The News Review:
- Racing: Rugby racing – in a room with a view
- Rugby: Overseas offers too big to neglect – Muliaina
- Olympians rugby players among athletes in NZ bobsleigh squad
- Namibia: Rugby’s Under-20s Kept Flag High
- ECB praises IPL as comparable to Rugby World Cup
- Wales to play four November internationals
Racing: Rugby racing – in a room with a view
New Zealand Herald – Apr 30, 2008
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Rugby: Overseas offers too big to neglect – Muliaina
New Zealand Herald – Apr 30, 2008
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Olympians rugby players among athletes in NZ bobsleigh squad
New Zealand Herald – Apr 30, 2008
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Namibia: Rugby’s Under-20s Kept Flag High
AllAfrica.com – Apr 30, 2008
GA_googleFillSlot( “AllAfrica_Story_Inset” );The Namibians had returned from their two-week long International Rugby Board Under-20 Junior World Rugby Trophy challenge in the Chilean capital Santiago. The young Namibians acquitted themselves well under trying conditions and managed to win two out of their four matches after a slow start to their campaign that saw them biting the dust against Romania (28-26) and hosts Chile (20-6) in their opening matches. Nevertheless the youngsters dusted themselves off after the setback and went on to beat the strong Cook Islands and Korea in their last two matches to finish in overall 5th place. "I’m not the kind of person who likes to talk about match officials but honestly speaking the standard of refereeing at the tournament left a bitter taste in the mouth" said the clearly irritated coach of the Namibian team Eden Meyer. The former Namibian winger believes the International Rugby Board short-changed the participating teams with its decision to appoint "development referees" for a tournament of such magnitude… Nevertheless the youngsters dusted themselves off after the setback and went on to beat the strong Cook Islands and Korea in their last two matches to finish in overall 5th place. "I’m not the kind of person who likes to talk about match officials but honestly speaking the standard of refereeing at the tournament left a bitter taste in the mouth" said the clearly irritated coach of the Namibian team Eden Meyer. The former Namibian winger believes the International Rugby Board short-changed the participating teams with its decision to appoint "development referees" for a tournament of such magnitude. Relevant LinksSouthern AfricaNamibiaSport"We were by far the best team in the tournament but the referees have a different interpretation of rules and to compound matters an Argentinean referee living in Chile was in charge of our match against the hosts so you don’t bite the hand that feeds you. " Meyer was however upbeat about the team’s overall performance and strongly believes if kept together the youngsters could develop into a formidable outfit in the not too distant future. Ten players from the squad are still under the ages of 19 which make them eligible for the forthcoming Under-19 Africa Cup in Tunisia while eight others have been earmarked for promotion to the Senior National Rugby Fifteen. Uruguay won the tournament to move up the ranks and the South Americans will now compete in the A Division of the Junior World Cup finals next year.
ECB praises IPL as comparable to Rugby World Cup
Hindu – Apr 30, 2008
Chairman Giles Clarke who witnessed the initial rounds of the IPL spectacle with his CEO David Collier told the ECB’s AGM at Lord’s in London that his admiration for what has been achieved by the Sharad Pawar-headed BCCI is huge. “You will be aware that in recent weeks David Collier our outstanding Chief Executive and I have been to India to witness at first hand the Indian Premier League. Our admiration for what has been achieved is immense” he said. “It was as the Indians say a great tamasha.
Wales to play four November internationals
News Wales – Apr 30, 2008
Confirmation of the clash means Warren Gatland’s Wales will now play all three of the major southern hemisphere nations at the Millennium Stadium in the high profile series. The fixture coup has been completed following successful talks which have secured confirmation that Australia can play Wales in Cardiff on 29 November. The internationals will now be part of a four-game series which will also include an international against Canada to offer a powerful northern hemisphere challenge to Wales. Another boost for the games is that Wales will be competing for two major trophies in the November series… “We will have played the current World Champions three times this year by the end of November and that is just the sort of benchmark rugby we require in order to keep getting better. “I am also very mindful of the fact that these games come just prior to a very important two weeks in Europe for each of our four regions so we need to be aware and ensure that individual players are going back to regional rugby in their optimum condition. “It is important for Welsh rugby that our regions are strong and we will be conscious of offering them our continued support which will mean managing the needs of individuals. WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis said: “The confirmation of the Australia fixture has made all the hard work we have put in to secure this series worthwhile. “I am particularly grateful to all four of our regions here in Wales for agreeing to release their international players outside the normal International Rugby Board window for the final game in the series against Australia. The strong relationship we are building with our four regions bodes well for the future of the game in Wales. “With the fantastic support the Welsh Rugby Union has from Invesco Perpetual we are assured these games will all be great occasions for the players and the fans.