Five talented Test rookies who appear destined for Springbok honours are on the cover of the latest SA Rugby magazine, which is now on sale.
These are extraordinary times. When our previous issue went to print, the coronavirus had yet to be declared a global pandemic, while rugby continued uninterrupted. So much has changed since then, with sport placed in its own form of ‘lockdown’ as precautions were taken to combat the spread of Covid-19.
It also made producing our May edition particularly challenging, with new developments taking place on the rugby front almost every day. With this in mind, though, we sought to keep our content as timeless as possible, and we hope it presents an enjoyable read during these uncertain times.
Ultimately, what hasn’t changed is our endeavour to unpack the stories behind our rugby heroes.
We also look to the future, and the good news is there are plenty of young stars who have provided enough reason to believe the game is in good hands.
In this issue, we identify five internationally uncapped players who we believe are Springboks-in-waiting, with chief writer Jon Cardinelli catching up with each of them during the time of self-isolation.
Of course, it was also our responsibility to look at how this global pandemic has impacted the game, and find out from the leading role players in SA rugby just how they have tackled this crisis.
We chatted to Kwagga Smith, who was based in Japan as the pandemic escalated, with the World Cup winner just making it back home before the lockdown began.
In addition, our feel-good features on the growth of emotive Xhosa commentary, the (Pieter-Steph) Du Toit family and retiring Springbok Francois Louw will hopefully bring a smile to your face.
Also look out for our selection of an all-time SA Super Rugby dream team and an investigation into the South African connection at English club Sale Sharks.
There’s plenty to enjoy in this issue but, most importantly, we wish you well and good health during this time!
