Crossword

ACROSS 7 8 12 14 16 18 19 23 DOWN 1 2 3 Angry VIP deems excitable full-back worthy of 82 Test caps (6,7) Ospreys back-row and Canada captain whose 2015-16 season was marred by a knee injury (5,6) George - - - , ex-Scotland prop who coached Gala for seven seasons before departing in March (6) Chris Cusiter quit rugby this year to sell - - - whisky in America (6) Spain’s last Test in this city brought a 39-7 win over Portugal (6) Legendary centre restricted to 24 Tests (and 19 tries) because of South Africa’s sporting isolation (6) Ex-Wales prop (1999-2000) who took part in this year’s 3,000-mile Race Across America (5,6) Ireland prop born on the day his country beat Japan 32-16 at the 1991 World Cup (6,7) - - - Bridge, Kendal’s home ground since 1927 but soon to become a supermarket (4) The - - - World, rugby history shortlisted in the Cross Sports Book Awards (4) Fifty-year-old Northern Irish club from county of the same name (6) 4 5 6 9 10 11 12 13 15 17 18 19 20 21 22 His autobiography, Man and Ball, was shortlisted in the Cross Sports Book Awards (6) South African restaurant chain, a sponsor of tag rugby, initially sees profits up rapidly (4) Stern - - - , nickname of Scotland’s head coach (4) Exeter Chiefs’ hooker/captain (7) Month in which Argentina will play Australia at Twickenham in the Rugby Championship (7) The Tongan - - - , nickname of 130kg Reds rookie Taniela Tupou (4) A rugby one lasts 80 minutes (4) New Zealand centre at Connacht set to qualify for Ireland on residency in 10 Down next year (3) Lord - - - , star speaker at the inaugural World Rugby Conference and Exhibition in 2013 (3) - - - Jones, ex-Wales lock who on a 1994 Barbarians tour spanked Matt Dawson with a cactus (6) Aaron Smith has been wearing fingerless ones on the field (6) Dowson, Davies or de Glanville (4) Argentinian club located in Malta lay-by (4) England backs coach in Oz (4) A clean sweep of wins in the Six Nations produces a grand one (4) THE WINNER OF THE july CROSSWORD IS MARK SQuIRE FROM NORTH MARSTON, BuCKS ACROSS 1. Gary Ella 4. Grit 8. Rod 9. Mower 10. Te’o 11. Trojans 12. Catch 13. Blood injury 17. Cramb 18. Semi-pro 20. Ash 21. Nevis 22. App 23. Earl 24. Crusader. DOWN 1. Gareth 2. Radio 3. Lewis 5. Rotator 6. Trophy 7. Brock James 9. Meadowbank 14. Leather 15. Scrape 16. Cooper 18. Sever 19. Plaid. The crossword winner will receive a case of the legendary Hobgoblin ruby beer, from the Wychwood brewery (www.wychwood.co.uk). Like them on Facebook – Hobgoblin beer. Closing date for entries is Monday 5 September. Results will appear in our November 2016 issue. Send your entries and address to: Alan Pearey, Rugby World Crossword, Wellside Cottage, Cranes Lane, Kelvedon, Essex, CO5 9AX. Competition rules are on page 14. Entrants must be over 18. Compiled by Alan Pearey.