After all the behind-the-scenes shenanigans and political manoeuvrings of the past few months, rugby fans will be looking forward to getting down to the real business of playing the game when the Super 12 kicks off this weekend. South African rugby desperately needs the four Super 12 teams to restore faith in the game in South Africa.

The controversial ”reveal all” Kamp Staaldraad breakfast planned for a top Sandton hotel next week has been ”cancelled”, the event sponsors announced on Tuesday. This came amid uncertainty on whether proceeds from the function were to be donated to the Chris Burger/Petro Jackson fund for disabled rugby players.

Newly appointed Springbok coach Jake White admitted on Monday that he is willing to take on board any positive contributions from former players and coaches to ensure South Africa return to the top of the world rugby pile. ”I have no doubt that we can get back into the top three,” said White.

The South African men’s hockey team turned in a much-improved performance against Canada on Thursday evening to clinch the third hockey Test by two goals to nil and with it the series at Pretoria Technikon. Despite the morale-boosting series victory, South Africa have plenty of work to do if they hope to qualify for the Olympic Games.

Australia drew first blood in the Spar Challenge hockey series when they beat South Africa 2-1 in an exciting first Test played at the Randburg Hockey Stadium on Wednesday night. The win exacted a measure of revenge for the visitors, who were beaten 4-3 in the four-Nation tournament in Athens at the weekend.

The South African men’s hockey team were held to a 1-1 draw by Canada in the second hockey Test played at Pretoria Technikon on Tuesday night. Both goals came in the first half. The result means South Africa are 1-0 up in the series with one Test to play.

South African rugby bosses seem intent on tempting fate once more, with the announcement of the new Springbok coach scheduled to take place in Stellenbosch on the most superstitious day of the year — Friday the 13th. The last time a new Springbok coach was revealed to the public was on April Fool’s Day two years ago.

A young and inexperienced South African men’s hockey team showed plenty of the guts and determination they will need in spades at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Madrid next month to beat Canada 1-0 at Pretoria Technikon on Monday night.

A feast of international hockey awaits fans this week, with both the men’s and women’s national squads in action against Canada and Australia respectively. The women’s four-Test series against the powerful Australians is another chance for coach Ros Howell to fine-tune her squad for the upcoming Olympics.

South African Rugby Football Union president Brian van Rooyen announced several major changes to rugby in South Africa at a press conference on Wednesday. The changes are likely to invoke a mixed response from the rugby public and is another step in the ”cleansing” of the sport in South Africa.