Planet Rugby

RTÉ Radio's triple bill
RTÉ Radio made a little history this weekend by broadcasting three European rugby matches on the same day for the first time. Last Saturday radio rugby commentator Michael Corcoran was the man behind the mike at Twickenham calling the play by play guide as Munster took on Harlequins.

He then passed the baton to Gary Moran whose dulcet tones could be heard describing the goings-on at the Sportsground as Connacht beat Grenoble in the European Challenge Cup quarter-final second leg. Finally it was down to GAA pundit Marty Morrissey to inform viewers about Leinster's fortunes in their game against Benetton Treviso at Lansdowne Road.

Woodward's ref bid fails

Clive Woodward's efforts to reach an agreement outside the usual parameters for choosing Test match referees seems destined to fail. The Lions coach had hoped he could reach agreement with New Zealand counterpart Graham Henry that the top officials in the game would preside over the three-match Test series next summer irrespective of nationality.

The IRB, though, has stated it anticipated no changes to the referee selection process for international match appointments.

IRB Referee Selection Committee Chairman, David Pickering stated: "The IRB is satisfied that the existing selection process is sound, it produces an excellent group of international referees and this has been based on two underlying criteria for match official appointments - merit and neutrality.

"All international match official appointments are made from the three IRB international panels depending on the status of the international match. The match officials are continually assessed on performance.

"It is anticipated that the usual selection criteria will therefore apply for the British & Irish Lions Test Matches in New Zealand later this year.

The IRB Referee Selection Committee will be meeting in mid April to select the match officials for international matches for the June- July period."

Supporters help appeal

Leinster supporters at Saturday's European Cup match against Benetton Treviso helped raise over 50,000 towards the Tsunami Appeal. A crowd of 12,750 turned up to watch the Irish province beat the Italian side 57-17 and were asked to contribute towards the worthy cause by volunteers who went among the crowd.

The also helped by buying a match programme that cost €5 just for this game. The players and management team raised over €14,500. All the money collected will be divided between four charities.

Canned applause

Several - and we are assuming they were past pupils - punters sitting among the Catholic University School supporters at a Leinster Schools' Vinnie Murray Cup match between CUS and CBC Monkstown last week had what they assumed would be an afternoon's semi-indoor drinking in the stand at Donnybrook interrupted.

One individual had filled a knapsack with cans of cider and various brews but was spotted by Leinster Branch officials who confiscated 16 cans. His plaintive cry of 'can I get them back after the match?' didn't meet with much success. A sobering afternoon, no doubt.

Japan plan solo cup bid

Japan has refused an option to co-host the 2011 Rugby World Cup with New Zealand. Japan Rugby Union chairman Noboru Mashimo was adamant: " We are focusing on our bid."

Mashimo confirmed that the only time he would consider teaming up with New Zealand would be if instructed to do so by the International Rugby Board.

Rugby academy chance

Once again the Irish Shamrocks Rugby Academy are heading Down Under.The brainchild of RTÉ rugby pundit Brent Pope , the aim is to give young Irish rugby players a once in a lifetime opportunity of sampling some of New Zealand's famous rugby culture.

The academy, based in Canterbury, focuses on developing young players by immersing them in nearly two months of full-time professional rugby. The players are given strict training programmes devised by ex-Australian Institute of Sport fitness expert Will Heffernan, and are closely monitored at the Canterbury University gym.

Each week some of New Zealand's top underage coaches help develop playing skills, including All Black forwards coach Mike Cron, New Zealand high performance manager Richard Smith and New Zealand Schools coach Richard Taylor.

During the week the players are placed with leading Christchurch clubs to further enhance their game, and each Wednesday the team come together as the Irish Shamrocks and play a series of games.

The academy is open to any clubs wishing to sponsor a player, or individuals who want to significantly improve their fitness and game. It is not all about rugby, however, as the players will gain invaluable life experience from mixing with other young adults from different backgrounds and cultures.

Interested players or club officials can obtain more information by visiting the Shamrocks website at www.shamrocksrugby.com or alternatively by contacting Brent Pope directly at bpope50@hotmail.com.

'Kamp' video man dead

Former Springbok video analyst Dale McDermott (35) - the man who leaked images of South Africa's infamous 'Kamp Staaldraad' training camp - took his own life during the week.

McDermott's revelations of what went on at the Boks' 2003 Rugby World Cup military-style training camp captured the attentions of the rugby world and hastened the exit of coach Rudolf Straeuli. The pictures and video material of the three-day boot camp included shots of naked players performing 'team-building' exercises in a freezing lake. Other shots showed the players huddled naked in a pit where they were forced to listen to God Save the Queen and anthems of other rival teams whilst periodically being doused with cold water.

McDermott's actions earned him the label of "Judas" in some quarters of South African rugby, and he was forced to resign his job with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research from where he had been seconded to the Springboks. He returned to his old teaching job at Durban High School early in 2004.

His father Dennis, mother Laurel, and sister Kerry survive him. Laurel was adamant: "I don't want the blame to be laid at anybody's door. He was struggling with depression and did feel alone and deserted. Rugby was his passion and he thought he was doing the right thing by not covering up what people wanted covered up."

McDermott was found with a bullet wound to the head at his Durban home. Foul play is not suspected.