Rugby

Having crossed paths with almost every leading rugby nation in the world over the last five years has been a valuable opportunity for the Springbok Women to improve their game, but Ireland will be an unknown factor for the South Africans when they clash in the WXV Global Series at Athlone Stadium in Caps Town …

For try-machine Elliot Dee, rugby these days is all about enjoyment and not overthinking things. The Dragons RFC hooker certainly looks to be relishing life given how he has started the season. He is the top try scorer in the Vodacom URC with five, having demonstrated his expertise at the back of the lineout drives …

As he lay on the Toulouse turf looking down at his horrifically damaged ankle, Le Roux Malan feared his rugby career was over. But three years on, that career is positively thriving as he prepares for a reunion with his former team. The 27-year-old centre is now plying his trade in Wales with Cardiff Rugby …

Ben Whitehouse has joined the Wales men’s national squad on a full-time basis as a specialist coach. In his role within Steve Tandy’s coaching team, Whitehouse will work closely with coaches and players around the principles of law, discipline, decision-making and communication. As a result of his new role, Whitehouse will retire from officiating following …

After more than a decade of rugby wandering, Tommaso Allan is back in his homeland and determined to make the most of however long he has left in his career. Over the years, he has had spells playing in South Africa, France and England, as well as in his native Italy, while his 91 caps …

Alex Groves has more reason than most to feel fortunate that he makes his living as a rugby player. Two years ago, it wasn’t just his sporting career that was on the line, but his life. In February 2024, he underwent eight-hour heart surgery after the discovery of an aneurysm – an abnormal bulge in …

Few pundits in the women’s game would argue with the statement that the Springbok Women had been very fortunate to have at least half a dozen hookers of international quality around over the last couple of seasons. In fact, in Lindelwa Gwala they have the most capped hooker in the green and gold; Roseline Botes …

A landmark moment for women’s rugby in South Africa will unfold in the Western Cape later this week when a group of leading female coaches assemble for the first standalone World Rugby Level 3 course dedicated to women coaches. The course, to be held at Delsma Sports Farm in Riebeek Kasteel from 23 to 28 …

Sizophila Solontsi will take over the Springbok Women captaincy duties for the final two tests in the WXV Global Series – against Ireland in Cape Town on 24 and 31 October – after Babalwa Latsha was ruled out of the series due to an ankle injury. The experienced Solontsi co-captained the side with Unam Tose …

The Vodacom Bulls, DHL Stormers, and Hollywoodbets Sharks got their Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup campaigns off to encouraging starts over the weekend, as they all registered valuable victories in a jam-packed weekend of action, which was heavily overshadowed by the tragic passing of 10bet Lions lock Hyron Andrews in an emotional weekend …

SA Rugby on Friday sent its condolences to the family of Lions lock forward Hyron Andrews who passed away tragically, following an accident while on duty with his team in France. Andrews, 31, who also played for the KZN Sharks and Sale Sharks in England, died after falling at the team’s hotel in La Rochelle, …

All club roads will lead to the Bushveld and Surf City on Saturday as the Pick n Pay Gold Cup reaches the semi-final stage after three weeks of nail-biting action from club venues across the country. The 32-team ‘FA Cup’ of South African community rugby has seen 28 matches played since the Round of 32 …

The five South African teams participating in the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup competitions will face a fresh challenge this weekend as they switch their focus from the Vodacom United Rugby Championship to the first round of the European showpieces, where all the sides will want to make a strong statement in the …

 Anacadia Minnaar and Insaaf Levy will join a settled Springbok Women squad in Stellenbosch on Wednesday when they assemble for their final two Tests of the year, against Ireland in Cape Town on Saturday 24 and 31 October. The two Tests at Athlone Stadium will conclude the 2026 WXV Global Series for the hosts, who …

The Welsh Rugby Union’s global search for a new Chair has culminated in the appointment of successful Welsh businessman, Lyndon Faulkner. The WRU searched near and far, scouring its international diaspora as well as looking close to home, in search of someone with the right credentials to lead the WRU Board at a pivotal time …

The final four clubs in the Pick n Pay Gold Cup have been confirmed after an action-packed quarter-final weekend in the ‘FA Cup’ of South African club rugby, which included electric performances on the field in the South section and a literal lightning display off it in the North. The country’s pre-eminent knockout championship for …

Edinburgh Beat Bogey Side To Go Top Edinburgh Rugby are in uncharted waters at the top of the Vodacom URC having won their opening three league matches for the first time in more than a decade. You have to go back to 2015 and the days of the old PRO12 for the last time the …

The Pick n Pay Gold Cup has delivered its fair share of spectacle over the past fortnight and Saturday promises to be no different as the ‘FA Cup’ of South African club rugby reaches the quarter-final stage. The country’s pre-eminent knockout championship for non-university clubs – which is sponsored by the national retail chain for …

A wave of new Welsh, Scottish and Irish caps are set to drive the standard of the Celtic Challenge, as the highest seeded team prepares to host the Final for the first time. The Celtic Challenge has today announced the full fixture list for the 2026/27 season, its fourth year as the ultimate cross-border club …

Vodacom United Rugby Championship log leaders, the Hollywoodbets Sharks, and third-placed 10bet Lions, will have their sights set on continuing their unbeaten start in the competition this weekend and remain in the top four on the standings when they hit the road to face the DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls in a thrilling round of …

To get an insight into the qualities which have seen Ben Carter nail down a Wales second row spot, it’s revealing to listen to his Dragons RFC coach Filo Tiatia. Having earned promotion from the bench midway through the Guinness Six Nations, Carter went on to make six successive starts for his country, establishing himself …