Jaguares add lion park to the itinerary

TIGHTHEADS attended the final day of the St John’s and KES Easter rugby festivals on Monday and wasn’t disappointed. As expected, the Paarl Boys High versus Affies match brought a climatic close to proceedings at St John’s. It was an intense, nail-biting affair in which the boys from Paarl prevailed 14-10. One mildly gloating former Paarl Boys High pupil (who also happens to be a provincial rugby heavyweight) was put in his place by an Affies supporter. “Maar Oom, ons koop nie spelers nie. (But uncle, we don’t buy players).”

SWIFT was the condemnation this week after British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland unveiled his team for their tour to New Zealand. Wasps jumped to the defence of their omitted lock Joe Launchbury. “All gobsmacked here that Joe Launchbury wont be with @lionsofficial. 2 motm’s in a 6 Nations winning campaign & player of the comp nominee.” England’s multiple Six Nations winning captain Dylan Hartley was also left out.

GIVEN how the Lions have mauled this season, Tightheads found it interesting that the Jaguares team management went to a lion park last Wednesday. Also, it’s the same park where a tourist was mauled almost two years ago.

TO borrow from the SA Rugby media release, there would have been “a couple of mouthwatering clashes” on the opening weekend of the SuperSport Rugby Challenge. To that end, a clash between the Tafel Lager Griquas and the Windhoek Draught Welwitchias would have hit the spot but sadly they won’t meet.

RARELY sure of his facts, former Bok lock Kobus Wiese took to Twitter this week stating ”under correction” that CJ Stander was the first SA-born player to be selected for the B&I Lions. How about Mike Catt and Matt Stevens, to name some, Kobus?

EX-ENGLAND and Fiji Sevens coach Ben Ryan is rugby’s 50 Cent. Ryan, Fiji’s Olympic gold-winning coach, this week had a 50 cent coin dedicated to his achievements, while the Fiji team now features on a new $7 banknote.