Declan Kidney has defended the fixture list that threatens to send Ireland into the World Cup full of apprehension.
Leigh Halfpenny offers a heartening good news story for Wales ahead of their World Cup campaign in New Zealand.
Scotland wing Nikki Walker has been ruled out of the World Cup after suffering a knee injury in the 23-12 EMC Test win over Italy on Saturday.
New Zealand coach Graham Henry said the right decision had been made when a try by his team was disallowed after a TMO review during Saturday's 5-18 Tri-Nations defeat against South Africa - even though it was technically outside the rules.
Sylvain Marconnet and Thomas Domingo have been left out of France's 30-man squad for the World Cup in New Zealand.
James O'Connor has apologised for missing Australia World Cup squad announcement and said he would accept any punishment handed down.
SA Schools won in Port Elizabeth, Grey College won in a points' extravaganza in Stellenbosch and there were FNB Classic Clashes in East London and Oudtshoorn as well as Stellenbosch. In Newlands there was a massive turnaround when SACS played Bishops.
The First Division, South Africa's second tier domestic provincial competition, is a two horse race at the moment, with the EP Kings and Boland Cavaliers leading the pack at the halfway stage.
Discarded utility back Matt Giteau has been named in a powerful Australian Barbarians combination, boasting a combined 407 Test caps, for their encounter with the World Cup-bound Canadian side at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast on Friday.
The outstanding efforts of Queensland Reds scrumhalf Will Genia during the 2011 Super Rugby season has resulted in the Wallaby playmaker winning his second consecutive Pilecki Medal at the Reds Gala.
The Lions' gameplan had been good but their execution not good enough and in the end Western Province had deserved to win the match.
The young Western Province team had had their backs to the wall after two defeats and had shown character to secure their narrow win over the Lions at Newlands on Friday.
The advice of the television match official at the Tri-Nations match between South Africa and New Zealand on Saturday has evoked some questioning.
Ontario Blues recovered from the blow of conceding an early try to register six of their own and destroy The Rock 41-7.
Christian Wolff returned to the Prairie Wolf Pack side and inspired them to a 35-23 win against British Columbia. The fly-half sat out last week’s defeat against BC in Kelowna and his kicking and directional skills were sorely missed. He scored 15 points with the boot at Calgary Rugby Park and was at the centre of most of the Pack’s best play.
