Rugby Ball
Have ball, will travel: how to make friends the Fijian way
THERE is one sure way of making friends in Fiji: own a rugby ball. Climb off the boat on an island and the first person to spot the ball under your arm will whistle over to you and gesture that you pass it to him. Within seconds others will stop what they are doing and descend on the ball, often emerging from behind a tree or from inside a hut, as if from nowhere. Before you know it a dozen or more people are playing a game of touch rugby across the beach. The size and athleticism of the Fijians is well known but even more striking at close quarters. Even the biggest players have immense pace, yet it is their skill levels that are so exceptional: all have the ability to throw 20-yard spin passes off both hands and rarely does a ball go to ground. Fijians play one-touch rugby, where if you are caught in possession of the ball then it is turned over to the other team to encourage players to look for space and not contact.
Ball problems for Boks
The Springboks will have a whole new ball game to face when they battle it out against the Irish at Lansdowne Road on November 11 reports the Daily News. South Africa will be exposed to the newly designed Gilbert rugby ball for the first time during the tour. The ball � known as the Gilbert Synergie � will only be delivered to the Bok training camp by their official sponsors next week. �We've been in contact with Gilbert on an almost daily basis, so hopefully it arrives early next week,� said Springbok logistics manager Mac Hendriks. For the kickers in the team, especially Andre Pretorius, Bevin Fortuin, Butch James, Francois Steyn and to a lesser extent Ruan Pienaar and Ricky Januarie, getting accustomed to the new ball is essential.
Rugby team is laid bare
Christmas has come early for female fans of Fylde Rugby Club after 20 of the first team stars got their kit off for charity. The 2007 Fylde Uncovered Calendar features the first team squad covered up by only a few strategically placed rugby balls. The idea is the brainchild of Fylde player, Nick King, who joined the club a year ago from Nottingham. All proceeds from the calendar are to be donated to Cancer Research UK. Nick, 31, of Smithy Lane, Lytham, said: "It's a charity that is very close to us as my father is ill with lung cancer. "The idea of doing a calendar to raise money seemed ideal as we have all the ideal resources, such as a group of rugby lads, at the club." .
August 20th, 2008 03:45 AM
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Rugby Dinner (Jersey Insight)
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Word class rugby players are in the island today. Ex-England rugby captain Martin Corry is holding a fundraising dinner at the Hotel de France as part of his testimonial year. Hell be joined by stars like England Coach Martin Johnson and Irish international Jordan Murphy.
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August 20th, 2008 03:45 AM
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Rugby Training (Jersey Insight)
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Youngsters in Jersey are getting rugby tips from top coaches this week. Around 150 schoolchildren are taking part in a training course run by the Leicester Tigers. Its the third year its been run and is open to boys and girls who want to improve their skills.
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