The News Review:
- Local report: Slugs women’s rugby team falls to Sac State
- All Blacks rugby captain sidelined for five weeks
- Call for Pacific team in expanded Super Rugby competition
- North-South gap still divides rugby
- Geech: Cipriani playing well
- Matt Damon injured at rugby training
Local report: Slugs women’s rugby team falls to Sac State
San Jose Mercury News
5 nationally ranked UC Santa Cruz women’s rugby team lost to visiting No. 16 ranked Sacramento State 19-7 on Saturday. Both teams entered the match undefeated in the Northern California League. The Slugs had a tough time keeping up with Sacramento due to injuries on the field causing lineup changes throughout the game. “Sacramento State is an under-ranked team” Slugs coach Alex McKenzie said.
All Blacks rugby captain sidelined for five weeks
AFP
The skipper of the Canterbury Crusaders limped from the field during his side’s 6-0 loss to the tago Highlanders on Saturday the third straight defeat for the defending champions. A medical examination on Monday revealed a medial ligament strain but Crusaders’ coach Todd Blackadder is hopeful his star flanker will return for a three-game trip to South Africa starting with a clash against the Coastal Sharks on April 18. “It’s never a good time to lose one of the best players in world rugby but it’s a good opportunity for George Whitelock to step up” Blackadder said of his reserve openside flanker. Former All Black hooker Corey Flynn will be out of rugby for about six months after breaking his left arm in the Crusaders’ defeat by the ACT Brumbies last month. Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.
Call for Pacific team in expanded Super Rugby competition
Radio Australia
This has also filtered through to the Super 14 rugby competition with Samoan Fijians and Tongans in particular lending their talents to the different teams. Now the competition organisers are looking to expand the competition and a strong push is coming from South Africa for another of its sides to be included and another idea which has again surfaced is a side from the Pacific. Presenter Michael CavanaghSpeaker Former Samoan Coach John BoeCAVANAGH: The Super 14 rugby competition is likely to be expanded with at least one new side to be invited to take part alongside the present teams from South Africa New Zealand and Australia in 2011. fficials from the three unions — are again looking at the possibility — it coincides with the negotiations for a new broadcasting deal at a time when many sports are being hit by the financial downturn which is certain to affect broadcasters who want the best value for the money they pay out for the rights to televise games.
North-South gap still divides rugby
International Herald Tribune
The Springboks and Wallabies too for that matter. Rugby's top three nations New Zealand Australia and South Africa can hardly be experiencing any other emotion than expectant satisfaction as they look northward to the less than impressive spectacle being offered by Europe in the Six Nations tournament that is throwing up more spills than thrills. Much of it so far hasn't been pretty or terribly encouraging for hopes that European teams might mount a genuine title challenge at the next World Cup. Granted there are still some 900 days before that tournament where north and south will go at it hammer and tong for rugby's ultimate crown. European teams have time to get their games in order. That said some of them — namely France and England — have more than mere wrinkles to iron out.
Geech: Cipriani playing well
SkySports
The fly-half kicked well from the hand as well as collecting 11 points via the boot as his side continued their resurgence in the Guinness Premiership. Director of rugby Ian McGeechan was pleased with Cipriani’s contribution and increasing maturity. “He’s playing well” said the Scot. “His game management was good he’s muscling up in defence and the last 20 25 minutes was very well managed in not an easy game to be able to control and dictate. “We’ve got to keep winning as many of the outstanding games as we can. We’re on a decent run at the moment – two defeats since November – and there’s some tough games to come.
Matt Damon injured at rugby training
The Times
Damon star of the famous Jason Bourne film trilogy injured his foot while kicking a rugby ball at the Gardens Rugby Club in Cape Town on Thursday. He tried to kick the ball but aimed low and sprained his right ankle. The actor was being shown the ropes by retired Springbok hero Chester Williams the film’s official rugby coach. Damon portrays former Springbok captain Francois Pienaar in the movie which is being filmed under the working title “The Mandela Project”.
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