Mapusua tries reel in toothless Sharks

Two tries in three minutes, by Topsy Ojo and Seilala Mapusua, took what stuffing there was out of Saint-André's nervy, fitful side. There were two scores in second-half injury time, but a second for Mapusua and a token for the Sale centre Chris Bell were mere punctuation marks to a foregone conclusion.

Eoghan Hickey kicked the conversion and three minutes later Sale were caught napping again, Sailosi Tagicakibau charging 30 yards before slipping a passinside for Mapusua to score.

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Edinburgh end Magners League campaign on a high

Good approach work by centre Gavin Evans saw the ball moved left and Deacon Manu put his fellow front row colleague Mahonri Schwalger in.

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Montpellier shock Toulouse

Henry Tuilagi touched down for Perpignan while Percy Montgomery kicked two penalites to go with three drop goals from Nicolas Laharrague.


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Schedule Set for IRB Pacific Rugby Cup 2008

IRB PACIFIC RUGBY CUP 2008 COMPETITION SCHEDULE

Round 1
Friday April 18
Fiji Warriors vs Tautahi Gold, Churchill Park, Lautoka, 7pm
Savai'i Samoa vs Fiji Barbarians, Marist Stadium, Apia, 4pm
Saturday April 19
Tau'uta Reds, vs Upolu Samoa, Teufaiva Stadium, Nuku'alofa, 3pm
Round 2
Friday April 25
Fiji Barbarians vs Upolu Samoa, National Stadium, Suva, 7pm
Saturday April 26
Savai'i Samoa vs Fiji Warriors, Prince Edward Park , Savaii, 3pm
Tau'uta Reds vs Tautahi Gold, Teufaiva Stadium, Nuku'alofa, 3pm
Round 3
Friday May 2
Upolu Samoa vs Fiji Warriors, Marist Stadium, Apia, 3pm
Tautahi Gold vs Savai'i Samoa, Teufaiva Stadium, Nuku'alofa, 3pm
Saturday May 3
Fiji Barbarians vs Tau'uta Reds, Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka, 3pm
Round 4
Friday May 9
Fiji Warriors vs Tau'uta Reds, Prince Charles Park, Nadi, 7pm
Tautahi Gold, vs, Fiji Barbarians, Teufaiva Stadium, Nuku'alofa, 3pm
Saturday May 10
Upolu Samoa vs Savai'i Samoa, Marist Stadium, Apia, 3pm
Round 5
Friday May 16
Tau'uta Reds vs Savai'i Samoa, Teufaiva Stadium, Nuku'alofa, 3pm
Saturday May 17
Fiji Warriors vs Fiji Barbarians, Subrail Park, Labasa 3pm
Upolu Samoa vs Tautahi Gold, Marist Stadium, Apia, 3pm
Final
Saturday May 24
Ist Place Team vs 2nd place team (Hosted by top ranked team)


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Rugby: Rankings to be used for 2011 World Cup seedings

World rankings will be used to seed teams for the 2011 Rugby World Cup it was announced today.

The International Rugby Board said the pool allocation draw will take place in December and that rankings will dictate the tournament seeds for the first time. The cut-off date for the rankings will be December 1.

World Cup seedings have previously been determined by the results of the preceding tournament.

The 12 automatic qualifiers from last year's World Cup in France will be spread through the four 2011 pools based on their rankings. Twenty teams will contest the tournament, with the other eight determined by a series of worldwide qualifying matches.


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Mapusua returns for London Irish against Saracens

Seilala Mapusua returns to the London Irish team for tomorrow’s Guinness Premiership match with Saracens at Madejski Stadium (kick-off 1.30pm).

The Samoan international has recovered from the hand injury he suffered against Leicester Tigers on 29th December. The 28-year-old, who starts at inside centre, is partnered on the outside by Delon Armitage the latest Exiles player to join the club’s elite “100 Club” having made his 100th senior appearance in last weekend’s match against Worcester.

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Ellis and Tuilagi return for Tigers

Harry Ellis and Alesana Tuilagi return from long-term injury to take their places in the Leicester Tigers squad for Saturday's Guinness Premiership match against Leeds Carnegie at Welford Road (3pm kick-off). Julian White returns from suspension and head coach Marcelo Loffreda includes Geordan Murphy and Tom Croft after international duty.

Scrum-half Ellis has not played a first-team game since injuring a knee against Bristol last April, while Tuilagi has made only three appearances since the Rugby world Cup due to a groin problem.

Loffreda, who hands the captaincy to Louis Deacon after naming Martin Corry on the bench, said: "We have had to be patient with Harry and Alesana, they are not the type of injuries to rush. But we are delighted to have them back and add to the options in the squad. They are both world-class players.

"Martin Corry has had a heavy physical load recently and Louis Deacon has always done a great job whenever he has been named captain."

Ian Humphreys gets the nod at fly-half alongside Frank Murphy, while Dan Hipkiss partners Ollie Smith in midfield. Tom Varndell joins Johne Murphy and Geordan Murphy in the back three.

White is joined in the front row by Boris Stankovich and Mefin Davies, with Louis Deacon and Croft completing the front five. Brett Deacon, Ben Herring and Jordan Crane complete the forward pack.

Corry is among a strong selection on the bench which includes Martin Castrogiovanni as well as Ellis and Tuilagi.

"We know Leeds have improved a lot since we played them last and we expect a very tough game on Saturday," said Loffreda. "They have a very good defence and they will be a tough challenge for us."


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