Former All Black captain Anton Oliver is looking forward to playing in England’s rugby union Varsity Match after being offered a place at Oxford University. Oliver (32) will study for an MSc in biodiversity, environment and management at the famous English seat of learning.
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/ 28 January 2008
South Africa’s World Cup-winning lock Victor Matfield could make his international reappearance against Wales in June if he can perform a delicate balancing act with his French club, Toulon. Matfield hasn’t played for the Springboks since the World Cup victory over England in October and has only featured in four games for the ambitious French second division side.
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/ 26 October 2007
The World Cup last week then the EDF Energy Cup this? Not quite, but Butch James will barely have time for the Springboks’ victory tour of South Africa before he is back on a plane heading for Europe. After signing a two-year contract with Bath this summer, the flyhalf is expected to be in the squad when the Heineken and European Challenge cups start on November 9.
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/ 10 October 2007
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New Zealand coach Graham Henry admitted the All Blacks were scarred for life by their agonising World Cup exit as the team received an unexpectedly warm welcome home on Wednesday. About 1 000 fans broke into chants of ”All Blacks, All Blacks” as 17 of the 30-man squad arrived at Christchurch airport.
Club rugby in the northern hemisphere has long been derided as the poor cousin in world rugby. But the post-World Cup exodus of a raft of top-flight internationals from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa will help confound that long-standing belief.