The News Review:
- Lo Cicero blasts rugby bosses after Six Nations snub
- France investigates rugby player’s death
- Rugby: Williams turns to the cold shoulder approach after wilting …
- Clubs start preparations as new rugby season looms
Lo Cicero blasts rugby bosses after Six Nations snub
AFP
South African coach Nick Mallett brought in six Italy-based uncapped players while leaving out the experienced 32-year-old Sicilian. “After 11 years in the national team and 10 playing in the Six Nations (Lo Cicero is the only Italian player to have played in the Six Nations from Italy’s first participation in 2000) I would have expected at least a phone call” he moaned. “Instead I got nothing and I’ve been left out of the squad without even an explanation. “I feel hurt and now I want to talk to the (Italian Rugby) president (Giancarlo) Dondi.
France investigates rugby player’s death
The Age Australia
The investigators were undertaking a forensic investigation to determine the possible presence of any toxic compounds in the body 28-year-old Perigueux flanker Feao Latu who collapsed barely 15 minutes into his side’s top-of-the-table match at Cahors. The sources said the results of the tests would be known on Tuesday and would be followed on a decision on the possible need for an autopsy. Latu was pronounced dead in hospital following 45 minutes of emergency treatment pitchside. Latu who had recently married and was the father of two young children had complained of feeling unwell in the 17th minute when Cahors had scored a try.
Rugby: Williams turns to the cold shoulder approach after wilting …
Scotsman United Kingdom
Matt Williams was at Murrayfield on Friday night for the first time since being sacked from his first and so far only role as an international head coach in charge of Scotland. Clearly the hurt runs deep because nearly four years on from that demorADVERTISEMENTalising period in his career the Ulster coach refused to speak to any member of the Scottish media including Jill Douglas who was presenting Setanta’s television coverage to a far wider audience than just Scotland. There has always been some dubiety even with the Scottish Rugby Union over what finally removed Williams from Murrayfield in 2005. Was it the straight record of three wins in Test matches against lesser lights Samoa Japan and Italy? r was it the player revolt within the dressing-room that had as many as ten first-choice players considering their Test futures while Williams and his assistant Willie Anderson were in charge?There was a rumour when he did depart which perhaps sheds more light on why the Australian harbours a grudge that Williams had been told that the SRU had been left with no option “by the media”. Williams it was said believed this to mean the media had cost him his job as Scotland coach not the record of failure nor the imminent exodus of players from national duty. True there are many in Scotland media included still smarting from that period in the history of the Scotland rugby team in which regular pleas for “36 months” to turn things around and frequent insistences that his squad were on “a learning curve” failed to hide the fact that he had a competitive team that had become habitual losers. After Williams’ departure the squad matched his 14-month tally of three victories in their next five Tests.
Related from Heinekentrophy: Shoulder injury strikes Williams
Clubs start preparations as new rugby season looms
Daily Nation Kenya
tag –> By THE PUNTERPosted Monday January 12 2009 at 19:25 Rugby clubs have started preparations for the new season which is expected to kick off at the end of January according to draft fixtures which were released by the Kenya Rugby Football Union. At the weekend Mwamba had the annual Wazee and Vijana match which Wazee won 45-24 on a dusty and sub-baked Nairobi Railway ground. The bulk of the team is still intact. Although there have not been any confirmations several players from Mean Machine and Kenya Commercial Bank are keen on joining Mwamba. ne change which has already taken place though is at the captaincy where Humphrey Kayange has stepped down to concentrate on the national seven-a-side team.