FNB Pukke head coach Rudy Joubert would like his team to chase history at the SAA National Club Championships when the tournament gets underway at Tukkies on Sunday.
The Tri-Nations ends this year. The final match will not affect any silverware but it will be no less competitive for that. New Zealand against Australia is tough stuff. This week Craig Joubert of South Africa will referee the match.
Varsity Cup finalists, FNB Pukke, claimed yet another Pirates Grand Challenge title - beating FNB UJ 42-26 in a hard-fought final in Alberton on Saturday.
Scotland flyhalf Dan Parks kicked fourteen points for the Warriors as they overcame the Scarlets 19-11 and remained unbeaten after two rounds of the new Magners League season.
They have it all. The Springboks have it all - World Cup, Lions series, Tri-Nations, Mandela Plate, Freedom Cup, the IRB Sevens Series - the lot. They are laden with silverware after their dramatic win in Hamilton on Saturday.
London Irish scored four tries on their way to thumping Gloucester 40-10 in a heated battle at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday afternoon - a game which saw six yellow cards dished out in total.
FNB UCT suffered a heart-breaking last-second loss to new WP Super League champions, Hamilton's, at the Green Mile on Saturday.
Newcastle had to settle for a second successive draw at the start of the new Guinness Premiership season as two late Lee Thomas penalties earned Sale a share of the spoils on a blustery day at Kingston Park.
A resurgent Tom Varndell scored two tries for the London Wasps on Saturday afternoon at the Recreation Ground help his side to a big victory; making it two wins in a row to start the new season for Tony Hanks' men.
New Zealand star Glen Jackson was the hero for Saracens once again on Saturday - kicking 14 points for the 'home' side as they recorded a 19-14 win over Northampton in the first-ever rugby match played on the Wembley turf.
Five penalties from new flyhalf Jeremy Staunton were enough for the Leicester Tigers to secure a tight 15-9 victory over Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop on Saturday afternoon.
South Africa played its sixth Tri-Nations match for 2009 and beat New Zealand in Hamilton, the first time the two teams have met in Hamilton. This victory meant that they added the Tri-Nations to the Freedom Cup, the Mandela Plate, the British & Irish Lions series and the World Cup for a full house that brought with it No.1 status in the world.
Young flyhalf Jonny Sexton scored 12 points for Leinster as they recorded their first win of the new season with a 23-14 victory overthe Newport-Gwent Dragons on Saturday evening.
Two tries from Scottish international Simon Danielli helped Ulster to a surprising 20-16 victory over the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday night - their first win of the new campaign.
A 'star-studded' Ospreys side will welcome a much changed Brian McLaughlin Ulster team to the Liberty Stadium this weekend for their second round Magners League clash.
Newcastle Falcons have made three changes for Sunday's Guinness Premiership visit of Sale Sharks to Kingston Park.
Answers to You Be The Ref - Aussie Places v African Tribes.
You be the Ref is back - a chance for each reader to test his/her knowledge of the laws of the game. After all, if you don't know the laws properly you cannot referee and if you don't know the laws properly, you cannot judge a referee.
The Ikey Tigers could do Varsity Cup rivals, FNB Maties, a huge favour when they play host to log leaders Hamilton's in WP Super League action at the Green Mile on Saturday afternoon.
Off-season recruit Willie Walker was the chief destroyer on Friday night, adding 17 points with his boot to help the Warriors to an important 27-7 victory over Leeds Carnegie at the Sixways Stadium.
Edinburgh ran in eight tries on Friday night on their way to overpowering a disappointing Connacht 62-13 at Murrayfield.
Munster recorded their first win of the new Magners League campaign on Friday night with a 24-13 win over the Cardiff Blues at Thomond Park.
Mike Ross, Shaun Berne and David Kearney will all make home debuts for Leinster this weekend as the Irish province welcome the Dragons to the RDS.
The 2009 UCT Steinhoff Internal League is heading towards a thrilling climax, with finals day - on Wednesday, September 23 - just a little over a week away now.
Springbok captain John Smit, the most-capped international skipper of all-time, a man with a mature head, has spoken up for referees.
The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) has dismissed an application by former referee Deon van Blommenstein based on ?unfair dismissal? after the South African Rugby Union removed him from the national panel of referees.
Spain's Division de Honor starts on 13 September. The last round of play-offs is on 18 May 2010. Back in the top league after 16 years' absence is Gernika of the Basque country.
rugby365 columnist John OConnor says this week the view reaches a level of whinging that is nearly supersonic, as we look at the superlative management of the game by the IRB (who couldn't arrange a sleepover in a morgue).
After an opening round full of surprises, the rugby365 team does their best to put the pieces together and preview the fast approaching second weekend of exciting Magners League action.
What an opening weekend of Guinness Premiership action! Thankfully though we don't have to wait too long for the next installment - rugby365 previews all this weekend's upcoming action.
Varsity Cup Managing Director Duitser Bosman was one of 14 Varsity Cup role-players set to depart for the USA on Thursday night as part of a fact-finding mission ahead of the 2010 tournament.
A very interesting last round of matches awaits the Shimlas players and supporters in the Kovsies Steinhoff Koshuisliga, with only Heimat being assured of a place in the final at this stage.
FNB Maties utility back Hayden Groepes will line up at fullback for the Boland Cavaliers this weekend - just one of a host of Stellenbosch stars tasked with getting the Wellington-based team's 2009 Currie Cup campaign back on track.
If ever it was true that tries win matches, it was on Tuesday, September 8 when Maroela retained Tuks' Steinhoff Winter House League Championships title.
Dave Stewart, versatile Springbok back of the 1960s, was recently interviewed by John Maytham of the radio station Cape Talk and spoke of his solution to the kicking plaguing rugby at present. He makes four pints.
Scarlets wing Sean Lamont is hoping to keep his strong start at his new team going this weekend as the Welsh region travel to take on Glasgow on Sunday evening.
Varsity Cup teams, FNB Pukke and FNB UJ, advanced to the final of the 2009 Pirates Grand Challenge with semifinal wins over Impala and Pirates, respectively, on Tuesday evening.
FNB Maties centre Paul Bosch has replaced his club mate Morgan Newman in the Western Province squad for Saturday's Currie Cup meeting with the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
FNB TUT have retained their Varsity Cup status ahead of next year's tournament, after their second-leg promotion/relegation fixture against UKZN was called off.
Ross Ford has been named amongst Edinburgh's replacements for Friday's Magners League match against Connacht at Murrayfield but his fellow British and Irish Lions tourist Mike Blair is rated doubtful after suffering from a throat infection.
A few years ago Welsh referees went on strike for better compensation. The Golden Lions referees did the same last weekend, but for better - safer and less abusive - refereeing conditions.
Both teams will be looking to bounce back after disappointing opening round defeats on Friday night as Dai Young's troops travel to Thomond Park to face the reigning Magners League champions, Munster.
England fullback Olly Morgan will make his first appearance of the season for Gloucester Rugby at the Madejski Stadium against London Irish on Sunday whilst centre Tim Molenaar is also set to make his full debut.
Leicester Tigers will welcome back two of their 2009 British and Irish Lions tourists, Harry Ellis and Tom Croft, for this Saturday's trip to the Stoop.
British and Irish Lions flank Joe Worsley will be back in action this weekend, making his first start of the new season for London Wasps as they travel to The Rec to take on Bath.
We here discuss some points of rugby law from incidents over the weekend, especially the award of the scrum after a kick is caught.
rugby365.com guest columnist Howard Kahn cannot understand why so much criticism has been directed at Springbok captain John Smit after South Africa's 6-21 defeat at the hands of Australia last weekend.
rugby365 columnist Jon Harris, himself once a master in the dark art of front row play, tells us why he is celebrating the return of the scrum as a major skill set.
The International Rugby Board has announced the dates, match schedule and pools for the IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina.
All 10 Saturday's Pirates Grand Challenge semifinal matches in the Golden Lions' leagues, from first team to Under-19 team level, did not take place due to protest action by the appointed referees.
With the 2009 rugby season coming to an end in some parts of South Africa, things are just starting to hot up in TUT's Steinhoff Koshuis League.
Die eerste spanne van Maroela en Onderstepoort raak op Dinsdag, September 8 slaags in die eindronde van die Winterhuisliga, wat deur Steinhoff gebrog word.
Nigel Owens of Wales has the big one this weekend at sold-out Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.
Heimat booked their place in the 2009 Kovsies Steinhoff Koshuisliga Final when they recorded a 22-10 win over Vishuis on Friday.
Australia came back in no uncertain terms when they walloped South Africa in Brisbane in Round 7 of the Tri-Nations. In the Celtic countries the Magners League started and in England the Premiership, both with surprises.
Varsity Cup outfit, FNB UCT, suffered a heavy 21-51 WP Super League defeat at the hands of NNK at the Jan Burger Stadium in Parow on Friday.
What a difference a week and a few changes, includsing one of attitude, make. After being beaten by more than the score suggested in Perth Auistralia beat South Africa by more than the score suggested in Brisbane.
All 10 Saturday's Pirates Grand Challenge semifinal matches in the Golden Lions' leagues, from first team to Under-19 team level, did not take place due to protest action by the appointed referees.
UCT's Varsity Cup skipper for the past two years, JJ Gagiano, will join up with Italian Super 10 club, The Roman Praetorians, on a two-month playing trial.
FNB Tuks loose forward Gerrit-Jan van Velze will captain the Blue Bulls Juniors in their Currie Cup Under-20 match against Western Province at Newlands on Saturday.
2009 Varsity Cup finalists, FNB Pukke, have named a powerful starting XV for Saturday's Pirates Grand Challenge semifinal meeting with Impala.
The Ikey Tigers, fresh off their 42-23 win over Villager's last week, will head into tonight's WP Super League clash against NNK hoping to make it four bonus point wins in a row.
It's official - a new champion will be crowned in the Kovsies Steinhoff Koshuisliga on Friday, September 18.
All the Results for the IRB Sevens 2008/09 Season
After producing and studying a multitude of statistics, we come to the final FNB Top 20 for 2009 with, unsurprisingly, Grey College on top.
BokSmart, SA Rugby?s National Rugby Safety Programme , is an initiative aimed at educating people for after rugby.
A rampant FNB Maties smashed NNK 72-18 on Saturday, but Hamilton's put one hand on the 2009 WP Super League trophy by beating Victorians - also at the weekend.
The table-topping FNB Pukke needed just 50 minutes to rack up a crushing 76-0 Grand Challenge win over Union on Friday night.
Magners League Table 2008/09
The Springboks' unhappy marriage with the International Rugby Board took an intriguing turn, as the South Africans have asked for an "explanation" about a string of puzzling rulings by New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence in their 32-25 Tri-Nations win over Australia.
FNB UJ suffered a last-gasp defeat at the hands of a fired-up Impala team in Rustenberg on Saturday.
FNB UCT recovered from a slow start to claim an impressive 42-23 win over Villager's in the Western Province Super League.
rugby365 columnist Jon Harris doffs his cap to Springbok coach Peter de Villiers and highlights why he thinks it is time for the PdV-bashers to hang their heads in shame.
The Tri-Nations moves across the width of Australia, from Perth to Brisbane. This time Wayne Barnes of England is the man in the middle.
South Africa ran through Australia in Perth to win the first of their three overseas matches and in the process became the first team in the 2009 Tri-Nations to get a four-try bonus point.. We give some statistics in this match with some accumulated stats. The big surprise was the suddenly big penalty count against South Africa.
South Africa won in Perth - that is the biggest result of the weekend. But also Kenya won the Elgon Cup with a bigger win in the first round.
Acting FNB UCT head coach Kevin Foote has announced a powerful starting line-up for Saturday's Southern Suburbs derby clash against Villager's.
FNB Maties head coach Chean Roux has selected veteran scrumhalf Henoe Stoffberg on the wing for Saturday's WP Super League clash against NNK.
FNB UJ head coach Hugo van As has rested a number of his first-choice players for Saturday's Pirates Grand Challenge clash against Impalas.
Wednesday night marked the end of the UJ Steinhoff Koshuis League's second round and Bastion again showed that they are the team to beat in this year's competition.
Another Varsity Cup star has been called up for Currie Cup duty - with UJ fullback Earl Lewis the latest player set to take the step up for the Xerox Lions.
Test referee Willie Roos has resigned from refereeing with immediate effect. This follows abuse he suffered in Kimberley after the Currie Cup match between Griqualand West and the Blue Bulls, which the Blue Bulls won 25-24.
FNB UCT claimed a clinical 67-7 WP Super League victory over Kraaifontein at the Green Mile on Wednesday night.
NWU-Pukke will begin the defence of their SAA National Club Championships title against Noordelikes.
FNB Pukke ensured that they would end the 2009 season on top of the Pirates Grand Challenge log, after smashing Roodepoort 66-16 on Wednesday.
In response to a request by the USA for clarity on the obligations of a player joining a ruck, the IRB has ruled that a player is required to bind on a team-mate if one is there or on an opponent if no team-mate is there.
De Kock Steenkamp, a member of the 2008 Varsity Cup-winning Maties team, has replaced injured Western Province lock Adriaan Fondse for Saturday's Currie Cup clash against the Sharks in Durban.
The 2008 Winter House League finalists, Maroela and Sonop, have both qualified for the 2009 Steinhoff Winter House semifinals which will take place at Tuks on Tuesday, September 1.
FNB UCT, who are currently without head coach John Dobson, face a tricky WP Super League encounter at the Green Mile on Wednesday night when they play host to Kraaifontein.
The big match was in Stellenbosch when a weakened Paul Roos side beat an even more weakened Grey College side by three kicks to one, Grey's first defeat since 2006.
Last week's action on the Green Mile was tough and physical, something we have come to expect from the 2009 UCT Steinhoff Internal League. Cobras and Marquard both put up big scores, whilst the other games went down to the wire.
The Suva Rugby Union have announced that the rugby unions of both Samoa and Tonga have accepted invitations to send 7s teams to the Suva Rugby Festival in January 2010.
Varsity Cup champions, FNB Maties, recorded a convincing 27-13 win over Hamilton's in WP Super League action on Friday.
The big focus of the rugby world this week will be on a match in Perth with Bryce Lawrence of New Zealand to referee it as the Tri-Nations sits on a knife edge.
FNB UCT bounced back from last weekend's home loss to 'Durbel' with a 34-17 bonus point win over Helderberg on Friday evening.
There was a one-point thriller in Sydney as the highlight of this weekend's results.
After a week's break the Tri-Nations resumed with a match in Sydney in which New Zealand beat Australia 19-18. We give some statistics in this match with some accumulated stats. Because of all the talk about kicking we give some statistics of kicking so far in the Tri-Nations..
Onderstepoort and Boekenhout go into the quarterfinals of Tuks' Steinhoff Winter House League as the overwhelming favourites for championships honours.
FNB Maties head coach Chean Roux has assembled a powerful starting line-up for Friday evening's top-of-the-table WP Super League clash at Hamilton's.
Former FNB UCT star Pieter Engelbrecht will return to Newlands as a Lions player in this weekend's Currie Cup match between Western Province and the Golden Lions.
In the last round of the Women's Nations Cup played in Ontario, Canada, England defeated South Africa 25-0 and won a bonus point, so remaining undefeated. England will retain the title they won in 2008.
A host of Varsity Cup stars from Stellenbosch and UCT have once again been named in the Western Province Under-21 team for Saturday's Currie Cup clash against the Lions at Newlands.
FNB TUT claimed a crushing 55-27 win over the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Tshwane on Wednesday evening - a result that puts them in pole position in terms of staying in the Varsity Cup competition next year.
The Leopards have included star FNB Pukke flyhalf Cecil Dumond in their team for Friday's Currie Cup fixture against the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
It is Week Nine in the UJ Steinhoff Koshuis League and we can, again, expect fireworks in Johannesburg tonight when Afslaan face Oppierif and Dromedaris meet Kanniedood in first division action.
Star FNB UCT forwards, Michael Passaportis and Enoch Panya, have been snapped up by the Mighty Elephants for the remainder of the 2009 Currie Cup First Division season.
The International Rugby Board has taken a leaf out of the French book in an effort to counter the problem of uncontested scrums, which are sometimes used as a tactic by teams whose scrum, is in trouble.
'n Drie in die doodsnikke Vrydagaand deur Francois Crous (binnesenter) het Heimat 'n 24-23 Steinhoff Koshuisliga sege oor Armentum besorg.
UCT's Internal League - brought to you by Steinhoff International - will once again be on display this week in what will most likely be another wet and muddy affair.
One thing is now abundantly clear - Grey College are far and away the Number 1 school in the FNB Top 20. The other 19 are probably all pretty close, one able to beat the other on any given day, but Grey are exceptional.
Onderstepoort and Boekenhout are still the two teams to beat in Tuks' Winter Hostel League, sponsored by Steinhoff International.
There is Tri-Nations action again this weekend with Jonathan Kaplan in action in Sydney. The Women's Nations Cup comes to an end in Ontario. The two great North Island teams meet in a Ranfurly Shield match.
Dromedaris and Bastion played quality rugby on Wednesday night in UJ's Steinhoff Koshuis League, with both sides recording huge victories - Dromedaris won 26-5 against Afslaan and Bastion beat Oppierif 41-0.
The fixtures for the 2010 Varsity Cup have been announced, with two double headers set to open the third-ever Varsity Cup tournament on Monday, February 1.
Double Varsity Cup winners, FNB Maties, showed their class with a convincing 36-15 win over SK Walmers in WP Super League action at the weekend.
FNB TUT coach Jimmy Watt is hoping that his team's form in the recently-completed Carlton Cup will be enough to help them qualify for the 2010 Varsity Cup competition.
At the end of the match between the Blue Bulls and Griquas in Kimberley, the referee, Willie Roos, became the object of a spectator's wrath - apparently - after the Blue Bulls won the match 25-24 in the last minute.
Kenya and Uganda share a mountain and have a cup named after it, the CAR Under-19 tournament ended and the Women's Nations Cup played itself out. In France the mighty Top 14 got going.
An under-strength Ikey Tigers team suffered a shock 18-25 WP Super League loss to 'Durbel' at Groote Schuur on Saturday.
A host of Maties and UCT Varsity Cup stars have been named in the Western Province Under-21 team for Saturday's clash against Boland in Wellington.
Varsity Cup semifinalists, FNB Tukkies, narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 2009 National Club Championships - meaning just two Varsity Cup teams, Pukke and Shimlas, have made it into the Club Champs.
Aksie in Kovsies se rugby-koshuisliga is nou vuurwarm en het ook baie aansien gekry met die universiteit se spelers wat nou vir hul Steinhoff Koshuisspanne in aksie is.
The new semester's Steinhoff Internal League action got underway at UCT last week with several big encounters and some great rugby.
Varsity Cup-winning FNB Maties outside back, JJ Engelbrecht, has been named on the Western Province bench for Saturday's Currie Cup clash against the Boland Cavaliers in Wellington.
In the Final of the Confederation of African Rugby's Under-19 tournament in Nairobi Zimbabwe smashed Namibia to qualify for nest year's International Rugby Board's Junior World Rugby Trophy (JWRT).
Former Varsity Cup star Mathew Turner has been named in the invitational Help for Heroes squad ahead of Saturday's season-opening Middlesex Sevens tournament at Twickenham in London.
The International Rugby Board has a committee, referred to as Designated Members, whose task it is to keep an eye on the Laws of the Game, the IRB's basic task. From time to time the Designated Members give rulings on aspects of the law which may not be clear. These rulings are requested by national bodies.
The number of matches is shrinking fast but still both the Greys, Glenwood, Waterkloof, Outeniqua, Selborne Die Brandwag, Bishops, Die Brandwag, AHS Kroonstad, Boland Landbou, Dr EG Jansen, Drostdy, Goudveld, Ben Vorster, Centurion, and Framesby were all in action.
On the opening day of the Women?s Nations Cup at Appleby College in Ontario, Canada, South Africa, not one of the powers in women's rugby, surprised France who managed only a last-gasp 17-all draw while England cruised home 36-7 against the USA.
We profile Hoerskool Noord-Kaap of Kimberley.
Kenya and Uganda share a mountain and have a cup named after it, the CAR Under-19 tournament ends and the Women's Nations Cup starts.
rugby365 editor Jan de Koning feels it is time to 'cite' the citing officials for their grossly inconsistent behaviour, following the ludicrous decision not to take any further action against Wallaby flyhalf Matt Giteau.
Heimat het met sy sege Donderdagaand oor Vishuis 'n ondubbelsinnige boodskap aan die ander rugbyspanne in die Kovsies' Steinhoff Koshuisliga gestuur.
The big result was at Newlands as South Africa completed a hat-trick of home Tri-Nations victories.
UJ fullback Earl Lewis scored another hat-trick of tries as the SA Universities recorded a 59-3 win over the Collegiate All-American team in a Tri-Nations curtain-raiser at Newlands on Saturday afternoon.
South Africa played Australia at Newlands and won 29-17 in a Tri-Nations match. We give some statistics in this match.
Brendan Venter's Saracens were well tested by UCT's Ikey Tigers in a pre-season clash at the Green Mile on Friday evening.
Saracens head coach Brendan Venter has selected a powerful starting line-up for his team's friendly match against UCT at Groote Schuur on Friday night - a team that includes current England captain Steve Borthwick.
The University of Cape Town RFC, aka the FNB Ikey Tigers, were Friday censured by the Varsity Cup for their failure to take part in the 2009 USSA Rugby Week, which was recently held at the University of Johannesburg.
Chean Roux, the SA Universities' head coach, has made six changes to his team's starting line-up for Saturday's second clash against the Collegiate All-Americans at Newlands.
Onderstepoort remains new firm favourites to claim championships honours in Tuks' 2009 Winter Hostel League - sponsored by Steinhoff International.
Afslaan managed a convincing win over Kanniedood in Monday night's Steinhoff Koshuis League action at the University of Johannesburg, while the boys from Bastion remained undefeated in the first division.
The Ikey Tigers bounced back from last week's loss to SK Walmers by claiming a well-deserved 33-20 WP Super League victory over a tough Victorians team in Stellenbosch on Wednesday evening.
It has been eight years since a non-university team won the National Club Championships, but the open teams are determined to beat the Varsity Cup teams to the silverware in 2009.
UJ fullback Earl Lewis scored a hat-trick of tries as the SA Universities romped to a 72-14 victory over a committed Collegiate All-Americans team at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Wednesday evening.
This week John OConnor's view takes in the two Tri-Nations tests between South Africa and the Land of the Wrong White Crowd, and includes a valiant attempt at perspective ? very difficult to do when you are bouncing up and down on the couch like a kid who has seen Christmas.
A mouth-watering top-of-the-log clash will kick-start this weekend's action in the Kovsies' Steinhoff Koshuisliga.
Former Maties scrumhalf Neil de Kock will return to Cape Town - and the Green Mile - this Friday night eager to resume hostilities against the Ikey Tigers; only this time in the colours of top English Premiership club, Saracens.
The South African Schools team on Tuesday comprehensively outclassed their Italy Schools opponents 86-3 at the GWK Park in Kimberley.
The SA Universities team has been forced into some late changes - one in the starting XV and a further two on the bench - ahead of Wednesday evening's match against the Collegiate All-Americans in Stellenbosch (kick-off 9pm).
Pukke No.8 Willem van der Wal will captain the SA Universities team in their two matches against the Collegiate All-Americans - this coming Wednesday and Saturday.
rugby365 editor Jan de Koning goes back into the archives to find a team that compares with John Smit's class of 2009. He has to go back a few decades to find it.
There were some big matches this weekend. In Pretoria Glenwood played Affies, in Bloemfontein the two Greys met, Goudveld in Welkom and in Paarl there was that Interschools to beat all Interschools. The results of these matches have had a great effect on our FNB Top 20 for this week.
2009 Varsity Cup finalists, FNB Pukke, claimed another Intervarsity win over FNB Shimlas; winning 20-6 at Olen Park on Saturday.
Die vonke gaan spat in die Steinhoff Koshuisliga by UJ wanneer die manne van Bastion, huidige voorlopers in die kompetisie, weer vanaand kragte meet met Dromedaris.
A third consecutive Carlton Cup Final for FNB Tukkies, but alas no clean sweep on the cards like in 2008.
The Ikey Tigers suffered a disappointing 11-16 WP Super League loss to SK Walmers on Saturday.
FNB Maties continued on their winning ways by claiming a huge 69-5 victory over WP Super League strugglers, Helderberg, on Saturday.
The Tri-Nations charges ahead, this time at Newlands with the Wallabies to play the Springboks. The same trio of referees will be in action for the third week.
South Africa played New Zealand in Durban and won 31-19 in a Tri-Nations match. Again the All Blacks were generous in defeat and the South African camp sober in victory. We give some statistics in this match.
For the second Saturday in succession the Springboks were too strong for the All Blacks in the third Tri-Nations match of 2009. It is the main news as the Air New Zealand Cup gets underway and in France there are warm-up matches as the short break for the players seeps away.
SA referees has made known its committees which assess, coach and select referees for 2009. Amongst those on panels are eight with Test experience.
The South African Universities team has been handed a welcome shot in the arm, with the news that they will be sponsored by the Varsity Cup for their two matches against a Collegiate side from America.
Die Shimla-rugbyspan het drie Cheetahs Curriebeker-spelers nadergetrek om hom vir Saterdag se 67ste intervarsity-kragmeting teen die Pukke te versterk.
Die Suid-Afikaanse Universiteitespan het 'n baie welkome inspuiting ontvang met die nuus dat hulle deur Varsity Cup geborg word vir hul twee wedstryde teen 'n kollegiale span van die VSA.
Western Province and Springbok hooker Hanyani Shimange will pack down in the FNB UCT front row when the Cape Town-based students take on SK Walmers at 'The Track' on Saturday.
Clubs from ten of South Africa's 14 unions - two of which are top Varsity Cup teams - have already qualified for the National Club Championships to be held at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria from September 20-26.
The SWD Eagles have made another shrewd signing - in the rather large shape of Ikey Tigers star Jody Burch.
FNB UCT head coach John Dobson, one of the country's most promising coaches, has been handed a top coaching job in Italy.
Steinhoff Koshuisrugby champions Armentum on Friday grabbed a crucial 34-15 win over the University of the Free State Under-19 team in the Kovsies Steinhoff Koshuisliga.
The first round matches in the Top Eight phase of Tuks' Steinhoff Winter League played on Tuesday, July 28 saw Boekenhout emerging as the only unbeaten side.
Eight FNB Maties players have been named in a 25-man SA Universities squad for a series of matches against a touring American student team in early August.
Both of Bastion's teams faced Afslaan in Monday night's Steinhoff Koshuis League matches at the University of Johannesburg (UJ).
FNB Maties centre Juan de Jongh has retained his place in the Western Province team for Friday night's Currie Cup clash against the Leopards.
No less than five former Shimlas were part of the Springbok team that got the better of the All Blacks in Tri-Nations action at Bloemfontein's Vodacom Park this past Saturday.
Sindile Mayende of Durban will referee his first Premier Division Currie Cup match's at Newlands this Friday evening when Western Province play the Leopards. Refereeing has been a wonderland for the young man from Alice who came to refereeing by accident.
This is the first FNB Top 20 of the third term. In several parts many teams have stopped playing. There are still competitions on the go and the southern part of the country carries on enjoying rugby football.
Steve Walsh, one of the world's top referees, is back in action, this time in Australia.
Talented FNB Tuks loose forward Gerrit-Jan van Velze has been handed a first-ever Currie Cup start for the Blue Bulls when they host Boland at Loftus Versfeld on Friday evening. (Kick-off 7pm.)
rugby365 columnist Jon Harris takes a look at the decision to allow Trevor Manuel to hand over the Springbok jerseys at a team function last Friday. He asks if this was a masterstroke or political posturing?
The Tri-Nations is the main focus of this weekend's rugby and again it will be that massive rivalry, All Black vs Springboks, and this time Nigel Owens of Wales will be the referee.
FNB UJ flexed their muscles against Witsies in Pirates Grand Challenge action on Friday night; beating them 60-10.
South Africa played New Zealand in Bloemfontein and won 28-19 in a Tri-Nations match. In contrast to some Graeme Henry, the All Black coach, was gracious in defeat, acknowledging that the Springboks had deserved their victory. We give some statistics in this match of remarkably few stoppages.
There was the second round of the Tri-Nations, this time in Bloemfontein, there was the Sevens at the World Games in Taiwan and there was an African tournament in Botswana.
Maroela het Donderdag, Julie 23 sy eerste nederlaag van die seisoen in Tuks se winter-huiseliga gely toe hy oortuigend met 21-3 deur Onderstepoort geklop is.
FNB Maties, the reigning Varsity Cup champions, will get their 2009 WP Super League campaign underway this weekend when they host Kraaifontein in Stellenbosch.
On any given Saturday afternoon I know I will be on a couch. Mostly it is my couch. It could also be the couch of a mate, so long as his fridge is well stocked and his family well trained. But whoever the owner of said couch may be; it is the view from the couch that is all important.
On Monday in the wake of three red cards at Craven week which in effect destroyed the chances of three teams, we discussed the possibility of allowing a team to replace a player sent off while he is subject to disciplinary procedures afterwards. Now readers have their say.
It's high performance all the way this weekend for FNB UCT as they hit the Rugby Performance Centre in Riebeek West to gear up for the second half of the 2009 WP Super League season.
UJ's Steinhoff Koshuis League got off to a slow start on Wednesday night after the semester break.
Varsity Cup teams are once again set to dominate at the National Club Championships, which - this year - will take place at Loftus Versfeld in late September.
Action in the Kovsies Steinhoff Koshuisliga commences on Friday after a near two-month break.
It's all systems go on Wednesday night at UJ when the Steinhoff Koshuis League teams take to the field again after a well-deserved holiday.
The Varsty break is almost at its end in Cape Town which means its back to business for all of the teams in UCT's Steinhoff Rugby Internal League.
Boekenhout and Sonop, the two undefeated teams in Section Y of Tukkies' Steinhoff Winter Hostel League, cross swords on Wednesday, July 22 at LC de Villiers D.
Saturday saw a somewhat frustrating game of rugby for the die-hard Western Province fan in their loss to the Blue Bulls, writes rugby365 columnist Jon Harris.
Tri-Nations moves across the Indian Ocean to Bloemfontein, and the All Blacks come carrying their Bledisloe Cup victory of the first round.
FNB Tukkies recorded yet another convincing win in the 2009 Carlton League - beating Silver Valke 27-7 on Friday evening.
We profile Hoerskool Kroonstad.
Top Varsity Cup side, FNB UCT, will play host to English club Saracens in a series of valuable pre-season fixtures for the highly-rated London-based outfit.
South Africa has just finished its splendid Craven Week in East London - matches played by provincial Under-18 teams in an excellent spirit and yet three matches were greatly affected by red cards for "tip tackles".
Tri-Nations started in Auckland when New Zealand came from behind to beat Australia. The All Blacks were not the only winners.
Having won the two Tests South Africa was well and truly beaten in the third Test and in fact was flattered by the final score. We give some statistics from the match.
Having won the first Test in Durban, South Africa made the series safe with a come-from-behind victory at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, as Morne Steyn made up for the poor goal-kicking earlier in the match. We have the match statistics.
New Zealand and Australia opened the Tri-Nations at Eden Park on Saturday in a match which doubled as the first Bledisloe Cup match of the year. We give some statistics of the match.
The South African Schools Rugby Association (SAFRA), on Saturday announced the SA Schools team that will participate in friendlies against Italy and England in August.
What a shock! You had to look at the scoreboard for confirmation that Western Province had beaten Free State 19-17 in the last match of the 2009 Craven Week in East London. It seemed that Free State had had the match sewn up.
Saturday has come at Craven Week 2009 in East London, and that means all the teams are in action starting with the high-scoring "breakfast" game between Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Playing the main match at Craven Week is prestigious. To some it is a Final of sorts but it is not. We give some results of main matches.
Archie Sehlako of Natal has been appointed to referee the last match of the 2009 Craven Week, between Free State and Western Province.
The first South African Schools team was chosen in 1974 and went to Europe on tour. Each year the side gets chosen, as it will be on Saturday night at the end of Craven Week 2009.
Joey Salmans and Stuart Berry will be refereeing their very first Currie Cup matches this weekend - memorable occasions for each of them.
Samoa has split from the Pacific Islands Alliance, likely spelling an end to the Pacific Islanders team which plays tests against top nations.
The fixtures for the final day of the 2009 Craven Week have been made known. The prestige match on the final day will be between Free State and Western Province.
Playing with their customary confidence and skill, Free State won this prestige match 32-13 against the Blue Bulls on the fourth day of the Craven Week in East London. The victory and the size of it were both deserved.
For the second time on the fourth day, and for the third time at this Craven Week, a player was issued a red card for a tip tackle. This time the team punished was Limpopo and this time the Leopards won 26-11.
On the fourth day of the Craven Week again a side played most of the game with a man short and KwaZulu Natal beat SA Academy 23-0, but it was not a convincing win.
Precocious FNB Tuks flyhalf JC Roos has been handed a call-up to the Blue Bulls' bench for Saturday's massive Currie Cup Round Two clash against Western Province at Loftus Versfeld.
Zimbabwe beat Border Country Districts 41-0 on the fourth day of Craven Week action, but the difference between the two sides was even greater than that. It was the most one-sided match at Craven Week up till then.
Eastern Province Country Districts beat Boland 25-18 in the second match of the fourth day of Craven Week. The sides each scored three tries. The boot of Hanlo Louw made the difference.
In the first match of the fourth day of the 46th Craven Week, the Griffons beat the South African Learners with Special Educational Needs 36-13, and thoroughly deserved the victory as they ran and ran.
The big match on Day 4 was between unbeaten Free State and unbeaten Blue Bulls which the confident Free Staters won handsomely.
Tuks teams, Maroela (Group X), Sonop and Boekenhout (both Group Y), had little trouble in shedding the vacation blues in Steinhoff Koshuis League action on Tuesday.
Day 3, a strength vs strength day at least in theory, still produced three runaway wins but it also produced yet another thriller for Border and a top-class match when Western Province met the Golden Lions.
A hat-trick by Ruwayne Beekman earned his SWD 'Jong Arende' team a comprehensive 41-5 victory over Namibia in the first game of Day 3 of the 2009 Craven Week in East London on Wednesday.
The Pumas scored five unanswered tries in a thrilling second half performance to beat the Valke 37-10, scoring some spectacular tries on the way to a crushing victory on Day 3 of the 2009 Craven Week.
South African Rugby Union (SARU) manager of referees Andre Watson said on Wednesday that promising young South African referees had an outstanding chance of officiating at the highest level once they had taken up the whistle.
Western Province survived a spirited fightback from the Golden Lions to secure a narrow 26-21 win over their Northern rivals, in the final game of Day 3 of the 2009 Craven Week at the Border Rugby Union Stadium.
After winning in the last play on the first day, Border once again found themselves on the right side of a tightly contested match, beating Griquas 17-15 in a nailbiting encounter on Day 3 of the 2009 Craven Week in East London.
The International Rugby Board has established the Americas Rugby Championship, which will unite ugby in North and South America in a high performance sub-international structure for the first time.
Eastern Province bounced back from their loss on Day 1 with a commanding 40-20 win over Griquas Country Districts in the second game of the third day of the 2009 Craven Week in East London
Maties forward Morne Hanekom has been named - along with a host of other Varsity Cup stars - in the Western Province Under-21 team.
The South African Academy team beat Zimbabwe 44-17 on the second day of Craven Week in East London. Zimbabwe emerged from the match with much credit and admiration.
In the opening match of Day 2 at Craven week the Border Country Districts, who lost all three matches at the 2008 Craven Week, beat the Craven Week newcomers, the South African Learners with Special Educational Needs (SA LSEN) 17-5, scoring all their points in the wind-assisted first half.
The Blue Bulls beat Boland 52-0 on the second day of the 46th Craven Week, being played in East London, a match marred by a red card.
The big clash on Day 2 was between the Free State and KwaZulu Natal which the Free State won, setting them up to meet the Blue Bulls on Thursday.
Limpopo beat the Griffons 47-13 on the second day of Craven Week in East London. The scoreline did not flatter the boys from the far north of South Africa.
The USA Eagles, with UCT's Varsity Cup skipper JJ Gagiano once again in the mix, suffered a big loss to neighbours Canada in RWC qualifying action on Saturday - handing the Canucks an immediate place at the 2011 World Cup.
The scores were level with eight minutes to play when the Free State scored the try which won the match 22-15 on the second day of the 2009 Craven Week.
With the international season well underway we decided to look at some of the international individuals who stood out during the mid-year Tests.
The Leopards came from behind to beat the promising Eastern Province Country Districts side 27-20 in the second match of the second day of the Craven Week in East London.
FNB Tuks put one over fellow Varsity Cup team, TUT, in Carlton League action at the weekend.
Monday, 13 July, was the start of the 2009 Craven Week with outstanding performances from Western Province and the Golden Lions and a thrilling finish between the home side and the Valke.
Border produced a breathtaking finish to the opening day of the 2009 Craven Week, scoring a spectacular try in the final play to beat the Valke 15-10 in front of their home crowd in the last game on Day 1.
A dominant forward pack and the accurate boot of fullback Garth April earned the Golden Lions a well-deserved 34-6 victory of the SWD 'Jong Arende' in a Day 1 Craven Week encounter on Monday afternoon.
Tri-Nations starts in Auckland in a competition which seems wide open for all three nations this year with Craig Joubert to get it going.
Griquas Country Districts scored in the closing minutes to earn a 13-11 win over Namibia, despite defending for much of the opening match of the 2009 Craven Week in East London.
Western Province sent out an early warning to their Craven Week rivals, with an emphatic 49-15 win over a valiant Eastern Province side on Day 1 of the 2009 Craven Week in East London on Monday.
Griquas held off a determined Pumas side to secure a 31-22 victory in an entertaining encounter on the opening day of the 2009 Craven Week at the Border Rugby Union Stadium on Monday.
After losing the first leg of their Rugby World Cup qualifier for 2011, Canada roared back with a big win to qualify. In Apia there was a one-sided first-leg qualifier which may well make the second leg silly.
Playing with only 14 players for three-quarters of the match, the U.S. Men?s National Rugby Team struggled to stick to its pattern and fell to the Canadians, 41-18, in the second game of their home-and-away Rugby World Cup Qualifying series in Edmonton on Saturday.
New Zealand-born Saracens flyhalf Glen Jackson has been recruited to join New Zealand's professional referee ranks, the New Zealand Rugby Union announced on Friday.Henry stays on for 2011 World Cup | Deans' latest innovation revealed
The Craven Week opens in East London on Monday, 13 July 2009. The fixtures for the first two days are confirmed.
Craven Week in East London from 13 to 18 July 2009 gives opportunities for players to reveal their talents. It is also a great opportunity for referees to show their potential.
Craven Week, the greatest schoolboy rugby tournament in the world, seems to have been around forever. But like all things, it had a birth.
Watch the Wimbledon men's final, an epic battle, and there you will see challenges about whether the ball was in nor out, and they use hawk-eye. Watch the cricket between Sri Lanka and Pakistan and there will be referrals to the match referee via television replays. Rugby does it, too. In fact it did it before cricket or tennis.
In the openening roiund of the Women's Under-20 Nations Cup the defending champions England started off with a big 45-0 win over Canada at Brunel University in West London.
John OConnor shares with us his thoughts on rugby, as the British and Irish Lions tour postmortems continue. John is not a full-time columnist, but he does have a unique way of getting his point across.
The Craven Week opens at the Border Rugby Union Ground in East London on Monday, 13 July and runs till 18 July. There will surely be some great players to come out of these well-prepared sides.
Former FNB Tuks flyer Johan Jackson has been named in the Golden Lions' starting line-up for Saturday's Currie Cup clash against the Blue Bulls.
Talented Ikey Tigers hooker Dayne Jans has been handed a trial with the Golden Lions.
We profile Duineveld from Upington.
Terwyl Kovsie-studente nog op vakansie is, het www.varsitycup.co.za die eerste kwartaal se aksie in die Kovsies Steinhoff Koshuisliga in oenskou geneem.
We profile Hoerskool Merensky of Tzaneen.
We profile Hoerskool Ben Vorster of Tzaneen.
varsitycup.co.za caught up with World Cup-winning 'eye coach' Sherylle Calder, who was part of UCT's 2009 Varsity Cup management team.
Exciting Varsity Cup outfit, FNB Shimlas, won't be lacking any motivation for their most important clash of the season on August 1 when they travel to Potchefstroom to tackle Pukke in the 69th Intervarsity clash between the two old rivals.
We profile Hoerskool Menlo Park of Pretoria.
We profile St Alban's College of Pretoria.
Stellenbosch Varsity Cup ace Morgan Newman has been named in the Western Province line-up for Saturday's Currie Cup opener against the defending champion Sharks at Newlands.
Varsity Cup finalists, FNB Pukke, picked up some silverware when they beat FNB UJ in the final of the 2009 South African Student Sports Union (Sassu) tournament in Johannesburg on Friday evening.
The USA Eagles, with UCT ace JJ Gagiano in their midst, have taken a 1-0 lead in their 2011 Rugby World Cup qualifying matches against neighbours, Canada.
Lions gone, Tri-Nations coming and the Currie Cup starts as South Africa's provinces go in search of the Holy Grail which Donald Currie sent out to South Africa in 1891.
Former rugby365 staffer Chris Waldburger, now part of the general populace but still very keen on his rugby, takes a very different look at the Springboks' performance against the British and Irish Lions. In fact, you could say he is on the flipside of the coin!
The United States captured the opening match of a two-leg World Cup qualifier, by beating Canada 12-6 at Blackbaud Stadium on Saturday.
The Lions avoided a whitewash in the most emphatic way, playing with determination and skill and giving the Springboks a hiding in Johannesburg.
Having won the two Tests South Africa was well and truly beaten in the third Test and in fact was flattered by the final score. We give some statistics from the match.
UCT's Varsity Cup captain, JJ Gagiano, has been named on the bench for the USA Eagles' Rugby World Cup qualifying match against Canada at Blackbaud Stadium - in Charleston - on Saturday.
All the fixtures and tournament winners from the 2008/09 IRB Sevens Series.
New Golden Lions signing and UCT Varsity Cup star, Pieter Engelbrecht, has been named on the bench for Friday evening's compulsory Currie Cup friendly against the Griffons at the North West Stadium in Welkom.
There is the last Test in the tough series between South Africa and Lions which will take centre stage with Stuart Dickinson to referee it. It would be a great mercy if it were just a sporting occasion.
rugby365's Jan de Koning takes a look at the strained relationship between Springbok coach Peter de Villiers and the media, as well as his often used muddled and synesthetic metaphors.
The Welwitschias of Namibia beat the Elephants of Cote d?Ivoire 54-14 at Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium in Windhoek on Saturday to move a step closer to qualifying for the World Cup in New Zealand 2011. This was a second-round match after the teams had drawn 13-all in Abidjan, an unpleasant match.
South Western Districts have chosen their teams for Craven Week, the Academy Week and the Grant Khomo Week.
Border Country Districts have chosen their team for the Craven Week, this year in East London starting on 13 July.
Sergio Parisse and Schalk Burger were both found guilty this weekend and suspended for eye-gouging. They are not the only ones in recent times.
'n Gulde geleentheid wink vandeesweek vir die Shimla-rugbyspan om verlore aansien te herwin.
There is significant interest from Australian Super 14 sides for New Zealand's IRB Junior Player of the Year, Aaron Cruden, which could in turn lead to him playing for the Wallabies rather than the All Blacks.
The series winner for the Lions tour has been decided in a tough encounter in Pretoria when 16 points were scored in the last 10 minutes.
Border have 10 players back from the side that went to Craven Week in 2008.
There are no prizes for guessing which school has most players going to Craven Week but we shall see who comes second, third and so on.
Australian National Rugby League club Sydney Roosters has signed South African teenager JP du Plessis on a three-year contract, while they are also heading to the Craven Week (SA's premier schoolboy tournament) in search of promising youngsters.
A host of Varsity Cup players have been named in the Boland squad for Friday's Currie Cup friendly against the Mighty Elephants in Port Elizabeth.
SA Referees have announced the referees appointed to various national weeks in South Africa, which, in the case of schools, start with the beginning of the mid-year holidays. The one which gets most prominence is the Craven Week which starts on the second week of July.
Limpopo has announced its school teams for the 2009 Craven and Academy Weeks, with Ben Vorster and Merensky well represented.
FNB Tuks skipper Johan de Bruin has signed a contract with the Valke and will captain the Brakpan-based outfit in the 2009 Currie Cup First Division.
In the rain, hail and wind the Lions and the Emerging Springboks drew with a try when time was up and a conversion from touch as the rain made it as hard as possible for Willem de Waal.
Namibia have chosen their four teams for Craven Weeks, Academy Week and Grant Khomo Week.
Griquas have announced two teams for both the Craven and Academy weeks, with a Central team representing Kimberley and surrounds, as well a Country Districts team.
The Valke have announced three Under-18 teams for the upcoming Craven and Academy Weeks.
FNB UJ romped to an impressive 67-13 win over Roodepoort on Thursday night; a result which sees the Varsity Cup side continue its impressive march up the Grand Challenge log.
The Northern Free State Griffons have announced their school sides for the 2009 Craven, Academy and Grant Khomo Weeks.
The recently completed Junior World Championship 2009 in Japan has been hailed a success by the International Rugby Board as its set a new benchmark for attendance, while leaving a lasting legacy for Rugby in Japan.
Most schools are not playing at present, what with Craven Week trials and exams, though some of those who do best at exams actually play at this time. Still there have been some interesting results.
FNB Shimlas, having twice recently lost in the final of the City League, are the 2009 champions of Free State!
FNB Tuks recorded yet another resounding Carlton League victory at the weekend, beating Eersterust 91-0.
FNB UJ could move into first place on the Grand Challenge log should they defeat Roodepoort this evening.
The Emerging Springboks Sevens squad - with three Varsity Cup stars in its ranks - went down in the final of the annual Safari Sevens in Kenya at the weekend.
Zimbabwe have announced their team to take part in the 2009 Craven Week in East London, starting on 13 July.
The USA Men?s National Rugby Team won its first test match of the season and snapped its six-game losing streak by beating Georgia 31-13 at Dick?s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City on Sunday.
New Zealand Captain Aaron Cruden has been named the International Rugby Board Junior Player of the Year 2009, the second of the prestigious IRB Awards in association to be presented this year.
The big Tests this weekend are those in Sydney and Pretoria with Dave Pearson and Christophe Berdos as the men in the middle.
New Zealand Under 20 wing, Zac Guildford, experienced a major family tragedy after his father, Robert, passed away at the final of the International Rugby Board Junior World Championships in Tokyo on Sunday.
Scotland A beat France A to win the IRB's Nations Cup in Bucharest on Sunday.
There were some big results this weekend - in the Wellington wet, in warm Durban and in slippery Tokyo where the Junior World Champions were decided.
South Africa won the first Test in Durban on Saturday. Up 26-7, they put on all their replacements, and Ole and nearly lost as the Lions came roaring back proudly.
Denver Barbarians John Van Der Giessen and Nic Johnson can propel USA Eagles up the world rankings when they play Georgia in Sunday's Churchill Cup Test at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
Canada will achieve its highest ever finish in the seven years of the Churchill Cup regardless of the result against Argentina Jaguars at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Sunday.
The Leopards have announced their teams to play at Craven Week and at the Academy Week.
The KwaZulu Natal teams for the Craven Week, Academy Week and Grant Khomo Week have been announced. Not surprisingly Glenwood are well represented.
The Golden Lions have chosen their teams for the Craven Week, Academy Week, NWU-Puk Week and the Grant Khomo Week. Not surprisingly Monnas and KES feature p[riminently.
After trials and trial matches with Western Province, Boland has announced its four teams - for Craven Week, The Academy Week, the Grant Khomo Week and the Under-13 Craven Week.
Centre Piet van Zyl has signed a two-year contract with Bourgoin in France's Top 14.
FNB Pukke lock Grant le Roux has signed a one-and-a-half year contract with the Boland Cavaliers, making him the umpteenth Varsity Cup player to move into a full-time professional set-up.
Wing Hosea Gear starred with three tries as a slick Junior All Blacks outfit beat disjointed Fiji 45-17 in the Pacific Nations Cup in Lautoka on Thursday.
The IRB has announced the appointment of referees for the Final day, including the championship Final which will refereed by James Jones of Wales.
The Lions beat the weakened Southern Kings team in the first sporting match ever played at the brand new Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth. We give some match stats.
France's top referee Joel Jutge has given up the battle against injury and has decided to quit active refereeing and go into administration.
There were few matches this last, long weekend, but we have rewarded teams that have particularly done well - Waterkloof, Monument, Selborne and Boland Landbou.
The Namib is a desert and it was tough for the Namibians in sopping wet Abidjan when they played and eventually drew 13-all with Cote d?Ivoire in a qualifier for the 2011 World Cup.
There are competitions and tour matches and much of interest to referees as the top men swan around the world. The big match will be in Durban with Bryce Lawrence to referee it. Then in Wellington France have a chance to win a series in New Zealand, as they did in 1994. Marius Joubert will be the man in the middle for that one.
FNB UCT, playing their final Super League match of the first half of the season, recorded a hard-fought 22-19 win over a determined NNK side at the Green Mile on Friday evening.
It's testing time and a test which the All Blacks failed at the House of Pain and which the dilapidated Italian team passed in defeat.
Three Varsity Cup players - one from FNB UJ and two from FNB UCT - have been named in the 12-man Emerging Springboks Sevens squad to compete in a tournament in Kenya this week.
The Lions beat the weakened Western Province team at a partially filled Newlands on Saturday with a penalty four minutes from time. We give some match stats.
Fiji ended a three-year losing streak against Pacific neighbor Tonga when it won its opening match in rugby's Pacific Nations Cup 36-22 on Saturday in the Tongan capital.
The IRB's Nations Cup kicked off in Bucharest on Fridayt with voictories fopr France A, Scotland A and hosts Romania.
The Ikey Tigers will be looking to finish the first half of their 2009 WP Super League season on a high when they take on NNK at the Green Mile on Friday evening (kick-off 6.30pm).
HTS Sasolburg School Profile
The return of the Junior All Blacks to the Pacific Nations Cup tournament this year will ensure the other four teams will be fighting for second place.
The Western Province team to take on the touring British & Irish Lions side in Cape Town this weekend has a distinct Varsity Cup look to it.
New Zealand referees' High Performance Referee Team is thrilled to announce the inclusion of six new referees.
KES suffered their first defeat of the year, which cost them a few places in that close part of the Top 20. In fact the whole of the Top 20 is close.
The past few weeks have been the most frenetic of any student's lives this year, as UCT's Steinhoff Internal League drew to a close and exams started in earnest.
Varsity Cup players continue to break new ground on a daily basis, with UCT captain JJ Gagiano the latest star player to take yet another step up in the rugby world.
Ulster scrumhalf Isaac Boss will captain the Ireland A team in their opening game of the Churchill Cup against Canada at Glendale, Colorado on Wednesday.
The Lions' tour moves on and Test matches break out all over the world while it is all quiet on matches below Test level.
With British & Irish Lions fever high in South Africa, rugby365 columnist Ebrahim Moerat takes a look at a possible SANZAR selection to rival the tourists.
Stellenbosch scrumhalf Conrad Hoffmann led the charge with a hat-trick of tries, as the Maties and Ikeys-heavy Western Province side smashed the Mighty Elephants in a pre-Currie Cup warm-up match in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
Eastern Province have chosen five teams to go to national weeks - two teams for Craven Week, two for the Academy Week and one for the Grant Khomo Week for Under-16 teams.
varsitycup.co.za caught up with FNB Maties head coach Chean Roux, to get his views after Stellenbosch missed out on qualifying for the 2009 National Club Championships.
The WP Craven Week team has been announced and includes six Paul Roos players, including scrumhalf Rick Schroeder, who will captain the team.
UCT's JJ Gagiano celebrated his fifth international cap for the USA Eagles by scoring his first Test try in a one-off clash against Six Nations side, Wales, in Chicago on Saturday.
FNB Tuks recorded their second big win of the 2009 Carlton League season over Brits, with the 2008 and 2009 Varsity Cup semifinalists racking up over 100 points on Saturday.
FNB TUT scored a 117-3 win over Eersterus in Carlton League action at the weekend.
France has a champion, the Lions travel on unbeaten and the Junior World Championship gets under way.
Good sides manage to win even when they are not playing so well. The Lions started off this match like a house on fire and contrived to win almost by default as the Cheetahs missed kicks at goal. We give some statistics.
Canada and England Saxons are in pole position after the opening pool rounds of the 2009 Churchill Cup.
The International Rugby Board's Junior World Championship for Under-20 teams kicks off in Japan on Friday. The referees for the first two rounds have been announced.
South Africa asked the International Rugby Board for a ruling when two contradictory actions occur at the same time in in-goal.
UCT's Varsity Cup captain, JJ Gagiano, has been named on the USA Eagles bench for Saturday's one-off Test against Wales in Chicago.
The French Rugby Federation asked the International Rugby Board for a ruling on the timing of the final whistle.
The B&I Lions demolished the Xerox Lions/Golden Lions at CocaCola Park in Johannesburg on Wednesday evening. We give some statistics from that match.
On 11 May 2009 the international Rugby Board gave a ruling on play at the tackle, which is important and makes sense. It allows a player who started an action legally to complete that action.
Jean-Pierre Matheu has been appointed to referee the Final of France's Top 14 at Stade de France on Saturday night, the first Final of his career. He is the latest in a long line of referees, stretching back, war breaks apart, to 1892.
A host of Varsity Cup stars - including SA XV centre Morgan Newman - have been named in the Vodacom Western Province team for a pre-Currie Cup friendly in Port Elizabeth this Saturday.
Torrential rain in the Mile High City, Denver, on Tuesday did not dampen the Georgia national team's preparations for the fast-approaching Churchill Cup.
It seems that being second on the FNB Top 20 is the most vulnerable position of all. This year Paul Roos, Affies, Paarl Boys' High and Outeniqua have all been there and dropped down. Last weekend second-placed Paul Roos were the ones to come unstuck.
Three Varsity Cup players have been named in a 16-man Emerging Sevens Training squad that will attend a training camp in Stellenbosch from June 10-13.
The excitement is in South Africa and France this weekend as the Lions' tour gathers momentum and the French Championship Final is played at Stade de France.
www.varsitycup.co.za caught up with FNB Pukke captain and star No.8 Willem van der Wal and asked him ten questions.
With all the hype surrounding the arrival of the British & Irish Lions, rugby365 columnist Ebrahim Moerat believes it's time to re-introduce a lost tradition...International Rugby Tours.
The University of Johannesburg were simply too strong for Raiders in their Grand Challenge fixture on Saturday.
FNB Maties bounced back from their home loss to Hamilton's last week to claim a bonus point win against a determined SK Walmers side on Saturday.
'n Nuwe inisiatief deur Steinhoff-Internasionaal om koshuisrugby nog meer glans te gee is onlangs begin.
FNB Tuks recorded a crushing 94-0 Carlton League win over a hapless Eersterust team; confirming their place at the 2009 National Club Championships, which - of course - they will be hosting in September.
JBM Hertzog se eerste rugbyspan het Vrydagaand gewys hulle is die span om in vanjaar se Steinhoff Koshuisliga te klop.
FNB UCT very nearly caused a shock at the weekend before eventually being denied what would have been a well-deserved WP Super League win over Hamilton's in Green Point.
The huge match was the Super 14 Final at a packed Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria which broke all sorts of records. And in Italy Benetton Treviso became the champions for the 14th time.
The people of Pretoria turned their city blue and so did their players in their first-ever home Super rugby final. We give some statistics for the match.
Overcoming a stuttering first-half performance, a South African XV managed an unconvincing 36-7 win over a Namibian Invitation team at the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek on Friday. Golden Lions to 'buy' winning team | LIVE COVERAGE
Charles Durand, a great referee in his active days and a powerful refereeing boss afterwards died on Tuesday 26 May 2009 at the age of 88.
John Dobson, head coach of FNB UCT, has announced his strongest team possible for Saturday's Western Province Super League meeting against the top of the table Hamilton's.
FNB Pukke, with captain and star No.8 Willem van der Wal back in the mix, recorded a 36-12 Grand Challenge win over Vaal Reefs at the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds in Potchefstroom.
The Blue Bulls have chosen three teams of schoolboys for the coming weeks - Craven Week, Academy Week and the Northvaal Under-19 Academy Week.
FNB UJ will be without star centre and captain Clinton de Klerk when they travel to Longdale to take on Raiders in a Grand Challenge fixture on Saturday.
It remains a matter of conjecture what Springbok coach Peter de Villiers hopes to learn from the match in Windhoek on Friday, when a South African XV meet up with a Namibian side bolstered by five Springboks.
Inspirational FNB Pukke captain Willem van der Wal is back at No.8 for his team's Grand Challenge meeting with Vaal Reefs in Potchefstroom on Thursday evening.
Ikey Tigers centre Pieter Engelbrecht has been drafted into the Golden Lions squad to play against the touring British & Irish Lions next week - yet another Varsity Cup player set to take the step up to a higher level this season.
FNB Maties' Morgan Newman will start at outside centre for the South African XV against a Namibian Invitation XV in Friday's one-off clash in Windhoek.
The inclusion of Earl Rose at fullback and Morgan Newman at centre are the big bolters in the South African XV, to play a Namibian Invitation XV in Windhoek on Friday, which was named on Wednesday. All your BRITISH and IRISH LIONS news
In 1993 when Super Rugby had its start, Freek Burger was the top South African referee and he refereed the first Final in South Africa with a South African team playing - Transvaal playing against Auckland.
It's the 17th Super rugby Final this weekend and, for the second time Jonathan Kaplan is the referee.
Maroela (Groep X), Boekenhout en Sonop (Groep Y) is steeds onoorwonne na die Tuks Steinhoff Koshuisliga wedstryde wat op Mei 19 beslis is.
There are two matches likely to demand greater attention - the Super 14 Final, refereed by Jonathan Kaplan, and the opening match of the Lions' tour refereed by Marius Jonker. The two matches are not far from each other.
We have just had all the excitement of the two semifinals, neither a cut-and-dried affair, both exciting, both, of course, demanding matches for a referee.
It was tense and took a brilliant penalty goal in the last 10 minutes to produce a three-point victory. We give some statistics from the match.
There are changes this week with important wins for Monument and Wynberg, which have been the main reason for some changes.
UCT's Steinhoff Internal League resumes this week for the last round of fixtures before the students head into exams and holidays. Wednesday's games will leave all teams with their final standings for Stage One and give us an idea of just where the 2009 competition is going.
Hendrik Conradie, JBM se sport-HK, se hy glo sy koshuis se eerste span kan in 2009 op sy vyfde plek van verlede jaar verbeter.
In a dramatic match in the Steinhoff Kovsies Koshuisliga, Vishuis recorded their first win of the season when they defeated Huis Armentum 28-27 on Friday night.
varsitycup.co.za spoke to FNB UJ star Earl Lewis about the Varsity Cup, his Seven-a-side skills and life away from the game!
FNB Tuks held out for a narrow, but important 14-7 Carlton League - and Varsity Cup 'derby' - win over TUT on Saturday.
FNB UJ fullback Earl Lewis was in fine form as his team romped to a 54-34 win over Impalas in Grand Challenge action on Saturday afternoon.
The Heineken Cup Final has come and gone before a huge crowd in Edinburgh and so has the European Challenge Cup. Two intense matches have decided the finalists for the Super 14. Italy has decided finalists. The Asian Five Nations has ended and the European championship for Women. It is crunch time - fewer matches but distilled.
Varsity Cup champions, FNB Maties, suffered a last-gasp 24-25 WP Super League loss to Hamilton's in Stellenbosch on Saturday.
FNB UCT made light work of SK Walmers in their Super League clash at the Green Mile on Saturday.
The addition of five players from the Blue Bulls has taken the Namibian Invitations XV, to play a South African selection in Windhoek next Friday, a step closer to completion.
The Argentinian Rugby Union has announced two teams of Jaguars, one to play against Uruguay this weekend, the other for the Churchill Cup.
The International Rugby Board has confirmed that Fiji will host the Pacific Nations Cup 2009. The awarding of the key international tournament to the Fiji Rugby Union represents a further boost to the continued development of the sport in the region.
FNB TUT flyhalf Werner Pieterse will lead his team into battle against Tuks this weekend in a Carlton League fixture doubling up as a Varsity Cup derby game.
FNB UCT head coach John Dobson is wary of the challenge his team will face against a 'different' SK Walmers outfit in Western Province Super League action at the Green Mile on Saturday afternoon.
The new laws will come into effect in South Africa on 1 June 2009, in time for the start of the Currie Cup as 10 of the 13 experimental law variations become law.
FNB UJ will be looking to bounce back from last week's Grand Challenge loss to Pirates when they take on Impala on Saturday afternoon.
paultreusevens.com caught up with former Varsity Cup star Kyle Brown to find out about the step up to international rugby!
The Namibian Invitation team due to face a South African XV in Windhoek next Friday is struggling to confirm players for the fixture, after the Sharks, Cheetahs and Western Province refused to release invited players.
Varsity Cup and WP Super League champions, FNB Maties, will go head-to-head with Hamilton's on Saturday in a top-of-the-table Super League clash in Stellenbosch.
Die nuweling in vanjaar se Steinhoff K1-liga, Heimat, het reeds gewys hy gaan nie net die getalle opmaak nie, maar het ook die beker in die oog. Met seges oor Armentum en Veritas mik Heimat hoog in die rugbyliga.
Maties wing Lewellyn Winkler has been selected for the Namibian Invitation XV, ahead of next Friday's game against the South African training squad.
Saracens-bound Springbok Derick Hougaard heads a list of five Springboks included in a Namibian Invitation team that will face a South African XV in Windhoek next Friday, May 29. All your Super Rugby news! | LIVE COVERAGE - S14 & HC
Three good match-ups are expected in the Steinhoff Kovsies Koshuis League this weekend - the second last round of matches for the term.
FNB Tuks are still at the top of the Carlton League standings after their crushing 99-5 win over Brits at the weekend.
Another round of exciting Steinhoff UJ Koshuisugby kicks-off tonight at Milo Park when a confident Oppierif side meets Afslaan and 'Drom' face Kanniedood.
Whew! It's over. The Round Robin part is over and it seems just yesterday that it began. Some of the totals we have now are completed - team with most tries, team most penalised, team that conceded most disciplinary sanctions - amongst other things. There is even a team without disciplinary problems.
We have made only one change to our starting XV in our weekly Springbok selection and there's another switch on the bench.
It was an awkward week this for the FNB Top 20 because so many schools did not play. There were trials here and there and then there was some wet in the Cape that meant that three of our top schools did not have a game.
The Spanish Rugby Federation today announced that the Iberian Rugby Cup had been cancelled after the withdrawal first Spanish and then of Portuguese sides.
The number of matches may be thinning down but some are huge - the Finals of Europe's big two and the semifinals of the Super 14. There are top referees to do these matches with Nigel Owens at Murrayfield.
Maties ace Morgan Newman has been named in a 23-man South African training squad that will face a Namibian Invitation XV in Windhoek next Friday.
Defending champions Maroela are still on course for yet another title in Tukkies' Steinhoff Winter Hostel League.
SANZAR has announced the full complement of match officials for the semifinals which will be refereed by Stuart Dickinson and Bryce Lawrence, two of the refrerees appointed to the Lions' Tests in South Africa later this year.
Varsity Cup Managing Director Duitser Bosman recently hosted a hunting trip for the Varsity Cup club managers - a worthwhile and enjoyable excursion for all who attended.
Beaten 62-7 a week ago, Namibia lost their second encounter against the Jaguars 19-7 in Buenos Aires on Friday night.
FNB Tuks claimed a whopping 99-5 Carlton League win over a shell-shocked Brits outfit at the weekend.
Academics will take first preference at UCT this week, with the Ikeys' Steinhoff Internal League fixtures taking a backseat to exams.
Recently there have been two cases in South Africa of player assault on a referee in a lower league club match leading Andre Watson, South Africa's referee boss, to call for life bans for players who physically assault a referee.
We caught up with UCT captain and German international, Bodo Sieber, to talk Varsity Cup, RWC qualifiers and Intervarsity...
With the Super 14 entering its final fortnight, rugby365 columnist, Ebrahim Moerat, takes a look at which of the SANZAR nations stand to benefit most from Super 14 success.
Varsity Cup champs, FNB Maties, maintained their unbeaten record in the 2009 Western Province Super League with a 41-20 win over Helderberg on Saturday.
FNB Pukke recorded a convincing 41-16 win over Roodepoort in Pirates Grand Challenge action at the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds in Potchefstroom on Saturday.
FNB UJ suffered a 13-19 Grand Challenge loss to Pirates on Saturday - a result which has put paid to their chances of qualifying for the 2009 National Club Championships.
FNB TUT backed up last week's Carlton Cup win over Silver Valke, with a 29-16 win over Harlequins at the weekend.
There was a huge final at Twickenham and the finalisation of semifinalists in Super 14 and in France while Italy's semifinals had their first round.
This is it - the last round of the league matches before the play-offs. Some major decisions have been made - semifinalists and relegatees. Who plays whom in the semis and who will get to the Heineken Cup still need to be decided.
Star fullback, and Sevens specialist, Earl Lewis has been named in the FNB UJ team for Saturday's Grand Challenge game against Pirates.
Saturday's Western Province Super League match between UCT and Kraaifontein - at the Green Mile - has been postponed due to the severe weather conditions expected in the Mother City.
Star scrumhalf Donald Stevens has been recalled to the FNB Maties starting line-up for Saturday's WP Super League clash against Helderberg.
The Jaguars, and Argentinian selection, play Namibia at La Plata Rugby Club on Friday night, the second of the two-match tour.
The SA Vipers Sevens squad, despite having a strong Varsity Cup influence in their playing group, went down to 21-26 to Tunisia in the semifinals of the hotly-contested Tangiers Sevens last weekend.
FNB Tuks have announced their starting line-up ahead of Saturday afternoon's Carlton League game against Brits, with lock Johan de Bruin set to captain the students.
The International Rugby Board had appointed South Africans to two World Cup Qualifiers and to the Women?s Under-20 Nations Cup.
Things are getting really hot in the Super 14 now as we approach the last round of the league matches. We give some statistics.
New WP backline coach Robbie Fleck continues his build-up to the British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa by selecting his Bok halfbacks...
In another exciting week of Steinhoff Koshuisrugby action at the University of Johannesburg, Bastion had to work hard to win their first division clash against Oppierif, whilst Dromedaris beat Afslaan.
There were some interesting Steinhoff Internal League clashes on the Green Mile last night, as several of the top contenders were in action - including last year's finalists.
Varsitybeker span Shimlas kan vandag reeds tot eerste posisie op die puntelys van die Stadsbeker-kompetisie skuif.
The referees for the semifinals and the Final of the Super 14 competition have been announced by SANZAR, easier to do now that referees are appointed on merit regardless of their residence.
Pukke coach Rudy Joubert has announced his starting line-up for Saturday's Pirates Grand Challenge clash against Roodepoort at the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds in Potchefstroom.
The International Rugby Board Council unanimously approved the recommendations made by the IRB Rugby Committee at its meeting on 13 May 2009 and approved 10 of the 13 global Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) for adoption into the Laws of the Game. They come into operation on 23 May 2009.
The past two weeks of Steinhoff Internal League rugby have certainly set quite a precedent with some fast paced, try-rich games being plentiful in the first two rounds of competition. This week spectators will be hoping for more of the same as some of the top sides square up against each other on the Green Mile.
The match that will be most watch this weekend is the Final of England's Premiership with Wayne Barnes to referee it.
This week there is an important change to our Bok team, with the arrival of the British & Irish Lions team now less than three weeks away.
FNB Shimlas were made to fight by the Crusaders but the students from Bloemfontein still managed a more-than-useful 29-13 'Stadsbeker' win at the Clive Solomon Stadium in Heidedal.
Karee kan hom vanjaar uit die staanspoor in 'n sterk posisie bevind met presies dieselfde groep spelers as verlede jaar.
Heimat recorded a somewhat unexpected win over Armentum in a Kovsie Steinhoff Koshuis league match on Friday night.
2009 Varsity Cup finalists, FNB Pukke, top the Pirates Grand Challenge log after the latest round of league action - but all the teams below them have at least one game in hand.
It may not be tough at the top but it's certainly tough near the top when you have to take on the top side in the FNB Top 20.
FNB UJ romped to a 46-6 Grand Challenge win over Alberton at Milo Park on Saturday.
FNB Tuks confirmed their position at the top of the Carlton Cup log with a comprehensive 45-11 win over the Naka Bulle at the weekend.
FNB UCT head coach John Dobson has admitted to being disappointed by his team's 16-16 draw with archrivals Stellenbosch in their Intervarsity fixture at Newlands on Saturday.
In England the championship finalists have been decided, and the Super 14, Italy's Super 10 and France's Top 14 are heading for the final showdowns, but there were also teams who won competitions in South Africa, Spain, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Craig Joubert will blow the final whistle on the league part of the Super 14 when he takes charge of the last match - between the Sharks and the Bulls, a match of no small significance.
The Jaguars, a new Argentinian selection, beat the touring Namibian team 62-7 at Club Atletico San Isidro in Buenos Ares on Friday night. It was the Jaguars' first match and the Namibians first match in Argentina.
FNB TUT fought back from 6-8 down at half-time to record a well-deserved 24-8 Carlton Cup win over Silver Valke on Friday evening.
FNB Maties and FNB UCT played to a 16-16 draw in a thrilling Intervarsity - and WP Super League - clash at Newlands on Saturday afternoon.