The News Review:
- Varsity rugby match entices old trans-Tasman rivals
- Josh Lewsey retires from Test rugby
- New home for North Wales rugby revealed
- Christmas warning from SA Rugby
Varsity rugby match entices old trans-Tasman rivals
AFP
Oliver will be in the Oxford University front-row for their annual match against a Cambridge University team boasting the services of Vickerman – an opponent well-known to the Kiwi through Super and Test rugby. The past few years have seen Australia star Joe Roff donning the dark blue shirt of Oxford. And with talented players wary of taking time out at what could be a formative stage of their professional careers it seems more former rather than future as was the case internationals are set to appear in the Varsity Match. Oliver played his 59th and final Test for New Zealand during last year’s shock World Cup quarter-final loss to France in Cardiff. In common with several All Blacks he subsequently joined a wealthy European club in his case Toulon then in France’s second division.
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Josh Lewsey retires from Test rugby
Telegraph.co.uk United Kingdom
But Lewsey is a proven performer and even though England’s colours are pinned on the likes of Delon Armitage Ugo Monye Mathew Tait Jamie Noon and James Simpson-Daniel there will be times over the coming months when they are backed into a corner through injury or perish the thought if you’re an England fan more strife on the field itself when they might yearn for a Lewsey. Lewsey would bring steadiness as well as sharpness. Again in the words of Edwards: “He is one of the best big-game players in professional rugby. The view of England and in particular one would assume that of new attack coach Brian Smith is that they want to work with what they’ve got. They want to rebuild breed new invigorating habits pick young guys and back them to the hilt. England have held their nerve during this dispiriting past few weeks one of their few achievements it has to be said and stood by their men.
New home for North Wales rugby revealed
WalesOnline United Kingdom
Yesterday’s announcement from the WRU only reaffirms their commitment to developing the game within North Wales. “It’s another cog in the wheel and it’s another step forward” said Pickering who also spent a few moments walking the pitch at Eirias Park. “It’s saying to everyone ‘look here is the base for North Wales rugby going forward. ’ It says a lot of the administration of the game and that it is well organised there’s a centre of the game here and it’s a fantastic facility. “When you bear in mind the regeneration plans for this part of the world then this ground can only take off from that. It’s a great facility already that is only going to get better and we are immensely pleased. ” Pickering continued: “There’s a million people in North Wales and we want to drive the game there we are very sincere in doing that.
Christmas warning from SA Rugby
Independent Online South Africa
SA Rugby’s agents confiscated R53-million’s worth of fake rugby clothing in 2008 but remain on guard for the scam artists who prey on unsuspecting rugby fans. “If it is being sold at a traffic light or at a street corner you can be sure it’s fake” said Andy Marinos acting manager director of SA Rugby. “It may be cheaper than in the stores but it is vastly inferior to the officially licensed jerseys and frankly isn’t even worth the cut price you’ll pay for it. We’re grateful that fans want to wear their team’s jersey but the irony is that by buying from the counterfeiters they’re actually taking money out of the pockets of their province.