Springbok centre Jaque Fourie has been suspended for four weeks for a dangerous tackle during the All Blacks v South Africa Test at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, last night Saturday 12 September 2009.

Fourie, represented by Aaron Lloyd, appeared before SANZAR Judicial Officer Paul Tully at a hearing held in Hamilton today after being cited by Citing Commissioner Scott Nowland for a dangerous tackle in breach of law 10.4 (i), on All Blacks player Ma’a Nonu in the 70th minute of the match.

I

SANZAR has extended a conditional invitation to Argentina to join the Tri Nations from 2012 to create a new “Four Nations” Championship.

Andy Marinos, Acting Managing Director of SA Rugby and CEO of SANZAR said: “To have the Pumas, third at Rugby World Cup 2007 and currently ranked sixth in the world, join with the three top ranked international teams in world rugby will be exciting for fans, players, sponsors and broadcasters across our four countries and beyond. They play a different style to the All Blacks, Springboks and Wallabies and their inclusion will see the Tri Nations evolve to be a truly Southern Hemisphere Championship”

SANZAR stressed that conditions are attached to the invitation for the Unión Argentina de Rugby (UAR) to join the Four Nations in 2012. They are focused around:

English International referee Wayne Barnes will whistle the Air New Zealand Cup match between Wellington and Southland, in the Capital on Thursday, 24 September 2009, the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) confirmed today.

NZRU High Performance Referee Manager Lyndon Bray welcomed Wayne Barnes’ participation as a great opportunity.

“Wayne Barnes will be in New Zealand as an assistant referee for the All Blacks Tests against South Africa in Hamilton on Saturday and, against Australia in Wellington next weekend. This gave us a great opportunity to allow Wayne to referee in our Air New Zealand Cup.

The Bulls of South Africa begin their defence of the Super 14 title with a Friday night match against the Central Cheetahs in Bloemfontein when the 2010 tournament kicks off on February 12.

The match is one of six national derbies on the opening weekend.

The opening day of the new season gets underway in Auckland where the inaugural Super 12 champions, the Blues, host North Island rivals the Hurricanes. The Australian season kicks off in Perth with the Western Force hosting the ACT Brumbies.