The News Review:
- France skipper Ibanez retires from international rugby
- Rugby: Break time’s over for elite players
- … tick the boxes – Rugby News Results Fixtures and Features…
- Leinster beat Toulouse to keep rugby knock-out hopes alive
France skipper Ibanez retires from international rugby
Taipei Times – Jan 12, 2008
The 34-year-old led the team to the semi-finals of the 2007 World Cup. PHT: AP Hooker Raphael Ibanez who captained France during last year’s rugby World Cup announced his retirement from the international game on Thursday. “It’s time to call it a day and to pass on the baton to someone else” said the 34-year-old Ibanez who won 98 caps for France after making his debut in 1996 and is under contract with London Wasps until the end of the season. “I’ve loved every minute of playing for France and the decision to retire was a very emotional one for me to take.
Rugby: Break time’s over for elite players
New Zealand Herald – Jan 12, 2008
The Warriors and the Auckland Blues underwent rigorous pre-Christmas fitness training and both squads are now back into fulltime pre-season training. The Warriors’ season ended on September 16 in Townsville when they were roundly thumped in the playoffs by the Cowboys.
… tick the boxes – Rugby News Results Fixtures and Features…
Planet Rugby – Jan 12, 2008
Having secured a try bonus point with little more than half an hour gone it looked as if the Exiles would cruise to victory that was until the Dragons found their feet in the second half and roared back into it. Their spirited comeback ended when Richard Thorpe was driven over for his third try much to the relief of the Exiles director of rugby Brian Smith. The regularity with which the Dragons missed regulation tackles in the first half was almost embarrassing even more so their inability to control the ball in attack. Their hosts on the other hand were quite the opposite hungry in defence and with a killer instinct in attack.
Leinster beat Toulouse to keep rugby knock-out hopes alive
Turkish Press – Jan 12, 2008
Toulouse at least came away from a physically bruising but entertaining encounter with a vital losing bonus point for finishing within seven points. The result means the French giants remain first in Pool 6 on 15 points with Leinster now in second on 12 points. Edinburgh host Leicester in the pool’s other game later Saturday. In a tough match Toulouse had lock Gregory Lamboley sin-binned for persistent infringements in the ruck where Leinster hooker Bernard Jackman and man-of-the-match No 8 Jamie Heaslip were outstanding.