Early test for ambitious Sharks

Experienced flanker Philip van der Walt believes the Sharks have a squad capable of going all the way in this Super Rugby season, writes CRAIG LEWIS.

Outeniqua target fast start

SARugbymag.co.za chats to Outeniqua director of rugby Pieter Cloete about the upcoming season. How are your preparations going? We are very much on track with our preparations. We have just finished trials and chosen a squad of 27 boys who practice four times a week and sometimes twice a day. If you want to play with the big dogs you… Read more →

SuperSport comes to aid of SABC

SuperSport has agreed to waive the Super Rugby, Currie Cup and Springbok radio broadcast rights fees for the SABC. This follows the national broadcaster’s statement that it was unlikely to produce live radio broadcasts of the tournament due to financial challenges. ‘Frankly, it wasn’t a difficult discussion,’ SuperSport chief executive Gideon Khobane said. ‘We know and understand the realities of South… Read more →

Another injury blow for Blitzboks

Blitzboks star Justin Geduld is set to miss the next two tournaments in the World Rugby Sevens Series due to injury. Geduld will be unavailable for the upcoming Las Vegas and Vancouver legs after fracturing his jaw at the Hamilton Sevens in early February. The playmaker, who has been ruled out for six weeks, joins a number of players who are not… Read more →

Chiefs edge Brumbies

Chiefs scrumhalf Brad Weber scored a hat-trick to help his side to a 38-26 victory against the Brumbies on the Sunshine Coast. Both sides named strong starting lineups for this Super Rugby warm-up match, with Sam Cane leading an All Blacks-laden Chiefs outfit, while Christian Lealiifano captained a Brumbies lineup featuring Wallabies Tevita Kuridrani and Henry Speight. The Brumbies were… Read more →

Roux court date postponed

The hearing into the financial mismanagement case against SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux could only take place in 2019. Roux is being sued by Stellenbosch University after he allegedly manipulated funds to favour the rugby programme during his time as the chairperson of the Maties Rugby Club. This happened over a period of nine years when Roux had access to… Read more →

Du Toit to miss Stormers opener

Bok lock Pieter-Steph du Toit is set to miss the Stormers’ Super Rugby opener against the Jaguares at Newlands this Saturday due to a back injury. According to Sport24, with Du Toit and Eben Etzebeth unavailable for the Stormers, Chris van Zyl and JD Schickerling are now likely to start in the second row. Meanwhile, the good news is that a… Read more →

World Rugby: TMO got it wrong

World Rugby says Wales fullback Gareth Anscombe should have been awarded a try against England at Twickenham last Saturday. England were leading 12-0 in the 23rd minute of the Six Nations match when Anscombe chased down Rhys Patchell’s cross-kick. TV replays showed him grounding the ball in the in-goal area just before England wing Anthony Watson. However, New Zealand TMO Glenn Newman saw things… Read more →

France expel eight squad members

France coach Jacques Brunel has dropped eight players from his squad as punishment for inappropriate behaviour during a night out in Edinburgh on Sunday. Fifteen of France’s squad members went out following their defeat to Scotland but the eight who were dropped broke the team curfew. On Tuesday, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) confirmed Brunel decided to axe Anthony Belleau,… Read more →

SA has reason for optimism

South Africa’s Super Rugby franchises should be more competitive this year, writes CRAIG LEWIS. The decision to cut two South African teams from Super Rugby is likely to be vindicated during the 2018 season. When it was made, SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux openly acknowledged that the dilution of talent and resources across six franchises had simply become unsustainable. In… Read more →