AFRICAN RUGBY: Africa Trophy North Finals Day

Held in Niamey, Niger

24.07.2010
Senegal A 13, Niger 6 (Final)
Mali 17, Ghana 8 (Playoff 3rd-4th)
Burkino Faso 17, Togo 0 (Playoff 5th-6th)
Congo 53, Benin 17 (Playoff 7th-8th)

Reviews
http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/regional/newsid=2039513.html#senegal+a+wins+africa+rugby+north+zone+trophy

AFRICAN RUGBY: Africa Trophy North

Round 2, held in Niamey, Niger

20.07.2010
Burkino Faso 21, Congo 0
Togo 12, Benin 5

21.07.2010
Niger 6, Mali 3
Senegal A 38, Ghana 0

Finals Day, Saturday 24 July

Final-Senegal A v Niger
Playoff 3rd-4th: Mali v Ghana
Playoff 5th-6th: Burkino Faso v Benin
Playoff 7th-8th: Congo v Benin

Preview
This has been a fascinating tournament, played in one of the poorest nations on earth, and in the middle of a devastating drought as well. How they manage to hold a rugby tournament in all that shows just what this game is all about. In the most adverse conditions the game goes on.

Senegal A would appear to be too strong for the opposition and I will predict them as the eventual winners. Mali has been the dark horse and the host nation Niger has made the final which is good for the game locally.

Hopefully African rugby is heading towards a divisional and regional tournament format similar to that provided by Asia. Transport costs would be the most inhibiting factor but there is no denying the enthusiasm and determination of the small African unions and clubs putting their all in for the game of rugby. Africa I salute you!

Previous Encounters
Non of the teams playing on the final day have ever played each other before.

Predictions
Final-Senegal A by 20 v Niger
Playoff 3rd-4th-Ghana by 28 v Mali
Playoff 5th-6th-Burkino Faso by 7 v Togo
Playoff 7th-8th-Benin by 14 v Congo

Team lists not available

Here are some links to some match reports (Via FIRA-AER Forum)
http://www.senegal-rugby.com/Le-XV-national-local-Senegal-A-au-tournoi-CAR-Trophy-2010-de-Niamey_a163.html
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=121726001205849&index=1
http://www.senegal-rugby.com/Le-Senegal-demarre-en-trombe-le-tournoi-CAR-Trophy-2010-de-Niamey-_a164.html
http://www.republicoftogo.com/Toutes-les-rubriques/Sport/Rugby-le-Togo-prend-sa-revanche
http://www.afriqueavenir.org/2010/07/20/le-niger-se-trace-un-chemin-dans-le-rugby-continental-et-accueille-le-tournoi-international-de-la-car/
http://www.senegal-rugby.com/Le-Senegal-demarre-en-trombe-le-tournoi-CAR-Trophy-2010-de-Niamey-_a164.html

AFRICAN RUGBY: Africa Trophy, North

Results in

17.07.2010
Senegal A 65, Togo 0
Niger 23, Congo 6

18.97.2010
Mali 20, Burkino Faso 3
Ghana 31, Benin 0

Coming Up
20.07.2010-Classifying
Congo v Burkino Faso
Benin v Togo

21.07.2010-Semi Finals
Ghana v Senegal A
Niger v Mali

Thanks to the guys at http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3116&start=300

TEST RUGBY: Africa Trophy North Begins

Day 1: Played in Niamey, Niger

17.07.2010
Niger v Dem.Rep.Congo
Burkino Faso v Mali

Preview
Little information is available.

It will be short of a miracle that all teams will participate. We have already seen Nigeria pull out of this tournament. I can't get it confirmed but word had it that last year's trophy matches were of limited duration and may not have been 15-a-side, which throws some doubt over the 'test' match status of these fixtures.

If they arrive, the Democratic Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) will be making their international rugby debut.

In 2009 Burkino Faso played in the CAR Development Trophy, North held in Tsevie, Togo. They came 3rd in that tournament, defeating Togo 7-5 in a playoff and were placed behind Ghana and Niger.

Mali also attended the CAR Development Trophy, North tournament in 2009. They finished 6th, losing 0-5 to Nigeria in the playoff. Niger reached the final of the same tournament, defeating Ghana 5-3.

Previous Encounters
Burkino Faso v Mali
22.06.2007 Burkino Faso 10-0 in Ouagadougou (CAR Trophy North, Pool A)
24.03.2006 Burkino Faso 5-3 in Niamey (CAR Trophy, North Pool A)
05.06.2005 Burkino Faso 16-13 in Ouagadougou (CAR Div.2, North, Pool B)
07.06.2004 Mali 40-12 in Dakar (CAR Div.2, North. Pool A)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Africa Table
Niger 16th, DR Congo not placed
Burkino Faso 18th, Mali 21st
No IRB Rankings

Predictions
Niger by 30 points v DR Congo
Burkino Faso by 12 points v Mali

Teams
Not available

RUGBY TOURNAMENT: Africa Trophy, North

To be held in Niamey, Niger 17-24 July

17.07.2010
Match 1: Niger v DRCongo
Match 2: Burkino Faso v Mali

18.07.2010
Match 3: Ghana v Benin
Match 4: Togo v Senegal A

20.07.2010 Classification Matches
Match 5: Loser Match 1 v Loser Match 2
Match 6: Loser Match 3 v Loser Match 4

21.07.2010 Semi-Finals
Match 7: Winner Match 1 v Winner Match 2
Match 8: Winner Match 3 v Winner Match 4

24.07.2010 Finals Day
Loser Match 5 v Loser Match 6-7^th/8^th placing
Winner match 5 v Winner Match 6-5^th/6^th placing
Loser match 7 v Loser Match 8-3^rd/4^th placing
Winner match 7 v Winner match 8-Final

INTERNATIONAL RUGBY AHEAD: Saturday 17 July

17.07.2010
South Africa v New Zealand in Wellington (Tri Nations)
Kazakhstan v Uruguay in Montevideo (WCQ Repecharge Semi-final, No.1)
Tunisia v Romania in Buzau (WCQ Repecharge Semi-final No.2)
Kenya v Zimbabwe in Harare (Victoria Cup)

17-27 July-Africa Trophy North due to be played in Niamey, Niger.
Teams-Niger, Burkino Faso, Mali, Togo, Benin, Ghana, Congo, Senegal A)

RUGBY TOURNAMENT: CAR Africa Trophy 16 June

The trophy tournaments are a tier below the Africa Cup in African rugby. This tournament is being held in Arusha, Tanzania. Kenya A and Uganda A were drafted into the competition following the with drawl of Reunion and Swaziland.

16.06.2010
Kenya A 27, Mauritius 3
Uganda A 39, Tanzania 3

Saturdays Finals Day
Kenya A v Uganda A

Playoff
Mauritius v Tanzania.