Jul 25, 2000: France have joined the trend of importing rugby league know-how into their coaching set up by appointing Dave Ellis as their new defensive coach
Jul 25, 2000: It seems that the golden boy of South African rugby, Percy Montgomery, will miss out in Nick Mallet's Springbok selection for Saturday's match against the Wallabies
Jul 25, 2000: A new sponsorship package for the English premiership will be announced this week with the new season due to kick-off on August 19
Jul 25, 2000: Glasgow Caledonians are now to play against both of last season's European Cup finalists, Northampton and Munster, next month
Jul 25, 2000: Henry Honiball, the former Springbok fly-half currently playing his club rugby at Bristol, is on the verge of retirement from the game
Jul 25, 2000: Andy Earl has replaced former England player John Hall as coach of All Ireland league side Garryowen
Jul 25, 2000: The Barbarians have announced a star-studded squad for their visit to Hanover next month
Jul 25, 2000: Newport continue to build a strong squad a head of their European Cup debut season with the arrival of London Welsh scrum half Darren Edwards
Jul 25, 2000: Last season's Heineken Cup runners up, Munster, have arranged a tough pre-season opener ahead of the Irish Interprovincial Championship
Jul 25, 2000: Lansdowne fly half Barry Everitt is the latest name to join the increasing ranks of Irish qualified players at London Irish
Jul 25, 2000: Springbok injury concerns still surround flanker Corne Krige with coach Nick Mallett waiting on a final injury report on Wednesday morning before naming the team for Saturday's Tri-Nations clash against Australia at Stadium Australia
Jul 25, 2000: The Wallabies are poised to recall injured Reds duo Matt Cockbain and Ben Tune for Saturday's Tri-Nations clash against South Africa at Stadium Australia
Jul 25, 2000: Saracens supremo Francois Pienaar believes the new format for the English Premiership will continue to penalise clubs which are successful in all competitions
Jul 25, 2000: Wallaby fullback Matt Burke makes a timely return to the field on Thursday when he represents the ACT Presidents XV against Japan West at Canberra's Portsea Oval RMC
Jul 25, 2000: The New Zealand Herald is reporting that the NZRFU is likely to announce later in the week that it has chosen to exercise its first right of refusal and complete a contract which would see Spencer play his rugby in New Zealand until the end of 2003
Jul 25, 2000: The New Zealand Rugby Union is to ditch the 'Henry Law', introduced in 1998 to prevent coaches who had based themselves overseas ever being eligible to subsequently coach the All Blacks
Jul 25, 2000: Wayne Pivac, coach of defending NPC title holders Auckland, has named a strong squad in advance of this year's competition
Jul 24, 2000: Former Bristol fly-half Mark Tainton has been appointed as the club's new backs coach
Jul 24, 2000: Glasgow Caledonians will face a tough pre-season test when they face European champions Northampton at Franklin's Gardens next month
Jul 24, 2000: New Zealand star Tana Umaga has been reprimanded by the All Blacks management following his part in a drunken late-night clash last weekend
