The News Review:
- England rugby star Wilkinson is leaving Newcastle for Toulon
- Dupuy delight at France rugby call-up
- Head to head record: Chiefs 6 wins Hurricanes 8 wins
- Arrested development: USA rugby
- Race on to bring rugby World Cup to Asia
England rugby star Wilkinson is leaving Newcastle for Toulon
The Canadian Press
The 29-year-old fly-half has made 70 international appearances and is best known for the drop goal that sealed England’s 20-17 victory over Australia in the 2003 World Cup Final in Sydney. He joined the Falcons in 1997 at the age of 18 but his time with the club has been plagued by injury making just 174 appearances in 12 seasons and last played in September 2008. Copyright © 2009 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Dupuy delight at France rugby call-up
AFP
France play two Tests against the All Blacks in Dunedin on June 13 and Wellington on June 20 and one Test against the Wallabies in Sydney on June 27. Dupuy 25 is the newest addition to Marc Lievremont’s squad and should arrive brimming with confidence after helping his club to the English Premier League title last weekend. The former Biarritz player who won two French titles with the south-west club will also play in the European Cup final with Leicester when they face Irish province Leinster. Dupuy speaking from England admitted his call-up was the icing on the cake but for now he wants to stay focused on Leicester’s European challenge.
Head to head record: Chiefs 6 wins Hurricanes 8 wins
ARU Rugby
Their combined absence could tip the scales in favour of the Hurricanes who emerged injury free after last Saturday night?s comfortable nine-point win in Brisbane. Although last Friday?s 10-7 win over the Brumbies advanced the Chiefs? imposing home record in the Foster Era [2004-09] to 28 wins and a draw from 39 matches; the comforts of home haven?t always been an advantage in this particular rivalry. In fact the first six meetings between the two in Super Rugby all fell to the away side. Although the balance has since reverted to the home side who has won seven of the last eight when these two have played; the Hurricanes did beat the Chiefs 39-32 when they visited Hamilton two years ago. Halfback Alby Matthewson and Nonu who was appearing in his 50th Super Rugby game both scored tries for the Hurricanes that night. So too did flanker Serge Lilo who has since swapped sides and will appear for the Chiefs in the semi-final. The Hurricanes who have won four from six away from home this year will be looking to limit the point-scoring opportunities afforded to All Black flyhalf Stephen Donald.
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Arrested development: USA rugby
BBC Sport
The game began in the States as a phenomenon on college campuses the first recorded match on US soil taking place on 5 May 1874. Harvard University hosted Montreal’s McGill University at Cambridge Massachusetts – but sadly no-one remembers who won the game. The game took a particular hold in colleges on the west coast and sides made up largely of students represented the USA in the 1900 and 1908 lympics. In 1912 the United States played their first Test match a 12-8 loss to Australia in Berkeley.
Race on to bring rugby World Cup to Asia
AFP
Japan narrowly missed out on holding the 2011 World Cup and continues to press its case that the International Rugby Board (IRB) must take action to develop the game outside its traditional heartlands. That could work in Japan’s favour as it battles Italy England and South Africa with a decision to be made on both the 2015 and 2019 World Cups on July 28 in Dublin. All the countries have thrown their hats in the ring for both tournaments except England which is concentrating on 2015 with tenders lodged last week. “To have a World Cup in Asia would be a great leap forward for world rugby” said Japanese Rugby Football Union chairman Nobby Mashimo.