RUGBY

Springbok captain John Smit welcomed South Africa’s tough draw for the 2011 IRB Rugby World Cup as the ideal preparation to battle harden the team for the tournament’s later stages, if they should progress.The Springboks were drawn in Pool D with Wales and Fiji as well as qualifiers from Oceania and Africa in a grouping that Smit said was similar to the 2007 draw.

RUGBY

The President’s Council of the South African Rugby Union on Monday resolved to move the Springbok emblem to the right-hand side of the national playing jersey. The decision was taken to accommodate the application of the National Sports Emblem – the King Protea – and to bring SA Rugby in line with other South African sports federations and planned legislation.

RUGBY 7’s

Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu has confirmed the call-up of Ian Adendorff and Sampie Mastriet as cover for the injured Marius Schoeman for this week's Emirates Airline SA Sevens tournament in George. Paul will name one of the uncapped players as official replacement for Schoeman when he announces his final team on Thursday.

GOLF

George Coetzee can rest well this evening, sharing a joint two-shot lead with Tyrone van Aswegen after scoring a seven-under-par 65 in the opening round of the Nedbank Affinity Cup played at the Lost City Country Club in Pilansberg on Monday.Van Aswegen could not have asked for a better completion to his round with an eagle on the par-five 528-meter 18th which catapulted him to the top of the leaderboard. The 26-year-old pro from Gauteng birdied six holes whilst dropping a shot on the eighth.

SOCCER
Former Bafana Bafana striker Shaun Bartlett ended speculation about his future when he finally signed a short-term contract, at least until the end of the season, with Bloemfontein Celtic last Friday.