Michael Essien stage and was out of action for six months, missing the majority of the 2008–09 season, before returning on 4 March to play for Chelsea Reserves against Aston Villa Reserves. He scored the last goal in the 4–3 loss. He still managed to take part in 10 of Ghana's 11 qualification matches, amassing more than 800 minutes of game time as Ghana finished at the top of their group to seal qualification to the 2010 World Cup. However, it was announced on 27 May 2010 that Essien would miss the World Cup after he was told he would not fully
South African Country Districts XV South African Country Districts XV The South African Country Districts XV was an invitational rugby union side selected to play against touring international teams.In one of its first guises, the Districts side lost 32-12 against the touring British Isles' Barbarians at Potchefstroom (23/05/69) whose touring party included eight future or former British and Irish Lions with the likes of Mike Gibson,Sandy Arneil,Bob Taylor,John Pullin and John O'Shea having toured the Republic in 1968. In 1978 and 1980 the team was multi-racial in composition. The Districts' multi-racial predecessor was the South African Invitation XV which on 7 June 1975 beat the