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Gregor Townsend will skipper Scotland in their international against the Barbarians at Murrayfield on 17 August. The stand-off will deputise as captain for Rob Wainwright, who is suffering from a recurring groin strain and misses the match which has been arranged to support the Dunblane appeal. Wainwright is one six Test players unavailable, with fellow injury victims Graham Shiel, Ian Jardine, Kevin McKenzie, Bryan Redpath and Peter Wright also on the sidelines.

Plans to move Gloucester rugby ground out of Kingsholm because of traffic problems have met resistance from local councillors. A motion proposing that the council would in no way encourage the club to move from the city was backed unanimously.

Derek Bevan, the Welsh referee, will be in charge of his 31st international when he controls the last of the five meetings between South Africa and New Zealand in Johannesburg on Saturday, 31 August.