The Golden Lions Rugby Union made a desperate attempt to retain some newsworthiness to the media conference planned for next week, when they denied the venue for Tri-Nations Test between the Springboks and All Blacks had already been confirmed as Soweto.
rugby365.com reported on Thursday that one of the worst-kept secrets in South Africa is set to be confirmed next week - when it will be announced that the Test between the Boks and All Blacks will be played in Soweto.
The South African Rugby Union, in conjunction with the Golden Lions Rugby Union, revealed that a “major announcement” regarding the Boks’ Tri-Nations Test against New Zealand – scheduled for Johannesburg on August 21 – would be made next week.
However, Lions CEO Manie Reyneke suggested that does not mean they will announce the venue of the Test, even though he admitted that Soweto is a possibility.
“Following rumours that the Test between the Springboks and the All Blacks on 21 August 2010 will be moved to National Stadium [Soccer City], the Golden Lions Rugby Union would like to confirm that no decision has yet been made,” Reyneke said in a statement.
“We are considering moving the Springbok Test match to National Stadium, but this has not yet been confirmed. An announcement will be made on Wednesday, 7 July 2010 after final discussions have taken place.
“We cannot make this decision without understanding the risks associated with the move for the GLRU and our sponsors, clubs, suite owners and season ticket holders.
“This is undoubtedly a massive opportunity to carry on with the nation-building that is happening in our country at the moment,” he concluded.
He claimed the decision will only be made early next week and the announcement will be made on Wednesday, at the press conference to held by the GLRU in association with SARU.
So, do you believe him?
rugby365.com can, once again, confirm that the decision has been made and Soccer City will be confirmed as the venue.
Manie has got to be the worst administrator in the history of the game in SA.
@wpw (Comment 1) : 100%
What a toss
He should know when to cut his losses…
I wonder what they’re going to build in Ellis Park’s place when they demolish it
@CS (Comment 4) :
How about a Rugby Academy for the Sharks!!
why not sell ellis park to the nigerian team and move to soccer city and start developing the talent in soweto.
I recon the Lions must move to a smaller more accesible venue where 5000 people can actually create an atmosphere.
@Pokkel (Comment 7) : They can play the Sharks Lions match at Ellispark or Soccer city because thats the only time they have a decent crowd.
@Pokkel (Comment 7) : Maybe they should rent St John’s 1st team rugby field
i see the lions are the only team sharks fans feel comfortable enough to take potshots at hehehe
interesting.
@CS (Comment 9) : Maybe they should play with the St.John’s first team
@Megatron (Comment 10) : At least we don’t get greedy
@Pokkel (Comment 12) : you just like poaching their players…
@Megatron (Comment 13) : It’s a kak idea poaching players from those underachievers anyway I recon…..although Alberts was a great buy.
@Megatron (Comment 13) : How`s Sonny Bill`s signing coming along ?
@Original Pierre (Comment 15) : it’s confirmed he’ll be suiting up in black & red in the air new zealand cup…
feel sorry for ryan crotty though but he isn’t he best 2nd five-eighth so sonny bill by all accounts will get first dibs..
@Megatron (Comment 16) : Does this mean you won`t be using Carter? In that case SOMEONE PLEASE TELL STRAUELI !!!!
@Megatron (Comment 16) :
it’s confirmed allright. It is also confirmed that he’ll be undergoing surgery and miss some of the Air NZ Cup though.
Sonny Bill Williams is likely to miss the start of Canterbury’s national provincial campaign, after having a minor knee surgery in Australia last week.
The Press newspaper reports that the star recruit underwent pre-scheduled keyhole surgery in Brisbane last Thursday, to tidy up some slight cartilage damage. The procedure was performed the day after Williams knocked out Ryan Hogan in a, so-called, professional boxing bout.
It is anticipated that Williams, who is due to arrive in Christchurch on Thursday, will not resume full training for two to three weeks and miss the team’s two pre-season matches on July 16 and July 23, as well as their competition-opener against Hawke’s Bay in Christchurch on July 30.
The operation was described as a “preventative measure”.
Chief executive Hamish Riach said the Canterbury Rugby Football Union were informed about the need for an operation during their contract negotiations with Williams.
“We knew exactly when it was going to take place and we’re just really pleased that it was successful. It’s now out of the way and he’s going to join us and get on with things,” Riach told The Press.
Riach confirmed that Williams had not been injured in the two minutes it took him to beat Hogan.
“They’re completely and utterly unrelated. We knew about the keyhole surgery ahead of the fight.”
@Original Pierre (Comment 17) : carter is 1st five-eighth!!!!! Keep up OP
@Megatron (Comment 20) : Oops!
@Megatron (Comment 10) : Aint that the truth. I do know, though that the worm turns. I well remember the time when the sharks (banana boys at the time) couldn’t even play their way out of the B section of the Currie Cup!
A little game for a Monday afternoon. Look at my avatar. Tell me the names of the trophies on display. Then let me know which of those the sharks have never won
@Greg (Comment 22) : TVL was a powerfull union, it’s sad how things fell apart there. And the trophy would be the Super 10 I think.
@Greg (Comment 22) : I know the pain and still do. I supported Natal when they were in the B-section. I even went to Loftus with a Natal Jersey in the 80′s where Natal got hammered while in the B-section.
@Megatron (Comment 10) :
TROLL
@Megatron (Comment 13) : sso what if we do now at least i know why you lv the snoils so much their jerseys are both red
@Pokkel (Comment 23) : Yep, one is the super 10 trophy. There are 4 trophies in the picture though. The point is, it’s easy to knock others when they are down, especially when one doesn’t really want to expose one’s own frailties, and thinks that in knocking others, it diverts attention from their own shortcomings. Yes, GLRU are a union in turmoil, and appear to be going nowhere fast, and the pain you felt in the B section, we feel now. We remain supporters though, through thick and thin, that’s what supporters do. For all the noise that comes out of Durban, remember, all you actually have to show for it is one Currie Cup in 12 years (or thereabouts)
@Greg (Comment 27) : Hey Greg….I actually have a soft spot for the Lions and we might be harsh on them but remember I’m equally harsh if not more so on the Sharks managment because I don’t want us to go through the same situation again. I remember TVL of old with Jannie Breedt and Francois Pienaar.Always a union to be respected especially when Louis was still running the show.
@Greg (Comment 27) : I respect supporters like you a lot because you stick with your team through thick and thin. You don’t just jump ship when things are looking bad.
@Pokkel (Comment 28) : i remember those old guys and my they are legends in the own time i think that was about the last time the LIONS ever won anything or am i incorrect
and brushel head Kobus W great player must say
@Greg (Comment 27) : well must say those words are so true other supporters from other teams always bring the others teams down when they are down but i see you are a true Lions supporter just like me a true Sharks supporter
And good luck in the CC
@chaz (Comment 31) : Thanks
No takers on the the other trophies
@Greg (Comment 32) : well i don’t know which is which but the one is the cc the others well you are going to hv to tell us all
@Greg (Comment 32) : ok one is CC maybe VC and the 2 small one
Greg
The Lions Cup.
@chaz (Comment 34) : One is the CC, yes. This picture is from the Glory year, the best season by any local side, ever – 1993. Too early for VC, cell phones hadn’t hit our shores yet!
Milk Cup perhaps?? And the other 2 were mentioned earlier, Currie Cup and Super 10 trophy!!
@chaz (Comment 34) : Lions Cup, Super 10 Cup and CC
let’s not forget the prestigious MNET Nite Series… they won that one as well.
Yawn.
@robdylan (Comment 39) : so its
Lions Cup
Super 10
CC
and prestigious MNET Nite Series
@chaz (Comment 40) : correct.
Don’t worry if you can’t remember it. There’ll be a Lions fan along any minute to remind you if you ever forget
@robdylan (Comment 41) : you c me know sth also
eeeaaahhhh well done now where is greg must get a cup from him
@robdylan (Comment 39) : Yeah, the MNET night series is the one. Wouldn’t be such a big yawn if the sharks had managed to win it, would it? Then the word prestigious would have been used without any hint of sarcasm
@Greg (Comment 43) : uh . . . no.