Rugby union | GlobalPost

RugbyU: New Zealand finish sevens series in style

Agence France-PresseMay 12, 2013 18:09

New Zealand set the seal on their 2012/13 Sevens World Series victory by winning the ninth and final round in London on Sunday. Six weeks before the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow, the New Zealanders beat Australia 47-12 in the Twickenham Cup final to finish the series with 173 points, 41 ahead of second-placed South Africa on 132. Fiji finish third in the Series on 121, ahead of Samoa (104) and Kenya (99), who reached a fifth Cup semi-final of the season in London. Tournament hosts England beat the Kenyans to third place and finished the series in sixth place.

RugbyU: Toulouse set-up Toulon Top 14 semi-final showdown

Agence France-PresseMay 12, 2013 15:05

Two-time defending champions Toulouse powered past Racing Metro 33-19 on Friday to set-up a French Top 14 semi-final duel against Toulon in a repeat of last year's championship match. Racing led 6-3 in the early stages after Jonathan Wisniewski had kicked two penalties to former All Black Luke McAlister's third-minute strike, but it was the champions, featuring in the opening round of the play-offs for the first time in their history, who grabbed the game's first try after 21 minutes.

RugbyU: Super 15 - Queensland Reds 32 Coastal Sharks 17

Agence France-PresseMay 11, 2013 18:17

Result of a Super 15 rugby match between the Queensland Reds and the Coastal Sharks in Brisbane on Friday: Queensland Reds (AUS) 32 Coastal Sharks (RSA) 17 H-t: 29-3 Scorers Reds - Tries: Saia Faingaa, Rod Davies (2), Anthony Faingaa; Conversions: Quade Cooper (3); Penalties: Cooper (2) Sharks - Tries: Piet Lindeque, Derick Minnie; Conversions: Pat Lambie (2); Penalties: Lambie Referee: Glen Jackson (NZL) afp

RugbyU: Reds down Sharks with first-half try blitz

Agence France-PresseMay 11, 2013 18:16

A dazzling four-try opening half set up the Queensland Reds for a 32-17 Super 15 victory to end a run of outs against the Coastal Sharks in Brisbane on Friday. The 2011 Super Rugby champions shredded the Sharks' defence to earn a four-try bonus point in just 34 minutes before the South Africans recovered to win the second half 14-3. The Durban-based Sharks had won six of their previous seven encounters against the Reds, including dumping Queensland out of last season's playoffs 30-17 in Brisbane, but the Reds were clearly superior on this occasion.

RugbyU: Blues hold off Rebels second-half uprising

Agence France-PresseMay 11, 2013 17:45

The Auckland Blues survived a second-half fightback by the Melbourne Rebels to force their way back into the Super 15 top six with a 36-32 win in an 11-try thriller at Eden Park on Saturday. Former sevens star Frank Halai laid the platform for the victory with his hattrick of tries in the first half, while Francis Saili added another two and Rene Ranger scored the Blues' lone second half try.

RugbyU: Watson, Catrakilis star as Kings bounce back

Agence France-PresseMay 11, 2013 14:00

Flank Luke Watson and fly-half Demetri Catrakilis starred as Southern Kings put a three-week Super 15 nightmare behind them by defeating Otago Highlanders 34-27 Saturday. Injury-prone Watson was given back the captaincy of the southern hemisphere rookies and scored two pushover tries during the first half at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Indian Ocean city Port Elizabeth. Catrakilis became the first South African in seven years to top 100 points in his debut Super Rugby season as he reached 107 thanks to four conversions and two penalty goals from seven shots at goal.

RugbyU: Tigers tame Quins tio reach Premiership final

Agence France-PresseMay 11, 2013 14:00

Tom Croft starred as Leicester reached a ninth successive Premiership final with a 33-16 semi-final win over reigning champions Harlequins on Saturday. England flanker Croft made a fine case to be one of the British and Irish Lions starting back-rows in their upcoming Test series with Australia, scoring Leicester's third try -- a 50 metre solo score -- to cap an impressive display. Leicester will meet the winners of Sunday's second semi-final between Saracens and Northampton in the final at Twickenham on May 25.

RugbyU: Super 15 - Cheetahs 34 Hurricanes 39

Agence France-PresseMay 10, 2013 22:01

Result of a Super 15 match at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein Friday: Central Cheetahs (RSA) 34 Wellington Hurricanes (NZL) 39 H-t: 12-12 Scorers Cheetahs - Tries: Coenie Oosthuizen (2), Robert Ebersohn. Conversions: Elgar Watts (2). Penalties: Burton Francis (4), Watts Hurricanes - Tries: Beauden Barrett, Julian Savea, TJ Perenara, Victor Vito. Conversions: Barrett (2). Penalties: Barrett (5) Sin bin Cheetahs: Robert Ebersohn 15-24 minutes Referee: Stuart Berry (RSA) afp

RugbyU: Toulouse set-up Toulon Top 14 semi-final showdown

Agence France-PresseMay 10, 2013 18:15

Two-time defending champions Toulouse powered past Racing Metro 33-19 on Friday to set-up a French Top 14 semi-final duel against Toulon in a repeat of last year's championship match. The two sides met in the 2012 final at the Stade de France with Toulouse winning 18-12. "Some people would have said that had we lost today, then this would have been our most catastrophic season," said Toulouse coach Guy Noves. "Sadly for them (his critics), they will have to wait a little longer. I dedicate this victory to them."

RugbyU: Toulouse look to deny Berbizier glorious farewell

Agence France-PresseMay 10, 2013 12:46

Toulouse have not played like two-time defending Top 14 champions this season but on Friday they will hope that the onset of the play-offs reignites their champion mentality and they dispose of Racing-Metro. If they do so it will bring to an end the stormy Racing reign of former France and Italy coach -- and club managing director for the past season -- Pierre Berbizier, who revealed this week that he was staying on even though he had effectively been sacked on March 30.