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Saturday, April 23, 2011

Eating "as before" is the best diet


In an interview with radio station France-Info on his latest book Je maigris sain, je mange well ("Adelgazo healthy, as well"), Laurent Chevallier, nutritionist of the Hospital of Montpellier and responsible for the feeding of the Environnement Santé network Commission, highlighted the confusion reigning in his specialty: "There are many contradictions about what must take, many conflicting studies and everyone is lost".
In the view of Chevallier, the solution is simple and consists in seeing "How did our ancestors hunter-gatherers".  On the other hand, further draconian regimes, withdraw too much food or focus on exclusive consumption of some others, as proteins for example, "problems", in addition to be frustrating and usually end with an increase in weight, explained the specialist.
From the pages of his book, Chevallier argues that, in addition to being more expensive, is not difficult to benefit from the advantages of a food as our ancestors and thus avoid the danger of a diet "too ready products""too fatty, sugary and salty" for the Agency.
However, the nutritionist recommend a first stage of "of-conditioning" of industrial food in use, which may last several weeks.
The daily intake should focus on the consumption of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish and eggs and avoid industrial products such as biscuits, sugary drinks, breakfast cereals or complex processing yogurt made with flavours and industrial sweeteners.
After that may be re-introduced certain elements of industrial development, without forgetting that "too transform food problems", detailed Chevallier. For this reason, "it is far wiser to confine itself to the natural yogurt" that consume complicated and innovative desserts dairy with various substances that "disrupt our sensations".
Another essential point of the diet is the water. On the way to recover the "true" meals, which allow to keep fit and better control your weight, the expert pointed out that the essential drink is water. "Occasionally it can take a glass of wine, but it must be occasional", commented Dr.

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Sunday, April 10, 2011

Carter back on French market?

Mercurial All Black flyhalf Dan Carter is back on the radar, as the French clubs stepped up the bidding war for the world's most sought-after player.

According to a report in the Sunday Star Times Carter has been offered NZ$2.2 million (€1.1 million) a season to play in Europe as rich French club owners vie with each other for the All Black's signature.

Sources say the spiralling auction for Carter's services is causing a rethink in his camp after the flyhalf had previously been leaning towards remaining in New Zealand after this year's World Cup on home soil.

Top French club Racing Metro is the latest club to enter the bidding – and have upped the ante considerably with a three-year offer reportedly worth NZ$6.6 million (€3.3 million).

Should Carter accept it, it would be the world's richest rugby contract.

French media report the Paris-based club's multi-millionaire owner Jacky Lorenzetti has Carter as his primary target in his bid to turn Racing Metro into a European "super club".

The deal works out at NZ$42,300 (€22,900) a week for the planet's best player – one the 29-year-old might find difficult to turn down.

Racing Metro's offer dwarfs the "take it-or leave it" NZ$1.48 million (€800,000) offered by Perpignan late last year.

Carter played for that club during his short French sabbatical in 2008, cut short when he snapped his Achilles tendon after just five games.

Toulouse are also still in the hunt for Carter along with English clubs Bath, Saracens and Northampton. But Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal hasn't entered the battle, believing the price is too high.

Last September, Boudjellal said: "Is this reasonable? €1.1 million [NZ$2.2m] for Dan Carter a season for a three-year contract? Everyone is put off by that price. In the current climate of rugby, this has crossed the line."

But that's obviously not the case for Lorenzetti who is building a new 40,000 capacity stadium to replace the club's 14,000-seat facility.

Carter is one of several high profile All Blacks yet to re-sign for next season including captain Richie McCaw, Ma'a Nonu, Sonny Bill Williams and Mils Muliaina.


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Collins hit on Chabal

"You are in my house now, we speak Samoan!"

All Blacks Best Rugby Tries Ever

All Blacks Best Rugby Tries Ever

Bring back Buck!

Huge Rugby Moments

SUPER UGLY RUGBY

Starting XV in the G&GR Super Rugby Ugly team:

1. Gurthrö Steenkamp (Bulls) Looks like Jabba The Hutt on a bad day and outclasses Wyatt Crockett and even Jamie Mackintosh.

2. Jason Rutledge (Highlanders) This position was the hardest to pick because of the outstanding depth of ugly hookers in Super Rugby, but Jason has impeccable bloodlines. His dad, Lester, an All Black flanker, was also facially challenged. Honourable mentiosn to Gary Botha, Andrew Hore, Aled de Malmanche, Ged Robinson and Chilliboy Ralepelle, who must be wondering what they have to do to get picked.

3. Salesi Ma’afu (Brumbies) His team nickname is “Gorilla” and it’s not because of his animal grunt on the rugby field. Guys like Werner Kruger, who has a moosh like a potato with a few slits in it, are unlucky to miss out, but Salesi is a natural .

4. Andries Bekker (Stormers) Put a couple of bolts in the neck of this ugly sonofabitch and he could star in the next Frankenstein movie.

5. Kane Douglas (Waratahs) The young bloke may have a good bod but has a head like a robber’s dog. Mentioned in despatches: Pat O’Connor and James Horwill, for obvious reasons.

6. Adam Thomson (Highlanders) A true boofhead who could not get a date off a calendar. Jarrod “Zombie” Saffy is unlucky.

7. Phil Waugh (Waratahs) Honourable mentions to Beau Robinson, Julian Salvi and Pieter Louw, but Waugh got a part-time job once as an Orc in a Lord of the Rings movie and they didn’t have to bother with makeup.

8. Nasi Manu (Highlanders) Scares small-to-medium sized kids as he walks down the street, and they shout “Boogieman” and run away crying. I know what you are going to say: what about Kieran Read, who was offered a leading role in a Saw movie? But somebody had to miss out.

9. Brendon Leonard (Chiefs) There was outstanding depth in this spot too. Januarie, Kockott and Sheehan had strong claims and McKibbin could even have got the nod, but he hasn’t started a game this year. Surely the gong has to go to a guy who shows consistency in being a truly ugly fucker week to week.

10. Aaron Cruden (Hurricanes) Outstanding talent: has a head like a busted crab yet it still has about 10 years to go getting bashed up. Could be world class by the end of his career.

11. Luke Rooney (Rebels) is so fucking ugly that his dog closes its eyes when it humps his leg.

12. Tana Umaga (Chiefs) Lots of candidates here but nobody else gets the bags under their eyes checked by Customs. Honourable mention to young Robbie Coleman, who looks like Woody from Toy Story.

13. Stirling Mortlock (Rebels) All time great in the position and has kept his form since that wonderful banjo sequence in the Deliverance movie.

14. Bjorn Basson (Bulls) Every team has to have a bolter and young Basson is the smokey in this team. But, I ask you, who else looks more like an undertaker whose haemorrhoids are flaring up? Sorry Sivi, but you have to make way for a younger bloke this year.

15. Gio Aplon (Stormers) Talk about shifty eyes: ever noticed that the guys who slip a knife into your ribs every now and then look just like Aplon? Pat McCabe was a chance, but shave away the bum-fluff from his face and he looks almost homely. Never mind, Pat: a few more years of running into brick walls as you do on the footie field and you could be in the Ones.

What do you think of our starting fifteen? Any truly world-class ugly fuckers who missed out?

World Cup Year - Wallabies Wildcards in the Pack

As World Cup approaches a number of Super Rugby players are pushing for wildcard selection

Wallabies
World Cup year ... which players are putting their hand up for a Wallabeis wildcard selection? Source: Vincent Yu / AFP
Melbourne Rebels winger Cooper Vuna is bullocking his way into the reckoning as a World Cup year wildcard, the sort of rugby meteor that flashes into the picture with perfect timing every four years.
The convert from the NRL has a long way to go to force a place in the 30-man squad for the showpiece event in September-October but Wallaby history is flecked with numerous examples of where "no way" has become "no way we can leave him out".
You only have to look as far as Wallabies team manager Rob Egerton to be a true believer that anything is possible in a World Cup year.
Egerton was 28 and a socks-down Sydney University club fullback with an attacking streak when given his break as a winger for NSW in 1991.
He rode the dream all the way to a World Cup Year triumph at Twickenham in a whirlwind Wallaby career of less than four months.
Rewind four years and it was Julian Huxley who started 2007 as a rank outsider for the World Cup yet was a worthy tourist to France.

Who do you think is in with a chance for a Wallabies wildcard? Have your say by leaving a comment at the bottom of the page.

Troy Coker (1987), a young Joe Roff (1995), John Roe (2003) and Berrick Barnes (2007) are others who had the stars align just right so they made their Test debuts at World Cups.
Wallaby coach Robbie Deans has made it harder than ever to pinpoint potential wildcard selections for 2011 because he studied so many himself in 2010 when more than 40 players were used in Test sides or the midweek games on last year's European tour.
Look how far full-blooded power and a big motor took Ben McCalman as 2010's Test bolter because he started the year on the bench for the Western Force.
Here are the wildcards to have flashed onto Deans' radar during the early weeks of Super Rugby:
Cooper Vuna (Rebels): Has rough edges but his confidence to beat a man on the outside or simply run over him has been a feature. Has an appealing try-flavour.
Nick Phipps (Rebels): Halfback with a sharp running game and pass. Deans made him his bolter on last year's Wallaby tour after watching him at the Commonwealth Games sevens.
Rod Davies (Reds): Deans loves pure, brakes-off finishing speed and Davies has it. The try he scored against the Cheetahs when he used his pace to shrug off three defenders, operating in just 2m of space on the touchline, was Test class.
Luke Morahan (Reds): Two Wallaby tours and still only 20. If he takes this month's chances in the Reds starting line-up, 2011 could be anything for the strapping finisher.
Pat McCabe (Brumbies): Runs hard and straight all day. His versatility as a fullback-winger is a big plus. Played first Test minutes off the bench against Italy last November so Deans has an eye on him.
Nick Cummins (Force): Looks like he should be on guitar in a Kiss revival band with that big hair. An improver on wing who wants to play with the aggression of an African honey badger (his words).
Dan Vickerman (mid-year Waratahs): The former top Test lock played four games for English club Northampton in February and has to stay in nick for his June return for Waratahs. Tough 2.03m locks don't grow on trees.

SBW a nice headache for All Blacks

Crusaders star Sonny Bill Williams is one of the top two centres in Super Rugby, Tim Horan says

Sonny BIll Williams
Damaging ... Williams is causing oppositiong defences problems with his off-loading ability. Source: AFP
Sonny Bill Williams is creating an enjoyable selection headache for the All Blacks selectors ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

Super Rugby Live on Fox Sports

Friday 15 April

Chiefs v Crusaders, 5.35pm
Fox Sports 3HD and Fox Sports 3

Rebels v Highlanders, 7.40pm
Fox Sports 3HD and Fox Sports 3

Saturday 16 April

Blues v Waratahs, 5.35pm
Fox Sports 3HD and Fox Sports 3

Reds v Bulls, 7.40pm
Fox Sports 3HD and Fox Sports 3

Sunday 17 April

Lions v Stormers, 01.05am
Fox Sports 2HD and Fox Sports 2

Cheetahs v Hurricanes, 03.10am
Fox Sports 2HD and Fox Sports 2

Brumbies v Force, 4.10pm
Fox Sports 2HD and Fox Sports 2
Williams turned in another dominant display for the Crusaders early Monday morning as he helped the Kiwis dispatch the Sharks 44-28 in a one-off match at Twickenham.
The entertaining spectacle was labelled "rugby to make you drool" and had British press gushing about both Super Rugby and SBW, after the former NRL star featured heavily in the five-try win with his trademark run and offload skills.
After returning from France to New Zealand with the goal of playing in the World Cup, all questions about whether Williams could adapt to the centres in rugby are now well and truly answered and his selection in the All Blacks squad is already a formality after five weeks.
Former Wallabies inside centre Tim Horan, a two-time World Cup winner at No. 12, believes Williams would currently still be on Graham Henry's bench but doesn't discount the giant centre changing the coach's mind.

Do you think Sonny Bill Williams will be one of the All Blacks starting centres at the World Cup or will they stick with Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith? Have your say at the bottom.

"The Kiwis have Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith and they tend to show loyalty and pick the incumbents first off, but Sonny Bill is starting to put a lot of pressure on," Horan said.
"He would be in the top two centres in the competition and the more he plays with Dan Carter and understands the game, he'll keep improving."
The form of Williams has jogged the memories of many Australians and Kiwis, who hadn't seen him play since leaving the NRL in 2008.
But Horan said the "apprenticeship" Williams had served in French rugby last year had helped educate the 108kg centre on how to transfer his skill and imposing size into rugby.
Williams's league instincts haven't fully disappeared - he was penalised for a shoulder charge on Ryan Kankowski - but a pre-match directive from the on-looking Henry to cut loose definitely worked.
"Ted [Henry] wants me to run the ball more, and I was trying to take that on board," Williams said.
Such was their collective brilliance in London, the Crusaders backline could comfortably swap red for black jumpers.
Led by star No. 10 Carter - who scored 22 points - they combined to tear apart the Sharks with four first-half tries that took the Kiwis to a lead of 34-10 before the Africans fought back.
With 35,000 in attendance the match raised over $NZ370,000 for earthquake-related charity, and was the perfect advertisement for Super Rugby.

Irish win tight London Derby

London Irish grabbed a 25-12 win over London Wasps at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday, keeping the former Premiership champions scoreless in the second half.

Irish led 15-12 at the break, having conceded two first-half tries, but a try by replacement hooker David Paice - coupled with their miserly defence and good discipline - saw them creep ahead of Harlequins on the Aviva Premiership log.

Wasps' tries were scored by centre Riki Flutey and hooker Rob Webber, with Exiles winger Tom Homer slotting one conversions and six penalties as the 2008/09 losing finalists remained in serious semifinal contention with this victory.

The scorers:

For London Irish:
Try: Paice
Con: Homer
Pens: Homer 6

For London Wasps:
Tries:
Flutey, Webber
Con: Walder

The teams:

London Irish: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Topsy Ojo, 13 Elvis Seveali'i, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 Tom Homer, 10 Daniel Bowden, 9 Paul Hodgson, 8 George Stowers, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Jamie Gibson, 5 Bob Casey, 4 Nick Kennedy, 3 Faan Rautenbach, 2 James Buckland, 1 Clarke Dermody (captain).     
Replacements: 16 David Paice, 17 Alex Corbisiero, 18 Paulica Ion, 19 Gary Johnson, 20 Richard Thorpe, 21 Adam Thompstone, 22 Ryan Lamb, 23 Darren Allinson

Wasps: 15 Mark van Gisbergen, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Dom Waldouck, 12 Riki Flutey, 11 David Lemi, 10 Dave Walder, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Andy Powell, 7 Will Matthews, 6 John Hart (captain), 5 Marty Veale, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Zak Taulafo, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Tim Payne.
Replacements: 16 Tom Lindsay, 17 Charlie Beech, 18 Ben Broster, 19 Joe Launchbury, 20 Dan Ward-Smith, 21 Nic Berry, 22 Josh Lewsey.

Referee: Chris White
Assistant referees: Peter Huckle, Ashley Rowden


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Saturday, April 9, 2011

Taxi-bashing Foden escapes jail

England's star fullback Ben Foden will not be charged over an altercation with a London taxi driver that led to his arrest, police confirmed on Saturday.

Foden and a friend were arrested in the early hours of Monday after a fracas involving a taxi driver.

The 25-year-old spent the night in police cells before being released later Monday.

Foden has now accepted a caution for criminal damage, while his co-accused was cautioned for theft from a vehicle.

Foden's club Northampton said they do not plan to take disciplinary action against the player over the incident.

"He has apologised and accepted a police caution and he is moving on. He's had an interesting week but he played well," Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder said Saturday.

Foden has established himself as England's first choice fullback in the past year, playing all five matches during the Six Nations campaign.

AFP


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Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Player Diary - Andy Ellis

Thursday 18th November 2010

Dear Diary

One of the best things about travelling as an All Black is that Pos (Errol Collins) sends the bulk of our luggage ahead of us the day before. So you load your bags on a truck and when you arrive in the new hotel you get your key from reception, walk into your hotel room and there they are sitting waiting for you. It's so cool.

I have been to Ireland once before. I got injured in the 2008 Scotland game, but we had already sent our bags over to Dublin on the truck the day before. So I literally had to fly over with the boys, walk into my room, get my bags and then go back to the airport to fly home to Christchurch. So it was nice to drive in here this time, to soak it up and enjoy it, see the golf course here at Castleknock and know I'm going to be able to get a hit on it.

We're staying at a beautiful country club hotel. It's got really nice facilities, a sauna, spa and swimming pool. As we arrived on a Sunday we were able to use all of it as part of our recovery and just chill out for an hour or two. Some of the boys were quite sore after the Scotland game.

Each Monday afternoon we have a recovery game of soccer and it's starting to get pretty serious now. We played on an astroturf ground surrounded by nets, so the ball was in play all the time. It was all on. I did hear a rumour that Braidy (Daniel Braid) was elbowing Brad (Thorn) in the nose - his already broken nose. So Braidy got flipped on his back and I understand there were no more elbows to the nose.

The weather held together through Tuesday's training. I know it sounds strange but it does play a part in being able to get through everything and plan well for the Irish game. We went through our back strikes and worked through quite a lot of defence. We also plugged the mistakes we made against Scotland to ensure they don't happen again. It was a good run out. As I'm the starting half back this week, it was great to have a run in that starting role and to go through everything so thoroughly.

We had dinner out as a squad, but as soon as we finished we all jumped in front of the big screen to watch the Munster game against Australia. The conditions were atrocious. The Munster team were pretty sharp. There were a few kiwi boys in the Munster team so we were cheering them on. It had nothing to do with the fact they were playing Aussie of course. The locals were wondering what was going on, listening to the All Blacks cheering for the Irish side. Obviously we were cheering for Sam (Tuitupou) and Dougie (Howlett).

Cheers,

Andy Ellis


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Rugby and the South African Nation: Sport, Culture, Politics and Power in the Old and New South Africa (International Studies in the History of Sport)

Rugby and the South African Nation: Sport, Culture, Politics and Power in the Old and New South Africa (International Studies in the History of Sport)Rugby and the South African Nation explores the complex and controversial role of rugby union in the politics and cultures of South Africa, from its emergence as a settler dominion in the early twentieth century through to the post-apartheid era. Conventional historical and political analyses of South Africa have frequently neglected the vital role of sport in general, and rugby in particular, in this fascinating society. This book seeks to fill this gap through a critical interpretation of rugby's role in the development of white society, its virtually ignored role in African communities, its role in shaping significant social divisions and its centrality to the apartheid era "power elite." It also considers the powerful influence of international rugby in forging a racist "national' identity." Finally, it examines the varying meanings attached to rugby in the new South Africa from broad euphoria to a more narrow nostalgic appeal for many white rugby supporters with particular emphasis on the 1995 Rugby World Cup hosted and won by South Africa.

Price: $31.95


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Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation

Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a NationA thrilling, inspiring account of one of the greatest charm offensives in history?Nelson Mandela?s decade-long campaign to unite his country, beginning in his jail cell and ending with a rugby tournament

In 1985, Nelson Mandela, then in prison for twenty-three years, set about winning over the fiercest proponents of apartheid, from his jailers to the head of South Africa?s military. First he earned his freedom and then he won the presidency in the nation?s first free election in 1994. But he knew that South Africa was still dangerously divided by almost fifty years of apartheid. If he couldn?t unite his country in a visceral, emotional way?and fast?it would collapse into chaos. He would need all the charisma and strategic acumen he had honed during half a century of activism, and he?d need a cause all South Africans could share. Mandela picked one of the more farfetched causes imaginable?the national rugby team, the Springboks, who would host the sport?s World Cup in 1995.

Against the giants of the sport, the Springboks? chances of victory were remote. But their chances of capturing the hearts of most South Africans seemed remoter still, as they had long been the embodiment of white supremacist rule. During apartheid, the all-white Springboks and their fans had belted out racist fight songs, and blacks would come to Springbok matches to cheer for whatever team was playing against them. Yet Mandela believed that the Springboks could embody?and engage?the new South Africa. And the Springboks themselves embraced the scheme. Soon South African TV would carry images of the team singing ?Nkosi Sikelele Afrika,? the longtime anthem of black resistance to apartheid.

As their surprising string of victories lengthened, their home-field advantage grew exponentially. South Africans of every color and political stripe found themselves falling for the team. When the Springboks took to the field for the championship match against New Zealand?s heavily favored squad, Mandela sat in his presidential box wearing a Springbok jersey while sixty-two-thousand fans, mostly white, chanted ?Nelson! Nelson!? Millions more gathered around their TV sets, whether in dusty black townships or leafy white suburbs, to urge their team toward victory. The Springboks won a nail-biter that day, defying the oddsmakers and capping Mandela?s miraculous ten-year-long effort to bring forty-three million South Africans together in an enduring bond.

John Carlin, a former South Africa bureau chief for the London Independent, offers a singular portrait of the greatest statesman of our time in action, blending the volatile cocktail of race, sport, and politics to intoxicating effect. He draws on extensive interviews with Mandela, Desmond Tutu, and dozens of other South Africans caught up in Mandela?s momentous campaign, and the Springboks? unlikely triumph. As he makes stirringly clear, their championship transcended the mere thrill of victory to erase ancient hatreds and make a nation whole.

Price: $24.95


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Rugby union results – April 2011

A crucial month in the Aviva Premiership and Magners League also sees the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup in the North, while in the South the Super 15 gathers pace.

Click here for all the fixtures in April

Sunday, 03 April

Aviva Premiership Rugby

Leeds Carnegie 27-22 Exeter

London Irish 25-12 Wasps

Saracens 20-9 Bath

The Magners League

Newport-Gwent Dragons 33-10 Benetton Treviso

Saturday, 02 April

Aviva Premiership Rugby

Gloucester 34-9 Newcastle

Harlequins 13-17 Leicester

Northampton 53-24 Sale

Super 15

Blues 29-22 Cheetahs

Hurricanes 14-26 Bulls

Lions 25-30 Reds

Sharks 6-16 Stormers

Western Force 25-26 Rebels

The Championship

Bedford 31-33 Doncaster

Esher 22-27 Moseley

Rotherham Titans 16-24 Cornish Pirates

Worcester 44-13 Nottingham

The Magners League

Aironi Rugby 16-17 Glasgow

Munster 24-23 Leinster

Ospreys 21-21 Cardiff Blues

National League Division One

Barking 31-16 Stourbridge

Blaydon 34-24 Blackheath

Cambridge 52-5 Redruth

Cinderford 39-19 Otley

Coventry 27-39 London Scottish

Macclesfield 39-31 Rosslyn Park

Sedgley Park 30-65 Tynedale

Wharfedale 10-12 Launceston

National League Division Two North

Caldy 102-3 Manchester

Fylde 53-24 Westoe

Harrogate 37-19 Morley

Huddersfield 13-10 Loughborough Students

Hull 39-0 Rugby Lions

Leicester Lions 45-29 Preston Grasshoppers

Luctonians 22-29 Kendal

Nuneaton 37-14 Hull Ionians

National League Division Two South

Clifton 10-25 Old Albanians

Ealing Trailfinders 45-10 Worthing

Lydney 27-13 Dings Crusaders

Newbury 22-37 Hinckley

Richmond 61-19 Canterbury

Southend 36-21 Henley

Taunton 40-36 Shelford

Westcombe Park 31-33 Jersey

Principality Building Society Premiership

Aberavon 21-25 Cross Keys

Cardiff 25-26 Llandovery

Neath 37-28 Llanelli

Newport 35-31 Tonmawr

Pontypridd 34-7 Swansea

Swalec Welsh National League Division One East

Bargoed 23-17 Beddau

Bedlinog 0-34 Newbridge

Blackwood 32-6 Rumney

Gilfach Goch 9-43 Ebbw Vale

Merthyr 18-22 Treorchy

Ystrad Rhondda 9-25 Llanharan

Swalec Welsh National League Division One West

Bonymaen 35-21 Bridgend Ath

Corus (P Talbot) 28-17 Whitland

Felinfoel 3-85 Bridgend

Llangennech 10-14 Carmarthen Ath

Maesteg 37-55 UWIC

Narberth 38-8 Waunarlwydd

Swalec Welsh National League Division One North

Bro Ffestiniog 17-27 Nant Conwy

Caernarfon 46-3 Llangefni

Colwyn Bay 22-24 Mold

Llandudno 14-12 Ruthin

Pwllheli 16-26 Bethesda

Scottish Premiership Division One

Aberdeen GSFP 37-24 Watsonians

Boroughmuir 15-43 Currie

Edinburgh Acads 37-29 West of Scotland

Falkirk 27-44 Kirkcaldy

GHA 29-48 Hillhead/Jordanhill

Heriots Rugby Club 20-38 Ayr

Jed-Forest 5-17 Kelso

Melrose 69-11 Dundee HSFP

Stewarts Melville FP 43-20 Biggar

Scottish Premiership Division Three

Ardrossan Acads 32-27 Musselburgh

Cartha QP 60-23 Haddington

Dumfries 48-0 Dunfermline

Morgan Academy FP 38-17 Howe of Fife

Perthshire 34-28 Dalziel

Whitecraigs 30-16 Hamilton

All-Ireland League Division One

Bruff 17-11 Clontarf

Cork Constitution 33-16 Blackrock College

Dungannon 11-32 UCC

Galwegians 37-18 UL Bohemians

Lansdowne 15-0 Buccaneers

Old Belvedere 25-19 St Mary’s College

Shannon 28-18 Dolphin

Young Munster 23-18 Garryowen

Friday, 01 April

Super 15

Highlanders 26-20 Brumbies

Waratahs 23-16 Chiefs

The Championship

Birmingham & Solihull 10-32 Plymouth Albion

Bristol 14-36 London Welsh

The Magners League

Connacht 27-23 Edinburgh

Ulster 20-18 Scarlets

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Monday, April 4, 2011

Invictus

InvictusFrom director Clint Eastwood, Invictus tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa's rugby team, Francois Pienaar, to help unite their country. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa's underdog rugby team as they make an unlikely run to the 1995 World Cup Championship match.

Price: $19.94


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Sunday, April 3, 2011

Carter reportedly offered world record deal

French media outlets, led by Midi Olympique, have been led to believe that Dan Carter could be on the verge of signing a world record deal which would make the All Blacks first five-eighth one of the richest players in rugby.

Sebastien Chabal is alleged to be the highest paid rugby player in the world, but it seems Racing Metro in France could again break the bank in signing Carter in a deal worth a total of $4.8 million NZD.

Jacky Lorenzetti, the club's rich owner, seems intent to turn Metro back into a powerhouse rugby side, with the Western Paris based club having won the Pro D2 (second tier) in 2008/09 to win promotion to the Top 14 (the top tier), and are looking to win the French championship or an European trophy in the next three to four years.

As Racing Club de France, the team has won five French titles, from 1892 to 1990, and could add Carter to a glittering list of players.

Along with Chabel, Les Bleus lock Lionel Nallet captains the team, and Francois Steyn and Juan-Martin Hernandez are the two high profile acquisitions signed by the club in recent years, with Carter clearly the goal this season.

Media reported that Carter met with Lorenzetti from Racing Metro, and some potential suitors at Bath, while in London with the Crusaders.


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