RUGBY DIGESTWALES COACH Warren Gatland has hailed nominations for two of his Grand Slam stars to contest Test rugby's top individual prize. Captain Ryan Jones and wing wizard Shane Williams are in contention for the International Rugby Board's prestigious "player of the year" award.

Scotland scrumhalf and skipper Mike Blair is also on the shortlist, together with the New Zealand outhalf Dan Carter and Italy captain Sergio Parisse.

Both Jones and Williams played significant roles last season when Wales won the Six Nations title and Grand Slam for a second time in four years.

Gatland said: "To have one player from your squad nominated for an award like this would be a proud moment. But the fact that both Shane and Ryan are in contention should be looked on as a testament to the hard work and effort of the whole squad.

"Both have individual qualities. Shane has been in sparkling form, and not only lit up the Six Nations but also shone on our tour to South Africa in the summer.

"Ryan returned from injury just before the Six Nations to lead from the front, and the leadership role he fulfils has been integral to our achievements and should not be underestimated.

"But to have two players recognised in the top five of the world game is the highest accolade.

"The nation, together with all of the Wales coaches and national squad, should take great pride in that fact."

Jones is the current favourite for Lions captaincy duties in South Africa next summer. His Ospreys team-mate Williams, meanwhile, broke Gareth Thomas's Wales try-scoring record last term, and currently has 43 touchdowns from 58 Test appearances.

Blair led Scotland to Calcutta Cup glory against England at Murrayfield last March. Carter took the IRB's top accolade in 2005.

Carter, who begins a lucrative six-month stint with the French club Perpignan in December, guided New Zealand to this year's Tri-Nations title.

The winner will be announced in London on November 23rd.

Southern giants look toward Asian market

AUSTRALIA COULD play New Zealand at Twickenham if ambitious plans come to fruition. The Australian Rugby Union have confirmed they are looking to stage matches outside the Oceania region.

And the Wallabies' ground-breaking Bledisloe Cup clash against the All Blacks in Hong Kong on November 1st is set to be the forerunner to future clashes at other neutral venues.

ARU chief executive John O'Neill said: "The interest from all over the world in the fact the All Blacks and Wallabies are playing in Asia is really significant, and it won't be the last time.

"We are, without jeopardising our domestic markets, particularly Australia and New Zealand, keen to showcase the game (whether it be in) Hong Kong, Tokyo and there's some talk of a game in Denver, Colorado.

"We may even play All Blacks and the Wallabies at Twickenham; that's not out of the question."

The former Football Federation of Australia boss O'Neill - who was largely responsible for the Socceroos' successful move into competing in Asia - said: "Australia and New Zealand in particular see the importance of helping rugby become a far more popular sport in Asia."

 South Africa opposed to 'sanctions regulation'

SOUTH AFRICA are attempting to bring Southern Hemisphere rugby into line with the rest of the global game by taking a stand against Australia and New Zealand over Experimental Law Variations (ELVs).

The South African Rugby Union want to ensure the 2009 Tri-Nations and Super 14 competitions are played under the same laws as next summer's Test series against the Lions. That means ditching the controversial "sanctions regulation" - whereby most penalties are replaced by free-kicks - which was used in this year's Sanzar (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia) competitions but does not feature in the global ELV trial.

Australia and New Zealand support the sanctions regulation and believe it makes rugby better for spectators.

They were informed of South Africa's stance on the ELVs overnight and the matter will be discussed at the Sanzar executive committee meeting in Sydney on October 15th.

If no consensus can be reached, Sarfu would be prepared to take the matter to arbitration.

Sarfu president Oregon Hoskins said: "We will play the Springbok end-of-year tour matches under the global ELVs and, most importantly, we will play the British and Irish Lions under the global ELVs next year. For consistency's sake and to allow our Springboks the smoothest possible preparations for next year's crucial series against the Lions it is vital that we play under one set of laws.

"We have had five sets of ELVs apply in South Africa this season and it has been confusing to the public and even to the referees, who have shouldered a massive burden. One set of laws for all matches is the only way to go.

"Australia and New Zealand will also be playing their internationals under the global ELVs this year and next. I trust we will be able to reach a consensus with our partners when we meet but if that is not possible then we may have to go to arbitration on the matter."

Australia have been pushing hard for the introduction of the sanctions regulation into permanent law.

Late Brown try completes Leinster's comeback

LEINSTER 'A' defeated their Glasgow counterparts 18-17 in Whitecraigs RFC, Glasgow, yesterday. Leinster, with 16 players from the Academy in the panel, came back from a 17-6 second-half deficit to snatch victory.

Fergus McFadden kicked the first of two penalties on 20 minutes and another after 27 minutes either side of a Glasgow try, which was converted. Glasgow added a penalty on 37 minutes to take a 10-6 half-time advantage.

The Scots added a converted try on 42 minutes before the visitors clicked first through Felix Jones, who finished a fine move involving McFadden and Eoin O'Malley on the hour mark. McFadden added the conversion. Three minutes later Gary Brown finished off a fine move after his opposite wing, Niall Morris, deftly kicked ahead.

LEINSTER A: F Jones; N Morris, E O'Malley, F McFadden, G Brown; K Tonetti, S Keogh; R Murphy, B Blaney, R Burke-Flynn; C McInerney, E Sherriff; K McLaughlin, P Ryan, Stephen Keogh (capt). Replacements: J Hagan, J Harris-Wright, P Synnott, P O'Donohoe, J Power.