Official Super Rugby Thread 2013

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Guildford returns to Crusaders

Wellington - All Black winger Zac Guildford has officially been reinstated to the Crusaders after a New Zealand Rugby Union disciplinary hearing following an alcohol-fuelled incident this year.

The 24-year-old Guildford had stood down from his Super Rugby franchise as he sought treatment for an alcohol problem after he reportedly got into an altercation at a private house party after a drinking binge.

It was the third alcohol-related incident for the winger inside 15 months and he had sought treatment previously. Local media had reported the NZRU was weighing up whether or not tear up his contract after his latest indiscretion.

"This decision was not reached lightly or hastily, and follows a very thorough misconduct process and consultation with medical experts," NZRU General Manager Professional Rugby Neil Sorensen said in a statement.

"Despite the serious misconduct, we found that there were sufficient mitigating circumstances to believe that Zac can continue to make a significant contribution to New Zealand rugby provided that he observes the conditions and continues with his path to recovery."

Guildford, who recently completed the treatment programme, played for his Hawke's Bay club side last weekend before appeared before the NZRU disciplinary hearing.

"I have accepted that I have challenges that will be with me for life and that it is up to me to continually work at managing them," Guildford said.

"I know I have apologised for my behaviour before and that peoples patience has grown thin.

"I am hugely grateful that I have been given this opportunity to show that I really am serious about getting my life heading in the right direction."

Guildford is expected to return to Crusaders' training this week. He was not included in their squad for their match against the Bulls on Saturday.
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Quite glad about this. Guy's an amazing talent. Crusaders also really need a specialist wing. :p
 
Pocock out for nine months

Sydney - Wallaby David Pocock was on Friday ruled out of rugby for nine months following knee surgery in a shattering blow for the key flanker and former Australian captain.

Pocock, 24, underwent surgery on Thursday on a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and will be sidelined for the rest of the year as he completes his rehabilitation, the Australian Rugby Union said.

"I'm pleased to have the surgery out of the way. Now I need to rest up and get myself ready to start the rehabilitation process, Pocock said in a statement.

"The key thing is that I'm patient and don't try to rush back. If that means season over, in terms of playing any more rugby this year, then so be it. Once I get into the rehabilitation, we'll see how it goes."

It is a major setback for Pocock who will miss Australia's Test series against the British and Irish Lions and the Wallabies' internationals in the Rugby Championship against New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina.

The star forward suffered the knee injury playing for the Brumbies in their 35-6 Super Rugby win over the Waratahs in Canberra last weekend.

He fell awkwardly in a tackle by fellow Wallaby Adam Ashley-Cooper early in the first half of the game and was replaced by former Wallaby flank George Smith.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans will now have to find a flanker replacement with the early contenders likely to be the Waratahs' Michael Hooper or Liam Gill of the Queensland Reds.

The latest setback comes after Pocock had surgery on his other knee last year, which ruled him out for three months.
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Sucks. :(
 
FFS, if the canes do not pick up their game quickly I will have the fscking first pick of the weekend wrong for the third week in a row.......... :mad:
 
Devill said:
FFS, if the canes do not pick up their game quickly I will have the fscking first pick of the weekend wrong for the third week in a row.......... :mad:
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Well with the permanent one-point-in-it direction so far, you can hardly punish yourself. At least Hurricanes are ahead (at time of posting).
 
GreGorGy said:
Canes lucky there in the end...
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Well the Canes needed to win, as they owed me for last week against the Crusaders.....

Wooohoo, so this is what it feels like to predict the first game of the weekend correctly! :D
 
Bekker quits WP for Japan

Cape Town - Andries Bekker, the most-capped Stormers player in the history of Super Rugby, will move to Japanese club Kobelco Steelers at the conclusion of the 2013 Super Rugby season.

The 2.08m-tall lock, who has 29 Test caps for the Springboks, aims to prolong his professional rugby career with the move to Japan.

"I'd like to thank everyone at Western Province for their incredible support over the years," said Bekker.

"It will be a sad time when I do leave Cape Town, but my wife, Elaine, and I are excited about the adventures that lie ahead.

"I'm particularly excited about joining up with my fellow South Africans at Kobelco Steelers - players like Peter Grant and Jaque Fourie have had nothing but great things to say about the club," added Bekker.

The 29-year-old will finish his 2013 commitments with the Stormers before departing for Japan, which means that he will be available for the knockout stages of the Super Rugby tournament, but this move does mean that his Springbok career will be on hold for now.

"It was a tough decision for me to make," said Bekker. "I've spent my entire professional rugby career in Cape Town, but, at this stage of my life, I felt it would be best to further my career abroad and to embark on a new adventure - both as a person and a rugby player.

"That said, we're just three games into the 2013 Super Rugby season... it's still a long season ahead of us and I'd love nothing more than to end my Stormers career on a high."

The mobile second rower made his Stormers debut in 2005 and is on the verge of playing his 100th match for the Super Rugby franchise (he is currently on 97 caps), which would make him the first Stormers player to reach this incredible landmark.

Bekker, South Africa's Super Rugby Player of the Year in 2010, has also made an additional 38 appearances for Western Province, since 2004 - scoring 12 tries for WP and a further 12 for the Stormers.

Western Province Rugby CEO Rob Wagner commented: "The Bekker name is synonymous with WP and Stormers rugby - through Andries and his father Hennie, before him. It will be the end of an era when Andries departs for Japan.

"We have seen Andries grow from a gangly schoolboy into a strapping Springbok. However, at this stage of his career a move abroad is in his best interests, so we wish him and his family well in the next exciting chapter of their lives."
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