English prop Matt Stevens might be looking at the end of his professional rugby career after confirmation on Thursday that he will be banned for two years following a positive test for cocaine.

Stevens, who tested positive after his club Bath’s European Cup clash with Glasgow in December, received the ban from the tournament organisers after a hearing in Glasgow on Tuesday.

He will not be allowed to play again until January 18, 2011, two years after he was charged with the offence. He will miss this year’s Lions tour of South Africa and would appear to have little chance of featuring in the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

Confirmation of the ban will come as a devastating blow to the 26-year-old, who had hoped that his admission that he used the recreational drug and commitment to seeking treatment would result in a shorter ban.

Stevens, who has won 32 caps for England and would have been an automatic choice for this year’s Six Nations, confessed last month that he was struggling with substance abuse.

“Like any drug problem you don’t know it’s happening and then it mounts up and before you know it you have a problem and an illness,” he said.

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The Stormers and Springbok flanker Schalk Burger have turned down a offer from Saracens in England and won’t join the exodus of South African players to Europe.

“I am with the Stormers until the end of the year. I want to play my rugby here. There are big tests coming up against the British and Irish Lions, as well as a Tri-Nations,” said Burger.

“I would like to play in South Africa and for the Springboks for as long as possible. If I want to do that, I probably can’t go overseas.”

Saracens were planning a loan agreement with Burger for ten games during the Currie Cup. It is believed that Stormers captain Jean de Villiers was also in their sights.

Brendan Venter, who is currently working as a defence consultant for the Stormers, will assume the role of director of rugby at Saracens in July.

It was reported on Wednesday that the English club had decided not to renew the contracts of 15 players, including former All Black lock Chris Jack.

Saracens reportedly want to replace them all with South Africans, but that is not entirely accurate. However, a handful of South Africans are in Saracens’ sights.

Loose forward Justin Melck has already joined, while a source told Die Burger that Stormers hooker Schalk Brits has “already signed” for the club. Brits can effect an escape clause in his contract after the Super 14.

It has been reliably learned that offers are also on the table for the Lions duo of hooker Ethienne Reynecke and lock Anton van Zyl.

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Springbok and Sharks star Francois Steyn could be lost to South African rugby within a couple of months.

According to a report in Afrikaans Sunday newspaper Sondag, Steyn has emerged as the major target of French club Racing Metro on their trip to South Africa next month and has been offered “one of the biggest contracts ever in rugby history” to make the move to France.

Steyn has apparently not signed anything yet, but according to Sondag’s information he is the only Springbok who is still looking overseas after the recent contract offers from SA Rugby.

SA Rugby’s player of the year Jean de Villiers, has reportedly said no to a massive offer of almost R4 million per season from Irish province Munster. Steyn’s contract offer is said to be in the region of R4.5 million per season.

SA Rugby yesterday announced the names of 19 players who signed contracts, but confirmed that CJ van der Linde has not signed a contract by the deadline on Saturday.

Steyn’s agent Gerrie Swart meanwhile admitted the young utility back has been approached about the contract.

“He hasn’t signed anything yet and will look at the offer with the same careful consideration and the knowledge of both SA Rugby and the Sharks. Frans needs to discuss the offer in his own time with his family and must then take a decision that will have all the implications considered,” Swart said.

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The New Zealand, Crusaders and Perpignan superstar Daniel Carter might be sidelined for up to six months following a partial rapture to his Achilles tendon on Saturday.

The 26-year-old was injured in the final moments of Perpignan’s 13-13 Top 14 draw with Stade Français on Saturday in front of 79,122 at the Stade de France.

The All Black had kicked his team level with a penalty two minutes from time after they had trailed 13-3 with just eight minutes remaining.

Carter’s appearance against the Parisians marked his return from three weeks on the sidelines with a strain to the same Achilles tendon.

The French club signed Carter on a lucrative six-month deal but he has played just five times since arriving in December after being part of New Zealand’s victorious ‘Grand Slam’ romp across Europe in November.

Details on the extend of the injury to his left ankle have yet to be confirmed, but club spokesman Benoît Brazè admitted that Carter has pulled on Perpignan’s famous blood and gold jersey for the last time.

“He has suffered a partial tear to his Achilles tendon – an injury that could keep him out of action for up to six months,” he said.

“Carter’s run with Perpignan is now over.

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After returning from his period of compassionate leave in South Africa, Heyneke Meyer announced on Wednesday that he will no longer coach the English club Leicester Tigers.

“It is with deep regret that we accept Heyneke’s resignation because he has an outstanding record of achievement in his career, everyone was very supportive of him here and we could all sense success with him as head coach,” Tigers chairman Peter Tom told the club’s website.

“But Heyneke found himself in a very difficult situation and we fully understand the reasons for his decision to remain in South Africa.”

The 41-year-old Meyer signed a three-year contract in June last year, replacing Argentine Marcelo Loffreda, after leading the Bulls to the Super 14 title in 2007 – the first triumph by a South African side in the southern hemisphere’s leading competition.

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The Leicester Tigers have decided to give Heyneke Meyer one more week to decide about his future at the club.

Meyer, who arrived at Welford Road at the start of the season, has returned home to South Africa to be with his wife’s parents, who are both seriously ill.

Club chairman Peter Tom had originally set last Sunday as the date to resolve the matter by, but chief executive Peter Wheeler has said Meyer has asked for more time.

Wheeler went on to stress that the club would not rush their head coach in such testing circumstances.

“I have spoken to Heyneke and his situation is still very difficult from a medical point of view,” Wheeler told The Leicester Mercury..

“I have said to him, ‘let’s give it another week’. If that is helpful to him, that is what we will do.”

Wheeler said that the Tigers board would discuss the way forward at next week’s scheduled meeting.

“We will, hopefully, have all of the information in place by then and be able to reach a decision,” he said.

“I have said to Heyneke that I will speak to him this weekend because we have got plenty on our plate this week (Tigers play the Ospreys in the Heineken Cup pool decider).

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Today is decision day for former Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer and the Leicester Tigers about his future with the English club. It seems likely that Meyer will not return to the Tigers.

The Afrikaans newspaper Rapport reports that the concession of the British club for Meyer to return home on compassionate grounds – both his wife’s parents are seriously ill – expires on Sunday, according to Rapport.

Meyer, who has an outstanding record with the Bulls and Blue Bulls, started coaching with Leicester this season. He has made a huge impact on the top English club and his departure for South Africa undoubtedly upset their planning.

The newspaper reports that Meyer was not prepared to discuss his decision, except to say that he will pursue the matter with Peter Wheeler, CEO of Leicester, in the week.

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Australia ended their end of year UK tour with a victory over the Barbarians. The Aussies won 18 – 11 at Wembley Stadium in an very exciting and action packed game.

“The Wallabies, with England referee Chris White seemingly in the festive season spirit already and very generous in his handling of the constant breaches of the law, simply tackled the BaaBaas into submission.

But it was the Australians’ greater enthusiasm and willingness to push the law to its utter limits in both defence and at the breakdown, that won them the day.

The victory was sealed only two minutes from time, by replacement Lachie Turner’s breakaway try after South Africa’s Francois Steyn, who also missed a number of goal-kicks, turned the ball over yet again.

The result meant Australia had won four of their six tour matches – also beating Italy, England and France, but losing to New Zealand, in Hong Kong, and Wales last weekend in Cardiff.

Australia took the Rugby Union gold medal in 1908 with a 32-3 victory over Great Britain, represented by the south-west English county of Cornwall.

The Barbarians, in honour of that match, all wore yellow Cornwall socks as they departed from their usual tradition of players wearing their club socks.

BaaBaas try-scorer Jerry Collins, who last year played for Cornish side Barnstaple, even dyed his hair yellow.

The Barbarians were 6-13 behind with just under 30 minutes left when they got back into the game with a superb try.

Australia fullback James O’Connor’s poor kick out of defence gave possession back to the Barbarians and Steyn, playing at flyhalf, threw a long cut-out pass to Welsh wing Shane Williams, the newly-crowned International Rugby Board Player of the Year.

Williams, on as a half-time replacement for Percy Montgomery, sprinted clear down the touchline.

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Having a look at the teams for the Barbarians vs Australia encounter tonight, anyone who is a rugby fan will have their mouths watering at this juicy encounter. Here are the teams, kick-off time, weather conditions, etc:

Barbarians:

15. Percy Montgomery,14. Joe Rokocoko, 13. Rico Gear, 12. Jean de Villiers, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Francois Steyn, 9. Fourie du Preez, 8. Schalk Burger, 7. Richie McCaw, 6. Jerry Collins, 5. Johann Muller, 4. Bakkies Botha, 3. Census Johnson, 2. John Smit (captain), 1. Federico Pucciariello.
Replacements: 16. Mark Regan, 17. Rodney Blake, 18. Chris Jack, 19. Nick Koster, 20. George Gregan, 21. Ollie Smith, 22. Shane Williams.

Australia:

15. James O’Connor, 14. Lote Tuqiri, 13. Ryan Cross, 12. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 11. Digby Ioane, 10. Quade Cooper, 9. Brett Sheehan, 8. Richard Brown, 7. George Smith, 6. Dean Mumm, 5. Hugh McMeniman, 4. Mark Chisholm, 3. Matt Dunning, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Sekope Kepu
Replacements:

16. Adam Freier, 17. Ben Alexander, 18. Peter Kimlin, 19. David Pocock, 20. Luke Burgess, 21. Lachie Turner, 22. Drew Mitchell

Venue: Wembley Stadium London
Kick-off: 19.45 (19.45 GMT)
Weather: It is a night game, but the prospect of rain is small. It will be cold, with a high of 2°C and a low of -3°C
Referee: Chris White (England)
Touch judges: Wayne Barnes (England), Steve Terheege (England)
TMO: Geoff Warren (England)