Rugby Monkey

[rugby_www] Digest Number 307

2005-11-09T03:39:00.000-08:00

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There are 15 messages in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

1. EC: Szarzewski cleared!
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
2. NZ: Mauger looking forward to Nonu
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
3. Eng: Corry wary of wounded Wallabies
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
4. Fra: Pelous spills half-baked beans
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
5. Ire: Irish seek elusive first win
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
6. Aus: Hugh's weight gain to be rewarded
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
7. Wal: Peel's heel breaks down again
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
8. Ire: Easterby to lead Ireland against the ABs
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
9. Fra: Laporte defends his captain
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
10. NZ: Sivivatu keen to keep it in the family
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
11. NZ: Ireland welcomed the Original All Blacks
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
12. RWC: Kazakhstan stick to their qualifying guns
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
13. NPC: Rawlinson named Most Valuable Player
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
14. SA: The changing face of SA rugby
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
15. Sco: Dan's the man for Scotland
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>

________________________________________________________________________
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Message: 1
Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2005 20:07:34 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: EC: Szarzewski cleared!

Tuesday November 08 2005
Free to play for Stade Français
France and Stade Français hooker, Dimitri Szarzewski was cleared of
any wrongdoing by the European Rugby Cup's disciplinary commission in
Dublin today.

Szarzewski had been charged with directing a headbutt at Lewis Moody
in an incident involving the two players when Stade Français played
Leicester in the Heineken Cup.

The inquiry was delayed a week, thus enabling Szarzewski to play for
France against Australia last Saturday.

The finding means that Szarzewski will be able to travel with Stade
Français to play Bourgoin this weekend, an important match in France's
Top 14.

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Message: 2
Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2005 20:08:37 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: NZ: Mauger looking forward to Nonu

Tuesday November 08 2005
New Zealand centre lauds his new partner
Aaron Mauger has epitomised the confidence running through the New
Zealand team by saying that he believes whichever of the 35 tourists
makes the starting XV, they are just as good as the team that beat
Wales on Saturday.

Mauger has happy memories of Lansdowne Road, having scored a try on
his debut there in 2001 and having spent a successful year of youth
team rugby there.

He also rated his likely new centre partner Ma'a Nonu as the
toughest man in rugby to tackle, and having trained inside Nonu all
week he is happy they will click in Dublin on Saturday.

"Ma'a gets himself out of trouble because he is so strong. He's the
hardest guy to tackle in world rugby," said Mauger.

"I've been on the receiving end of a couple of those fends and he is
not an easy man to bring down. Hopefully if we can give him some
space he'll cause trouble."

Mauger will be vice-captain to Richie McCaw on Saturday, and will be
leading a relatively inexperienced back-line but one full of talent.

"We're aware we can't be complacent. In the past we've had a good
performance and let ourselves down the next week and scraped through
with a win," he warned.

"For us it's about getting in that space again and having another
good performance."

The pressure is also on Mauger to regain his place in the against
England next week after Conrad Smith's exceptional display against
Wales.

"As an All Black you want to keep your standards high all the time.
It's just a bonus when everyone else is performing because it does
raise your own game," shrugged the 30-cap Crusaders centre.

"It's about weathering that, staying composed and concentrating on
our game."

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Message: 3
Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2005 20:09:56 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Eng: Corry wary of wounded Wallabies

Tuesday November 08 2005
'Hopefully we can emulate our cricketers'
England captain Martin Corry has adopted a winning-is-everything
approach ahead of his country's season opener against Australia.

With the imposing All Blacks looming large, England cannot afford
any slip-ups when they tackle a Wallabies outfit reeling from six
successive defeats at Twickenham on Saturday.

And Corry knows it. His players requiring a morale-boosting victory
ahead of the formidable challenge New Zealand will present.

"Performance is important, but to be fair, I will take a 6-3
result," said the Leicester star, who has retained leadership duties
for England's penultimate campaign before making their 2007 World
Cup defence.

"We are all about winning, and that is where we have got to get back
to. We are not going to settle for second best and say it is a
learning curve for us.

"We want to go out there and we want to get the result, so pressure
from within the camp I think is far greater than what is going on
outside it."

England have won only 50 percent of their games since Andy Robinson
succeeded Sir Clive Woodward a year ago, losing to Australia, Wales,
France and Ireland, with two of those setbacks coming at one-time
fortress Twickenham.

So there is huge pressure on Corry and company to deliver against
the Wallabies, who have beaten England twice in succession since
Jonny Wilkinson booted their 2003 Rugby World Cup hopes into
oblivion.

"Coming into a new series, especially on the back of what happened
in last season's Six Nations, gives us a chance to put a lot of
things right," Corry added.

"Against Australia last year [England lost 21-19], we got ourselves
in a position to win the game, but we let it slip.

"That hurts like hell, but the great thing with these autumn
internationals is that we've got a second opportunity and a chance
to put things right.

"It goes without saying that the Australia game last season was very
disappointing, and the Six Nations was very poor by our standards.

"We've got to get back to the situation whereby when we play at
Twickenham, we expect to win.

"We know how games should be won, and what needs to be done to get
on the right side of the victory."

Corry leads a side boosted by the return of his fellow World Cup
winners Ben Cohen, Mike Tindall, Matt Dawson and Phil Vickery, and
England will start as favourites, despite last season's difficulties
when South Africa, Canada, Scotland and Italy were their only scalps.

Australia suffered a Tri-Nations whitewash earlier this year, and a
26-16 reversal against France in Marseilles last weekend simply
increased the heat on Wallabies coach Eddie Jones and captain George
Gregan.

Corry though, has never featured in a winning England team against
Australia, and refuses to believe the Wallabies should be written
off, unlike wing legend David Campese, whose criticism of Gregan
this week has proved unrelenting.

"We are not paying too much attention to what has been said about
Australia," claimed Corry.

"We've done a lot of analysis on the France/Australia game, and I
thought Australia played very well.

"It was just the final pass didn't go for them, while the French
defence was excellent. If you put those two factors as being
comparable, then they are two very equally matched sides.

"What you get from Australia, whether it be in cricket or rugby, is
you get a side that battles to the death.

"That's what the Aussies did in the Ashes this summer, but hopefully
we can emulate what our cricketers did and come out on top.

"When we played South Africa last year, they played a very direct,
confrontational game. For us, it was a case of matching, and then
bettering that confrontation, and then the game opened up.

"With Australia, they have the confrontational game, but they also
have a very fast, wide attacking game. When you put that with their
excellent defence, it makes them a very difficult side not only to
hold out, but also to break down."

England toppled Australia five times in a row between 2000 and 2003,
culminating with the World Cup triumph, and a return to such
dominance is the aim for Corry's men, starting this weekend, which
means New Zealand's Twickenham visit on November 19 barely warrants
a mention.

"We can't look too far ahead," insisted Corry.

"If we take an eye off Australia, they are going to come and sting
us, and that is something we are not prepared to do.

"We haven't started looking at the All Blacks, because that is not
our next game."

________________________________________________________________________
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Message: 4
Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2005 20:10:57 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Fra: Pelous spills half-baked beans

Tuesday November 08 2005
France captain tries to excuse elbow incident
Fabien Pelous has apologised to Australia hooker Brendan Cannon for
his elbow to the cheek which put Cannon out of action for the final
part of Australia's defeat to France in Marseille on Saturday.

Pelous will attend a disciplinary hearing in London on Wednesday
over the incident after being cited by match commissioner Peter Brown

"I never had the intention of assaulting Cannon and harming him,"
said Pelous, who has won 103 France caps.

"It was a stupid and purely instinctive gesture.

"I apologise to Cannon for injuring him and also for preventing him
from playing for the last 10 minutes."

Pelous could be handed a ban ranging from two weeks to a year under
IRB regulations.

"I was upset when I saw the video of the incident," he continued.

"The ball was gone, I was running upfield to put pressure on
Australia's kicker when Cannon changed direction and cut my path.

"I flung out my elbow to go through. It was stupid but I did it
without premeditation, stupidly and purely instinctively."

Pelous ended by saying he hoped the IRB commission would see that he
had acted in good faith.

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Message: 5
Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2005 20:12:00 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Ire: Irish seek elusive first win

Tuesday November 08 2005
Head-to-head: Ireland versus New Zealand
Ireland have never beaten New Zealand on a rugby field. The two
sides have met 17 times and closest they came was a 10-all draw at
Lansdowne Road in Dublin more than three decades ago.

Currently the All Blacks are on an 11-match victory run against the
Irish and when the two sides go head-to-head in Dublin on Saturday
Ireland will be seeking that elusive first win.

Of their 17 encounters 11 was at the famous Dublin Ground, the
oldest international rugby ground still in use, Lansdowne Road. Five
were in New Zealand - Eden Park (Auckland) once, Carisbrook
(Dunedin) twice and Athletic Park (Wellington) twice.

They also met once on neutral territory - when the All Blacks beat
the Irish 43-19 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg during the 1995 World
Cup.

The All Blacks' largest winning margin was 53, a 59 - 6 victory at
Athletic Park in June 1992.

However, New Zealand scored 63 points against the Irish five years
later - 63-15 victory at Lansdowne Road in November 1997.

The most points Ireland ever scored against New Zealand were 29, in
a 40-29 defeat in Dublin in November 2001.

In their 17 encounters New Zealand have scored 411 points against
Ireland's 152 - that's an average victory margin of 24-9 for the
Kiwis.

The All Blacks have also scored 59 tries (at almost three-and-a-half
tries per game) to the 16 of the Irish (at just under one per game).

The question is: Will this domination continued on Saturday?

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Message: 6
Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2005 20:13:24 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Aus: Hugh's weight gain to be rewarded

Tuesday November 08 2005
Young Wallaby lock set to get his chance at Twickenham
Hugh McMeniman is one of the new faces likely to be blooded by Eddie
Jones against England on Saturday, a Test appearance which will
reward the 22-year-old's decision to walk out on the Wallabies in
June.

McMeniman, who had made two appearances off the bench against Samoa
and Italy after a superb season with the Reds, risked his Test
future in June when he approached Eddie Jones and asked to be
removed from the squad.

"I started the Super 12 season at 112kg and by July had dropped down
to 106kg," said McMeniman, who is set to line-up alongside team-mate
Nathan Sharpe on Saturday, to the Australian Daily Telegraph.

"It was through the sheer volume of training and playing in my first
year.

"I just thought 'it's either go home now put on the weight, get to
something like 114kg and come back for this tour or I keep going,
drop a bit more and not get included'.

"I approached Eddie straight up. I think I did catch him by surprise
but it's what I had to do. I was too light to play in my position
and, at the end of the day, I didn't want to play as a reserve.

"I wanted to have a look-in for the run-on side. I wanted to put my
best foot forward and I couldn't do that at 106kg. I had to back
myself."

Jones accepted the decision, but warned McMeniman that he could be
treading through a political minefield as far as the selectors were
concerned.

"Eddie said there was a risk the selectors would say 'you can't come
back because you're giving up such a big thing now by playing for
the Wallabies'," McMeniman said.

"I said to him 'but if I play well enough and get to the weight, I'm
going to get selected aren't I?'

"He thought that was a pretty good point. He said there were no
guarantees but he'd keep in touch with me about the tour."

McMeniman went on a sports science diet supplements binge and pumped
in long long hours in the gym room, then registered his availability
for the autumn tour.

"Within two months I put on 10kg. I'm back down now to around 113kg."

His house-mate Greg Holmes got the call-up first, but it took three
more hours for McMeniman to get his.

Should he be chosen, McMeniman will need every one of those 113 kg
opposite a huge England second-row pairing of Danny Grewcock and
Steve Borthwick.

He will be particularly well-matched against the fiery Bath and
Lions lock Grewcock - McMeniman was nick-named 'Madness' for the way
he used to play at Colts level, as well as some rather vaguely
referred to off-pitch shenanigans.

With Jones still apparently erring on the side of caution regarding
bloding the younger faces, McMeniman may be the only one of the up-
and-comers named in Jones' Saturday troops, but despite Jones
insistence to take it slowly, McMeniman believes that the youngsters
are ready and fired up to go.

"I've been hanging out with most of the young guys and there is
definitely no fear," he said.

"And even the older guys too, I don't believe there is any fear of
failure. A lot of them are really excited about getting out there
against England."

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Message: 7
Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2005 20:23:55 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Wal: Peel's heel breaks down again

Tuesday November 08 2005
Peel injury getting more complicated
Dwayne Peel has received a setback to his hopes of playing for Wales
this November, after his injured heel broke down in training on
Tuesday.

The Scarlets scrum-half, who has plyed only once this season, is
having another scan on his damaged heel, but is now likely to miss
the whole autumn series.

Peel had an operation in October to remove a piece of cartilage
floating inside the ankle joint and an injection into a cyst behind
the joint. The original prognosis was a fortnight out of the game,
but that has since been dashed by complications.

Peel's further convalescence turns the heat up on Mike Phillips, who
needs to climb quickly up a steep learning curve ahead of clashes
with the experienced scum-halves from Australia and South Africa.

Lion Gareth Cooper replaced Phillips during the second half of the
defeat to New Zealand and added some zip. He is expected to start
against Fiji at the Millennium Stadium on Friday night.

A big performance from Cooper against Fiji would, assuming Peel is
ruled out, almost certainly propel him Dragons' pivot into the
starting spot for the two bigger Test matches.

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Message: 8
Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2005 20:25:19 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Ire: Easterby to lead Ireland against the ABs

Tuesday November 08 2005
Two uncapped Ulstermen on the bench
Lions flank Simon Easterby passed a late fitness test on Tuesday
morning and will captain Ireland against New Zealand at Lansdowne
Road on Saturday.

Easterby is joined by fellow Lions tourist Shane Horgan who has also
won his battle against injury.

Horgan, who featured as a substitute during all three Lions Tests
against the All Blacks, has been given the green light after
recovering from the bruised shoulder he sustained on Heineken Cup
duty 10 days ago.

He partners Leinster team-mate Gordon D'Arcy in midfield with
Ireland boss Eddie O'Sullivan rejigging his backline to compensate
for the absence of skipper Brian O'Driscoll.

Llanelli Scarlets flank Easterby - one of the few players to return
from the Lions tour with his reputation enhanced - recently
underwent surgery for a broken nose but has been cleared to fill the
green No.6 jersey.

Easterby has been handed the captaincy with veteran No.8 Anthony
Foley - his closest rival for the job - dropping out of the squad
altogether.

Foley's spot at the base of the scrum goes to Munster tyro Denis
Leamy with Wasps flank Johnny O'Connor completing the back row.

"We waited until the last minute today before picking Simon because
we had to get medical clearance," said O'Sullivan.

"He had a scan yesterday and the specialist has given him the go-
ahead. He's just come off the training field and is good to go.

"I said I'd go with the form team and that applies to the back row
we've selected. All three players are good on the ball and are good
defenders. It's the best combination we have available."

There are no new caps in the XV but Ulster duo Rory and Neil Best
(no relation) could make their debuts should they be called into
action from the bench.

Ireland have never beaten the All Blacks and are rank outsiders to
break that duck this weekend.

Graham Henry's men swept aside Wales 41-3 in a one-sided tour opener
and there is little indication Ireland will be able to halt their
march to a clean sweep of home union scalps.

O'Sullivan has prepared for the match without his two most
inspirational figures, O'Driscoll and lock Paul O'Connell, while
Denis Hickie, Alan Quinlan, Guy Easterby, Eric Miller and Frankie
Sheahan are also in the treatment room.

Ireland: 15 Geordan Murphy (Leicester), 14 Tommy Bowe (Ulster), 13
Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster), 12 Shane Horgan (Leinster), 11 Anthony
Horgan (Munster), 10 R O'Gara (Munster), 9 P Stringer (Munster), 8
Denis Leamy (Munster), 7 Johnny O'Connor (Wasps), 6 Simon Easterby
(Llanelli, captain), 5 Malcolm O'Kelly (Leinster), 4 Donncha
O'Callaghan (Munster), 3 John Hayes (Munster), 2 Shane Byrne
(Saracens), 1 Marcus Horan (Munster).
Replacements: 16 Rory Best (Ulster), 17 Simon Best (Ulster), 18 Matt
McCullough (Ulster), 19 Neil Best (Ulster), 20 Kieran Campbell
(Ulster), 21 David Humphreys (Ulster), 22 Girvan Dempsey (Leinster).

Date: Saturday, November 12
Kick-off: 14.30 GMT
Venue: Lansdowne Road
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Touch judges: Stuart Dickinson (Australia), Malcolm Changleng
(Scotland)
Television match official: Roy Maybank (England)

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Message: 9
Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2005 20:26:31 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Fra: Laporte defends his captain

Tuesday November 08 2005
France coach says that Pelous suspension would be double standard
Bernard Laporte has spoken out for the first time about the incident
involving his captain Fabien Pelous and Brendan Cannon, for which
Pelous was cited on Monday.

Pelous elbowed Cannon in the face in the 49th minute of the France v
Australia match, and faces a disciplinary hearing in London on
Wednesday.

The Toulouse lock faces a suspension of anything from two weeks to a
year, but given the recent spate of relatively lenient suspensions
within the game, Laporte thinks that to make an example of Pelous
would be a serious double standard.

"I want to emphasize that I do not support the action of Fabien,"
said Laporte on Tuesday.

"These are not actions that one should see on a rugby pitch.

"But I would like that there is a certain logic. When I see
Christophe Dominici knocked out in Italy at the last Six Nations and
that the player who attacked him (Salvatore Perugini) was not
punished, I do not understand.

"The action of Fabien is not justifiable but Cannon was treated and
was able to finish the match. It was not very, very serious.

"What starts to anger me, it is that there are two standards."

A suspension is almost certain for Pelous after what was an
undeniably wanton gesture of aggression, but even that would be too
harsh a punishment for Laporte.

"I wouldn't understand it if he was suspended. Everyone would be
amazed.

"In civil law the sanctions are the same for all, and that should be
the same on a rugby pitch."

Discipline is becoming a serious problem within the French team,
with Bonnaire's recent suspension, Szarzewski's citing and Pelous'
elbow all high-profile cases in recent weeks.

Laporte will have to be careful, as discipline aside, this team and
South Africa are the All Blacks' nearest challengers currently. But
the Gallic aptitude to lose their cool could be the difference in
close games - Pelous would almost certainly have received a yellow
card at the very least for his attack on Cannon on Saturday.

"We have spoken a lot about it," said Laporte.

"But in the case of Fabien in particular, the players punish
themselves.

"But I was in the stands for Szarzewski match against Leicester.
What Moody said after the game is not right.

"While complaining against the Parisians, it makes the referees
sound like fools. I find it incredible he did not get a yellow card.
At least."

In any case, Pelous has been relieved of the cataincy for Saturday's
match against Canada. He starts on the bench - if at all - while
Jérôme Thion leads the team from Pelous' position in the second row.

The more normal choice would have been the returning Dimitri
Yachvili, who has captained the team before, but Laporte explained a
subtle difference between the two.

"Thion should have been captain on the tour to the Southern
Hemisphere in June," said Laporte.

"But he injured himself in the Top 16 final and couldn't go. Dimitri
is returning and I would rather let him just play. He will be the
leader of the play, Thion the leader of the men. They will share the
task..."

Thomas Castaignède also returns to the starting team under the
combined auspices of Thion and Yachvili, after a three-year absence,
and after a tremendous outpouring of emotion which welcomed him back
to a French playing shirt when he came off the bench against the
Wallabies.

"We still don't know who will play in the World Cup in 2007," said
Laporte.

"At the moment Thomas is first in line behind Julien Laharrague. But
we have to keep competition for places.

"We also know he has been playing well for Saracens, and that he can
play in several positions. He could also be the number three fly-
half. But for now, we need to find a full-back.

"Nicolas Brusque has been marking time a little, but he is working
hard and that is all we can ask of him."

"It was difficult to make huge changes after the match against
Australia after the team played so well.

"We said after the tour in June that out target was to see the
maximum number of players possible who could play for France, not
just the 22 in Marseille.

"Many of the newcomers could be first-choice - Marconnet, Bruno,
Nallet, Castaignède, and the new arrivels to the squad as well, like
Marty and Yachvili."

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Message: 10
Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2005 20:27:48 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: NZ: Sivivatu keen to keep it in the family

Tuesday November 08 2005
AB wing eager to state his case
Sitiveni Sivivatu is set to take over his cousin Joe Rokocoko's
place on the left wing when Graham Henry names the All Black team
for Saturday's clash with Ireland in Dublin and is keen to show he
deserves a more regular spot.

Henry is likely to name an almost a new starting XV to face the
Irish - in line with his stated policy of giving every member of the
35-man touring squad a run in the first two outings.

That means the 13 members of the touring party who did not feature
in the 41-3 hammering of Wales in Cardiff last Saturday will get a
run in Dublin and Sivivatu (who has scored four tries in four Tests)
is one of them.

Speaking to the New Zealand Press Association (NZPA), Sivivatu says
he has "worked his butt off" to prove he is worthy of a place among
the toughest competition for Test positions in world rugby.

After a long wait, he may well get his chance to prove it against
Ireland in Dublin on Sunday.

Sivivatu hasn't played for New Zealand since the third Test against
the Lions in Auckland in July, before calf and knee problems saw him
miss the entire Tri-Nations.

The man who stormed through this year's Super 12 and All Blacks
trial wasn't as sharp as his former self for Waikato in the NPC as
he struggled with the knee injury.

Henry still picked him for the tour and he will is likely to get his
chance at Lansdowne Road after the Cardiff heroics of Rico Gear and
good support from Rokocoko who had precious few opportunities.

"I was a little bit rusty during the NPC, but it's good to be back
and learning off the guys," said Sivivatu told NZPA.

"There's a lot of competition going on between the guys and it
really keeps us honest. I've been working really hard ... Rico, Joe,
Dougie [Howlett] - you just have to work your butt off."

Henry appeared true to his squad rotation promise at training on
Tuesday at a cold, rainswept Westmanstown Sports Centre on the
outskirts of Dublin, with indications that prop John Afoa and Jason
Eaton would likely make their debuts.

Star first five-eighth (fly-half) Dan Carter sat out training with a
strapped left ankle, said to be only a minor problem, but leaving
the likelihood that Nick Evans could claim the No.10 jersey.

Lock James Ryan also sat out the session with a knee injury suffered
against Wales, but Ali Williams trained freely and should be fit to
return to test rugby after suffering a minor shoulder injury.

Flanker Richie McCaw will also return and probably take over the
captaincy reins from Tana Umaga.

Another to return is second five-eighth Aaron Mauger who sat out
Saturday's 41-3 win over Wales.

It will be a happy homecoming for Mauger who played club rugby for
Dublin club Suttonians fresh out of school, and made his Test debut
here in the 40-29 win over Ireland in 2001.

"I've had some pretty memorable moments and it sits up there as one
of the best moments in my rugby life," Mauger told NZPA.

Having to potentially fit in between Evans and Ma'a Nonu on Saturday
wasn't a problem for Mauger.

Both were relatively new combinations for Mauger but said there was
a determination to match the standard set high by the big win over
Wales.

"If you look at what potentially can go out there it's not too
different in terms of strength to the first backline," Mauger said.

"After the first team got named we all started running together we
pretty much know it all now.

"We're excited but we're aware we can't be complacent. In the past
we've had good performances and then let ourselves down the next
week and just scraped through."

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 11
Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2005 20:47:45 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: NZ: Ireland welcomed the Original All Blacks

Tuesday November 08 2005
No change a century later
In 1905 the All Blacks came to Ireland and received a warm welcome,
as indeed that have done in 2005. Whether the welcome extends to the
field of play, as it did in 1905, remains to be seen.

This is what Dave Gallaher and Billy Stead, captain and vice-captain
in 1905, write about their Irish adventure in The Complete Rugby
Footballer.

"It was prophesied that the cross-channel trip would upset us, and
that Ireland had a distinct chance of victory.

"We enjoyed our visit to Ireland. The Irish people proved to be as
hospitable as their reputation suggested, and they gave us a
thoroughly good time, while the Irish fifteen played good, honest,
dashing football, which gave us a great deal of trouble, but which
we were very glad to have played against us. There was no half-
heartedness in the Irish attacks.

"The team which we put in the field at Dublin was an experimental
one, and it was fortunate that the experiment was entirely
successful. As it happened, Gallaher (sent to bed by the doctor on
account of the bad turn taken by a hack on the shin received when in
Scotland, and which had now required constant fomentation) was
unable to play, and Gillett was up as wing forward, while Mynott was
tried at wing three-quarters for his defensive capacity. It worked
very well indeed.

"There was an amount of devil in the Irish forwards, who put
more 'go' into their game than any other forward division we had
encountered. They made the pace very hot indeed for the early part
of the game. In the circumstances we thought that the best thing to
do would be to let them run about as much as they wanted and tire
themselves out. We could bide our time.

"These tactics were entirely successful, and so we won by fifteen
points (three goals) to nil. If the Irish forwards had been
supported by a better back combination, the result of the match
would have been very problematical.

"We would like to pay our tribute to the refereeing of Mr Crawford
Findlay. It was excellent. When this match was over he made a frank
confession that on the first occasion when he refereed in one of our
matches he was puzzled by our methods, and was often taken unawares
by the rapidity and novelty of some of our movements. But he said
that now that he understood them, he appreciated the correctness of
many things about which he had had doubts before.

"The match with Munster, played at Limerick, which we won by 33
points (four goals, five tries) to 0, was, like the West of Scotland
match, not part of our original programme as it was arranged when we
had left New Zealand.

"These two engagements were inserted in the list while we were on
our way over, and though in the circumstances were practically
obliged to fulfil them, we did so with some regret, as we should
very much have preferred to have had a clear week between each of
the three internationals, which were bunched together at this period.

"The Munster match cost us a very valuable man, for Smith hurt his
shoulder so badly that he was only able to turn out once afterwards,
and that against Glamorgan County when all was nearly over."

The Smith mentioned here was a remarkable sportsman George Smith - a
jockey, an athlete and a rugby player of note. On this tour he
scored 19 tries in 19 matches, including two against Scotland.
Against Munster he broke a collarbone in a tackle. He later played
rugby league for Oldham in England, dying there in 1954 at the age
of 80.

The blood poisoning suffered by Gallaher may has an echo a year
later in a comment on the minutes of the first Springbok touring
team. This appears in the minutes of a meeting in Leicester on 1
October: "In view of recent poisoned wounds all were warned to take
care about cleaning wounds and to get the necessary antiseptics from
the trainer."

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 12
Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2005 20:45:38 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: RWC: Kazakhstan stick to their qualifying guns

Tuesday November 08 2005
Top players released by the European clubs
Kazakhstan have named a largely unchanged squad for their upcoming
World Cup qualifier against Sri Lanka in Colombo on November 12. The
game is the second leg of a play-off to qualify for the next round
of RWC 2007 qualifiers.

Kazakhstan take a six-point lead into the second leg, having beaten
Sri Lanka in Almaty 25-19.

The forwards led the way in that encounter, with Kazakhstan
squandering chances to increase their lead by not taking penalty
kicks at goal.

Sri Lanka managed one try, but could not keep out the Kazakhstan
pack.

However, head coach Valeriy Popov is without influential captain
Timur Mashurov for this fixture, due to injury. Dimitry Pichugin
will captain the side in his absence.

Kazakhstan hope to play smarter rugby this time out, using their men
out wide to better effect and nullify the threat of Sevens style
rugby that Sri Lanka play.

All of Kazakhstan's players have been released by their foreign
clubs (Russia, Kazakhstan and Ireland) for the games, giving head
coach Popov the luxury of choosing his best squad.

The Kazakhstan squad:

Forwards: Serik Zhanseitov , (CSKA Almaty, Kazakhstan) , Anton
Rudoy , (CSKA Almaty, Kazakhstan/ Novokuznetsk, Russia) , Georgiy
Anokhin (Olympic Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan) , Ilya Poplavskiy , (CSKA
Almaty, Kazakhstan) , Dmitry Tkachenko , (CSKA Almaty, Kazakhstan) ,
Grigoriy Ivanchenko , (CSKA Almaty, Kazakhstan) , Yevgeniy
Shekurov , (Novokuznetsk, Russia) , Evgeny Antonov, (Yenisei STM,
Russia) , Ivan Ossikovskiy, (Novokuznetsk, Russia) , Ildar
Abdrazakov, (Dyushor Almaty, Kazakhstan) , Valdimir Chernykh (CSKA
Almaty, Kazakhstan)

Backs: Akhmetzhan Baratov (CSKA Almaty, Kazakhstan), Alexander
Polkovnikov (Novokuznetsk, Russia) , Ivan Galushkin (Olympic
Taldykorgan), Arman Mussulmankulov (CSKA Almaty, Kazakhstan), Dmitry
Pichugin (Olympic Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan), Luke O'Callaghan , (CSKA
Almaty, Kazakhstan/ Bective Rangers, Ireland), (CSKA Almaty,
Kazakhstan) , Maxim Lifontov, (Yenisei STM, Russia) , Sergey
Kharlov , (CSKA Almaty, Kazakhstan) , Evgeny Sazonov ,
(Novokuznetsk, Russia) , Evgeny Sheshin , (Novokuznetsk, Russia -
captain)

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 13
Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2005 20:49:10 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: NPC: Rawlinson named Most Valuable Player

Tuesday November 08 2005
All Black selection looms in 2006
North Harbour lock Greg Rawlinson, who was high on Springbok coach
Jake White's shopping list for 2005, was on Tuesday named the Most
Valuable Player in this year's Air New Zealand NPC.

Rawlinson, who has turned down the offer to join the Springboks in
order to try and play for the All Blacks, becomes eligible for New
Zealand selection in 2006.

He is rated just as highly by All Black coach Graham Henry as he is
by White and it seems his All Black selection is a foregone
conclusion. His selection as the NPC MVP is indicative of how highly
he is rated in New Zealand.

The MVP competition was run by Air New Zealand throughout the 2005
season, with rugby writers from 27 provinces across the country
rating the performance of players in all three divisions of the Air
New Zealand NPC each week.

The rugby writers awarded points to a team's top three players in
each game (three points for best, two points for second and one
point for third) to come up with the best players from each of the
27 Provincial Unions.

Rawlinson finished the season on 13 points, joint second with
Otago's Josh Blackie and Northland's Tim Dow. Top place in Division
One went to Taranaki's Chris Masoe on 15.

The top finisher in the Air New Zealand NPC Division Two competition
was Marlborough's Mark Stewart, who toured Fiji with the New Zealand
Divisional XV last week, while Craig Tansley of Horowhenua Kapiti
and Daniel Alofa of King Country were joint top points-scorers in
Division Three.

Air New Zealand asked sports broadcaster and judge Murray Deaker to
assess the merits of all the 27 provincial winners before picking an
overall winner.

In making his decision, Deaker said Rawlinson had an outstanding
season with North Harbour.

As the MVP for 2005, Rawlinson wins a return Pacific Class trip for
two flying Air New Zealand to either the Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa,
Tahiti or Tonga.

The 27 provincial winners each win domestic travel prizes from Air
New Zealand.

Norm Thompson, Group General Manager, Marketing, Network and Sales
for Air New Zealand said the MVP competition had proven popular with
the media and players over the past three years.

"We are delighted to reward Greg with a trip for two to the Pacific
Islands for the significant contribution he has made to both North
Harbour and the Air New Zealand NPC this year," Mr Thompson said.

The full list of provincial MVPs is as follows:

Division One:
15 points: Chris Masoe (Taranaki)
13 points: Greg Rawlinson (North Harbour), Josh Blackie (Otago) and
Tim Dow (Northland)
11 points: Nili Latu (Bay of Plenty)
9 points: Tim Boys (Southland) and Steven Bates (Waikato)
8 points: Daniel Braid (Auckland) and Reuben Thorne (Canterbury)
6 points: Thomas Waldrom (Wellington)

Division Two:
13 points: Mark Stewart (Marlborough)
12 points: Kahu Marfell (Nelson Bays), Troy Nathan (Counties
Manukau) and Tanginoa Nimo (East Coast)
11 points: Adam Kettle (North Otago)
10 points: Michael Johnson (Hawke's Bay) and Nathan Kemp (Manawatu)
9 points: Aaron Good (Poverty Bay)
8 points: Darin Balcombe (Wanganui)

Division Three:
12 points: Craig Tansley (Horowhenua Kapiti) and Daniel Alofa (King
Country)
11 points: Steven Hill (Thames Valley) and Tomasi Kedarabuka
(Wairarapa Bush)
9 points: Luke Brownlee (Buller) and Mitchell Simcock (West Coast)
8 points: Shannon McRae (South Canterbury)
6 points: James Carr (Mid Canterbury)

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 14
Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2005 20:50:34 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: SA: The changing face of SA rugby

Tuesday November 08 2005
Legislation to enforce transformation
Transformation has been the popular catchphrase in South African
rugby throughout the reign of Brian van Rooyen as South African
Rugby Union (SARU) president. But the true meaning of the word or
how this would be achieved was never properly spelt out.

Now the government plans to implement laws enforcing transformation.
These will be enacted by the middle of next year, it emerged in
Parliament on Monday.

Butana Komphela, the chairperson of the sport portfolio committee,
says nothing has moved as far as transformation is concerned in the
last 10 years.

Speaking during a presentation by SARU on its approach to
transformation, Komphela says government had nothing to show after
10 years of urging sport in South Africa to transform, and so now
legislation had to be enacted.

When SARU presented its transformation charter before parliament on
Monday, it was revealed that the magic number is 65 percent - which
means that is the target for black players that should be present in
all teams (from Under-13 to the national team) at the end of the 10-
year period which the charter covers.

According to SARU, a successful implementation of the charter would
see an increased number of blacks in rugby management, in the field
and among spectators and supporters.

SARU deputy chief executive officer Mveleli Ncula said the union
hoped to present the transformation charter to all its 14 provincial
administrations before the end of the second week of December, the
close of business for the Christmas holidays.

But government is clearly not taking any chances and will force
transformation through by law if it has to, according to Komphela.

SARU noted in its transformation document that it recognised the
government's objectives that the demographic profile of sport had to
ultimately reflect the country's demographics.

That means SA rugby will get rid of its "white face" and adjust its
composition on all levels to South Africa's demographic profile.

News24 reports that transformation will take place in accordance
with targets and scorecards (set out in the charter), with weights
for certain elements with which changes to rugby "on and off the
field" can be measured.

Teams from Under-13 to national level must comply with demographic
representation (with a weight of 65 percent), which is by far the
most important "transformation dimension".

An independent body will measure rugby institutions' progress with
an annual audit. Lack of progress will be punished and
accomplishment rewarded.

SARU said in a presentation to parliament that the demographic
profile of administrators, referees, coaches and even supporters
would have to change to prevent rugby from being overtaken
by "culture realities" in the next decade and die out.

SARU CEO Johan Prinsloo and his deputy, Mvuleli Ncula, led the
presentation to parliament's portfolio committee on sport and
recreation.

Sport administrator, Willie Basson, provided research information to
the committee from which SARU's charter for transformation "subject
to a value system" originated.

The team said the charter offered South African rugby "after 10
years without progress" a second and final chance for survival,
regardless of the fact that accelerated transformation posed a high
risk."

The charter, which took 500 hours and 20 editions was mostly greeted
with enthusiasm by 13 of the 14 provincial rugby unions where it was
presented (Border has not yet been visited because of the "chaotic
situation" there).

The team said that especially strategic realities, after moral
reasons for the charter, made the provincial rugby bosses sit up.

They were surprised when they heard the true facts about rugby's
demographic profile and especially the increase among black players.

SARU's figures indicated that the country had about the same number
of black as white senior rugby players, but more black than white
juniors.

Of the 10 million rugby supporters, more were black than white,
although blacks mostly watched rugby at home or at shebeens.

The popularity of rugby as school sport was declining, while
basketball, volleyball and tennis were increasing.

Soccer remained the most popular sport among most South Africans,
while cricket was now more popular than rugby among all South
Africans.

The growth base for rugby was in the Western Cape (especially Cape
Town and surrounding areas) and the Northern and Eastern Cape.

Basson said "demography" was the gold mine that should be mined for
South African rugby for the future of the game. Unfortunately sport
bosses opposed change the most.

An example was that Blue Bull supporters, who did not see their way
clear to go and watch soccer at the FNB Stadium, should realise
their team would become "demographically representative" somewhere
in the future.

"The question was posed if they would support a team comprising 80
percent black players."

Prinsloo described the decline in schools rugby and opposition to
change among some rugby bosses as stumbling blocks.

Access to sporting facilities (with a weight of 10 percent), work
equity (10 percent), development of expertise (5 percent), tender
preference (5 percent) and community development (5 percent) were
other elements on the transformation score card.

The portfolio committee promised the government's support for the
transformation of rugby at the request of SARU.

SARU's presidents' council and board of directors would soon ratify
the charter. It would stay in force until the end of 2014. SARU
wanted the presidents of the provincial unions to accept
responsibility for the enforcement of the charter.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 15
Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2005 20:51:58 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Sco: Dan's the man for Scotland

Tuesday November 08 2005
Frank Hadden defends his controversial choice
Question: What do Wasps' Mark van Gisbergen and Glasgow's Dan Parks
have in common? Answer: they both suffered nightmare Heineken Cup
matches the weekend before the international season began.

Van Gisbergen suffered for his dip by missing out on an England
spot, but Scotland coach Frank Hadden kept his faith in Parks,
despite the good vein of form found by Edinburgh's Phil Godman.

Parks started the year as Scotland's first-choice fly-half but lost
his place to Gordon Ross.

The Glasgow Warriors player, who has always had his fair share of
critics, only came back into the side against Romania in the summer
when the Leeds Tykes player was injured. Despite being fit again,
Ross has not been able to battle his way back into the squad.

On Monday, Hadden defended his choice, which as seen as the only
controversial call in what looks to be a promising XV.

"Credit to Dan because there's no doubt that Gordon Ross was my
number one in May but Dan has improved a lot," said Hadden

"I've watched a lot of stand-offs this year and only Dan Carter is
head and shoulders above the rest.

"We expect a stand-off to be Superman and to do everything
brilliantly but I've watched Jonny Wilkinson and Charlie Hodgson and
they have had mixed performances.

"Dan (Parks) has had a number of outstanding games in terms of his
decision-making, accuracy of his work, defensive duties and kicking.

"So in terms of the all-round package, Dan has produced a level that
I hadn't expected from him this season.

"Getting that level every single week is not easy. There was a much
documented incident last weekend but Dan doesn't have to do all the
kicking.

"His level of communication has gone up a notch and it is
significantly better than that of Gordon or Phil."

After acting as interim boss for the games against the Barbarians
and Romania in the summer, Hadden is taking the Scots into his first
match since being appointed permanent head coach.

The former Edinburgh Gunners chief is initially looking to
rejuvenate the spirits of the Scotland players, and seems to be
trying to build a togetherness akin to Mike Rudock's 'Team Wales'
atmopshere.

"If you don't enjoy turning up for your work then you won't perform
well," said Hadden

"It's not a happy-go-lucky holiday camp type of enjoyment but it's
guys looking forward to training who feel good about themselves, who
look forward to playing for Scotland and particularly winning for
Scotland."

________________________________________________________________________
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[rugby_www] Digest Number 304

2005-11-06T02:34:00.000-08:00

There is 1 message in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

1. Wal: 'It hurts like hell' says Ruddock
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 1
Date: Sat, 05 Nov 2005 20:48:22 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Wal: 'It hurts like hell' says Ruddock

Saturday November 05 2005
No excuses from the Welsh camp
Wales coach Mike Ruddock offered no excuses for his team's record 41-
3 defeat to New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on
Saturday, but admitted it "hurts like hell".

Fly-half Dan Carter sparked the rout with another immense
performance as the All Blacks ran in five tries to make an emphatic
start to their Grand Slam tour.

Rico Gear scored a 20-minute hat-trick and Carter finished with 26
points from two tries and a faultless goal-kicking display.

Ruddock has urged Wales, who struggled to build any attacking
platform and managed just three points from the boot of Stephen
Jones, to hit back over the next three weeks.

"New Zealand were far superior on the day. They won the Test match
very well, they won it easily in the end, but how we progress from
here is the key," said Ruddock.

"You will get no excuses from this camp. We were not good enough on
the day. We didn't deliver the performance we wanted.

"The All Blacks are a great team and if you don't deliver you are
going to get burned, you are going to get hurt.

"I am very disappointed at the margin. Once you let New Zealand get
the first one in and you are not accurate with your catch-up rugby
they will come back and punish you again.

"New Zealand won the collisions in the contact area and that put
them on the front foot. Carter is a very fine footballer and he
keeps getting better and better.

"He put us into the corner when he needed to, got the backline going
when he needed to, took ball up when he needed to. He is a great
player.

"The test for us is to see how we come back from this with the games
and challenges ahead. It hurts like hell but we have to refocus on
the next game (Fiji next Friday)."

Wales defended bravely, but were missing six of their Grand Slam-
winning side - Lions Gethin Jenkins, Ryan Jones, Dwayne Peel, Gavin
Henson and Tom Shanklin are injured while Martyn Williams attended
his mother's funeral on Friday.

Ruddock said: "Whatever team we put out, if you don't get the
accuracy right in the things you are doing we would have got beaten."

Wales were outplayed in the line-out and after a combative start
were worn down at the tackle area.

"I take full responsibility for the line-out," said Ruddock.

"It is very easy when no-one is alongside you in training but when
you get a very well organised line-out against you the pressure
creates other problems," he said.

"We identified the tackle area as crucial. We didn't win as much
ball as we wanted and that meant the ball we did win was at premium
and too often we gave that away."

Ruddock insisted he did not see All Blacks hooker Trevor Woodcock
upend Wales lock Brent Cockbain onto his neck in the second half.

The incident, with Tana Umaga's tackle on Brian O'Driscoll still
fresh in the mind, brought boos from the Millennium Stadium crowd.

But Ruddock said: "I saw a lot of things out there. I saw us get
beaten, I saw New Zealand score tries, I saw us not be effective
enough but I didn't see the incident.

"I'm sure if there was foul play it will be dealt with."

Cockbain played down the incident saying: "I haven't seen the
footage. I fell on my head but it seemed to be an accident."

New Zealand started at a blistering pace and although some handling
errors cost them a number of first-half try-scoring opportunities
they limited Wales to negligible possession.

Wales captain Gareth Thomas, who has now suffered four Test defeats
to New Zealand in four months after his disappointing summer tour
with the Lions, reflected: "They took a big thing away from us today
and that is the Millennium Stadium factor.

"We usually rely on playing a big first 20 minutes to get the crowd
going but they took the game to us, we defended for 20 minutes and
that set the pattern.

"They are a superb team and we can learn a lot from them."

________________________________________________________________________
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[rugby_www] Digest Number 303

2005-11-05T02:09:00.000-08:00

There is 1 message in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

1. Australia & New Zealand
From: "John Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 1
Date: Fri, 04 Nov 2005 11:04:07 +0000
From: "John Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Australia & New Zealand

Welsh Rugby Union Considers Closing Roof for New Zealand Match

Nov. 3 (Bloomberg) -- Wales's rugby match with top-ranked New Zealand on
Nov. 5 may be played under a closed roof after several days of heavy rain in
Cardiff, the Welsh Rugby Union said today.

About 35 millimeters (2.4 inches) of rain has fallen on the Welsh capital in
the past two days, the U.K.'s Met Office said. If bad weather persists
tomorrow, as per the forecast, the teams will be consulted over their
preference, though the final decision lies with Millennium Stadium
officials.

``If the weather is atrocious then the roof will be shut,'' WRU spokeswoman
Liz Jones said in a telephone interview.

Closing the roof would keep out the elements, intensify the atmosphere in
the 74,500-seat arena and help both teams play the flowing brand of rugby
they enjoy. It could favor New Zealand, which retains the ball well in tight
situations and in June defeated the British & Irish Lions 21-3 in driving
rain in Christchurch.

Under a closed roof in the same stadium last year, Joe Rokocoko scored two
tries as New Zealand edged Wales 26-25. The weather on Saturday is likely to
be ``fairly wet,'' Met Office spokesman Kevin Hogg said.

The match, which kicks off the November international season, pits the
southern hemisphere's leading team against the northern hemisphere's
champion. New Zealand completed a 3-0 sweep of the Lions in June and July,
before edging South Africa to the Tri-Nations title.

Grand Slam

New Zealand is the favorite to win the opening leg of its quest for a first
Grand Slam over the four home unions of Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland
since Graham Mourie's team achieved the feat in 1978.

Mourie's men were helped in the dying minutes of the final match against
Wales when second-row forward Andy Haden dived out of a lineout, convincing
the referee that he was obstructed. Brian McKechnie kicked the resulting
penalty for a 13-12 victory.

The teams' first contest 100 years ago was also spiced with controversy.

Dave Gallagher's so-called Originals had already ambushed Scotland, Ireland
and England with their free-running style of rugby and arrived in Cardiff
looking to seal a clean sweep over their colonial masters. Wales won 3-0,
but the tourists maintained the match official falsely ruled out a try by
Bob Deans. On his death-bed three years later, Deans continued to say the
try was fair.

It was the New Zealanders' only defeat in their 35-match tour.

``We've got a team photograph of the 1905 side hanging up in our
headquarters at the moment as a lucky charm,'' Wales coach Mike Ruddock
said.

To contact the reporter on this story:
Sam Sheringham in London on at ssheringham@bloomberg.net

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[rugby_www] Digest Number 302

2005-11-04T02:02:00.000-08:00

There are 10 messages in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

1. WALES WILL BE TOUGHER THAN THE LIONS
From: "John Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
2. IRB: No gains for world's top two
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
3. SA: SA Amateurs for CAR semis
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
4. Aus: No problem for Houston in France
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
5. Jap: Preview - Japan v Spain
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
6. Aus: The old and the new for Australia
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
7. Eng: Robinson makes the final cut
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
8. RWC: First RWC 2007 tickets on sale
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
9. Wal: Cockbain sets up charity competition
From: "GlasshouseJohn" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
10. Arg: Pumas plan a few 'surprises' for Boks
From: "GlasshouseJohn" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 1
Date: Thu, 03 Nov 2005 11:48:59 +0000
From: "John Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: WALES WILL BE TOUGHER THAN THE LIONS

WALES V NEW ZEALAND, SATURDAY
Alex Spink Rugby Correspondent
LIONS captain Gareth Thomas warned the All Blacks last night that his Welsh
team do not fear them and are better equipped to beat them than Sir Clive
Woodward's band of all stars.

Wales were one of four nations who contributed to the Lions misadventure and
are this weekend without six of their biggest names - Gavin Henson, Ryan
Jones, Dwayne Peel, Gethin Jenkins, Tom Shanklin and Martyn Williams.

Yet Thomas, who led the Lions in the second and third Tests in New Zealand,
is adamant that they pose a greater threat than the pick of the British
Isles.

"New Zealand have got the respect of probably every rugby player in the
world and rightly so," said the man they call 'Alfie'. "But we don't fear
any opponent.

"The Lions was a brand new team, whereas the majority of this Welsh squad
have played together for the last 18 months. That is why, come Saturday, we
will be better prepared as a team than we were as a Lions squad in New
Zealand."

The one moment of celebration the Lions enjoyed in the entire series came
courtesy of Thomas, when he briefly put them ahead with a solo try early in
the second Test. That apart it was misery from start to finish.

But he insisted: "The Lions is a completely different concept from playing
for your country and I think the All Blacks will find this 'Grand Slam' tour
a tougher challenge than the Lions series was.

"Don't get me wrong, I think they are every bit as good a team as they
looked against us in the summer. But the four Home Union sides they will
play against know each other a lot better than we did as a Lions team going
out there."

England flanker Lewis Moody echoed Thomas' sentiments by warning the Kiwis
to expect a "physical hammering" over the next month.

"The English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh are desperate to prove these guys
aren't invincible," said the Leicester star. "In fact, New Zealand are going
to take a physical hammering from every side they face."

Welsh team boss Mike Ruddock has told his players that he expects them to
stay true to the nation's heritage and "fiercely" defend their home turf.

"Each Welsh player coming into the squad gets a book containing the
protocols we expect from our players," Ruddock revealed.

"Part of that contains chapters on Welsh history, Welsh rugby history, even
the Welsh history in battles."

Ruddock promises that Wales, who have not beaten New Zealand for more than
50 years, will stay faithful to their high tempo attacking style in the
Millennium Stadium showdown between the kings of the two hemispheres.

"There are risks attached, it's high risk, high rewards. So far we have got
the rewards," said the coach of a side intent on extending their eight-match
unbeaten run, stretching back to last November when they lost by a point to
this weekend's opponents.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 2
Date: Thu, 03 Nov 2005 21:24:37 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: IRB: No gains for world's top two

Thursday November 03 2005
Aussies eye No.2 world ranking
Eddie Jones' Wallabies may have equalled the worst run by an
Australian team in more than three decades, but George Gregan and
company could find themselves back in the No.2 spot on the
International Rugby Board (IRB) World Rankings after this weekend's
Test matches.

Six of the world's top eight ranked teams are in action in the first
weekend of November internationals and there is sure to be some
movement on the rankings.

The top five teams - New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, France
and Wales, along with the eight-placed Argentina are all playing
this weekend. The rest of the Top 10 - England, Ireland, Scotland,
Fiji and Italy - will all get in on the act next week.

Despite having lost five successive matches (three times against
South Africa and twice to New Zealand) this year, the Australians
could actually overtake the Springboks in second place on the
rankings.

It would, of course, require the unthinkable to happen - the Boks
should lose by more than 15 points to Argentina in Buenos Aires and
the Wallabies must beat France in Marseille.

Unlikely as it seems, the Boks losing by such a big margin, it may
just be the fillip the Wallabies need to turn their poor year around.

The top-ranked All Blacks will not be challenged in the No.1 spot.
Even if they lose to Wales, by whatever margin, they will not be
caught by South Africa, Australia or any other team. At worst they
will lose 2.38 ranking points.

Wales could drop down to sixth place (if they lose by more than 15
points), or move up to third place if they win by more than 15
points.

South Africa can't score a single ranking point, no matter by what
margin they win in Buenos Aires. They are simply too far ahead of
the eighth-ranked Pumas. The Boks can loose as many as three
rankings points.

The Argentineans also can't improve their position, but they can
make up as many as three ranking points on Ireland in seventh place.

Australia know that if they beat France and the Boks lose by 15
points, they will move up to second place. But Australia could also
drop down to fifth place and France could end up in either third
place or fifth place.

Possible scenarios for the weekend:
(Under headings team, current points, worst possible finish and best
possible finish)
1 NZ: 91.95 - 89.57 / 92.57
2 SA: 88.99 - 85.99 / 88.99
3 Aus: 84.85 - 83.69 / 86.69
4 Fra: 84.13 - 82.29 / 85.29
5 Wal: 83.08 - 82.46 / 85.46
6 Eng: 82.81 - Not playing
7 Ire: 82.14 - Not playing
8 Arg: 75.66 - 75.66 / 78.66
9 Sco: 74.20 - Not playing
10 Fiji: 73.47 - Not playing

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 3
Date: Thu, 03 Nov 2005 21:36:33 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: SA: SA Amateurs for CAR semis

Thursday November 03 2005
Off to Antananarivo
The South African Amateur team plays Madagascar in the semi-finals
of the Confederation of African Rugby's Top 9 competition on
Saturday.

On the same day, Morocco play Namibia in the other semi.

In Madagascar rugby, which this year celebrates its centenary in a
country where the French influence persists, is increasing in
popularity and crwods of over 30 000 are common. But they should
still not really be a match for the SA Amateurs.

There is the carrot of a final to be played as a curtain-raiser to
the France-South clash in Paris on November 26.

The teams in the Top 9 are South Africa Amateurs, Zimbabwe, Namibia,
Madagascar, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Côte d'Ivoire and Morocco.

To get to the semi-final, South Africa beat Zimbabwe 49-27 and
Uganda 96-10. Namibia beat Madagascar 56-17 but Madagascar beat Côte
d'Ivoire 30-10 to get to the semi-final.

SA Amateurs: Lucas Wessels, Kobie Mortlow, David King (Blue Bulls),
Jeanru van Niekerk (Boland), Amandla Stofile (Border), Yongama Mkaza
(captain), Sebastian Jordaan (Eastern Province), Theo Becker,
Godfrey Pangeni (Falcons), François Benjamin, André Williams, Vuyo
Zanqua (Golden Lions), Ricardo Arnolds (Griffons), Garth Lewis
(Griquas), Kurt Hold (KwaZulu Natal), Hakkies Swart (Mpumalanga),
Morné Adams, Elvin Hugo, Paul Roux, Heinrich Schmidt, Greg van
Jaarsveld, Ridaah van der Fort (Western Province)

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 4
Date: Thu, 03 Nov 2005 21:38:19 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Aus: No problem for Houston in France

Thursday November 03 2005
Wallaby's youngest tourist lapping up the experience
It has traditionally taken a long time for youngsters to break into
Eddie Jones's thinking, but for Leroy Houston the rise from the
youth ranks has been meteoric.

Not too long ago the 18-year-old No.8 was playing in the Wallaby U19
side and supporting the All Blacks, then came the U21 World Cup in
Argentina, and finally a selection in the senior squad for the
November Tests.

Houston made the cut, showing all the easy-styled pace and bluster
that his 115kg frame could afford, and became the youngest tourist
to get on the plane to Montpellier a fortnight ago.

"You could watch your movies lying down. I didn't want to get off
the plane," he said after training on Wednesday to the AAP.

Houston's allegiance to the Australians' old enemy stems from family
ties. He is the son of a Maori mother and Scottish father, and
although his family migrated across the Tasman sea in 2000, blood
runs thicker than water.

Indeed, he was cheering the All Blacks in the Tri-Nations just a
fortnight before getting the call-up for the senior squad.

"To be honest, I cheer for the All Blacks because that's where my
roots are, but I do go for the Wallabies ... if they don't play the
All Blacks," he said at the time.

"I definitely wanted to be an All Black as a kid, but it's
Australian rugby that's brought me through the ranks."

Houston has slotted into the Wallaby unit seamlessly, and is fast
becoming a welcome injection of light-heartedness into proceedings.

Having arrived at the first Wallaby session with bleached streaks in
his hair - earning himself the epithet 'skunk' and the honour of
being grassed on for it by Matt Giteau and Matt Henjak who have both
previously fallen foul of the Wallabies' 'no dye' hair policy - he
then proceeded to do little except take snapshots of the first
physio session of the tour.

When asked why, he simply replied, "Hey, I might never go on another
Wallaby tour. I want to remember every minute of this."

Popular opinion is that he will most certainly go on another tour
after his excellent match for Australia A against the French
Barbarians on Tuesday.

Houston strode with a great deal of imperiousness through the Baa-
baas defence, and although he struggled with the harder hits - not
surprising considering he is still teased about puppy fat - he was
not out of depth with the pace.

"It was pretty fast but playing for the Under-21s prepared me for
that," Houston said.

It certainly seemed to, and this is one very much for Australia's
future.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 5
Date: Thu, 03 Nov 2005 21:40:04 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Jap: Preview - Japan v Spain

Thursday November 03 2005
Only the second match between the two nations
For only the second time in history, Japan play Spain. The match
will be played at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground
(Chichibunomiya) in Tokyo on Saturday.

The teams met for the first time on in August 1999 when both were
preparing for that year's Rugby Wold Cup - Japan won 30-7, scoring
three tries to one.

With three penalties and three conversions fly-half Keiji Hirose
scored 15 points on that day. He is again at fly-half for Japan, the
only Japanese survivor of that 1999 match.

Spain also has a player back. Álvar Enciso who was in the centre
then but is now on the bench.

Meanwhile, two uncapped players could well come off the bench and
win their first caps for Spain - Álvaro Lazaro and Alexander Ortega.

The referee is the same. Andrew Cole of Brisbane was in charge in
1999 and will be in charge in Toyko.

It's hard to tell which way this match will go.

Spain who are in the midst of preparing for their RWC qualifiers.
They are in FIRA-AER's second league but they have beaten Portugal
this year who are the champions of FIRA-AER's first league.

Spain went to the World Cup in 1999. Japan have been to every World
Cup.

The victorious Cherry Blossoms of 1999 had four New Zealanders,
including the All Blacks Graeme Bachop and Jamie Joseph. This year's
team has none.

Spain's players play in Spain with the exception of two players in
the bench - Mathieu Cidre and Álvaro Lazaro.

Prediction: Japan by ten.

The teams:

Japan: 15 Goshi Tachikawa, 14 Nataniera Oto, 13 Junpei Enomoto, 12
Shotaro Onishi, 11 Hirotoki Onozawa, 10 Keiji Hirose, 9 Wataru Ikeda
(captain), 8 Hajime Kiso, 7 Takashi Kikutani, 6 Tomoaki Nakai, 5
Takashi Akatsuka, 4 Toshizumi Kitagawa, 3 Ryo Yamamura, 2 Yuji
Matsubara, 1 Yuichi Hisatomi.
Replacements: 16 Taskashi Yamaoka, 17 Tomokazu Soma, 18 Tsuyoshi
Sato, 19 Takanori Kumagae, 20 Mamoru Ito, 21 Ryota Asano, 22 Takashi
Miyake.

Spain: 15 César Sempere, 14 Jorge Prieto, 13 Ferrán Velazco
(captain), 12 Jaime Nava, 11 Ignacio Martín, 10 Esteban Roque, 9
Pablo Feijoo, 8 Iván Criado, 7 Juan González, 6 Rafael Camacho, 5
César Bernasconi, 4 Andrew Ebbett, 3 Javier Salazar, 2 Diego
Zarzosa, 1 Ion Insausti.
Replacements: 16 Mathieu Cidre, 17 César Caballero, 18 Alejandro
Ortega, 19 Álvaro Lázaro, 20 Facundo Lavino, 21 Alvar Enciso, 22
David Mota.

Date: Saturday, 5 November 2005
Kick-off: 14.00 (05.00 GMT)
Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo
Weather conditions: Clear with a high of 21°C and a breeze from the
northwest reaching 7 km/h
Referee: Andrew Cole (Australia)
Touch judges: Shinji Aida, Taizo Hirabayashi (both Japan)

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Message: 6
Date: Thu, 03 Nov 2005 21:41:50 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Aus: The old and the new for Australia

Thursday November 03 2005
Gregan to break national cap record while Holmes is set for debut
Wallaby captain and scrum-half George Gregan will win a record-
breaking 115th cap for his country and link up with Matt Giteau at
fly-half when Australia open their European tour against France in
Marseille on Saturday.

Gregan overtakes the record of 114 national Test caps set by former
England prop Jason Leonard - although Leonard's five British & Irish
Lions caps keeps him ahead on the overall Test stakes.

Gregan will lead Australia with the support of three vice-captains -
Nathan Sharpe, Phil Waugh and Morgan Turinui - while Giteau returns
to the starting line-up after missing the last match of the Tri-
Nations with a lower back injury.

His return to the No.10 jersey, which he has worn four times already
this season, sees Mat Rogers move onto one wing, while Wendell
Sailor returns to the other wing after a knee injury saw him miss
the last three matches of the Tri-Nations.

Lote Tuqiri keeps his place at outside centre, linking up with
Turinui in the No.12 jersey, while Chris Latham will start at
fullback with Drew Mitchell, Lloyd Johansson and Chris Whitaker in
the reserves.

In the front row, Matt Dunning has been given the opportunity to
start at loosehead prop for the first time this season, alongside
Brendan Cannon and Al Baxter, while hooker Stephen Moore returns to
the reserves and 22-year-old prop Greg Holmes will be looking to
make his Test debut.

Sharpe and Mark Chisholm will start in the second row, with reserve
lock Hugh McMeniman returning to the Test line-up, while the back
row of Rocky Elsom, Waugh and George Smith at No.8 is unchanged from
the last Test.

Wallaby coach Eddie Jones says the preparation has been good ahead
of what will be a physical challenge against the French.

"The attitude and enthusiasm at training in the lead up to the tour,
and especially this week has been pleasing," said Jones.

"There has been a really strong focus on preparing to play well
against France on Saturday, and with a number of players coming back
into the starting lineup everyone is keen to continue on from where
the Australia A team left off on Tuesday by setting a good tone for
the tour."

"The French are going to be physical, play with the ball off the
ground and we've prepared for that. They are strong at the set piece
and we've already seen that they like to maul the ball as much as
possible. We've got to be physical, out muscle them and then use
our skill."

Gregan himself did take a little time to reflect on his career on
Wednesday.

"It's been a very enjoyable ride," he said to reporters, and
insisted he had no intention of ending it soon.

"It doesn't seem so long ago that I was starting my Test career. And
I'm still enjoying it, that's the main thing."

"In a perfect world you'd like to [break the record] at home in
Australia," he added.

"But if I was to have it overseas I'd have it in France. It's a
wonderful place, I've always felt very comfortable here.

"They enjoy a lot of things I like ... coffee, good food, they've
got nice balance. I like in some places how they sleep after they
eat at lunchtime. They've just got such a good attitude towards
life."

The All Blacks will still remain Gregan's most respected opponents,
with Zinzan Brooke and Sean Fitzpatrick as his favoured adversaries,
as well as England's Martin Johnson. The 96-97 All Blacks were the
best team he has ever faced.

As with every scrum-half - and many spectators - Gregan still thinks
there is a lot of cleaning up to do regarding the laws at the tackle
and ruck area, especially the outlawing of negative play.

"When this game is played well it's awesome, it's a great spectacle,
and it's great to play. But when it gets messy it can become quite
an ugly spectacle," he said.

Australia: 15 Chris Latham, 14 Wendell Sailor, 13 Lote Tuqiri, 12
Morgan Turinui, 11 Mat Rogers, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 George Gregan
(captain), 8 George Smith, 7 Phil Waugh, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Nathan
Sharpe, 4 Mark Chisholm, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Brendan Cannon, 1 Matt
Dunning.
Replacements: 16 Stephen Moore, 17 Greg Holmes, 18 Hugh McMeniman,
19 John Roe, 20 Chris Whitaker, 21 Lloyd Johansson, 22 Drew Mitchell.

Kick-off: 21.00 (20.00 GMT)
Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Kelvin Deaker and Lyndon Bray (both New Zealand)
Television match official: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 7
Date: Thu, 03 Nov 2005 21:52:29 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Eng: Robinson makes the final cut

Thursday November 03 2005
Van Gisbergen remains in the frame
England coach Andy Robinson has name his 22-man squad for next
Saturday's Cook Cup game against Australia at Twickenham.

New Zealand-born fullback Mark van Gisbergen remains in the frame
despite some shaky performances for Wasps in the past few weeks.

But Robinson has long admired the 27-year-old and now Van Gisbergen
seems set to win his debut cap against the Wallabies from fullback.

Van Gisbergen is joined in the squad by uncapped duo Lee Mears, the
Bath hooker, and Leicester lock Louis Deacon, who is likely to
provide back-up for Steve Borthwick and Danny Grewcock.

Worcester skipper Pat Sanderson looks set to win his first full
England cap since the 2001 tour of North America with Lewis Moody
likely to be employed as blindside flank in place of the injured Joe
Worsley.

Northampton wing Ben Cohen and Bath playmaker Olly Barkley, both of
whom were omitted from the initial England training squad, have been
rewarded with selection for their recent club form.

Barkley now looks set to be the back-up kicker to Charlie Hodgson
after Leicester playmaker Andy Goode was left out.

Others who find themselves surplus to requirements after being named
in last week's 30-man squad are Perry Freshwater (Perpignan), James
Forrester (Gloucester), Andy Hazell (Gloucester), Peter Richards
(Gloucester), Ollie Smith (Leicester Tigers) and Tom Voyce (London
Wasps).

A back injury accounts for the absence of Wasps lock Simon Shaw.

England squad: Olly Barkley (Bath Rugby), Steve Borthwick (Bath
Rugby), Ben Cohen (Northampton Saints), Martin Corry (Leicester
Tigers, captain), Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks), Matt Dawson (London
Wasps), Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers), Harry Ellis (Leicester
Tigers), Danny Grewcock (Bath Rugby), Charlie Hodgson (ale Sharks),
Chris Jones (Sale Sharks), Josh Lewsey (London Wasps), Lee Mears
(Bath Rugby), Lewis Moody (Leicester Tigers), Jamie Noon (Newcastle
Falcons), Pat Sanderson (Worcester Warriors), Andrew Sheridan (Sale
Sharks), Matt Stevens (Bath Rugby), Steve Thompson (Northampton
Saints), Mike Tindall (Gloucester), Mark van Gisbergen (London
Wasps), Phil Vickery (Gloucester).

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 8
Date: Thu, 03 Nov 2005 22:07:23 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: RWC: First RWC 2007 tickets on sale

First RWC 2007 tickets on sale
Thursday November 03 2005
Let the scrum begin!
November 5th sees the start of the ticketing sales programme for
Rugby World Cup 2007, almost two years out from the tournament.

The first release of tickets for RWC 2007 is the sales of ticket
packages by city and by team to the rugby community across the whole
of Europe. This first ticket release rewards the loyal rugby family
that week in week out supports the game including players,
volunteers, administrators, spectators and officials.

The ticket programme is being managed by the French Rugby Federation
RWC 2007 Organising Committee, under the call to arms "Allez au
Contact".

RWC 2007 will become the first Rugby World Cup for which match
tickets and ticket packages will be sold over the Internet to rugby
supporters around the world. Previously, those supporters outside
the host nation only had access to tickets if they were purchased
with accommodation and travel as part of the official international
travel programme.

Full details on the rwc 2007 official ticket programme including a
list of frequently asked questions can be viewed at
www.rugbyworldcup.com or www.france2007.fr

KEY TICKET PROGRAMME DATES

November 5, 2005: Release of ticket packages/packs to the European
Rugby family.

By being a member of a rugby club affiliated with the respective IRB
national union, rugby community members will be able to purchase
certain city and team ticket packages. Rugby club members who have
not received details on this opportunity should contact their club
for information.

January 2006: RWC 2007 Travel Packages

Packages including match tickets and travel will be available
through officially appointed travel agents around the world (see
www.rth07.com)

April 2006: Release of ticket packages/packs to the public worldwide

Members of the public around the world will be able to buy certain
city and team packages via the internet.

Autumn 2006: Release of individual match tickets

Individual tickets go on sale, including tickets for the knockout
stages

Putting the tickets on sale through these various phases guarantees
total fairness to everyone wishing to purchase different types of
tickets and ticket packages. The share of tickets for each phase is
approximately 30 percent for each, while the travel and hospitality
programmes are allocated from a separate IRB allocation.

THE PRODUCTS: QUALITY AND DIVERSITY

The "Allez au Contact" ticket release programme primarily includes
ticket offers in the form of packages, known as "packs", which will
account for two-thirds of all tickets sold.

The City Pack

This offers entry to pool matches taking place in one host city and
to one of the quarter-finals. Each City Pack is configured
differently depending on the number of pool matches included and may
contain the option to buy tickets for a quarter final. The pack with
a quarter final ticket covers all pool matches taking place in the
given city.

Residents of the North West of France will look at the Nantes pack
with its three pool matches, England v Samoa, Wales v Fiji and Wales
v Americas 2. This pack also provides entry to a quarter final at
either Cardiff, Marseille or Saint-Denis.

Some packs combine matches taking place in neighbouring cities like
Lyon/St Etienne or Paris/Saint-Denis.

UK residents can enjoy matches without too much travelling by buying
packs for Edinburgh and Cardiff. The Cardiff pack for example gives
three pool matches in the Millennium Stadium (Wales v Australia,
Wales v Asia 1, Fiji v Americas 2) and the possibility of a ticket
to a quarter final.

The Team Pack

Offers tickets to watch a specific team , including quarter and semi-
finals. This type of pack means a supporter will not miss any of the
games of one of the eight major rugby playing nations through to the
semi final stage.

Each Team pack has three different combinations built around the
freedom to buy tickets for all the pool matches of the chosen team,
it's potential quarter final and semi final.

The New Zealand pack includes the four pool matches against Europe 1
in Marseille, against Repechage 1 in Lyon, against Scotland in
Edinburgh and against Europe 2 in Toulouse. The second pack includes
all these pool games and a potential quarter final perhaps against
France, Ireland or Americas 1 in Cardiff.

Ticket Limits and Refunds

In order to make sure a maximum number of people can experience
Rugby World Cup 2007, orders will be limited to 6 packs per person
with no more than 4 team packs or 4 limited edition Saint-Denis
packs.

Team packs that include tickets to the Rugby World Cup quarter
finals and semi finals will be available several months before
individual match tickets go on sale for the knockout stages. Only
four teams can qualify for the semi-finals so, if a country chosen
in a team pack does not get beyond the pool stages, the full cost of
the ticket will be refunded. The same will be true if a chosen team
does not reach the quarter finals. The corresponding sum will be
refunded within six weeks of the end of the tournament.

PRICES: AFFORDABILITY FOR A POPULAR EVENT

The overall success of the event depends largely on a policy of
reasonable pricing which acknowledges the prestigious nature of the
event while keeping it affordable. At the outset the price policy is
designed around two factors: classifying pool matches into price
levels based on appeal, and seating in different categories.

Pool matches are ranked into five levels based on the teams involved
in the games. Prices are then determined according to the position
of the seat in the ground. Five seat categories based on the view
and closeness to the pitch have been defined.

A large range of prices is available to suit all budgets.

The cheapest tickets will be 10 to encourage a broad range of
people to attend the stadiums and experience Rugby World Cup.

·10% of tickets (250,000 seats) will be 15 or less

·45% of tickets (1.2 million seats) will be at equivalent prices for
top French club matches

·30% of tickets for the knockout stages will be at equivalent prices
for Six Nations matches

·25 % of pool matches will be below the attractive price of 20

·Prices for the quarter finals and the opening ceremony will start
at 49

·Nearly 15,000 seats for the final will be sold for less than 100

·Half the seats for the third place play-off (25,000 in the Parc des
Princes) will be on offer at 15

TICKETING EXAMPLES

Example 1

A group of four friends living in the region of Nantes. They want to
enjoy this popular event. They are all in their 30s and working and
want to sit together in the stadium.

The Nantes pack answers the needs of this group of friends with
three pool matches that promise to be quite spectacular: England v
Samoa, Wales v Fiji, Wales v Americas 2. This pack includes the
world champions, England and the 2005 Six Nations champions, Wales.

Price Range depending on seating category: 137 to 213 per person
for the 3-match pack

Price range including quarter final in the stadium of their choice,
depending on seat category: 287 to 443 per person.

These friends will get places next to each other as long as: One of
them places the order for the whole group within the limit of
tickets authorised per order and the selected packs are all in the
same price category

Example 2

A mother of three from the North East of England wants to take her
children, all rugby fans, to several World Cup matches. She has a
tight budget and she would prefer not to have to go to France.

With the Cardiff pack she can watch three matches in the pool stages
without having to cross the Channel. In the Millennium Stadium at
Cardiff, she and her family will enjoy the excitement of teams from
four continents through watching Wales against Australia, Wales v
Asia 1 and Fiji v Americas 2.

Price: 89 per person for the 3-match pack in the cheapest seat
category.

Price: Including quarter-final in Cardiff 147 euros in the cheapest
seat category.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 9
Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2005 21:59:04 -0000
From: "GlasshouseJohn" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Wal: Cockbain sets up charity competition

Thursday November 03 2005
Wales lock puts special shirt up for grabs
The modern day Wales and New Zealand teams have combined to donate a special
prize for a special cause - the TLC Foundation for young cancer sufferers
set up by the Wales lock Brent Cockbain.

Cockbain, who lines up against the All Blacks on Saturday, and his wife Kate
are organising the competition for the charity following the death of their
young son Toby Lloyd Cockbain last year from a brain tumour.
One of only six specially manufactured centenary jerseys - featuring the red
of Wales and black of New Zealand - has been signed by both squads and will
be presented to the winners of a novel reverse auction, a bit of a brain
teaser as you sup your pint before the match.

You can enter by text for £1, which goes directly to the charity.

The winner will be the person who texts the lowest unique number between 0
and infinity. A recorded voice will instantly tell you if your chosen number
has already been taken and you need to choose again.

All you have to do is text Wales and your number to 88010 (UK only). The
recorded voice will also help if you get into difficulties. The winner of
the highly prized shirt will be announced on Nov 14.

Regards
John Hopkins
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/advertising-n-spotlighting

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Message: 10
Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2005 21:57:47 -0000
From: "GlasshouseJohn" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Arg: Pumas plan a few 'surprises' for Boks

Thursday November 03 2005
'The key will be the team spirit and playing as a unit'
Argentina coach Marcelo Loffreda has a few aces up his sleeve when the Pumas
face South Africa in the one-off Test at Estadio de Vélez Sarsfield in
Buenos Aires on Saturday.

Loffreda knows exactly what it will take to beat the Springboks since he was
a member of the only South American team to ever beat a Bok side in an
international.
The Puma mentor was playing at centre when the South American Jaguars came
back from a 50-18 defeat in the first Test in Pretoria, to record a stunning
21-12 upset in Bloemfontein the following week.

While that touring party included players from other rugby playing South
American countries like Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile, the Test
team consisted only of Argentines. Despite the side being the Pumas in
disguise, the record will reflect that it was the South American Jaguars who
stunned the Boks on 3 April 1982.

It is based on the experience of that lone win more than two decades ago
that Loffreda states: "The key [to victory] will be the team spirit and
playing as a unit."

But the Pumas also know they will need something besides their usual
scrum/maul-orientated game to overcome the powerful South Africans.

He acknowledged that in the modern era of extensive video analysis, where
opposing teams carefully study each other and the tactics, there is a need
for a fresh approach.

"Yes, we are planning a few surprises on Saturday," Loffreda said when asked
about his team's tactics.

"Don't ask me to reveal what they are, but we are going to have some
innovations that are going to be totally different to what we normally do."

The Puma coach, who faced South Africa's national team on seven occasions -
in a South American XV and with the Pumas - said the Boks remain a team that
relies on its physical superiority to subdue the opposition.

"They are simply stronger, harder players," he said when asked to sum up
Saturday's opponents.

So how does one counter this advantage?

"With a lot of team spirit," Loffreda said. "With a lot of hard work and to
play as a unit. If we try to impose ourselves on the Boks individually, we
will certainly lose the battle.

"We have to accept the reality: we are weaker than they are. But if we play
as a unit we can be a lot better, because our superior technique should help
us overcome them."

Loffreda felt that while the Springboks' physical superiority is not as vast
as it was 23 years ago when the Jaguars beat the Boks - with the Pumas now
being able to call on a large contingent of professional players - the Boks
do have other advantages.

"The South Africans are no long unsophisticated and one-dimensional in their
approach. Their coach, Jake White, has brought in a new dimension to their
game," he said.

"They have a great line-out, I believe the best of the world at present. In
general, they have devised a game plan that is far more integrated.

"We have some plans on the attack that we hope will produce results. But
they are very strong on defence, but we believe we have an answer to the
rush-defence.

"Our defence is also very strong, even though it did not function all that
well in the mid-year internationals. But this time we are far better
prepared and we could surprise them in that department."

He acknowledged that it will take an enormous effort and something special
to beat the Boks.

"I would like to see the team as focussed as we were when we conquered
France in Marseilles [November last year]," he said.

"We will have to respond in the same manner to how we did then, both
technically and in terms of our focus."

As one of the two top teams in the world, Loffreda feels that the Boks have
very few weaknesses.

However, he suggested that the South Africans are still vulnerable when put
under pressure and he feels his team can capitalise on those mistakes by the
Boks.

"We will no doubt have to put them under enormous pressure with our
defence," he said.

"Our strengths are our general play, in close quarters and in the scrums.
Our defence, when it is functioning properly, is near impenetrable.

"Our weakness are our line-outs and are play out wide, where we often fail
to control possession."

Regards
John Hopkins
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/advertising-n-spotlighting

________________________________________________________________________
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------------------------------------------------------------------------

[rugby_www] Digest Number 301

2005-11-03T02:10:00.000-08:00

There are 22 messages in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

1. Rugby Union and players sign salary cap agreement
From: "John Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
2. Arg: Pumas starting team
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
3. Ire: O'Sullivan trims down his squad
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
4. NZ: Did Bob Deans score?
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
5. RWC: Kiwis in with a 'real chance'
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
6. Fra: France's infirmary looking healthier
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
7. SA: Bosman fails to make BA cut
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
8. Fra: Szarzewski to play against Australia
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
9. Fra: Stats fail to separate Marseille sides
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
10. Wal: Griffiths aiming for a late first
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
11. Eng: Shaw 'unlikely' to face the Wallabies
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
12. Arg: Pumas ready to 'tackle' the Boks
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
13. GP: Sambucetti hit with three-week ban
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
14. SA: Bok locks hold the key in BA
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
15. SA: Tyibilika remains the 'back-up' to Burger
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
16. Geo: Georgia and Uruguay in Intercontinental Cup
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
17. Eng: Womens Super League series kicks-off
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
18. Eng: England squad update
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
19. Eng: London Division Powergen National Trophy previews
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
20. Eng: Leicestershire appoint Westgate as new coach
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
21. Eng: England fans snap up Samoa tickets
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
22. New subject line
From: "GlasshouseJohn" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 1
Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 13:43:26 +0000
From: "John Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Rugby Union and players sign salary cap agreement

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/bulletins/sport2/200511020642/2f67a816

Posted at 6:42am on 2 Nov 2005

The rugby union and the players' association have signed three year deal
that includes a new revenue sharing agreement, guaranteed retainers for
players and a two million dollar salary cap for teams in the new 14-team NPC
premier competition.

The salary cap is subject to Commerce Commission approval and there'll be a
new 15 thousand dollar minimum retainer for the 400 or so players the
agreement covers.

Super 14 players' base salary will be 65 thousand dollars with All Blacks to
be paid a so-called assembly rate of seven and a half thousand dollars a
week and a bonus of up to 100 thousand if they win the world cup.

Retainers will now be paid for the term of contracts -- a change the rugby
union deputy chief executive Stew Tew says will help retain players because
under the old system payments those who didn't make a super 12 squad lost a
significant amount of money.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 2
Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 20:20:55 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Arg: Pumas starting team

Wednesday November 02 2005
40 years on
The Pumas' coach, and a former Puma himself, Marcelo Loffreda, has
announced his starting XV for the Pumas' match with the Springboks
at Estadio de Vélez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

The match has special significance for rugby Argentina as it is
celebrating the 40th anniversary of the first team to be called the
Pumas on the country's first trip out of South America - to South
Africa in 1965.

That trip was successful and the Pumas of 2005 would like to be the
first Puma side to beat the Springboks. That would produce an
immense celebration.

Pumas: 15 Juan Martín Hernández, 14 Lucas Borges, 13 Federico Martín
Aramburu, 12 Manuel Contepomi, 11 Francisco Leonelli, 10 Felipe
Contepomi, 9 Agustín Pichot (captain), 8 Gonzalo Longo, 7 Agustín
Durand, 6 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 5 Pablo Bouza, 4 Ignacio Fernández
Lobbe, 3 Omar Hasan, 2 Mario Ledesma, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.
Replacements: 16 Eusebio Guiñazú, 17 Martín Scelzo, 18 Manuel
Carizza, 19 Martín Schusterman, 20 Nicolás Fernández Miranda, 21
Federico Todeschini, 22 Bernardo Stortoni.

Kick-off: 17-10 (local time)

Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)
Touch judges: George Ayoub, Brett Bowden (both Australia)
Television match official: Eric Darrière (France)

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 3
Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 20:22:37 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Ire: O'Sullivan trims down his squad

Wednesday November 02 2005
Seven contenders get the heave-ho
Shane Horgan and Simon Easterby are injury doubts for Ireland as the
squad prepares for the first autumn Test against New Zealand on
November 12.

Horgan, who played in all three Lions Tests against the All Blacks
earlier this year, sustained a shoulder knock in Leinster's 33-20
Heineken Cup pool win against Glasgow last Sunday.

Llanelli captain Simon Easterby is still suffering from the broken
nose he received in the Scarlets' 50-28 Heineken Cup defeat by
Toulouse on October 22. The Lions flank trained today with a cast on
his nose and is rated extremely doubtful.

The absence of the Lions duo would severely hamper Ireland's chances
of spoiling the All Blacks' tour aspirations with seven squad
regulars, including captain Brian O'Driscoll, already ruled out
through injury.

"We have two main injury concerns at the moment in Shane Horgan and
Simon Easterby, so we have named 24 in the squad to allow them as
much time as possible to prove their fitness before we name our team
next week," said Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan.

"Shane Horgan picked up a shoulder knock playing in the Heineken Cup
last weekend, but we are optimistic that he will be fit to play."

O'Sullivan whittled his squad from 31 players down to 24 on
Wednesday.

Veteran Leinster prop Reggie Corrigan, Leicester Tigers lock Leo
Cullen and experienced flank David Wallace, as well as newcomers
Jamie Heaslip, Kieran Lewis, Robert Kearney and David Quinlan have
been released back to their provinces and clubs.

Three uncapped players remain in the 24-man squad - Ulster's Rory
Best, Neil Best and Andrew Trimble.

O'Sullivan, who will confirm his starting line-up next Tuesday,
added: "Training has gone well over the last week, and the new faces
in the squad have fitted in very well.

"The other players who have been released will come back into the
equation for the games against Australia and Romania."

Munster captain Anthony Foley is expected to skipper Ireland against
the All Blacks in the absence of O'Driscoll (dislocated shoulder)
and Paul O'Connell (fractured hand).

Ireland squad to play New Zealand in Dublin on November 12:

Backs: Tommy Bowe (Ulster), Kieran Campbell (Ulster), Gordon D'Arcy
(Leinster), Girvan Dempsey (Leinster), Anthony Horgan (Munster),
Shane Horgan (Leinster), David Humphreys (Ulster), Geordan Murphy
(Leicester), Ronan O'Gara (Munster), Peter Stringer (Munster),
Andrew Trimble (Ulster).

Forwards: Neil Best (Ulster), Rory Best (Ulster), Simon Best
(Ulster), Shane Byrne (Saracens), Simon Easterby (Llanelli), Anthony
Foley (Munster), John Hayes (Munster), Marcus Horan (Munster), Matt
McCullough (Ulster), Denis Leamy (Munster), Donncha O'Callaghan
(Munster), Johnny O'Connor (Wasps), Malcolm O'Kelly (Leinster).

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 4
Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 20:25:06 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: NZ: Did Bob Deans score?

Wednesday November 02 2005
Eye-witness accounts
Even with television replays and many different angles, there is
debate about whether or not a try was scored. In the case of the Bob
Deans "try" in 1905 only eye-witnesses are possible.

Ask eyewitnesses about a try scored last week and you will get
varying versions. The eyewitnesses here speak many, many years after
that December day in Cardiff a hundred years ago.

We have already discussed the matter to some extent, as you will
find if you click here amd here.

Now our wise man of Cheltenham has sent us something more which may
of interest at a time when "fresh evidence" is so important.

What follows is taken from the Trphy Room in the Cardiff AC club.

Rhys T.Gabe
International Centre three-quarter

Rhys T.Gabe was one of three greatest centres who ever played
football. His was the cool, calculating brain that found the weak
chinks in his opponent's armour.

While I was in the Old Country last year a copy of the "Rugby News"
of 28th July 1947 was sent to me. In it was an article entitled "The
Greatest Football Game". The much discussed Deans try was dealt with
and Teddy Morgan's version given. I sent my copy to Mr Gabe as I
knew he would be interested. Unfortunately time precluded my seeing
him but when I returned to Australia, and letters, and an excerpt
from the Broadcasting script, both seen here, were received by me.

As you will read, the version of Teddy Morgan was shattered and the
real facts were told by Mr Gabe. It is very evident and quite
definite that Deans did not score a try.

Gabe was one of the fairest of players and it is doubtful if
football ever had two such brilliant centres playing together as E
Gwyn Nichols and Rhys T. Gabe for Cardiff, their club, or Wales, and
also two such splendid examples of real sportsmen. But if Gabe was
fair, he was also just and his summing up of the incident was
totally unbiased.

In a subsequent letter he stated: "so much importance has been
attached to the utterance of Deans on his deathbed. I can say when I
shall be in the same condition that I who tackled him was positive
that he did NOT score."

I thought that a football controversy which occasioned such wide
discussion would be interest of footballers and I have put it in
this form to render it permanent.

(signed) J Gordon Jones
24/2/48

Letter from Rhys T.Gabe to J Gordon Jones October 13 1947 and

Dear Mr Jones,,

Mr Morgan Joseph handed me a copy of Rugby News - An All in which I
read the article by Black Scrivener in which I read the article by
E B Jones, a brother of yours, I believe. I enjoyed the article but
I want to put him wise on one particular item in it.

Teddy Morgan, who was wing to me and who scored from a pass I gave
him, seems to have written re Deans's effort: " How it happened I
cannot exactly say but it was I who tackled him to prevent him
running behind. As I tackled him a few yards etc etc".

Rubbish!!!

Teddy did nothing of the sort. It was I who brought him down! Teddy
was on the left of the field.

I quote from a broadcast made on December 20th, 1935 when Gwyn
Nicholls (now deceased), Teddy Morgan (unwell), Willie Llewellyn,
Cliff Pritchard and myself took part - five of the backs.

Please note what Teddy said at that broadcast and compare with what
he wrote. Teddy did score a try but he was evidently carried away so
much that he really thought he had [line missing due to framing ]

I am sorry that I did not meet you when you were over here.

That note you wrote in Rugby News about Oxford Hotel, King Street
Sydney. June 1904 brought back many happy memories of the wonderful
hospitality of the whole population in Sydney.

Those memories are my "Roses in December".

Kindest regards
Yours very sincerely
Rhys T.Gabe

Page 12 of broadcast script in which Old Stage speaks to Gwyn
Nichols, Rhys Gabe, Cliff Pritchard and Teddy Morgan, eyewitnesses
(Old Stager was a pseudonym for W J Hoare, the rugby writer of the
Western Mail.)

Old Stager: And now let us hear something about the try Deans was
supposed to have scored. Was it a try?

Gwyn Nichols, Rhys Gabe, Cliff Pritchard: No No

Teddy Morgan: I say yes

Old Stager: And the reason, Teddy?

Teddy Morgan: I was close by at the time. When I got to the actual
spot, Deans was over the line with the ball; but by the time the
referee reached there, he had been pushed back.

Old Stager: Fairly convincing. But let us hear the other side. Rhys
Gabe should know best. Perhaps he will tell us.

Rhys Gabe: I certainly ought to know. It was I who tackled Deans.
As you know a try can be scored on the line. Nowadays a player who
is brought down can score a try if he scrambles the ball on to or
over the line. In 1905, a player who grounded the ball outside was
not allowed to continue his effort to get to the line. A scrummage
had to be ordered outside. Well I brought Deans down outside the
line. That is definite. Do you agree Gwyn?

Gwyn Nichols: Yes. I was standing over you at the time. Dean's did
wriggle his way over after you had brought him down outside, and he
ought to have been penalised for doing it. Go on Rhys.

Rhys Gabe: In the pavilion later, Deans claimed that he had scored.
In the presence of Duncan, the treasurer, I asked Deans about it and
he said, "Why did you pull me back?" I replied "why did you struggle
to go forward after you had been tackled outside? If you had reached
the line why didn't you leave the ball there?" To that there was no
answer.

Old Stager: What do you say Cliff?

Cliff Pritchard: I was near enough to be able to say it was not a
try.

Old Stager: What about you Willie?

Willie: Llewellyn Wallace, the New Zealand wing has asserted it was
a try. Well, he couldn't know whether it was or not. He was playing
opposite me and it was he who passed to Deans. Our orders were that
any man who was tackled had to be brought down and be put out of
further action. In that instance I obeyed that instruction. As
Wallace was parting with the ball, I brought him down before Deans
[was tackled by] Rhys Gabe. Wallace and I were on the ground and
neither he or I saw what was happening with sufficient clearness. As
a thank-you, what could we form an opinion on a matter in which an
inch or so was involved and that some yards away from us?

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 5
Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 20:26:51 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: RWC: Kiwis in with a 'real chance'

Wednesday November 02 2005
'We've done everything we possibly can'
New Zealand is in with a "real chance" of winning the right to host
the 2011 Rugby World Cup, the country's rugby union chairman Jock
Hobbs said after a whirlwind 20 day world tour to sell the bid.

But Hobbs said he had no idea how the votes will be cast when
International Rugby Board (IRB) delegates meet in Dublin to decide
the 2011 host on November 17.

"I just know that we've done everything we possibly can and will
continue to do everything that we possibly can right up to the
bell," Hobbs told the French news agency AFP, after arriving back in
New Zealand.

"I believe that we are in with a real chance, I don't think we're
making up the numbers," he told AFP.

New Zealand's rivals for hosting rights are South Africa and Japan.

The London Sunday Times said at the weekend a confidential IRB
report had concluded South Africa had the strongest bid. The report
said the New Zealand bid was "safe" but that the Japanese bid
posed "numerous challenges".

Hobbs declined to comment on the newspaper report and said he was no
clearer on how different delegates would vote than before he went on
the lobbying tour.

"I believe, though, that we are better for having made the tour, I
think they very much appreciated us going to their place to make the
presentations."

Many questions put to Hobbs and New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) chief
executive Chris Moller during the presentations related to the
relatively small size of New Zealand's stadiums and whether there
would be enough accommodation during the knockout rounds of the
tournament.

Hobbs said he believed those concerns were "satisfactorily" answered.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 6
Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 20:28:36 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Fra: France's infirmary looking healthier

Wednesday November 02 2005
Fritz looking better
France, already without players through injury, has its share of
niggles in the build-up to the Test with Australia on Saturday, but
things are looking brighter.

Big centre Florian Fritz suffered a groin injury when Toulouse
played London Wasps last weekend, but the team's doctor, Thierry
Hermerel, says that he is coming along well. "I am optimistic that
he will be able to play," he said.

A decision about whether Fritz will or will not be fit to play will
be taken on Wednesday when he is expected to start running.

A stomach bug laid Frédéric Michalak low and he spent Tuesday in bed
as a result, not training with the rest at Marcoussis.

Losing him would cause an upheaval in the French side as Michalak is
chosen at fly-half but also doubles as back-up scrum-half, which
means that there is no second scrum-half on the bench.

This situation is rendered even more dicey by the knock to the head
which Jean-Baptiste Elissalde suffered in the Heineken Cup match
when he was laid out by Alex King's knee and was helped off on
wobbly legs.

Michalak is likely to play.

Moreover back-up hooker Sébastien Bruno has an injured left thigh,
Grégory Lamboley an injured left calf. Both are expected to train on
Wednesday. Prop Sylvain Marconnet has sore ribs but he is expected
to take part in scrumming practice on Thursday.

As if the injury situation were not enough, there is the sword of
suspension hanging over the head of hooker Dimitri Szarzewski, who
has been cited for punching in the match between Stade Français and
Leicester Tigers.

But the hearing has been set for next week, which leaves the hooker
free to play against Australia this weekend.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 7
Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 20:23:41 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: SA: Bosman fails to make BA cut

Wednesday November 02 2005
White picks the usual suspects
In a dramatic about-turn by South Africa coach Jake White, Cheetahs
surprise package Meyer Bosman has failed to crack a nod in the Bok
match-day 22 to face Argentina in the one-off Test at the Vélez
Sarsfield Stadium in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

Despite speculation earlier in the week fuelled by White's comments,
Bosman failed to get a call-up. White even told the travelling media
contingent that Bosman could start ahead of first choice fly-half
André Pretorius in the No.10 jersey.

But in the end it all proved to be a big bluff.

The team named for Saturday's Test - the first of three on the year-
end road for the South Africans - includes the usual suspects and no
surprises.

As was predicted White recalled utility back Conrad Jantjes, as
replacement for Breyton Paulse (unavailable due to club commitments
in France), and flank Solly Tyibilika in the place of Schalk Burger
who is being rested.

There is also a return to the side for Bolla Conradie, who will wear
the No.9 jersey, after injury had ruled out Enrico Januarie and
Fourie du Preez.

Jacques Cronjé starts at No.8 in place of the injured Joe van
Niekerk, another selection predicted earlier this week.

John Smit will lead the Springboks in his 49th Test Match. He needs
one more cap to become the eighth Springbok to play in 50 Tests.

South Africa: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Conrad Jantjes, 13 Jaque
Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 André Pretorius, 9
Bolla Conradie, 8 Jacques Cronjé, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Solly Tyibilika, 5
Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 John Smit
(captain), 1 Os du Randt.
Replacements: 16 Hanyani Shimange, 17 Eddie Andrews, 18 Albert van
den Berg, 19 Schalk Burger, 20 Michael Claassens, 21 De Wet Barry,
22 Brent Russell.

Kick-off: 17.00 (20.00 GMT)
Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)
Touch judges: George Ayoub, Brett Bowden (both Australia)
Television match official: Eric Darrière (France)

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 8
Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 20:38:04 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Fra: Szarzewski to play against Australia

Wednesday November 02 2005
Hearing postponed
Dimitri Szarzewski, Stade Français' hooker, was cited to appear at a
disciplinary hearing of the European Rugby Cup. The hearing has been
set for next week, which leaves the hooker free to play against
Australia this weekend.

According to Le Figaro, the charge against him is a headbutt on
Lewis Moody of Leicester Tigers for which he risks a suspension of
between six weeks and a year.

The president of Stade Français, Max Guazzini, made the request for
a postponement for his player who has started just this season with
Stade Français after moving from Béziers.

Szarzewski will thus take to the Vélodrome in Marseille on Saturday
for the big clash with Australia.

Hearing of the deferment at Marcoussis where he was training with
the French side, Szarzewski said: "We'll prepare my defence but I do
not know why I have been cited.

"I was the one attacked and took punches to the back of my neck. We
wrestled about and I did nothing but defend myself.

"Moody was not without blame during the match. I should have
stopped. I tackled him without the ball and he did not like it.

"It's a pity and I do not feel that I have done anything wrong.

"It is obvious that I must now get ready for the match against
Australia."

In the incident in the second half the Tigers were moving the ball
to the right. Andy Goode passed to Dan Hipkiss who had Moody close
to him on his right. It seemed that Hipkiss was about to pass to
Moody and Szarzewski tackled Moody back while Hipkiss surged forward
with the ball.

It is there that the action took place which led to the citing.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 9
Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 20:39:05 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Fra: Stats fail to separate Marseille sides

Wednesday November 02 2005
Head-to-head - Les Bleus v Wallabies
Historically there is very little between France and Australia, who
go heat-to-head in Marseille on Saturday.

The two teams have met on 33 occasions, with the Wallabies winning
17, France 14 and two ending in draws.

Home ground advantage, however, seems to play a big role.

Ten of France's 14 wins were at home, while 11 of Australia's 17
victories were at home and one at a neutral venue.

The largest winning margin in the head-to-head contests went to Les
Bleus, who beat the Wallabies the Wallabies by 28 points (34-6) at
the Parc des Princes in Paris on 30 October 1976.

Australia's largest winning margin was 23 points - a 35-12 win at
the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 6 November 1999, the World Cup
Final.

The most points scored by France in a Test against the Wallabies
were 34 (that 34-6 win) in 1976.

The most points scored by the Wallabies against France were 48 ( a
48-31 win), on 24 June 1990 at Ballymore in Brisbane.

In the 33 matches Australia have scored 675 points against the 610
of France - an average match aggregate of 19-17 in favour of
Australia.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 10
Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 20:40:09 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Wal: Griffiths aiming for a late first

Wednesday November 02 2005
Wales's square-eyed defence coach prepares to beat the ABs
It has been a hard week's training for many as the first
international weekend edges nearer, but no-one has been working
harder than Clive Griffiths.

For Griffiths is the Wales defensive coach, and as such, has been
tasked to blunt what is undeniably the sharpest force in world rugby
at present - the multi-pronged All Black attack.

"It's has been a long week already," a weary Griffiths told Planet
Rugby.

"My eyes are properly square now, even when I take my glasses off!

"The All Blacks are a mixed bag of tricks, they can use their hands
to get around you, thump you through the middle, or kick their
points over you.

"A huge percentage of their points have been scored through the left
boot of [Dan] Carter or the right boot of [Aaron] Mauger, using
those bombs they put up, or their grubbers and chips.

"We have looked at every available clip, and we know it is going to
be a long eighty minutes."

But that is something we all knew.

Games between these two sides have been known to add years to both
sets of fans. But for the Welsh, each eighty-minute clash with the
New Zealanders seems to get longer and longer as their run without a
victory goes on and on.

It is now 52 years since Wales beat New Zealand, but Saturday
represents the principality's best chance for some time - probably
since Andy Haden's penalty denied them in 1978.

Indeed, Griffiths has yet to experience the feeling that a Welsh win
over the All Blacks inspires.

"I was only in my father's thoughts when we last won this fixture,"
he laughed.

"But I would love to be a part of the set-up that lays that
statistic to rest.

"Everybody is aware of it, only last night [Monday] there was a
programme about it on the box, with all the old black-and-white
films from that day.

"It is well-documented in the annals of Welsh rugby that we haven't
won since then, but one day it is going to happen."

That day might have been about this time last year, but a mix-up in
communication saw Stephen Jones kick a goalable penalty to touch,
upon which the end of the game was blown.

Much was made of the problem at the time, but as Griffiths
explained, there really isn't much you can do.

"The time was an external factor last year," he said.

"We got a little unlucky with that one, but there was so much good
about the performance.

"There is only so much you can do with external factors, and as long
as your own house is in order on the pitch, then you have to be
satisfied."

For New Zealand, the match is the first of a Grand Slam tour of the
Home Nations, but for Wales, the match is the start of something
less publicised but potentially far more significant.

Wales have matches against all three of the Tri-Nations teams this
November, and should they make a clean sweep of them - not
infeasible - the boys in red will have beaten every one of the Six
Nations and Tri-Nations teams within twelve months.

The only significant scalp missing from the 2005 mantle-piece would
be Argentina's, but bagging eight of the big guys in a calendar year
would be a massive achievement for Wales.

"Wouldn't it be nice to get to the end of November and say we had
beaten the big three?" said Griffiths.

"But, and I know it is an old cliché, we are only really thinking
about now. Win, lose or draw, we need to get things out of this."

For all of the teams involved in this November Test series, the
preparation for the 2007 Rugby World Cup begins in earnest now - if
it hasn't already. Wales can claim to be in a significantly more
advanced position than most, but Griffiths pointed out that there
are still missing pieces.

"It is all on target [for 2007]," he said.

"All the machinery is in place, and the continuity is there, but now
we must finish the work on the on-field preparations, and we still
need one or two extra players.

"Our hand has been forced a bit by the injuries, but that is no bad
thing. All the players who have come into the team have put their
hand up, which is great for us.

"It is sad for the injured players, but one person's loss is
another's gain, and the more people we have putting their hands up,
the better."

Saturday's clash is one of the most eagerly-anticipated of all the
matches over the coming month, and the atmosphere in the Millennium
Stadium will be nothing short of petrifying for all but the
strongest hearts and heads.

Indeed, it has been announced that the roof of the sparkling arena
will be closed for no obvious reason other than it increases the
decibels five-fold.

"Yes, the roof will be closed, so the noise will be louder, but our
guys are used to it now," said Griffiths.

"Even the coaches get butterflies and adrenaline rushes, imagine
what it must be like for the players?

"We know it will be hard, but this is why you are in the game - for
moments like this."

If last year's contest is anything to go by, Saturday's game will be
the reason we watch it as well...

By Danny Stephens

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 11
Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 20:41:15 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Eng: Shaw 'unlikely' to face the Wallabies

Wednesday November 02 2005
Wasps lock stuggling with back injury
England have been hit by another injury blow ahead of their November
Test series opener against Australia at Twickenham next week.

Wasps lock Simon Shaw is set miss the Wallabies clash on Saturday
week because of a back problem.

The injury forced him off at half-time during Wasps' Heineken Cup
encounter against Toulouse, and he is to remain with his club for
further treatment.

Shaw's Wasps team-mate Joe Worsley and Gloucester lock Alex Brown
are already sidelined because of injury troubles.

Worsley, Brown and Shaw were all pencilled in, it is understood, to
start against Australia.

England coach Andy Robinson is due to announce his 22-man match-day
squad at Loughborough University on Thursday.

"The England medical team have been in regular contact with London
Wasps regarding the back injury sustained by Simon Shaw last
weekend, and have decided that Simon should stay with his club for
further treatment," said Robinson.

"We will continue to monitor his progress, but it looks likely that
he will not be considered for selection for the Investec Challenge
match against Australia on November 12.

"At this stage, I do not intend to call up any replacements for
Simon, and there are no other concerns regarding injuries."

Bath pair Danny Grewcock and Steve Borthwick are the probable second-
row pairing against Australia, with either Pat Sanderson or Andy
Hazell entering a back row equation that could see Leicester's Lewis
Moody switched to blindside flanker duties.

Robinson plans to announce his starting line-up at the squad's
Surrey training base on Sunday afternoon.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 12
Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 20:42:17 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Arg: Pumas ready to 'tackle' the Boks

Wednesday November 02 2005
'Defence is going to be the key'
Argentina are bracing themselves for a huge defensive effort when
they face South Africa in a one-off Test at the Vélez Sarsfield
Stadium in Buenos Aires on Saturday. The Pumas have made no secret
of the fact that they regard defence as the key to victory.

Speaking ahead of the first of their year-end internationals, the
Pumas players were at pains to stress how difficult it is going to
be to beat the world's No.2 ranked team.

They also face Scotland (November 12, Edinburgh), Italy (November
19, Genoa) and Samoa (December 3, Buenos Aires).

"This is definitely going to be our toughest match," fullback
Bernardo Stortoni said about facing the Boks on Saturday, adding
that they would have liked to have played teams like Italy and
Scotland first before facing the Boks.

"It is going to be very tough to play South Africa with the limited
time we have to prepare for the game," he said in reference to the
fact that the majority of the Pumas (24 members of the original 28-
man squad) only arrived back in the country on Monday.

They all play their club rugby in Europe and still had Heineken Cup
commitments last week, leaving coach Marcello Loffreda only four
days in which to prepare the side for the showdown with the Boks.

"These four days of training are going to be very important to us,
because we have a lot to work on," he said.

Stortoni, who plays his rugby for the English Premiership side
Bristol, says the one big boost for the Pumas is the fact that
unlike last year - when the Puma-Boks encounter fell outside the
International Rugby Board Test window of November - they will have
all their top players available.

He also felt it is important for the Pumas to build and improve on
their mid-year performances when they played Italy twice. Stortoni
played in both those Tests.

"We have not decided yet what tactics we'll use against the South
Africans - whether it will be better to keep the ball in hand or
play a tactical kicking game. But there is no doubt that defence
will be the key," Stortoni added.

Lock forward Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, who plays for Sale Sharks in
England, echoed these sentiments.

"South Africa is a very good team," he said. "I watched them [on
television] playing in the Tri-Nations.

"Defensively they play very well and they carry the ball a lot. They
also have most of their top players on tour, which is going to make
this a very tough game.

"We are going to work very hard on our defence in the first few
days, which is the most important part of our preparations. Later in
the week we will pay more attention to our scrums, line-outs and our
tactical play to ensure we are in the best possible shape on
Saturday."

He also made mention of the fact that it's going to be tough playing
the Boks first up, before heading to Europe for their next two Tests.

"We would have preferred to play Italy first and allow the team to
settle, before we face the Boks with more confidence as a cohesive
unit."

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 13
Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 20:43:20 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: GP: Sambucetti hit with three-week ban

Wednesday November 02 2005
Bristol lock available from November 13
Argentina lock Mariano Sambucetti has been handed a three-week
suspension by a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel sitting in
Bristol.

The Bristol player pleaded guilty to the charge of striking an
opponent for which he was sent off against Saracens in the
Guinness 'A' League match on October 17.

Sambucetti had already been suspended by the Premiership club for
two weeks and this was taken into account by the panel and he will
be available to play from November 13.

The lock was not included in Argentina's preliminary squad for the
November Tests, but he will be available - if needed - for the
Pumas' encounters with Italy on November 19 and Samoa on December 3.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 14
Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 20:53:37 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: SA: Bok locks hold the key in BA

Wednesday November 02 2005
'They have the 'Bajada' and the maul'
Springbok coach Jake White has pinpointed the line-outs as the key
for South Africa when they face Argentina in a one-off Test at the
Vélez Sarsfield Stadium in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

The Bok coach conceded that the Pumas are expected to have the upper
hand in the scrums and mauls - two of the traditional strengths of
Argentinean rugby - but he felt that the Boks have the perfect foil
in the line-outs, where Boks Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha rate
among the very best in the world.

"They have their 'Bajada' and they have their maul, but we have
Victor [Matfield] and Bakkies [Botha], and it will be in the line-
outs that we will take them on to ensure those other things are not
such a big factor," White told the media in Buenos Aires.

"Obviously we should worry about all the aspects of their play, but
I believe that the scrum and the maul will be key points in the
encounter on Saturday."

The Bok coach added that the best way to stop a maul is to stop it
from starting. It means the Boks must dominate possession.

And the reality of modern rugby, White says, is that there are many
more line-outs than there are scrums.

And that means the Pumas will, as they always do, try to maul the
ball off their line-outs, and back themselves to get a try almost
every time they have a throw in the opposition 22.

"If we can steal their line-out ball, or at least turn it into bad
ball, they will not be able to get their maul going. It is as simple
as that. Victor [Matfield] and Bakkies [Botha] are two of the best
line-out forwards around, and we did well in the line-outs in the
Tri-Nations, so we have confidence in our ability to make life
difficult for Argentina and stop them getting their opportunity to
maul."

And of course the Boks will also have to minimise their handling
mistakes. If they don't make mistakes, the Pumas will not get a
chance to scrum all that often.

The Springboks worked hard on these aspects of their game during
their training session at the Naval base in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.

The forwards worked very hard on their scrum technique, where they
obviously expect a huge onslaught from the 'Bajada' scrum of the
Pumas, and their line-out codes.

The backs focussed on their attacking lines, while they also worked
on defence under the high ball ... clearly anticipating the Pumas to
bombard their back three with a good number of high kicks-and-charge
balls.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 15
Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 20:56:26 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: SA: Tyibilika remains the 'back-up' to Burger

Wednesday November 02 2005
White explains his selections
Springbok coach Jake White on Wednesday explained the reasoning
behind his decision to name Solly Tyibilika ahead of Schalk Burger
in the starting XV of the team to face Argentina at the Vélez
Sarsfield Stadium in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

The Bok coach confirmed that Burger remains the country's first
choice as openside flank, but said Tyibilika needs more game time
because he remains a key figure in the build-up towards the 2007
World Cup.

"Solly [Tyibilika] is our back-up at openside flank to Schalk
Burger and as such he is a key member of our squad," White told the
media in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. "I cannot take him to the World
Cup in 2007 if he does not start in matches every now and then, and
this is why he is starting against Argentina."

White again emphasised the need to give his top players - that
includes those on the fringe of starting XV and match-day selection -
the kind of game time that will ensure they have the experience
required at the RWC.

"If you look at the team you will see that most of the positions are
now covered by players with several caps and who have been around
for a while. Openside flank is an exception and I want Solly
[Tyibilika] to get as much experience as he can," said White.

"Obviously Solly [Tyibilika] will have to play out of his skin to
displace Schalk permanently, but he is our back-up opensider and as
such he has an important role to play."

White also explained his decision to draft Conrad Jantjes into the
starting XV on the wing.

"I've known Conrad [Jantjes] since he was in Standard Eight [Grade
10], but what has impressed me of late is how mature he's become as
a player," the coach said.

The decision to bring Bolla Conradie at scrum-half, for the first
time since the 2004 Tri-Nations, is based purely on the fact that
Enrico Januarie and Fourie du Preez are both currently injured.

Jacques Cronjé's selection at No.8 is also related to the injury-
enforced absence of Joe van Niekerk.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 16
Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 20:57:29 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Geo: Georgia and Uruguay in Intercontinental Cup

Wednesday November 02 2005
Teams for Tbilissi on Sunday
Georgia play Uruguay in Tbilissi this Sunday in the Intercontinental
Cup. The week afterwards they play Chile.

There are two new caps in the Georgian side - a back and a forward.
The uncapped back is David Jhamutashvili, the forward George
Nemsadze.

The following players, all experienced, were unavailable: Tedo
Zibzibadze, Makho Urjukashvili, Paliko Jimsheladze, Akvsenti
Guiorgadze, Ilia Zedguinidze, who is usually the captain of the
side, Levan Datunashvili, Guia Labadze, and David Bolghashvili.

The Georgian squad:

Backs: Otar Barkalaia (VPC And),Irakli Machkhaneli (Béziers), Bessik
Khamashuridze (Rovigo), George Shkinini (Hooligana), David
Jhamutashvili (Hooligana), Irakli Guiorgadze (Bourgoin), Lasha
Pirpilashvili (Lelo), Boba Kvinikhidze (Locomotivi), Merab
Kvirikashvili (Lelo), Bidzina Samkharadze (Locomotivi)

Forwards: Goderdzi Shvelidze (Clermont Auvergne), David Zerakashvili
(Clermont Auvergne), Mamuka Magrakvelidze (Montpellier), David
Khinchaguishvili (Bourgoin), David Dadunashvili (Massy), George
Kutarashvili (Aix), Mamuka Gorgodze (Montpellier), Zviad Matiashvili
(Grasse) George Nemsadze (Aia Kutaissi), Rati Urushadze (Enisei
Rus), Shalva Sutiashvili (Locomotivi), Besso Udessiani (Chalon),
Revaz Belkania (Lelo)

Coaches: Malkhaz Tcheishvili, David Chavleishvili , Paata
Narimanashvili

Uruguayan squad: Matias Arocena (Old Christians), Dario Cano (Stade
Gaulois), Francisco De Posadas (Old Boys), Rodrigo Klappembach
(Champagnat), Juan Labat (Carrasco Polo), Roberto Pose,
(Champagnat), Andrés Vasquez, (Old Christians), Rafael Alvarez, (Old
Christians), Guzmán Barreiro, (Old Christians), Ignacio Bermúdez,
(Old Christians), Santiago Carracedo, (Old Christians),; Ignacio
Crosa, (Old Boys), Ivo Dugonjic (Pucaru), Martín Espiga (Old
Christians), Cadenas Facundo (Carrasco Polo), Guillermo Gallo
(Trebol), Nicolas Klappenbach (Champagnat), Nicolás Morales
(Trebol), Gonzalo Peyrou (Champagnat), Carlos Protasi (Carrasco
Polo), Gastón Ibarburu (Exterior), Francisco Vilaboa (Exterior),
Diego Bascou (Exterior), Juan Pablo Duran (Trebol)

Coach: Sebastian Piñeyrua

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 17
Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 21:07:05 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Eng: Womens Super League series kicks-off

by Julia Hutton
November 2, 2005

The all-new Super League series kicks-off in November and it's set
to produce some thrilling women's rugby clashes at venues all across
the country.

The tournament has been designed to provide a high level of intense
competition, which will consistently test the skills of the
country's top players, as England prepare for the Rugby World Cup in
Canada next summer.

Around 90 England eligible players will be taken out of the regular
club season to compete in one of four teams in a two round league
tournament. The 44 members of England's Elite squad will only play
Super League and England representative rugby this season.

The four teams Stormers based at Gloucestershire's Hartpury
College, Tornados based at St. Mary's in Twickenham, the Hurricanes
based at Harpenden RFC and Thunder based at Nottingham University
will all be coached by the England Women's coaching team.

Matches will be played at venues from as far and wide as Moseley to
Twickenham with the RFUW hoping to secure some curtain-raiser games
at Guinness Premiership clubs.

Rosie Williams, RFUW Managing Director, said: "We are really excited
about the new Super League Series. The tournament will serve as a
great way to improve the profile of women's rugby in England and
it's expected that the standards of all the players involved will
improve and therefore contribute to both the club and the
international game."

England head coach Geoff Richards said: "Super League is exactly
what we need in our season. It will provide good quality games for
our elite players as well as providing decent rest and recovery
periods and consistent coaching with the England set-up. We hope
Super League will make a big difference to our world cup
preparations."

Kit sponsors Canterbury New Zealand added: "We are thrilled to be
partnering the four Super League teams. Women's rugby is an
important part of our business and we are excited by the prospect of
seeing the four teams take advantage of our new armourfit layering
rugby system. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial
partnership with the RFUW."

Match Schedule:

Date Match Venue and KO
Sun 20th Nov Thunder v Tornados Moseley RFC, 12 noon
Sun 20th Nov Stormers v Hurricanes Moseley RFC, 1.45pm

Sat 10th Dec Stormers v Tornados Bristol RFC (TBC)
Sun 11th Dec Thunder v Hurricanes Moseley RFC, 1.45pm

Sun 18th Dec Tornados v Hurricanes Moseley RFC 12 noon
Sun 18th Dec Stormers v Thunder Moseley RFC, 1.45pm

Fri 7th April Thunder v Hurricanes Sale RFC (TBC)
Sun 9th April Stormers v Tornados
(Possibility of Bristol on Saturday) Moseley RFC, 1.45pm

Fri 28th April Thunder v Stormers Sale RFC (TBC)
Sun 30th April Hurricanes v Tornados Wasps (TBC)

Sat 13th May Stormers v Hurricanes Twickenham (TBC)
Sun 14th May Tornados v Thunder Moseley RFC, 1.45pm

Please note: Venues and kick-off times could change, so check out
www.rfu.com for all the latest fixtures.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 18
Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 21:08:22 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Eng: England squad update

Wednesday 2nd November 2005

England Head Coach Andy Robinson OBE, said today "The England medical
team have been in regular contact with London Wasps regarding the back
injury sustained by Simon Shaw (London Wasps) last weekend and have
decided that Simon should stay with his club for further treatment.

"We will continue to monitor his progress but it looks likely that he
will not be considered for selection for the Investec Challenge match
against Australia on November 12th. At this stage I do not intend to
call up any replacements for Simon and there are no other concerns
regarding injuries."

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 19
Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 21:09:47 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Eng: London Division Powergen National Trophy previews

by Simon Mills
London & SE Division previews

The injuries are piling up at London Scottish ahead of their date
with Yorkshire giants Otley.

The 17 players on the casualty list include former professional Rory
Greenslade-Jones, who has chipped a bone in his ankle, and England
Counties lock Lee Soper.

Both scored in the 49-24 win at Bracknell in the last round and the
Exiles are unbeaten after nine wins and a draw this season.

That might change against an Otley side who have arguably the
biggest pack outside the Premiership, even though veteran scrum-half
Dave Scully is missing.

But it hasn't deflated Exiles coach Rowly Williams ahead of what he
predicts will be `a great day for the club'.

"Otley have probably the largest front five in National One, they're
a big unit, so we'll probably have to go round them rather than go
toe-to-toe," said Williams.

"We'll try and play as much rugby as we can and we'll give it our
utmost. It'll be a great day for the club and it gives us a taste of
what we aspire to achieve in the next three years."

Scottish have some extra muscle to deploy in former London Welsh
lock Chad Eagle who joined the club last month.

And former Harlequins under-21 fly-half Tom Williams is in red-hot
form with the boot this season, successfully kicking around 85 per
cent of his shots on goal.

Canterbury, the other London Division One side in the fifth round,
go into their trip to National One side London Welsh in blistering
form after starting the season with 10 straight victories.

And coach Danny Vaughan won't be resting any players this weekend,
despite the league clash with leaders Richmond on November 12.

"It's a very tough spell for us at the moment with London Welsh and
then Richmond coming up but we'll be going out very hard to try and
win this game," said Kent coach Vaughan.

"The momentum we've got going at the moment is fantastic even though
London Welsh are two leagues above us and must be favourites.

"You wouldn't have thought 10 or 15 years ago that Canterbury would
ever get the chance to compete with a famous name like London Welsh
and it's very exciting for the club."

Former Plymouth Albion centre Pat Sykes who scored two tries in
the 33-12 fourth round win over Hertford will be one of those to
have played at the Old Deer Park before.

And Vaughan is likely to hand a first start to 6ft 7in former
Loughborough Students lock Dylan Alexander, who made his debut as a
replacement in the league against Worthing last weekend.

Southend coach Kevin Harman admits he'd `take a one-point win right
now' from his side's trip to Bridgwater & Albion.

The fifth round tie the first of two meetings between the sides in
eight days - means at least one National Three South side will go
into the last 16 and eager for the chance to draw one of the big
guns.

"I'd be happy to get through and have a go at any one of the top
National One sides in front of a big crowd to give our lads a big
test," said Harman.

"But I'm under no illusions about going to Bridgwater they're
going really well at the moment."

So are Southend, who reached round five with a 24-19 win at
Cinderford and thumped them 47-14 in the league last weekend.

Harman is hoping for another big performance from outstanding No8
Daniel Legge a try-scorer in the last round.

But he has doubts over both wings and Mark Billings (ankle) and Jaco
Du Toit (neck) who face fitness tests this week.

Teenage prop Jimmy Stanford has named in Blackheath's side for their
tough trip to Bedford.

Blackheath have never won at Goldington Road and lost their 31-7 in
a pre-season friendly.

Stanford, 18, will be part of a young side forced on coach Harvey
Biljon as the injuries pile up.

"It's in at the deep end but it's all about gaining experience for
us at the moment," said Biljon.

The player-coach is one of those out of action but England Counties
prop Des Brett will be involved if he passes a fitness test on a
shoulder injury.

Among the young players taking the chance to shine is 20-year-old
wing Prince Moyo, who scored in the 38-24 fourth round win over
Launceston.

And he's being helped into the game by former Wasps and England wing
Paul Sampson, who joined the side this season.

"Prince is a Greenwich University student who's doing really well
for us at the moment," said Biljon.

"And all our young backs are benefiting from the presence of Paul
Sampson, who's playing at full-back and has the composure and
experience to help them."

Elsewhere National Two leaders Esher should have too much firepower
away from home against National Three North outfit Macclesfield and
Harlequins will expect to come through their tie at Sedgley Park on
Sunday unscathed.

Powergen National Trophy, fifth round

(Saturday, November 5 unless stated)

Bedford Blues v Blackheath

Blaydon v Waterloo Drummers

Bradford & Bingley v Exeter Chiefs

Bridgwater & Albion v Southend

Cleckheaton v Pertemps Bees

Fylde v Plymouth Albion

London Scottish v Otley

London Welsh v Canterbury

Macclesfield v Esher

Newbury v Coventry

Nottingham v Lydney

Cornish Pirates v Wharfedale

Redruth v Doncaster

Rotherham Titans v Halifax

Sedgley Park v NEC Harlequins (playing Sunday)

Stourbridge v Moseley

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 20
Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 21:10:53 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Eng: Leicestershire appoint Westgate as new coach

by Paul Bolton
Leicestershire have appointed England Counties head coach Paul
Westgate as their new county coach.

Westgate, 45, has recently moved to Leicestershire from Somerset to
become the head coach at Loughborough University.

Westgate played club rugby for Loughborough Students, Chester
College, Morley, Headingley and Exeter as well as representative
rugby for Yorkshire, Devon and the South West before he moved into
coaching.

He was head coach of Exeter Chiefs from 1994 to 1998 during which
time they reached two Pilkington Cup quarter-finals and won
promotion into what is now National One.

Westgate also coached South West Under-21s, the combined South West
and London Under-21s and the England Under-21 A team before he was
appointed England Counties coach for their tour of South America
last summer.

Before joining Loughborough University he was a housemaster and head
of modern languages at King's College in Taunton.

Westgate will be in charge of Leicestershire for their County
Championship Shield matches against Eastern Counties, Notts, Lincs &
Derbyshire and Staffordshire at the end of the season.

Alan Wells, Leicestershire's president, said: "Leicestershire are
very fortunate to be able to get a person of Paul's experience and
calibre to take the lead with County coaching and squad development
this season.

"We are building on some moderate success from last season. We have
a good squad of young players and are building closer links between
the County and Under 20s squads.

" Leicestershire rugby is in very good health, with many clubs doing
well and playing in high level leagues. Now we are able to bring an
international coach, who is also steeped in county rugby tradition,
into the equation. This could be an exciting season for
Leicestershire rugby and I am sure that players all over the county
can benefit from Paul's contributions."

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Message: 21
Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 21:12:16 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Eng: England fans snap up Samoa tickets

Tuesday 2nd November 2005

With just three weeks to go until England's last Investec Challenge
match against Samoa, there are less than 10,000 tickets still
available. Over 30,000 tickets have been purchased by England fans
since the remaining tickets were put on public sale with
Ticketmaster three weeks ago.

England last met Samoa in Australia at the Rugby World Cup and faced
a tough challenge by the powerful islanders. England eventually
overcame the Samoans to win the match 35-22 and this next meeting on
26th November promises to be another close encounter.

Paul Vaughan, Commercial Director of the RFU, said, "This is a great
opportunity for England fans to come to Twickenham and watch the
World Champions in action against one of the world's most physical
sides. The demand for tickets to the Samoa match is high and there
is genuine excitement ahead of the three Investec Challenge
matches. All three promise to be exciting matches and there is
always a tremendous atmosphere at Twickenham for these three autumn
games."

The remaining tickets are available now from Ticketmaster on 0870
902 0000 or www.ticketmaster.co.uk. Tickets are priced at £40/£50
with juniors at half price.

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Message: 22
Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2005 22:40:18 -0000
From: "GlasshouseJohn" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: New subject line

How do people like the new way I'm doing the subject lines with the country
where the news pertains is included.

I thought it may be useful, takes a little more time but if it helps you to
decide what to read etc then what the heck.

Regards
John Hopkins
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/advertising-n-spotlighting

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rugby_www/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
rugby_www-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

------------------------------------------------------------------------

[rugby_www] Digest Number 299

2005-11-01T02:58:00.000-08:00

There are 14 messages in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

1. Church-Henson romance labelled 'rubbish' by rugby bosses
From: "John Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
2. Fw: Why I joined this list
From: "GlasshouseJohn" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
3. 18 Grand Slam opportunities so far
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
4. Wallabies have a point to prove
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
5. Celtic pair join the Churchill Cup
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
6. Spain choose for Japan
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
7. SA leading the 2011 race?
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
8. Henry to play squad game
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
9. Italy taking the form line
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
10. Wallabies geared for Baa-Baas 'ambush'
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
11. Wales excuse Martyn Williams
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
12. Ruddock meets his predecessors
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
13. Six nations head for North America
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
14. Put Yourself in Andy Robinson's Position
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 1
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 12:00:29 +0000
From: "John Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Church-Henson romance labelled 'rubbish' by rugby bosses

Rugby star Gavin Henson had to fight for Welsh singer Charlotte Church in
the early days of their romance, as his team captain slammed her as
publicity-seeking "rubbish".

Henson was warned to avoid the determined advances of the Crazy Chick
singer, but he refused to listen to their concerns.

He says: "Gareth (Wales captain Gareth Thomas) told me: 'You want to steer
clear of that rubbish. She might be just out for a bit of cheap publicity.'

"As captain, he had a perfect right to be alarmed. The last thing he
probably wanted was for me to go off the rails and for the team to be badly
affected. I listened to their advice but I didn't take it."

John H

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Message: 2
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 13:54:41 -0000
From: "GlasshouseJohn" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Fw: Why I joined this list

----- Original Message -----
From: allen beasley
To: glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk
Sent: Monday, October 31, 2005 1:22 PM
Subject: Why I joined this list

NAME: Allen Beasley

AGE: 42

LOCATION: Jacksonville, NC USA

STATUS: Single

KIDS: None

WHY I JOINED THIS LIST: I have been a fan of the sport for just 5 years, and I wanted to find a place to chat about the sport. Hopefully, with fans who do not mind the occasional ill-informed ones that I might ask. A change in work schedule has freed up some time for me, and I'm looking to get in touch with local USA Rugby officials to see if there is a youth program I can get involved with.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yahoo! FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Message: 3
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 21:00:35 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: 18 Grand Slam opportunities so far

Monday October 31 2005

From 1905
It is a century since New Zealand first attempted a "Grand Slam
tour", though at the time they did not know it was such a tour. The
2005 tour, a century later, will be the 19th opportunity for a
Southern Hemisphere side to achieve a Grand Slam.

All they knew was that they were the full New Zealand team and that
they were touring Europe and North America.

They were not the first New Zealand team to do so, just the first
official one. There had been a team of New Zealand born players -
the New Zealand Native Football team - that had toured Europe,
Australia and New Zealand in 1888-89. Between October and March they
played 107 matches of various kinds as they battled to play their
way. They were the first Southern Hemisphere team to head north.

New Zealand also provided the first national team to head north -
nicknamed while they were there the All Blacks, now referred to as
the Originals, though they did not know they did not call themselves
that!

They were the first team capable of winning a Grand Slam - a much
later term and popularised in the marketing of the 2004 South
African team which failed to win a Grand Slam.

In all there have been 18 Grand Slam opportunities for Southern
Hemisphere sides. South Africa have had seven opportunities, New
Zealand five and Australia six.

1. New Zealand

a. 1905-06

On their tour to the UK, Ireland, France and Canada, they played 35
matches between 16 September and 13 February. They won 34 but lost
to Wales, and so did not achieve a Grand Slam.

b. 1953-54

Again the All Blacks toured the UK, Ireland, France and North
America. They played 36 matches between 31 October and 20 March,
winning 30, drawing 2 and losing 4. They lost to Wales and so did
not achieve the Grand Slam.

c. 1963-64

The All Blacks went to the UK, Ireland, France and Canada. They
played 36 matches between 23 October and 22 February, winning 34,
drawing 1 and losing 1. They drew 0-0 with Scotland and so did not
achieve the Grand Slam,.

d. 1972-73

Again the All Blacks toured the UK, Ireland, France and North
America. They played 32 matches between 19 October and 190 February,
winning 25, drawing 2 and losing 5. They drew 10-all with Ireland
and so did not achieve the Grand Slam.

e. 1978

The All Blacks toured the UK and Ireland. They played 18 matches,
winning 17 and losing 1. They beat Ireland 10-6, Wales 13-12,
England 16-6 and Scotland 18-9. GRAND SLAM!

2. South Africa

a. 1906-07

The South African team captained by Paul Roos was the first team to
be called the Springboks. They toured the UK, Ireland and France.
They played 29 matches between 27 September and 3 January, wining
25, drawing 1 and losing 2. They lost to Scotland and drew with
England and so did not achieve the Grand Slam.

b. 1912-13

The Springboks toured the UK, Ireland and France. They played 27
matches between 3 October and 11 January, winning 24 and losing 3.
They beat Scotland 16-0, Ireland 38-0, Wales 3-0 and England 9-3.
GRAND SLAM! They also beat France 38-5.

c. 1931-32

The Springboks toured the UK and Ireland. They played 26 matches
between 3 October and 16 January, winning 23, drawing 2 and losing
1. They beat Wales 8-3, Ireland 8-3, England 7-0 and Scotland 6-3.
GRAND SLAM! France were out of rugby organised by the International
Rugby Board at the time.

d. 1951-52

The Springboks toured the UK, Ireland and France. They played 31
matches between 1 October and 16 February , winning 30 and losing 1.
They beat Scotland 44-0, Ireland 17-5, Wales 6-3 and England 8-3.
GRAND SLAM! They also beat France 25-3.

e. 1960-61

The Springboks toured the UKL, Ireland and France. They played 34
matches, winning 31, drawing 2 and losing 1. They beat Wales 3-0,
Ireland 8-3, England 5-0 and Scotland 12-5. GRAND SLAM! They also
drew 0-0 with France.

f. 1969-70

In the midst of vigorous demonstrations the Springboks toured the UK
and Ireland. They played 24 matches, winning 15, drawing four and
losing 5. They did not win a test - losing to Scotland and England
and drawing with Wales and Ireland. They certainly did not achieve a
Grand Slam.

g. 2004

The Springboks went to the UK and Ireland, playing just four Tests
and doing so in successive weeks. They beat Wales and Scotland but
lost to Ireland and England. They certainly did not achieve a Grand
Slam.

3. Australia

Australia went to the UK in 1908-09 but they did not play against
Scotland and Ireland as both those countries resented the fact that
England had unilaterally organised the tour.

The next Australian tour arrived in 1939 but did not play a match as
England declared war on Germany the day after they arrived and World
War II was on.

a. 1947-48

The Wallabies toured the UK, Ireland and France. They played 35
matches, winning 29. They beat Scotland, England and Ireland but
lost to Wales and so did not achieve a Grand Slam. They also lost to
France.

b. 1957-58

The Wallabies toured the UK, Ireland, France and North America. They
played 41 matches, winning 22, drawing 3 and losing 16. They played
five Tests on the tour, losing all five. They certainly did not
achieve a Grand Slam.

c. 1966-67

The Wallabies played 36 matches on their tour to the UK, Ireland,
France and Canada, winning 19, drawing 3 and losing 14. They beat
Wales and England but lost to Scotland and Ireland, thus not
achieving a Grand Slam. They also lost to France.

d. 1975-76

The Wallabies toured the UK, Ireland and the USA. They played 26
matches, winning 19, drawing 1 and losing 6. They beat Ireland but
lost to Scotland, Wales and England, thus not achieving a Grand
Slam. They beat the USA on their way home.

e. 1981-82

The Wallabies played 23 matches on their tour of the UK and Ireland,
winning 16, drawing 1 and losing 6. They beat Ireland but lost to
the other three, thus not achieving a Grand Slam.

f. 1984

The Wallabies played 18 matches on their tour to the UK and Ireland,
winning 13, drawing 1 and losing 4. They beat England 19-3, Ireland
16-9, Wales 28-9 and Scotland 37-12. GRAND SLAM! Mark Ella scored a
try in each of the four Tests.

By Paul Dobson

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 4
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 21:02:24 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Wallabies have a point to prove

Monday October 31 2005
Phil Waugh refutes criticism and heralds a forthcoming revival
Australia travel to Europe on the back of a Tri-Nations whitewash
and the worst run of defeats since 1968/9, and with critics baying
for the blood of both coach and captain.

The misery of five straight defeats has been tempered somewhat by
the fact that the run has come in a series of five matches against
the top two teams in the world currently.

But should they lose on their European jaunt, which starts with a
match in Marseille's awe-inspiring Stade Velodrome on Saturday, the
alarm bells will be ringing considerably louder than they are now.

At least Eddie Jones has moved in what is popularly believed to be
the right direction, selecting a number of young and uncapped
players in his squad for the tour - even if his hand was forced by a
plethora of injuries.

But youth will not have its fling unless the elders of the team can
provide them with the opportunity, and even they have been guilty of
gross inconsistency over the June, July and August tournaments.

Waratahs' captain Phil Waugh insists that the forthcoming tour of
Europe represents a chance for the team elders to put the variances
in form and blips in judgement well behind them, and to go about
becoming the robust and unerring machine they were when they got to
the World Cup final in 2003.

"Most of the Wallabies players feel we have a point to prove against
the northern hemisphere teams next month," Waugh said to the AAP.

"My recent performances have been inconsistent. As a team we have to
improve in all areas - that means getting the basics right and
improving our execution of set-pieces.

"In close matches, small mistakes can change the outcome so what we
need is for another couple of players to step up and, hopefully
after a few wins, the confidence will return.

"The media seems to forget that losing is also part of sport and you
can't win every match."

What this tour does represent is the chance for the new players and
youngsters to put themselves in contention for re-selection over the
next two years as all the teams begin to plan and to see what is
around in their playing pool.

New Zealand look by far the strongest, although sceptics believe
they are peaking too early again, and from the north, there are
challenges from Wales, England and France, all of whom Australia
visit during November.

"The All Blacks are the No.1 side, based on recent results, but they
are not very far ahead of the other teams," said Waugh.

"I regard Wales, England, South Africa and Australia as genuine
World Cup contenders. There is not much between them, and they can
all beat each other on any given day.

"If we keep improving and developing more depth, there is no reason
Australia can't be a force at the 2007 World Cup."

"The last World Cup feels like it was a long time ago - now it's
time to move on."

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 5
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 21:12:13 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Celtic pair join the Churchill Cup

Monday October 31 2005
Four becomes six
Scotland 'A' and Ireland 'A' have accepted an invitation to
challenge for the 2006 Churchill Cup.

England 'A', Canada and the United States (the three nations who
form the alliance of the Churchill Cup) will be joined by the two
Celtic nations and the New Zealand Maori for the 2006 edition of the
tournament.

Two pools of three teams will produce three finals to be played at
the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Canada.

Pool A will play in San Francisco and contains USA, Ireland 'A' and
New Zealand Maori.

Pool B will play in Toronto and Ottawa and contains Canada,
England 'A' and Scotland 'A'.

Pool matches will be staged in early June with the triple-header
finals to take place on June 17.

England 'A' coach Brian Ashton said he was looking forward to
defending the 2005 title.

"I will be expecting a series of outstanding performances from each
player at the Churchill Cup - the sort of performance that makes the
opposition teams realise that England are different and difficult to
play," he said.

The International Rugby Board (IRB) has chosen to endorse the
tournament and will provide some funding for the participating teams.

2006 Churchill Cup - schedule:
(kick-off times tbc)

Saturday, June 3
England A v Scotland A, Toronto
USA v Ireland A, San Francisco

Wednesday, June 7
Canada v Scotland A, Ottawa
USA v NZ Maori, San Francisco

Saturday, June 10
Canada v England A, Toronto
NZ Maori v Ireland A, San Francisco

Saturday, June 17
Finals, Edmonton

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________________________________________________________________________

Message: 6
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 21:13:37 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Spain choose for Japan

Monday October 31 2005
Gather in Madrid
Spain's coach Ged Glynn has announced his team to fly to Japan to
play Japan in a friendly this weekend.

The team gathered in Madrid on Monday for two training sessions and
will leave for Japan on Tuesday.

Glynn has stuck by the team which defeated Portugal in Madrid on 12
October. But he has added four players to that squad - Álvaro
Lazaro, who plays for Perpignan, and Alexander Ortega who are
uncapped and Rafael Camacho and Ignacio Martín who make their
returns.

The match is a part of Spain's preparation for its World Cup
qualifiers - against Poland in Madrid on 13 November and against
Moldavia in Chisinau on 19 November.

The Spanish squad is: Ferrán Velazco Querol (UE Santboiana), César
Bernasconi Rivera, Andrei Kovalenko, Alejandro Ortega, Jorge Prieto
Solis (USAP Barcelona), César Caballero San José, Iván Criado
Garachana, Alvar Enciso Fernandez Valderrama, Ion Insausti Jiménez,
Esteban Roque Segovia, César Sempere Padilla, Manuel Serrano
Fernandez-París, Diego Zarzosa Peña (CD El Salvador), Mathieu Cidre
Baroni (Béziers), Álvaro Lázaro (Perrpignan), Pablo Feijoo Ugalde,
Ignacio Martín Goenaga (Bera Bera), Andrew Ebbett, Jaime Nava De
Olano (Alcobendas), David Mota Sierra (Liceo Francés), Javier
Canosa Schack, Juan González Goicoechea, Facundo Lavino Zona, Javier
Salazar Lizarraga (Complutense), Rafael Camacho (Ines Rosales)

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 7
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 21:15:02 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: SA leading the 2011 race?

Monday October 31 2005
'South Africa offers the greatest potential of the tenders'
Reports at the weekend would have been cause for celebration at the
South African Rugby Union (SARU) headquarters, with unconfirmed
accounts suggesting that the International Rugby Board's (IRB)
confidential report into the claims of the three countries bidding
to stage the 2011 Rugby World Cup has concluded that SA's bid is the
strongest and damns with faint praise the bid of New Zealand,
calling it 'safe'.

The Sunday Times of London, which claims to have obtained a copy of
the report, says Japan's bid - originally favourite and recognised
widely in the game as the key to rugby's globalisation - receives
possibly unfair treatment. It calls this stance "controversial".

The report, produced by an IRB team headed by its chief executive
after visits to the three countries, is meant to be an impartial
look at the potential income and impact of each bid, to guide the
IRB council's vote on November 17.

According to the newspaper the report lists numerous challenges that
a Japanese RWC would pose, while glossing over serious flaws in
rival bids.

The summary makes clear that the IRB considers South Africa to have
the strongest all-round credentials: "South Africa offers the
greatest potential of the tenders. The IRB conclusions see South
Africa's positioning in the European time zone as its trump card
because it allows a maximisation of broadcast revenue."

By contrast, the Sunday Times says, the report notes the lower value
to European broadcasters of being in Japan's time zone. Yet it omits
to say that night kick-offs in Japan are Saturday midday viewing in
the UK.

The report lists the South African Rugby Union's instability as the
only major drawback - a reference to the troubled regime of its
president, Brian van Rooyen - and makes no mention of high crime
levels in the country.

South Africa's bid has the largest likely surplus, with a £69million
(US$163m) profit tipped, but suspicion clouds the very low figures
for projected costs. There is also little reference to the fact that
awarding 2011's World Cup to South Africa, which hosted the 1995
tournament, would send the wrong message on the globalisation of
rugby.

The report does not mention New Zealand's inadequate grounds, while
its lack of quality hotels is flagged but countered by NZRU
forecasts that supply would meet demand by using cruise liners and
campervans.

Although the report's conclusions say "Japan could clearly host a
very good RWC 2011", praising the size and standard of its venues
and commercial programme, far more space is allocated to its
weaknesses.

The IRB is concerned by the Japanese RFU's inexperience in hosting
big rugby events, but does not indicate how it is supposed to remedy
that if not awarded any.

The IRB expresses concern that £28m of the £48m guarantee is being
underwritten by the JRFU and could leave it in debt, whereas the
£48m guarantees by the New Zealand and South Africa bids are
underwritten by governments.

However, a Japanese government guarantee is not only against local
law, it is also redundant because the JRFU bid will be supported by
20 Japanese corporate sponsors, whose GDP is greater than South
Africa's and New Zealand's economies combined.

Former Australia coach Bob Dwyer fears Japan may not get the chance
to help globalise the game.

"It would liberate the game and, if we are going to be a global
sport, how we can ignore Asia, with two-thirds of the world's
population, is beyond me," he told the Sunday Times.

However, the IRB report raises the spectre of old-school rugby
politics, where delegates tend to support countries which agree to
send teams to money-spinning Tests - such as the upcoming games New
Zealand will play against Wales and England, perhaps.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 8
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 21:17:29 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Henry to play squad game

Monday October 31 2005
New Zealand coach keeping development in mind
Graham Henry has travelled to the UK with 35 players in his All
Black squad, and he is determined to use all of them on the Grand
Slam tour.

The next Rugby World Cup is already on the horizon, and Henry is
confident that the teams he fields on this tour will achieve both
development and success, starting with the line-up he names for the
Wales match on Wednesday morning.

The reports from the final New Zealand training session suggested
that Richie McCaw could be rested, meaning a debut for Taranaki and
Hurricanes flanker Chris Masoe, and there might also be a debut for
Masoe's Hurricanes team-mate, prop Neemia Tialata.

That will be a hard enough match against the Six Nations champions,
and then a week later the All Blacks travel to a pressure atmosphere
at Lansdowne Road, where if Henry is true to his word, he will make
several changes to the team.

Then the strongest performers from those teams are likely to get the
nod for the third match against England, while the Scots will
receive the 'leftovers' on November 26.

"We have a policy on this tour of developing 35 rugby players for
the future," said Henry.

"To do that we have to give them as much game time as possible
without being ridiculous, but we have to try and survive as well."

There are four other likely debutants on the tour: utility back
Isaea Toeava, lock Jason Eaton, back row/lock utility forward Angus
Macdonald and prop John Afoa, and Henry must also resist the
temptation not to overplay those players still on the recovery road
from injury, i.e. Dan Carter and Leon MacDonald

"We've got to actually walk the talk. We have to play these guys, so
in the first two games we'll be playing as many players as
possible," said Henry.

The squad named for this tour should form the basis of the squad
which will travel to the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, for which
the New Zealand players have been promised a NZ$100,000 bonus for
winning.

The agreement on the bonus has been welcomed by Henry, particularly
as it has been completed now, just under two years before the event.

"With those sort of things they need to be clarified a long way out
so they don't become an inconvenience like the last time (2003)," he
said to the NZPA.

"I've got no problem with that. We all want to win the World Cup no
matter what the bonus is, but it's professional sport after all.

"I think that (NZ$100,000) would be a pretty reasonable request."

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 9
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 21:26:38 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Italy taking the form line

Monday October 31 2005
Form the sole basis for Berbizier's selections
taly team manager Marco Bollesan has said that only those players
who are most in-form will be chosen for the Azzurri's November
schedule.

Italy host Tonga, Argentina and Fiji during the international window
as they gear up for another assault on the Six Nations in February.

The Italians had an encouraging summer in which they drew their two-
Test series with the Pumas 1-1 in Argentina, and although they
crashed to a heavy defeat against Australia in their next match, the
Azzurri did manage three tries.

"We are going to call the most in-form players for November Test
matches," said Bollesan.

"We are following all the teams in whatever competitions they play -
the Super 10, European Cup, or even abroad.

"So we are going to pick the most fit players for November without
any doubt."

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 10
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 21:27:53 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Wallabies geared for Baa-Baas 'ambush'

Monday October 31 2005
'This will be a high-quality game'
Australia 'A' are likely to field a young side in which the total
Test caps are barely into double figures, when they go up against a
French Barbarians side loaded with hardened international and other
experienced players in Bordeaux on Tuesday.

But Wallaby coach Eddie Jones sees it as an opportunity for his
young players to gain some valuable experience in what could easily
be a French "ambush" in the opening match of Australia's five-match
European tour.

The French selectors have ensured the 'international' debuts of
eight Australian players - including three who have yet to play
Super 12 - will be a high-octane blooding by adding two All Black
greats to a side laced with French Test contenders.

New Zealand halfback Justin Marshall, whose 81 Test caps dwarf the
tally of the entire Australia 'A' side, has been drafted from
English club Leeds to lead the Barbarians while former All Blacks
prop Kees Meeuws will anchor the scrum from tighthead.

Fiji winger Sireli Bobo, Canadian second-rower Mike James and the
South Africa centre Conrad Stoltz bolster a side including
experienced French Test fullback Clement Poitrenaud and wing Pepito
Elhorga.

But Jones has welcomed the quality of the opposition for an
Australia 'A' team likely to have just 16 Tests between them.

"This will be a high-quality game for all our young blokes, and
that's just what we were after," Jones told The Daily Telegraph. "It
gives us the chance to look at these blokes, especially the ones who
have not played any Super 12, to see where they're up to."

There are debuts for hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, teenage back-rower
Leroy Houston and winger Digby Ioane, who all featured in the
Australian Under-21 side this season.

Houston, 18, has impressed Jones with his qualities as a natural
footballer. Initially Jones wanted to try him in an unaccustomed
role as a blindside flanker on this tour, but is now set to play him
in his normal No.8 spot, moving Western Force recruit Scott Fava
from the back of the scrum to No.6.

Queenslander Greg Holmes will start at loosehead against Meeuws,
while David Fitter will pack at tighthead against emerging French
front-rower Yannick Forester.

But incumbent tighthead Al Baxter is tipped to start the first Test
against France in Marseilles on Saturday.

"Playing against strong opposition is exactly what we wanted," said
Jones.

"We want to give some young guys the chance to develop."

Likely Australia 'A' team: 15 Cameron Shepherd, 14 Mark Gerrard, 13
Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Lloyd Johansson, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Lachlan
MacKay, 9 Matt Henjak, 8 Leroy Houston, 7 David Croft, 6 Scott Fava,
5 Adam Wallace-Harrison, 4 Hugh McMeniman, 3 David Fitter, 2 Tatafu
Polota-Nau, 1 Greg Holmes.

French Barbarians: 15 Clement Poitrenaud (Toulouse), 14 Pepito
Elhorga (France), 13 Guillaume Bousses (France), 12 Conrad Stoltz
(South Africa), 11 Sireli Bobo (Fiji), 10 Jean Frederic Dubois
(Toulouse) 9 Justin Marshall (New Zealand, captain), 8 Pierre
Rabadan (France), 7 Gregory Patat (France), 6 Julien Puricelli
(France), 5 David Couzinet (France), 4 Mike James (Canada), 3 Kees
Meeuws (New Zealand), 2 Benoit August (France), 1 Yannick Forester
(France).
Replacements: Benjamin Boyet (France), Maleli Kunavore (Fiji),
Dimitri Yachvili (France), Alex Manta (Romania), Nicolas Spanghero
(Castres), Gregory Menkarska (France), Romain Terrain (France).

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 11
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 21:28:35 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Wales excuse Martyn Williams

Monday October 31 2005
Cardiff Blues star loses his mother
Wales flank Martyn Williams could miss Saturday's clash with New
Zealand following the death of his mother.

The Cardiff Blues talisman was forced to withdraw from Friday's game
against Perpignan and returned from France to be with his ailing
mother who subsequently passed away over the weekend.

Wales team manager Alan Phillips confirmed that the Cardiff Blues
star, last season's Six Nations player of the tournament, will spend
most of the week with his family.

"There is no timing on it, but I don't envisage seeing Martyn much
this week," said Phillips, after the squad assembled at their Vale
of Glamorgan training base.

"I spoke to him yesterday, and it is safest to presume he is not
available. It wouldn't be fair to the boy, and all our thoughts are
with him."

Wales coach Mike Ruddock, meanwhile, has called up Llanelli Scarlets
flanker Dafydd Jones into the squad.

Jones scored the winning try in Llanelli's dramatic Heineken Cup
victory over Edinburgh two days ago, and is slowly recapturing the
form that he displayed at times last season.

"We need a bit of extra cover at six, and Dafydd is a good man to
have around," added Phillips.

Wales, who have not beaten the All Blacks since 1953, were taking
stock of their injury situation today.

Lions Gavin Henson, Tom Shanklin, Gethin Jenkins and Ryan Jones have
already been ruled out of the All Blacks encounter through injury,
together with Newport Gwent Dragons back Hal Luscombe.

Llanelli and Lions scrum-half Dwayne Peel is a major doubt because
of an ankle problem that kept him out of his region's opening two
Heineken Cup games, but fly-half Stephen Jones proved his fitness
yesterday after injury when he played a full part in Clermont
Auvergne's victory over the Ospreys in France.

Ruddock is due to name his team tomorrow, a line-up that is likely
to include Newcastle captain Colin Charvis after he missed last
season's Grand Slam campaign through injury, while Worcester prop
Chris Horsman could also feature in the match day 22.

Horsman, who recently qualified to represent Wales on residency
grounds, is currently suspended after being cited for stamping
during a Guinness Premiership game earlier this month.

But the ban expires on Friday, making him available for Saturday's
Millennium Stadium showdown.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 12
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 21:30:00 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Ruddock meets his predecessors

Monday October 31 2005
Wales coach face-to-face with his predecessors
The hour is almost upon us when a cracker of an encounter kicks off
in the British Isles, with a whole series of sub-plots guaranteed to
create a story for this match whatever the outcome.

Not, as the papers would have you believe, the meeting between
Ireland and Tana Umaga, but the clash between Wales and the All
Blacks in Cardiff.

How many sub-plots do you want?

The chance for Wales to beat New Zealand for the first time in 52
years.

Grand Slam Six Nations champions against Tri-Nations champions.

The first match in both Wales' quest to defeat all three Tri-Nations
participants, and New Zealand's quest to become the first team for
24 years to achieve a Grand Slam of the Home Nations.

The match that will examine the depth of Wales' resources as Grand
Slam holders after their current injury problems.

The list goes on.

But perhaps the most interesting match-up will take place behind the
scenes, as the coach who has led Wales to their recent achievements
goes head-to-head with the coaching duo who laid the foundations for
the Welsh revival.

Mike Ruddock's team and tactics will be challenged by those of
Graham Henry and Steve Hansen on Saturday, with Ruddock striving to
be the coach who leads Wales to an historic victory against the
coaches that Wales will always remember with fondness.

"They are great coaches," said Ruddock to the Western Mail.

"They've done a great amount of work for Welsh rugby and Welsh rugby
will never forget them for that and they have gone on and built a
magnificent team in New Zealand.

"I know from speaking to them that they always enjoy coming back to
Wales and that they are very proud of their work here.

"They are also very close to Welsh people because of that great work
they've done. But as much as we want to welcome them back here, we
also want to try and get a result and defeat their team.

As much as Wales' Grand Slam was a magnificent achievement, New
Zealand remain incontrovertibly the team to beat. Since that
incredible night in Paris eleven months ago when they beat a full-
strength France team 45-6, the All Blacks have appeared peerless
under Henry and Hansen's guidance.

A week before that game, Wales had pushed New Zealand to a single
point defeat in Cardiff - and they could easily have won that match
had there not been an apparent misunderstanding about the
timekeeping.

Then they had had two weeks to prepare, but this time both sides go
into the game relying a little more on memory.

"This New Zealand team of theirs has had a great year, with the Tri-
Nations and the Lions series, which they won very comfortably," said
Ruddock.

"They are a hell of a side and we've got one week's preparation, so
it's going to be tough for us.

"But we're the Grand Slam champions and there's a lot of pride in
our team and a lot of team spirit. If we can dust off a few cobwebs,
hopefully we'll really get into them.

"When we played New Zealand last season, it was the third match into
the autumn series and that gave us quite a bit of time to get some
cohesion and team understanding.

"And, on refection, we should have probably won that match.

"This time, it's first game up, on the back of European Cup games,
so we have got limited access to our players.

"We've got to wait for the guys to get back from France before we
can even start thinking about our preparation, so it really limits
us.

"So a lot of it will be down to trying to remember what we did last
season and hoping we can pull that together as quickly as we can."

Ruddock has also had to deal with a catalogue of injuries that has
deprived him of Lions stars Gavin Henson, Gethin Jenkins, Tom
Shanklin, Ryan Jones, and possibly Dwayne Peel, as well as regular
international squad member Hal Luscombe. Fly-half Stephen Jones was
a concern but he came through his Heineken Cup match on Sunday
unscathed.

Plenty of quality players have been called into the squad, and it
will be the sternest of examinations of Welsh squad resources.

"In an ideal world you want all your options available," said
Ruddock.

"But whenever we've lost players in the past, particularly last
season, everyone that came in did the job superbly."

"We've got a massive programme [in November] and a very intensive
one ahead of us, but it's one we are all determined to enjoy."

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 13
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 21:32:56 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Six nations head for North America

Monday 31st October 2005
The 2006 Churchill Cup will be contested by six nations from Europe,
North America and New Zealand and will be staged across four cities
in Canada and the USA.
The exciting new structure was announced today by the Rugby Football
Union, Rugby Canada and USA Rugby (the three nations who form the
alliance of the Churchill Cup) and enables even more people to
experience world class rugby on their doorstep.

England A, Team Canada and the USA Eagles will be joined by Scotland
A, Ireland A and the 2004 winners the New Zealand Maori in the 2006
Churchill Cup which will staged in June. Two pools of three teams
will play on both coasts of North America with all six teams
travelling to Edmonton, Alberta for the finals.

Francis Baron, Chief Executive of the Rugby Football Union,
said, "The tournament has grown in popularity each year and with the
aim of the tournament to grow and develop rugby in North America we
are delighted that the Churchill Cup will travel to four different
cities in 2006. The involvement of Scotland, Ireland and New
Zealand Maori shows that the tournament provides a useful
development tool for teams and we are looking forward to some
exciting matches next summer. The tournament is becoming a world
class event and is the biggest rugby tournament in North America,
and we are delighted that the International Rugby Board have chosen
to endorse the tournament and provide some funding for the
participating teams."

Pool A will play in San Francisco and contains USA, Ireland A and
New Zealand Maori. Pool B will play in Toronto and Ottawa and
contains Canada, England A and Scotland A. Pool matches will be
staged on Saturday 3rd June, Wednesday 7th June and Saturday 10th
June. All six nations will travel to the Commonwealth Stadium in
Edmonton for the finals day on Saturday 17th June.

England A will be coached by Brian Ashton. Brian said, "I will be
expecting a series of outstanding performances from each player at
the Churchill Cup - the sort of performance that makes the
opposition teams realise that England are different and difficult to
play. It's absolutely vital we have these England A games. When
players are taken out of their normal environment with their mates
and put into a relatively foreign environment, it's a benchmark,
offering us the chance to see how they might cope at full
international level."

This is the first time the tournament has been played across two
countries. The tournament has grown in popularity since it's
introduction in 2003 and this summer over 17,000 spectators enjoyed
the two week tournament, which was won by England.

The Churchill Cup continues to attract interest from all over the
world and this summer the tournament was broadcast in five
countries. All nine matches of the 2006 Churchill Cup will be
broadcast live in the UK by Sky Sports as well as in Canada, the USA
and across Asia and the Middle East. Paul Vaughan, Commercial
Director of the Rugby Football Union, said, "The interest in the
Churchill Cup continues to grow each year. The time difference works
well for a UK viewing audience and it is great news for English
rugby fans that they will be able to watch all nine matches next
summer. With six teams playing across four cities we are hopeful
that even more people around the world will enjoy watching this
exciting tournament."

2006 Churchill Cup:
Saturday 3rd June -
England A v. Scotland A, Toronto
USA v. Ireland A, San Francisco

Wednesday 7th June -
Canada v. Scotland A, Ottawa
USA v. New Zealand Maori, San Francisco

Saturday 10th June -
Canada v. England A, Toronto
New Zealand Maori v. Ireland A, San Francisco

Saturday 17th June -
All three finals, Edmonton

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 14
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 21:45:24 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Put Yourself in Andy Robinson's Position

The England Head Coach is busy selecting his starting XV ahead of
the first Investec Challenge match against Australia but how well do
you think you would do in his position? Click
http://www.o2englandrugbychallenge.co.uk/ to find out!

O2, Proud sponsor of the England Rugby Team, and RFU.com, the
official website of the England team, have launched the O2
Selection Challenge - a new, free to play, online game which puts
you in Robinson's shoes this autumn. If you can correctly predict
which 15 players Andy Robinson will choose for each of the three
Investec Challenge matches you will be entered into a special prize
draw after each game to win an O2 England Shirt and you could even
win tickets to watch an England home game in the RBS 6 Nations next
spring.

click here to play: http://www.o2englandrugbychallenge.co.uk/

Robinson has already announced the 30 man squad from which he will
select the starting players for each test match, full squad profiles
are available on RFU.com.

Has London Wasps kicking sensation Mark van Gisbergen done enough
for his club to earn his first England cap? Will Robinson choose a
Bath back row combination of Steve Borthwick and Danny Grewcock or
will he try a new combination and include Simon Shaw (London Wasps)
alongside Louis Deacon from Leicester Tigers? With three exciting
matches being staged at Twickenham this autumn against Australia,
New Zealand and Samoa why not challenge your friends and family to
see how many players you can correctly predict? A special
discussion forum is set up here on RFU.com so you can debate your
team selection amongst your mates

RFU online manager James Burke said "This is a great opportunity for
England Rugby fans to put themselves in the head coaches' role and
select the starting XV's for England's Investec Challenege matches.
Fans can play to win a pair of RBS 6 Nations tickets, or they can
just play to get one up on a mate - with three Investec Challenege
fixtures this autumn there will be plenty of action to get the
banter going"

Carlotta Calleri Zavanelli, Head of Sport Sponsorship at O2,
said: "O2 is a proud sponsor of the England Rugby team, and aims to
provide both fans with the best experiences in rugby. We are
delighted to be part of this joint initiative with the RFU.com,
which offers great interactivity and the chance to win some
fantastic England Rugby prizes. It completely fits with O2's ongoing
strategy of deepening fans' involvement through O2 experiences,
which include the chance to play on the Twickenham pitch, meet their
rugby heroes, win signed shirts, train with the players and much
more."

To find out more and to register your team selection ahead of the
big, opening match against Australia please visit
http://www.o2englandrugbychallenge.co.uk/

To find out about exclusive offers for O2 customers at England
matches this Autumn, go to www.blueroom.o2.co.uk

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

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rugby_www-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

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------------------------------------------------------------------------

[rugby_www] Digest Number 296

2005-10-29T02:39:00.000-07:00

There are 6 messages in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

1. Cash benefits will sway 2011 rugby vote to S.Africa - Pienaar
From: "John Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
2. Marshall to captain French Barbarians
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
3. Divisional XV team for tour opener
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
4. Russell likely to get a look-in
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
5. Saracens Women docked league points
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
6. Re: Digest Number 293
From: dbackfanwa@aol.com

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 1
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 09:39:05 +0000
From: "John Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Cash benefits will sway 2011 rugby vote to S.Africa - Pienaar

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Francois Pienaar is confident the financial
benefits of staging the 2011 World Cup in South Africa will be enough to win
the IRB vote next month.

South Africa and New Zealand are both bidding to be the first country to
host the World Cup finals twice alongside Japan, who have never hosted
rugby's showpiece event.

"We are very happy that we have done an outstanding job in bidding for the
2011 World Cup," Pienaar, captain of the World Cup winning Springbok side of
1995 and chief executive of the 2011 bid, told a media conference on
Thursday.

"Our confidence is high because we have done the best we can. We delivered
the best bid book to the IRB, we know that, and South Africa has the best
facts and figures."

The International Rugby Board (IRB) will vote for the 2011 hosts in Dublin
on November 17 and Pienaar said South Africa staging the event would mean
more money for the other founding members of the sport's international
governing body.

"The eight founding unions -- South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and the
Five Nations teams -- never used to benefit from the World Cup because the
profits went to the hosts," he said.

"Now they all stand to get millions and therefore I believe they will back
the bid that means the most money for them."

Mthobi Tyamzashe, the chairman of the South African bid committee, said he
was confident they had covered the two most important qualifications for
hosting the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

"The first is the financial success of the tournament and the second is to
grow the game," Tyamzashe said. "We believe we have both bases covered.

"Japan is a new frontier where rugby has never been before, while New
Zealand would be a sentimental choice as they believe it is their turn."

New Zealand won the trophy when they hosted the first World Cup in 1987,
while South Africa did the same on home soil in 1995.

"The day of our final presentation to the IRB will be as big as the 1995
final," Pienaar said.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 2
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 21:38:59 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Marshall to captain French Barbarians

Marshall to captain French Barbarians
Friday October 28 2005
Two Kiwis, a South African and Fijian for Baabaas
Former New Zealand scrum-half Justin Marshall has been named as
captain of a powerful French Barbarians selection that will face
Australia 'A' in Bordeaux on Wednesday (November 1).

It will be the opening match of Australia's five-match tour of
Europe - which includes Tests against France, England, Ireland and
Wales.

The French Barbarians have also selected former All Black prop Kees
Meeuws, while French internationals Clement Poitrenaud and Pepito
Elhorga will play at fullback and on the wing.

The team includes two Kiwis, a South African and a Fijian.

Marshall, who won 81 caps for his country, joined English club Leeds
at the end of his international career. Meeuws plays club rugby with
Castres in France.

The team will be coached by Toulouse manager Guy Noves.

French Barbarians: 15 Clement Poitrenaud (Toulouse); 14 Pepito
Elhorga (France), 13 Guillaume Bousses (France), 12 Conrad Stoltz
(South Africa), 11 Sireli Bobo (Fiji); 10 Jean Frederic Dubois
(Toulouse) 9 Justin Marshall (New Zealand, captain); 8 Pierre
Rabadan (France), 7 Gregory Patat (France), 6 Julien Puricelli
(France), 5 David Couzinet (France), 4 Mike James (Canada), 3 Kees
Meeuws (New Zealand), 2 Benoit August (France), 1 Yannick Forester
(France).
Replacements: Benjamin Boyet (France), Maleli Kunavore (Fiji),
Dimitri Yachvili (France), Alex Manta (Romania), Nicolas Spanghero
(Castres), Gregory Menkarska (France), Romain Terrain (France).

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 3
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 21:39:53 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Divisional XV team for tour opener

Friday October 28 2005
Masaga set for a big debut
Counties Manukau's newest Super 14 player, Lelia Masaga, will make
his debut for the New Zealand Divisional XV side on Saturday. The 19-
year-old winger has been included in the side for the opening match
of the team's tour of Fiji against the Warriors in Nadi.

Masaga, who was named in the Chiefs' Super 14 squad, is one of four
players in the starting line-up who will make their New Zealand
Divisional XV debut.

The other three are Hawke's Bay first five Daniel Waenga, lock Bryn
Evans and prop Tom Symes. Three other newcomers to the team were
named on the bench. They are Hawke's Bay hooker Hikawera Elliot and
North Otago's Ryan McCarthy and Fa'aitu Tumoheloa.

Hawke's Bay No.8 Mutu Ngarimu takes over the captaincy from his
provincial team mate Michael Johnson, who is suffering from a sore
back.

New Zealand Divisional XV coach Glenn Moore said while he did not
know much about tomorrow's opponents, he expects a familiar Fijian
approach to the game.

"We expect this side to select reserves from the Fiji national squad
so they will be physical up front with pace in the backs. Tomorrow's
game will be a good match up ahead of next week's international
against Fiji," Moore told allblacks.com.

Saturday's match kicks off at 15.00 local time (16.00 NZ time). The
final tour match is against Fiji in Lautoka on Wednesday 2 November
at 16.00 local time (17.00 NZ time).

New Zealand Divisional XV team: 15 Robbie Malneek (Nelson Bays), 14
Lelia Masaga (Counties Manukau), 13 Aaron Bancroft (Marlborough), 12
Davis Norman (Hawke's Bay), 11 Tim Manawatu (Counties Manukau), 10
Daniel Waenga (Hawke's Bay), 9 Lee Peina (Wanganui), 8 Mutu Ngarimu
(captain, Hawke's Bay), 7 Tafai Ioasa (Hawke's Bay), 6 Mark Bright
(Nelson Bays), 5 Bryn Evans (Hawke's Bay), 4 Hayden Triggs
(Manawatu), 3 Tom Symes (Hawke's Bay), 2 Mark Stewart (Marlborough),
1 Mike Thompson (Wanganui)
Replacements: 16 Hikawera Elliot (Hawke's Bay), 17 Clint Newland
(Hawke's Bay), 18 Campbell Mackenzie (North Otago), 19 Kahu Marfell
(Nelson Bays), 20 Ryan McCarthy (North Otago), 21 Rudolph Meredith
(Nelson Bays), 22 Fa'aitu Tumoheloa (North Otago)

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 4
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 21:40:38 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Russell likely to get a look-in

Friday October 28 2005
White to field 'versatile' backline
Springbok coach Jake White has already stated that he is looking for
his team to execute their attacking options with the same vigour as
they do their defence. Now he is set to field probably the most
versatile Bok backline in recent memory in the opening match of
South Africa's year-end tour.

When the Boks start their three-Test campaign against Argentina at
the Velez Sarsveld Stadium in Buenos Aires next Saturday (November
5), then all but one of the backline players in the starting XV
could be listed as "utility backs".

With an injury cloud still hovering over first choice fly-half André
Pretorius (who himself can play in more than one position) and Brent
Russell running in the No.10 jersey at practice, the Boks are likely
to field a backline brimful of creative geniuses.

The Bok coach made it clear that Pretorius' fitness - or lack
thereof - will be decisive in the final make-up of his backline.

"I will know on Saturday where we stand with André [Pretorius],"
White said. "If he is fine, it may not be necessary to take Brent
[Russell] and Meyer [Bosman] along. As a matter of fact, they may
both stay at home."

With or without Pretorius in the mix, White is likely to field a
very interesting backline in Buenos Aires.

As stated, all but one of them can play in two or more positions.

Here's the likely Bok starting backline, with all the positions they
can or have played in:
15 - Percy Montgomery (fullback, centre, fly-half and wing)
14 - Conrad Jantjes (fullback, wing and centre)
13 - Jean de Villiers (centre, wing and fly-half)
12 - Jaque Fourie (centre, wing and fullback)
11 - Bryan Habana (wing, centre and scrum-half)
10 - Andre Pretorius (fly-half and fullback)
9 - Fourie du Preez (scrum-half)
As backup:
Meyer Bosman - (fly-half, centre and wing)
Brent Russell - (fullback, wing, centre and fly-half)

Other backs White will be able to choose from on tour:
De Wet Barry (centre - 12 and 13), Bolla Conradie (scrum-half),
Michael Claassens (scrum-half), Wayne Julies (centre and wing).

White is known to favour players with high all-round skills and
those who could be labelled as "natural footballers".

While people will know that Montgomery has played in almost every
backline position (at international level), the versatility of a
player like Habana is not common knowledge.

But he was a scrum-half for all of his junior career, before South
African Under-19 coach (and Lions assistant coach) Eugene Eloff
moved him to centre when he started playing for the Lions senior
team. It was then that his true brilliance started to shine through.

The same goes for Jaque Fourie, who was a fullback when he burst
onto the Lions scene as a teenager, but was quickly moved to
midfield because of his creative abilities.

But for Russell - another one of those prodigiously talented utility
backs - it could be a dramatic comeback, after he failed to make the
initial tour squad and now suddenly finding himself in line for a
starting place in Buenos Aires.

He sat on the bench against Uruguay and France during the June
internationals, coming on for a couple of second-half appearances.
However, Russell played no part in the Boks' Tri-Nations campaign.

Russell will know on Saturday whether he'll again be left at home or
in fact be included as a full member of the touring party and
possibly be back in the match-22 for the Test next weekend.

If Pretorius does not recover in time, Russell could start at fly-
half against the Pumas, with Bosman on the bench.

The Springbok medical staff said if Pretorius wants to be fit and
ready for all three Tests on tour, then he must not take part in any
training activities before next week.

It leaves the Bok coach with a difficult decision to make.

"Even though he knows most of our movements and running lines, I
would like him to take a full part in our training sessions on
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday," the White said.

Meanwhile the Boks stalwart lock, Bakkies Botha, did not take part
in a training session on Thursday.

His knee was apparently painful after the previous day's training
and it was decided to give him a rest.

The Springboks fly to Cape Town on Friday evening, train on Saturday
and leave for Buenos Aires on Sunday morning.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 5
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 21:42:18 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Saracens Women docked league points

by RFUW Press
Saracens Women docked league points

Saracens Women's second team, competing in the Premiership 2 league,
have been docked two league points and fined by the RFUW after
fielding an underage and unregistered player on September 26th 2005..

Saracen's stated `We would most definitely not have selected the
player had we been aware that she was underage and we will not
select her again. This was a breakdown of communication. We can
guarantee that Saracens will not field underage players again and
respect the RFUW rules in this matter, as well as the rationale
behind the rules.'

RFUW competitions director, Keeley Fathers, said: "Whilst we
recognise that Saracens did not intentionally field an unregistered
and underage player Saracens were found to be in breach of the RFUW
Rules and Regulations 2, 3 & 4 and have also failed to act in
accordance with the RFU/W Policy for the Welfare and Protection of
children in rugby."

The RFUW issued documentation on rule changes regarding player age
bands to all RFUW affiliated clubs in April 2004 and a summary of
the age band laws can be found in the RFUW handbook and on the RFUW
website.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 6
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 22:47:51 EDT
From: dbackfanwa@aol.com
Subject: Re: Digest Number 293

In a message dated 10/26/2005 2:05:03 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,
rugby_www@yahoogroups.com writes:

Real Name Donn Gallon

Age 42

Location Centralia WA USA

Married/Single/Living with partner Married

Children 3 (One a huge All Blacks fan and youth Rugby player, One a little
guy who like the all blacks and a girl who likes to watch the scenery on the
rugby field.)

Why I joined the list
To get better rugby information than what is available from other sources
here in the states.

President of the Lewis County Rugby Football Club and manager/coach of the
Lewis County Spartans (U-19 boys team)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rugby_www/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
rugby_www-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

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------------------------------------------------------------------------

[rugby_www] Digest Number 295

2005-10-28T02:05:00.000-07:00

There are 15 messages in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

1. Church scraps services to show rugby
From: "John Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
2. Guinness sponsors Canadian rugby teams
From: "John Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
3. 'We must outlaw rugby's black market'
From: "John Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
4. 'We must outlaw rugby's black market' continued
From: "John Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
5. WIN a signed copy of Gavin Henson's book
From: "John Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
6. Somerville out of tour
From: "John Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
7. Who am I?
From: andrew_kennett@arnotts.com
8. James, 73, referees his 3000th game
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
9. RFU Management Board Statement
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
10. Nine changes to Crusaders squad
From: The Winger <thewinger@clear.net.nz>
11. Blues squad
From: The Winger <thewinger@clear.net.nz>
12. Chiefs Named
From: The Winger <thewinger@clear.net.nz>
13. Hurricanes squad
From: The Winger <thewinger@clear.net.nz>
14. Highlanders Squad Named
From: The Winger <thewinger@clear.net.nz>
15. Provincial selection breakdown
From: The Winger <thewinger@clear.net.nz>

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Message: 1
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 09:56:51 +0000
From: "John Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Church scraps services to show rugby

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Rugby/2005/10/27/1280123-ap.html

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - A church at Tauranga on New Zealand's North
Island will scrap Sunday services next month - and instead show Test matches
from the All Blacks' rugby union tour of Britain and Ireland.

The Greerton Bible Church will provide a big-screen television to allow
parishioners to watch the All Blacks' Tests against Wales, Ireland, England
and Scotland, which will screen live on Sunday mornings in New Zealand. "A
lot of people are going to watch the All Black games on Sunday morning, so
we figured if we can't beat 'em, join 'em," Pastor Russell Embling said
Thursday.

"Rugby and the All Blacks are a big part of Kiwi culture, there's no denying
that."

The All Blacks will play on successive Saturdays in Europe from Nov. 5,
attempting to win the first "grand slam" by a New Zealand team in Britain
and Ireland since 1978.

Pastor Embling said his congregation of about 250 was looking forward to the
matches.

"We have never done anything like this before in terms of shifting our
Sunday service to make way for anything, let alone the rugby," he said.
"Everyone is really looking forward to it and can't wait."

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Message: 2
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 10:04:06 +0000
From: "John Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Guinness sponsors Canadian rugby teams

By NEIL DAVIDSON

TORONTO (CP) - Rugby players are no strangers to lifting a pint of Guinness
and now they have an extra reason to hoist a glass.

The brewery giant has signed on as a sponsor of the Canadian men's and
women's rugby teams. The two-year deal goes through the 2007 men's World
Cup, with options to expand the agreement if Canada delivers on the field
and the two sides want to keep going.

"It's a significant (dollar) amount. It's in the high six figures," Rugby
Canada CEO Graham Brown said Wednesday after a news conference announcing
the deal.

"It's another good day for Canadian rugby," he added.

Guinness will appear on the national team jerseys but not in the most
prominent place on the front - Sony already owns that area. Guinness will
appear on the left chest and the back, plus the shorts.

Plus Guinness will bill itself as the official beer of Rugby Canada - as it
is to the Irish Rugby Football Union.

Other sponsors already on the Canadian jersey are Custom House, a foreign
exchange broker that has been a big supporter of the sport, and Langara
Fishing Lodges.

Rugby Canada hopes to add another jersey sponsor in the weeks to come.

While the only logo allowed on a team jersey during the World Cup is the
apparel manufacturer, up to nine areas per jersey can be sold at other
times. Rugby Canada, however, plans to feature just five sponsors.

The Guinness sponsorship deal comes on top of a recent injection of cash
from the International Rugby Board totalling 1.5 million pounds ($3.1
million Cdn) over three years for high performance.

That has allowed men's coach Ric Suggitt to bring his domestic players
together on the West Coast and increase their training regimen.

The IRB is providing another 1.5 million pounds to fund competitions with
the U.S. and other tournament play.

Guinness is no stranger to rugby. It was a title sponsor of the 1999 Rugby
World Cup for men and the top flight of the English domestic league is
called the Guinness Premiership.

The Canadian men, currently ranked 13th in the world, heads to Europe next
month to play France and Romania.

The Canadian women, who will wear the same jersey, host their World Cup in
Edmonton in 2006.

Rugby Canada also is looking to reap the rewards of Guinness's marketing
expertise in helping raise the profile of the sport.

"They will integrate themselves into the fabric of rugby in Canada," Brown
said.

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Message: 3
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 10:43:52 +0000
From: "John Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: 'We must outlaw rugby's black market'

Oct 27 2005

Tryst Williams, Western Mail

WELSH rugby bosses last night called on the Government to outlaw the sport's
black market by treating touts who sell international tickets as criminals.

The move came on the day officials launched an investigation into how Welsh
international tickets allocated to the New Zealand Rugby Union and seven
Welsh clubs ended up on internet auction site eBay.

Paul Sergeant, Millennium Stadium chief executive, confirmed he would be
meeting Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell just five days after the November 5
clash between Wales and New Zealand.

While touting rugby tickets is not illegal, it has already been outlawed in
football because of crowd segregation measures.

"We don't understand why, if touting gets outlawed for the 2012 Olympics,
it's not the same for other sports," he said.

"People are being ripped off extortionately. You've seen it with the Ireland
Grand Slam decider where two �45 tickets were selling for �2,000. This is
about protecting the public."

Earlier in the day the Welsh Rugby Union vowed to take action against Welsh
clubs it had "named and shamed" as part of a tough stance on its ticketing
policy.

Officials were also looking into the apparent online sale of tickets bearing
the acronym of the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) as well as the possibility
that allocations for some of the WRU's offshoot organisations were up for
auction.

The WRU's actions come after Tuesday's Western Mail first revealed tickets
allocated to Welsh clubs were being sold online for the mouth-watering
Bonfire Night game at the Millennium Stadium.

A spokeswoman said, "Tickets issued to Aberavon, Blaenavon, Caldicot,
Cilfynydd, Cwmgwrach, Gors-einon and Resolven have been found on internet
auction websites.

"This practice clearly contravenes the regulations outlined in the WRU
ticket policy which was issued to all clubs, debenture holders, affiliated
bodies and published in the media and on the WRU website.

"The policy was introduced to ensure that Welsh rugby international tickets
remain in the hands of true rugby supporters and not sold to the highest
bidder.

"The WRU will be taking action against these clubs - and to all clubs,
debenture holders, affiliated bodies or individual beneficiaries of tickets
who are found to have abused the WRU regulations.

"Each case in question is currently under scrutiny before any decision is
made on what action is to be taken against the clubs."

Any clubs found in breach of the rules could face losing their ticket
allocations. Meanwhile the tickets at the centre of the allegations have
since been withdrawn from circulation and officials have warned anyone
buying tickets on internet auction sites it is "highly likely" they would
not be allowed into the stadium.

Welsh clubs last night hit back at the allegations, saying it was "virtually
impossible" to keep track of tickets once they had been allocated.

Andrew John, chairman of Aberavon RFC, categorically denied any direct
involvement in the eBay transactions.

In a statement issued by the club he said, "The club sold four tickets at
face value (�33 each) to two separate sponsors.

"These tickets were issued to two different individuals who placed these
tickets on an internet auction site for sale at a profit.

"Whilst regretting this incident it is virtually impossible for any club to
retain control on tickets once they have been sold.

"We would point out that having been informed of these tickets being
available we contacted at once the parties concerned and removed them from
sale. The tickets will be returned to the WRU."

Mr John said he could understand the WRU's concerns but that all Aberavon's
tickets - which are shared among players, members and sponsors - were sold
at face value.

Meanwhile a ticket clearly displaying the words Cilfynydd RFC was still up
for sale on eBay yesterday much to the dismay of club secretary Nigel Jones.

Mr Jones explained the ticket had been sold on by a sponsor and added, "We
won't benefit from whatever that ticket is sold for. It puts a dampener on
the good name of the club."

More than 40 auction lots of tickets and packages for the match were
available on eBay last night with tickets commanding up to �140 apiece.

The All Blacks fixture has long been a 74,000 sellout, as have Wales'
following autumn internationals against South Africa and Australia.

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Message: 4
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 10:46:30 +0000
From: "John Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: 'We must outlaw rugby's black market' continued

WRU 'monopoly' row

Corporate hospitality companies have accused the WRU of operating a
"monopoly" on international rugby tickets and pricing competitors to its own
hospitality packages out of the market.

The ticketing policy of Welsh rugby's governing body is forcing legitimate
hospitality agencies to advertise on auction website eBay and risk having
genuine tickets declared invalid, according to Eddie Poynter, of the
hospitality agency Wizbang Events.

As reported in Tuesday's Western Mail, those caught selling tickets for
Welsh internationals on the internet site face potential life bans from
receiving ticket allocations, but Mr Poynter claims companies such as his
are forced to advertise on the site in order to compete financially with the
WRU.

"The problem we've got, as a bona fide corporate hospitality company, is
that we can't compete with the WRU's monopoly," said Mr Poynter.

"We want to be supportive of the WRU, but we also want to make our event not
just accessible to businessmen on expense accounts, but to the average
person who wants an alternative to watching games in a pub.

"Everybody in life needs competition, and we want to provide an alternative
to the WRU, but the only way we can get tickets is to go to local clubs.

"We've always been delighted to support them, and we would continue to do
so, but we would also like to work with the WRU.

"We are under threat, because we are unauthorised and there's no mechanism
for us to become authorised. The WRU is a monopoly and we get constant
threats that anyone who uses tickets acquired from us will be barred from
the games. We can't compete with them."

But Paul Sergeant, the Millennium Stadium's chief executive, denied the WRU
had a monopoly, and claimed it offered a fair deal to companies who wanted
to co-operate with them.

"Ultimately, companies like Wizbang and others like them could sign up to be
an official agent, but they choose not to.

"They've spoken to our commercial department, but chosen to go elsewhere.

"Being a rugby union ourselves, our profits go back into rugby and they
don't go into people's pockets. We've seen the financial turnaround of this
company in the last two years and we are continuing that through the money
from these hospitality packages."

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Message: 5
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 10:51:07 +0000
From: "John Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: WIN a signed copy of Gavin Henson's book

http://www.scrum.com/competitions/henson_advertorial.asp

"My Grand Slam Year"

Plenty has been said about Gavin Henson's book - "My Grand Slam Year" even
before its publication - and now, thanks to the publishers HarperCollins,
scrum.com readers have the chance to judge it for themselves in our latest
competition.

For your chance to win a copy signed by Gavin Henson, or one of four other
copies of the book, which gives Gavin's no holes barred views on his
rollercoaster year simply answer the question below.

However if you can't wait to read the book you can buy your copy at the
special price of �11.39 thanks to Scrum's deal with amazon.co.uk.

Who does Gavin Henson play club rughy for?
a. The Dragons
b. The Ospreys
c. Cardiff Blues

You then need to fill in a form with your name and address etc.

John H

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Message: 6
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 10:56:35 +0000
From: "John Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Somerville out of tour

http://www.scrum.com/news/default.asp

Somerville out of tour
27 Oct 2005

Prop Greg Somerville has become the latest player to be ruled out of New
Zealand's Great Britain and Ireland tour.

Somerville, 27, suffered a calf muscle injury during Canterbury's Ranfurly
Shield defence against Auckland earlier this month, and he failed a fitness
test ahead of the All Blacks' departure to London on Thursday.
Somerville will be replaced in the 35-man All Blacks squad by Auckland's
Saimone Taumoepeau, with coach Graham Henry having made an earlier enforced
change this week when injured back Luke McAlister pulled out because of a
knee injury and was replaced by Nick Evans.

The All Blacks launch their four-Test trip against Wales in Cardiff on
Saturday week, followed by appointments with Ireland, England and Scotland.

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Message: 7
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 08:30:27 +1000
From: andrew_kennett@arnotts.com
Subject: Who am I?

Answers

>Real Name
Andrew Kennett

>Age
44

>Location
Sydney Australia

>Married/Single/Living with partner
Lwp

>Children
No

>Why I joined the list
To get Rugby news

>Teams
Club: Randwick
Province: NSW Waratahs
Country: Wallabies
------------------------------------------------------------------
Andrew Kennett
Process and Ingredient Development Coordinator
Arnotts Biscuits Ltd (part of Campbells Soup Company)
61 Huntingwood Dr., Huntingwood, NSW, Australia
+61 2 9853 1413

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Message: 8
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 19:15:32 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: James, 73, referees his 3000th game

by Simon Mills

Unorthodox official Glynn James reaches an astonishing rugby
landmark when he takes charge of his 3,000th game in Cambridge next
month.

The retired lecturer from Stamford in Lincolnshire will reach the
milestone when he referees the students' game between Trinity Hall v
Churchill College on November 10.

James, 73, has clocked up more than 90 games a season since his
first appearance in the middle of the game between Stamford IV
against Lincoln IV in the 1974-75 season.

Since then he has refereed at every major club in England and Wales,
served on the RFU `A' list and county panels as well as for the
Notts, Lincs and Derbys and Cambridge Referees Societies,
experimented with new laws, and crossed the paths of some of the
game's famous names.

But even though he is clearly a natural communicator, he took some
persuading at first.

"I'd been playing for Stamford and the sides talked me though the
game," said James.

"It wasn't a case of retiring from playing � I was pushed into it by
friends � but that first game was so enjoyable that I just kept
going and I was lucky to have appointments secretaries who thought I
was okay and brought me on.

"I'll go on as long as the players don't mind me and as long as I
keep enjoying it � over the years I can only think of a couple of
games I haven't."

Among the players he has refereed include past and present England
coaches Sir Clive Woodward and Andy Robinson when they were students
at Loughborough University. "I told Robbo he'd covered every blade
of grass - mostly on the floor," said James.

And while he was the first official to sin-bin a player with a
yellow card in the laws laboratory at Cambridge, it is his desire to
keep teams on the field that players will remember.

He carries in his wallet a card with `Don't mess with the referee �
he's your only friend' written on it to defuse any tension when he
pulls any miscreants to one side.

"I ask them if they can read it or if they're prop forwards and they
want me to read it out to them, then they start smiling. I find it
works better than sending people off," he said.

He added: "I've been lucky to have met some great coaches in Chalky
White, Jim Greenwood and Brian Ashton and they've taught me a lot
about the game and refereeing.

"The message from them is that if you treat the players right,
you'll be rewarded. Sometimes there are too many laws and it is
important to referee the game as you see it developing � not just to
the letter.

"I always tell players `if you've got two bad knees and you're
eyesight's going then you could be a referee'. You can get an
enormous amount of enjoyment out of it and I'd encourage anyone to
try. It's about all 31 guys on the field enjoying themselves."

James's outstanding contribution to the game as a referee and
administrator has been recognised this year by the award of a medal
from the Community Service Volunteers organisation.

Premiership official David Rose led the tributes from James's
refereeing colleagues.

"You'd be hard pushed to find a better example of someone who's made
a lifelong commitment to the game and who's maintained his
enthusiasm and willingness to get involved," said Rose.

"It's guys like Glynn who keep the game going. If we have a referee
taking charge of a World Cup final, like Ed Morrison has done in the
past, then great. But Glynn has given so much more to keep the game
going at the grassroots."

More than 36,000 volunteers - 6,000 of them referees - support
grassroots rugby in England, enabling 500,000 people to take part in
the sport.

RFU CB Volunteer Manager Carole Thelwall-Jones said: "Glynn is a
shining example of the enthusiasm volunteers bring to rugby at all
levels. Our game is special because of their dedication and the fun
we share while helping grassroots rugby flourish."

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Message: 9
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 19:16:57 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: RFU Management Board Statement

RFU MANAGEMENT BOARD STATEMENT � 27th October 2005
The RFU Management Board, at its scheduled meeting yesterday,
confirmed that it has appointed and formally mandated the following
team to negotiate a new way forward with PRL over the `club'
v `country' issues.

Martyn Thomas (Chairman): Chairman RFU Management Board, RFU Council
Member, ERL Director
Francis Baron OBE: RFU Chief Executive, RFU Council Member, RFU
Management Board Member, ERL Director
Bill Beaumont OBE: IRB Executive Committee, Six Nations Committee,
Chairman British & Irish Lions, RFU Council Member, RFU Management
Board Member
Jonathan Dance: IRB Council Member, RFU Council Member, ERL Director
Nick Eastwood: RFU Finance Director, RFU Management Board Member
Andy Robinson: OBE: England Head Coach
John Spencer: Chairman Club England, RFU Council Member, RFU
Management Board Member
Chris Spice: RFU & ERL Performance Director, RFU Management Board
Member, ERL Director

Martyn Thomas, Chairman of the Management Board said "The group we
have put together has the skills and expertise necessary to cover
all aspects of the elite game. We have chosen eight people to ensure
that we have cover for any unavailabities for short notice meetings.
Our intention is that five of the eight will attend any meeting"

The RFU Management Board unanimously agreed to invite the PRL
Negotiating Team to make a presentation to it at its next scheduled
meeting. This offer is being made on the basis that the PRL Board
will reciprocate with an invitation to the RFU Negotiating Team to
make an equivalent presentation to the PRL Board and Owners.

The RFU Management Board also agreed an interim financial package
for the PRA of �275,000 per annum for two years to enable them to
operate independently and fully represent the interests of
professional rugby players in this country. Notwithstanding the
current legal dispute with PRL the RFU has paid the IP (image)
rights in full to the England players of �653,000 and we will make
sure payments are made to them in full for all international match
appearances and bonuses. The RFU are determined to work with PRA to
ensure that we work together and develop a much stronger partnership
for the benefit of the players.

Finally, the RFU Management Board discussed the fact that despite a
number of opportunities to do so, PRL had not accepted that the June
2004 Elite Player agreement was a variation of the 2001 Long Form
Agreement. As a result of this the RFU Management Board unanimously
decided that PRL had repudiated the Long Form Agreement and
therefore and with immediate effect the LFA is terminated.
Notwithstanding this the RFU will discuss, with PRL, making
available to clubs the budgeted funding for 2005/2006.

Martyn Thomas said "The RFU wants to ensure that no Premiership
clubs suffer financially in the period during which the new
agreement is being negotiated and therefore the budget discussions
for 2005/06 are an immediate priority.

"The RFU remains committed to reaching a new agreement with PRL and
the process of negotiating one will start with a meeting being held
this morning. Further meetings with PRL are being planned with a
view to reaching a new agreement as soon as is practicably
possible."

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Message: 10
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 12:08:05 +1300
From: The Winger <thewinger@clear.net.nz>
Subject: Nine changes to Crusaders squad

Nine changes to Crusaders squad to be led by McCaw

All Black vice-captain Richie McCaw has been re-appointed to lead the Crusaders into the new Rebel Sport Super 14 competition next year.

McCaw, who captained the Crusaders to their fifth Super 12 title this year, was one of 19 Crusaders from this year's victorious campaign named in the 2006 squad today by head coach Robbie Deans.

Seven newcomers have been selected for the Crusaders for the first time - Kevin Senio, who has transferred to Canterbury from Bay of Plenty, Senio's Bay of Plenty team-mate Tanerau Latimer (openside flanker) and the Canterbury quintet of Wyatt Crockett (prop), Craig Clarke (lock), Andrew Ellis (halfback),Steven Yates (centre/wing) and Ben Franks (prop).

Deans said he was pleased to see the local talent coming through with four of the five new Canterbury players selected having developed significantly during this year's NPC. Franks missed most of the NPC with a back injury.

"It's great to be able to fill the significant void left by the seven All Blacks who have departed with predominantly local talent. These young players now have a fantastic opportunity and a responsibility in representing the Crusaders," says Deans.

Two former Crusaders have also been recalled to the squad with Auckland No. 8 Bradley Mika returning after a stint with the Crusaders in 2002 and Canterbury first five-eighths Cameron McIntyre returning after spending this year's Super 12 with the Highlanders.

Deans said Mika was being given a chance to show his expertise in the number eight jersey after playing most of his rugby at lock.

"The national selectors have indicated to Brad that if he wants to play international rugby then that's where he needs to be playing."

The squad also includes 2005 draft players Ross Filipo (Wellington) and Tony Koonwaiyou (Auckland).

Six players who wore the Crusaders jersey this year - Norm Maxwell, Andrew Mehrtens, Justin Marshall, Dave Hewett, Sam Broomhall and Sam Harding - have headed overseas, while halfback Jamie Nutbrown has transferred to Bay of Plenty and been selected by the Chiefs, and Vilimoni Delasau has been drafted by the Highlanders. Canterbury's Ben Blair has also been picked up again by the Highlanders in the draft.

Former All Black Greg Feek is another 2005 Crusaders squad member who has missed selection in the Super 14 squads named today.

Crusaders: Daniel Carter (Canterbury), Craig Clarke (Canterbury), Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury), Andrew Ellis (Canterbury), Ross Filipo (Wellington), Corey Flynn (Canterbury), Ben Franks (Canterbury), Rico Gear (Nelson Bays), Scott Hamilton (Canterbury), Chris Jack (Canterbury), Campbell Johnstone (Canterbury), Tony Koonwaiyou (Auckland), Tone Kopelani (Canterbury), Tanerau Latimer (Bay of Plenty), Casey Laulala (Canterbury), Johnny Leo'o (Canterbury), Leon MacDonald (Canterbury), Richie McCaw - captain (Canterbury), Cameron McIntyre (Canterbury), Aaron Mauger (Canterbury), Bradley Mika (Auckland), Kevin O'Neill (Canterbury), Caleb Ralph (Canterbury), Kevin Senio (Canterbury), Greg Somerville (Canterbury), Reuben Thorne (Canterbury), Mose Tuiali'i (Canterbury), Steven Yates (Canterbury).

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Message: 11
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 12:09:52 +1300
From: The Winger <thewinger@clear.net.nz>
Subject: Blues squad

� indicates new Rebel Sport Super 14 player.
� indicates returning Super 14 player.
� indicates draft player.

Blues: John Afoa (Auckland), Ben Atiga (Auckland), Anthony Boric � (North Harbour), Daniel Braid (Auckland), Justin Collins (Auckland), Steve Devine (Auckland), Tim Dow � (Northland), Troy Flavell � (Auckland), David Gibson (Auckland), Kurtis Haiu � (Auckland), Doug Howlett (Auckland), Tasesa Lavea (Auckland), Angus Macdonald (Auckland), Luke McAlister (North Harbour), Keven Mealamu (Auckland), Isa Nacewa (Auckland), Mike Noble � (North Harbour), George Pisi � (North Harbour), Greg Rawlinson (North Harbour), Joe Rokocoko (Auckland), Saimone Taumoepeau (Auckland), Rua Tipoki � (North Harbour), Anthony Tuitavake (North Harbour), Vili Waqaseduadua � (North Harbour), Brent Ward (Auckland), Ali Williams (Auckland), Nick Williams (North Harbour), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour).

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Message: 12
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 12:10:37 +1300
From: The Winger <thewinger@clear.net.nz>
Subject: Chiefs Named

� indicates new Rebel Sport Super 14 player.
� indicates returning Super 14 player.
� indicates draft player.

Chiefs: Sosene Anesi (Waikato), Steven Bates (Waikato), Ben Castle (Bay of Plenty), Loki Crichton (Waikato), Simms Davison (Waikato), Stephen Donald (Waikato), Jono Gibbes (Waikato), David Hill (Waikato), Sean Hohneck (Waikato), Marty Holah (Waikato), Byron Kelleher (Waikato), Nili Latu (Bay of Plenty), Sione Lauaki (Waikato), Aleki Lutui (Bay of Plenty), Deacon Manu (Waikato), Lelia Masaga� (Counties Manukau), Liam Messam � (Waikato), Malili Muliaina (Waikato), Jamie Nutbrown (Bay of Plenty), Kristian Ormsby (Counties Manukau), Mark Ranby (Waikato), Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato), Niva Ta'auso � (Counties Manukau), Anthony Tahana � (Bay of Plenty), Sam Tuitupou � (Auckland), Bernie Upton (Bay of Plenty), Nathan White � (Waikato), Tom Willis (Waikato).

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Message: 13
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 12:11:36 +1300
From: The Winger <thewinger@clear.net.nz>
Subject: Hurricanes squad

� indicates new Rebel Sport Super 14 player.
� indicates returning Super 14 player.
� indicates draft player.

Hurricanes: Luke Andrews (Wellington), Jerry Collins (Wellington), Jason Eaton � (Taranaki), Tamati Ellison � (Wellington), Lome Fa'atau (Wellington), Tim Fairbrother (Wellington), Hosea Gear (Wellington), Jimmy Gopperth (Wellington), Brendan Haami � (Wellington), Ben Herring (Wellington), David Holwell � (Northland), Andrew Hore (Taranaki), Ross Kennedy (Wellington), Luke Mahoney � (Wellington), Chris Masoe (Taranaki), Joe McDonnell (Wellington), Ma'a Nonu (Wellington), Shannon Paku (Wellington), John Schwalger � (Wellington), Conrad Smith (Wellington), Rodney So'oialo (Wellington), Neemia Tialata (Wellington), Isaia Toeava � � (Auckland), Paul Tito (Taranaki), Tane Tu'ipulotu (Wellington), Tana Umaga (Wellington), Thomas Waldrom (Wellington), Piri Weepu (Wellington).

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Message: 14
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 12:12:28 +1300
From: The Winger <thewinger@clear.net.nz>
Subject: Highlanders Squad Named

� indicates new Rebel Sport Super 14 player.
� indicates returning Super 14 player.
� indicates draft player.

Highlanders: Ryan Bambry � (Otago), Josh Blackie (Otago), Ben Blair � (Canterbury), Andrew Blowers � � (Auckland), Tim Boys � (Southland), Neil Brew (Otago), Callum Bruce � (Otago), Jimmy Cowan (Southland), Vilimoni Delasau � (Canterbury), Clarke Dermody (Southland), Tom Donnelly (Otago), Nick Evans (Otago), Carl Hayman (Otago), Chris King (Otago), Roy Kinikinilau � � (Wellington), Filipo Levi (Otago), Jason Macdonald � (Otago), Hoani MacDonald (Southland), Seilala Mapusua (Otago), Craig Newby (Otago), Anton Oliver (Otago), James Ryan (Otago), Matt Saunders (Otago), Ben Smith � (Southland), Chris Smylie � (Otago), Hale T-Pole � (Southland), Nick White � � (Auckland), Paul Williams � � (Auckland).

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Message: 15
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 12:13:32 +1300
From: The Winger <thewinger@clear.net.nz>
Subject: Provincial selection breakdown

The breakdown of Porvincial representation for the NPC Provinces int he Super 1`4:

Northland (2), North Harbour (10), Auckland (24), Counties Manukau (3), Waikato (17), Bay of Plenty (8), Taranaki (4), Wellington (24), Nelson Bays (1), Canterbury (25), Otago (16) and Southland (6).

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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------------------------------------------------------------------------

[rugby_www] Digest Number 294

2005-10-27T02:32:00.000-07:00

There are 20 messages in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

1. Du Randt and Matfield in the clear
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
2. Godman earns a Scotland call-up
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
3. Bulls confirm Welsh's return
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
4. Invasion of the North
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
5. Ben Cohen wins England recall
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
6. No O'Connell or Sheahan for Ireland
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
7. Cardiff Blues ready for Catalan challenge
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
8. Kazakhstan beat Sri Lanka in qualifier
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
9. Kaino ruled out for 2006
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
10. Wild Knights topple Brave Lupus
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
11. Bok contracts hit a few 'snags'
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
12. Brown's England hopes start to fade
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
13. Horsman free to take Ruddock's call
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
14. Disciplinary advisory
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
15. Ashton's National Academy on show
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
16. England Women suffer second Black Ferns defeat
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
17. Malloy's conversion helps Dartford reach fourth round
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
18. Robinson names revised England squad
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
19. RE: Admin
From: <gibraltar@nac.net>
20. Re: Admin
From: "Tom Lutzenberger" <tomlutz@sac.sticare.com>

________________________________________________________________________
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Message: 1
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:23:41 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Du Randt and Matfield in the clear

Wednesday October 26 2005
Incident did not warrant a red card
Veteran Springbok prop forward Os du Randt and stalwart Bok lock
Victor Matfield were both cleared to travel with the national team
on their year-end tour to Argentina, Wales and France by a South
African Rugby Union (SARU) disciplinary hearing on Wednesday.

Matfield and Du Randt were cited following a punch-up between the
two in the 36th minute of the Currie Cup Final between the Blue
Bulls (Matfield's team) and the Cheetahs (for whom Du Randt played)
at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria last Saturday.

The Cheetahs won a very spiteful Final 29-25, to win the Currie Cup
for only the second time in the history of the Bloemfontein side.
Their only previous win came 29 years ago.

The two Boks were yellow carded late in the first half by referee
Jonathan Kaplan, after Du Randt retaliated when Victor Matfield
charged forearm first into him. Despite action being taken by the
referee, the match commissioner (Piet Niemann) found sufficient
evidence to suggest that further sanctions are warranted.

However, at Wednesday's hearing - chaired by Deker Govender - ruled
that the yellow cards were sufficient punishment and that the
incident did not warrant a red card ... as the match commissioner
suggested.

It means no further action will be taken against either player.

* Meanwhile it was confirmed on Wednesday that wing Tonderai
Chavhanga has been ruled out of the first part of the tour with a
quad muscle injury and will not travel with the team to face
Argentina on November 5.

Bok coach Jake White said on Wednesday that Chavhanga, who has been
struggling with the leg injury since the latter rounds of the Currie
Cup and have been a spectator at the Bok camp in Johannesburg since
Sunday, might still join the team when they travel from Buenos Aires
to Cardiff for the second Test against Wales on November 19.

Utility forward Danie Rossouw has also been ruled out of the first
Test - against the Pumas - after he had a surgical procedure to
repair damage to his knee.

White said Rossouw had a scope to his knee and he expects the beefy
Bulls forward to join up with the team in Cardiff, ahead of the
second Test against Wales on November 19.

The prospects of first choice fly-half Andre Pretorius, who collided
with a teammate (centre Jaque Fourie) during training on Monday, is
much better and he is expected to be fit for the opening Test.

By Jan de Koning

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Message: 2
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:23:05 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Godman earns a Scotland call-up

Wednesday October 26 2005
Hadden impressed with Edinburgh tyro
Scotland coach Frank Hadden has drafted Edinburgh Gunners fly-half
Phil Godman into his squad for training as he steps up preparations
for the November Test series.

The Scotland boss has also added Graeme Morrison, Andy Hall and
Gregor Hayter to his squad ahead of the games against Argentina,
Samoa and New Zealand.

But there is no place in the squad this time round for Andy Craig,
Scott Gray, Andy Miller and Gordon Ross, while Ben Hinshelwood is
taking a year-long break from international rugby because of a back
injury.

Scotland head coach Hadden believes the performance of Godman in the
Heineken Cup win against Wasps on Sunday was the deciding factor in
his selection ahead of Leeds Tykes' Ross.

Hadden said: "Phil Godman has started regularly for Edinburgh. He
performed particularly well when it mattered last Sunday.

"He responded to the size of the occasion and that is something you
always want to see from a stand-off.

"For me, that was a significant moment in Phil's development - to
outplay completely a player of the calibre of Alex King in difficult
conditions that you would think would have been alien to Phil."

But Hadden is also convinced Glasgow Warriors' Morrison can seize
his chance to impress in training next week.

Hadden added: "The word 'potential' is always used when referring to
Graeme Morrison and I am giving him an opportunity to start to
fulfil that potential."

Morrison was delighted to have been included in the squad after only
recently returning from a shoulder injury.

He said: "I thought that given my recent injuries I might not get a
look-in again until the Six Nations as, until last week, I had not
started a game for eight months so I will just see what happens.

"I had surgery on my shoulder and we initially thought I would be
out for six weeks, but it turned out to be more complicated than
first thought and turned into months rather than weeks.

"Then, during that time I had a bit of an accident as someone shut a
door on my hand.

"When I first got injured I was pretty down in the dumps but it
turned out to be a bit of a blessing in disguise as it meant I was
able to focus on fitness and I lost some extra weight I was carrying
by doing a lot of work on the bike so I am returning fitter and a
few kilos lighter."

Scotland squad for training (October 31 to November 2):

Backs: Mike Blair (Edinburgh Gunners), Chris Cusiter (Border
Reivers), Simon Danielli (Border Reivers), Marcus Di Rollo
(Edinburgh Gunners), Phil Godman (Edinburgh Gunners), Andrew
Henderson (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Lamont (Northampton Saints), Rory
Lamont (Glasgow Warriors), Ben MacDougall (Border Reivers), Stuart
Moffat (Border Reivers), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors), Dan
Parks (Glasgow Warriors), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh Gunners), Hugo
Southwell (Edinburgh Gunners), Simon Webster (Edinburgh Gunners).

Forwards: Kelly Brown (Border Reivers), Paul Dearlove (Glasgow
Warriors), Bruce Douglas (Border Reivers), Ross Ford (Border
Reivers), Andy Hall (Newport Gwent Dragons), Dougie Hall (Edinburgh
Gunners), Craig Hamilton (Glasgow Warriors), Gregor Hayter (Glasgow
Warriors), Allister Hogg (Edinburgh Gunners), Allan Jacobsen
(Edinburgh Gunners), Alastair Kellock (Edinburgh Gunners), Gavin
Kerr (Leeds Tykes), Scott Lawson (Glasgow Warriors), Scott MacLeod
(Border Reivers), Scott Murray (Edinburgh Gunners), Craig Smith
(Edinburgh Gunners), Simon Taylor (Edinburgh Gunners), Jason White
(Sale Sharks, captain).

Injured and unavailable for selection: Simon Cross (Edinburgh
Gunners), Rob Dewey (Edinburgh Gunners), Donnie Macfadyen (Glasgow
Warriors), Euan Murray (Glasgow Warriors), Jon Petrie (Glasgow
Warriors), Tom Philip (Edinburgh Gunners), Robbie Russell (London
Irish), Gregor Townsend (Border Reivers), Andrew Wilson (Glasgow
Warriors).

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 3
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:25:18 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Bulls confirm Welsh's return

Wednesday October 26 2005
Those who depart and those who arrive
The Blue Bulls on Wednesday confirmed that they have signed powerful
midfielder Frikkie Welsh from English Premiership club Bath for the
next four years. He will join the Bulls as soon as his commitments
at Bath is completed, but could arrive in March if he gets an early
release.

Welsh, a former Bulls stalwart, will join Dries Scholtz (Griquas) in
a new bulky Bulls midfield that will also include JP Nel, Wynand
Olivier en Rudi Coetzee (from the Lions).

The Bulls released a list of all the players they have lost and
those they have gained, confirming that a number of key players will
be missing next year.

But the confirmation of Welsh's return is a big boost to the
Pretoria franchise. He has played 47 games for the Blue Bulls
(Currie Cup) and 42 Super 12 games. He has scored a record 17 Super
12 tries for the Bulls.

It is clear that Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer is still sticking to his
policy of big, physical midfielders.

2005 contract players leaving:
Kees Lensing - Leeds, England
Danie Coetzee - London Irish
Anton Leonard - Retired
Sias Wagner - Retired
Ricardo Loubser - Retired
Warren Brosnihan - Italy
Scott Mathie - Sharks
Gavin Passens - Cheetahs
Lafras Uys - Griquas
Lodie Britz - Griquas
Thabang Molefe - Lions
Keegan Fredericks - Contract not renewed

Newly contracted players:
Danie Thiart
Rayno Gerber
Jaco Engels
Rudi Coetzee
Neil Powell
Frikkie Welsh
Dries Scholtz

Players contracted at the start of the 2005 Top 8:
Akona Ndungane
Tim Dlulane

* As can be seen, there are more players leaving the Vodacom Blue
Bulls than players signed for 2006 as the Blue Bulls believe that
the juniors coming through the system are good enough.

________________________________________________________________________
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Message: 4
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:24:47 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Invasion of the North

Wednesday October 26 2005
The gap is widening again
In just over a week the annual invasion of teams from the Southern
Hemisphere into the Northern Hemisphere will take place, the year-
end Tests. We take a look at how these two halves of the globe shape
up.

It is clear that the gap between the rugby hemispheres is widening
again.

In the two years leading up to the 2003 World Cup, the Southern
Hemisphere sides were regularly beaten by their counterparts from
the north, but since then it's been a different story.

Between 2002 and 2003, before the 2003 RWC, Tier One countries from
the south and north met on 13 occasions. The north won eight, lost
four and one ended in a draw. The north had a winning margin of 61.5
percent.

However, in the two years since RWC 2003 - in which the north and
south also played each other in 13 games - the south had won an
amazing 10 of those games, lost just two and one ended in a draw.
That is a winning margin of 76.9 percent for the south.

Will this trend continue this November?

For all your stats, visit out stats partner PickandGo!
http://www.pickandgo.info/

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Message: 5
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:26:13 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Ben Cohen wins England recall

Wednesday October 26 2005
The return of the Saint
England coach Andy Robinson has included in-form Northampton Saints
wing Ben Cohen in his 30-man squad for the November Tests.

The 27-year-old was omitted from the original 30-man that was
announced in late September - but he has responded with six tries in
four games for his club.

Cohen has forced his way ahead of Gloucester winger James Simpson-
Daniel and features among six changes for the Tests against
Australia, New Zealand and Samoa at Twickenham.

Three of them were injury-enforced with Joe Worsley, Iain Balshaw
and Alex Brown replaced by Andy Hazell, Tom Voyce and Steve
Borthwick respectively.

But Simpson-Daniel, Stuart Abbott and Tom Palmer have been demoted
to the stand-by list.

Olly Barkley's recent form for Bath earned him selection ahead of
Abbott and Leicester lock Louis Deacon, having been called into the
training squad as injury cover, retains his place ahead of Palmer.

The squad is captained by Leicester loose forward Martin Corry.

"I've had to make some changes to the squad because of injuries and
others are based on current form but all the players involved are
there on merit," said Robinson.

"There will be some disappointed players from the first 30-man squad
I announced last month but I will always stress that the door to
selection is open.

"Ben Cohen has returned to the squad and he has been in excellent
form for his club.

"I feel that he is returning to the form that made him such an
important member of the squad two years ago and I'm looking forward
to working with him again."

Cohen has an impressive try-scoring record for England, with 29 in
46 appearances, but his last cap came off the bench in the 18-17
defeat to France in the 2005 Six Nations.

Cohen's form dropped last season as Northampton struggled to avoid
relegation. He was asked to plug a gap in the centres and missed out
on selection for the Lions tour to New Zealand.

But Cohen took himself off the Lions stand-by list in order to take
a complete break from the game and Robinson is delighted to see the
World Cup-winner has returned stronger for it.

He scored twice in the Powergen Cup win over Worcester, again in the
last minute to help Northampton beat London Irish in the Guinness
Premiership and then ran in a hat-trick in the Saints' European
Challenge Cup win over Viadana on Saturday.

"I was really surprised to hear the news and I am chuffed," said
Cohen.

"I saw rugby as just a job last year and one I did not enjoy, but
now I am enjoying my rugby because it is a sport that I love and I
feel this is the best I have ever been coached.

"The set-up here has been brilliant and the stuff we are doing is
great. We have got a bunch of players here who are willing to learn
and have a great work ethic. They are always doing extras.

"Saints are far from the complete and finished outfit but we are
playing a lot better than we did last year and it is nice to a part
of that.

"I have not scored tries like I have this season for a long time and
it is such a confidence boost, especially to score the third at the
weekend.

"But I cannot take the credit myself; all the boys have been helping
me just as we all help each other."

England squad: Olly Barkley (Bath), Steve Borthwick (Bath), Ben
Cohen (Northampton Saints), Martin Corry (Leicester Tigers,
captain), Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks), Matt Dawson (London Wasps),
Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers), Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers),
Perry Freshwater (Perpignan), James Forrester (Gloucester), Andy
Goode (Leicester Tigers), Danny Grewcock (Bath), Andy Hazell
(Gloucester), Charlie Hodgson (Sale Sharks), Chris Jones (Sale
Sharks), Josh Lewsey (London Wasps), Lee Mears (Bath), Lewis Moody
(Leicester Tigers), Jamie Noon (Newcastle Falcons), Peter Richards
(Gloucester), Pat Sanderson (Worcester Warriors), Simon Shaw (London
Wasps), Andy Sheridan (Sale Sharks), Ollie Smith (Leicester Tigers),
Matt Stevens (Bath), Steve Thompson (Northampton Saints), Mike
Tindall (Gloucester), Mark van Gisbergen (London Wasps), Phil
Vickery (Gloucester), Tom Voyce (London Wasps).

Stand-by squad: Stuart Abbott (London Wasps), Duncan Bell (Bath),
George Chuter (Leicester Tigers), Andy Gomarsall (Worcester
Warriors), Tom Palmer (Leeds Tykes), Tom Rees (London Wasps), James
Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), Mathew Tait (Newcastle Falcons).

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 6
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:26:48 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: No O'Connell or Sheahan for Ireland

Wednesday October 26 2005
Munster pair to miss November Tests
Munster pair Paul O'Connell and Frankie Sheahan have been ruled out
of Ireland's squad for the autumn Test series, adding to coach Eddie
O'Sullivan's injury woes.

O'Sullivan was already without a number of players including captain
Brian O'Driscoll for the visits of New Zealand, Australia and
Romania to Lansdowne Road.

Now Lions lock O'Connell, who started all three Tests against the
All Blacks during the summer, requires surgery on his left hand,
which he damaged in his seasonal debut against Llanelli last month.

The 26-year-old had the plaster removed from his hand on Tuesday,
and following an examination, it was decided the injury had not
healed sufficiently.

Surgery will rule the Limerick man out for three to five weeks
although there will be no lock replacement.

Meanwhile, Sheahan, who scored a try in Munster's Heineken Cup
defeat by Sale last Friday, has damaged neck ligaments and has been
ruled out of rugby for six to 12 weeks.

A replacement for hooker Sheahan will be named on Sunday following
the second round of pool matches in the Heineken Cup.

It is a badly-timed blow for the 29-year-old who was an unused
replacement against the All Blacks in November 2001.

Sheahan has started just four Tests in the last three years because
of the form of the now retired Keith Wood and new Saracens number
two Shane Byrne.

O'Connell and Sheahan join O'Driscoll (dislocated shoulder), Denis
Hickie (dislocated fibula), Alan Quinlan (cruciate knee ligaments),
Guy Easterby (broken jaw) and Eric Miller (bruised ankle) on the
sidelines.

Llanelli skipper Simon Easterby is currently nursing a broken nose
and faces a fitness test.

________________________________________________________________________
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Message: 7
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:27:28 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Cardiff Blues ready for Catalan challenge

Wednesday October 26 2005
Scott Robertson reflects on Europe
Cardiff Blues centre Marc Stcherbina knows exactly what it is like
to go into the bear-pit that is Perpignan's Stade Aime Giral, and he
will be hoping for something better than previous results when he
takes on the French side on Friday night.

The Aussie centre marked his home debut for the Blues following his
off-season signing from Northampton Saints with a Heineken Cup man-
of-the-match performance in the 40-13 win over Leeds Tykes and now
he is aiming to do something he couldn't do when he was at Biarritz
Olympique.

"I never managed to win at Perpignan in the two seasons I was with
Biarritz and it is always a daunting prospect travelling there -
they always have a massive pack and a fanatical set of supporters,"
he said.

"It can be a pretty hostile place to play and we need to stick tight
as a group. The players must try not to take too much notice of the
environment and we must try to find ways to shut up the Perpignan
crowd.

"I'll be brushing up on my French this week to see if I can pick up
a few of their calls, but we will travel to France having taken a
huge amount of confidence out of our win over Leeds. It's all about
attitude and we certainly got that right in the second half against
Leeds.

"When I was at Biarritz we always knew the Blues had a highly
capable team from 1 to 15, but we could see they didn't have the
necessary confidence in each other. That is starting to come and we
need to travel to Perpignan believing we can win there.

"If we play like we did in the first half against Leeds then
Perpignan will just pile on the points. But if we can pick up where
we left off in the second half then we should be able to cause them
a few problems.

"Things can only get better and better from here, although we know
we will have to lift ourselves even higher in Perpignan. But after
the performance against Leeds I think we can go out and beat any
team."

And Blues coach Dai Young knows his side will have to do something
they haven't managed since 21 October, 2000 win a Heineken Cup tie
away from home.

You have to go back five seasons for the last time the Blues won a
European game away from the Arms Park, their amazing run of 14
successive defeats being second only to Glasgow's 22 as the worst in
the history of the competition.

The 32-23 win at Vicarage Road over Saracens was the key to the last
time the 1996 runners-up qualified for the quarter-finals and
current skipper Rhys Williams, centre Jamie Robinson, lock Craig
Quinnell and flanker Martyn Williams are the only players who can
recall what it's like to win on the road in Europe with the Blues.

"Our away record is history as far as I'm concerned," said Young.

"This week we will focus on what went wrong in the first half
against Leeds, try to fix a few things and try to improve.

"If we can have 85 minutes like the 45 we had in the second half
then I'm convinced we can get a result in Perpignan. The players
want this more than anyone else and they have proved what they are
capable of with the right attitude.

"In the last three or four games our first-half performances have
all left us with a lot to do and if we give Perpignan a 40-minute
start then it will be very difficult to turn things around."

The Catalan side produced one of only two away wins in Round One by
recording a 25-6 victory over Calvisano in Italy, but Perpignan's
Scott Robertson knows that there is still plenty of work to do.

"There are no easy Pools in the Heineken Cup," said the New Zealand
loose forward.

"Although I don't think our Pool is as strong as some of the others,
it could be said that we were in a similar position last year with
Edinburgh, Newport-Gwent Dragons and Newcastle Falcons but we
failed to get past the Pool stages.

"We were let down by our away form last season and it's something
we're addressing at the club.

"The last game we lost at home in any competition was to Wasps in
2004. It's a record we're obviously very proud of and, with that in
mind we're confident about the arrival of Cardiff, but it's our away
form we really need to improve.

"I think we're working towards that with the introduction of more
overseas players who come from a culture where away games are as
winnable as home ones and this should bring more balance to the team.

"The Catalan region has a very strong identity and the Heineken Cup
offers us a unique opportunity to represent our region in Europe.

"It's almost like being in a national side which is one of the
things that makes the tournament so important to us and our
supporters. The Heineken Cup is a prestigious title and winning it,
or even reaching the final stages, would be fantastic for Perpignan."

The club did reach the 2003 final, going down to Toulouse at
Lansdowne Road, and Robertson is delighted fellow All Blacks star
Jonah Lomu is heading for the Blues.

"It's a shame that Jonah won't be with Cardiff for the game this
week, but there will always be the return leg," said Robertson.

"Clearly Jonah has come to Cardiff with a specific goal in mind and,
more than anything, he needs to get game time and be able to play a
high standard of rugby in his off-season.

"There has been a shift in the Southern Hemisphere so that players
can now play European rugby and that can improve their selection
chances instead of reducing them. This is certainly due in part to
the role the Heineken Cup has played in raising the standard of
European club rugby.

"Success in the Heineken Cup relies on producing consistently high
performances. The top teams in Europe are able to produce this
consistency to get the necessary results throughout the season.

"Although there may have been a few upsets in the first week, it's
going to be very difficult for a team who are not from one of these
big clubs to pose a major threat.

"Although I prefer the Southern Hemisphere style, European rugby is
a very high level. In fact it's more a case of the two styles being
different rather than one being better than the other.

"Clubs like Toulouse could easily compete in the Super 12. They have
strength across the board on the pitch and a great depth to their
squad.

"To be able to have world class players coming off the bench is a
pretty sure sign that you're a quality side! At Perpignan we're
still building and working towards that goal and we certainly aim to
start bringing home the silverware."

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 8
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:28:04 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Kazakhstan beat Sri Lanka in qualifier

Wednesday October 26 2005
1st leg in Almaty
In the first let of their World Cup qualifier against Sri Lanka,
Kazakhstan won 25-19 in the national stadium in Almaty, Kazakhstan,
on Tuesday.

Almaty, formerly Alma-Alta, is the capital of Kazakhstan, once a
part of the USSR but independent since 1991. Almaty is the biggest
city in the country, up near mountains with many apple orchards,
hence the name for alma means apple in Kazak.

The return leg of this World Cup qualifier is in Colombo, Sri Lanka,
on 12 November.

Kazakhstan raced to 10-0 after five minutes with two tries to
impressive flank Anton Rudey. It looked as if the physical presence
of the Kazakhstan was going to overwhelm the visitors. But by half-
time Sri Lanka had taken a slender lead into the break at 16-15
thanks to some
impressive kicking from the Sri Lankan fullback Ajith Silva, who
had scored 11 points by half-time.

The second half became a very intense affair with pressure mounting
on both sides to grab the victory. Executing of skills gave way to
desperation.

Sri Lanka went a head 19-5 in the second half thanks once again to
the boot of Ajith Silva. But they were put under pressure by the sin-
binning of the hooker Viraj Prasantha. 14 men could not hold out
against the battering from the Kazakhstan side. Captain Timur
Mashunov smashed his
way across the line to push Kazakhstan ahead of Sri Lanka on the
scoreboard 20-9.

The visitors had the chance to take the match but were unable to
convert two kickable penalties. Kazakhstan dominated in the physical
confrontation but the Sri Lanka showed the ability to counterattack
and spread the opposition.

By Jamie Scott

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 9
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:29:33 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Kaino ruled out for 2006

Wednesday October 26 2005
'I'm only 22 and have a lot of rugby left in me'
One of New Zealand's most talented players, Auckland and Blues loose
forward Jerome Kaino, will not play in the inaugural Super 14
competition in 2006. The Blues have confirmed that Kaino requires
reconstruction surgery on an injured shoulder.

Blues doctor, Peter Coleman, said Kaino has been managing a shoulder
condition for the past two seasons, but it has got to the stage
where surgery is required.

"We could have postponed the surgery, but we would have only being
delaying the inevitable. In terms of Jerome's long term prospects it
is better that he takes care of his shoulder now," Coleman told
allblacks.com.

Whilst disappointed to lose a player of Kaino's ability, Blues Head
Coach, David Nucifora, agreed that Kaino's long term future was the
most important issue to consider.

"Jerome is a special player, with a unique set of skills. We will
miss him in the coming season, but he will return to rugby a
stronger player, which can only be good for him and the game," said
Nucifora.

Kaino said after two years with the Blues it will be difficult to be
on the sidelines in 2006.

"It's a real shame, but I'm only 22 and have got a lot of rugby left
in me," said Kaino.

"There is still a lot I want to achieve in rugby, and I can only do
those things if I am 100 percent fit. At this stage of my career it
would be irresponsible not to take time out and get my shoulder
right."

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Message: 10
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:28:56 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Wild Knights topple Brave Lupus

Wednesday October 26 2005
Only unbeaten team in Top League
Another weekend of Japan's Top League filled with high, and uneven,
scoring saw the reigning champions dethroned from the top of the
table, as Sanyo Wild Knights defeated Toshiba Brave Lupus 51-32.

The new leaders are also the only undefeated team left in Top
League. It's only fitting that the first round following the last
three weeks of byes for one-third of the teams in the League should
have a match that could determine who ends up as 2005 Champions.

The Oota ground in Gunma Prefecture was the scene on Saturday, as
Sanyo dominated the first half, Shozo Fukunaga opening up the
scoring with a try at the fourth minute, converted by Tony Brown.
Sanyo tighthead Tomokazu Soma was sin-binned at the 12th minute, but
that didn't seem to stop the Wild Knights running amok on Toshiba.
Samiu Vahafolau and Tomokazu Yamauchi both crossed the try-line in
quick succession, Brown once again converting successfully. Brave
Lupus skipper Teppei Tomioka scored a try for the champions late in
the half, Hidetaka Shinagawa converting. Penalty goals from both
Brown and Shinagawa ended the half, Sanyo ahead 24-10.

In the second half, Yamauchi scored once again, Brown's boot again
converting, followed almost immediately by a Sanyo penalty goal.
Sanyo captain Jumpei Enomoto also had a try, moments before being
sin-binned himself, the second yellow card for the Knights. Down 44-
10, the champions mounted a comeback on the back of a brace of tries
from Luatangi Vatuvei, as well as a single try from Nick Holten.
However, it was not to be for Toshiba, as Sanyo fullback Takashi
Yoshida crossed the line at the death, Wataru Ikeda converting,
ending Toshiba's perfect start to the season 51-32, despite both
sides racking up a try bonus point.

Earlier on, at Chichibunomiya, Tokyo, the day started inauspicious
enough, as Kubota Spears and World Fighting Bull played to a 10-10
draw, the first even result of the season. The second match of the
day at the ground saw NEC Green Rockets cement its third place
status, beating winless minnows Secom Rugguts 31-16, despite
trailing Secom 13-7 at half-time.

Sunday's matches featured a pair of games at Hanazono, Osaka; Kobe
Kobelco Steelers continued their win streak, smashing Fukuoka Sanix
Blues 55-10, including a brace from Daisuke Ohata. The late match
saw Yamaha Jubilo break their losing streak 57-31 over Suntory
Sungoliath. Toyota Verblitz maintained the fourth slot on the table
at Mizuho, Aichi Prefecture, pummeling Ricoh Black Rams 62-7, braces
from Hideki Nanba and Orene Ai'i featuring in Toyota's win.

Summary of Results:

Kubota Spears vs World Fighting Bull, 10-10
Sanyo Wild Knights vs Toshiba Brave Lupus, 51-32
NEC Green Rockets vs Secom Rugguts, 31-16
Kobe Kobelco Steelers vs Fukuoka Sanix Blues, 55-10
Toyota Verblitz vs Ricoh Black Rams, 62-7
Yamaha Jubilo vs Suntory Sungoliath, 57-31

Next Week's Fixtures:

Saturday 29 October
Sanyo Wild Knights vs Ricoh Black Rams at Chichibunomiya, Tokyo,
12:00 local
Suntory Sungoliath vs Kubota Spears at Mitsuzawa, Kanagawa, 12:00
local
Secom Rugguts vs Toyota Verblitz at Chichibunomiya, Tokyo, 14:00
local
Toshiba Brave Lupus vs World Fighting Bull, Mitsuzawa at Kanagawa,
14:00
local
Kobe Kobelco Steelers vs NEC Green Rockets at Hanazono, Osaka, 14:00
local

Sunday 30 October
Fukuoka Sanix Blues vs Yamaha Jubilo at Hakatanomori, Fukuoka, 13:00
local

By Geoffrey D. Wessel

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Message: 11
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:30:25 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Bok contracts hit a few 'snags'

Wednesday October 26 2005
'It is just silly season'
Despite the uncertainty over Springbok contracts, South African
Rugby Union (SARU) CEO Johan Prinsloo does not foresee any problems
with the national team ahead of their year-end tour to Argentina,
Wales and France.

Prinsloo confirmed that the negotiations over the Bok contracts
have "hit a few snags", but said any suggestion that this was a
major issue was way off.

He acknowledged that some players will be unhappy, since the
adjustments to the contracts will mean that some people might be
without contracts for next year and others might have reduced
contracts.

"We are in the process of the players' performance reviews and
obviously there will always be those who are unhappy," Prinsloo told
rugby365.com.

"I call this the 'silly season'. There have been discussions between
the manager of national teams, the Springbok coach and the players
and one or two problems have cropped up, but they'll be discussed
again.

"SARPA [the South African Rugby Players Union] have been involved in
all of these discussion and while it is a sensitive matter that will
cause some unhappiness, it is really not a big issue," Prinsloo
said, dismissing suggestions that the rumoured unhappiness among
some players could be a problem on tour.

"You will never get a situation where all the parties are 100
percent happy. That is why we sit down and resolve the issues. I
certainly don't see it as a problem."

It is obvious that some players, especially those who will only have
reduced contracts for next year, will not be happy.

It is believed that no new contracts will be offered to players who
were not originally contracted, which means that somebody like Lions
fly-half André Pretorius will not get a contract.

By Jan de Koning

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Message: 12
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:31:03 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Brown's England hopes start to fade

Wednesday October 26 2005
Rising star ruled out until December
Gloucester lock Alex Brown will have to wait a wee while longer for
his England debut after the Cherry and Whites revealed that he will
not be considered for club games until at least the end of November.

Brown, widely tipped to make an England breakthrough when the
Wallabies arrive at Twickenham on November 12, has a disc problem in
his neck.

He will continue to be monitored during the next seven days, but
Gloucester have already ruled him out their European Challenge Cup
clash against Bucuresti next Saturday, plus November's Guinness
Premiership schedule.

"Nothing else has been on my mind for the last few days, and it is
gutting to know I will miss an opportunity with Gloucester, and
potentially with England," said Brown.

"I will see a specialist and hopefully we will know more later this
week. I just have to try and remain positive, take the best out of
the situation and return fitter and stronger."

Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan added: "This is certainly
unfortunate timing for Alex and for the club, and his desire to play
at an international level.

"He will be an obvious loss to us as we continue to evaluate his
condition."

Brown's expected removal from the England equation is another blow
to head coach Andy Robinson, who has already lost knee injury victim
Joe Worsley for all three Tests.

Robinson retains strong second-row options though, with Simon Shaw,
Danny Grewcock, Tom Palmer and Louis Deacon in the current squad,
while Bath captain Steve Borthwick is among a group of players on
stand-by.

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Message: 13
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:32:00 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Horsman free to take Ruddock's call

Wednesday October 26 2005
Prop gets three-week ban for stamping
Worcester prop Chris Horsman looks set to make his Wales debut next
month after avoiding a lengthy Rugby Football Union (RFU) ban.

Horsman collected a three-week suspension when he appeared before
RFU disciplinary chiefs in Bristol last night.

The 27-year-old was cited for stamping on a Leeds forward during
Worcester's Guinness Premiership victory over the Tykes 12 days ago,
and subsequently admitted the charge during a three-hour hearing.

But the ban, which takes effect from October 15, means he will only
be sidelined until November 5 - the same day as Wales launch their
autumn Test series against New Zealand in Cardiff.

Horsman, who lives in Porthcawl and qualified to represent Wales
last month after completing a three-year residency period, is now
set to feature in a 31-man squad to tackle the All Blacks and
subsequent opponents Fiji, South Africa and Australia.

Saracens prop Ben Broster, who made his Test bow during Wales'
unbeaten summer tour of North America, was on stand-by to fill the
front-row vacancy left by coach Mike Ruddock, had Horsman been ruled
out.

And it is some welcome good news for Ruddock, who is without injured
Lions Gavin Henson, Ryan Jones, Tom Shanklin and Gethin Jenkins for
most, if not all, of the autumn programme.

Ruddock, meanwhile, has billed Wales' punishing November programme
as ideal preparation towards their assault on the 2007 Rugby World
Cup.

It is the toughest schedule any Welsh team has embarked upon, but
Ruddock delivered an upbeat message after naming a squad that
includes one uncapped player - Llanelli Scarlets fullback Lee Byrne.

"If you want to be the best, you have to play and beat the best,"
said Ruddock.

"We have risen to fifth in the International Rugby Board world
rankings thanks to last season's Grand Slam, but over the next month
we have to face three of the teams ranked ahead of us.

"We know we face a massive test in November - one that no Welsh team
in the 124-year history of our game has had to tackle.

"But in order to prepare properly for the 2007 World Cup, we need
this level of competition."

But while Ruddock might have lost several front-line performers, his
squad still contains six players each with more than 40 caps to
their name, including Newcastle captain Colin Charvis, who missed
last season's Six Nations Grand Slam campaign because of injury.

"As we showed on the summer tour of North America, when we had 12
players missing on Lions duty and others injured, we were able to
keep our cohesion because we have developed much greater strength in
depth within the squad," Ruddock added.

"I have been enormously encouraged by the way the team has
maintained its cohesion and consistency when we interchanged
players, and the team spirit within the camp continues to develop.

"Injuries are something you have got to deal with, whatever level
you are playing at. When we've lost players in the past, others have
stepped up to the mark."

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Message: 14
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:36:39 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Disciplinary advisory

by Julia Hutton

Chris Horsman of Worcester Warriors was tonight (Tuesday) suspended
for three weeks following a Rugby Football Union disciplinary
hearing at the Bristol Filton Holiday Inn.

Horsman was found guilty of stamping during a Guinness Premiership
match against Leeds Tykes on October 15.

Horsman's suspension runs from the date of offence. He will be free
to play again on November 5th.

Christopher Quinlan chaired the disciplinary hearing with Mike
Curling and Keith Plain sitting on the panel.

London Irish's Nick Kennedy was also tonight found guilty of
stamping during a Guinness Premiership match against Northampton on
October 16th. Kennedy was charged following an independent citing
officer's review of the game.

Kennedy, whose case was heard at the London Bloomsbury Holiday Inn,
has been suspended for two weeks and will be free to play again on
November 3rd.

Jeff Blackett chaired the hearing with Mike Cordell and Buster White
sitting on the panel.

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Message: 15
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:36:01 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Ashton's National Academy on show

by RFU press office

"When it comes to communicating with players, I prefer to be an
asker not a teller." So said the RFU's National Academy Manager
Brian Ashton when he invited the country's top rugby media to meet
the Junior National Academy players and coaches at their University
of Bath training base today.

Ashton took the opportunity to explain the philosophy behind England
Rugby's National Academy system and how he chooses to work with
England's elite representative players.

"I look for challenging, ambitious, technically accurate and
unpredictable play that is different. The players will know the more
licence they have on the field to interpret the game, the higher the
standards that will be demanded of them. It's all about setting a
framework and demanding those high standards. I believe in giving
players freedom but that doesn't mean they can do just what they
like out there. I expect them to perform to their potential
initially but to move up a level every time they play."

The full range of National Academy player activities were on show
throughout the day, including physiology testing before breakfast,
positional skills and, one of Ashton's priorities, mental skills.
Four of the Junior National Academy's 18 players also underwent
altitude training, carried out in the university's Sports Science
laboratory.

As well as the Junior and Senior National Academies, Ashton was
asked about England A, which he takes charge of this season,
supported by National Academy coaches John Wells and Tosh Askew.

"It's absolutely vital we have these England A games. When players
are taken out of their normal environment with their mates and put
into a relatively foreign environment, it's a benchmark, offering us
the chance to see how they might cope at full international level.
The England senior team can only benefit from having such players
coming up on their coat tails, challenging them for selection. We
want to show the England Head Coach Andy Robinson that these young
players are as good as some of the players in the senior team. Such
constant pressure for England selection can be no bad thing."

The RFU's National Academy coaches, who will specialise in the
England A, Under 21s, Under 19s and 7s representative teams later
this season, were all in action at the Bath JNA camp.

Said National Academy and England U21 coach Jim Mallinder, "The
Junior National Academy presents an excellent opportunity to take
some of the best young players out of their club environment and put
them in a different one with a lot of specialists in certain areas.
Hopefully they can come and get a lot of physical, technical, game
understanding and ideas."

Nigel Redman, the National Academy coach who looks after England
U19s, said, "This Junior National Academy is about individual
develoment of the players not development of the team. It's all
value added. Along with their schools and clubs these players have
worked hard and put themselves in the position to be identified from
their peers groups and to be here.

"At this moment in time they are the players with the potential to
make it at the 16-19 level. They will, of course, be those that
aren't here who will still one day play for England because they are
later developers."

Said 18 year old Chevvy Pennycook, who plays flanker for Bristol
Rugby and began his rugby with Cleve under eights, "You have a lot
of respect for the coaches. They have all been there and done it
and they have different ways of showing you skills. They know what
you are about and a variety of ways to help you develop.

"The coaching is awesome and I'll take it into training with Bristol
and with my brother at the local club and try to develop it. I
would love to make it to play for England and the Bristol first
team."

In a new development, it will be Ashton's A team who will represent
England in the fast developing Churchill Cup tournament in North
America. Ashton explained, "I will be expecting a series of
outstanding performances from each player - the sort of performance
that makes the opposition teams realise that England are different
and difficult to play. I try not to mention the word `winning'
amongst players. Instead I focus on outstanding performances,
encouraging players to move up to their next level. I'd like to
think if they achieve that, then the winning takes care of itself."

England A
Coach Brian Ashton
Assistant Coach John Wells
Skills Coach Tosh Askew

England U21
Coach Jim Mallinder
Assistant Coach Dorian West
Team Manager Peter Drewett

England U19
Coach Nigel Redman
Assistant Coach Damian McGrath
Team Manager John Elliott

England Sevens
Coach Mike Friday
Assistant Coach Phil Greening
Team Manager Terry Sands

Kicking Coach Jon Callard (all representative teams)

JUNIOR NATIONAL ACADEMY 2005-06 (Announced on 15th August 2005)CARE,
Danny, scrum half, (Leeds Tykes)
CIPRIANI, Daniel, fly half (London Wasps and Whitgift School)
CLARKE, Calum, flanker (Leeds Tykes and Barnard Castle School)
DODGE, Oliver, wing/centre (Leicester Tigers)
DOHERTY, David, wing/full back (Leeds Tykes)
FORSTER, Jack, prop, (Gloucester and Hartpury College)
GREENDALE, Adam, fly half (Leeds Tykes and Hymers College)
MERCEY, Tom, prop (Saracens)
MULLAN, Matt, front row (Worcester Warriors and Bromsgrove School)
PENNYCOOK, Chevvy, back row (Bristol Rugby and St Brendan's 6th Form
College)
PITFIELD, Simon, lock (Northampton Saints and Bedford School)
SAULL, Andrew, flanker (Saracens and Bancroft's School)
SIMPSON, Joseph, scrum half (London Wasps and St Benedict's School)
TAIT, David, back row (Sale Sharks)
TURNER-HALL, Jordan, centre (NEC Harlequins and Brighton College)
WALDOUCK, Dominic, centre (London Wasps and Latymer Upper School)
YOUNGS, Michael, scrum half (Newcastle Falcons)
YOUNGS, Tom, centre (Leicester Tigers)

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Message: 16
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:37:21 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: England Women suffer second Black Ferns defeat

by Julia Hutton
October 26, 2005

Black Ferns 24 England Women 15

England Women failed to avenge the Black Ferns this morning
(Wednesday), losing 24-15 at the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton in New
Zealand, but Geoff Richards' side registered a much improved
performance against the reigning World Champions.

Basic tackling errors and poor defence let England down in the first-
half, but England came out firing after the restart with some
inspired play which stopped the New Zealanders in their tracks.

Head coach Richards was left satisfied with the much improved
performance following their disappointing first Test 33-8 defeat
against the Black Ferns on Saturday at Eden Park, in Auckland.

He said: "We are pleased with this performance. We worked hard
during the week and we have fixed some of the things that let us
down first time around. We fought well and registered a decent
second-half. We still have a long way to go but today was certainly
a step up. We have come a long way in four days so we are pleased."

Black Ferns centre Hannah Myers took first blood with an early
penalty, but England soon drew level with Saracens' Karen Andrew
matching her efforts in the early stages of the game.

England then steam-rolled ahead when some great handling in the
backs gave Saracens lock Maggie Alphonsi the opportunity to dive
over the line and take the tourists 8-3 up.

But the Black Ferns bounced back in magnificent style with the
impressive Myers snatching a converted try. The Auckland player was
soon followed on the score board by tries from wing Piki Solomon and
full-back Amiria Marsh. Both scores were converted by Myers, handing
the home side a 24-8 lead at half-time.

Wasps centre Amy Turner took a knock to her head after the restart
and was sent to the blood bin. Worcester's Alice Richardson took her
place on the field while Richmond's Shannon Baker came on for
Alphonsi and Tamara Taylor replaced vice-captain Karen Jones to join
the England elite for her first cap.

But the changes didn't put England off their stride and it was in
fact the Black Ferns who were put on the back foot.

England went on the attack and when Turner came back on the field
she made an immediate impact, storming over for a superb touchdown.
Andrew added the conversion.

Thirsk's Hannah Dawson then came on for her first cap, replacing
Wasps' Vanessa Grey and although England fought back hard and
showed the commitment and team sprit that was lacking in the first
test match, they were unable to make any more of an impression on
the score-board.

England captain and Worcester player Jo Yapp said: "I am totally
exhausted because in the second-half we really had to dig deep.

"After Saturday's defeat we were so annoyed and frustrated with the
way we played, so it is good that we have gone some way to rectify
the result with today's performance. It would have been nice to get
a win, but we have learnt a lot about ourselves on this tour and
about what we need to do ahead of the Rugby World Cup."

Jed Rowlands, the Black Ferns head coach, added: "Any win over a
team like England is a good one. I think in the second-half our
forwards played very well but we were let down in the backs. England
were definitely on top in the second-half."

England team: 1. Vanessa Huxford (Wasps), 2. Amy Garnett (Saracens),
3. Vanessa Gray (Wasps), 4. Catherine Spencer (Folkestone), 5.
Rachael Vickers (Richmond), 6. Georgia Stevens (Clifton), 7. Maggie
Alphonsi (Saracens), 8. Karen Jones (Wasps) (vc), 9. Jo Yapp
(Worcester) (c), 10. Karen Andrew (Saracens), 11. Kim Shaylor
(Worcester), 12. Amy Turner (Wasps), 13. Sue Day (Wasps), 14
Danielle Waterman (Henley), 15 Vicky Massarella (Saracens).
Replacements: 16. Selena Rudge (Wasps), 17 Hannah Dawson (Thirsk)
18. Tamara Taylor (Thirsk), 19. Shannon Baker (Richmond), 20. Alice
Richardson (Worcester), 21. Charlotte Barras (Lichfield), 22. Nicky
Crawford (Worcester)

Tries: Alphonsi, Turner
Conversions: Andrew
Penalty: Andrew

Black Ferns team: 15. Amiria Marsh (Canterbury), 14. Piki Solomon
(Otago), 13. Hannah Myers (Auckland), 12. Exia Edwards (Bay of
Plenty), 11. Amy Williams (Hawke's Bay), 10. Anna Richards
(Auckland, captain), 9. Emma Jensen (Auckland), 8. Marina Canterbury
(Hawke's Bay), 7. Justine Lavea (Auckland), 6. Melissa Ruscoe
(Canterbury), 5. Victoria Heighway (Auckland, vice captain), 4.
Monalisa Codling (Auckland), 3. Casey Robertson (Canterbury), 2.
Fiao'o Fa'amausili (Auckland) and 1. Helen Va'aga (Auckland).
Reserves: 16. Karina Penetito (Auckland), 17. Diane Maliukaetau
(Auckland), 18. Kimberley Smith (Canterbury), 19. Izzy Gray
(Wellington), 20. Waimania Teddy (Auckland), 21. Huriana Manuel
(Auckland) and 22. Victoria Blackledge (Auckland).

Tries: Myers, Marsh, Solomon
Conversions: Myers (3)
Penalty: Myers

Tour results:

England v Manusina Samoa October 15th WON 53-0
England v New Zealand Invitational XV October 19th WON 40-8
England v Black Ferns October 22, Eden Park Auckland, LOST 33-8
England v Black Ferns October 26 Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, LOST 24-
15

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Message: 17
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:38:03 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Malloy's conversion helps Dartford reach fourth round

by Simon Mills

Daily Mail Schools Cup News from London & South East

Former Wasps star Darren Malloy has guided Dartford Grammar School
into a high-profile fourth round tie in the Daily Mail Under-18 Cup.

The prop forward made more than a hundred Premiership appearances
for Wasps and Gloucester before ending his career in 2003.

Now he's started a teaching career at Dartford, taking a Masters in
Sports Coaching before beginning a Post Graduate Certificate in
Education.

"It's been a big change for me moving into a completely different
environment - expectations at Dartford are high and I'm thoroughly
enjoying the challenge," said Malloy.

So far his under-18 side has beaten Langley Park (43-10), Ravenswood
(14-10) and Chislehurst & Sidcup (19-15) and they await the winners
of the Epsom v John Fisher tie taking place on November 9.

Former quarter-finalists John Fisher, from Purley, will be the
favourites to go through and Malloy said: "They've got a very strong
rugby tradition and beat us easily last year but it's a chance for
some of the boys who played in that game to have another crack."

Malloy singles out a pair of outstanding back-row forwards to watch
in Olly Augustine and Simon Parkinson, while busy scrum-half Mike
McDonagh and centre Joe Bowmer a try-scorer against Chislehurst
are the pick of the backs.

But it's the all-round development of the side he's interested in,
with fitness and ball skills the core of his coaching programme.

"We encourage the lads to express themselves and to play the game
the way it should be played," he said.

Another fourth round tie is already set with Hampton through to face
local rivals St Paul's Barnes.

Hampton, who number England Sevens captain Simon Amor and Bath's
Andy Beattie among their alumni, overpowered Oratory 29-8 in the
third round while St Paul's won 12-3 at Wimbledon College.

"They couldn't compete with our finishing," said Hampton coach Zoran
Higgins after Seb Jenell, Tom Woodhouse, Matt Gupta, Ben Brickall
and Luke Wheeler shared their tries.

Also in ominous form are Campion, from Hornchurch in Essex, who have
yet to concede a point after beating Coopers Co & Coborn 50-0 and
West Suffolk College 31-0.

The 2001 champions will face King Edward VI Chelmsford or Westcliff
High School in the next stage.

In the Under-15 Cup one of last year's Twickenham finalists won't be
making it past the fourth round stage.

St Benedict's Ealing beat west London rivals St Paul's Barnes 12-7
at Twickenham last season.

But if St Paul's beat Great Baddow on November 3 and St Benedict's
overcome London Oratory on November 8, they will meet again.

Also going well in the Under-15 competition are Dartford Grammar
School, who have beaten Chislehurst and Sidcup 10-7 and Oakwood Park
45-19 to reach the fourth round. They now face Norton Knatchbull or
Chatham House in November.

In the bottom section of the London draw, St Bede's Hailsham have
been the surprise package so far with eye-catching wins over
Brighton College (36-15) and Skinners (19-17) to earn a fourth round
date against St Olave's or Colfe's next month.

Daily Mail Under-18 Schools Cup, second round

Maidstone GS 10 Skinners 14

Harvey GS 5 St Olave's 20

Eltham Coll 53 Sir Roger Manwood's 5

Norton Knatchbull 17 St Bede's 17

Cranbook 34 Collyers Coll 22

Brighton Coll 21 Christ's Hospital 7

Sussex Downs Coll 5 King Edward VI, Southampton 8

RGS Guildford 12 Bishop Wordsworth's 41

Peter Symonds Coll 5 Alton Coll 3

Whitgift 59 Churchers Coll 3

Queen Mary's Coll 20 Caterham 0

Glyn 10 Reigate GS 40

Tiffin 15 Epsom Coll 31

St George's Coll, Addlestone 3 John Fisher 14

Ravenswood 10 Dartford GS 14

Gravesend GS 10 Chislehurst & Sidcup GS 42

Hinchinbrooke 8 Wisbech GS 17

Bungay HS 0 Gresham's 50

Wymondham Coll 36 Norwich 21

Royal Hospital, Ipswich 0 St Joseph's Coll 17

West Suffolk Coll 29 King's, Ely 10

Coopers Co & Coborn 0 Campion 50

Colchester VI Form Coll 18 King Edward VI GS, Chelmsford 25

Saffron Walden CHS 9 Westcliff HS 10

Broxbourne 3 Haberdashers' Aske's 30

Richard Hale 15 Roundwood Park 23

St Alban's 7 St George's School, Harpenden 5

Knights Templar 0 St Benedict's 50

Hampton 26 Latymer Upper 17

London Oratory 23 Verulam 0

Wimbledon Coll 30 Enfield GS 22

Richmond-u-Thames Coll 7 St Paul's, Barnes 40

Third round draw

Skinners School v St Olave's

Eltham Coll v St Bede's

Cranbook v Brighton Coll

King Edward VI, Southampton v Bishop Wordsworth's

Peter Symonds v Whitgift

Queen Mary's Coll v Reigate GS

Epsom College v John Fisher

Wisbech GS v Gresham's

Wymondham Coll v St Joseph's Coll

King Edward VI GS, Chelmsford v Westcliff HS

Haberdashers' Aske's v Roundwood Park

St Alban's v St Benedict's, Ealing

Third round results

Dartford GS 19 Chislehurst & Sidcup GS 15

West Suffolk Coll 0 Campion 31

Hampton 29 London Oratory 8

Wimbledon Coll 3 St Paul's, Barnes 12

Daily Mail Under-15 Schools Cup, Second round

City of London Freemen's 3 Epsom Coll 10

Hinchley Wood 0 St George's Coll, Addlestone 50

Gordon's 48 Rodborough Technology Coll 20

Winston Churchill 0 Reigate GS 50

Churcher's Coll 50 Toynbee Community Coll 0

Medina High 49 Embley Park 0

Portsmouth GS 7 Chichester High 50

Warden Park 3 Christ's Hospital 7

St Bede's, Hailsham 36 Brighton Coll 15

Skinners 41 Sackville 5

St Olave's 32 Langley Park Boys 0

St Dunstan's Coll 0 Colfe's 47

Norton Knatchbull 20 St Columba's RC Boys 0

Sir Roger Manwoods 14 Chatham House GS 15

Oakwood Park GS 12 Maidstone GS 10

Dartford GS 10 Chislehurst and Sidcup GS 7

Tiffin 45 Caterham 0

Wallington County GS 0 Trinity, Croydon 5

Whitgift 50 Emanuel 0

Halliford 53 Isleworth & Syon 9

Longford Community 0 St Benedict's, Ealing 50

St Ignatius Coll 14 London Oratory 22

St Paul's, Barnes 35 Coopers' Co & Coborn 7

Westcliffe HS 14 Great Baddow 19

St Martin's 0 Davenant Foundation 5

Robert Clack 39 Felsted 14

Ipswich 22 Woodbridge 29

Finborough 0 Norwich 50

Wymondham Coll 55 Gresham's 10

Wymondham High 31 Langley, Norwich 5

King's, Ely 0 King Edward VII, Kings Lynn 50

King's, Peterborough 49 St Ivo 12

Third round draw

Epsom College v St George's, Addlestone

Gordon's School Reigate GS

Chichester HS v Christ's Hospital

St Olave's v Colfe's

Norton Knatchbull v Chatham House GS

Tiffin v Trinity, Croydon

Whitgift v Halliford

St Benedict's, Ealing v London Oratory

St Paul's School, Barnes v Great Baddow HS

Davenant Foundation v Robert Clack

Woodbridge v Norwich

Wymondham Coll v Wymondham HS

Third round results

Churcher's College 38 Medina HS 0

St Bede's, Hailsham 19 Skinners 7

Oakwood Park GS 19 Dartford GS 45

King Edward VII, Kings Lynn 10 King's, Peterborough 17

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 18
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:38:41 -0000
From: "John A Hopkins" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Robinson names revised England squad

26th October 2005
England Head Coach, Andy Robinson OBE, announced today his final
squad for the Investec Challenge internationals against Australia,
New Zealand and Samoa to be played on November 12th, 19th and 26th
respectively.

Andy Robinson said "I've had to make some changes to the squad
because of injuries and others are based on current form but all the
players involved are there on merit.
"There will be some disappointed players from the first 30 man and
stand by squads I announced last month but I will always stress that
the door to selection is open and that I'm sure each of those who
have not made it into either squad for the Investec matches will be
making a strong case for selection to the RBS 6 Nations over the
next few months.

"Joe Worsley (London Wasps), Iain Balshaw (Leeds Tykes) and Alex
Brown (Gloucester) could not be considered because of injury but we
will continue to monitor their progress.

"Ben Cohen (Northampton Saints) has returned to the squad and he has
been in excellent form for his club. I feel that he is returning to
the form that made him such an important member of the squad two
years ago and I'm looking forward to working with him again.

"Olly Barkley (Bath), Tom Voyce (London Wasps), Andy Hazell
(Gloucester) and Steve Borthwick (Bath) have all been in outstanding
form for their clubs and given me some very difficult decisions to
make. They were always in contention by virtue of the fact they were
originally in the stand by squad and have all now made the step back
up to the senior squad. Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers) was called
into the squad when we trained at Loughborough due to injuries to
Simon Shaw (London Wasps) and Tom Palmer (Leeds Tykes) and he
impressed me in training with England."

ENGLAND SQUAD

Olly Barkley, Bath
Steve Borthwick, Bath
Ben Cohen, Northampton Saints
Martin Corry, Leicester Tigers (Captain)
Mark Cueto, Sale Sharks
Matt Dawson,London Wasps
Louis Deacon,Leicester Tigers
Harry Ellis,Leicester Tigers
Perry Freshwater,Perpignan
James Forrester, Gloucester
Andy Goode,Leicester Tigers
Danny Grewcock, Bath
Andy Hazell,Gloucester
Charlie Hodgson, Sale Sharks
Chris Jones, Sale Sharks
Josh Lewsey,London Wasps
Lee Mears, Bath
Lewis Moody, Leicester Tigers
Jamie Noon, Newcastle Falcons
Peter Richards, Gloucester
Pat Sanderson, Worcester Warriors
Simon Shaw, London Wasps
Andy Sheridan, Sale Sharks
Ollie Smith, Leicester Tigers
Matt Stevens,Bath
Steve Thompson, Northampton Saints
Mike Tindall, Gloucester
Mark van Gisbergen, London Wasps
Phil Vickery, Gloucester
Tom Voyce, London Wasps

STAND BY SQUAD
Stuart Abbott, London Wasps
Duncan Bell, Bath
George Chuter, Leicester Tigers
Andy Gomarsall, Worcester Warriors
Tom Palmer,Leeds Tykes
Tom Rees,London Wasps
James Simpson-Daniel, Gloucester
Matthew Tait, Newcastle Falcons

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 19
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:37:43 -0400
From: <gibraltar@nac.net>
Subject: RE: Admin

-----Original Message-----
From: rugby_www@yahoogroups.com [mailto:rugby_www@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
Of GlasshouseJohn
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 10:23 AM
To: rugby_www@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [rugby_www] Admin

Everyone must answer these questions to stay a member of the group. I'm now

fed up with being the only one posting.

Real Name: Cal

Age: 43

Location: New Jersey USA

Married/Single/Living with partner: Married

Children: 3

Why I joined the list: I love rugby.

All answers to be posted back to the list by this Friday 28th

Regards
John Hopkins
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/advertising-n-spotlighting

To leave the list either go to the main webpage or send an email to
rugby_www-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com and reply to the automated message.
Do not ask us to unsub you. You joined by yourself so you can leave by
yourself
Yahoo! Groups Links

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 20
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 16:10:30 -0000
From: "Tom Lutzenberger" <tomlutz@sac.sticare.com>
Subject: Re: Admin

Where do we post it to?

Tom

--- In rugby_www@yahoogroups.com, "GlasshouseJohn"
<glasshousejohn@b...> wrote:
>
> Everyone must answer these questions to stay a member of the
group. I'm now
> fed up with being the only one posting.
>
> Real Name
>
> Age
>
> Location
>
> Married/Single/Living with partner
>
> Children
>
> Why I joined the list
>
> All answers to be posted back to the list by this Friday 28th
>
> Regards
> John Hopkins
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/advertising-n-spotlighting
>

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rugby_www/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
rugby_www-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
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------------------------------------------------------------------------

[bostongayrugby] Digest Number 506

2005-10-26T10:07:00.000-07:00

There is 1 message in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

1. Buy some Ironsides gear!
From: "Terry" <tjamro@yahoo.com>

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 1
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2005 17:48:31 -0000
From: "Terry" <tjamro@yahoo.com>
Subject: Buy some Ironsides gear!

While you're twiddling your thumbs and can't figure out to do with
your extra hours because rugby practice was cancelled, we have an
answer.

Check out all of the new items in our CafePress shop and buy some
Ironsides gear!!

http://www.cafepress.com/bostonironsides

New items are :

Rectangle Refridgerator Magnets
Throw Pillow
Wall Clock
Postage Pal
Ornament
Sweatshirt
Hooded Sweatshirt
Ringer T

and as usual we have :

Men's Sleeveless Tee
Organic Cotton T-Shirt
Value T-Shirt
Trucker Hat
Yellow T-Shirt
Dog T-Shirt
Fitted T-shirt
Baseball Jersey
White T-Shirt
Ash Grey T-Shirt
Polo Shirt
Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Boxer Shorts
Large Mug
Mug
Tile Coaster
Mousepad
Teddy Bear
Stickers
Round Magnet

http://www.cafepress.com/bostonironsides

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bostongayrugby/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
bostongayrugby-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
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[rugby_www] Digest Number 293

2005-10-26T02:03:00.000-07:00

There are 3 messages in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

1. Admin
From: "GlasshouseJohn" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
2. Re: Admin FTAO Winger
From: "GlasshouseJohn" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
3. Re: Admin FTAO Winger
From: The Winger <thewinger@clear.net.nz>

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 1
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2005 15:23:08 +0100
From: "GlasshouseJohn" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Admin

Everyone must answer these questions to stay a member of the group. I'm now
fed up with being the only one posting.

Real Name

Age

Location

Married/Single/Living with partner

Children

Why I joined the list

All answers to be posted back to the list by this Friday 28th

Regards
John Hopkins
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/advertising-n-spotlighting

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 2
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2005 16:49:10 +0100
From: "GlasshouseJohn" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Admin FTAO Winger

Winger this does not include you unless you want to.

Regards
John Hopkins
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/advertising-n-spotlighting

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 3
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 15:58:47 +1300
From: The Winger <thewinger@clear.net.nz>
Subject: Re: Admin FTAO Winger

Thanks mate. I do try to post when I can. Alot of what I go to post I see
you've already donew it so I don't bother!

----- Original Message -----
From: "GlasshouseJohn" <glasshousejohn@britanniabear.demon.co.uk>
To: <rugby_www@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 4:49 AM
Subject: Re: [rugby_www] Admin FTAO Winger

> Winger this does not include you unless you want to.
>
> Regards
> John Hopkins
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/advertising-n-spotlighting
>
>
>
> To leave the list either go to the main webpage or send an email to
> rugby_www-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com and reply to the automated message.
> Do not ask us to unsub you. You joined by yourself so you can leave by
> yourself
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rugby_www/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
rugby_www-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
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------------------------------------------------------------------------

[bostongayrugby] Digest Number 505

2005-10-25T10:12:00.000-07:00

There are 5 messages in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

1. LOOKING IN THE PHILIPPINES
From: perry rde <portmans2000@yahoo.com>
2. Re: LOOKING IN THE PHILIPPINES
From: Eric Huang <eyhuang01@yahoo.com>
3. Re: LOOKING IN THE PHILIPPINES
From: perry rde <portmans2000@yahoo.com>
4. Re: LOOKING IN THE PHILIPPINES
From: Rick Mceachern <rickgmc3@mac.com>
5. Re: LOOKING IN THE PHILIPPINES
From: perry rde <portmans2000@yahoo.com>

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 1
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 12:57:51 -0700 (PDT)
From: perry rde <portmans2000@yahoo.com>
Subject: LOOKING IN THE PHILIPPINES

Hello,

I like white guys, they are just so handsome and
sexy...are there foreigners here in the Philippines
who want to hook up with a local guy??...i like oral
sex and great on it...

no money involved..just pure hot steamy fun...email me
privately if interested...you will be satisfied!!!!

cheers

__________________________________
Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click.
http://farechase.yahoo.com

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 2
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 16:12:02 -0400
From: Eric Huang <eyhuang01@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: LOOKING IN THE PHILIPPINES

Becky, stop advertising on the net!!!

perry rde wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I like white guys, they are just so handsome and
> sexy...are there foreigners here in the Philippines
> who want to hook up with a local guy??...i like oral
> sex and great on it...
>
> no money involved..just pure hot steamy fun...email me
> privately if interested...you will be satisfied!!!!
>
>
> cheers
>
>
>
> __________________________________
> Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click.
> http://farechase.yahoo.com
>
>
> SPONSORED LINKS
> Boston
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Boston&w1=Boston&w2=Mens&w3=Rugby+shirts&w4=Rugby+nd&w5=Rugby+insurance&w6=Rugby+t+shirt&c=6&s=94&.sig=G2SNuFEkLfpSD-etvaFc7w>
> Mens
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Mens&w1=Boston&w2=Mens&w3=Rugby+shirts&w4=Rugby+nd&w5=Rugby+insurance&w6=Rugby+t+shirt&c=6&s=94&.sig=dLLvvu2UVgOmOLWvOSPIrA>
> Rugby shirts
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Rugby+shirts&w1=Boston&w2=Mens&w3=Rugby+shirts&w4=Rugby+nd&w5=Rugby+insurance&w6=Rugby+t+shirt&c=6&s=94&.sig=ILA64D3kX7TqgXFa_fCZ9A>
>
> Rugby nd
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Rugby+nd&w1=Boston&w2=Mens&w3=Rugby+shirts&w4=Rugby+nd&w5=Rugby+insurance&w6=Rugby+t+shirt&c=6&s=94&.sig=Av31Yn6Sdei_PpbYlTWB0Q>
> Rugby insurance
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Rugby+insurance&w1=Boston&w2=Mens&w3=Rugby+shirts&w4=Rugby+nd&w5=Rugby+insurance&w6=Rugby+t+shirt&c=6&s=94&.sig=bhVQ577dZdCjwMQ7xUPaDg>
> Rugby t shirt
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Rugby+t+shirt&w1=Boston&w2=Mens&w3=Rugby+shirts&w4=Rugby+nd&w5=Rugby+insurance&w6=Rugby+t+shirt&c=6&s=94&.sig=idSUY5vTYF_CH2-3YCAVmA>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
>
> * Visit your group "bostongayrugby
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bostongayrugby>" on the web.
>
> * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> bostongayrugby-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:bostongayrugby-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=Unsubscribe>
>
> * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
> Service <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 3
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 13:29:00 -0700 (PDT)
From: perry rde <portmans2000@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: LOOKING IN THE PHILIPPINES

Hi,

I am not becky, you mistaken me for someone..I am from
the Philippines...30 years old professional.....clean
and straight acting....

--- Eric Huang <eyhuang01@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Becky, stop advertising on the net!!!
>
> perry rde wrote:
>
> > Hello,
> >
> > I like white guys, they are just so handsome and
> > sexy...are there foreigners here in the
> Philippines
> > who want to hook up with a local guy??...i like
> oral
> > sex and great on it...
> >
> > no money involved..just pure hot steamy
> fun...email me
> > privately if interested...you will be
> satisfied!!!!
> >
> >
> > cheers
> >
> >
> >
> > __________________________________
> > Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in
> one click.
> > http://farechase.yahoo.com
> >
> >
> > SPONSORED LINKS
> > Boston
> >
>
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Boston&w1=Boston&w2=Mens&w3=Rugby+shirts&w4=Rugby+nd&w5=Rugby+insurance&w6=Rugby+t+shirt&c=6&s=94&.sig=G2SNuFEkLfpSD-etvaFc7w>
>
> > Mens
> >
>
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Mens&w1=Boston&w2=Mens&w3=Rugby+shirts&w4=Rugby+nd&w5=Rugby+insurance&w6=Rugby+t+shirt&c=6&s=94&.sig=dLLvvu2UVgOmOLWvOSPIrA>
>
> > Rugby shirts
> >
>
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Rugby+shirts&w1=Boston&w2=Mens&w3=Rugby+shirts&w4=Rugby+nd&w5=Rugby+insurance&w6=Rugby+t+shirt&c=6&s=94&.sig=ILA64D3kX7TqgXFa_fCZ9A>
>
> >
> > Rugby nd
> >
>
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Rugby+nd&w1=Boston&w2=Mens&w3=Rugby+shirts&w4=Rugby+nd&w5=Rugby+insurance&w6=Rugby+t+shirt&c=6&s=94&.sig=Av31Yn6Sdei_PpbYlTWB0Q>
>
> > Rugby insurance
> >
>
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Rugby+insurance&w1=Boston&w2=Mens&w3=Rugby+shirts&w4=Rugby+nd&w5=Rugby+insurance&w6=Rugby+t+shirt&c=6&s=94&.sig=bhVQ577dZdCjwMQ7xUPaDg>
>
> > Rugby t shirt
> >
>
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Rugby+t+shirt&w1=Boston&w2=Mens&w3=Rugby+shirts&w4=Rugby+nd&w5=Rugby+insurance&w6=Rugby+t+shirt&c=6&s=94&.sig=idSUY5vTYF_CH2-3YCAVmA>
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
> >
> > * Visit your group "bostongayrugby
> >
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bostongayrugby>" on
> the web.
> >
> > * To unsubscribe from this group, send an
> email to:
> > bostongayrugby-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> >
>
<mailto:bostongayrugby-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=Unsubscribe>
> >
> > * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the
> Yahoo! Terms of
> > Service <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.
> >
> >
> >
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
>

__________________________________
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http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 4
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 16:33:36 -0400
From: Rick Mceachern <rickgmc3@mac.com>
Subject: Re: LOOKING IN THE PHILIPPINES

Come on Becky,

At the very least present yourself SOMEWHAT accurately. I will give you phillipean, clean and professional - but STRAIGHT ACTING??? That could be could be considered international internet fraud.

[This message contained attachments]

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 5
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 13:36:57 -0700 (PDT)
From: perry rde <portmans2000@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: LOOKING IN THE PHILIPPINES

sorry but you are really mistaken....anyway, thank you
for taking the time to read my posting..thanks and
take care...

--- Rick Mceachern <rickgmc3@mac.com> wrote:

> Come on Becky,
>
> At the very least present yourself SOMEWHAT
> accurately. I will give you phillipean, clean and
> professional - but STRAIGHT ACTING??? That could be
> could be considered international internet fraud.
>
>
>
---------------------------------
Hi,

I am not becky, you mistaken me for someone..I am from
the Philippines...30 years old professional.....clean
and straight acting....

--- Eric Huang <eyhuang01@yahoo.com> wrote:

__________________________________
Start your day with Yahoo! - Make it your home page!
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

---------------------------------
YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS

Visit your group "bostongayrugby" on the web.

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
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---------------------------------

__________________________________
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http://farechase.yahoo.com

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