OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Tuesday 10.30am.
THE 1998 Super-12 rugby draw, released on Tuesday by the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, sees the defending champions Canterbury Crusaders hosting The Chiefs in the opening match of the competition, which features regional sides from Australia and New Zealand.
For a fourth consecutive year, New Zealand will host the opening game of the series, with the clash under lights at the Jade Stadium on February 26.
Evening kick-offs are a feature of the New Zealand-based games, with only five of the 28 scheduled to be afternoon matches. The matches are scheduled for the evenings in order for disruptions to club rugby to be kept to a minimum.
SPORTS FEATURES
Countdown to the big one
In Kimberley this Saturday, Province face Griquas, a team with nothing to lose and everything to gain. While at Loftus, home advantage may help the Bulls bring the Currie Cup final back to Loftus next week.
It’s more than a name
How have the 18 teams fared in the first nine rounds of the Castle Premiership, the richest national championship in Africa? Here is the MUCHINERIPI guide based on watching some sides regularly and some occasionly.
The best cricketers in town
Allan Donald must be celebrating: President Nelson Mandela gave him the president’s gold award, he has been named one of five cricketers of the year along with Hansie Cronje, Shaun Pollock, Mark Boucher and Pat Symcox, and this week he turned 32.
And now for New York
For Olympic marathon-winner Josiah Thugwane, who will be competing in the prestigious New York Marathon next weekend, it’s been a long, hard road to success.
THEY SAID IT
“It is given fact that players do perform better when they have that financial incentive and as we do not have enough young players coming through for the Bafana Bafana we have to hone these players’ skills and develop the youngsters for the future. “This sponsorship will go a long way to bridging these problems.” — National Soccer League chairman Leepile Taunyane on the R22million sponsorship of First Division soccer by cellular service provider MTN.
27