11:10 AM Wednesday Feb 22, 2012 Blues coach Pat Lam has named Michael Hobbs to start at first-five ahead of Piri Weepu for their opening encounter of the Super Rugby season against the Crusaders at Eden Park on Friday night. Hobbs' form in the pre-season won him the nod ahead of Weepu
Month: February 2012
Crusaders name strong side for Blues clash
Warburton To Make Wales Return
7:10pm UK, Tuesday February 21, 2012 Sam Warburton will return from injury to captain Wales in their Six Nations match against England on Saturday. The Cardiff flanker missed his country's 27-13 win over Scotland with a thigh problem. But Warburton has now recovered and is one of three changes to the starting line-up. The
Rugby-France team v Scotland
MARCOUSSIS, France | Tue Feb 21, 2012 11:09am GMT Feb 21 (Reuters) - France team to play Scotland in the Six Nations championship at Murrayfield on Sunday. 15-Maxime Medard, 14-Vincent Clerc, 13-Aurelien Rougerie, 12-Wesley Fofana, 11-Julien Malzieu, 10-François Trinh-Duc, 9-Morgan Parra, 8-Louis Picamoles, 7-Imanol Harinordoquy, 6-Thierry Dusautoir (captain), 5-Yoann Maestri, 4-Pascal Pape,
Smith to lead Hurricanes out for first game
Carl Hoeft to guide Chiefs’ front-rowers
Published: 6:35PM Tuesday February 21, 2012 Source: ONE Sport Carl Hoeft - Source: ONE Sport The Chiefs are tapping into the knowledge of a former All Black powerhouse to get their faltering set-piece on the front foot this season. Carl Hoeft, who represented the All Blacks in 30 Tests between 1998 and 2003,
Kenya happy with IRB core team decision
PHOTO/AFP Team Kenya celebrates winning the Plate Final against Argentina during day three of the USA Sevens Rugby at Sam Boyd Stadium on February 12, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. By CHARLES NYENDE Posted Saturday, February 18 2012 at 20:41 Kenya has welcomed International Rugby Board’s (IRB) abrupt introduction of promotion and relegation
Forgotten Hurricanes reach for limited goals
Regain respect. Restore some pride. These are realistic targets for the Hurricanes, who embark on a self-inflicted rebuild of epic proportions. Talk of last year's turmoil has been muzzled. Don't mention the ugly public spat. A bunker mentality has been instilled. This is reflected from the top, with chief executive James Te Puni
Time may be right to expand Super Rugby
Photosport BIG BUSINESS: Sanzar chief executive Greg Peters says there is potential for Super Rugby to be expanded into the Japanese and US markets. Super Rugby looks ready to take the next step and extend into new territories beyond New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. The potential riches that come with the markets
Brumbies win final trial over ACT XV
February 18, 2012 The Brumbies will start the Super Rugby season on a positive after winning their final trial in emphatic fashion over an ACT XV on Thursday. An under-strength Brumbies outfit started slowly at Canberra's Greenway Oval, but managed to extend a 24-0 halftime lead to finish up comprehensive 66-0 victors. But