SA Rugby
Former Springbok loose forward Solly Tyibilika has been shot dead here, according to reports.
Springbok and Sharks backrow forward Willem Alberts has undergone shoulder surgery while rugby takes a break in South Africa but he should be ready for the Super Rugby season.
SANZAR have announced the ten-man Merit Panel of referees for the 2012 Super Rugby competition with South Africans making up half of the positions.
Saracens boss Edward Griffiths says the South African Rugby Union (SARU) should consider playing its international rugby in the Northern Hemisphere in future.
Stormers and Springbok fly half Peter Grant has agreed to return to Cape Town to play Super Rugby for the Stormers in the upcoming season.
Former Sharks prop Deon Carstens will play Super Rugby for the Stormers in 2012 after his English Rugby Club Saracens agreed to release him to Western Province in Cape Town.
The Griqua’s Rugby Union and Earl Rose’s agent have not managed to negotiate a contract for the player for the 2012 season.
Springbok flank Heinrich Brüssow will start training with the Cheetahs next week ahead of the Super Rugby tournament, on his way to recovery from injury.
The Springboks will kick-off the new format competition against the Pumas when the all-new “The Castle Rugby Championship” launches in 2012 – the replacement for the Tri-Nations series, SANZAR announced on Tuesday.
An agreement confirming Argentina’s participation was signed in Auckland recently by the SANZAR Joint Venture partners after several months of negotiations with the Unión Argentina de Rugby (UAR) and the International Rugby Board (IRB).
The Griqualand West Rugby Union have announced that they have appointed the experienced former Free State captain and former Blue Bulls coach Pote Human as head coach for the next three years.
AUSTRALIA will defend their southern hemisphere title next year in an expanded competition called The Rugby Championship – and will meet new boys Argentina on the Gold Coast.
South Africa 22 / Hawkes Bay 8
This match was played in the looming shadow of the first test on the back of mounting concern about the Springboks inability to hit form and constant worries about injuries to players.
As a consequence different players and combinations were selected in the key positions in literally every match so far on tour.
Newcastle Falcons have bolstered their forward pack with the signing of Stormers and Western Province lock Adriaan Fondse.
South African Rugby coach Peter de Villiers says that he will re-apply for the Springbok coaching position after his contract expires next month.
Former Stormers back Joe Pietersen has signed a two year contract to return from France and play Super Rugby for the Stormers again.
With the rugby season for the 15-man code taking a break in the Southern Hemisphere, the upcoming Sevens Series gives rugby players the opportunity to remain sharp and competitive.
One of the players who jumped at this opportunity is Cheetahs centre, Robert Ebersohn, who, instead of opting for a break after a long season, was called up to the Blitzbokke squad for the first three events in the World Sevens Tour.
The ceremony was broadcast live on Supersport, LIVE ON SS
The nominees were (in alphabetical order):
SARU Rugby Player of the Year:
1. Schalk Burger
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Francois Hougaard
4. Pat Lambie
5. Victor Matfield
The appearance of the World Cup-winning All Black team in Soweto and the process to appoint a new Springbok coach appear to be the main bullet points on the agenda this week.
The Golden Lions have made a number of signings ahead of the 2012 Super Rugby season as they look to follow on from their Currie Cup victory.
Coach Naka Drotske has named a squad of 51 players who will train and play trials in Jeffery’s Bay in January.
A squad of more than 100 players have been invited to Kimberley for a first round of SA Under-20 trials next week.
The camp will run from November 6 to 11 during which time the players will compete in a series of trial matches, to be held on November 8 and 10 at GWK Park in Kimberley.
Western Province centre Tim Whitehead – who missed their Currie Cup campaign with a knee injury – has signed a deal with the Sharks.
Former Springbok and Sharks captain Stefan Terblanche has signalled the end of his career with the Sharks by signing a three month contract with Ulster Rugby.
The Golden Lions recorded the most emphatic Currie Cup final victory since 1980 when they beat The Sharks, champions in 2010, by 42-16 at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.
The big beard Lions captain Joshua Strauss had grown while he waited for his girlfriend to relocate from Cape Town was forcefully removed by teammate Wikus van Heerden after Saturday’s Currie Cup Final victory against the Sharks.
A group of 23 Springbok Sevens players including four new players has been announced and will start soon with full preparations at their base in Stellenbosch for the upcoming Sevens World Series.
Springboks 22 / Poverty Bay-East Coast Combined 0
The Springboks travelled by plane -for the first time on tour- from Wellington to Gisborne to play a combined Poverty Bay-East Coach team.
Gisborne was a lovely town (now a city) nestling amid the hills and woods which fringe Poverty Bay, where Captain Cook made his first landing in Aotearoa. Continue reading
Lions (19) 42 / Sharks (6) 16 (Final Score)
The MTN Golden Lions hosted The Sharks at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 17:30 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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The MTN Golden Lions are the Currie Cup champions for 2011.
The MTN Golden Lions was clearly more fired up, from the word go and already led by 19 / 6 at Halftime.
It was after halftime though that they really put foot on the pedal and eventually demolished The Sharks by 26 points, the final score being 42 / 16.
Well done and a hearty congratulations go out to the MTN Golden Lions and their supporters.
U/19 Lions (3) 20 / U/19 Blue Bulls (6) 19 (Final Score)
The MTN Golden Lions u/19 team hosts the Vodacom Blue Bulls u/19 team at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 12:30 SA Time.
This is the live match discussion Article.
The match is broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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U/21 Blue Bulls (22) 46 / U/21 Sharks (10) 30 (Final Score)
The Vodacom Blue Bulls u/21 team do battle with The Sharks u/21 team at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 14:30 SA Time.
This is the live match discussion Article.
The match is broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
Sharks coach John Plumtree has made one change to his team for the Currie Cup final on Saturday against the Lions at Coca-Cola Park.
Vodacom Blue Bulls and Vodacom Bulls player Stephan Dippenaar has been released by the Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd to take up a contract with SA Rugby’s sevens team.
As a neutral in this game, I have been wondering.
As the most capped Springbok ever, Victor Matfield is a national hero who transcends rugby provincialism and has fans across the world. His rugby exploits and achievements are numerous: he was an instrumental part of the team that won the 2007 Rugby World Cup, he helped win two Tri Nations tournaments for the Boks, he has lifted the Super 14 trophy three times with the Bulls and he has enjoyed Currie Cup glory.
The MTN Golden Lions have retained the same run on side that beat DHL Western Province last Saturday, to face the Sharks this coming Saturday.
When last was Coka-Cola Park SOLD OUT for a rugby match?
Well, I can’t remember that far back!
This Saturday however, the Stadium is SOLD OUT for the Currie Cup Final between the MTN Golden Lions and The Sharks.