The Central Unions have retained South Africa’s fifth Super 14 franchise, South African Rugby Union president Brian van Rooyen confirmed on Wednesday. However, the South-Eastern Cape franchise will play in the 2007 and 2008 Super 14, with the South African team that finishes last in 2006 dropping out to make way for them.
United Cricket Board chief executive Gerald Majola confirmed on Thursday what has been an open secret for several days — that Warriors coach Mickey Arthur has been appointed coach of the South African national team until after the World Cup in the West Indies in 2007. Arthur said he feels honoured and privileged to become coach.
South African cricket coach Ray Jennings arrived back in South Africa on Wednesday after a very successful tour of the West Indies. But instead of being able to bask in the glow of the successful tour, Jennings had to face the media knowing that he will almost certainly be replaced as coach on Thursday.
The Titans celebrated Freedom Day in style in Pretoria on Wednesday, with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over the Warriors in the final of the Standard Bank Pro20 series. The Warriors started reasonably well, with their first 50 coming up in the eighth over, and at 102 for four appeared set for a challenging total.
The South African Super 14 rugby franchises are to be reconsidered at a meeting to be held on May 7, rugby boss Brian van Rooyen revealed on Saturday. He was addressing journalists after an emergency meeting with members of the South African Rugby Union’s president’s council.
The Titans won through to a home final in the Standard Bank Pro20 cricket competition when they snatched a thrilling victory over the Lions at Supersport Park in Centurion on Wednesday. They beat the Lions by four wickets with one ball to spare in front of a capacity crowd of 11 000 in the first semifinal.
Don’t judge the tour by the results — it was more successful than the results imply. That was the plea from the former captain of the Spar South African women’s hockey team on Tuesday, when the team arrived home from a four-Test series against Argentina in Buenos Aires. ”It was actually a very successful tour,” said Carlisle.
England cruised to an eight-wicket victory over South Africa in their Women’s Cricket World Cup match at Harlequins on Wednesday, thanks largely to a splendid 99 by vice-captain Charlotte Edwards. England won the toss and sent South Africa in to bat. The hosts put on a much better performance, scoring 174 for six in their 50 overs.
The South African cricket team leave for the West Indies on Wednesday night for a tough eight-week tour that will include four Tests and five one-day internationals. South Africa have a good record against the West Indies, but team coach Ray Jennings has no intention of allowing the team to rest on their laurels.
The Women’s Cricket World Cup got off to a soggy start on Tuesday when heavy rain descended over Pretoria, causing all four opening matches to be abandoned. At Supersport Park, a partnership of 90 between Shandre Fritz and Claire Terblanche restored South Africa’s fortunes, after Ireland appeared to have got the better of the home side.