News in Brief
Habana cleared to play 50th Test
Bryan Habana is free to play this weekend after being cleared of any wrongdoing
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- Springbok winger winger Bryan Habana is free to play his 50th Test in Durban on Saturday after SA Rugby dismissed reports that he had breached team protocol in returning to his hotel room late ahead of the Springboks' win over the All Blacks on Saturday.
Newspaper reports had suggested that Habana had made his way back ton his room in the early hours, a claim "devoid of any truth" according to SA Rugby acting managing director Andy Marinos.
"We view this in a very serious light and feel the report was based on hearsay and devoid of any truth. I spoke to Springbok coach Peter de Villiers and other members of the team management and they all assured me Bryan had done nothing wrong," said Marinos.
"Members of SA Rugby staff as well as some journalists who were at the hotel saw Bryan return to the team hotel after dinner. It was between 22:30 and 22:45. I want to reiterate that Bryan did not transgress team protocols."
- Dan Carter's rehabilitation programme is poised to advance to the provincial arena this weekend with the All Black fly-half declaring his availability for Canterbury's team to play North Harbour.
Carter, who made his comeback to competitive rugby at club level with 80 minutes for Southbridge last weekend, said he was keen to play the Air New Zealand Cup opener at
Albany after training with the squad in Christchurch today.
"I'd love to be back playing in red and black," said Carter, who has rarely played for Canterbury since making the All Blacks in 2003.
Carter, 27, suffered a serious achilles tendon injury during his sabbatical to France in February but appears to be on track to play a significant role in Canterbury's title defence. Canterbury head coach Rob Penney names his 22-man squad on Thursday.
- Blue Bulls flanker Dewald Potgieter has been ruled out for four weeks after an x-ray revealed that he has sustained a broker wrist. Deon Stegmann and Pedrie Wannenburg are in line to step in for this weekend's Currie Cup meeting with Boland.
- London Irish have bolstered their forward ranks for the coming Guinness Premiership season by signing 34-year-old lock Andy Perry from Newcastle on a one-year deal.
- Former Wales flanker Jamie Ringer has re-joined Welsh Principality Premiership side Cardiff RFC after leaving Newport Gwent Dragons.
- Rugby World Cup Sevens winner Tal Selley has joined Pertemps Bees for the new Championship season. Selley, a full Welsh international as well as Sevens specialist, joins from Newport Gwent Dragons.
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1. Max Verstappen ()
