SA Rugby
The Sharks have announced their 24 man team for their pre-season match at the Woodburn stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Friday night.
Despite a wet conditions, courtesy of a late downpour, the Shimla’s still put Varsity Cup newcomers Wits to the sword. Wits the 2012 Varsity Shield winners were hammered 61 – 8, and by eight tries to one.
Toyota Cheetahs flyhalf sensation Johan Goosen is still under wraps! According to Hawies Fourie, the knee that was operated on last year is fine, but that Goosen is still experiencing discomfort with his left heel when kicking at goal. He will undergo a scan to determine if a hairline fracture of the heel may be the cause. If that is the case, he may only be out for an extra week.
Alister Coetzee has confirmed that Schalk Burger and Juan De Jongh have been sidelined with injury and will miss the opening match against the Bulls.
Pukke (24) 26 / 23 (0) Tuks (Final Score)
North West University – Pukke and University Of Pretoria – Tuks did battle in the Varsity Cup at Fanie du Toit Sportsground, Potchefstroom 19:00 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Maties (8) 29 / 8 (0) UJ (Final Score)
FNB Maties and FNB UJ did battle in the Varsity Cup at the Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch at 16:45 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD4 on TV in SA.
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His brief was just to complete his 30 minutes of rugby and walk off the field uninjured. However his time on the field showed why his return has been so keenly anticipated, not only by the Cheetahs fans but by most rugby lovers. He hardly looked as if he had been away from the game for two years.
Today sees the start of the Varsity Cup Competition, with exciting rugby awaiting us from all the Premier Universities and Tertiary Institutions.
This year Wits replace TUT, TUT having been relegated to the Varsity Shield Competition.
Four matches are played late afternoon and this evening, 1 at 17:00 and 3 at 19:00, of course, only 2 matches are televised live, here are the details:
- Maties v UJ – 17:00, Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch (LIVE ON TV)
- Pukke v Tuks – 19:00, Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds, Potchefstroom (LIVE ON TV)
- UCT v NMMU – 19:00, Groote Schuur Rugby Field, Cape Town
- Wits v Shimlas – 19:00, Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg
Cheetahs (0) 27 / 26 (11) Stormers (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs and DHL Stormers did battle in the Free State Reconciliation Challenge at X at 17:05 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Bulls (22) 38 / 32 (17) Lions (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls and MTN Lions did battle in the Gauteng Rugby Cup at Orlando Stadium, Soweto at 15:00 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Doctor Louis Luyt, a big man and bigger figure in Rugby Circles in South African Rugby, passed away ealier today, 1 February 2013.
MTN Lions head coach Johan Ackermann has announced the following team to take on the Vodacom Bulls in the Gauteng Cup, taking place this Saturday at Orlando Stadium in Soweto.
Kick-off is at 15:00.
PUMA has designed a “vintage” commemorative and limited edition jersey to mark the 75th Anniversary celebrations of the Bulls.
Stormers team to face the Cheetahs has been announced with Duane Vermeulen as captain of the side.
Die baljagter-flank Deon Stegmann lei Saterdag die Vodacom Bulls in hul voorseisoense wedstryd teen die MTN Lions in die Orlando Stadium in Soweto.
For the first year since 1983, one of Free State Rugby’s most loyal servants won’t be directly involved with Free State Rugby. I think it is fitting to pay tribute to a man that offered so much. A humble man, Helgard was a fine player and then played various roles in Free State Rugby. He holds the South African record for the most Currie Cup matches played (142) as well as the Free State record for the most matches played in Free State colours (245). He is still the Sports Manager for the Central University of Technology (SUT) a post he has held for the past 21 years.
This year, the International Rugby Board has introduced 11 law trials that will be implemented from the start of the 2013 season.
The impact of record-breaking retired Springbok Victor Matfield as a coach is already being felt by the Bulls.
New wing signing Michael Killian has been ruled out of the Southern Kings opening Super Rugby match against the Western Force in Port Elizabeth.
Southern Kings captain Luke Watson has said that SARU’s decision to relegate the Lions was unfair and expressed sadness at the Lions’ Super Rugby exit.
Speaking to SportsTalk in a radio interview, Watson sympathised with the Lions’ plight, and said fans had every right to feel aggrieved.
The Vodacom Bulls could unleash a new dream midfield pairing ahead of their Gauteng Challenge game against the MTN Lions in Soweto on Saturday as they begin their preparations for a tough Vodacom Super Rugby season ahead.
Any expansion of Super Rugby in the near future is likely to leave the Pacific Islands out in the cold in favour of the United States or Canada.
SANZAR chief executive Greg Peters stated earlier this month that they are looking at United States and Canada after they were included in the Pacific Nations Cup.
Veteran Springbok flank Juan Smith could be the bolter in the Cheetahs team when they face the Stormers in a pre-season match in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Promising Junior Springbok and Sharks Under 21 tighthead prop, Nick Schonert was advised by Springbok Jannie du Plessis to get as much game time as possible at tighthead, in order to develop his potential. This influenced his decision to move to Bloemfontein, and join the Shimlas. The fact that Kwazulu Natal only have a side in the Varsity Shield probably added impetus to his decision to move.
Former Springbok coach Peter de Villiers will make his Varsity Shield debut when his FNB UWC side take on the FNB TUT Vikings in Bellville on Monday. Two games will be Televised on Supersport.
- 16:30 – 18:45 SS1 FNB Varsity Shield – University Of Kwazulu-Natal v University Of Fort Hare
- 18:45 – 21:00 SS1 FNB Varsity Shield – University Of The Western Cape v Tshwane University Of Technology
In an official Blue Bulls Media release, the Blue Bulls Rugby Union have extended their condolences to Vodacom Blue Bulls player Tony Jantjies, brother Elton and mother Alma on the loss of their father and husband Thomas.
The South Africa Under 20 training squad scored a convincing 52-19 win over UCT at a wind-swept Brookside on Saturday to end their training camp on a high note.
Playing into a stiff breeze in the first half, the SA Under 20’s did well to score three tries on their way to building a halftime lead of 19-12.
The Kings’ request to the South African Rugby Union (SARU) to allow them more than two foreign players in Super Rugby has been rejected.
Lions (7) 33 / 17 (12) Cheetahs (Final Score)
The MTN Lions and Toyota Cheetahs did battle in a MTN Lions Challenge and Super Rugby wrm-up game at Ellis Park, Johannesburg at 17:05 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Lions hooker Martin Bezuidenhout will join the DHL Stormers at the start of next week, as injury cover up front.
The 2013 Varsity Rugby season kicked-off in fine style at the Serengeti Wildlife & Golf Estate Clubhouse in Kempton Park on Monday, with an exciting air of unpredictability hanging over the main tournament.
Now in its sixth season, the 2013 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International remains the headline act of Varsity Rugby, with the three additional competitions – the Varsity Shield, the Varsity Young Guns and the Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships – providing a more than able ‘back-up’ to the Cup.
SA Rugby reports that Sharks prop Dale Chadwick is the latest injury casualty. He has a stress fracture in his foot and will likely be out for between four and six weeks. This leaves the Sharks decidedly thin in front row depth.
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotskè is facing a possible second row crisis, as both his preferred starting locks are unavailable to start the season. Martin Muller who missed most of 2012, has injured his groin, and will be out for at least 3 months. That effectively rules him out for the bulk of the tournament. Andries Ferreira is still recovering from his knee injury, and will miss the opening match versus the Sharks, as well as the initial overseas leg.
Injuries to several key players have forced Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu to make three changes to his squad for the forthcoming HSBC Sevens World Series tournaments in New Zealand and the USA.
It is being speculated that John Smit is being considered as possible cover at hooker for the start to the Stormers season.