The News Review:
- Fiji and Tonga up first in Pacific Nations Cup rugby action
- Craig Gower to make international rugby debut for Italy against …
- Lions roar in second half to drown Sharks in rugby match
- Aberdeen team is rugby champion
- Japan not keen on Super rugby’s plans
- Hoosier rugby players compete internationally for US U-20 rugby team
- Damien Hopley the ‘Vicar of Rugby’ tackles the professional game …
Fiji and Tonga up first in Pacific Nations Cup rugby action
The Canadian Press
Upcoming Test matches between Australia and Italy New Zealand and France England and Argentina and a looming series between world champion South Africa and the British and Irish Lions will likely fix the attention or world rugby over the next month to the detriment of the Pacific tournament. The PNC which starts Friday in Samoa provides island nations Fiji Samoa and Tonga and fellow participants Japan with the majority of their international programs outside World Cup years. For that reason it gives those nations their best chance to win recognition which attracts sponsorship – Fiji ranked ninth in world rugby and a quarter-finalist at the last World Cup has no major sponsor – and to show they deserve future matches against the world’s best sides. That message may largely be drowned out this year by the clamour around matches involving Australia New Zealand South Africa and the Lions.
Craig Gower to make international rugby debut for Italy against …
The Canadian Press
Gower who played halfback for Australia in the 13-man code was selected at fly half for the Italians on Thursday. He has spent the last two seasons playing rugby union in France. Another Australian-born player Luke McLean was selected at fullback. Italy will play Australia in two tests starting Saturday in Canberra before a one-off match against New Zealand.
Lions roar in second half to drown Sharks in rugby match
AFP
Magnificent defending by a home team lacking nine regulars on Springbok duty restricted the winners to a 7-3 half-time advantage but the touring team cut loose in the second half to romp home in their fourth tour match. Next up are Western Province in Cape Town on Saturday and one week later a three-Test series against world champions South Africa begins in this Indian cean city. “It was a very tough challenge and pressure paid off as we racked up a good score. It was also brilliant that we defended so well and conceded just three points” boasted Lions skipper and lock Paul ‘Connell.
Aberdeen team is rugby champion
Daily Mail – Charleston
Tuesday June 9 2009 Aberdeen team is rugby champion The Associated PressABERDEEN S. (AP) – Ten years after it organized a team from Aberdeen won the Division III national title in the USA Rugby Men’s Club Championships. The Northern State team defeated Beaumont Texas 67-22 in the recent championships in Glendale Colo. "It has been a long time coming" said Peni Mounga. "We have always been competitive. We have always been really good.
Japan not keen on Super rugby’s plans
Brisbane Times
We use an id here to be able to jump to this section. –> Japan not keen on Super rugby’s plans. –> Jim Morton June 11 2009 – 3:04PM Japan coach John Kirwan says the Land of the Rising Sun has nothing to gain from being part of Super rugby’s expansion plans. Ruling out a bid for the open Super 15 licence and any later interest Kirwan said there was no future for Japan competing against Australia New Zealand and South Africa’s provincial sides. Australian Rugby Union supremo John ‘Neill had spruiked the potential of expanding into the huge Japanese market in a future Super 16 or Super 18 by 2015 while Australia’s players union has argued Japan was well placed for a 2011 Super 15 entry. But All Blacks great Kirwan in his third year as national coach said a Japanese franchise would undermine the domestic competition which is driven by multinational corporations. Japan’s teams can afford to entice some of the best players in the world – such as Australian stars Toutai Kefu George Gregan and Stephen Larkham – because they can draw on huge sums of corporate money.
Hoosier rugby players compete internationally for US U-20 rugby team
Indiana Daily Student
Shepherd and Stroman are a part of the United States? Under-20 rugby team that competes around the globe. The two Hoosiers competed with the U. team in Kenya for the Junior World trophy May 3. The United States beat the Cayman Islands fell to Kenya then beat Namibia before moving on to the final game against Romania.
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Damien Hopley the ‘Vicar of Rugby’ tackles the professional game …
Telegraph.co.uk
Eleven years on he is still chief executive of the PRA wiser more erudite and continuing to enjoy the experience of running an organisation charged with looking after the interest and welfare of some of England’s toughest sportsmen. The PRA is Hopley’s baby the product of the professional era in rugby union a bit of vision and an accident. His career on the rugby field ended just three months after turning professional with Wasps at the age of 26 the result of a horrendous knee injury that failed to respond to treatment and kept him from adding to his three England caps.