THE GAME OF RUGBY IS RAPIDLY EXPANDING WORLD WIDE. THIS WEB SITE'S MAIN FUNCTION IS THE RESEARCHING, COLLECTING, COLLATING, RECORDING AND UPDATING OF INTERNATIONAL RUGBY RESULTS AND RECORDS

DECEMBER 2006

Web sites I recommend this month

 

Updated 31.12.2006

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

Scroll down for the latest news

 

Latest Results (Last two weeks)

 

16.12.2006

Tanzania 29, Niger 10 in Arusha (CAR Castel Cup, Div.2 Final) Details

 

02.12.2006

South Africa Amateur XV 29, Namibia 27 in Windhoek (CAR Africa Cup Final)

 

A complete list of results for 2006

 

Coming Up

 

 

NEWS ARCHIVES 2006

As I am unable to upload these pages to the main index they are temporarily here.

News archives for May

News archives for June

News archives for July

News archives for August

News archives for September

News archives for October

News archives for November

 

Alterations/additions to fixture list

 

FOR (Federation Oceania Rugby) Western Zone Tournament (07.12)

FIRA-AER forum members have placed details of this tournament together played at Pukekohe, New Zealand in October.

14.10.2006

Nuie 41, Tahiti 6

 

18.10.2006

Cook Islands 87, Tahiti 18

 

21.10.2006

Cook Islands 41, Niue 15

 

Vanuatu defeated New Caledonia 22-0 in Port Vila on 14 October. We are presuming that this was the Eastern Zone final and that because of the political difficulties they are experiencing the Solomon Islands did not field a team. Thus a Vanuatu v Cook Islands Oceania final will take place soon.

 

Thanks to ‘Quentin’ and ‘arhs’ from the FIRA-AER forum.

 

LATEST NEWS

 

RUGBY IN JAPAN Vol. 3, No. 43 (23.12)

 

TANZANIA TOPS AFRICAN RUGBY 2ND DIVISION (22.12)

See below in ‘This weekend’ section

 

RUGBY IN JAPAN Vol. 3, No. 42 (17.12)

 

THIS WEEKEND 16 December

 

16.12.2006

Tanzania 29, Niger 10 in Arusha (CAR Castel Cup, Div.2 Final)

Tanzania won by 19 points. I predicted Tanzania by 24.

 

TANZANIA TOPS AFRICAN RUGBY SECOND DIVISION

Hoists 2006 Castel Cup in Win over Niger

 

 

Arusha, 18 December:  In the last test on this year’s IRB calendar, Tanzania wore down an exhausted Niger squad yesterday, 29-10, winning the Confederation of African Rugby’s Castel Cup Super-16 Championship. Transit delays postponed the match by twenty-four hours.

 

Even before Niger’s frustrating lag en-route, Tanzania was favored to win this contest of smaller unions. The Twigas overcame Reunion in an extremely physical match last October to win the South Zone Semifinal, but the Zebus had not played a test since their pool tournament last March. Neighboring Nigeria withdrew from the northern decider in Niamey last month.

 

Visa and airline troubles stranded the Niger squad for almost a week. After six border crossings and much help along the way, the Zebus finally touched down in Arusha at 8:30 yesterday morning, three days later than expected and just eight hours before suiting up to play. Tanzania required a lesser pre-game adjustment; captain Mike Beckner came down with malaria on Saturday afternoon. Backliner Chris Wade was called on to play scrumhalf, his first game ever in that position.

 

A brief shower during warm-ups made for unsure footings and a slippery ball at kick-off. Both sides appeared hesitant in the opening minutes. Tanzania scored first with a penalty kick by fullback Justin Trappe. Niger then missed several penalty kicks as the two squads struggled to create clean ball. Midway through the period, Twiga center Tom Halloran legged out a long bullish run, shedding several tackles on his way to the posts. Trappe’s conversion put the home team by ten.

 

Later in the half, fly half Bah Traore Zoumaro finally slotted a penalty kick for Niger. Brian Smith of Tanzania was then sent off for a late tackle, and the Zebus quickly took advantage off loose play. Winger Moutari Nassirou Mahamane streaked down the left sideline, colliding with a pair of Twigas at the goal line for a try. Prop Yacouba Abdoulaye converted to level the score.

 

With a man still in the sin bin, Tanzania rallied before the break. Center Robert Indejje took the ball off a flowing back line move close to the visitors’ stripe and plowed his way over for five points. Another conversion by Trappe ended the period with the Twigas leading 17-10.

 

The match continued to plod after changing sides. Tanzanian forwards controlled their bigger opponents in the second half, and lock Jeremy Stephenson, starting his tenth test, stole several Zebu line-outs. But ragged passing and dropped balls kept the home team from extending its lead.

 

After eighteen minutes, African Leopard John Lloyd, who had stepped up as Twiga captain, took matters into his own hands. He powered a rolling maul down the right side of the field, scoring in a pile-up at the goal line. Trappe missed the conversion, keeping the tally at 22-10.

 

Intensity picked up in the last quarter as both sides cleared their benches. Reserves crashed into action, reviving tiring teammates. With five minutes remaining, Tanzanian fly half Zac Peterson touched down the game’s last try off spirited loose play. Trappe’s conversion ended the scoring with the Twigas on top, 29-10, when the final whistle blew. The 19-year old fullback, who hit four of five attempts, earned Man-of-the-Match honors kicking for the first time in a test match.

 

Tanzania Rugby Union head coach Tinus Aucamp praised the Niger squad after the game. “All credit to our opponents. They endured a tough journey, could have turned around at any point, but came onto the park ready to play. It was a tough game and Niger performed well.”

 

“Of course I’m proud of our boys. At the start of this tournament, we said we had four games to win, and that’s just what they did. Our players kept their focus throughout and brought home the cup. Really, they’ve done justice to the honor of wearing this country’s colors.”

 

Aucamp, also union president, thanked major sponsors Securicor, Grumeti Reserves and National Bank of Commerce, as well as game-day patrons Tanzania Breweries Limited, Arusha Hotel and Toyota Tanzania for their timely assistance in hosting the final. He then concluded, “We hope to use this win as a springboard for greater rugby development nationally next year.”

 

The Honorable Professor Jumanne Magembe, MP, Tanzanian Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, echoed this desire in his address during the awards ceremony. “It is this government’s goal to ensure that rugby eventually be played in as many villages, schools, colleges and institutions as possible, so that one day we can boast of ten times the number of teams playing in Tanzania as do now. Let today’s win be the start of great things to come!”

 

Post-game festivities at the Friedkin Recreation Center, named one of Africa’s most scenic rugby facilities by David van der Sandt of Super Sport’s Rugby Africa, continued well into the evening. Fans, players and dignitaries enjoyed fireworks and a lavish banquet emceed by Charl Beukes, managing director of the hosting Tanzania Game Tracker Safari companies.  

 

Niger’s inbound travelogue broke down in Accra. Stuck there for five days, the squad was saved by Gifty Annan-Myers, president of the Ghana Rugby Union. She facilitated overland transfer to Nigeria and an onward flight to Nairobi. Kenya Rugby Union officials covered logistics there, and Northern Air of Arusha sent two small planes to collect the Zebus Sunday morning.

 

Said bleary-eyed Niger coach Gaetan Deytieux, “Our union spent much money preparing for the semi-final Nigeria forfeited last month, so we requested that this match be played in Tanzania. Therefore, the Niger team was determined to get here and play. Yes, we were very tired, but also grateful for the assistance so many rugby friends provided us this past week.”

 

Confederation of African Rugby vice president Paul Sigombe, serving as match commissioner, also praised the members of Africa’s rugby fraternity involved in getting Niger to Tanzania. “This is a testament to the spirit of the game we all love and wish to share.”

 

The following day, Zebu captain Djibrill Namalka summed up the 2006 Castel Cup final this way: “Congratulations to the champions. I think my team could have played better with more rest. So we hope that Tanzania will be next year’s southern representative and come to Niger for a rematch in the final. We will work very hard to win the North Zone in 2007.” Amen, brother.

 

Copyright © 2006 Tanzania Rugby Union. All rights reserved.

 

Thanks to John Kraft who forwarded this press release from Tanzania RFU

 

Details

 

Previews

This match is the last test match of the year. Niger travels a great distance to Tanzania thus giving the home side a huge advantage.

http://www.dailynews-tsn.com/page.php?id=4870

http://www.irb.com/EN/News/Regional+News/061214+Sl+afria+prev.htm

 

GWC Rugby Rankings: Africa Table-Niger 20th, Tanzania 23rd

 

COUNTRY LIST UPDATES (10.12)

The following lists of country’s international rugby matches have been updated. Go to the alphabetical listing at the top of the page.

 

Argentina   Canada   Georgia   Germany   Japan   Moldova   Morocco   Namibia   Portugal   Romania   Scotland   Wales

 

MATCH DATA SHEET UPDATES (09.12)

The following international rugby matches have either had their data sheets updated or new matches have been added. Go to fixtures-results in the menu.

 

22 April 2006 Hungary v Bulgaria (Updated)

21 October 2006 Sweden v Armenia (Updated)

28 October 2006 Latvia v Malta (New)

28 October 2006 Poland v Croatia (New)

28 October 2006 Hungary v Bulgaria (New)

28 October 2006 Sweden v Denmark (New)

28 October 2006 Lithuania v Norway (New)

 

 

02.12.2006

South Africa Amateur XV 29, Namibia 27 in Windhoek (CAR Africa Cup Final)