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IRB Player of the Year for 2012 Shortlist
The IRB has released their shortlist for player of the year in 2012, with Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and Frederic Michalak not surprising most with their inclusion in the list of candidates. One name that has caused quite a stir is that of young Owen Farrell of England, barely 21, still without a firm grasp on a starting lineup shirt for the national team.
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Rugby Fan Gets Hit With Ball; Drops Beers; Laughs
The best part of the Harlequins – Saracens Rugby Union just over a week ago? Nick Evans, Quins’ fly half, sending a kick straight into the stands, which hits a fan directly on the head as he was emerging from the tunnel, makes him drop his beers and have a big laugh.
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Second Half Pressure Too Much for Pumas (All Blacks vs Argentina)
In the first half the stormy weather and a surprisingly tenacious and efficient Argentina took the All Blacks by surprise. In the second half the storm settled, and so did the New Zealand players, looking much more accurate and confident on offense, with Cory Jane and Julian Savea making it a third consecutive win in the Rugby Championship, 21-5.
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British & Irish Lions Tours in the Professional Era
Warren Gatland will be the third New Zealand born head coach to lead a British & Irish Lions team into one of their tours, earning the job for the 2013 visit to Australia thanks to winning two Grand Slams with Wales in the Six Nations and reaching the World Cup semifinal in 2011.
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Digby Ioane Dances to the Tune of George Michael’s Faith
In 2012, Digby Ioane probably took a step back from his fantastic title winning season with the Queensland Reds the previous year, winning the Super Rugby title before going on to the World Cup with Australia. But he can still entertain his Wallabies teammates like no one else can, giving quite a show by dancing to the catchy tune of ‘Faith’ by George Michael.
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Dan Carter Almost on His Own (All Blacks vs Wallabies)
The Bledisloe Cup was retained once again by the All Blacks, keeping Australia scoreless in a test match between these two rivals for the first time since 1962, as Dan Carer provided 16 of the 22 points in Auckland, running all over the clueless Wallabies 22-0 for a second straight win in the 2012 Rugby Championship.
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Rugby Union Trying to Grow in Brazil
How good are Brazil in Rugby Union? Not very much, but that doesn’t mean they’re not trying to improve as a nation in that sport or trying to expand the reach of it in a country with 190 million people and the potential to be just as good as their neighbors from Argentina, who have reached the World Cup quarterfinals three times.
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Squads for the 2012 Rugby Championship
No more Tri-Nations. From now on, these are the Rugby Championships, the Southern Hemisphere annual rugby union competition, as Argentina make their debut, hoping that the challenge of facing Australia, New Zealand and South Africa on an annual basis proves to be a positive thing instead of just constant losing and a demoralizing experience.
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Gio Aplon Knocked out With Vicious Elbow From Rynhardt Elstadt
An elbow to the head in a rugby match is never a nice thing to go through, and it’s even more surprising and painful when it comes from a teammate, as Gio Aplon of the Stormers learned in round 18 of the 2012 Super Rugby season, hit in the head by Rynhardt Elstadt, accidental of course, although just as painful as a purposeful elbow.