Aussies defend ‘weak’ Cooper

Aug 10, 2012 Quade Cooper's fellow Wallabies have leapt to his defence after former All Blacks coach Graham Henry called him the team's "glaring weakness" at last year's World Cup. In his recently released biography The Final Word, Henry said: "Quade Cooper was plainly the weakest link. Coach Robbie Deans had taken

The Olympics are the ultimate dream

(IRB.COM) 2 August 2012 Rebecca Tavo believes Sevens will be a fan favourite in Rio Australia and New Zealand are preparing for the Oceania Women’s Sevens Championship in Fiji this weekend, but the excitement around London 2012 has made players from both sides realise they could be at the next Olympic Games

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

Smith to lead Hurricanes out for first game

Conrad Smith, Fri 18th Feb 2011 at Westpac StadiumThe Hurricanes have today confirmed Conrad Smith will lead the team out for their round one Investec Super Rugby clash against the Stormers this Sunday (NZT). This will be Smith’s 67th cap as a Hurricane, but his first as the team’s new captain.

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

Reds aim to be Super Rugby without Cooper

Wallabies and Waratahs winger Drew Mitchell has resigned himself to missing the Waratahs Super Rugby opening round match against the Reds and has admitted that he is enduring the toughest spell of his career. Super Rugby’s swashbucklers, the Queensland Reds, have two major hurdles to overcome to successfully defend their title: