In brief: Rugby
Tuesday December 01 2009
MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan has had his contract extended until at least the end of the 2011-2012 season.
The contract extension was announced ahead of a two-day training camp in Tipperary, where new signing Wian du Preez will be introduced to the squad. The South African prop has signed until January as regular loosehead Marcus Horan continues his recovery from injury.
Munster are away to the Ospreys in the Magners League this weekend and six days later face Perpignan in the Heineken Cup at Thomond Park.
Naoupu gears up
for Connacht debut
New Kiwi signing George Naoupu will be available for Connacht's crucial back-to-back Amlin Challenge Cup matches against Worcester Warriors this month.
However, the 26-year-old back-row, who joins Michael Bradley's men from the Highlanders, will not be available for Sunday's Magners League clash away to Cardiff.
De Villiers warns of 'Bok burnout
SOUTH AFRICA coach Peter de Villiers is concerned by the growing workload of his players and will hold talks with the country's rugby top brass to plot the way forward in the face of a tough 2010 season ahead of the 2011 World Cup.
The Springboks' defeat by Ireland last Saturday was their fourth loss in five games, with the others coming against France, Leicester and Saracens.
Some of De Villiers' players arrived home yesterday, with a host of them remaining in London, where they will turn out for the Barbarians against the All Blacks next weekend.
"A number of players have played over 2,000 minutes of rugby this year, encompassing the Super 14, 2009 Lions Series, Tri Nations and Currie Cup," De Villiers said.
"We need a unified approach to address this and a host of other matters relevant to the welfare of our top players. It's imperative that we monitor the players' training and playing load, with their longer-term well-being in mind."
New Zealand file eye-gouge complaint
New Zealand have filed an official complaint with the International Rugby Board after prop Tony Woodcock suffered abrasions around his eyes during Saturday's 39-12 win over France in Marseille.
All Blacks' assistant coach Steve Hansen said yesterday that the team had asked the citing commissioner to investigate an incident late in the match.
"There's no doubt Tony got a facial, that's how he described it," Hansen said. "We asked the citing commissioner to have a look at it and we'll leave it in his hands."
The officer has 48 hours to decide whether any player has a case to answer.
Irish Independent
