Long weekend round-up

Posted by Boertjie - 28/04/09 at 07:04 am under Lions Tour, SA Unions / Teams, Super 14

Mistake sets Lauaki free | Top ref retires | Irish legend dies | Blasers vir Leeu-toer | O’Leary will miss tour | Vodacom results

MISTAKE SETS LAUAKI FREE
The ineptness of South African administrators have succeeded, yet again, to let somebody off the hook – this time, head-hunting Chiefs and All Black loose forward Sione Lauaki.
It was revealed on Monday that the disciplinary hearing against the burly No.8, Lauaki, was dismissed on technical grounds.
The citing commissioner, Luvuyo Matsha, failed to submit his report on the dangerous tackle within the prescribed 12 hour period after the match ended.

STEVE WALSH RETIRES
After some time out of the game ‘for personal reasons’ Steve Walsh (36) has announced that he is to quit refereeing in New Zealand.
Walsh has stated that his alcohol problem is the root cause of his decision but also blames the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, his employer.
Walsh is reported to have said on New Zealand RadioSport that he had approached the union for help, “but they weren’t prepared to buy into that type of counselling and help”.

IRISH LEGEND DIES
Ireland’s 1948 Grand Slam-winning captain Karl Mullen has died at the age of 82, just over a month after seeing Ireland end a 61-year wait to win the Six Nations clean sweep again.

BLASERS VIR LEEU-TOER
Sport24 het betroubaar verneem dat die omstrede Australiër Stuart Dickinson en die Fransman Christophe Berdos as skeidsregters vir die Springbokke se drie rugbytoetse in Junie en Julie aangestel is.
Elkeen sal glo ’n toets blaas en die een wat die beste vertoon, sal die derde toets beheer.
Die Internasionale Rugbyraad (IRR) het die naweek vergader om oor die blasers vir die toetse te besluit, maar het nog geen aankondigings gedoen nie.
 
O’LEARY TO MISS LION’S TOUR
Tomas O’Leary will miss the remainder of Munster’s Heineken Cup and Magners League matches and the Lions trip to South Africa after sustaining a fractured ankle in the opening stages of the Magners League game last night against The Scarlets in Musgrave Park.

VODACOM CUP RESULTS
Sharks 20, Golden Lions 7; Blue Bulls 36, WP 16; Griquas 30, Free State 25; Leopards 30, Eagles 18.
Smi-finals: Bulls v Leopards; Sharks XV v Griquas.