South Africa will be staged in Gosford North on July 17th, the
Pacific Islanders Rugby Alliance (PIRA) said on Sunday.
The Pacific Islanders' inaugural rugby Test with South Africa will be staged in Gosford North on July 17th, the Pacific Islanders Rugby Alliance (PIRA) said on Sunday.
PIRA chief executive Charlie Charters said the Test against the Springboks would be a joint initiative between the NSW Rugby Union and media tycoon John Singleton's STW Sports and Event company.
It will wrap up the Islanders' first tour following the Test against the Wallabies in Adelaide on July 3rd, and their international with the All Blacks in Auckland on July 10th.
Charters said the involvement of Singleton's STW - chaired by Australia's 1999 World Cup winning coach Rod Macqueen - was significant in securing the match. "They were able to quickly see the potential interest and have worked closely with the New South Wales Rugby Union to ensure this fixture takes place," Charters said.
STW runs the Gosford stadium, which hosted three pool matches of the 2003 Rugby World Cup as well as the June 2001 fixture between the British and Irish Lions and Australia A.
As with the other Test matches, the net gate revenue and sponsorship income from the Gosford game will go to the rugby unions of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, who own the Islanders team through the PIRA body.
Meanwhile, there was good news for the Australian Rugby Union with the news that Mat Rogers has signed with the Union for a further three years taking him through to the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.
Rogers, who is recovering from an ankle injury which shortened his Super 12 season, said he was pleased to have made the decision and was looking forward to returning to both the Wallabies and NSW Waratah squads. "Last year was an awesome experience, playing in the Rugby World Cup, and I've certainly got my sights set on France," Rogers said in an ARU statement released late Saturday.
"The rugby lifestyle and mateship is something that I've really enjoyed."
After switching to rugby for the 2002 season, Rogers has played 19 internationals for Australia, including the Rugby World Cup final against England here last November and more than 20 Super 12 matches with the Waratahs. "Pulling on a Wallaby jersey and singing the national anthem in front of packed home crowd is like nothing else in the world."
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones said Rogers' decision to sign for a further three years was pleasing. "There is no question Mat is a talented player. His transition from rugby league has been outstanding and he will certainly be an asset to the Wallabies in the years to come," Jones said.
AFP - 2004.