Defining Moments of 2013
We look back at the moments which – for better or for worse – made 2013 a year to remember.
Planet Rugby looks back at the moments which – for better or for worse – made 2013 a year to remember.
11 January: Stormers and Springboks wing Bryan Habana confirms that he will join Toulon at the end of Super Rugby. The 2007 World Cup-winner signs a three-year deal with the Top 14 outfit.
15 January: Eric Bechu, the joint coach of Top 14 side Montpellier, died at the age of 53 after a long battle with cancer.
20 January: Although not one of the most exciting games of the season, Leicester and Toulouse's Heineken Cup Pool Two clash was one of the most important. The winners qualified for the quarter-finals while the losers were knocked out. In a match marked by many misses by the French team's kickers, and only one try in the snow, Toulouse lost 9-5 and failed to qualify for the first time in four years.
28 January: Zac Guildford's drinking habits get him into the headlines again. After assaulting someone at a bar and at a party, Guildford announces that he will leave the Crusaders for an “indefinite time” to undertake an intensive treatment programme for his drinking.
3 February: Italy secured a 23-18 victory over France in Rome. In a stunning offensive performance led by an outstanding Luciano Orquera, the Azzurri dominated les Bleus and finally seemed to justify their presence in the Six Nations.
9 February: Bordeaux-Begles claimed one of the biggest upsets of the season when they thrashed league-leaders Toulon 41-0 at their Chaban-Delmas Stadium. On the same day Agen also shocked Toulouse by beating them 22-9 at the Stade Armandie in Agen.
19 February: French reports confirm that Jonathan Sexton has finally signed for Racing Metro in a deal worth in the region of €600,000 a year for two seasons with the option of a third year.
22 February: Super Rugby's newest franchise, the Southern Kings, got their campaign off to a fine start with a 22-10 victory over the Western Force in Port Elizabeth.
14 March: Zac Guildford returns to training with the Crusaders after more than a month of rehabilitation. He declares with great humility that he is an “alcoholic”. Guildford's admission and the steps he has taken to battle his addiction were enough to convince the New Zealand Rugby Union not to terminate his contract.
16 March: After beating France in their tournament opener, Italy finished their Six Nations campaign in fine style with a 22-15 victory over Ireland in Rome. The result meant that they shared third spot on the table with Scotland – their best finish in the Six Nations since joining the competition in 2000.
16 March: Wales are crowned Six Nations champions for the second successive year thanks to their 30-3 demolition of tournament favourites England in Cardiff.
19 March: Reds director of rugby Ewen McKenzie announces that he will be leaving his job at the Brisbane-based franchise at the end of the season after three full seasons and a Super Rugby title.
28 March: France's rugby players' union react with disbelief after the French anti-doping agency (AFLD) director of testing Francoise Lasne reveals that rugby had returned the highest proportion of positive doping tests in the country last year. After immediate reactions supporting this claim and others criticising the method used to count, the AFLD eventually admitted it had made some basic mathematical errors.
9 April: Wales wing George North's switch from the Scarlets to Northampton is confirmed. The 20-year-old will join the Premiership side for the 2013/14 season on a three-year deal.
12 April: Stade Français scrum-half Jerome Fillol receives a 14-week ban for spitting in the face of Peter Stringer of Bath during an Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final in Bath on 6 April.
13 April: Munster lock Paul O'Connell kicks Dave Kearney of Leinster in the head during their derby clash at Thomond Park. O'Connell escapes sanction which infuriates the French press and Clermont Auvergne's management as Munster are set to face the Top 14 side in a Heineken Cup semi-final on 27 April. A suspension for O'Connell would have been a huge loss for the Irish province.
27 April: Clermont Auvergne secure a hard-fought 10-6 win over Munster in their Heineken Cup semi-final at Stade de la Mosson in Montpellier.
28 April: Jonny Wilkinson is Toulon's hero as he kicks seven penalties and a drop-goal to steer his side to a 24-12 victory over Saracens at Twickenham. The win secure their place in an all-French Heineken Cup Final against Clermont.
29 April: Leinster's Joe Schmidt is appointed as head coach of Ireland until 2016. The New Zealander takes over from Declan Kidney whose five-year tenure ended after a disappointing Six Nations campaign.
30 April: British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland names a 37-man squad to tour Australia, with Wales openside flanker Sam Warburton confirmed as captain.
16 May: Richie McCaw announces that he is back in training after going on a sabbatical since the end of 2012. He doesn't given an exact date on his return to competition.
17 May: Leinster produced a remarkable display of clinical finishing to beat Stade Français 34-13 in the Amlin Challenge Cup final at the RDS in Dublin.
18 May: 36-year-old Ireland and Munster fly-half Ronan O'Gara announces his retirement. He will take up a coaching role with Racing Metro for the 2013/14 season.
18 May: Toulon staged a dramatic fightback to beat French rivals Clermont Auvergne 16-15 in a thrilling Heineken Cup final in Dublin.
19 May: Toulon and former England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson is named ERC European Player of the Year for 2013.
25 May: Leicester thrash Northampton 37-17 to win the Premiership title for the third time in five years.
26 May: Northampton hooker and captain Dylan Hartley is ruled out of the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia due to an 11-week suspension. This after he was red-carded in the Premiership Final against Leicester for swearing at referee Wayne Barnes and calling him a cheat.
27 May: Vern Cotter is confirmed as the next head coach of Scotland. The Scottish Rugby Union announce that the 51-year-old would begin his role in June 2014, when his contract at Clermont Auvergne expires.
1 June: Castres spring a huge surprise by beating Toulon 19-14 in the Top 14 Final at the Stade de France in Paris. Castres' half-backs Rory Kockott and Remi Tales combined perfectly