After this there are two more rounds of European competition.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Rugby Football Union voiced their great disappointment at the post-match comments made by Saracens head coach Brendan Venter about the referee in his sides Premiership defeat to Leicester.

Leicester handed Saracens their second defeat of the current Guinness Premiership season, and in as many weeks, with a hard fought 22-15 victory at Vicarage Road on Saturday afternoon.

Two first-half tries from Simon Danielli helped Ulster to record a much needed 15-10 win over Munster in their all-Irish clash at Ravenhill on Saturday evening.

Five penalties from flyhalf Nicky Little helped Bath edge out Leeds 20-15 in the Premiership?s basement-battle on Saturday afternoon at Headingley.

Enjoying their first win on Edinburgh soil since 2000, 22-15, Glasgow Warriors scored the only two tries in Saturday's 1872 Cup decider as they maintained their grip on the Magners League's top spot.

A late try from English second row David Attwood helped Gloucester to salvage a 13-all draw from their Guinness Premiership clash with the Worcester Warriors at Kingsholm on Saturday afternoon.

Northampton left it late but, as the final whistle sounded, the Saints were on the right side of the scoreline - edging out Premiership rivals 24-22 at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday thanks to a last minute try from Chris Ashton.

As we enter the new year, rugby365.com decided it is worth having a look back at some of the game's more insane moments - those little flare-ups that entertained us.

Since the 2007 World Cup nine of the top 10 countries have changed coaches, with New Zealand's Graham Henry the only leading mentor to retain his job. rugby365.com has decided to take a look at how all these new coaches have progressed.

Soane Tonga'uiha will become the latest Saints centurion when he runs out with his Northampton teammates on Saturday afternoon for their very important Round 12 game against London Irish.

The Ospreys, temporarily at least, moved to the top of the Magners League table on Friday night thanks to an impressive 26-0 derby victory over the Cardiff Blues at the Liberty Stadium.

After the glitz, glamour, record crowd and disappointment at the narrow defeat to Wasps at Twickenham last weekend, Quins head back up the M6 to face Sale for the third time in four weeks.

Gloucester Rugby Head Coach Bryan Redpath has responded to last Sunday's Guinness Premiership defeat at local rivals Bath Rugby by making five changes to his starting line up for the visit of the Worcester Warriors to Kingsholm on Saturday.

Munster coach Tony Mcgahan has made six changes, two of those positional, for the trip to Belfast on Saturday as the defending Magners League champions clash with Ulster at Ravenhill.

Louis Deacon returns to captain Leicester Tigers for the trip to face Guinness Premiership leaders Saracens at Vicarage Road on Saturday.

Leeds Carnegie have made two changes to the side that beat Newcastle Falcons for this Saturday's big Guinness Premiership clash with Bath at Headingley Carnegie.

Ospreys boss Scott Johnson says his team is focused on moving 'up to the next level' this weekend when they face Cardiff at the Liberty Stadium.

Wasn't the crowd at Twickenham wonderful on Sunday? Over 76 000 spectators a record for England's Premiership, getting close to what Stade Francais get at Stade de France. And it was a match that ended with great excitement, three tries in the last 12 minutes for a 21-20 result.

rugby365 has always been a fan of young talent and with the new year comes some new hopes - we pick out the five young stars from around the planet who we are expecting big things from in 2010. Tens join Cape Town Stadium Festival

The year has come and go. Fireworks are going off, people are singing and hugging, and 2010 is upon us. Soon, it too, will be gone with all its rush and with its thousands of rugby matches around the world, all refereed by somebody. We hope it is a happy New Year for all in rugby, including the match officials. Wouldn't it be wonderful if there were not one wrong decision, not one complaint!

London Irish fought back from 10-16 down at half-time to became the first Guinness Premiership side to beat Saracens this season - winning 23-19 at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday. Bath win at last! | Four-try Leicester triumph | Mallinder praises forwards

Bath Rugby bounced back to form in the Guinness Premiership with a determined 24-8 West Country Derby victory over Gloucester at The Recreation Ground on Sunday afternoon. Four-try Leicester Tigers triumph | Mallinder praises Saints forwards | News!

Scotland flyhalf Dan Parks - who has been in the news this week, with talk of a possible transfer to Cardiff - kicked Glasgow to a 25-12 Magners League win over Edinburgh at the Firhill Arena on Sunday. Munster power ahead | Leinster edge Ulster | More ML!

There's been more than enough on-and-off the field issues that kept the rugby world buzzing and we took a closer look at some of these issues and what we'd like to see in 2010. Other features: rugby365s Annual Awards and Matches of the Year...

London Wasps edged out Harlequins 21-20 in a thrilling Guinness Premiership encounter at Twickenham on Sunday.

Cardiff Blues smashed the Newport Gwent Dragons 42-13 in Magners League action at the Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday - despite the visitors holding a commanding 13-3 half-time lead.

England flanker Lewis Moody celebrated his first home outing as Leicester Tigers captain by scoring one of his team's four tries in their 32-6 Guinness Premiership win over Sale Sharks at Welford Road on Sunday.

Leeds Carnegie claimed a valuable 16-15 Guinness Premiership away win over Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park on Sunday - a victory that could, well, save their bacon come the end of the season.

Northampton Saints fullback Ben Foden produced two moments of individual brilliance to help his side record a welcome 26-6 Guinness Premiership win over Worcester Warriors at Sixways on Saturday. GP Preview: Round 11 | GP team news HERE! | Other news

Two tries from prop Paul James proved decisive as the Ospreys made it four wins in-a-row in all competitions with a 21-14 Magners League and Boxing Day Derby win over the Llanelli Scarlets on Saturday.

Two-times European champions, Munster, smashed Connacht 35-3 in their all-Ireland Magners League clash at Thomond Park on Boxing Day.

A star-studded Leinster team - with No.15 Rob Kearney leading the way - overpowered Ulster 15-3 in their all-Ireland Magners League Derby at the RDS on Saturday evening... Report: Munster maul Connacht | Ospreys also win | ML Preview: Round Nine...

We look back at some of the finest tries this past rugby year...

Sale Sharks Director of Rugby Kingsley Jones has - surprisingly - opted to rest his two England backs backs, Mathew Tait and Mark Cueto, for Sunday's Guinness Premiership trip to Welford Road. Cipriani back at No.10 | Crane demands intensity | More GP news

Enigmatic London Wasps and England flyhalf Danny Cipriani has been handed the ideal Christmas present - he will start in the No.10 shirt for Wasps in their Guinness Premiership clash against Harlequins on Sunday.

The Worcester Warriors' very own 'Pocket Rocket', inside centre Sam Tuitupou, has been named in the No.12 shirt for Saturday's Guinness Premiership match against the travelling Northampton Saints.

Veteran Ireland and B&I Lions flyhalf Ronan O'Gara will captain Munster in Saturday night's crucial Magners League match-up with fellow Irish team, Connacht, at Thomond Park.

Fit-again England fullback Delon Armitage has been restored to the London Irish starting line-up for Sunday's mouth-watering Guinness Premiership clash against Saracens at the Madejski Stadium.

The Scarlets have named their 22-man squad to face the Ospreys in the two teams' Magners League fixture on Boxing Day - in front of a sell-out crowd at Parc y Scarlets.

Powerhouse Cardiff Blues winger Tom James has recovered from his groin injury and has been named in the No.11 shirt for Sunday's Magners League clash with the Newport Gwent Dragons.

England's top teams head back into Guinness Premiership mode, after a brief Heineken Cup hiatus, with a host of mouth-watering fixtures on the cards this Boxing Day weekend... All your GP team news... right here | Preview: Magners League, Round Nine

Leinster coach Michael Cheika has unveiled a star-studded Leinster outfit for Saturday's Magners League meeting with Ulster at Dublin's RDS.

Gloucester Rugby have been handed a huge boost ahead of Sunday's West Country Derby clash against Bath Rugby, with All Blacks prop Greg Somerville named to start at No.3 in this crucial Guinness Premiership fixture at The Rec.