Wayne Barnes from England will be the referee in the Springboks’ opening game of their Rugby World Cup title defence against Wales on 11 September, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand.   The International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced the Match Official appointments for the 40 pool matches at RWC 2011 in New Zealand.   Apart [...]

It is probably one of the most unforgiving jobs in the world and only a small group of individuals have been known to have the guts and determination to take up the whistle as a professional rugby referee.   Apart from 30 players on the field you also have millions of “experts” jumping up and [...]

The two finalists in the 2010 Vodacom Cup, the Vodacom Blue Bulls and the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, have their work cut out for them if they want to replicate their achievements this season. Both these teams scraped through to the quarter-finals of the Vodacom Cup this season by finishing in fourth place in their [...]

Bath – English club Bath have confirmed the signing of Stormers and Springbok flank Francois Louw, according to BBC Radio Bristol. Louw, 25, has signed a two-year-deal and effectively replaces outgoing captain and fellow Springbok Luke Watson who is returning to SA to play for the Kings. Louw is expected to be part of the [...]

The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has confirmed the election of Mputumi Damane and Monde Tabata as the two independent members of the Executive Council (Exco) of the Union. The pair were elected at the Exco meeting of April 18 from a number of nominations and have confirmed their acceptance. Mr Damane and Mr Tabata [...]

Auckland – Blues lock Kurtis Haiu has quit rugby indefinitely after the discovery of a lesion in one of his ribs. For months, Haiu attributed rib pain to the wear and tear of rugby. Then four weeks ago he approached Blues doctor Stephen Kara, who initiated blood tests and X-rays. The lesion was found in [...]

Sydney – Vodacom Super Rugby pace-setters the Reds have omitted No 8 Leroy Houston from their squad to play the Hurricanes on Saturday in Wellington. Reds coach Ewen McKenzie has delayed naming his starting team for the round 11 clash at Westpac Stadium, instead opting to announce a 23-man travel squad. Houston has played off [...]

Sydney – Star English import Danny Cipriani has been dropped to the Melbourne Rebels’ bench for Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby clash with the Waratahs in Sydney. Cipriani, whose defence has come into question in recent weeks, has been replaced at five-eighth by James Hilgendorf. Former Wallabies Mark Gerrard and Stirling Mortlock will form a powerful [...]

Sydney – He’s back. All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw will take his place in the Crusaders starting line-up for the first time this season in Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby clash against the Force in Perth. McCaw missed last weekend’s shock defeat to the Highlanders in Nelson with a bruised foot after he’d made his first [...]

Rugby World Cup winning coach Jake White has been appointed Head Coach of the CA Technologies’ Brumbies for the next four seasons. White’s ambitious nature and proven track record were significant factors in Brumbies Rugby seeking his leadership. “He was an absolute standout in the interview process”, said Brumbies Rugby CEO Andrew Fagan. “He was [...]