The News Review:
- Europe’s rugby giants
- Rugby: Henry confident of All Black depth
- Botswana: Phikwe Hosts Rugby Sevens Tourney
- Rugby: McAlister fears for England in NZ
- … benched for semis – Rugby News Results Fixtures and…
- DAVIES APPOINTED SCARLETS COACH | Sporting Life – Sports News |…
- ‘Treatment of Bok captain a disgrace’
Europe’s rugby giants
BBC News – May 22, 2008
There are some things in rugby union that just go together. And you can add Toulouse and the Heineken Cup to that list. For all the claims of Leicester Wasps and Munster Toulouse are the Heineken Cup team. They have been there from the start getting the whole tournament under way with a routine 54-10 win over Romania’s Farul Constanta in 1995.
Rugby: Henry confident of All Black depth
New Zealand Herald – May 22, 2008
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Botswana: Phikwe Hosts Rugby Sevens Tourney
AllAfrica.com – May 22, 2008
The tournament which is being hosted on a rotational basis was held in Francistown last weekend and moves to Gaborone next weekend. GA_googleFillSlot(“AllAfrica_Story_Inset”);Makhubu Cricket Club will be the venue for this year’s Phikwe edition of the tournament where Phikwe rugby fans who are usually starved of top class action will get an opportunity to see their stars tackling rivals from around the country. BDF Cheetahs who have dominated the local scene for years won the Francistown leg and will be all out to defend their crown. Hosts EMG Gunners will be attempting to exploit home ground advantage to cause an upset.
Rugby: McAlister fears for England in NZ
New Zealand Herald – May 22, 2008
McAlister now playing for Sale Sharks in the English premiership but who could be back playing at home as early as next year believes there is not a huge difference in skill levels between the northern and southern hemisphere. But he said the speed of the game in Britain was far more pedestrian compared with the Super 14.
… benched for semis – Rugby News Results Fixtures and…
Planet Rugby – May 22, 2008
In the pack prop Wyatt Crockett and blindside flanker Kieran Read come in for Ben Franks and Reuben Thorne respectively. Winger Scott Hamilton returns to the backline where there is a change to the midfield combination with outside centre Casey Laulala and inside centre Tim Bateman taking over from Caleb Ralph and Stephen Brett. Brett played in midfield outside Daniel Carter in the lacklustre loss to the Highlanders where some concerns about his defensive solidity were exposed. The 22-year-old can attack with the best of them but his defence especially when he operates in midfield has come under scrutiny.
DAVIES APPOINTED SCARLETS COACH | Sporting Life – Sports News |…
Sportinglife.com – May 22, 2008
Davies made 498 appearances for the Scarlets and won 29 Wales caps before moving into coaching under Gareth Jenkins first with Llanelli and then Wales. When Jenkins was sacked after the World Cup Davies coached Wales for the one-off November Test against South Africa before Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards took over the national team. Davies’ rugby development role which will be an executive board appointment is to be advertised by the WRU. Chief executive Roger Lewis said: “Whilst it is sad to see Nigel leave the union we are delighted he is moving to a position at the very top of Welsh rugby. “He has made great strides in a short time as our head of rugby development and his work has already helped us realise the full strategic and operational importance of the role. “Nigel’s experience with the WRU will help him settle quickly into his new role which will help build and develop the close liaison we now enjoy with each of our four regions. “This is an example of how talent nurtured and developed in Wales is being retained to make a difference to the development and growth of Welsh rugby… Davies’ rugby development role which will be an executive board appointment is to be advertised by the WRU. Chief executive Roger Lewis said: “Whilst it is sad to see Nigel leave the union we are delighted he is moving to a position at the very top of Welsh rugby. “He has made great strides in a short time as our head of rugby development and his work has already helped us realise the full strategic and operational importance of the role. “Nigel’s experience with the WRU will help him settle quickly into his new role which will help build and develop the close liaison we now enjoy with each of our four regions. “This is an example of how talent nurtured and developed in Wales is being retained to make a difference to the development and growth of Welsh rugby.
‘Treatment of Bok captain a disgrace’
Independent Online – May 22, 2008
He always made himself available and said it remained an honour and not a right to represent your country. Once the two had met Smit went public saying Bok rugby was in the hands of a passionate man with the desire to succeed. “Whether he picks me or not does not alter that view” said Smit. “They will do well. De Villiers made it his first priority to appoint Smit as his captain and the consequence was he wanted Smit back in South Africa. Andy Marinos SA Rugby National Teams General Manager made this happen with astute and mature negotiation in dealing with Smit’s French club Clermont… “They will do well. De Villiers made it his first priority to appoint Smit as his captain and the consequence was he wanted Smit back in South Africa. Andy Marinos SA Rugby National Teams General Manager made this happen with astute and mature negotiation in dealing with Smit’s French club Clermont. Smit could have had the best of both worlds. Play in France and earn Euros and play Test rugby for the Boks. The IRB regulation demands his release from club duty for Test duty and the national coach had already confirmed him as captain for 2008. Clermont then offered Smit a four-year extension on his contract but they wanted him to give up further international aspirations.