Caleb Ralph returns to East Coast for Heartland tilt

COAST’S CALEB COUP POVERTY Bay vice-captain Kahu Tamatea and Pomare Samupo are the latest players to join the Ngati Porou East Coast revival. The signing of the 31-year-old Tamatea is another coup for Coast coach Ngarimu Simpkins, who has already recruited former All Black Caleb Ralph. “With Clayton Kiwara making the North Harbour

Lawrence’s Test career over

2012-07-25 Bryce Lawrence (Gallo) Cape Town - SANZAR head of referees Lyndon Bray confirmed on Wednesday that New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence’s Test career is over, according to EWN Sport. Lawrence, who was unbelievably named New Zealand’s referee of the year in 2011, has been in freefall since taking charge of the Rugby World

Strong Taranaki squad for two Shield defences

25/07/2012 ANDY JACKSON/Fairfax NZ CLEAN TAKE: Lock Kane Barrett takes lineout ball at a Taranaki training session at Yarrow Stadium last night. Four Super Rugby players have been named in a 28-strong Taranaki rugby squad to prepare for the first two Ranfurly Shield defences of the year. Highlanders players Jarrad Hoeata and Kurt Baker

Smith to miss start of Rugby Championship

25/07/2012 DEAN PEMBERTON/Fairfax NZ EYE SURGERY: Hurricanes' captain Conrad Smith in action against the Chiefs. The All Blacks' midfield stocks have taken a further blow with Conrad Smith sidelined for around six weeks following eye surgery. Smith will miss the first phase of the Rugby Championship which kicks off with a Bledisloe Cup test

Mathewson, Hobbs to start for Blues

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

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,