Rugby and Cricket News
Living With The Lions Sports Travel

The latest in international Rugby news about England’s tour of Argentina which is to take place next year in June has seen a slight change in the venue. The two Rugby tests that were scheduled to be played in Argentina will now see the first test being played in England. This is in response to a request for financial assistance that the Pumas put forth to the British and Irish Lions.

All those English Rugby fans who were hoping to support their team in another country will probably be quite disappointed. It seems the Pumas are in dire need of funds and they feel that the first test being played in England will provide them with those funds. The second test is sure to be played away from home, so fans will still have an opportunity to witness this Rugby tour in Argentina.

International Rugby tours are what many Rugby fans look forward to as they have a chance to visit another country and watch their favourite team play there. Although the change in venue will shatter the hopes of a wonderful holiday break for many, there will still be an opportunity to watch the Lions in action at home and in Argentina.

Rugby is one of the most popular and loved games in the UK and fans of the Lions will be ready to support them no matter where they go. All those British and Irish Lions fans that enjoy a good game will be doubly rewarded when they support the team in their next rugby tour which will be in South Africa in June 2009. About 35,000 Lions supporters followed their team to New Zealand, it is expected that Lions supporters will be seen in South Africa as well.

This rugby tour will be a perfect getaway for all those Lions fans in the middle of the year. Along with cheering their team on, fans will be able to experience the wonder and beauty of South Africa. The beautiful landscapes and exciting safaris will be a real treat for those who will be here supporting their team.

The Lion’s tour of South Africa will also be a wonderful opportunity to showcase corporate hospitality or would even work well as a school tour. The upcoming rugby tour is sure to be an exciting one and will be top of the “to-watch” list for all rugby fans in the UK.

Two of the world’s cricketing giants are going head to head in a cricketing tour which includes three tests, two twenty- twenty matches and five ODIs. The South African cricket team is on their tour of Australia and are looking to establish some authority here after their wonderful performances in the past months. Australia on the other hand are fighting for the glory they lost after touring India earlier in the year.

This cricket tour will be a big one for both teams, and both countries will be relying on their pace bowlers to help them steal the show. Both teams have won the last tournaments they have played; South Africa against Bangladesh and Australia against New Zealand. Neither team will want to disrupt their winning streak so you can be sure to witness an awesome cricket tour.

This cricket tour of South Africa to Australia is a perfect opportunity for those who want to take a trip to the land down under. The tour which is beginning in December will continue till the end of January. So those looking for an exciting cricket tour to witness, this is the ideal one and it would also make a great holiday.

Cricket is one of the most loved and followed games in the world. England’s tour of India is currently underway and will see the last of the test matches being played at Mohali on 19th December. So far England have played 5 one day international matches and one test match. The final test will have the English team giving it their all, and all English supporters will want to be there to cheer their team on.

With just one match left to be played, experiencing a part of this cricket tour is sure to be exciting. Watching the match up close will be simply wonderful for many British people and will also be a great escape from the biting cold in the country at the moment. India, home to some great cricket legends has much to offer in beauty, culture, cuisine and is well known for hospitality.

Companies that wish to promote corporate hospitality will find a great way to do so through this cricket tour. English cricket fans will also want to support their team in the last match so bookings for this tour should be made immediately. India with its perfect weather, beautiful landscapes and passion for the gentleman’s game is the ideal cricket holiday destination.

According to a report in a Sydney newspaper, New Zealand may be co hosting the 2011 World Cup with Australia. New Zealand and Australia are all set to host the 2015 World Cup, but according to the Daily Telegraph, ICC chief executives have been in discussion in South Africa, and other countries are on standby. This has also left thousands of enthusiasts who were planning a cricket tour to the subcontinent unsure.

Previously India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan were to host the 2011 tournament, but as of present reports it will not happen at the moment. ICC has already cancelled the twenty20 Champions League which was to be held in India and Champions Trophy that was planned for Pakistan.

According to top officials, it is indicated that the World Cup and several other events that were planned at various places in the sub-continent can be pushed ahead of schedule. There are also plenty of things that are required to be planned in time. James Fitzgerald a spokesperson with the ICC said that discussions are to be made about shifting the tournament. He also added that decision will have to be taken very soon because they need to have time to get ready for the World Cup.

With all the controversy going around, the cricket World Cup tour is on the edge.

Cricket lovers can expect a hard battle in the West Indies when they play two test matches against their opponents, New Zealand, more popularly known as the Black Caps. They will be playing on their home soil and in front of their home crowd.

Australia lost after a 0-2 defeat in a 4-test series against India. Coach Dyson thinks that Australia’s performance against New Zealand was quite impressive and showed how good the cricket structure of that country is.

Many critics had just written that this happened since all the experienced players like Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne had retired.

Dyson has also noticed that in the International Cricket Council’s test rankings, New Zealand ranks No.7, just one place above the West Indies. He also added that this is a competition between two teams that are very closely placed on the ICC table.

West Indies will have a 3 day match against Auckland to prepare for the 1st test. Both teams would like to move up and this is a good chance to prove them. The cricket tour continues with 5 one day matches and two Twenty20 matches against New Zealand. This will definitely be an exciting cricket tour which every cricket fan would love to witness.

The return of the Under-18 prop Sean McCarthy for Warwick School is highly anticipated, especially during their Daily Mail Under-18 Schools Cup fifth round tie at Norwich School on December 10.
McCarthy suffered a shoulder injury due to which he was sidelined for almost six weeks. Since he is close to regaining fitness, Warwick hopes that he would be able to join the team on their school tour to East Anglia for the match.

Warwick also looks forward to be able to make the scrum-half James Catherall a part of their team for the school tour. Catherall was out for 18 months due to a knee injury and has recently returned to action, making his comeback as a replacement in the fourth round during the tour to Solihull School.

During this school tour, Warwick missed many half scoring opportunities, but still managed to win with 33 points in a 15 minute purple patch. Mark Nasey, Warwick’s director of rugby said that though they missed scoring chances during that period, everything they touched seemed to turn to gold resulting in their victory.

Since the fifth round tie of the school tour would not only bring new opponents, but also an overnight stay for the team, Warwick would be leaving to Norwich the previous night itself to avoid any delays for the match.

Gatland witnessed his team score a fabulous victory of 21-18 over Australia at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Welsh gave an impressive show all through this rugby tour by leading the All Blacks at half-time last weekend and coming within five points of their South African opponents on the 8th of November.

After Wales had their first victory in 12 attempts over one of the 3 biggest teams, Gatland exclaimed in joy that someone had to carry the flag for the northern hemisphere. He said that it was the best team that won and they had definitely played real good rugby and deserved to win.

The victory by Wales was the only Home Union win against the major rugby touring sides this autumn. Though Gatland was disappointed at the defeat of his team against South Africa at the beginning of the month, their first win over their opposition from the southern hemisphere delighted him.

Gatland said that he was very proud of the performance of his team during this rugby tour, since the results were important to them and they needed to win. He also added that they had learnt and grown a lot as a team and were looking forward to mature over the next few seasons of rugby tours into one of the good sides.

The ECB and the BCCI have been assured assistance by the ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat in determining the safety of the currently scheduled test series between India and England. The recent terrorist activities in India resulted in the England cricket team abandoning their tour of India midway through.

Lorgat offered his sincere sympathies to all those affected by the recent atrocities in India on behalf of world cricket’s governing body.

If safety is established, the matches would be well-attended, undermining people who aim at destroying the normal way of life, according to Lorgat. He also added that the entire cricket family should rise whenever possible in the face of such evil activities.
He said that he had written to the Board of Control for Cricket of India pledging them the support of the ICC in letting the cricket tour and series proceed if appropriate. He has also offered similar support to the England & Wales Cricket Board.

A chief executives’ committee meeting attended by representatives of the 10 full members and associate members of the ICC will be held in Cape Town soon, as confirmed by Lorgat, in order to discuss the issue of security in India.

The English Cricket Board performance director, Hugh Morris, has once again declared that England will be prepared to continue their cricket tour to India if a thorough assessment of security is done proving that it is safe to do so.

The English cricket team left their cricket tour midway through and returned to London due to the terrorist attacks in Mumbai in which almost 200 people were killed.

During a press conference held at Heathrow Airport, Morris said that the team was committed to going back and playing the series if it was safe to do so. He also added that the players would not be forced to return. All the players would be given the necessary information about the security assessment and their decision would be a personal choice.

Morris said that they had a team of people in India on whom they were relying for up-to-date safety and security information. This information could be expected in the next 24 to 48 hours, after which the situation would be assessed. He said that the advice on security would be taken from people who had expertise in that field. Their team was also working along with other advisors and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in order to pull in information.