Planet Rugby

Compiled by John O'Sullivan.

Irish not so Keano on tight musical chairs

Getting a good vantage point for the excellent production I Keano at the Olympia theatre last Tuesday - the official opening night of the satirical musical - proved to be a challenge for about 15 members of the Ireland rugby team.

Rugby players wouldn't be the smallest in the sporting world, especially the members of the pack, and it was obvious that several had trouble squeezing into the seats (not the biggest by any stretch of the imagination) for the two-hour production.

The seating arrangements, where you are companionably close to your neighbours, probably demonstrate the change in human physique over the years, with the population generally taller and heavier than they would have been when the theatre was built.

This Irish team members have shown themselves to be extremely resourceful on the pitch over the past couple of seasons but proved to be just as adept off it on Tuesday. To alleviate any potential discomfort or the risk of injury, many chose to sit on the steps post interval, and even got a slightly better view.

They really enjoyed what is a great evening's entertainment before being whisked back to their Citywest base.

The ref's uhh . . . forgetful

We've all done it, left the house for work having forgotten to bring something. It's fair to say that it's an occupational hazard. So it was difficult not to feel some sympathy for a referee this week when he realised in the middle of a Leinster Schools Senior Cup match that he hadn't brought all his officiating accoutrements.

Sod's law dictated that the very thing that he had omitted to bring would be just what he required during that afternoon's match. So it transpired. At one stage during the game he went to admonish a player, reaching for his pocket only to discover that he didn't have a yellow card.

The result was that he could only indulge in a bit of finger wagging and inform the player that he was particularly fortunate. The upshot, though, is that the official, as a one time advertisement put it, 'will never leave home without it' in future.

Irish pair for 'Rugby Aid'

Two of Ireland's outstanding players, captain Brian O'Driscoll and second row Paul O'Connell, have been targeted to play in the International Rugby Board (IRB) Rugby Aid Match: 'Rebuilding after the Tsunami'. A Northern Hemisphere team will take on their counterparts from the Southern Hemisphere at Twickenham on March 5th.

There is as yet no firm decision on whether these two Irish players will be available, especially as the game takes place in the middle of the Six Nations Championship. The IRB has claimed it has reached agreement with the northern unions with regard to the release of players.

Scotland has confirmed that Gordon Bulloch, Chris Cusiter and Simon Taylor will be available to play, while agreement has been reached with England's Zurich Premiership clubs to release eight players for the game. Among those invited are Lawrence Dallaglio, Jason Robinson and Steve Thompson.

Ireland and Wales are expected to confirm their players this week, with Gavin Henson touted as a potential participant alongside O'Connell and O'Driscoll.

O'Driscoll's hamstring problem, which forced him to miss the victory over Scotland, must make him a doubtful starter. The fact that the charity match takes place on the Saturday between Ireland's games against England and France in the Six Nations won't appeal to Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan.

Fabien Pelous heads the invited contingent from France, as, in the case of Italy, does captain Marco Bortolami. The IRB has confirmed the four players who have been nominated to represent South Africa in the showpiece event. In addition to John Smit, the Springbok hooker and captain, Victor Matfield (Bulls), Jaque Fourie (Cats) and Schalk Burger (Stormers) will be in the South squad.

French club Agen have released Fijian winger Rupeni Caucaunibuca from club duties to join the squad. The Fijian and four South African stars will join Wallabies George Gregan, Phil Waugh and Chris Latham, and All Blacks Tana Umaga, Carl Heoft, Andrew Mehrtens and Jerome Kaino in a world-class South team.

Morné du Plessis, the manager of the South team pointed out: "Rod Macqueen, Ian Jones and I are delighted to have these world-class players from New Zealand, Australia, Fiji and South Africa in the team. We accept that this is a significant sacrifice made by their Super 12 and club teams, and the players themselves - but such is the very nature of this event."

The proceeds from the match will go to the IRB's humanitarian partner, the United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP), to support their vital work in affected areas following the devastating tsunami on December 26th.

Scotland slide in rankings

It seems that Scotland's disappointment at the weekend was not alone consigned to losing their Six Nations Championship game against Ireland at Murrayfield. As a result of that defeat they slipped behind Fiji in the IRB world rankings to 10th place.

Total Rugby, totally

The IRB's new weekly television programme Total Rugby made its bow last Wednesday on Sky Sports 3. Thereafter it will be shown every Wednesday on a Sky Sports channel at 6.30 pm. The programme will be screened on a weekly basis until the end of November, and will contain a mixture of action and features.

The first programme showed highlights from all three opening matches in this year's Six Nations Championship and action from the IRB Sevens in Wellington, New Zealand, which was played in front of a sellout crowd in the Westpac Stadium, as well as an interview with Jonah Lomu.

Gatland to go home

Former Ireland coach Warren Gatland is to step down as coach of London Wasps at the end of the season and return home with his family to New Zealand.

Gatland still had one year on his contract with the London club but was released with reluctance in an acknowledgement of all that he has achieved with the club.

Wasps understandably wanted him to stay on but Gatland felt that it was time to return to New Zealand with wife Trudi and children. It was always his intention to go home, although he was quick to scotch rumours that he has already lined up a job in New Zealand. Wasps' England Lions number eight Lawrence Dallaglio led the tributes to Gatland with whom he had an excellent working relationship.

The New Zealander won the Heineken European Cup and the Zurich Premiership with Wasps.