RUGBY NEWS:SOUTH AFRICA has banned the use of vuvuzelas from the Tri-Nations match against New Zealand at Soccer City on August 21st.

The horns, popular among fans at the soccer World Cup, will interfere more with on-field communications during rugby games than they do in soccer, Golden Lions president Kevin de Klerk said in Johannesburg yesterday.

Meanwhile, the International Rugby Board has confirmed Bryce Lawrence has withdrawn from refereeing the Tri-Nations match between Australia and South Africa in Brisbane on July 24th.

The experienced New Zealander has sustained a knee injury and will be replaced by Ireland’s George Clancy, who will take charge of his first Tri-Nations match.

Clancy, who refereed the first Test between New Zealand and Wales last month, has taken charge of 11 Tests since making his IRB panel debut in 2006.

Ireland’s Alan Lewis will referee the clash between New Zealand and South Africa this Saturday in Auckland, and Alain Rolland will take charge for the return fixture between the countries in Wellington the following weekend. Rolland will also be the referee for the meeting of South Africa and Australia in Pretoria next month.

English Premiership Rugby have agreed a four-year sponsorship deal with Aviva worth €24 million, starting immediately.

The terms of the arrangement will see Aviva replace Guinness as sponsors of the rebranded English top flight.

Leeds Carnegie have completed their 11th signing of the summer with the capture of Wales scrum-half Warren Fury.

Fury, who has won two caps for his country, joins the Yorkshire club on a two-year contract after being released by Wasps at the end of last season.

The 24-year-old, who has also played for London Irish, will act as a direct replacement for former England international Andy Gomarsall, who himself was released at the end of the season.