Deans ready to rest his All Blacks

Crusaders coach Robbie Deans will have to wait till next week before he will know how many and how often of his All Blacks he will be required to rest during the Super 14.

Horsman sticks with Worcester

Wales prop Chris Horsman has agreed a contract extension that will keep him at Worcester Warriors until 2010. 

Wallaby locks battle for starting positions

Four into two doesn't go. This is the problem, albeit an enviable problem, for Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher as he tries to decide which of his four Wallaby locks will run on for the Brumbies when they start their Super 14 season against the Western Force in Perth on February 10. 

Meeuws out for four weeks

Castres' Kees Meeuws is out for four weeks with a leg injury, the French Top 14 club said. 

Rush ruled out of Queenstown event

A life-threatening blood clot has forced legendary New Zealand Sevens star Eric Rush to pull out of the interprovincial Sevens tournament in Queenstown this weekend. Rush is the current Auckland Sevens coach. 

Jones gets the Reds job

Axed Wallaby coach Eddie Jones has been appointed to coach the Reds from 2007. The announcement of his appointment was made by Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) chairman Robin Thomson on Thursday. 

Extended lay-off for Bok captain

Suspended Springbok captain John Smit will have an extended lay-off. The Bok captain is unlikely to be back in action before late March or early April, after undergoing surgery to a stomach muscle. 

Paarwater wants a Storming start

Most teams will simply ease into their pre-season matches and use them to get rid of the cobwebs. No so for the Stormers, who plan to hit the ground running in their warm-up matches - as they gear up for the inaugural Super 14 competition. 

ENC fixtures for the second round

The European Nations Cup (Six nations B) is being played over two years. So far its is half completed. 

Bosman in the Cheetahs mix

Meyer Bosman, the big surprise in the Springbok team for the 2005 year-end tour, has been named in the 26-man Cheetahs squad that will face the Southern Spears in the first trial match of the year in Port Elizabeth on Saturday. 

England name U19 squad

England have chosen an Under-19 squad which is preparing for the IRB's Under-19 World Championship in Dubai in late March-April. 

Lomu taunter is a serial offender

The Llanelli Scarlets have revealed that the so-called fan who verbally abuse Jonah Lomu during a recent Celtic League tie at Stradey Park is currently serving a six-year ban from attending soccer matches. 

Springbok Haas Schoeman dies

Haas Schoeman, a great Springbok of the Sixties, died suddenly in Cape Town on New Year's day. He was 65. 

'A huge loss to world rugby'

Tributes to former New Zealand captain Tana Umaga keep flooding in. Here are some of your views on the player who "bestrode the sporting world like a colossus" and to the man who taught us the difference between tiddlywinks and rugby... 

It's Nonu versus Smith at No.13

Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith have emerged as the front-runners to take over from retired captain Tana Umaga in the now vacant All Black No.13 jersey. 

Umaga slams anti-Pacific tirades

Tana Umaga, who announced his retirement from international rugby on Tuesday, has taken a swipe at the ongoing criticism of the number of Pacific Island players in the All Blacks team. 

Bulls scrum under early pressure

The Bulls' famous scrummaging power could be negated by a series of injuries before the season gets underway. Two of the Bulls' leading props, Springboks Richard Bands and Gurthrö Steenkamp, are likely to be sidelined for at least another month. 

Betsen given all-clear for Biarritz

Biarritz and France flank Serge Betsen has finally been given the green light to resume playing, and will travel for the Biarrots' Heineken Cup match against Ulster on Friday. 

Dallaglio bangs on Robinson's door

Former England skipper Lawrence Dallaglio insists he is ready for a national recall after 16 months in self-imposed exile. 

Januarie and Willemse put on ice

As predicted, Cats coach Frans Ludeke revealed nothing when naming the two teams that will face the Bulls in the first of a series of warm-up matches at Ellis Park on Saturday.