The British and Irish Lions are ready to paint Durban red tomorrow by backing their unshakeable belief that they can stun world champions South Africa.

A SPLIT among the three host nations in the southern hemisphere’s Super rugby competition has been avoided after a meeting of the SANZAR nations’ executive committee in Dublin yesterday.

JOHN SMIT is hoping “to put things right” when the Lions tour South Africa later this year.

THE South African Rugby Union (SARU) has moved to reiterate its commitment to the Super 14 tournament in the wake of reports linking it to a shift to the northern hemisphere.

South African Rugby has moved quickly to quash rumours the country is considering ending its involvement in the Super 14 to join the European-based Magners League.

South African Rugby has today moved to quash rumours that it is interested in joining the Magners League.

The South African Rugby Union has failed in their attempt to scrap the controversial sanctions regulation from next season’s Super 14 and Tri-Nations.

South Africa have confirmed they will select their "strongest possible squad" for the November Tests against Wales, Scotland and England.

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has refused to describe Craig Dowd’s description of him as a “puppet” as racism.

Ireland could take on world champions South Africa in a Test match in the United Arab Emirates later this year.

EDDIE JONES has been confirmed as technical advisor to the South Africa national side until the end of their World Cup campaign.

SA Rugby have come to an agreement with the South Africa rugby players to end the stand-off that threatened to disrupt the Springbok’s tour of Argentina, Wales and France next month.

JAPAN will bid to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup and so take the tournament outside the sport’s traditional strongholds for the first time.

South African star Percy Montgomery has pledged his future to Newport Gwent Dragons for the next three years.

CONFIRMATION of Declan Kidney's appointment as Leinster coach in succession to Gary Ella came yesterday.

Gwent Dragons today unveiled former Munster chief Declan Kidney as their new coach.

Connacht 14 Gwent Dragons 32

Newport-Gwent 48 Cardiff 25

Munster 6 Gwent Dragons 16

Ulster coach Alan Solomons was encouraged by his side’s performance in their 22-0 win over Gwent Dragons even though it was not enough to prevent their exit from the Heineken Cup.

Leicester will tackle French champions Stade Francais in a Heineken Cup elimination match at Welford Road next Friday night.

Phil Vickery has given Gloucester a major Heineken Cup boost ahead of tomorrow’s crucial clash against Bourgoin.

Celtic Warriors 19 Newport Gwent Dragons 12

GETHIN JENKINS will make his full RBS Six Nations Championship debut on Saturday — by playing out of position against the Grand Slam-chasing Irish.

WELSH coach Steve Hansen has named two uncapped players in his squad for the RBS Six Nations Championship.

ENGLAND and Wales are both counting the cost of injuries to key players ahead of the RBS Six Nations Championship.

New Wales coach Steve Hansen saw his reign begin with a defeat as Scotland snatched a late victory in a scrappy Six Nations finale at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff today.

Iestyn Harris is adamant that he will become a player fit to wear the coveted red number 10 shirt and follow in the rich tradition of Wales fly-halves.

Charlie Hodgson and Lewis Moody have been ruled out of England’s Lloyds TSB Six Nations Championship showdown with France in Paris on Saturday.

Wales have dropped Iestyn Harris for Saturday’s Lloyds TSB Six Nations Championship clash against France at the Millennium Stadium.

Ireland sounded an ominous warning to their Lloyds TSB Six Nations rivals, with a 54-10 victory over Wales.

Wales coach Graham Henry was upbeat after leaving out four top players, including Lion Colin Charvis, for the opening Lloyds TSB Six Nations Championship fixture against Ireland in Dublin on February 3.

Classy Newport completed a Heineken Cup double over Newcastle tonight as they grounded the Falcons in unceremonious fashion at Rodney Parade.

Leinster booked their place in the Celtic League semi-finals with a hard-

Wales coach Graham Henry has made three enforced changes for Sunday’s Millennium Stadium clash against the world champions Australia.

Wales coach Graham Henry has postponed today’s scheduled team announcement for the Millennium Stadium clash against Tonga next weekend.

Newport have been forced to make two changes to the side originally picked for Tuesday's rearranged Heineken Cup Pool Four match at Bath.