A march to save the Springbok emblem, a potential senior player boycott over any possible inclusion of Luke Watson in the Bok team - later denied (predictably), Butana Khompela’s nonsensical utterances at the Sports portfolio indaba-whotsit, calls for eight black players in every representative starting XV, a covered up sex tape scandal - these are […]

It’s that time of the year again when us rugby journos get to play Bok selector ahead of the three Test tour to the UK.  The Bok squad will be announced after the Currie Cup final next Saturday and - as always - there will be some surprises and players unlucky to miss out.
A rather disappointing […]

It’s been a long time since SuperSport did anything with their rugby coverage to impress me…a long, long time!
But the inclusion of Bobby Skinstad onto the panel discussion prior to Saturday’s Test was a master-stroke. The former Bok skipper is eloquent and insightful - adding genuine value.
It’s time to put Naas to pasture and replace […]

The brains-trust at SA Rugby have asked all members of the media to submit their nominations for the South African Super 14 Player of the Year. The award will be presented at the SA Rugby awards dinner at the end of the year.
My nominations are:
VODACOM RUGBY SUPER 14 PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT 2008
The South African […]

The following was written by Will Carling on the New Zealand website, RugbyHeaven.
“What Henry has clearly not learnt is any manners. The comment that Jerry Collins would not have made the All Blacks is shocking, that Collins showed the uncommon decency of formally ending his NZRU contract before opening formal negotiations with another party […]

All Blacks Nick Evans and Chris Masoe are both looking for the immediate termination of their contracts with the NZRU after finding out about their omission from the All Black training squad via voicemails left on their mobile phones by All Black coach Graham Henry.
The decision to drop Masoe and Evans is a surprising one. […]

This article appeared in The Australian:
“LOTE TUQIRI’s well-intentioned actions in rolling Matt Giteau on his side after he was knocked out in last weekend’s Waratahs-Western Force match could have caused Giteau to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
Lote Tuqiri
That is a worst-case and even alarmist scenario. But so widespread was the media’s […]

Former All Black Buck Shelford is widely considered as one of rugby’s toughest. His biography on Wikipedia tells us just how tough…
Shelford’s first game for the All Blacks was against Club Atlético San Isidro in Buenos Aires on 12 October 1985. He then joined the unauthorized Cavaliers tour of South Africa in 1986, which included […]

Spectators coming to the much awaited Gartmore Challenge match between the Barbarian and South Africa which takes place on Saturday 1st December at Twickenham, are warned of severe travel delays.  The match will see a star studded Barbarian side take on the recently crowned Rugby World Cup Champions South Africa with a 3pm kick off.
Trains […]

“Brisbane, Australia, 1999. Ireland had just been beaten by the Wallabies. In the visitors’ dressing-room, debutant Irish centre Brian O’Driscoll shook hands proudly with midfielder Tim Horan.
Horan (one of the greats of the game) handed O’Driscoll his own sweat-soaked jersey, the way international players do after a Test match.
O’Driscoll accepted the jersey gratefully and then, […]