European Rugby
A man who has steered his club to the most league titles in Celtic rugby has today been appointed to the position of Scotland forwards coach.
Jonathan Humphreys, the former Welsh hooker and captain, will join the Scotland management ahead of the quadrangular tournament with Samoa, South Africa and Italy in June. He will be on a two year contract.
The 2013 British and Irish Lions squad to tour Australia this year is due to be announced tomorrow, Tuesday 30 April. The squad of 36 or 37 players will stop off in Hong Kong en route to Australia where they will kick start their tour with a game against the Barbarians on Saturday 1 June.
Saracens and Toulon will both have uncharted territory in their sights when they clash in today’s semi-final showdown at Twickenham Stadium – a debut place in a prestigious Heineken Cup final.
Favourites Clermont qualified for their first ever European Cup Final after ousting twice former winners Munster 16-10 in a bruising semifinal at Montpellier on Saturday.
When Toulon’s superstars roll into town for this weekend’s Heineken Cup semi-final they will find in their way a Saracens side who are the only English club left in the last four of Europe’s elite club competition.
Benetton Treviso are on course for their highest-ever RaboDirect PRO12 finish but head coach (former Springbok flyhalf) Franco Smith insists he is not concerned about the final table.
The RaboDirect PRO12 is in line to record its best ever attendances since the competition changed to a home and away format ten seasons ago.
World Cup-winning former Springbok coach has declined an offer to coach Ireland.
It was all change yet again at the top of the Pro12 table following Round 20, with Ulster retaking the top position, whilst Glasgow Warriors slipped to third.
And with just two rounds left, and a maximum of 10 points on offer, five teams are still vying for the four play-off places.
This weekend sees action in the penultimate round of the league stage of the Aviva Premiership with the first match of the round being between Gary Gold’s Bath and Leicester Tigers. The final match of the weekend is scheduled for Sunday afternoon with London Wasps at home to Exeter Chiefs.
Former Springboks and Italy coach Nick Mallett will coach a South African Barbarians team for their match against Saracens at the Honourable Artillery Company, in the heart of the City of London, on Thursday 16 May.
The International Rugby Board has named the match officials for the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia in June.
France (0) 23 / 16 (6) Scotland (Final Score)
France and Scotland did battle in Super Rugby at Stade de France, Paris at 22:00 SA Time (20:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 6 & SHD 4 on TV in SA.
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Lions (28) 56 / 24 (14) Mont-de-Marsan (Final Score)
The MTN Lions and Mont-de-Marsan did battle in the Lions Challenge Series at Ellis Park, Johannesburg at 19:30 SA Time (17:30 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, & CSN on TV in SA.
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Three Six Nations games are played today but unfortunately the early Saturday games overlap with a Super Rugby game and a game in the Lions Challenge.
So, we’ve decided to do one combined Six Nations Article for the early games and a seperate one for the late evening game… giving progress and scores from both Six Nations matches.
Here it is…
The Sharks Springbok brothers Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis are considering a move away from Super Rugby in France where they would play in the Top14.
Grant Gilchrist, the 22-year-old Edinburgh Rugby lock, will win his first cap for Scotland in Saturday’s final 2013 RBS 6 Nations Championship match against France in Paris.
Gilchrist, the 6ft 8ins product of the Alloa and Stirling County clubs, replaces the injured Richie Gray. The only other change to the starting line-up sees the experienced Alasdair Strokosch preferred to Rob Harley at blindside flanker.
England (12) 18 / 11 (3) Italy (Final Score)
England and Italy did battle in the Six Nations tournament at Twickenham, London at 17:00 SA Time (15:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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Two Six Nations games are played today. Unfortunately the Saturday games overlap with two Super Rugby games.
So, we’ve decided to do one combined Six Nations Article… giving progress and scores from both Six Nations matches.
Here it is…
Ex-London Welsh team manager Mike Scott has been banned for life from rugby union for falsifying documents to make it appear a player was English.
The club were deducted five points and fined £15,000 on Thursday for fielding an ineligible player after selecting New Zealander Tyson Keats this season.
Bottom of the table France travel to Dublin to face fourth placed Ireland in the RBS Six Nations Championship on Saturday. This is part of the fifth round of fixtures of this year’s Championship. The match is scheduled to kick off at 19.00 South African Time.
Top of the table England host fifth placed Italy at Twickenham in the RBS Six Nations Championship on Sunday. This is part of the fifth round of fixtures of this year’s Championship. The match is scheduled to kick off at 17.00 South African Time.
Toulon second-row Bakkies Botha will face no further sanction after being cited for a shoulder charge last month.
Scotland assistant coaches Stevie Scott and Duncan Hodge were appointed on Wednesday as interim coaches of Edinburgh Rugby. Incumbent head and assistant coaches Michael Bradley and Neil Back have left their posts with immediate effect having agreed terms to bring their contracts to an early end – Bradley’s was due to expire this May, and Back the following season.
Jonathan Sexton has been ruled out of Ireland’s Six Nations clash against France on Saturday while Paddy Jackson is also a fitness concern.
Wales have made three changes to the team that beat Italy with former captain Sam Warburton returning to the starting line up.
As well as Warburton returning to the starting line up Bath prop Paul James and Ospreys second rower Alun Wyn Jones are also named in the starting line up.
Duncan Weir, the 21-year-old Glasgow Warriors stand-off, will make his first start for Scotland in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship match against Wales at Murrayfield.
Bulls and Springbok flyhalf Morne Steyn has agreed to leave the Pretoria Super Rugby franchise and join Stade Francais.
Ireland have named a 32-man training squad for their Six Nations Championship match against France at the Aviva Stadium with Ronan O’Gara being left out of the group.
Second-half tries from Joel Tomkins, Will Fraser and David Strettle helped Saracens pick up a 35-14 bonus point win over London Welsh and leapfrog Harlequins into top spot in the Premiership.
Bath second row Dominic Day admits that it is win at all costs when they welcome West Country rivals Gloucester to the Rec on Friday. Day and co will be itching to return to winning ways after their run of six straight victories in all competitions came to an end with their narrow 23-25 defeat at Northampton Saints.
Round 17 of the Pro12 kicks off with five games on Friday, with both contenders for the top spot in action.
Leaders Ulster, who have been at the top since round five, welcome Benetton Treviso to Ravenhill whilst Glasgow Warriors host Cardiff Blues at Scotstoun.
The Australian Rugby Union has announced that the Wallabies will have a dedicated three-week window to prepare for their once in a lifetime opportunity against the British & Irish Lions.
Here we are midweek already and looking forward to the coming weekend’s rugby. Most of the attention up north is due to be focussed on the RaboDirect Pro12 and the Aviva Premiership as there is yet another break in the RBS 6 Nations tournament. Last weekend’s rugby may now be a distant memory but felt it would be interesting to share the views of two former international players of the action between Scotland and Ireland.
There was good news for clubs on both sides of the Central Belt as the services of two valuable loose forwards were announced. Glasgow Warriors have managed to secure the services of prodigal son Richie Vernon once more while Roddy Grant has extended his contract with Edinburgh Rugby.