All Entries in the "Rugby" Category
Rugby-Key details of 2012 Super Rugby
Feb 23 (Reuters) – Factbox on the 2012 Super Rugby competition, which starts on Friday: * The annual competition features the best provincial teams from the southern hemisphere, five each from New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. * An overhaul of the citing and judicial review system has led to the introduction of a white card for referees to use if they suspect foul play but did not see the incident clearly or cannot identify the perpetrator. The suspected player or players will play on but be “on report” and may be punished after a review.
Rugby-Management key for longest Super Rugby season
By Nick Mulvenney SYDNEY, Feb 23 (Reuters) – Super Rugby teams will have to change the way they manage their squads to cope with the longest ever season in the southern hemsiphere’s annual provincial championship, according to SANZAR chief Greg Peters. There were rumblings of an injury crisis in New Zealand last year after a new format was introduced with a five-team conference in each of the three SANZAR countries and a commensurate increase in hard-fought local derbies
Rugby-No defense for Queensland as Reds go out to win it again
By Nick Mulvenney SYDNEY, Feb 23 (Reuters) – The Queensland Reds are embracing the added expectation that comes with being Super Rugby champions and even without inspirational flyhalf Quade Cooper remain Australia’s best hope of winning the title this year. Cooper, who with scrumhalf Will Genia fired the Reds to a surprise first triumph in the southern hemisphere’s annual provincial championship last year, is sidelined by a knee injury and will miss at least the first six matches of the season. Coach Ewen McKenzie is confident he has the talent in his squad to make up for Cooper’s absence but is also aware that success this year is going to be as hard to earn as during their fairytale run to the title last season
Rugby-Super Rugby teams
Feb 23 (Reuters)- Factbox on the 15 teams in the southern hemisphere’s annual provincial Super Rugby competition: – - – - AUSTRALIA – - – - QUEENSLAND REDS (Brisbane) Coach: Ewen McKenzie (third year) Captain: James Horwill Last year: Champions (W-13, L-3; 66 pts) Best performance: Champions (2011) – - NEW SOUTH WALES WARATAHS (Sydney) Coach: Michael Foley (first year) Captain: Rocky Elsom Last year: Playoffs (W-10, L-6; 57pts) Best performance: Runner-up (2005, 2008) – - WESTERN FORCE (Perth) Coach: Richard Graham (second year) Captain: David Pocock Last year: 12th (W-5, L-9, D-2; 37 pts) Best performance: Seventh (2007) – - ACT BRUMBIES (Canberra) Coach: Jake White (first year) Captain: Ben Mowen Last year: 13th (W-4, L-11, D-1; 33 pts) Best performance: Champions (2001, 2004) – - MELBOURNE REBELS (Melbourne) Coach: Damien Hill (first year) Captain: Stirling Mortlock Last year: 15th (W-3, L-13; 24 points) Best performance: 15th (2011) – - – - NEW ZEALAND – - – - CANTERBURY CRUSADERS (Christchurch) Coach: Todd Blackadder (fourth year) Captain: Richie McCaw Last year: Runner-up (W-11, L-4, D-1; 61 pts) Best performance: Champions (1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008) – - AUCKLAND BLUES (Auckland) Coach: Pat Lam (fourth year) Captain: Keven Mealamu Last year: Semi-finals (W-10, L-5, D-1; 60 pts) Best performance: Champions (1996, 1997, 2003) – - OTAGO HIGHLANDERS (Dunedin) Coach: Jamie Joseph (second year) Captain: Jamie Mackintosh Last year’s finish: eighth (W-8, L-8; 45 pts) Best performance: Runner-up (1999) – - WELLINGTON HURRICANES (Wellington) Coach: Mark Hammett (second year) Captain: Conrad Smith Last year: Ninth (W-5, L-9, D-2; 42 pts) Best performance: Runner-up (2006) – - WAIKATO CHIEFS (Hamilton) Coach: Dave Rennie (first year) Captains: Liam Messam and Craig Clarke Last year: 10th (W-6, L-9, D-1; 40 pts) Best performance: Runner-up (2009) – - – - SOUTH AFRICA – - – - STORMERS (Cape Town) Coach: Allister Coetzee (fifth year) Captain: Schalk Burger Last year: Semi-finals (W-12, L-4; 63 pts) Best performance: Runner-up (2010) – - SHARKS (Durban) Coach: John Plumtree (fourth year) Captain: Keegan Daniel Last year: Playoffs (W-10, L-5, D-1; 57 pts) Best performance: Runner-up (1996, 2001, 2007) – - BULLS (Pretoria) Coach: Frans Ludeke (fifth year) Captain: Pierre Spies Last year: Seventh (W-10, L-6; 54 pts) Best performance: Champions (2007, 2009, 2010) – - CHEETAHS (Bloemfontein) Coach: Naka Drotske (sixth year) Captain: Juan Smith Last year: 11th (W-5, L-11; 40 pts) Best performance: 10th (2006, 2010) – - LIONS (Johannesburg) Coach: John Mitchell (second year) Captain: Doppies La Grange Last year: 14th (W-3, L-12, D-1; 29 pts) Best performance: Semi-finals (2000, 2001) – - (Compiled by Nick Mulvenney and Greg Stutchbury, editing by Patrick Johnston) (For the sports blog Left Field go to: http://blogs.reuters.com/sport)) Please click on for more rugby stories Updated on Wednesday, Feb 22, 2012 10:02 am, EST Email to a Friend | View Popular
The secret to winning in rugby? Supersize me
AFP – Rugby fans who say the modern game is being dominated more and more by heftier players and pumped iron can point to scientific evidence to back their case. Teams with the tallest backs and heaviest forwards are the likeliest to win the World Cup , according to a study by French researchers published on Tuesday.
Rugby introduces ‘white cards’
Mon, 20 Feb 11:00:00 2012 Referees will be able to wave white cards in addition to the standard yellows and reds in Super 15 rugby this year in a bid to cut down foul play. Currently, if a player receives a yellow card in rugby, he is withdrawn from play for a 10-minute spell in the ‘sin-bin’, while a red is a straight sending off.
Rugby introduces ‘white cards’
Mon, 20 Feb 11:00:00 2012 Referees will be able to wave white cards in addition to the standard yellows and reds in Super 15 rugby this year in a bid to cut down foul play. Currently, if a player receives a yellow card in rugby, he is withdrawn from play for a 10-minute spell in the ‘sin-bin’, while a red is a straight sending off
Rugby: Team gear up for SEA Games
SINGAPORE: It may be three years away but the Singapore rugby team are already gearing up for the 2015 SEA Games which the republic is hosting. As part of the preparations, the team are travelling to Scotland to compete in the Melrose Sevens tournament, on April 13. The trip is at the invitation of the Melrose Rugby Football Club
Rugby: Team gear up for SEA Games
SINGAPORE: It may be three years away but the Singapore rugby team are already gearing up for the 2015 SEA Games which the republic is hosting. As part of the preparations, the team are travelling to Scotland to compete in the Melrose Sevens tournament, on April 13
Rugby Union: Play Rugby Fantasy 2012
02/20/2012 04:13:44 AM Rugby fantasy for 2012 is now live! To be a part of the action, sign up for Sportal’s Super Rugby Fantasy competition and get started. Pick your ultimate team of rugby superstars and you could win FREE fuel for a whole year!