Union Round-Up: White's spirit rewarded with a famous prize

The recent vote that confirmed Jason White as Famous Grouse Player of the Year has been given a ringing endorsement by Scotland's coach, Frank Hadden.

White, 28, captained Scotland to Six Nations wins this year over England, France and Italy, and Hadden said: "When you work with the squad you can clearly see the respect he carries. That's not just for his ability as a player, it's because of the way he is as a person. He doesn't say much - a lot of captains are a lot more vocal than he is - but when he speaks his team-mates listen."

Another Scotland back-row forward, Ross Beattie, has joined Borders from Northampton. The 28-year-old No 8 has signed a two-year deal and will link up again with his former coach at Newcastle, Steve Bates.

Llanelli Scarlets saw off Newport-Gwent Dragons 36-17 in a scrappy, mid-table Celtic League contest last night, thanks largely to a 13-minute, first-half hat-trick of tries from Mark Jones and a brace from fellow Welsh international Dafydd James.

Wales will play the first Test of next month's tour of Argentina in Patagonia. The match will take place on Sunday 11 June in Puerto Madryn, the city named after the leader of the Welsh immigrants who landed in Patagonia in 1865 - Sir Love Jones-Parry of Madryn.

Matt Giteau will become the highest-paid player in Australian rugby if he signs a five-year contract to join Western Force from ACT Brumbies. The 23-year-old has reportedly agreed a £2.5m deal with the Perth-based team, who drew 23-23 with table-topping Crusaders on Friday after losing their opening nine Super 14 games.

Fourth-placed ACT Brumbies, lifted by first-half tries from Stirling Mortlock and George Gregan, shrugged off last weekend's heavy loss to NSW Waratahs to beat third-placed Wellington Hurricanes 21-16 in Canberra yesterday.

The scrum-half Ruan Pienaar ran in a try and helped to create several others to steer fifth-placed Sharks to a comfortable 32-15 win over Auckland Blues in Durban.