Aug 15, 2000: Robbie Fleck is the man Springbok coach Nick Mallett is looking to to fill the all-important inside centre berth in his team for Saturday's Tri-Nations return Test against New Zealand at Ellis Park
Aug 14, 2000: The IRFU has released the details of the referees who will take charge of this season's Guinness Interprovincial series
Aug 14, 2000: The Scottish Rugby Union have announce a major loan scheme to assist it's top clubs with the aim of raising the profile of the club game in Scotland
Aug 14, 2000: Bristol were beaten by Newport in a pre-season friendly at Rodney Parade in a high scoring game in Saturday
Aug 14, 2000: Glasgow Caledonians coach Richie Dixon believes that the pre-season game at Northampton will give him a chance to further assess his side's potential
Aug 14, 2000: Newcastle have appointed second-row forward Doddie Weir as their captain for the new season
Aug 14, 2000: England boss Clive Woodward will spend four days working with French club Agen next week at their pre-season training camp in the Pyrenees
Aug 14, 2000: Laid-back Leicester flanker Neil Back is fully rested in preparation for the new season but he admits it might be another month before he finds his form
Aug 14, 2000: Ford have announced an extension to their sponsorship of the RFU's grassroots project Ford Tag Rugby
Aug 14, 2000: London Irish have Tongan and Hong Kong international back Isi Toivai on trial
Aug 14, 2000: NEC Harlequins hooker Keith Wood has said he will have to limit the number of games he plays this season if he is to be fit for the Biritish and Irish Lions tour of Australia in the summer
Aug 14, 2000: Glasgow Caledonians captain Andy Nicol will miss Tuesday's friendly against Heineken Cup holders Northampton as he continues to recover from a knee injury
Aug 14, 2000: NEC Harlequins unveiled their new look squad at The Stoop toda, confident of putting last year's disappointments behind them
Aug 14, 2000: Llanelli and Ireland flanker Simon Easterby could miss the start of the season after picking up an ankle injury in training
Aug 14, 2000: A much-changed Munster side struggled to compete with Zurich Premiership side Gloucester at Thomond Park on Saturday, with only late second half serge giving the eventual 31-15 scoreline some respectability
Aug 14, 2000: Ulster continued their fine pre-season preperation with a resounding 64-0 win over Coventry on Friday evening
Aug 14, 2000: Leinster will be without Emmett Farrell for much of the season after he sustained a knee ligament injury in the weekend's defeat at Saracens
Aug 14, 2000: Injured Wallaby Tim Horan said Australia faces a massive task in their bid to win the Tri-Nations in South Africa
Aug 14, 2000: With Japie Mulder indicating that he is some way off full fitness, the Springboks will be desperate for centre De Wet Barry's strained hamstring to heal ahead of Saturday's Tri-Nations clash against the All Blacks at Ellis Park
Aug 14, 2000: The international career of Wallaby great Tim Horan is officially over
