- Drunken Rugby Players Should Not perate Heavy Lawncare Machinery
- Easy does it for star rugby duo
- Feud threatens Aussie bid
- RFU’s task force is all about image ‘” rugby tackles its miscreants
- Former Wallaby Rod McCall named new Queensland Rugby Union chairman
- Jones not shocked if Henson quits

Drunken Rugby Players Should Not perate Heavy Lawncare Machinery
SportingNews.com
Singing and drinking and whatnot. Sounds like a really jovial bunch of folks hanging out banging their heads together and having a good time. At no point did I hear the story about a gigantic piece of lawncare equipment being set free down a hill.

Easy does it for star rugby duo
Stuff.co.nz
Moved to No 8 McCaw had an armchair ride behind an outstanding tight five forming a lethal breakdown tag-team with captain George Whitelock while Carter booted eight out of 10 shots at goal at Westpac Stadium on Saturday and generally looked like he was playing in the backyard not a shield challenge. It was McCaw’s first crack at winning the Log o’ Wood and the All Blacks skipper was delighted to add to his already glittering CV. “There’s been a lot of excitement all week so the guys the way they played they’re pretty stoked” McCaw said. “The Ranfurly Shield still means a fair bit to these fellas and it’s great to get the win.

Feud threatens Aussie bid
SkySports
South African team Southern Kings originally hoped to be the newest inclusion to the league ahead of its expansion in 2011 but Melbourne was chosen as an alternative by the ARU. A fifth Australian team would be a convenient solution as the competition is set to switch to a conference-based format in two years. Three separate groups had shown an interest in forming the new outfit but the ARU said it would work with them all to present a unified bid. However a consortium backed by Victoria Rugby Union who represent rugby in Melbourne claim that they have been left out of the negotiating process.

RFU’s task force is all about image ‘” rugby tackles its miscreants
guardian.co.uk
This is basically 13 blokes putting their shoulders to the stable door while the horses bolt down the Chertsey Road towards the M3. The four horses of the Apocalypse: the Auckland sex scandal fake blood at Harlequins cocaine at Bath and eye gouging. Boy you can have some fun in rugby. The RFU see things differently and want the act cleaned up.
Related from Inkfeenz: Will Grundy counties pool police resources

Former Wallaby Rod McCall named new Queensland Rugby Union chairman
Fox Sports
McCall 45 will replace former chairman Peter Lewis who stood down at the end of July. McCall played 107 games for Queensland and 40 Tests for Australia including winning the 1991 Rugby World Cup and is a current Australian Rugby Union director. He said the QRU Board’s most pressing concern was the recruitment of a new chief executive to replace Ken Freer whose resignation takes effect on ctober 31. The resignations of Lewis and Freer follow the significant loss of Wallaby inside back Berrick Barnes to Super 14 arch-rivals the NSW Waratahs last month.

Jones not shocked if Henson quits
BBC Sport
The spreys centre has been put on unpaid indefinite leave by the Welsh region casting more doubt on his future amid suggestions he may retire. The 27-year-old has endured an injury-plagued few seasons and is currently struggling with ankle ligament damage. Former spreys coach Lyn Jones said: "It wouldn’t be a surprise if he never plays again. But rugby needs him.

- Rugby-Wallabies on high alert for South African challenge
- Crocked McAlister And Smith ut f Tri – Nations
- Amesbury’s Hathaway goes up against the best in rugby in England
- Castres rugby team hit with swine flu
- Former Australia winger Lote Tuqiri reportedly bound for France
- ARU denies Vic Rugby snub
- Welcome to the 2009 USA Rugby All Star Sevens – LIVE scores by YSC

Rugby-Wallabies on high alert for South African challenge
Reuters UK
“If you don’t perform you might lose but also it could getembarrassing. Australia without a victory in this year’s series need towin to have any chance of claiming the title and are pinning alot of their hopes on ‘Connor. The 19-year-old is one of the brightest talents inAustralian rugby and has impressed in his few test appearancesto date but has been thrust into the starting lineup because ofa spate of injuries to senior players. GREAT TALENT The team’s regular fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper has beenmoved to inside centre after the two first-choice midfieldersStirling Mortlock and Berrick Barnes were both sidelined butsaid he had complete faith in his young replacement.
Related from Talloonne: Wallabies in Tasmania Australia getting high on poppy plants …

Crocked McAlister And Smith ut f Tri – Nations
New York Times
McAlister fractured his right cheekbone while Smith strained his left hamstring during the 19-18 win at Sydney’s lympic stadium. All Blacks team doctor Deb Robinson said McAlister would undergo surgery this week while Smith would start immediate rehabilitation. “He (McAlister) will have several small plates inserted into his face to fix the fractures and if all goes well he will be able to return to rugby after four weeks” Robinson said in a statement. “Conrad will now go on a graduated hamstring rehabilitation programme which will involve slowly getting back into running and then rugby training and it’s anticipated that he will return to rugby in four to six weeks. “New Zealand assistant Coach Wayne Smith said Isaia Toeava who has just recovered from his foot stress fracture would re-join the squad. “It’s tough for both Luke and Conrad who both played outstandingly well on the weekend and showed a lot of character before they were injured” Smith said. “But they are strong players who will bounce back from their injuries and we look forward to their return to rugby.

Amesbury’s Hathaway goes up against the best in rugby in England
Amesbury News
Most importantly we had to work as a team if we were going to have a chance. ”Hathaway said she got “chills” as the team sang the National Anthem before the game. “Standing there in a USA Rugby jersey wearing the red white and blue and singing our anthem” she said “there was so much passion and pride it was incredible. ”England beat the U. Hathaway’s team had won the first game (Hathaway did not play) against Wales 7-3.

Castres rugby team hit with swine flu
The Canadian Press
Matches against Montauban on Saturday and Albi on Wednesday have been called off Galibert said and all training has been cancelled until further notice. The cases were confirmed on Thursday a club statement said. Copyright © 2009 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Former Australia winger Lote Tuqiri reportedly bound for France
The Canadian Press
News Limited newspapers said Thursday that the 29-year-old will meet with Bayonne – a Top 14 club which includes former Australia rugby league star Craig Gower – and Stade Francais coached by ex-New South Wales coach and Wallabies forward Ewen McKenzie. “I’m off to France for a few days to talk to some of the clubs over there” Tuqiri said. “I’ll let everyone know what’s going on soon enough. “Tuqiri received an undisclosed amount in an out-of-court settlement with the Australian Rugby Union on Monday after taking legal action over his contract termination. His one-million Australian-dollar (C$914000) contract which was scheduled to end in 2012 was severed by the ARU in June following an alleged breach of team protocol.

ARU denies Vic Rugby snub
Brisbane Times
We use an id here to be able to jump to this section. –> ARU denies Vic Rugby snub. –> Melissa Woods August 28 2009 – 6:04PM The Australian Rugby Union has denied snubbing the Victorian Rugby Union as it attempts to facilitate the country’s bid for the new Super 15 rugby license. However the head of one of the three Melbourne syndicates A-League soccer team Melbourne Victory owner Geoff Lord confirmed on Friday his Belgravia Group had been asked to support the VicSuper15 consortium leaving the VRU on the outer. The VRU claimed the ARU had awarded the Sydney-backed VicSuper15 group control of the Melbourne bid with the state union which controls rugby in Victoria to have little input. The ARU has been working to bring the three Melbourne bidders together to form a united front to take on the South African bid for the new license with SANZAR due to make a decision in ctober. The ARU issued a statement on Friday denying any decisions had been made on the governance structure of the proposed Melbourne entity.

Welcome to the 2009 USA Rugby All Star Sevens – LIVE scores by YSC
Bleacher Report
2490!They just announced that some of the games will be available to watch online. \n\nWelcome to New York!\nn behalf of Metropolitan New York Rugby Union’s Host Committee I am happy to welcome USA Rugby and its. This website will be the central resource for information before during and after the tournament. The competition will be held on new high-quality artificial turf fields on Randall’s Island. We worked with New York City government to ensure these and other fields fit regulation rugby dimensions markings and goal posts.

- Harlequins facing ban from rugby over Bloodgate
- Rugby winger Tuqiri reportedly bound for France
- Greg Inglis allowed to play on for Melbourne despite alleged assault
- Historic Rugby Village Pilgrimage offers state’s largest building tour
- South Africa: Habana’s Move to Province Might Backfire for Him
- Twins unlikely to disturb Federer’s slam dreams
- ‘Aggressive’ Fox Near Rugby Road and Lambeth Area

Harlequins facing ban from rugby over Bloodgate
Mirror.co.uk
European Rugby Cup officials refused to rule out the possibility that Quins will after all be kicked out of this season’s Heineken Cup. But that may only be the tip of the iceberg as the Rugby Football Union prepares to examine allegations of a cover-up involving Quins’ top brass. Judge Jeff Blackett the RFU’s disciplinary officer revealed that possible punishments could extend as far as expulsion from all RFU competitions. Blackett said: “Rule 5. 12 says any conduct that is prejudicial to the interests of the union or the game is misconduct.

Rugby winger Tuqiri reportedly bound for France
eTaiwan News
News Limited newspapers said Thursday that the 29-year-old will meet with Bayonne _ a Top 14 club which includes former Australia rugby league star Craig Gower _ and Stade Francais coached by ex-New South Wales coach and Wallabies forward Ewen McKenzie. “I’m off to France for a few days to talk to some of the clubs over there” Tuqiri said. “I’ll let everyone know what’s going on soon enough. “Tuqiri received an undisclosed amount in an out-of-court settlement with the Australian Rugby Union on Monday after taking legal action over his contract termination. His 1 million Australian dollar ($800000) contract which was scheduled to end in 2012 was severed by the ARU in June following an alleged breach of team protocol.

Greg Inglis allowed to play on for Melbourne despite alleged assault
guardian.co.uk
Inglis had been under an indefinite playing ban after he was charged with recklessly causing injury and unlawful assault over an incident on 9 August which allegedly left his girlfriend Sally Robinson with a black eye. The 22-year-old Inglis appeared in a Melbourne court on 12 August when he was granted bail to return on 14 ctober. “Given all the information we have received at this stage we believe in fairness [it is] in the best interests of Greg Inglis’ well-being that he resumes his playing responsibilities” Storm’s chief executive Brian Waldron said today. “I have spoken to NRL CE David Gallop and he has accepted the decision.
Related from Vistra-corp: Inglis reacts to proposed nuclear plant

Historic Rugby Village Pilgrimage offers state’s largest building tour
Maryville Daily Times
4McClanahans celebrate five generationsHistoric Rugby Village Pilgrimage offers state’s largest building tourHistoric Rugby riginally published: August 27. 2009 3:01AM Last modified: August 26. 2009 8:41PMRUGBY — Historic Rugby homeowners museum staff and volunteers are throwing open the doors to 30 antique-filled buildings at Historic Rugby’s 40th Village Pilgrimage from 10 a.

South Africa: Habana’s Move to Province Might Backfire for Him
AllAfrica.com
But if rumours are true that Habana’s father could be the cause of his departure from the successful Pretoria-based union the player may have been better off signing for big-spending French clubs such as Toulon or Bayonne. A flight to Cape Town is two hours away and Habana senior should have no problem continuing to run things for his son. GA_googleFillSlot( “AllAfrica_Story_InsetC” );With a Rugby World Cup title a British and Irish Lions series victory and two Super 14 titles to his name the only silverware the player needs to fill the cabinet is the Currie Cup and Tri-Nations trophy — a trophy he could win this season after the Springboks registered three back-to-back home wins. But with Western Province’s development structures being one of their weaknesses and the team placing a big emphasis on buying a winning team rather than developing one their chances of securing their first Currie Cup title since 2001 will continue to be tough. With more than 10 Springboks in their Super 14 squad every season the team has been unable to reach one semifinal since 2004. Their best finish was last year’s fifth place. Things do not look much rosier for the franchise next season especially with the likes of Watson and De Villiers having moved on.

Twins unlikely to disturb Federer’s slam dreams
Reuters
“It would be more difficult to focus on one thing alone because your main focus is for your child and your wife and tennis becomes secondary. EDGE DISAPPEARED Former England rugby player Austin Healey summed up the feeling of many professional athletes by saying: “I immediately felt my edge had disappeared and I knew from that point on it would be very difficult to keep playing rugby at the highest level. If the tennis annals are to be believed the arrival of the Federer twins could seriously dent the world number one’s chances of adding to his collection of grand slam titles. The last time a mother won a singles grand slam crown was in 1980 when Australian Evonne Goolagong triumphed at Wimbledon. Since then only eight men have captured a major after embracing the joys of fatherhood.

‘Aggressive’ Fox Near Rugby Road and Lambeth Area
University of Virginia
University Police are patrolling the area and humane traps have been set. Students and area residents are asked to be especially careful during evening and early morning hours. If you see the animal do not approach or try to scare it. Move away from it and call 911 immediately.

- Young rugby players at Canada Games see lympics in their futures
- South Africa: ‘Merge Southern Kings and Melbourne for Super 15′
- nen ruled out of Elgon rugby Cup return leg
- Canterbury rugby identify gaps

Young rugby players at Canada Games see lympics in their futures
The Canadian Press
— Rugby in the lympics is still one round of voting and seven years away but players like Nick Phillipson and Shea Wakefield can still dream. Rugby took a big leap toward becoming an lympic sport when the fast-paced sevens version of the game was recommended last week for inclusion in the 2016 Summer Games along with golf. “We’ve actually talked about it as a team and I think it’s awesome” said Phillipson a native of Duncan B. who plays for the Cowichan Rugby Club.
Related from Mexview: Rooting for Mexico ‘ From New York!

South Africa: ‘Merge Southern Kings and Melbourne for Super 15′
AllAfrica.com
He suggested in his personal capacity that the two franchises left in the race the Southern Kings and Australia’s Melbourne join forces and base themselves in Port Elizabeth for half of the series and Melbourne for the rest. GA_googleFillSlot( “AllAfrica_Story_InsetA” );This solution would not only reduce the huge cost involved in forming a top-class franchise as they would share the expenses it would also ease the player resources burden he said. The lack of enough quality players to form a competitive new franchise has been one of the main concerns among Sanzar’s members Australia New Zealand and SA. Hoskins’ suggestion which he mentioned during a Sanzar conference call followed the decision by the New Zealand Rugby Union yesterday to dump its proposed Taranaki franchise.

nen ruled out of Elgon rugby Cup return leg
New Vision
nen aggravated his knee injury during the first leg game in Nairobi over the weekend that ended 30-22 in favour of Kenya. “It will be a very big miracle for him to make it to the side” team doctor Leonard Were stated. “We are trying our best but honestly he will not make it to the squad. Some one stamped on his knee yet it was injured and we shall have to do without him” Were added.

Canterbury rugby identify gaps
Stuff.co.nz
In Waikato’s case Matson said their outside defenders tended to fold in meaning there would be space on the outside provided you could get the ball there. But being told it does not mean you can see it. “ne of the issues we have is if you and I are on a rugby field and we pause at a moment in time I may say ‘give me the ball there’s an opportunity over there’. But you might be standing right next to me and you might go ‘hold on there’s one over there’. So one of the crucial things is getting everybody’s pictures aligned. Matson said a good deal of the team’s training sessions were spent trying to recognise where opportunities existed and how to take advantage of them. “We’ve got a really high skill set among our backs and that makes a big difference to our ability to execute.

- Fiji eyes medals if golf rugby get lympic nod
- Rugby star Austin Healey touches down in Sardinia’s Forte holiday …
- English rugby club Harlequins to find final price of fake injury scam
- Tragic watching rugby being kicked to death
- Tuqiri back on the rugby field
- Greenwich store gets a kick out of soccer rugby

Fiji eyes medals if golf rugby get lympic nod
USA Today
Fiji a world power and gold medal prospect in seven-a-side rugby said Saturday it would call on Singh to lead its golf team in 2016 if the International lympic Committee approves its inclusion at a meeting in Copenhagen in ctober. Singh who was born in the Fijian town of Lautoka will be 53 in 2016. He won the 2000 Masters and the U. PGA Championship in 1998 and 2004.

Rugby star Austin Healey touches down in Sardinia’s Forte holiday …
Daily Mail
In rugby terms it’s like anticipating that your imminent fixture against the All Blacks will be a breeze. The Healeys have learnt this the hard way – and we now travel more in hope than expectation of enjoying the things most people take for granted on a seaside break. With four girls including twins Bibi-Dee and Betsy who are 14 months old massages on the beach drinks by the pool sunbathing and chilled-out meals are but distant memories for us. The thing that usually greets families with small children when they go away is bedlam: there’s the fighting to assert control worrying about kids falling into pools constant cleaning up plenty of complaining – and of course the feeling that everyone else wishes you and your screaming brood were staying somewhere else.

English rugby club Harlequins to find final price of fake injury scam
The Canadian Press
Quins’ use of fake blood to give a player the appearance of a mouth injury that allowed the club to introduce a potentially match-winning substitute into a game it was losing is one of the most outrageous episodes to hit the sport for years. Rugby is traditionally described as “a thugs’ game played by gentlemen” for the way its participants respect the rules of the bruising physical sport and like cricket prides itself on the absence of the petulant cynical behaviour associated with football. But the 143-year-old London club is in turmoil after its respected director of rugby former England international Dean Richards resigned over the incident in April. And Quins have been fined an unprecedented 215000 pounds (C$389000) over the ruse which failed to save the Heineken Cup quarter-final against Leinster.
Related from Heinekentrophy: Axe drug cheats says Phil Vickery

Tragic watching rugby being kicked to death
The Times
That the Boks can resort to this brand of 10-man rugby (okay let’s make it 12 by including the wings who do nothing but chase up-and- unders all afternoon) means that all the tinkering with the laws the ELVs and other variations designed to speed up the game and make it more attacking and attractive for spectators has meant nothing on the field of play. This is the exact opposite of what Peter de Villiers promised at the start of his tenure as coach. This was brought home when John Smit’s captaincy stats were flashed onto the screen before one of the recent games. Stats for ex-England captain Will Carling whose numbers were next to Smit’s showed that England had an incredible 74% win record under Carling’s captaincy. But if memory serves me this was an era in which England played boring rugby — the juggernaut pack would steamroller forward and Rob Andrew would slot the inevitable penalties.

Tuqiri back on the rugby field
Sydney Morning Herald
We use an id here to be able to jump to this section. –> Tuqiri back on the rugby field. –> Patrick Caruana August 15 2009 Troubled former Wallaby Lote Tuqiri has made his return to competitive rugby playing on the wing for West Harbour against Warringah in the NSW Shute Shield club competition. The former Test and NSW Waratahs winger had his $1 million a year contract torn up by the Australian Rugby Union on July 1 but the circumstances leading to his sacking have not been made public. He has since taken action in the NSW Supreme Court. Tuqiri found plenty of the ball in the first half on Saturday and also managed to save a certain try with a well-timed tackle. But he struggled to get near the pill in the second as the Pirates went down 23-16.

Greenwich store gets a kick out of soccer rugby
Connecticut Post
International Soccer & Rugby operated by the Avalos family will open its third store today at 42 W. in a space formerly occupied by The Right Start which closed this year. The opening should make the business more accessible to shoppers from as far away as metropolitan New York and Long Island said co-owner Gus Avalos a Fairfield resident who operates the business with his wife Fran daughters Michelle and Jessica and son Gus.

- Quins sorry for fake injury saga
- Sooners to open 2 football practices to the public
- Dan Carter feels comeback timing is right
- Rugby hierarchy putting plenty of pressure on Wellington to play …
- Free for all: Close Encounters Rugby rebates

Quins sorry for fake injury saga
BBC Sport
"And for that we apologise to all of you unconditionally. " Williams’ appeal against the severity of his ban will be heard by an independent panel in Glasgow on Monday. Director of rugby Dean Richards was cleared of wrongdoing by European Rugby Cup’s independent disciplinary committee but he resigned from the club at the weekend.

Sooners to open 2 football practices to the public
Dallas Morning News
Coach Bob Stoops says the workouts on Thursday and next Monday will be open. The practices will start at 6 p. at the U rugby fields west of the Lloyd Noble Center and will be open for about an hour. Seating will be available on the south side of the practice fields. If weather conditions force either practice to be moved indoors the public access will be canceled.

Dan Carter feels comeback timing is right
Stuff.co.nz
The 27-year-old 59-test All Black simply knows that when his body is right – and it finally is – and his mind is also in similarly fine fettle then a test match holds no fears for him. Not even one as vital and pivotal as the All Blacks’ fourth Tri-Nations outing which will determine if they have any hope of catching the runaway Springboks. Carter may have not played a test for nearly nine months may have only had three games of rugby since a near six-month layoff with a ruptured Achilles tendon. But he knows himself and right about now there’s a familiar feeling creeping over him. It’s why he says he’d have no qualms starting next Saturday night a responsibility Graham Henry will hand him providing he comes through one more outing for Canterbury against Waikato at AMI Stadium tomorrow night. “I’d feel good” shrugged Carter matter-of-factly. “That’s why I’m here.

Rugby hierarchy putting plenty of pressure on Wellington to play …
Radio New Zealand
All Blacks coach Graham Henry is seemingly far from happy over Joseph’s decision to leave Cory Jane Neemia Tialata and Piri Weepu and Rodney So’oialo out of the Wellington starting lineup to play Bay of Plenty. A dozen All Blacks have have been released to play for their provinces before their next Tri-Nations outing on Saturday week against Australia. Joseph says including the international players will disrupt his side as they’re not around long enough before returning to All Black duty. That’s hardly met with Henry’s approval given his response at today’s All Black training session in Auckland where he said the matter was being worked through the appropriate channels but refused to say anything more on the matter.
Related from Maniafest: Wellington Equestrian Festival To Bring In Millions

Free for all: Close Encounters Rugby rebates
The Georgetown Voice
Tickets are free and no reservations are required. RugbyWhen you think of Ralph Lauren Rugby the word “cheap” isn’t usually what comes to mind.   But Rugby’s blog just posted a.

- Rugby teams mourn loss of teammate killed in current
- Youth rugby tournament Saturday at Pine Banks
- Rugby head kicker gets 18-month ban
- Tri Nations Rugby South Africa v Australia

Rugby teams mourn loss of teammate killed in current
Philadelphia Inquirer
He then pumped his taped wrist on which he had written the initials JS and shouted "Josias!"For more than a week Sterling a 19-year-old lney native and Temple University student had been listed officially as missing. A body was recovered Monday near the Route 52 Bridge in cean City and police confirmed yesterday that it was Sterling’s. "He was a beautiful human being" said Bill Gregory Ryan Gregory’s father and Sterling’s former rugby coach at St. "An intense terror on the field and as soon as the game was over the most laid-back guy. "Sterling the son of Haitian immigrants who put a high premium on education for their six children studied communications and advertising at Temple where he would have been a sophomore in the fall. He also was a standout on Temple’s rugby team named rookie of the year after his freshman season.

Youth rugby tournament Saturday at Pine Banks
Boston Globe
com Max Rudzinsky 11 at last year’s jamboree. By Travis Andersen Town Correspondent The Mystic River Youth Rugby team will. tandersen August 7 2009–> Text size – +.

Rugby head kicker gets 18-month ban
Brisbane Times
We use an id here to be able to jump to this section. –> Rugby head kicker gets 18-month ban. –> Tim Keeble Illawarra Mercury August 7 2009 – 11:50AM AVNDALE flanker Scott Haynes has been banned for 18 months by the Illawarra Rugby Union judicial committee. Haynes received the maximum sentence available after pleading guilty to kicking Shoalhaven forward Mick Johnson in Saturday’s match at Gerry Cappetta val. The suspension is one of the heaviest handed down in the IRU’s 56-year history. “The judiciary expressed the view that it was the worst incident we’ve had before us at least certainly in the four or five years I’ve been there” IRU judicial committee chairman Mark McDonald said. “The maximum sentence was 18 months and that’s what he got but we’ll be calling for a review of the sentencing process because the range probably should’ve been greater than 18 months.

Tri Nations Rugby South Africa v Australia
Cappers Mall
Head Coach for Australia Robbie Deans has decided to stay with the exact same starting fifteen that lost to New Zealand by 6 points in their last outing. It is the first time in his coaching tenure he has named the same fifteen for two consecutive matches. So far this year defensively Australia has been sound. But they are sure to be put under the blow torch by a rampant Springbok unit.
Related from Wtgmarketingsummit: Fitzgerald now global marketing director

- Hawke’s Bay drops Super rugby bid
- Boks retain Steyn for Australia rugby Test
- Report: Mathieu Bastareaud faces long ban from French rugby team

Hawke’s Bay drops Super rugby bid
Brisbane Times
We use an id here to be able to jump to this section. –> Hawke’s Bay drops Super rugby bid. –> August 6 2009 – 4:39PM Hawke’s Bay have pulled the plug on a short-lived bid to become Super Rugby’s 15th franchise but not before a little dig at the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU). Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union (HBRU) chairman Richard Hunt said on Thursday the union had been afforded too little time to put up a credible case. HBRU also had received a strong signal from the NZRU that its bid was unlikely to succeed. “We are unsure of the reason for this” he added. Hunt also released a copy of a letter the union wrote to NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs late last month outlining its discomfort over the whole exercise.

Boks retain Steyn for Australia rugby Test
AFP
The South African recipe for success against the All Blacks was brutally simple: apply constant forward pressure to force opposition into conceding penalties and leave rest to the boot of Steyn. De Villiers calmed instant media worship of Steyn by saying the fly-half can improve his game considerably including getting the backline away quicker and creating more space. “That he has a brilliant foot must not blind us to think that he can deliver total rugby. There are still a lot of things that he can improve” stressed the coach. Australia surrendered a 10-point advantage when losing 22-16 to New Zealand in the opening match of the annual southern hemisphere championship in Auckland and name their team Thursday. South Africa (15-1)Francois Steyn; JP Pietersen Jaque Fourie Jean de Villiers Bryan Habana; Morne Steyn Fourie du Preez; Pierre Spies Juan Smith Heinrich Brussow; Bakkies Botha Victor Matfield; John Smit (capt) Bismarck du Plessis Tendai MtawariraReplacements: Chiliboy Ralapelle Jannie du Plessis Andries Bekker Danie Rossouw Ricky Januarie Ruan Pienaar Adrian JacobsCopyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.
Related from Harrypotterstore: Harry Potter and the freezing Boks

Report: Mathieu Bastareaud faces long ban from French rugby team
The Canadian Press
Francois Alguacil the president of the French Rugby Federation’s disciplinary committee said in an interview with French daily Le Parisien that the FFR is unlikely to be lenient when it delivers its verdict next month. “This was offensive to the French team but also to the governments of New Zealand and France” Alguacil told Le Parisien. “I think he will be banned from the (France) squad for between one and three years. “Bastareaud 20 suffered a suspected broken eye socket and needed stitches to close facial cuts following a late night incident after France’s 14-10 loss to New Zealand in the second test of France’s southern hemisphere tour.

- Vancouver Wave beat Toronto Rebellion to win national junior rugby …
- Rugby-Wallabies utility Ioane commits to Queensland Reds
- Inside Lines: Rugby could kick football’s World Cup hopes into touch
- New league hopes to popularize rugby in US
- Junior rugby league | president accused of crash tackling 12 year old

Vancouver Wave beat Toronto Rebellion to win national junior rugby …
The Canadian Press
— Admir Cejvanovic scored two tries as the Vancouver Wave rallied to beat the Toronto Rebellion 41-21 and win the national junior rugby championship Saturday. Chris Barrett Mike MacDonald Lewis Hart and Jeff McKinnon also scored tries for Vancouver which trailed 18-8 at the half. Harry Jones the captain of Canada’s under-20 squad added four conversions. “Nothing feels better than a comeback win it feels great right now” Jones said. Toronto wasted no time in the first half as Matt Alexander and Rory Tomlinson each touched down in the opening minutes.

Rugby-Wallabies utility Ioane commits to Queensland Reds
Reuters UK
The Reds have struggled to retain and recruit internationalstandard players and finished no higher than 10th in the pastfive Super rugby seasons. Wallabies centre Berrick Barnes said earlier this week hewas leaving to join the New South Wales Waratahs whileWallabies forward Hugh McMeniman is joining a Japanese club. Australia outside back Drew Mitchell a Queensland productalso chose to link with the Waratahs rather than rejoin theReds next season as he moved back to Australia’s east coastfrom the Western Force. Ioane had reportedly been the target of Australia’s otherSuper 14 teams and received international offers but said onSaturday he had committed with the Reds until the end of 2011. “I couldn’t see myself going anywhere else and startingover again.

Inside Lines: Rugby could kick football’s World Cup hopes into touch
Independent
What Gordon Brown hails as the UK’s Golden Decade of sport which includes the 2012 lympics and the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow may rebound on England when Fifa votes next year as one international bid expert points out. “Normally you would not expect rugby to be on Fifa’s radar” he says “but you can be sure England’s rivals will be quick to make capital out of what could be seen as an overload of major events coming this country’s way. If enough ears are bent Fifa could be influenced into taking the World Cup elsewhere so as not to be seen to be giving England a monopoly on global events. ” Worrying thought.
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New league hopes to popularize rugby in US
Press of Atlantic City
watch the games from the sideline with their dog Sadie. The three were part of a crowd of mostly players’ family and friends.

Junior rugby league | president accused of crash tackling 12 year old
Sydney Morning Herald
–> Club boss accused of tackling player 12. –> Ellie Harvey August 3 2009 THE president of a junior rugby league club has been accused of grabbing a 12-year-old boy by the throat and crash tackling him in yet another juniors game gone wrong. The boy was allegedly tackled by the opposing team?s club president during a game in Camden on Saturday after a brawl between players on the field. ??I couldn?t believe it?? said the boy?s mother who asked that neither she nor her son be named. ??I?ve never witnessed anything like that. ??[My son] has been playing football since he was five and over the years you may have an incident ? [but] to have a president and officials behaving like that was just unbelievable. ?? A witness said the boy who was on the bench for Campbelltown Warriors made several steps towards the field during a game against Macarthur Saints when he was grabbed by the throat and thrown to the ground.

- Rugby-Wallabies utility Ioane commits to Queensland Reds
- Rugby action to hit Lake Placid area; LP school fields won’t play host
- Rugby Club vies for league title
- SP Rugby Wins Bele Chere Sevens Tourney

Rugby-Wallabies utility Ioane commits to Queensland Reds
Reuters UK
The Reds have struggled to retain and recruit internationalstandard players and finished no higher than 10th in the pastfive Super rugby seasons. Wallabies centre Berrick Barnes said earlier this week hewas leaving to join the New South Wales Waratahs whileWallabies forward Hugh McMeniman is joining a Japanese club. Australia outside back Drew Mitchell a Queensland productalso chose to link with the Waratahs rather than rejoin theReds next season as he moved back to Australia’s east coastfrom the Western Force. Ioane had reportedly been the target of Australia’s otherSuper 14 teams and received international offers but said onSaturday he had committed with the Reds until the end of 2011. “I couldn’t see myself going anywhere else and startingover again.

Rugby action to hit Lake Placid area; LP school fields won’t play host
Lake Placid News
There are three baseball diamonds and four soccer fields at the grounds depending on how you arrange them said school board president Dan Nardiello. Although the fields were supposed to have been ready for the rugby tournament to use this summer the school board decided earlier this year not to let the tournament use them. Instead the tournament was offered the use of one field at the elementary school as well as the field inside the lympic val. “The concern earlier was that with the children coming back to school in September the fields would not have time to recover from that degree of usage” Nardiello said.
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Rugby Club vies for league title
Steamboat Pilot
Steamboat and Brecken­ridge play at 2 p. Saturday at Whistler Field to decide the 2009 Mountain League Champ­ionship. In a season shortened by scheduling conflicts Steam­boat will have a chance to win its second league title in three years ? something the team set as a goal before the start of the season.

SP Rugby Wins Bele Chere Sevens Tourney
Southern Pines Pilot
Rugby Wins Bele Chere Sevens TourneyA short-handed Southern Pines Rugby team outplayed and outlasted 14 other teams to win the 2009 Bele Chere Rugby Sevens Tournament held this past weekend in Asheville. Throughout the tournament the Southern Pines team overcame injuries and younger opponents to win the title. In fact the team needed sudden death play in its semifinal and final matches to emerge victorious. “This is so deserving for our team after so many near wins in the different tournaments we have played in” said Steve Anchor captain of the Southern Pines Rugby club. “We had guys playing with stitches who were exhausted and physically drained so to come away with the championship trophy is a reward for the hard work in not only this tournament but for all the years we have been together.