I thought I would start to post titbits picked up during the week, but probably don’t deserve a full article.
Peter Grant delays a Storming entrance
The Kobe Kobelco Steelers, Peter Grant’s Japanese club have advanced to the All-Japan Championship after going through in the Japan Rugby Top League Wild Card Tournament. This means The Stormers will have to wait a few weeks still for him to join them for the SupeRugby campaign.
If his team continue to win their matches in the 10-team tournament which starts next weekend, this could further delay his arrival in the Stormers camp.
The Lord of the (Americ)rings has arrived
New York – Mike Tolkin has been named the new coach of the US national rugby squad, replacing former Irish national team coach Eddie O’Sullivan, who resigned last November after two years in the post.
The Americans, who lost three of four matches at last year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, turned to Tolkin, who served as defensive coach for the Eagles at the World Cup.
“I hope to build on our performance from the World Cup, qualify for the next one and to mix in our new and upcoming players,” Tolkin said.
Tolkin, whose appointment was announced on Thursday by USA Rugby, guided New York’s Xavier High School to 17 national semi-finals and three US mational crowns. He also helped establish a US national Under-19 side in 1992.
Tolkin took over US club rugby power New York Athletic Club in 2000 and guided the side to three national crowns and eight playoff appearances.
The Americans’ first match with Tolkin in charge will be June 9 against host Canada followed by home matches against Georgia and Italy on June 16 and 23.
The SKRUM can finally scrum
The Swaziland Rugby Union’s (SRU) SKRUM programme has received a kit from the Sandy Bay Club from Hong Kong, China.
SRU president Michael Collinson announced the latest developments on Thursday, saying the donation of over 100 jerseys, shorts and jerseys was made on the same day. He said it would be used by the development teams.
England Coaching job may one for Saatchi & Saatchi
Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder has joined former New Zealand assistant Wayne Smith in ruling himself out of contention to be the next permanent England head coach.
Mallinder, touted as one of the leading candidates to be Martin Johnson’s long-term successor, has confirmed he did not apply for the job before Wednesday’s deadline.
Smith took up a coaching role with the Chiefs Super 15 franchise after helping the All Blacks win the 2011 Rugby World Cup and said the timing was wrong.
The former Northampton boss was also critical of the Rugby Football Union’s job description, describing it as “waffly” and better suited “for the head of a PR company”.
Stuart Lancaster, who has led England to RBS 6 Nations victories over Scotland and Italy as the interim head coach, is so far the only man to confirm he has applied for the full-time job.
Former South Africa and Italy coach Nick Mallett and John Kirwan, who has World Cup experience coaching Japan and the Azzurri, have previously expressed interest in the position.
The Rebel who wants to swim with the Sharks
Danny Cipriani’s representatives will meet with Sale Sharks chief executive Steve Diamond at the weekend in a bid to thrash out a deal that could see the former England fly-half join the Premiership club next season.
Cipriani, who is about to start his second Super 15 season with Australian franchise the Melbourne Rebels, is eager to return home to rekindle an international career that stalled under former England manager Martin Johnson.
It is understood that talks initially began last November, but they stalled after the Australian franchise blocked an early release from his two-year contract, which expires at the end of the current southern hemisphere season.
A new front will be moving over Cape Town this weekend
The Hurricanes leave this afternoon for the first three weeks of the Investec Super Rugby season on the road to play the Stormers, Lions and Western Force. They return to Wellington for their first home game at Westpac Stadium on Saturday 17th March against the Highlanders.
The 25-man squad travelling to South Africa today is as follows:
FORWARDS: Dane Coles, Motu Matu’u, Ben May, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Michael Bent, Tristan Moran, Jason Eaton, James Broadhurst, Jeremy Thrush, Victor Vito, Jack Lam, Faifili Leave, Brad Shields, Scott Fuglistaller
BACKS: Chris Eaton, TJ Preener, Beauden Barrett, Daniel Kirkpatrick, Tim Bateman, Charlie Ngatai, Conrad Smith (captain), Alapati Leiua, Julian Savea, Andre Taylor, Cory Jane
February 18th, 2012 at 14:11 SAST
Here are my favourite shorts…
********************
Here’s another goodie…
February 18th, 2012 at 14:15 SAST
The Crusaders came back from a 14-7 half-time deficit to beat the Rebels 19-14 in Melbourne.
February 18th, 2012 at 15:19 SAST
GEEZZ!!!!!! But I luuuuuv this site. my shorts suddenly got too small for me
February 18th, 2012 at 17:16 SAST
Is she wearing shorts, or just just holding a very small piece of triangular material?
February 18th, 2012 at 17:19 SAST
Bulls 16 – 6 Leopards.
Pumas 11 – Lions 13
February 18th, 2012 at 19:45 SAST
4 @ Just For Kicks:
It is rather skimpy, is’nt it!
Are you complaining or do you wish there was no triangle?
Just wondering…. hehehe
February 18th, 2012 at 20:01 SAST
@ grootblousmile:
sorry my friend GBS you are making ALL the rules here. But i totally disagree with the photos you posted. We moved away from other sites because of some things, maybe BB will be more level headed on this mater but i think this is totally out off line. This is promoted as a clean RUGBY site, not so sure who you want to attract lately, i try with ALL my posts to be rugby related. So you decide the boundaries. I can also put up Photos of almost naked girls , full naked ones too, i know where to get hem. The fact is we dont do it here and we dont talk politics here.
Be angry with me but blou koei soos jy haar noem lees ook nog die site en sy vra vrae. Wat Gaan aan vra sy.
February 18th, 2012 at 20:10 SAST
Is no one watching the Aviva premiership?
February 18th, 2012 at 20:30 SAST
@ superBul:
Hi SuperBul,
Hey, I am pretty relaxed about these things, but have to say those pictures do look very out of place here and frankly rather tacky!!
Enough said!!
February 18th, 2012 at 20:31 SAST
@ Just For Kicks:
Is that football?
February 18th, 2012 at 20:32 SAST
@ Blue Bird:
Agree, you start a thing , how do you stop it. My POINT. Enough said.
February 18th, 2012 at 20:35 SAST
@ superBul:
Bravo…
February 18th, 2012 at 20:35 SAST
@ Blue Bird:No, Quins vs Worcester Warriors. It looks like a mud bath out there
February 18th, 2012 at 20:35 SAST
@ grootblousmile:
Come and argue with us GBS !!
February 18th, 2012 at 20:38 SAST
@ Just For Kicks:
It has poured with rain today, I know, I was out training for the Argus and got wet right through.
Who is winning? I do not have satelite TV.
February 18th, 2012 at 20:39 SAST
@ Blue Bird:
Dis you see how Victor Matfield is training for the Argus?
February 18th, 2012 at 20:39 SAST
Quins 10- 8 Wor, second half just started. Have you had a lot of rain?
February 18th, 2012 at 20:42 SAST
Quins go 13-8 up after a penalty by Nick Evans
February 18th, 2012 at 20:42 SAST
@ superBul:
Victor, no how wonderful…I did see Percy Montgomery has bought a bike and is now trying to get a starting place. I think he has left it a bit late, I entered in September, however I do not have the celebrity clout that he has, I am sure they will find him a slot.
I will look out for Victor. That is so cool. lol
February 18th, 2012 at 20:44 SAST
@ Just For Kicks:
Just a heavy couple of hours rain, actually we are very short of rain and need alot more this winter.
It does play havoc with your hair tho!! Hhehehhheh I looked very bedraggled after 3 hours on a bike today.
February 18th, 2012 at 20:47 SAST
Gmpffff… I smell some really SQUARE people….
Enough said!
February 18th, 2012 at 20:48 SAST
@ Blue Bird:
Victor Matfield
Did 75km yesteday and 40km today on my mountainbike. 3 Weeks before the Argus. Anyone else doing the Argus and how many km do you do a week.
February 18th, 2012 at 20:49 SAST
Worcester get 3 back, 13-11 Quins
Is there a bike big enough for big Vic? I guess they could always strap two Penny Farthings back to back for him, that may work!
February 18th, 2012 at 20:50 SAST
I did the Argus 15 years ago, I’m still recovering
February 18th, 2012 at 20:51 SAST
@ grootblousmile:
Don’t get huffy, you know I am not square!
February 18th, 2012 at 20:55 SAST
@ Just For Kicks:
Not bad old boy, 15 years is fast.
Mike was very proud of himself when he completed the 2-3 puzzle in 1 and a half years. LOL
February 18th, 2012 at 20:58 SAST
26@ superBul:Who’s Mike? I should meet him!
February 18th, 2012 at 20:58 SAST
25 @ Blue Bird:
EVERY public beach in South Africa (where little children are allowed to play at will) featured clothing like that this summer…. without condemnation.
EVERY Super Rugby Franchise has their dancing girls, wearing not much more… hell the Sharks even have their “Flasher Girls” to boot.
February 18th, 2012 at 21:00 SAST
@ Just For Kicks:
Mike Schutte jokes, you remember the old boxer?
February 18th, 2012 at 21:02 SAST
Evans with another penalty, 16-11 Quins
February 18th, 2012 at 21:04 SAST
@ superBul:I do, on second thoughts, I don’t want to meet him, I’d probably put my foot in it and get a klap!
February 18th, 2012 at 21:04 SAST
Whoow news
About 150 stray cats cared for by an elderly woman died in a blaze at her home in Beijing, a report says.
February 18th, 2012 at 21:05 SAST
@ grootblousmile:’
Yes GBS and your ‘ladies’ are very nicely ‘put together’….but there is a time and a place!!
February 18th, 2012 at 21:07 SAST
@ superBul:
They were probably being bred to be used for a nice hat or collar!!
February 18th, 2012 at 21:07 SAST
It’s ping pong penalties out there, Wor grab another one back, 16-14 Quins
February 18th, 2012 at 21:09 SAST
Cheers all, we have a big thunderstorm moving in, i log off now to watch the first decent rain since the 18th Jan, the day we lost our water(clean), still no water so lets hope it rains , i will take a shower, brrrrr LOL
February 18th, 2012 at 21:10 SAST
@ Blue Bird:, @ superBul:Or local restaurant
February 18th, 2012 at 21:12 SAST
@ superBul:Enjoy it
February 18th, 2012 at 21:24 SAST
Full time Harlequins 16-14 Worcester