The International Rugby Board Council has underlined its continued commitment to the development of the global Game by approving a new £48 million Strategic Investment Programme for the 2009-2012 period. This substantial investment programme, which forms a key element of a worldwide expenditure of £153 million, will include increased funding for Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 Unions and has been made possible by the continued commercial success and growth of Rugby World Cup.

“The IRB’s financial results, from the final year of the four-year business cycle, paint a healthy picture for the Game. Net revenues for the period were £130.3 million (as adjusted for International Financial Reporting Standards). The vast majority of the revenue generated is in respect of Rugby World Cup which generated a surplus of £122.4 million, underlining the 2007 Tournament’s stature as the most successful Rugby World Cup ever,”

said IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset.

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Freeport Rugby Club ended the season on a high Saturday with a hard fought 27-7 win over Nassau rivals Bailou. With the Bahamas Cup already won Freeport needed to win Saturday to ensure a rare double and win the Championship Cup and complete the most successful season in recent years. Captained by Ricardence Michels Freeport began strongly and soon had Bailou on the back foot and with the forwards making some strong runs Jackelo Pierrie and Perkins Joseph fond the gaps to put Freeport close the Bailou goal line with the first five minutes. Freeport took the lead with a penalty by Kasey Charlton and soon scored again with a magnificent run by Leon Mcphee who rumbled over the corner to secure a eight point lead. Bailou battled hard and with Kevin Salabee and Stevie Thompon controlling their attacks they made some strong runs to remind Freeport the game wasnt over. Some crunching tackles from Freeport by George Walker, Aaron Turnquest, Robbie Bulter and Marco Surin stopped Bailou advancing too far and soon a superb blocked kick by Jackelo Pierre enables Gio Rolle to score in the corner to leave Freeport 15-0 with five on the half to play. Just as Freeport were threatening to run away with the game a superb try from Bailou put them 15-7 down at half time and the game was wide open. Coach Herb Merritt brought Johnnie Charles on for the superb Richard Dorsett and Freeport began strongly again with some fine performances by Edwin Joseph Brad Culmer and the old man KC Charlton enabling the flying Gio Rolle to score a solo try by sprinting 60 yards and touching down in the corner. Freeport lead by 22-7 and were now playing some great rugby and with the local crowd cheering them on nearly scored another great try. But for some obstruction from KC Charlton, Brad Culmer would have scored in the corner! However, within five minutes Denny Osias scored a magical try and Freeport secured the Championship with a fine display. The victory finished a great season for the team and with nine players from Freeport recently returning from National Team duty in Cayman the future looks very bright. Many thanks to everyone who helped this year and special thanks to those companies and individuals that made time off / travel tickets, lunches and sponsorship possible, especially Freeport Container Port, Freecon, Andrea Thompson, Cafferata & Co, Pendragon Investments and all the members and supporters of the club. Source: Freeport Rugby Club (by Mail)

Thursday 01 May
1700 Setanta Sports News (Live)
1800 Heineken European Cup Semi-final: London Irish vs Toulouse
1945 Heineken European Cup Semi-final: Saracens vs Munster
1930 Total Rugby
2200 Setanta Sports News (Live)

Friday 02 May
0030 Total Rugby
0100 Setanta Sports News (Live)
0200 Super 14: NSW Waratahs (Aus) vs Natal Sharks (SA)
0345 Super 14: Waikato Chiefs (NZ) vs Queensland Reds (Aus)
0930 Total Rugby
1000 I'm on Setanta Sports
1300 Super 14: Free State Cheetahs (SA) vs Highlanders (NZ) (Live)
1645 I'm on Setanta Sports
1700 Setanta Sports News (Live)
2200 Setanta Sports News (Live)

Saturday 03 May
0300 Total Rugby
0330 Super 14: Wellington Hurricanes (NZ) vs Golden Lions (SA) (Live)
0530 Super 14: Western Force (Aus) vs Waikato Chiefs (NZ) (Live)
1200 Gillette World News
1230 Total Rugby
1300 Guinness Premiership: Bath vs Saracens (Live)
2200 Setanta Sports News (Live)

Sunday 04 May
0200 N.R.L. Premiership: Newcastle Knights vs Gold Coast Titans (Taped)
0400 Super 14: Stormers (SA) vs ACT Brumbies (Aus) (Taped)
0600 Total Rugby
0630 Super 14: Blue Bulls (SA) NSW Waratahs (Aus) (Taped)
1030 Total Rugby
1130 Gillette World Sports
1700 Setanta Sports News
2200 Setanta Sports News (Live)

Monday 05 May
0100 Setanta Sports News (Live)
0500 Guinness Premiership: Bath vs Saracens
0600 Total Rugby
1730 Setanta Sports News (Live)
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Tuesday 06 May
0100 Setanta Sports News (Live)
0530 Magners Celtic League: Connacht vs Cardiff Blues (Live)
0715 I'm on Setanta Sports
1700 Setanta Sports News (Live)
2200 Setanta Sports News (Live)
2300 Super League: Bradford Bulls vs Leeds Carnegie (Taped)

Wednesday 07 May
0530 N.R.L. Premiership: Newcastle Knights vs Gold Coast Titans
0715 I'm on Setanta Sports
0830 Magners Celtic League: Leinster vs Newport Gwent Dragons (Taped)
1430 I'm on Setanta Sports
1700 Setanta Sports News (Live)
2130 Gillette World Sports
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Thursday 08 May
0100 Setanta Sports News (Live)
0530 Super League: St. Helen's Saints vs Wigan Warriors (Taped)
0715 I'm on Setanta Sports
0830 Super 14: Stormers (SA) vs ACT Brumbies (Aus)
1700 Setanta Sports News (Live)
1800 Super 14: Free State Cheetahs (SA) vs Highlanders (NZ)
1945 T.B.C.
2200 Setanta Sports News (Live)
2300 Super 14: Wellington Hurricanes (NZ) vs Golden Lions (SA)

Trinidad and Tobago won the Caribbean Rugby Championship on Saturday to book their place in the next round of qualifying for Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand.
T&T beat Guyana 40-24 in the final in George Town, Grand Cayman to take local bragging rights for another year and, more importantly, progress to play the winner of South America's Consur B tournament in home and away fixtures later this year.

A second half hat trick of tries by number 8 and captain Adam Fredericks inspired T&T to the well deserved win over their neighbours in an exilharating final.

Underdogs Guyana were first to register a score in the match, centre Kevin McKenzie charging down Brenden O'Farrell's kick to run in unopposed for an early 5-0 advantage. But T&T quickly levelled through Kelson Figuero and Jason Clarke soon added a second, O'Farrell converting both for a 14-5 lead.

Charismatic centre Theodore Henry dummied his way through the T&T defence to hit back for Guyana but Felicion Guerra's try put T&T in the ascendency, 21-12 at half time.

Two quick tries after the break from captain Fredericks increased the lead to 35-12 and, although Guyana clawed their way back through Ronald Mayers after good work from Claudius Butts, Fredericks added his third after 66 minutes to make it 40-19. Theodore Henry crossed for his second shortly afterwards but it was too little too late for gallant Guyana.

Referee: Tony Spreadbury

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Trinidad & Tobago will play Guyana in the final of the Caribbean Rugby World Cup 2011 qualifying tournament on Saturday after the two sides won their respective Cup semi finals against Barbados and Bermuda in Georgetown.

The winner of the final will go on to to play the winner of the Consur B championship, featuring Brazil, Paraguay, Colombia, Venezuela and Peru, later in 2008.

Bermuda 13-25 Guyana

Guyana were quickly into their stride against Bermuda, tries by centres Kevin McKenzie and Theodore Henry taking them to a 12-0 lead after only 10 minutes.

Ryan George added a penalty kick as Guyana attacked relentlessly outside through the pace of McKenzie and West Indies Sevens captain Claudius Butts, but back row forward Benjamin Beasley's try gave Bermuda hope, 15-8 down at the break.

Guyana started the second half as they did the first, however, and a quick try by fly half Christopher Singh put them well ahead. Both sides battled hard in the heat with neither making inroads until Henry kicked and collected cleverly to score and put the result beyond doubt. Chris Furburt pulled a try back for Bermuda in the dying seconds to make the final score to 25-13 in favour of Guyana.

Referee: Tony Spreadbury (RFU)

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