Category: General

General rugby news and discussion

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Asad Bhorat, secretary of the Transformation and Anti-Racism Rugby Committee (TARC) has labelled Peter De Villiers the ‘ultimate traitor’.Bhorat said the coach will be summoned to appear before TARC and Parliament’s standing committee on sports and recreation on his return from Australasia for failing to transform the team after proclaiming he would never pick fewer than 10 black players in his starting line-up. De Villiers has picked only three players of colour in his starting XV during the Tri-Nations – Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen on the wings, and Zimbabwean-born Beast Mtawarira at prop. Bhorat told the Saturday Star that De Villiers had let his ‘ego be inflated by his winning streak’ and had silently become ’submissive’ to SA Rugby by fielding an almost all-white team.

‘The TARC and the sports portfolio committee have not criticised him up to now because we were giving him time and space. But no more. He will not be protected anymore,’ Bhorat added. ‘Sacrificing one’s principles is tormenting enough but betraying the trust of a nation hoping for change is another thing altogether. It is now clear De Villiers has turned his back on this support, choosing instead to chase the mirage of white rugby support. This decision will, inevitably, prove to be fatally flawed.’

Blue Bulls wing Bryan Habana has signed a contract with Western Province until 2011. Bernie Habana, father of the Bok wing, confirmed on Sunday that he will be playing his domestic and Super Rugby in Cape Town for the next two years.

“Some details of the contract still has to be sorted out, but Bryan has decided that Cape Town is where it is at,” Habana Snr said, adding: “Those details will be sorted out in the next few days”.

VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmQxUOxEWiA

SARU President Oregan Hoskins on Monday praised the South Western Districts Rugby Football Union for their strong action in suspending a club found guilty of violent behaviour for 15 years.

The Heidelberg Club was suspended after an incident earlier this month during which the club’s supporters invaded the field to attack the players of the Mossel Bay Rugby Club.

“I applaud the union for their strong action and the clear message they have sent to clubs – not just under their jurisdiction, but across the country,” Hoskins said.

“The implications for the Heidelberg Club are obviously very serious indeed and I have sympathy for those hard-working officials and members who had no part in this incident.

“But a club has to take responsibility for the actions of its members and players .”

View the video of the Heidelberg hooligans going on the rampage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmQxUOxEWiA

The British & Irish Lions recorded their third win out of three when they narrowly beat the Free State Cheetahs 26-24 in Bloemfontein.

Cheetahs 24 (14)

Tries: Danwel Demas, Wian du Preez, Corne Uys
Conversions: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (2), Louis Strydom
Penalty: Jacques-Louis Potgieter

Lions 26 (23)

Tries: Stephen Ferris, Keith Earls
Conversions: James Hook (2)
Penalties: James Hook (4)

The British & Irish Lions destroyed a pathetic Golden Lions outfit at Coca-Cola Park yesterday. The tourists scored 10 tries in the process.

Xerox Golden Lions (10)
Try: Shandre Frolick
Conversion: Andre Pretorius
Penalty: Andre Pretorius

British & Irish Lions (74)
Tries: Jamie Roberts (2), Brian O’Driscoll, Ugo Monye (2), Tom Croft, Tommy Bowe (2), James Hook, Stephen Ferris
Conversions: Stephen Jones (6), James Hook (3)
Penalties: Stephen Jones (2)