Autumn Internationals: Kevin Sinfield attempts to strike gold for Leeds Rhinos

Ten years ago Kevin Sinfield would have been forgiven for fearing he would never strike gold, but a chance meeting with Spandau Ballet singer Tony Hadley set the wheels in motion for the Leeds Rhinos captain to try to get his hands on precious metal at Wembley on Saturday.

I look back now and think it happened for a reason. Perhaps at the start I needed lows to help me along the way. At the time it was the most difficult thing to have happened to me in my life. Looking back and putting it into perspective helped me as a rugby player and a person. You learn so much from the bad times as well as the good ones.

There are whole arrays of different things that have happened to me such as losing Challenge Cup final and Grand Finals but that’s part and parcel of sport, Sinfield said.

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Since Murrayfield, Sinfield, 29, has inspired Leeds to four Super League Grand Final successes and two World Club Challenge titles but the Challenge Cup has remained beyond his grasp.

Many have bounced back and done equally good if not better things. The response from rugby league players in general when they have faced adversity is very positive.

They are difficult times but you have to be resilient and prove people wrong. When you are not picked you tend to question yourself more. But do not get me wrong I am not unique. This happens to rugby league players all the time.

I believe everything happens for a reason and for whatever reason I have not been able to get my hands on the Challenge Cup and we will perform as well as we can to put that right but if it does not happen for whatever reason, he said before trailing off. I live my life like that. Things happen. Circumstances appear and opportunities happen because they are supposed to.

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I understand why people say it is the missing piece in the jigsaw and I am aware of what the fans think because they tell me every time they see me but the important thing is that we focus on the game because if we take our focus off we will be beaten, Sinfield said.

That philosophy is probably something drilled into me since I became a professional because the life as a sportsman is very much a roller coaster. You have fantastic moments you would not even dream about but there are real low moments when you think.

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Rugby: Summer tours are back on the right track at last

Ignore the logistics for a minute and imagine if the Lions toured the southern hemisphere every year, playing one Test annually against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Now traditional tours by individual countries are thankfully back on the global agenda. From 2012, the leading countries in Europe will play proper three-Test series against the SANZAR giants, plus Argentina, while also returning to the Pacific Islands and even Japan.

In the case of sporting conflict, familiarity so often breeds tedium, which is exactly why pleas for Lions tours to become more frequent have been rightly ignored. Scarcity is part of the appeal.

England will get the ball rolling with a series in South Africa and it will have the feel of a Lions expedition.

A series also gives time for sub-plots and dramas and conflicts to emerge and evolve.

Reviving proper tours in June may be a nod to nostalgia, but the move is founded on commercial imperatives, too, as crowds and revenues are down for these June matches, which are too often one-sided.

With midweek games thrown in it allows fringe players to stay involved and the whole exercise will hold a greater sense of resonance and purpose.

In Europe, attendances and bank balances are well catered for during the November Test window, but proper series would be an improvement then, too.

On the flip-side, when a true contest materialises, as was the case last summer when France won a Test in Dunedin and New Zealand hit back in Wellington, 1-1 is not a satisfactory conclusion. It was crying out for a decider.

This is where the familiarity argument kicks in. Back in the day, a visit by the All Blacks was a major event, but now that mystique and air of expectation has been somewhat eroded by regularity. They have come to Twickenham during the last four years of autumn internationals.

A real series would carry more weight than the endless round of one-off Tests. England could play the likes of Fiji or Samoa at the start of November, followed by a three-Test series against New Zealand, Australia, South Africa or Argentina.

In the interests of expansion, the RFU could take one match each year to the provinces - to Old Trafford, Villa Park or St James’ Park.

The public don’t moan about repetition during an Ashes series, which comes to these shores once every four years.

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Rugby: Olly Barkley tells England team mates: 'We must behave'

Olly Barkley last night backed Martin Johnson's demand that the England rugby squad behave themselves on tour next month.

Johnson wasted no time yesterday in issuing a stark warning of the "pitfalls" which potentially lie await for them off the field on a five-match mission to Australia and New Zealand.

It will be England's first trip Down Under since the 2008 tour to New Zealand when allegations of serious sexual assault were made against four of the squad.

"In the world we live in there are pitfalls, some can be put there deliberately, some are just the pitfalls that young guys face when they're out and about in big cities

"We'll be together for three and a half weeks in hostile territory, staying in different hotels and city centre locations," he said. "There will be distractions and potential areas to get embroiled in so we'll need to be smart and look after each other.

No formal complaint was made in 2008 against the so-called Auckland Four of Danny Care, David Strettle, Topsy Ojo and Mike Brown, whom NZ police sought to interview over claims made by an 18-year-old woman.

"I don't think they will be targets but this is the world we live in. People have cameras on their phones these days."

But Barkley acknowledges that the whole episode was a wake-up call and that it is vital no-one invites embarrassment onto the tour this time.

Indeed, an RFU inquiry found no evidence of any such incident having taken place - though it did adjudge Ojo and Brown guilty of misconduct for staying out all night.

"The management and the players are confident we will all adhere to that.

"We've put the 2008 issue behind us and there's now a code of conduct in place," said a player who has had his own off-field problems in the past.

The difference between this one and the last is that Johnson will be with it every step of the way. In 2008 he stayed home to await the birth of his second child and in his absence chaos ensued.

"The big thing is if you don't you compromise not only the squad but the individuals involved as well. That's the last thing anyone wants to do to a tour that we're all so positive about."

At Twickenham yesterday he left nobody in any doubt that he will be on top of matters in Perth and in Sydney and across the Tasman Sea in Napier.

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Rugby: England tour payments agreed

The Rugby Football Union and Team England Rugby have settled a players' payment dispute ahead of the upcoming tour to Australia and New Zealand.

An independent third party was called in to settle the dispute and the RFU and TER have accepted their recommendations ahead of the opening clash against the Barbarians in Perth on June 8.

Martin Johnson's men face two friendlies with Australia Barbarians and two Tests against Australia before making a trip to take on New Zealand Maori in Napier in June, but the tour looked in doubt after the two groups failed to find some common ground over payments for the 44-man squad.

However, the finer details of the players' payments will not be made known to the public.

A basic tour fee of £7,800 was thought to have been offered with an extra £5,000 on offer for every man that made Johnson's squad of 22 for the two Tests against Australia with the other half of his squad receiving no extra incentives.

"Both sides met today with the independent third party appointed to review the situation, and accepted their recommendations.

A joint statement made by the RFU and TER read: "The Rugby Football Union and Team England Rugby are pleased to announce that they have resolved all the outstanding issues over tour payments for the elite player squad for the tour to Australia and New Zealand.

"The details of the final resolution remain confidential and will not be disclosed by either party."

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Rugby: Brian Moore: calm down England it's only the phoney war - real hysteria is coming

It is England's football fans who need to keep their nerve not Fabio Capello and his players. From now until England either win or get knocked out of the World Cup there will be little else in the media.

You may have forgotten, or at least tried to, that the coverage will be all-encompassing and that it has a marked effect on the English psyche.

The mass hysteria that is on the way is not one in which people lose all semblance of will; it is more unusual than that. What is created is a compulsion to comment and most of the multitude of comment will be notable only because of its stupidity. Armchair professionals and would-be/could-have-been international sportsmen will opine sagely on any and all facets of English football.

There will be a divided nation; all wanting England to win and approaching each minute piece of news with solemn consideration yet reacting in different ways.

On the one hand you will have the know-all-know-nothings. Pessimists at heart they will become most expert on the topic on which they are least qualified to comment. Indolent lard-arses will criticise players' fitness levels; some with the tactical nous of a radish will berate Capello for his use of one system over another; with the miracle of hindsight many more will tell you they knew it all along.

On the other side of the national divide will be those who approach their support as a faith. As is the way with zealots they will be less entertaining but messianic in their proclamations for "Ingerland". As a mantra they will urge, if not demand that we "get behind the lads" whatever the results or level of performance. They will laud quite ordinary players as "world-clarse" and display wilful ignorance concerning anything that might suggest England are not the best team in the world – oh, and by the way, anyone not in agreement is a traitor.

For players it is impossible to shake out the knowledge that this is not the real deal and though they may say that 100 per cent attention is given, they will have reserved some part of their thoughts for South Africa. There is nothing wrong with this and nothing Capello can do anyway. The only thing you can hope for is that none of the players gets injured.

So for the media and public let's stamp down the surges of passion and keep it for when it really counts because as certain as all the above is, there will be incidents that rightly provoke our indignation.

It is when this clamour is reaching its height that Capello and his squad need to excuse themselves, at least mentally, from the scene. It is very difficult to enforce a ban on accessing the news, given the number of platforms on which it is available and unless a player is very strong-willed widespread criticism will affect him, even if he believes this not to be the case. Praise is not without its possible pitfalls; self-belief is welcome, indeed necessary, but self-importance is too often the reaction to preternatural adulation.

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Autumn Internationals 2010: Wayne Rooney's energy gives England edge, says Francois Pienaar

Francois Pienaar skippered South Africa’s rugby union side to global glory and he reckons the “infectious enthusiasm” of Wayne Rooney and Lionel Messi could give their countries the edge when football’s World Cup takes place in his homeland.

“I think you have to look at the usual suspects and see what effects the likes of Messi or Wayne Rooney can have,” Pienaar said.

For players it is impossible to shake out the knowledge that this is not the real deal and though they may say that 100 per cent attention is given, they will have reserved some part of their thoughts for South Africa. There is nothing wrong with this and nothing Capello can do anyway. The only thing you can hope for is that none of the players gets injured.

“A successful team needs to have players on the pitch who can sense the moment and feed off one another.

“Individuals like Messi and Rooney just sort of inject enthusiasm. They have that can-do mentality and winning spirit and when you have that in your team it is infectious.

“I think that Brazil are looking very good and playing some very sexy football. But who knows? When France won it no one gave them a chance.

“I think that England will be really strong, the Germans are always there. Then there is Spain, Italy, Argentina – if the rest of the team can back up Lionel Messi.”

Pienaar inspired South Africa to World Cup success as they overcame the odds and that is something his compatriots in the Bafana Bafana team will have to repeat just to maintain their interest in the tournament beyond the group stage.

“We were a very good team, not favourites certainly, but it was a very special team and had the knock-out punch which we delivered when it mattered,” Pienaar added.

“Bafana Bafana have not had the build-up to their tournament that we had but if the team gels, trains hard and has resolve and the obsession to detail that I always say you need then they have a shot.

“If Bafana Bafana reaches the knock-out stage, as we all hope they do it will be just like 1995 or 1996 when I went with the whole team to the stadium in Soweto to see South Africa win the Africa Cup of Nations.”

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Rugby: Scotland scrap southern hemisphere tours

The SRU have confirmed Scotland will no longer hold three-day tests against South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, at least for the next eight years.

Scotland's absence from New Zealand's tour schedule for the next eight years has been explained as a decision taken by the SRU, contrary to reports. It had been suggested the Scots had been snubbed by the All Blacks, when they unveiled their future plans earlier this week.

National coach Andy Robinson and performance director Graham Lowe no longer favour prolonged tours of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Instead, Scotland will travel for one-off matches against the three for the foreseeable future, while also hosting the trio nine times in six years between 2012 and 2018.

France, England, Ireland and Wales are all booked up to play the three, who are collectively known as SANZAR, on tours scheduled until 2018.

“I am very pleased with the tours schedule,” Robinson told the SRU website. “We have a first-rate programme of autumn Tests incoming to Murrayfield, which are important for our rugby development.

“As far as our overseas tours are concerned I do not believe it would be beneficial for us to play a series of three Tests against the individual SANZAR countries at the end of our season.

“What I believe works for us, from a performance perspective, is a mix between SANZAR and Tier 2 unions as that gives us the opportunity to develop players which is part and parcel of touring."

"More than anything I'm just relieved to be playing again, the Wallabies was just more of a bonus if I made it."Lowe, who left the New Zealand Rugby Union to take up his post with the SRU last October, added: “Like Andy, I firmly believe that the schedule, as outlined, will assist with our rugby development and importantly develops solid relationships with some of world rugby's emerging nations.”

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Rugby: Force back row to provide Wallaby backbone

The Western Force back row will feature prominently in the upcoming test arena with Matt Hodgson, David Pocock and Richard Brown all selected in the Wallabies squad announced today.

The trio was a force to be reckoned with in the later part of the Super 14 season following the return of Pocock and Brown from injury, and could carry the responsibility for Australia against the likes of England, New Zealand and South Africa.

The selection of Hodgson is great reward for his stellar 2010 campaign. The versatile forward was a man mountain in the back row and the only player at the club to start and finish every game.

"It's one of your biggest highs playing for Australia and then getting injured and missing out was hard, it sort of drove me this year to put my hand up again and make selection and get that test cap that I want," Hodgson said.

"Robbie gave me a call yesterday morning, so it was good to pick up that unknown number. It is good to get that call early.

"He just sort of congratulated me on such a good performance in the Super 14 at the start of the year, and said just to continue working and keep aiming for that jersey that I want to get."

For Brown and Pocock the recent Super 14 presented challenges in other forms as injuries to both players in round one forced them to watch from the sidelines for half a season.

But true to form the pair returned ready for action and made a telling contribution to a positive second half of the year for the Western Force and are keen to add to their test caps.

"I'm a little relieved to make the squad after only playing half a season so I'm pretty excited," said Brown.

"I was always hopeful but I was just happy to come back in the second half of the season regardless of whether I made the Wallabies.

Other Western Force players selected for Wallabies duties include prop Pek Cowan, lock Nathan Sharpe, the most experienced player selected in the 30-man Australian squad, and full-back James O'Connor, the youngest member of the 2010 class.

With 79 tests to his name already Sharpe will provide the leadership and experience to a young squad, something he has done with distinction throughout his career and again this season at the Force.

"Sharpie doesn't talk a lot about how his performance is but that probably sums the guy up, he's had probably one of his best seasons in his time in Super Rugby and the way he's led us through the year has been instrumental for a lot of blokes," said Hodgson.

"I know it made me keep going at the start of the year when we were up against a brick wall. He's a good bloke and his form has been great this year.

"He is probably the best Captain I've ever had. The way he leads us on the field is the same as off the field. He's got that good combination with all the blokes from the older guys to the younger guys, everyone respects him."

Tough forward Ben McCalman has been acknowledged for his excellent debut Super Rugby season with inclusion in the 10-man Australian Barbarians squad that will train alongside the Wallabies and play two midweek matches against England next month.

Winger Nick Cummins is also part of that squad and will be hoping to impress after picking-up an injury on the opening day of last year's Wallabies training camp.

"I'm really happy for Ben to get his chance I think it's well deserved, especially in his first year, it's just a huge effort," Brown said.

"For Nick, people know he's a talent and he is a colourful character too, so it should be good to have him along. He has done well to come back from his injuries and I think we all know what it takes to come back after a few setbacks."

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Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu receives ‘ambassador’ accolade at tourism awards – York Ebor Horse racing Festival

TOURISM chiefs hailed the Archbishop of York the answer to their prayers when they presented him with the top award at a major ceremony.

The annual York Tourism Awards, organised by Visit York, were held at the National Railway Museum last night, to celebrate excellence in the city’s crucial tourism industry.

Fourteen winners, picked from hundreds of entries, were presented with their awards at the event hosted by writer and broadcaster Gervase Phinn.

The award for Tourism Ambassador 2010 went to Dr John Sentamu for the role he plays both nationally and internationally in putting York on the map.

Since his arrival in the city in 2005, visitors have met the Archbishop offering open-air baptisms, he has visited flood victims in Cumbria and made visits overseas.

Visit York chairman John Yeomans said: “The Archbishop has contributed greatly to raising the profile of the city and we’re delighted he has accepted this award in recognition of the work he does both in York and across the globe.”

Last year he rode My Will, a Paul Nicholls horse, but could only manage 3rd. However, this year he’s on the favorite, Big Fella Thanks, who also happens to be trained by Nicholls. Big Fella Thanks had a great race last year as he finished 6th at the tender age of 7 so with Ruby Walsh in charge he might live up to his billing.

Tony McCoy, who this year is riding Don’t Push It, is one of the greatest jockeys of the modern era with over 3000 career wins which have brought him virtually every prize going except the coveted Grand National. Racing in the Aintree Grand National 2010 will mark the 15th time he has attempted the course so he is more than familiar with it but so far has only managed 3rd place.

Sam Twiston-Davies may not be a celebrated jockey but he’s making plenty of headlines for the Aintree Grand National 2010. At 17-years-old he’s competing to become the youngest winner since Bruce Hobbs won with Battleship in 1938. Hobbs was also aged 17 at the time. He’s riding a decent horse in Hello Bud, trained by his father Nigel, but his inexperience may take its toll.

Dr Sentamu, who was unable to attend the award ceremony in person, said it was a “great honour”.

He said: “York is one of the greatest cities in Britain. It’s not just the great tourist attractions we have here like the Minster, the Jorvik Viking Centre and the Railway Museum that draw people into the city – no, I put it down to the incredible people we have here in York. Yorkshire people may be famous for being straight talking, but they are also renowned for being warm-spirited, kind-hearted and very welcoming to our visitors. I think that’s the main reason people keep coming back – and also one of the main reasons I have won this award!”

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Paco Boy shines at Sandown – Glorious Goodwood Horseracing Festival

Richard Hannon jnr firmly believes Paco Boy will be hard to beat this season after he started the campaign in effortless style by sweeping away the opposition in the Bet365 Mile at Sandown.

Last year's winner of the Group Two event progressed to score in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer but was roughed off after his mid-summer Sussex Stakes second in preparation for his five-year-old campaign.

The 11-10 favourite looked a cut above in the parade ring before the field headed to post and he cruised into contention on the outside under Richard Hughes.

After snatching the lead passing the furlong marker, Hughes was little more than an onlooker as his willing partner stretched over three lengths clear of international campaigner Pressing.

Hannon jnr, son and assistant to his father Richard, said: 'I just spoke to Dad on the phone and he agreed with me that the horse is definitely better this year.

'He will go to the Lockinge now and I wish that race had been today as he was so well. He's been gasping for a race for the last six to eight weeks and he kicked two windows out of his box as he's so fresh.

'I think he will struggle to find one to beat him after today.

'After the Lockinge there are races like the Queen Anne and the Jacques le Marios and connections are looking at all sorts of races in all sorts of places.'

The colours of Ballymacoll Stud were successful in the Bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes for the second year running as Glass Harmonium followed up stablemate Tartan Bearer's 2009 win under Ryan Moore.

Another to strike at Royal Ascot, the Michael Stoute-trained four-year-old made giant strides under the champion jockey - who was sporting a black eye after being hit by a piece of turf in the previous race - and the 11-1 chance displayed plenty of heart to hold the determined Redwood by a head.

Stoute said: 'He was a little bit behind schedule in early March so he will have needed the run and there may be more than normal progress from this.

'He's a horse we've always liked and I hope he can really go on and progress.

'He will stay a mile and a half but we won't go down that route at the moment and the Tattersalls Gold Cup is a race that springs to mind.'

Luca Cumani had jetted off to saddle Presvis in the Audemars Piguet QE II Cup in Hong Kong and missed his Mabait making it four wins on the bounce in the hands of Kieren Fallon in the Poker At bet365.com Handicap.

Cumani's son, Matt, said: 'This was a sighter to see how he had come on and he has obviously come on a lot.

'It looks like he will get further but a mile will be fine for him for now.'

Adam Kirby ensured the Flat riders were not beaten at their own game by lifting the Casino At bet365.com Flat v Jump Jockeys Handicap.

The annual clash between the stars of each code is always the subject of plenty of weighing room banter but Kirby had the right ammunition on his side in Halsion Chancer (8-1), a workmate of John Best's 2000 Guineas hope Inler.

Best's assistant Martin Smith said: 'It's a bit of a boost for Inler - the horse has worked with him two or three times.

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FORFAR-BASED RUGBY COACH'S AUTUMN INTERNATIONALS!

LOCAL rugby coach Colin Robertson has completed his own special 'Autumn Internationals 2010' after two decades of working with the nation's rising stars.

Much of his work in achieving the full England set was achieved during a 20-year career with the SRU in which Colin worked in a series of development and coaching roles, taking him firstly at national level to the technical coach position with the U-19s in the 1990s.

From 2004-07 he was head coach of the U-18 side before moving to take on the same post with the U-20 squad in World Cup and Six Nations campaigns.

The withdrawal of an U-17 coach opened the door for Grampian Institute of Sport manager Colin to take up the milestone appointment for the latest group of fixtures, which included an outing last week against a Newcastle Falcons Academy outfit.

"It's an honour to have the full set and I believe I'm the first person to have been head coach and assistant coach for all the age groups at national level - the only team I haven't coached is Scotland!" said Colin.

"There have been many highlights - the U-18 team in 2007 was the most successful, beating Wales, France and Italy in the Six Nations and there were only five points in the game against England.

"Coaching the U-20s to a World Cup where you are playing five games and maintaining that level of performance was also a memorable experience, and the with the U-19s we beat England and South Africa in World Cups so there have been many great memories," he added.

Pride over Colin's achievement is also shared at Strathmore Rugby Club in Forfar, particularly amongst the Strathie Sharks junior section which he has been instrumental in building since moving to the town from his native Gala in 1992.

Colin's closest Strathie interest centres around the progress of his son Struan's involvement in the club's Under-15s but, through his former SRU development role, he is very familiar with the good work being done at venues like Inchmacoble.

"It is the opposite end of the spectrum from the national teams, but Strathie is a great community environment," added Colin, who is counting on the club meeting one of his, so far, unfulfilled dreams.

"It is a frustration that nobody from Angus has played for Scotland and it would be great to think that with clubs like the Sharks continuing with their development that it could happen."

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Fai Mika hopes a move to Tasman will catapult him into the Samoan reckoning for next year's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Mika who made 29 appearances for Southland since debuting in 2007 will head north tomorrow after transferring to Tasman on a one-year deal.

The versatile 29-year-old, who can play both sides of the scrum, has struggled for regular starting opportunities with the Stags behind Highlanders props Jamie Mackintosh and Chris King.

He was optimistic the shift to the Makos would see him gain more playing time as he looks to crack the Manu Samoa squad for the first time.

"It's a big move, but one I'm really excited about," Mika told The Southland Times yesterday.

"I've always wanted to try out for the Samoan boys. It's a matter of getting game time. I went to the (Samoan) trials a couple of months ago and they said they had heard of me, but never seen me play."

Tasman have been big improvers in the Air New Zealand Cup in recent seasons and Mika said he was excited about the chance to bolster their propping stocks.

Mika will play his club rugby for Waimea, in Nelson, and was looking to play his first match in the next few weeks.

He said it was extremely difficult to be leaving Southland at a time when the union was on a massive high after winning the Ranfurly Shield for the first time in 50 years late last year.

"It is sad, but it's also exciting ... It's hard to beat that Ranfurly Shield. It's unreal. I still get shivers up my spine just thinking about it."

Southland appear to be pretty well covered in the front row, with rising talents like Micheal Peterson and Nic Barrett expected to play more of a role in the Stags squad this season. Mika predicted that both players had big futures ahead of them.

Rugby Southland boss Roger Clark said Mika had been a fantastic servant for the province.

"He's done a really good job. There's a lot of history there, too, with his brother. We've got plenty of props. It's a win-win situation."

Clark felt the time was right for Peterson and Barrett to make the step up to Air New Zealand Cup level.

"We've got two local boys, who are raring to go. They're both very good players ... We're not in the business of hoarding people."

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New Zealand-wide Rugby Festival Revealed - England V New Zealand Rugby

Rugby is the catalyst but plans for a nationwide festival during Rugby World Cup 2011 will also showcase Kiwi culture, food and wine, and passion for the outdoors.

As the countdown to RWC 2011 continues, the New Zealand public has had a first glimpse of the six-week festival - scheduled to run in the lead-up to and during the tournament - with the unveiling this week of the first confirmed events.

From wild foods and adrenalin hits to fine wine and waka-racing - locals and visitors to Rugby World Cup 2011 will have the chance to experience the full spectrum of Kiwi life and culture, ensuring a non-stop party atmosphere throughout New Zealand.

According to the official coordinating body - the New Zealand 2011 office, the festival will be the biggest ever staged in New Zealand and will feature more than 1000 events.

While the New Zealand 2011 office is a government organisation, the festival will be largely driven by the regions.

Festival Director Briony Ellis says every region is taking the opportunity to showcase the best of its culture, people and landscapes, as well as local flavours and attractions.

She says the festival will touch every part of New Zealand, well beyond the 23 centres hosting games and teams.

Many events highlighting iconic New Zealand activities and landmarks are already showing on the online festival programme - www.corporatehospitalitygroup.com which will continue to grow in the lead up to the tournament.

On the South Island’s West Coast, locals are planning to serve up an exciting new food fest - the Great West Coast Whitebait and Wildfoods Challenge - that promises to put some of New Zealand’s iconic and unusual wild foods on the plate.

Visitors will be invited to sample and judge the challenge dishes that will be created at restaurants and eateries the length and breadth of the West Coast - from huhu grub bruschetta to the regional must-have fresh whitebait pattie sandwich.

Wellington is planning a rugby village, centred around a giant wharewaka - or canoe house - on the waterfront. The new development, scheduled for completion in early 2011, will be close to Te Papa national museum and the civic centre. Auckland is also planning a central city waterfront development.

Rugby will also dominate central Christchurch as the city turns Cathedral Square into a World Cup playground, featuring a giant dome and rugby field, for up to 10,000 fans.

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Danny Cipriani lays down a World Cup challenge to England coach Martin Johnson

Danny Cipriani has challenged England coach Martin Johnson to pick him for next year’s World Cup. The sidelined fly-half pledged his availability for selection in an exclusive interview on Saturday night.

Ignoring Johnson’s warning that his transfer to Melbourne Rebels on a two-year contract would effectively rule him out of the tournament, Cipriani said: ‘If I am playing well enough at the time, I would like to think I could make the England squad for next year’s World Cup.

‘I have not had a chat about this with Martin Johnson, but it is my intention to make myself available.’

Last night the 22-year-old, who lines up for Wasps against London Irish today, was full of confidence about his move and his hopes for an Test recall.

He said: ‘Playing for England has always been my ambition, and it still is.

‘I am pleased with the decision I have made to join Melbourne Rebels, and I want to come back to England a better player for the experience.

‘I see it as a break to improve me as a player and as a person. I hope to return to the England squad faster, fitter and better than before.

‘If I play well enough for Melbourne, I would like to think that I could make the 2011 World Cup.’

Although Cipriani has slipped to sixth in England’s fly-half pecking order, he is still highly regarded at Twickenham.

Cipriani’s celebrity status has not endeared him to Johnson, but yesterday he said his

girlfriend, actress Kelly Brook, would be joining him in Melbourne for a trip he hopes will restore his status as the heir to Jonny Wilkinson.

Further south, Dunedin is planning live entertainment and a big television screen in the Octagon that will create a focal point for fans in the heart of the city.

Queenstown - New Zealand’s adventure tourism resort - won’t be hosting any games but is still expecting to draw crowds of tourists and locals into its own lakefront fan zone.

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Grand National Festival Hospitality 2010

The one annual race to inspire uncertainty in the betting community has, due to the consistent occurrence of unlikely winners, become the Aintree Grand Nationa Festival.

Since 1928, horses that have provoked a lack of confidence have come through and achieved the improbable, horses such as Tipperary Tim (100/1) and Gregalach at the same odds began the trend with last years winner; Mon Mome, entering with same odds, capping the run at 5 unlikely runners to achieve success.

For this year’s event 65 runners remain, after the 5 day confirmation stage, raising the total prize money for the race to £925,000.

Three previous winners could enter the race including; Mon Mome and Comply or Die, with possible inclusion of Silver Birch

Silver Birch trainer Gordon Elliott made this confident comment about the horses status in the race, “Silver Birch will run in the John Smith’s Grand National if he gets in otherwise he’ll go for the John Smith’s Topham Chase on Friday. Robbie Power will ride him,”

This 2010 race will see a huge entry from Irish trained horses such as Silver Birch with other entries; War Of Attrition, Vic Venturi, Black Apalachi and Notre Pere attracting increasing interest in the Irish team.

The betting community’s main area of concern is the jockey choice for many of the runners. One such trainer, Howard Johnson, has yet to pick jockeys for both Royal Rosa and Ryan Mania, “Both the horses are both really well. I took them down to the sea at Redcar this morning and they loved it. I’ll be schooling them over Grand National fences at home on Wednesday and I’ll decide then about the jockeys,”

Enduring champion Tony McCoy has yet to make a decision on which runner he will take into the race, but it seems his choice may have been narrowed to Don’t Push It or Can’t Buy Time. It has, however, been reported that Ruby Walsh has been confirmed as jockey for favorite runner, Big Fella Thanks.

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2010 GRAND NATIONAL AT AINTREE LONG SHOT TIPS AND SELECTIONS

We’ve already covered some of the favourites in the build-up to the 2010 Grand National at Aintree this weekend and we certainly learned last year that you definitely cannot bank on the top contenders when it comes to the drama and excitement of the no holds barred Grand National Festival.

First on the list is the talented and in-form Chief Dan George who is priced at around 25/1 with most major bookmakers. You’ll find him as high as 33/1. He’s looking for his third win on the bounce having scored at Doncaster against a solid field in late February and then nailed a solid win on one of the biggest stages in jumps racing when he took the Grade 3 William Hill Trophy at Cheltenham. He’ll be looking to stay in contention for much of the race and then press on with a proper charge over the last 100 yards. In my opinion, if he’s still standing at the end of the hurdles then it is game on for Chief Dan George. He can handle the distance and he can recover from errors better than most, so if you’re looking for a longer odds selection this might be your best bet.

My Will was last year’s favourite and the punters seem to have learned their lesson with the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding. He ran third last year and that bodes well for his ability to stay the course and run an error-free Grand National. You’ll find him priced at a lengthy 40/1 this time out- better than the 8/1 favourite he ran as last year. He ran seventh in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and acquitted himself about as well as you’d expect. Definitely a contender, and is a solid each-way shout at 40/1.

Flintoff is an interesting outside bet who has only raced twice in past year and a half. You’ll find him as high as 100/1 and if you think that the National is going to be won by back-to-back 100/1+ jumpers then this might be your selection. He’s got some respectable results and looks a bit sharper than a lot of the other longer-odds competition. He’s lightly-raced and could be poised to make a real statement here with the right type of trip. He’s more in danger of being pulled up than he is to fall. He’s never tackled a Grand National before and could be a contender if the stars align.

Beat the Boys is a solid shout if you’re looking for a long-odds selection. The Nigel Twiston-Davies-owned grey gelding has won every race this season where he hasn’t been pulled up. Unfortunately, he’s been pulled up in 3 of his 5 races. If he can handle the gruelling distance and stay on his feet, then he’s a solid bet at the 100/1 price you’ll find him at. A long shot, but these types of low-key contenders have made serious statements in the past.

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Dream Alliance searching for Hollywood ending in Grand National

There was no action on the track here at Chepstow yesterday but the roar from one of the grandstand boxes would have graced any race day. On a television in the newly christened Dream Alliance Suite the horse after whom the room is named had just taken the lead with three to jump in a re-run of the Welsh National and his 22 owners were enjoying the moment again.

It was a neat piece of timing by the racecourse to honour the horse, a local hero, in this way, four days before he is due to line up for the Grand National Festival. Some members of the Alliance Partnership came here from their homes in Cefn Fforest, 17 miles north of Cardiff, and will go straight on to Liverpool, where they plan to make a big week of it.

Vokes got the idea while running a social club, where she overheard one of her customers bemoaning the large sums of money he had lost from a venture into ownership many years before. Howard Davies, a tax advisor relaxing after a game of squash, was stunned to find himself being pumped for information that would help Vokes achieve her latest ambition.

"So I said, 'You need two things: a field and a mare.' She said, 'I've got a field, I need to get the mare.' So I said, 'Get a copy of the Turf Directory and then we go from there,' thinking she'd go away. The following Thursday the Turf Directory landed on the bar. 'Now what do we do?'"

Vokes seems quiet and reserved as she deals with the media attention that Dream Alliance has brought her but Davies immediately realised she was "fairly resolute". With regret he was persuaded to abandon the promise he had made his wife that he would never again get involved with racehorses.

The syndicate members a disparate band, including a painter and decorator, a car washer, a former Provident collector and several tax workers – thoroughly deserved their moment of glory when the chestnut won the Welsh National here in December, even though they came close to saddling him with the name Lost Youth. Some two years ago, when he sustained a tendon injury at Aintree, there had been unanimous agreement that every effort must be made to help him recover, regardless of cost.

They may be the best-behaved owners in racing, having abided by an agreement not to pester their trainer, Philip Hobbs, for the past two weeks with inquiries about Dream Alliance's wellbeing. Until the final entries are made on Thursday, Hobbs will call Davies only if he has to pass on bad news.

"Every time my mobile goes I'm worried but as long as 'Philip Hobbs' doesn't come up on the screen, I'm delighted," Davies says. "If the Dream Alliance that turned up here for the Welsh National turns up at Aintree, in the same frame of mind, he's probably got a top-five chance. I think he'll relish the fences.

"He seems to rise to the crowds. He loves attention but in a sort of laid-back way. Everybody's affected by him, when they see him, especially kids. They can walk underneath him, you can touch his head, you can do anything with him and he doesn't move, he's a gentleman.

"When you go to see him after a race, if he's run well, he knows. Here at the Welsh, the runners were coming out for the next race and he was still having his photo taken."

Davies has struck a deal with a firm of Hollywood producers, who may now make a film of the Dream Alliance story.All that is required from the National is a happy ending.

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Silver Birch spruced up for Aintree repeat : Royal Ascot 2010

Hopes are increasing that Silver Birch can become the first horse since Red Rum to win a second Royal Ascot Festival. It is 36 years since the great Aintree warrior notched his second success in the race that he came to dominate like no other. 'Rummy' then went on to take an historic third National in 1977, but there has not been a multiple winner since.

Clearly, nobody is suggesting Silver Birch is another Red Rum, but in the modern context, he comes close to being the perfect type for the gruelling 4½-mile contest, and on Tuesday, trainer Gordon Elliott welcomed news that the 13-year-old had been elevated to No 41 on the list of confirmations for Saturday’s big race.

Three weeks ago, Elliott was bemoaning the fact that his 2008 National winner looked like missing the cut. He made the not unreasonable recommendation that past winners of the race should be seeded entries, which is something the Aintree executive would be advised to consider at their annual overview in coming weeks.

Horses have dropped by the wayside recently, which now leaves Silver Birch only one away from getting into the 40-capacity field. He is currently a 66-1 chance, but that price will shrink with confirmation that he has gained a place in the field. He could be a solid each-way chance, particularly on Elliott’s reports of the gelding’s home work this week, and with his light weight of 10st 5lb.

“He’s in great form. We worked him this morning and he did it well,” Elliott said. “The day before, we erected a special National fence at home and he really loved it. He should be in his element returning to Aintree. Robbie Power will ride him again on Saturday,” the trainer confirmed.

Punters would be best advised to forget Silver Birch’s last run, at Cheltenham in the Cross Country last month, when he was beaten 57 lengths. He lasted a long way in the Festival novelty race, and seems to have been brought to his peak for this weekend.

Elliott had a similar message regarding stablemate and 25-1 chance Backstage, who was beaten 81 lengths on heavy ground at Navan at the end of last month. The distance (2½ miles) and the going were both against the eight-year-old. “On faster, better ground, he will be much better. Dry ground is the key to him, and if it were to come up soft, then he would be doubtful to run,” the trainer pointed out.

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York Racecourse's James Brennan looking to go one better this year

Beating the record-breaking 2009 season is the challenge for York Racecourse this year, as head of marketing and sponsorship James Brennan tells STEVE CARROLL.

THEY could not have asked for a better year. Record crowds, two massive Saturday meetings, and the world’s best racehorse Sea The Stars capping the campaign with a fabulous Juddmonte International victory.

That’s the focus for the team at York Racecourse as they begin to gear up for their 17-day season on Knavesmire, which starts on May 12 with the three-day Dante Festival.

With Royal Ascot at York, the St Leger Festival and a four-day York Ebor Festival in the bank over the past half-dozen years, the feeling of “looking to go one better” is hardly new.

And, if anything, they relish the challenge.

“You always have to keep moving forward,” says James Brennan, York’s head of marketing and sponsorship. “2009 was a fantastic season, particularly coming after the disappointments of 2008.

“It was fantastic to see the trackwork project up and running and meet with approval from so many better judges than me. It was fantastic to see the world’s best racehorse Sea The Stars – the crowd really welcomed him back as a true champion, not just a winning favourite.

“It’s important to us that people come and support us and we are grateful for that because it all gets reinvested back into racing at York whether it is boosting prize money or capping attendance fees. It can only come on the back of people’s support and we are conscious of the need to keep earning that.”

The off-season saw York picking up gong after gong. They were hailed by the Racegoers Club, named the country’s top Flat course by the Racehorse Owners’ Association and their groundstaff were also praised with an industry award.

This year, the four-day Welcome To Yorkshire Ebor Festival, running from Tuesday, August 17 to Friday, August 20, remains the ace in York’s pack, with the Juddmonte International, totesport Ebor, Darley Yorkshire Oaks and Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes the feature contests.

World Cup action should be a highlight of the 40th Charity Day, on Saturday, June 12, with England kicking off their challenge for the trophy against the USA following a meeting which has raised more than £4.7 million for cancer charities. Brennan reckons there is much to look forward to.

“It will be great to be coming back racing,” he added. “We are looking forward to seeing Madness perform. There’s always a buzz going into the season and you will start hearing talk about the St Nicholas Abbeys and the other horses that are set to come and run in May and will come back to us again in August.

“The experience of 2009 for most of the 80,000 people who attended the first four-day Ebor Festival was a positive one and we will come on for the run, as they say.

“You wouldn’t work at a racecourse without looking forward to the season. Every year, we have had some different things to do. It’s a great industry to be involved in on racedays.

“There is a real pride when the alarm clock goes off, you come in and the place is waking up. By the time racegoers and horses arrive it is a buzz. We will make sure we are ready.”

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Soft ground lovers may be those to concentrate on in Glorious Goodwood Horseracing Festival

Whinstone Boy worth a punt as rain continues to fall ahead of Glorious Goodwood Horseracing on Tuesday

Soft ground now seems increasingly assured for Tuesday Glorious Goodwood Horseracing meeting and conditions at Goodwood Racecourse will be markedly different to those at the Cheltenham Festival.

"Thankfully, the forecast is for the weather to improve in the second half of next week, but there are more showers due between now and then and it clearly looks as if it's going to be on the soft side," said the clerk of the course, Andrew Tulloch. "The grass is two to three weeks behind where we would want it to be. We take a lot of pride in making the surface as good as it can be, but the snow badly interrupted the grass growth."

Testing conditions would surely lead to a major shake-up in the betting. The favourite, Big Fella Thanks, won in atrocious conditions at Doncaster last season, while Mon Mome should also be fine, but the likes of Backstage, Can't Buy Time and State of Play would surely be disadvantaged.

Whinstone Boy, a noted mudlark, needs 14 higher-weighted horses to come out if he is to get a run but as long as he is declared, backers will have their stakes refunded even if he fails to make the final line-up. The downside to backing him at 33‑1 with William Hill looks minimal if the rain continues to fall as predicted.

Smith's-sponsored showpiece. It brings heartbreak for Jamie Codd, the amateur jockey who will now lose his dream mount.

That decision would once have been the province of Tony McCoy, these days retained by J.P.McManus. The champion owner has his usual multiple entry, for a race neither he nor his celebrated jockey has won, and McCoy's lengthy cogitations have had significant effects on the ante-post market.

Desert Orchid, easily the best of the British victors, was another to prove that class will out when he scored under 12st, giving between 26lb and 28lb to 13 rivals in 1990. There have been less distinguished winners, though, even bizarre ones. If Brown Lad was the Irish National's equivalent of Red Rum, then possibly its Foinavon may be found in Alike, successful in 1929 when ridden by Frank Wise, who was missing three fingers and rode with a wooden leg.

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Jadanli sets out stall as National contender - Grand National Festival

Not content to emerge from the fields of Athenry to provide an act of outrageous giantkilling at the Grand National Festival, Paul Gilligan drew his newly honed sword to the same effect on home soil yesterday.

In five years the Co Galway trainer has notched just 34 victories, but more than half have come this season and the tally now includes two at the highest level after Jadanli followed Berties Dream into a Grade One winner's circle.

Neither was fancied, at least not by those outside their stables at Cahercrin. Berties Dream was 33-1 when he won last month's Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle and Jadanli 25-1 as he upstaged contenders from some of Ireland's major yards in yesterday's Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse. But the eight-year-old is held in enough regard at home to have been considered for this afternoon's Irish Grand National Festival, even though he had contested only three chases before yesterday and notched his first victory over fences just six weeks ago.

"He won well the last day," Gilligan said, "and we thought about the National but as he's a novice we decided to leave it this time. It will be the long-term plan for next year, though."

The gelding, one of 25 under Gilligan's care and nursed back after an injury-induced two-year absence, was ridden, like Berties Dream, by Andrew Lynch. Both horses now have the allegedly bigger guns in their sights again, at Punchestown later in the month.

Yesterday's was not a pretty victory. In gruellingly testing conditions at the Co Meath track just two of the 10 who set out completed the two and a half miles; Jadanli came in 23 lengths ahead of another outsider, Deal Done. Behind them Shakervilz was remounted for third after a slow, tired lurch over the last fence ejected Ruby Walsh. At the same obstacle Roberto Goldback fell and lay exhausted and winded for some minutes before regaining his breath and feet, and after blazing the trail Let Yourself Go was too leg-weary to be asked to jump it.

So the faint of heart should not tune in to today's climax at the Fairyhouse festival, the 139th running of Ireland's richest chase. Due to be contested by 30 runners over three miles, five furlongs and 22 fences, the marathon will be a proper war of attrition for man and, particularly, beast. A couple of long-priced mudlark lightweights, Will Jamie Run and Stewarts House, are suggested as a sporting interest.

The race's roll of honour is embellished by some of the greatest names of Irish racing, including Prince Regent, Fortria, Arkle, Flyingbolt and the sole triple winner, Brown Lad. The performances of Arkle and Flyingbolt bear close inspection; in 1964 Arkle carried 12st to a length and a quarter victory over Height O'Fashion, who was in receipt of 30lb and two years later his younger Tom Dreaper stablemate shouldered 12st 7lb and beat the same good mare two lengths, giving her 40lb.

The focus on the Irish National with the real thing in mind has sharpened since Bobbyjo and Numbersixvalverde followed up at Aintree the following year and, indeed, Niche Market is towards the head of the betting for Saturday's extravaganza, for which one man's hopes were extinguished yesterday. No sooner had amateur Liam Codd been booked to partner Character Building than came the news that the John Quinn-trained grey, a 20-1 shot, had been bought by David and Patricia Thompson. The owners of Cheveley Park Stud, who bought Party Politics shortly before his 1992 National victory, intend to have their new horse professionally ridden.

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Character Building is sold before Grand National bid - Grand National Festival

The Grand National Festival is a drug win one and you can think only of winning another. Just ask Nigel Twiston-Davies or Venetia Williams, who try respectively for a third and second win at Aintree on Saturday. Or ask David and Patricia Thompson, who yesterday purchased a ready-made National runner, hoping to replicate a previously triumphant method.

The Thompsons own Cheveley Park Stud in Newmarket. Their business is breeding Flat horses. But a love of jumping is embodied by the National dream, finessed to fruition when they bought Party Politics just three days before his victory in 1992.

They have not cut it quite so fine this time. Character Building, trained in Yorkshire by John Quinn and already a Cheltenham Festival winner, was sold at the weekend to race in Mrs Thompson's colours in the John

“The new owners have asked that a professional ride the horse and enquiries are being made,” Quinn said. Those inquiries are likely to be fielded by jump racing's dominant agent, Dave Roberts, whose clients still without a National ride include Richard Johnson and Robert Thornton.

Other jockeys remain spoilt for choice. Timmy Murphy is to school a number of horses at David Pipe's Somerset stable today and discuss whether to remain loyal to Comply Or Die - the winner in 2008 and runner-up last year - or desert him for the lighter-weighted The Package, also owned by his employer, David Johnson.

Arbor Supreme and Can't Buy Time have already been the subject of public gambles - or bookmaker pragmatism - after rumours of McCoy's affiliation. The latest to get the treatment is Don't Push It, an increasingly likely choice if soft ground prevails, as seems probable.

Richie McLernon is awaiting McCoy's reject, with Graham Lee engaged for whichever Johnson-owned horse Murphy discards. The betting market will follow such decisions, while other horses to come in for weekend support included two that won over the National fences last April.

Irish Raptor graduates from the Topham Trophy and is the choice of Paddy Brennan from six intended runners in the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard. Another, the Scottish National victor Hello Bud, will be partnered by the trainer's schoolboy son, Sam.

A decision is expected today on whether the Gold Cup winner, Imperial Commander, will reappear in the totesport Bowl on Thursday. “I'm keen to run but the owners are not yet convinced,” Twiston-Davies said. Khyber Kim, runner-up for the yard in the Champion Hurdle, is an intended starter in the Aintree Hurdle on Saturday, when the opposition will include Zaynar.

Mon Mome was 100-1 when he won the National for Willliams last year but he could be a single-figure price as he bids to become the first since Red Rum to defend the crown successfully. Meanwhile, his trainer turns her attentions to a foreign National today, dispatching two horses from Herefordshire for the Irish version.

Aidan Coleman, the stable jockey who chose wrongly when partnering Stan instead of Mon Mome at Aintree, will ride Officier De Reserve rather than Flintoff, part-owned by the cricketer of the same name.

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Robinson crusade could turn Murrayfield into a lonely place for England | Autumn Internationals 2010

Andy Robinson would chop off both his arms and eat them in return for Scotland beating England tomorrow. He might not need to.

He has more than a fighting chance too, even if his team is rock bottom of the Six Nations table on zero points and an attack more constipated than England's.

Scotland have just lost to Italy, not scored a try in four of their last five games and their ace goal kicker Chris Paterson is injured.

They're staring at the Wooden Spoon and, in all probability, a humiliating whitewash if they lose this one as they finish up playing Ireland at Croke Park.

England's inability to score tries is well known but against Ireland they showed they can't stop them either.

So what do they do? Drop Lewis Moody, their best player this season, and again ignore Ben Foden, the one guy with the form to make something happen.

What is attack coach Brian Smith doing? He's supposed to be the left-field thinker on England's coaching staff.

Left-field? He's further right than Margaret Thatcher. England don't change their angles any more in the back line. There's no running off the ball, no change of direction. They don't even do simple switches any more.

His strategy must be to try and wear Scotland down for an hour and then send on Moody, Foden, Ben Youngs and Courtney Lawes to raise the tempo through the roof.

Problem is I reckon England will be in a hole by then. I take Scotland, with their impressive back row, to be ahead after an hour.

And history shows Murrayfield after dark, with all the passion Scotland fans bring to this fixture, is no place to be chasing a game.

Never before have I gone into a rugby game between England and Scotland thinking that Scotland will win. This is the first time.

So how do England go about keeping the smirk off Robbo's face? They can start by kicking a million times better.

Play with more tempo and more ambition, look after the ball and actually back themselves to beat people. In short, show some courage.

One player did that in the last game, Jonny Wilkinson. How on earth he came in for criticism I just don't know. He was England's best back by a country mile.

People need to look either side of him. Riki Flutey went completely missing against Ireland, Danny Care was not much better. He takes three steps and passes with his shoulders closed to the opposition so he never pulls the fringes in.

I would play Shontayne Hape at inside-centre and instruct him to be within five metres of Jonny at all times.

Jonny would then have someone to draw the focus off him, a big presence to beat people, to provide a change of angle and who Jonny can offload to under pressure.

But England haven't done that. I can only think Johnno has given these players a final warning. Deliver now or it's adios. If he hasn't he'd better get a move on.

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England's new captain will not change - Autumn Internationals

England's latest rugby captain Lewis Moody insisted on Friday he would not compromise his playing style despite his new-found responsibility.

The Leicester flanker was named as skipper for Saturday's Six Nations match against France in Paris after Steve Borthwick was ruled out with a knee injury.

Moody, known as 'Mad Dog', became the first Englishman to be sent off at Twickenham when he was dismissed against Samoa in 2005.

But the backrower, also renowned as one of the bravest players in the game, has vowed not to change his all-action style.

"It is just another game for me - for me it is all about playing," Moody told reporters at England's training base in Surrey.

"The most important part of being captain is playing the game. It is not going to change me in any way whatsoever.

"I am not going to talk more than I have done - I am just going to play the way I do and hope that is enough."

Moody has captained his club side Leicester on a handful of occasions but is adamant his inexperience in the role will not be a handicap at Stade de France.

Moody who has won 60 caps and played in two World Cup finals, including England's win over Australia in 2003, was dropped for last week's 15-15 draw with Scotland at Murrayfield.

A week later he finds himself captain as England attempt to derail France's hopes of a Grand Slam.

"It is part of professional sport, they make the decisions and as players we have to go with it. I couldn't be happier about it after last week," he added.

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Rugby sevens: Penalty solutions sought – Autumn Internationals

New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens will be seeking to meet with Hong Kong rugby sevens match officials after his side was hammered in the penalty count at last weekend's Adelaide tournament.

Tietjens has pored over a video compilation of the penalties awarded against his side at Adelaide and said he would take any concerns to a meeting with match officials before the tournament kicks off on Friday.

New Zealand had to settle for the second-tier Plate final in Australia after being knocked out of the Cup in the quarterfinals by an in-form Samoa.

Tietjens was baffled at a lopsided penalty count that saw New Zealand concede 22 and be awarded just four in their first four matches.

In the quarterfinal they were penalised six times to Samoa's none.

"The players are puzzled. We talk about discipline and it's still happening. We were getting smashed in the penalty count over there," Tietjens said.

"We're still working through it but there's no doubt the officiating was below average from a lot of perspectives.

"We want clarification on whether those rulings were right or wrong."

Samoa went on to win the final and cut New Zealand's lead in the world series to a slender two points with three stops remaining.

Tietjens said two dubious Samoan tries during their 24-19 extra-time quarterfinal triumph had undermined his under-strength side.

But there is no denying New Zealand's discipline was a contributing factor - particularly after Kurt Baker was yellow carded for dissent, to gift Samoa a man advantage in golden point overtime.

New Zealand also lost two players to the sin bin against Scotland and one in their final pool match against Argentina.

Leka Tupuola was also marched after the hooter in the Plate final against South Africa for a ruck infringement.

Despite losing to Samoa for the fourth time in the series, Tietjens was upbeat although he will miss the experience of two key performers.

Sherwin Stowers failed a fitness test on an ankle tweaked in Las Vegas while Lote Raikabula injured a bicep during training in Adelaide and remained sidelined.

"We're still going into Hong Kong with a lot of confidence," he said after naming the same squad as the one which fell short in Adelaide.

"I thought we performed pretty well, we had a tough draw and got the closest of anyone to Samoa."

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England line up summer tour Tests against Australia

England will head to Australia in June for two Tests against the Wallabies.

Martin Johnson's squad will face Australia in Perth on 12 June and in Sydney a week later.

England will also play the Australian Barbarians on 8 and 15 June before travelling to Napier in New Zealand to face the New Zealand Maori on 23 June.

"The tour presents all the players and coaches with a great opportunity to test themselves against some excellent teams," said Johnson.

"All five matches will be very tough and give us the opportunity to look at some players who may not have had the opportunity to play on this tour if it had been restricted to two Test matches.

"The games will be great occasions and to play the New Zealand Maori in their centenary year is a huge honour."

England will travel with a 44-man squad, with members of the Senior Elite Player programme supplemented by England Saxons players.

RFU elite rugby director Rob Andrew said: "It will give England squad members an excellent opportunity of experiencing a full tour before they potentially get selected for the  Rugby World Cup.

"The squad will include players that would otherwise have travelled to Denver for the Churchill Cup with the England Saxons in May and June.

"It also gives a number of players the opportunity to step up into the Saxons squad via the Elite Player Pathway and they will benefit from the experience."

It is England's first five-match summer tour since South Africa in 2000.

In their most recent match against the Wallabies, at Twickenham last November, they were beaten 18-9.

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Australia reverse the roles to seal Grand Slam – Autumn Internationals

"When we play England, we are a team with small balls." So said a leading chronicler of Australia rugby a couple of hours before kick off on Grand Slam night in the City of Light, adding, in deeply pessimistic tones: "When we play them in the rain, we are a team with no balls at all." Whatever Marc Lièvremont's newly crowned Six Nations champions do or do not possess below the belt it is difficult to know for sure without looking, and no one wants to raise the subject with Sébastien Chabal – there was a whole lot of shrivelling going on during a wet-weather game that took Les Bleus to the point of emasculation.

To the point, but not past it. When the blood pressure eases and the nerve-endings are restored to their unravaged state, the Australia may look back on this victory as the moment when their pathological fear and loathing of Anglo-Saxon rugby that grimly functional mix of method, cohesion and discipline was finally overcome. They beat England, by the shortest of short necks, in conditions guaranteed to give them the heebie-jeebies. Should the two teams meet again at next year's World Cup in New Zealand, where the rain never stops, they will start the match knowing that victory is not quite an impossibility.

The fact that they prevailed against an England side playing their most dynamic rugby of the tournament Toby Flood and Ben Foden fully justified their promotions while dear old Mike Tindall made a significant contribution in keeping the destructive Mathieu Bastareaud under lock and key – will make them feel better still, although Lièvremont, their highly capable head coach, might usefully spend the next few weeks pondering the tactical paralysis that prevented his young playmakers, Morgan Parra and Francois Trinh-Duc, making the most of a magnificent scrummaging performance.

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England line up summer tour Tests against Australia

England will head to Australia in June for two Tests against the Wallabies.

Martin Johnson's squad will face Australia in Perth on 12 June and in Sydney a week later.

England will also play the Australian Barbarians on 8 and 15 June before travelling to Napier in New Zealand to face the New Zealand Maori on 23 June.

"The tour presents all the players and coaches with a great opportunity to test themselves against some excellent teams," said Johnson.

"All five matches will be very tough and give us the opportunity to look at some players who may not have had the opportunity to play on this tour if it had been restricted to two Test matches.

"The games will be great occasions and to play the New Zealand Maori in their centenary year is a huge honour."

England will travel with a 44-man squad, with members of the Senior Elite Player programme supplemented by England Saxons players.

RFU elite rugby director Rob Andrew said: "It will give England squad members an excellent opportunity of experiencing a full tour before they potentially get selected for the Rugby World Cup.

"The squad will include players that would otherwise have travelled to Denver for the Churchill Cup with the England Saxons in May and June.

"It also gives a number of players the opportunity to step up into the Saxons squad via the Elite Player Pathway and they will benefit from the experience."

It is England's first five-match summer tour since South Africa in 2000.

In their most recent match against the Wallabies, at Twickenham last November, they were beaten 18-9.

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