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South Africa


Johnson and Marler to make England debut against the Boks

Posted 351 days ago

TOM JOHNSON and Joe Marler will make their England debuts in the 1st Test of the Castle series in Durban on Saturday.
The Exeter Chiefs flanker and Harlequins prop will win their first caps at Mr Price Kings Park in a team showing four personnel and one positional change from the starting line-up against Ireland in the final RBS 6 Nations…

Edinburgh sign South African prop Nel

Posted 464 days ago

Edinburgh Rugby revealed details of a major overseas signing, announcing that they have recruited South African prop WP (Willem Petrus) Nel from Super 15 side Free State Cheetahs on a three year contract until 2015.
An immensely powerful scrummager and dynamic ball carrier, Nel is held in high esteem in the southern hemisphere, with his capture seen as a major coup…

Southern Kings to play Super Rugby in 2013

Posted 483 days ago

The Southern Kings’ place in the Vodacom Super Rugby competition in 2013 was reaffirmed at a Special Council Meeting of the South African Rugby Union (SARU) in Cape Town on Friday. Proposals on mechanisms to identity the four other South African entrants will be considered at a SARU Special General Meeting on March 30.
“The decision to include the Southern Kings…

Heyneke Meyer officially appointed Bok head coach

Posted 483 days ago

Heyneke Meyer will be the new Springbok coach after a Special General Meeting of the South African Rugby Union (SARU) ratified his proposed appointment in Cape Town on Friday.
The 44-year-old Blue Bulls rugby executive takes over from Peter de Villiers, who coached the Springboks from 2008 to 2011. Meyer has been offered a four-year contract and will take charge of…

Afrika back for Seven World Series home leg

Posted 533 days ago

All 16 national teams have declared their final squads to compete at the Nelson Mandela Bay South Africa Sevens, round three of the HSBC Sevens World Series on 9-10 December.
Having missed the action in Dubai last weekend, IRB Sevens Player of the Year Cecil Afrika has recovered from a rib injury to take his place in the team for hosts…

Barbarians v Australia – preview

Posted 546 days ago

You never know what to expect when the Barbarians come to town – but this weekend’s Killik Cup clash against Australia at Twickenham contains more uncertainties than usual, writes Alan Pearey.
1. Foremost among them is the presence of England rugby league full-back Sam Tomkins, whose first game of union will entail marking Digby Ioane! Tomkins is 22 and set league…

South African trio line-up for Help for Heroes challenge

Posted 547 days ago

Former Springbok AJ Venter and future stars of South African rugby Andries Strauss and Sias Ebersohn, will take the field for the ‘Heroes Rugby Challenge’ at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday 3 December 2011. The match, which kicks off at 16:30, aims to raise a substantial sum of money for Help for Heroes, the charity which provides practical support for wounded…

Matfield to lead Barbarians at Twickenham

Posted 548 days ago

Springbok lock legend Victor Matfield will captain the Barbarians in the Killik Cup match against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday (kick off 2.35pm).
The 34-year-old reprises his role of 2009 when he led the famous touring club to victory over New Zealand.
Packing down alongside Matfield will be Simon Shaw, 17 years after he was the member of an earlier Barbarian team…

Mallet will take charge of South XV in Help For Heroes charity match

Posted 549 days ago

Italian World Cup coach Nick Mallett has put his search for a new job on the backburner to concentrate fully on next month’s Help for Heroes Challenge Match at Twickenham. The former South Africa head coach is currently out of work after his contract with the Azzurri came to an end after the World Cup in New Zealand, but he…

England’s 2012 Autumn International Fixtures

Posted 561 days ago

Chris Ashton England

The RFU has confirmed the dates of the 2012 QBE Internationals. England will play four Test matches at Twickenham in November-December, against Fiji, Australia, South Africa and World Champions New Zealand.
Reflecting on the fixture announcement, representatives from all five competing unions have expressed their excitement ahead of next year’s QBE Internationals.
Nick Easter, England and Harlequins Number 8, a QBE ambassador:…

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