The News Review:
- Bath opener awaits holders Leicester
- More thoughts and opinions on ’second-rate’ Springbok team
- Ospreys season tickets snapped up
- Say no to drugs
Bath opener awaits holders Leicester
Telegraph.co.uk – Jun 27, 2007
With the World Cup finishing the previous weekend the Anglo-Welsh Cup’s opening rounds in late October could be short on big names especially with clubs traditionally fielding weakened sides in the group stages. A number of Ospreys players will come face to face with former Wales coach Mike Ruddock now director of rugby at Worcester when the Welsh region travel to Sixways for their opener. Heineken Cup champions Wasps will resume their rivalry with Gloucester who have recruited heavily this summer with the Premiership heavyweights sharing Group A. Leeds promoted back to the top flight following a season in National One have been drawn alongside Llanelli Saracens and Bristol in Group D. The Anglo-Welsh Cup in its third year is contested by all 12 Premiership clubs and the four Welsh Magners League regions with the four group winners moving straight to the semi-finals. Group A: Newport Gwent Dragons Wasps Gloucester Newcastle. Group B: Cardiff Bath Sale Leicester.
More thoughts and opinions on ’second-rate’ Springbok team
New Zealand Herald – Jun 27, 2007
As usual South Africa have got it wrong and New Zealand was spot on. As to the Aussies they can certainly talk the talk but I am doubtful they can walk the talk. Praveen AB FanWouldn’t really matter what team they send over! We will beat them! There is going to another trophy in our cabinet come Nov! Even if Jake White sends his mamma to motivate the Springboks they will lose. Why? Because they are a bunch of cheats! Having watched the replay a couple of times there’s a grapple or a punch in every rucks. Personally I think that we have so much depth now that even Suzie would be hard pressed to do any damage. We are the best! We can field two teams that can beat the world. The Junior AB’s are on par with the Aussies so come Sat Matt “Pies” Dunning will get a lesson on how the men do it! Go the Mighty All BLacks! RichardI see nothing wrong with this.
Ospreys season tickets snapped up
News Wales – Jun 27, 2007
With the likes of Ian Gough Mike Phillips and Mark Taylor joining what is already an exceptional squad we are confident that come the end of the season we will be celebrating silverware once again. ?I would like to think that this exciting prospect is something that all rugby supporters in the Ospreys region would want to be involved with. ?All season tickets will be valid for Heineken Cup and EDF Energy group or pool stage matches as well as Magners League matches. Supporters can continue to take advantage of reduced season ticket prices thanks to the early-bird discount until July 31st.
Say no to drugs
Fiji Times – Jun 27, 2007
The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) may institute random testing for marijuana. The testing regime could be in place before this year’s World Cup and will be allied to an education program warning players of the pitfalls of drug use. Dread-locked Rabeni has just returned from a hectic season with Leicester which won the English Premiership and finished runners-up in the Heineken Cup. He was at his usual second-five eighth position against Australia A last Saturday and added strength and power to the backline. The 28-year-old from Nasolo Village in Bua said the FMF Flying Fijians have a good chance of making the World Cup quarter-finals. “We haven’t had our best line-up so far but I’m hoping that things will click when the World Cup comes” the former Otago Highlanders Super 12 player said. “Everyone selected must be on the same wave length if we are to achieve our goal.