The British and Irish Lions kick off what coach Clive Woodward calls ”the last great rugby tour” on Saturday with a match more important than the strength of their opponents suggest. Bay of Plenty, hosting the match at Rotorua, is among the weakest of New Zealand’s first division sides and wouldn’t normally be expected to tax a Lions team that includes as many as 12 test players.
New Zealand will bid to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup after the rugby union secured government backing, New Zealand Rugby Union chairperson Jock Hobbs said on Wednesday. Hobbs said the New Zealand bid, which will be lodged with the International Rugby Board before Friday’s deadline, will be ”comprehensive and compelling”.
The Auckland Blues appear likely to continue with their no-frills, conservative game plan as they attempt to rebuild their reputation in rugby’s Super 12. The Blues used a notably restrained — free of their typical razzle-dazzle — when they beat the Otago Highlanders 30-14 in the tournament’s opening round last weekend.
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/ 8 November 2004
Australian snooker great Eddie Charlton died in a New Zealand hospital on Monday after a short illness, his New Zealand managers said. He was 75. His manager, Mary Heremaia, said Charlton was apparently suffering from a tumor on the bile duct. He had complained of fluid retention and had been dieting to lose weight.
Springbok lock Selborne Boome has been handed the task of rallying South Africa’s Stormers, whose Super 12 rugby campaign has been unhinged by the suspension of captain Corne Krige. Boome will lead the Stormers in Saturday’s 11th-round match against the Canterbury Crusaders, replacing Krige whose Super 12 career ended on Monday with his eight-week suspension for head-butting.
Jacques Kallis and Jacques Rudolph scored half centuries on Wednesday to give South Africa the upper hand at tea on the first day of the first cricket test against New Zealand. Rudolph was authoritative, treating accurate bowling with respect but immediately moving into position to dispense a poor delivery.