The Sharks have dropped coach Kevin Putt from their franchise. In the statement from the team’s board said that Putt had been asked to step down.

The Sharks are currently at the bottom of the Super 12 table after losing all four of their matches this year.

Putt has been replaced by Dick Muir with immediate effect. Muir will be in charge of the Sharks when they take on the Brumbies this weekend.

Muir will be assisted by South African coaching great who is currently a national selector for South Africa. Also former Australian coach Rod McQueen will join the Sharks as a technical adviser for their four-match Super 12 tour of New Zealand and Australia.

Just as the 2005 Six Nations tournament comes to end, the schedule for next years competition is released. Defending champs, Wales, will start their defence by taking on England at Twickenham.

Ireland, Wales and France have the benefit of three home games, while the others will only have two home games.
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The Hurricanes have named their team to take on the Stormers this Friday at Arena Manawatu in Palmerston North.

Four changes have been made to the starting team. In the forwards Ben Herring returns to the openside flank, while Thomas Waldrom takes over from the injured Rodney So’oialo at number eight. In the backs Isaac Boss will start at halfback for Piri Weepu who has twisted his ankle and Conrad Smith starts at centre after recovering from his elbow injury.

Hurricanes: Riki Flutey, Hosea Gear, Conrad Smith, Tana Umaga (Captain), Ma’a Nonu, Jimmy Gopperth, Isaac Boss, Thomas Waldrom, Ben Herring, Jerry Collins, Luke Andrews, Ross Kennedy, Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, Joe McDonnell,

Replacements: Joe Ward, Tim Fairbrother, Kristian Ormsby, Chris Masoe, Shannon Paku, Tane Tu’ipulotu, Lome Fa’atau

On Tuesday three Blues players appeared before a Sanzar judicial committee on a stomping charges after a Super 12 rugby match last Saturday. All three players were found guilty.

Lock Ali Williams was banned for six weeks. While halfback David Gibson and second five-eighth Sam Tuitupou each received a two week ban.

The charges related to dangerous rucking of Crusaders captain Richie McCaw. McCaw had got himself on the wrong side of the ruck and was preventing the ball from coming to the Blues. Williams attempted to ruck McCaw away from the ball. Williams boots game very close to McCaw’s head and neck. Williams was sent-off on the advice of the touch judge.

Fortunately for the Blues they a bye this weekend, which will be included in the ban. So Gibson and Tuitupou will only miss the week six match against the Brumbies.

Waratahs winger Cameron Shepherd has been suspended for one Super 12 game and fined $5,000 by the New South Wales Rugby Union after damaging a car in an alcohol-related incident on Monday morning.

Shepherd and another 21-year-old have been charged for malicious damage by police after they damaged the panels and roof of a car in the inner city suburb of Pyrmont on Monday morning. He will still face court proceedings for his conduct.

Shepherd pleaded guilty to a breach of the ARU code of conduct.

Because of the suspension he will miss this Saturday’s Super 12 game against the Bulls. The NSWRU disciplinary committee declared that the fine be paid to the Spinal Injuries Unit at Royal North Shore Hospital.

The 6 Nations is over for another year, with Wales the deserved winners.

Due to their win over Ireland, Wales jump to 5th spot in the latest IRB World Rankings.

Reuters name their Team of the Six Nations, not surprisingly France and Wales dominate the team.

In a BBC online poll Wales flanker Martyn Williams is named Six Nations Player of the Championship. Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll finished second in the poll, with another Welshman, wing Shane Williams, in third place.

Scotland coach Matt Williams looks like he will be losing his job. While Italy coach John Kirwan is also under pressure to go, but wants to stay until the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Looking forward to the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand, the 6 Nations results will have effected selection possibilities for coach Sir Clive Woodward. Most significantly how will the poor performance of England and the win by Wales effect the make-up of the team. Although he still seems to be hopeful that Jonny Wilkinson will tour.

Fiji have won the Melrose Cup after defeating New Zealand 29-19 in the final of the Seven Rugby World Cup in Hong Kong on Sunday.

Fiji, who last won the title in 1997, earlier defeated England in their semi-final which went into overtime to advance to the final. While New Zealand, the reigning Sevens World Champion, beat Australia to get their place in the final.

Fiji become the first nation to win the Sevens World Cup twice.

In the other finals played earlier. Italy won the Bowl with a 7 - 5 victory over Canada. While in the Plate competition Samoa defeated Portugal 29-7.

Australian and Waratahs lock Justin Harrison has been suspended for three Super 12 matches for his racial slur against Cats winger Chumani Booithe Cats in South Africa last weekend.

The three match penalty will include the one-match Harrison voluntarily stood down from against the Stormers in Sydney last night. He will miss matches against the Bulls and Crusaders both to be played in Sydney.

Harrison was fined $20,000, but will escape the penalty if he completes an anti-discrimination course run by the anti-discrimination board of NSW and 30 hours of community service.

Brumbies defeated the Cats 34-29 in a fourth round Super 12 match at Ellis Park on Saturday.

The Cats came very close to causing an upset against the defending Super 12 champions. In the dying seconds of the game they came close to winning, but the Brumbies were able to hold on and keep their 2005 unbeaten record intact.

Cats - Tries: Jaque Fourie, Conrad Jantjes; Conversions: Andre Pretorius (2); Penalties: Pretorius (4), Tiaan Snyman

Brumbies - Tries: Matt Giteau (2), Sam Norton-Knight, Joel Wilson; Conversions: Giteau (4); Penalties: Giteau (2)

Wales defeated Ireland 32-20 to grab the Grand Slam at Cardiff on Saturday.

This Grand Slam (defeating all 6 Nations opponents) is the first by Wales since 1978.

Wales led going into half time 16-6 through a try from Gethin Jenkins and Gavin Henson kicking a drop goal and a long-range penalty.

A second half try to Kevin Morgan try put Wales 29-6 up. Ireland staged a comeback with tries from Marcus Horan and Geordan Murphy.

Wales were able to hold on, thanks to the boot of fly-half Stephen Jones who added 16 points, to come away with with the historic victory.

Wales - Tries: Gethin Jenkins, Kevin Morgan; Conversions: Stephen Jones (2); Penalties: Gavin Henson, Stephen Jones (4); Drop Goal: Henson

Ireland - Tries: Marcus Horan, Geordan Murphy; Conversions: David Humphreys (2); Penalties: Ronan O’Gara (2)