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REACTION: Racing 92 are trying their best to ignore the positive doping tests for All Black legends Dan Carter and Joe Rokocoko, as well as Argentinian wing Juan Imhoff.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Toulon and the Top 14 will be aiming to re-establish their superiority when the three-time winners host champions Saracens on the opening weekend of the European Champions Cup.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Golden Lions coach Johan Ackermann is banking on his team's play-off experience when the defending Currie Cup champions travel to Bloemfontein on Saturday.

EXCLUSIVE: Eugene Eloff, a two-time former Under-19 World Cup winner, tells the South African Rugby Union bosses to grow a backbone and save the game from ruin.

NEWS: Harlequins are delighted to confirm that Luke Wallace has re-signed for the club.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Free State Cheetahs head coach Franco Smith has made three changes to his starting XV who will be taking on the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup semifinals in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Western Province coach John Dobson has included Springbok duo Juan de Jongh and hooker Bongi Mbonambi to take on Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup semifinal at Loftus on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok scrumhalf Francois de Klerk has been named on the Golden Lions bench for their Currie Cup semifinal.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok scrumhalf Rudy Paige will make a first start for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup on Saturday.

EXCLUSIVE: rugby365 law guru Paul Dobson takes a closer look at two tries, two possible knock-ons and the talk about 'control'.

NEWS: A Mid Canterbury Union player has been stood down after he was charged with assault with intent to commit rape following an alleged incident after a game in Gisborne earlier in October.

NEWS: Kristian Dacey is the latest player to pledge his future to Cardiff Blues after signing a new long-term deal with the region.

Jan de Koning and Tauriq Ebrahim look at the alternatives to Allister Coetzee's Springbok selections and also talk about the Currie Cup play-offs!

NEWS: Muster Rugby prop James Cronin was slapped with a four-week ban after appearing before an independent Celtic Disciplinary Committee.

NEWS: European and English champions Saracens have called a halt to their pursuit of South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth.

NEWS: The Pumas have scooped up former Boland Cavaliers coach Brent Janse van Rensburg.

INTERVIEW: The Golden Lions' harmonised structures are beginning to filter through to the junior teams and reaping rewards.

NEWS: Northampton Saints' French import Louis Picamoles is relishing the chance to lock horns with former side Montpellier in a mouthwatering European Champions Cup clash.

NEWS: Scotland international captain Greig Laidlaw will leave Gloucester at the end of the current season after penning a three-year deal with French club Clermont.

NEWS: Scotland international fullback Stuart Hogg has provided Glasgow Warriors with a massive boost after pledging his commitment to the club until at least May 2019.

NEWS: Wasps' New Zealand-born playmaker Jimmy Gopperth will continue to fly at the Premiership club after becoming the fourth player to recently re-sign with the club.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Veteran No.8 Duane Vermeulen has become the first player to publicly speak out about the rot that is destroying South African rugby.

NEWS: Blues head coach Tana Umaga has gained the services of Dave Ellis, who will take up a full-time role as skills coach.

SQUAD ANNOUNCED: The Reds have officially revealed their 38-man squad for the 2017 Super Rugby which features a number of Wallabies.

THIS WEEK'S CARTOON: rugby365's Matthew Ackermann looks at Springbok coach Allister Coetzee's declaration that there are 'not many' better players outside the current team!

NEWS: French referee Jérôme Garcès will be the man in charge when England hosts South Africa in the one the most high-profile Test matches next month.

NEWS: The vacant Crusaders' team manager position has been filled by the current principal of Southbrook School and former Canterbury team manager, Shane Fletcher.

NEWS: Suva, Fiji will play hosts to the 2016 Oceania Sevens Championship in November and will be the perfect lead up to the start of the 2016/2017 World Sevens Series that kicks off in Dubai in December.

NEWS: Wales international Andy Powell announced his retirement on Tuesday after failing to recover from a knee injury.

NEWS: England suffered a fresh injury blow on Tuesday when Mike Williams became the fourth openside to be sidelined for the forthcoming internationals.

The Rugby Championship came to an end last week when the All Blacks humiliated the Springboks.

INTERVIEW: Free State Cheetahs coach Franco Smith has not lost sight of the Currie Cup play-offs, but he has his eye on the bigger picture.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Italy captain Sergio Parisse has been recalled to the Italy squad for November tests against New Zealand, South Africa and Tonga.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Despite suffering a defeat last week at the hands of Connacht, Ireland back row Robbie Diack is adamant Ulster Rugby is ready to take on Bordeaux for their Champions Cup opener on Saturday.

NEWS: Former Stormers flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis will join English Premiership club Harlequins ahead of the 2017/2018 European season.

NEWS: Western Province are bracing themselves for an aerial bombardment when the travel to Pretoria to take on the Blue Bulls in their Currie Cup Premier Division semifinal.

Ever wondered how the DHL Stormers stay fit when they're not on the field? We caught up with Siya Kolisi, Brandon Thomson and Strength and Conditioning coach Stephan du Toit to get the lowdown.

INJURY UPDATE: The Blue Bulls have a scrumhalf crisis ahead of their Currie Cup semifinal showdown with arch rivals Western Province in Pretoria on Saturday.

NEWS: The Golden Lions are well represented amongst the nominations for the 2016 SA Rugby Player of the Year Awards.

NEWS: Versatile Springbok Johan Goosen was named by his peers as the best player in the Top 14 for the 2015-16 season.

REACTION: Springbok head coach Allister Coetzee said the national coaching indaba this month will be vital to help get the national team out of the gutter.

OPINION: New Zealand's dominance of the game can be found in many statistics and events - such as the Rugby Championship.

NEWS: The Springboks have dropped down to fourth in the world after their 15-57 defeat to the All Blacks in Durban.

NEWS: The defending champion Golden Lions have lost four players to injury ahead of their trip to Bloemfontein on Saturday.

INJURY UPDATE: Western Province have been significantly strengthened ahead of their Currie Cup Premier Division semifinal against the Blue Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.

OPINION: Tauriq Ebrahim examines the claim that the current squad of Springboks are the best South Africa have.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: One of the reasons why the All Blacks are continuing to set new benchmarks on the international stage, is because their players demand the best from each other.

NEWS: Springbok lock Lodewyk de Jager received a one-match ban after he was found guilty for a dangerous charge in his team's 15-57 loss to the All Blacks in Durban last weekend. 

NEWS: Saracens are optimistic Owen Farrell will make his first appearance of the season when they face French club Toulon in the European Champions Cup this coming Saturday.

TOP 14 SUNDAY WRAP: Clermont returned to the top of the French League with a tight 29-25 victory over Toulouse in the Top 14 on Sunday.

REPORT: Jamie George climbed off the bench to score a second-half try double that secured Saracens a 30-14 bonus-point win over Wasps and return to the Premiership summit.

REACTION: Australia's Leroy Houston thanked his English Premiership teammates for helping him become a full Wallaby international.

NEWS: England coach Eddie Jones has insisted trying to play New Zealand at their own game is the wrong way to topple the All Blacks from the summit.

NPC SPOTLIGHT: rugby365 columnist Richard Neal, in his weekly wrap, looks at some of the best matches in New Zealand's National Provincial Championship.

NEWS: Australia's Nick Phipps escaped with a warning after shoving a member of Argentina's medical staff during the Wallabies' 33-21 Rugby Championship win at Twickenham on Saturday.

NRC ROUND SEVEN WRAP: NSW Country Eagles, Melbourne Rising, Sydney Rays and Perth Spirit have all secured their places in the National Rugby Championship semi-finals following an exciting end to Round Seven.

TOP 14 SATURDAY WRAP: Shaken by revelations that three of their players tested positive for cortisone during their Top 14 Final victory last season, Racing92 snatched a 29-22 win over Stade Francais in the Parisian derby on Saturday.

NEWS: Springbok lock Lodewyk de Jager faces an anxious wait after he was cited for foul play during his side's 15-57 defeat at the hands of New Zealand in Durban on Saturday.

REACTION: Argentina captain Agustin Creevy has no regrets about playing at Twickenham after his side enjoyed plenty of support despite going down 21-33 to Australia.

REACTION: Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said his side will need to be sharper when they return to the northern hemisphere to face England in December after ending the Rugby Championship with a 33-21 win over Argentina at Twickenham.

REACTION: Springbok captain Adriaan Strauss believes there is still a bright future in store for the Springboks, despite a 15-57 home defeat to the All Blacks in Durban.

REACTION: The Springboks have seemingly hit rock-bottom after their humiliating 15-57 loss to the All Blacks in Durban last Saturday.

REACTION: It seems there is no stopping Steve Hansen's All Black team as they continue to break new ground in the game of rugby.

OPINION: Australia returned to the scene of their World Cup semifinal victory over Argentina with another impressive performance at Twickenham Stadium.

REACTION: New Zealand coach Steve Hansen refused to get carried away after a 57-15 demolition of arch-rivals South Africa.

REACTION: Springbok coach Allister Coetzee insisted there are no players left in South Africa that could strengthen his squad.

OPINION: Argentina were left to rue another bad start to the game against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday - a game they lost 21-33.

PRO12 SATURDAY WRAP: Isa Nacewa grabbed a double as Leinster moved to second of the PRO12 table with a 25-14 victory over fierce rivals Munster at Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

OPINION: New Zealand gave an exhibition of how the game should be played and in the process set a few records.

INJURY UPDATE: Exeter Chiefs wing Jack Nowell is the latest England player to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines as a result of national coach Eddie Jones' controversial training camp.

OPINION: South Africa is at a low ebb in their rugby history - a place where it seems the game is dying a slow death.

MATCH REPORT: Australia finished their Rugby Championship campaign on a high, beating an error-prone Argentina 33-21 in London on Saturday.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: Damien Welch’s last-gasp try snatched a dramatic draw for Exeter Chiefs in an enthralling derby with Gloucester Rugby at Sandy Park.

MATCH REPORT: New Zealand smashed a pathetically poor South African side 57-15 in their Rugby Championship finale Durban on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wallaby legend Michael Lynagh believes a lack of depth lies behind Australia's post World Cup slump.

PREMIERSHIP FRIDAY WRAP: George Ford was Bath's hero from the tee as they battled to a dominant 30-3 victory over Sale Sharks to move up into second on the table.

PRO12 FRIDAY WRAP: Defending champions Connacht produced a stellar performance to down league leaders Ulster 30-25 as Cian Kelleher bagged a double.

REPORT: The Griffons spread their wings in the second half to claim an emphatic 44-25 victory over the Leopards to claim the First Division title in Potchefstroom on Friday.

NEWS: Englishman Damian McGrath has been appointed head coach of the Canadian Sevens team after coaching Samoa's Sevens side in the 2015/16 season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Australia back row forward Leroy Houston could make his Test debut off the bench after securing the last spot among the replacements for the Rugby Championship finale against Argentina at Twickenham on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok captain Adriaan Strauss says he won't be getting emotional when runs out for the Springboks on Saturday.

NEWS: Argentina captain Agustin Creevy will have "revenge" on his mind when he leads his Pumas out against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday in the first Rugby Championship match played in the northern hemisphere.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: All Black captain Kieran Read says playing in South Africa in front of the boisterous Springboks fans always brings out the best him and his teammates.

REACTION: Dan Carter's French club, Racing 92, insisted that the All Black legend had been "authorised" to receive a cortisone injection before the Top 14 Final.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Josh Isaacson interviewed South African Sevens star Philip Snyman about his experience at the Rio Olympics and his future goals on and off the field.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: All eyes will be on the North West city of Rustenburg on Saturday when the drama of the final round of the Gold Cup, SA Rugby’s championship for non-university clubs, is broadcast to an international television audience.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND SIX: Argentina and Australia will both be keen to end this year's Rugby Championship in style.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: England coach Eddie Jones is at odds with the Premiership clubs over the intensity of a training camp this week.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand could equal the top-tier rugby nations' world record of 17 consecutive victories that they share with South Africa if they beat the Springboks in Durban on Saturday.

NEWS: The Canterbury Rugby Football Union will soon begin a process to appoint a CEO, having made a joint decision with the Super Rugby franchise Crusaders to move to a separate management structure going forward.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The UC Vikings will look to Wallabies veteran Ben Alexander to help them pull off a massive upset when they take on the inform Perth Spirt on Saturday.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND SIX: It is, sadly, a match that has lost its shine - at least for the present.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Establishing a platform for victory in Test-match rugby always starts up front and it will be no different when the Springboks take on the mighty All Backs at Kings Park.

REACTION: All Black legend Dan Carter's agent rejected any implication his client was a drug cheat.

Some of the biggest rugby stadiums across the UK and Ireland will host fixtures in Round Six as the "Big Weekend" will also seek to create new rivalries between the Italian and Scottish teams outside of their own national derby games.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Loose forward Matt Todd will be hoping to make a big impression when he runs out for the All Blacks against the Springboks at Kings Park this weekend.

NEWS: England new-boy Dan Robson and Wasps teammates Thomas Young and Kearnan Myall all signed new contracts with the Premiership club.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: It will be an injury-ravaged Argentinean team that will face Australian in a historic match at Twickenham on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: rugby365 law guru, Paul Dobson analysis and incident which caused some debate at Newlands when Western Province played Boland.

REACTION: Scrumhalf Francois de Klerk will have another opportunity to prove himself on the international stage when the Springboks take on the All Blacks in Durban on Saturday.

NEWS: Western Province's Johnny Kotze will join the Blue Bulls at the end of the year, the Pretoria side confirmed on Thursday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Northampton Saints prop Kieran Brookes believes the commitment the side are showing for each other could be the decisive factor in claiming victory from tight Premiership Rugby encounters.

INJURY UPDATE: Bath wing Anthony Watson is likely to miss England's forthcoming internationals, after suffering a broken jaw.

REACTION: With the wealth of talent he has at scrumhalf, All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen will not be too worried about Aaron Smith's absence for their Rugby Championship showdown against the Springboks in Durban.

NEWS: Premiership club Harlequins confirmed that tighthead prop Kyle Sinckler has re-signed with the club.

IQHAWE WEEK RESULTS: South Western Districts were crowned supreme after a hard-fought 13-8 victory against defending champions, the Western Province, at the Bill Jardine Stadium in Roodepoort.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Sunwolves new coach Filo Tiatia already faces some familiar problems as players are reluctant to join the side for the upcoming Super Rugby season.

NEWS: World Rugby has changed the panels for its men's and women's series for 2016-17.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Francois de Klerk and Damian de Allende were included in Springbok starting line-up to face the All Blacks in Durban on Saturday.

NEWS: The Western Force have signed Namibian-born Richard Hardwick for the 2017 Super Rugby season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Leopards will be hunting back-to-back titles and their 19th consecutive victory in the First Division when they host the Down Touch Griffons, champions in 2014, in the Final at Profert Olën Park in Potchefstroom on Friday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Jan de Koning and Tauriq Ebrahim wade into the murky waters that is the Springbok game plan and the way forward - with the All Blacks lurking around the corner.

REACTION: All Black scrumhalf Aaron Smith's partner Teagan Voykovich has confirmed she does not wish to speak to the media after Smith's public betrayal.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: New Zealand have made four changes for their final Rugby Championship Test against South Africa on Saturday, while retaining TJ Perenara at the expense of disgraced scrumhalf Aaron Smith.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lopeti Timani will receive his first start for the Wallabies when they play Argentina in the final round of the Rugby Championship at Twickenham on Saturday.

NEWS: Filo Tiatia promised to shake up the Sunwolves' performance following a disappointing maiden season as Japan eyes a boost ahead of the 2019 World Cup.

NEWS: Australia's Taqele Naiyaravoro, Wycliff Palu and Will Skelton as well as World Cup winner Andy Ellis of New Zealand have been unveiled as the first four members of the Barbarians squad for the November matches.

NEWS: All Black scrumhalf Aaron Smith has been slapped with a one-match ban for 'breaching team standards'.

Charlie Cockrell, a great rugby man and a fine gentleman, died of a heart attack on the evening of 4 October 2016.

NEWS: Munster-bound Sharks prop Thomas du Toit has committed his immediate future to the Sharks.

COMPETITION TIME: rugby365 and Asics have combined to provide our readers with an opportunity to win tickets to the Test match between South Africa and New Zealand in Durban on Saturday.

INJURY UPDATE: The defending champion Golden Lions were dealt a double blow ahead of the Currie Cup semifinals.

NEWS: World Rugby has made a slight change to the format of the final day's action at each leg of the World Sevens Series to align with the Olympic Games.

NEWS: The Springbok Sevens team are all smiles after head coach Neil Powell was reappointed for a fourth full season with the team as preparations for the 2016/17 season commences.

NEWS: Saracens revealed that lock forward Alistair Hargreaves has retired with immediate effect - following a concussion injury.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: For six weeks, the Antidorcas marsupialis has been elusive and unsighted, however that has now changed as rugby365's famous weekly selection spotted a number of them as they emerged from the wilderness.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen faces a tough decision when he picks his midfield combination for the Test against the Springboks in Durban on Saturday.

REACTION: Transformation is at the heart of the brain drain at the Boland Rugby Union. rugby365 shines the spotlight on this development!

WP AWARDS: Scotland international Huw Jones walked away with the coveted Players' Player of the year Award, as well as the Most Promising Back at the 2016 Western Province Rugby Football Union Awards evening Tuesday, October 4.

NEWS: Hooker Damien Fitzpatrick will return home to the Waratahs from France after signing a two-year contract with the Sydney-based franchise.

THIS WEEK'S CARTOON: rugby365's Matthew Ackermann explains why it was NOT a good weekend to be an Aussie in South Africa!

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Morne Steyn will once again be the Springboks' biggest weapon when they face the All Blacks in Durban on Saturday.

It's the last round of SANZAAR's rugby championship which New Zealand had won by Round 3, if not Round 1.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok hooker Adriaan Strauss received a lot of love from his New Zealand counterpart, Dane Coles, ahead of their meeting at Kings Park on Saturday.

ENGLAND NEWS: Sam Jones has suffered a setback in his bid to become England's openside flank for their forthcoming internationals after being sidelined with an ankle injury.

There were still big scores on thee second day of thee Iqhawe Week in Johannesburg.

NEWS: Wales captain Sam Warburton will have surgery on his fractured cheekbone but is still expected to feature in his country's forthcoming internationals.

NEWS: Argentina has officially announced its bid to host the 2027 World Cup.

NEWS: Springbok backline coach Mzwandile Stick will be hoping Jesse Kriel makes a full recovery from his injury so that he and Juan de Jongh can continue their growth as a combination in the Bok midfield.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: Golden Lions coach Johan Ackermann will welcome back a couple of Springboks for the Currie Cup semifinals.

OPINION: rugby365 columnist Brett McKay feels looks at the Wallaby tactics this past weekend and sees the future of the game Down Under.

NEWS: Harlequins announced that backrow Mat Luamanu has committed himself to the club after having signed a contract extension.

NEWS: The departure of top-flighting coaching staff from the Boland structures continues.

NEWS: The retired Andy Fenby will return to the field after signing a short-term deal with immediate effect at Saracens.

NEWS: Wales and British & Irish Lions legend Gerald Davies has expressed his delight at the entertaining start to the Pro12 Championship season ahead of the first Big Weekend.

NEWS: Sharks prop Thomas du Toit is one of three new signings by Irish province Munster.

NEWS: England new recruits Nathan Hughes and Alex Lozowski celebrated their callups to Eddie Jones England Provisional Squad in style this weekend by topping the Premiership Rugby stats charts.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Wallabies playmaker Quade Cooper admits Australia have to improve their attack when facing an Argentina side keen for revenge at Twickenham Stadium in London.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Australia has an alarmingly low 25 percent success rate this year and have dropped from second on the world rankings to fourth.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: It was a weekend of entertaining and high-scoring Currie cup matches, with the two most impressive teams dominating rugby365's famous weekly selection.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Despite a 16-match winning streak, All Black lock Brodie Retallick says he and his teammates are still targeting an 80-minute performance.

WORLD RANKINGS: South Africa have moved past Australia on the world rankings as a result of the Springboks' hard-fought 18-10 win over the Wallabies at the weekend.

IQHAWE WEEK RESULTS: Iqhawe Week got off to a gripping start at the Bill Jardine Stadium in Johannesburg on Monday as Boland, the Pumas, SWD, the Blue Bulls, and Golden Lions registered convincing victories on a day where 40 tries were scored in the seven matches.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: After a long Currie Cup season  Pumas head coach MJ Mentz and management reward their players with a 30-day break after their final win against Eastern Province Kings in PE.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok loose forward Francois Louw believes that he and his teammates will have to be mentally strong if they are to beat the mighty All Blacks in Durban on Saturday.

NEWS: Sale Sharks are delighted to announce that coaches Mike Forshaw and Paul Deacon have both signed new four-year deals at the club.

INJURY UPDATE: Bath and Reds loose forward Leroy Houston has been re-called to the Australian squad ahead of their final Rugby Championship match of the season.

INJURY UPDATE: Piet van Zyl was named as replacement for Springbok scrumhalf Rudy Paige, who was ruled out of action following the concussion he suffered in the victory over the Wallabies on Saturday in Pretoria.

Data has become increasingly prevalent in rugby, with new technology exploding into the game over the past few seasons.

NPC SPOTLIGHT: rugby365 columnist Richard Neal, in his weekly wrap, looks at some of the best matches in New Zealand's National Provincial Championship.

Rugby is constantly evolving and teams are always looking for a way to improve, one of those ways has been with the advent of technology in modern rugby, we have seen an explosion in Statistics, Analytics and Performance Measurement at the domestic level.  

The past few seasons have seen a rise in the number of artificial 3G pitches, with the Saracens and Newcastle Falcons the early adopters and pioneers in the Premiership, and many more replacing the notoriously hard tracks in South Africa and Australia.

NEWS: West Coast forward Brogan Watt has undergone an emergency brain surgery after his side's 62-28 defeat to Poverty Bay in the New Zealand National Provincial Championship on Saturday.

REACTION: The desire to play for his country still burns so strong for veteran flyhalf Morné Steyn that he is defying his French club's call to return to Europe.

NRC ROUND SIX WRAP: Perth Spirit have put themselves right in the National Rugby Championship' semi-finals, with their 60-22 thumping of Brisbane City vaulting them from fifth to third on the competition table.

Monday, 3 October 2016, sees the start of the Iqhawe Week for Under-15 provincial teams.

REACTION: New Zealander Vern Cotter will turn Montpellier into a rugby territory, according to the President who has hired him as coach for next season.

TOP 14 SUNDAY WRAP: Three-time European champions Toulon extended their winning streak with a comprehensive 28-6 win over Montpellier on Sunday.

INJURY UPDATE: Australia suffered a big blow in the wake of their 10-18 loss to South Africa in Pretoria at the weekend.

REACTION: New Zealand coach Steve Hansen believes his team will need to improve their discipline ahead of their final Rugby Championship match of the year.

PREMIERSHIP SUNDAY WRAP: Kyle Eastmond grabbed his first try for the club as Wasps made it five wins from as many Premiership games.

REACTION: Australia are beginning to make a habit of scoring more tries than the opposition, but still losing the match.

INJURY UPDATE: Four Springbok are doubtful starters ahead of South Africa's final Rugby Championship Test of the year.

OPINION: Despite having two players sent to the sin bin, New Zealand were just too good for Argentina on the night as they claimed a 36-17 victory to remain unbeaten in the Rugby Championship.

OPINION: Argentina held their own for most of the match and even managed to outscore the All Blacks in the second half despite suffering a 17-36 defeat in Buenos Aires.

REACTION: The Wallabies denied they have a 'mental block' about playing at Loftus Versfeld.

REACTION: Veteran flyhalf Morné Steyn said he was happy to finally 'shut up' the critics who are constantly questioning his selection for the Springbok team.

PRO12 SATURDAY WRAP: Ulster fought back from a blistering opening 20 minutes from Ospreys to keep their 100 percent record alive with a narrow 9-7 victory at the Kingspan Stadium.

REPORT: A 12-minute period towards the end of the first half set New Zealand up to claim a 36-17 victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires in Round Five of the Rugby Championship.

REACTION: Springbok coach Allister Coetzee said the Springboks' 18-10 win over the Wallabies at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday was an important boost to the team's confidence for the remainder of the season.

INTERPROVINCIAL SEVENS: Free State won the Cup on the final day of SARU's Under-17 Sevens tournament played at Durban High School.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: Sale Sharks held on in a thriller to record a third successive victory against Leicester Tigers for the first time in 40 years.

NEWS: Counties Manukau scrumhalf Augustine Pulu will be out of action for one week after he was cited for a dangerous tackle during an NPC match on Thursday.

OPINION: A number of Allister Coetzee's players put in an improved performance during their 18-10 win over Australia at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

OPINION: Australia's torrid record in Pretoria continued when they went down 10-18 to the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Morne Steyn scored all of the Springboks' points in a hard-fought 18-10 victory over the Wallabies at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: The Free State Cheetahs maintained their 100 percent winning record in this year's Currie Cup Premier Division when they beat Griquas 63-26 in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

The Under-17 Interprovincial Sevens tournament enjoyed exciting pool matches at DHS on Friday.

The Interprovincial Sevens tournament is to take place at Durban High school this week.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: South Africa flank Teboho 'Oupa' Mohoje believes that the Springboks cannot allow the Wallabies' off-the-ball tactics to get the better of them when the two teams meet in Pretoria on Saturday. Josh Isaacson reports

NEWS: Bath confirmed the signing of Otago loose forward Paul Grant until the end of the season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Eddie Jones wants his England team to get a grip so he will bring in a group of judo experts to freshen up their tackling techniques ahead of the November Tests.

NEWS: Eddie Jones said he was prepared to consider staying on as England coach beyond the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Adriaan Strauss admitted there is pressure on him to perform and help the Springboks end their losing streak.

INTERVIEW: Melbourne Rebels' Fijian-born wing Sefa Naivalu could play a vital role for the Wallabies in the latter stages of their game against the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. Josh Isaacson reports.

PREMIERSHIP FRIDAY WRAP: Alex Lozowski toasted his first call-up to the England squad with a two-try haul in the Premiership on Friday.

PRO12 FRIDAY WRAP: Connacht finally looked like the side who claimed the Pro12 title last term.

NEWS: South African forward Jacques Du Plessis penned a new deal with Montpellier on Friday.

MATCH REPORT: Western Province sneaked into the Currie Cup with a fortuitous 30-28 win over a plucky Boland Cavaliers team at Newlands on Friday.

MATCH REPORT: The Pumas claimed their first Currie Cup victory of the season, beating the Eastern Province Kings 38-30 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Friday. 

MATCH REPORT: The Lions, with a three-try second-half rout, effectively knocked the Sharks out of Currie Cup play-off race.

REACTION: England coach Eddie Jones insisted it wasn't the "end of the road" for Danny Cipriani after the flyhalf was left out of a 37-man training squad announced Friday.

NEWS: Former Blue Bulls and current Worcester Warriors captain Gerrit-Jan van Velze was given extended break to recover from a concussion.

NEWS: Edinburgh's Fraser McKenzie has been banned for a period of two weeks after a Disciplinary Committee found that had committed an act of foul play against Munster.

NEWS: Australian Schools delivered a remarkable second half comeback to eventually secure a 39-17 win over Fiji Schools at Sacred Heart College in Auckland New Zealand.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The race for quarterfinal spots in the 2016 Gold Cup is hotting up with two rounds remaining, following a dramatic third week that saw almost 500 points scored in eight matches and three games decided in the dying minutes.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP, ROUND FIVE: New Zealand tackle Argentina in Buenos Aires Saturday, seeking a Rugby Championship Round Five win that will move them closer to a world-record 18 consecutive Test victories.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Eddie Jones has announced his 45-man elite player squad and 37 players who will attend a training camp in Brighton as England begin their preparation for matches against South Africa, Fiji, Argentina and Australia

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP, ROUND FIVE: Dit is die maand Oktober, die mooiste, mooiste maand.

NEWS: Melbourne Rebels flyer Sefanaia Naivalu is in line to become the 900th Wallaby after Wallabies coach Michael Cheika finalised his bench ahead of the Rugby Championship Test against South Africa at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.  

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: All Black Brad Thorn will make his run on debut for Queensland Country this in Round Six when the Queenslanders play in the Country derby against the NSW Country Eagles in Toowoomba this Saturday. 

NEWS: Cardiff Blues confirmed that Gethin Jenkins has reaffirmed his commitment to the team with a contract extension.

TOP 14 WEEK SEVEN: French champions Racing 92 will look to arrest an alarming run of away defeats when they travel to Brive on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: England coach Eddie Jones is set to unveil his squad for the end-of-year internationals on Friday, with injuries to first-choice back-row forwards leaving the Australian with some interesting selection decisions.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Australia flank Michael Hooper believes the Wallabies can end a Pretoria jinx Saturday by winning there for the first time and inflicting further Rugby Championship misery on South Africa.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Martin Landajo has been named captain of the Argentinean team that will take on New Zealand in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

REACTION: Springbok coach Allister Coetzee dropped some strong hints that the Springboks may take the conservative route in a desperate attempt to break their losing streak.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Jan de Koning spoke to England utility back Henry Slade - an inspiration to diabetics around the world - about his ambitions in rugby and life beyond.

NEWS: Connacht and the IRFU announced that Connacht and Ireland prop Nathan White is to retire from professional rugby based on medical advice following a concussion injury.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: A gripping weekend awaits rugby fans in the Currie Cup as four former champions will be fighting for survival in the Premier Division as the pool rounds come to a close.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: After suffering their first defeat of the season, Saracens hope to bounce back when they travel to take on Bristol Rugby at Ashton Gate.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Free State Cheetahs coach Franco Smith has made few changes to his side for the last the Currie Cup league match.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Sharks head coach Robert du Preez knows that his team will have to play some smart rugby to knock over the Golden Lions at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Griquas head coach Peter Engledow has made a number of changes to his starting XV for the Currie Cup Premier Division clash against the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Patrick Lambie at fullback is one of several bolters by Springbok coach Allister Coetzee.

NEWS: The Western Force have strengthened their coaching team with the appointment of Shaun Berne as the Attack Coach for the 2017-2018 Super Rugby seasons.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika has made just one change to his starting side for the Rugby Championship Test against South Africa at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.

NEWS: The 2016/17 European Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup tournaments were launched at The Twickenham Stoop with high-profile representatives of the Premiership clubs.

With each passing round the intensity has cranked up and Glasgow Warriors, Scarlets, Leinster, Edinburgh and Zebre all face tricky away games in Round Five.

REACTION: New Zealand prosecutors said Thursday they would appeal against a judge's decision not to convict a teenage rugby star over a vicious assault because it could damage his sporting career.

NEWS: Italian rugby bosses announced they had pulled their bid to host the 2023 World Cup following Rome's decision not to bid for the 2024 Olympics.

NEWS: Promising young All Black Seta Tamanivalu has signed with the Crusaders, the Super Rugby team announced Thursday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok tighthead prop Julian Redelinghuys believes that his team needs to make sure that they play to their strengths and don't get fooled into combatting the Wallabies tactics on Saturday. Josh Isaacson Reports.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Rugby World Cup winning All Black lock Brad Thorn has been named in Queensland Country starting line-up after coming off the bench in August earlier this year.

Jan de Koning and Tauriq Ebrahim discuss possible solutions to the Springbok crisis and ask the readers for their suggestions for changes to the coaching panel!

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has shaken up the All Blacks for the Rugby Championship Test against Argentina on Saturday as he looks to blood young talent.

NEWS: South Africa international Ricky Januarie has been suspended for four weeks for a dangerous tackle.

NEWS: Alan Solomons quit as head coach of Edinburgh, after the Scottish club lost three of their opening four Pro12 matches this season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Pumas coach Marthinus Mentz made seven changes to the starting team for their last Currie Cup game of the season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Boland Cavaliers welcomed back  flank Shaun Adendorff ahead of their Currie Cup encounter with Western Province at Newlands on Friday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Springboks have drawn the laager, as pressure is mounting over their poor form.

NEWS: Former England loose forward Richard Hill has been roped in by Eddie Jones to become England's Team Manager and will join the team in Brighton on October 2 at their training camp.

INTERVIEW: Australian skills coach Mick Byrne believes that the Wallabies will have to bring their best skills to the party if they are to beat the Springboks.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok discard Damian de Allende will play his first Currie Cup match for Western Province on Friday.

Australian Schools team will be playing Fiji Schools and then New Zealand Schools at the end of the month in Auckland.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Eastern Province Kings coach Barend Pieterse has made seven changes to his starting team.

New Zealand has chosen two teams to join with teams from Australia and Fiji for four matches in Auckland early in October 2016.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok Keegan Daniel makes a timely return to the Sharks team.

INTERPROVINCIAL SEVENS: The SA Rugby Under-17 Interprovincial Sevens will be hosted at Durban High School on 30 September and 1 October 2016.

THIS WEEK'S CARTOON: rugby365's Matthew Ackermann looks at the rescue mission sent out to help Springbok coach Alister Coetzee!

REACTION: New Zealand Rugby Union Chief Executive Steve Tew faced calls to resign Wednesday.

NEWS: Jake White, the serial job-hopper, is at it again.

Johnny Lacey of Ireland will blow the whistle to start the 2016-17 European Rugby Champions Cup.

INTERVIEW: Wallabies inside centre Bernard Foley believes that playing alongside flyhalf Quade Cooper has improved his own game. Josh Isaacson reports.

NEWS: England international lock Tom Palmer has agreed to join Top 14 side Bordeaux-Begles as injury cover for Johan Aliouat until the end of the season, the French club said.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok coach Allister Coetzee believes that his team has plenty of talent to fill both the inside centre and outside centre positions.

NEWS: Connacht Rugby and the Ireland Rugby Football Union are pleased to announce the recruitment of James Cannon from Wasps.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Western Province will not be taking Boland lightly in their Round Nine Currie Cup Premier Division match at Newlands on Friday.

NEWS: Bath Rugby have really been busy  with the newest recruit being tighthead prop Shaun Knight joining the club on loan until the end of the season.

NEWS: France coach Guy Noves insisted on Tuesday the door is still open for fullback Brice Dulin to force his way back into the national team.

The Rugby Championship plays its penultimate round with New Zealand already declared the winners!

INTERVIEW: Saracens wing Chris Ashton says he is still hoping to win an England recall despite his 13-week ban for biting Northampton's Alex Waller.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Golden Lions head coach Johan Ackermann has made five changes to his starting team for their crunch Currie Cup clash against the Sharks at Ellis Park on Friday.

NEWS: Mark Alexander is the new President of the South African Rugby Union.

NEWS: Bath Rugby have confirmed that Robbie Fruean will be joining the Premiership side at the culmination of this year’s National Provincial Championship.

Citing excessive interference by the board and the executive of the Boland Rugby Union, experienced coach Alan Zondagh has resigned from his post of Director of Rugby with immediate effect.

REACTION: Springbok coach Allister Coetzee said reports of a 'secret SOS' for additional coaching staff is just a figment of the media's imagination.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wallabies wing Henry Speight is looking forward to doing battle with Springbok centre Juan de Jongh and wing Francois Hougaard when the two teams meet in Pretoria on Saturday. Josh Isaacson reports

INTERVIEW: Sharks scrumhalf Michael Claassens says he and he and his teammates will so throw everything at the Golden Lions when the two teams meet at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Friday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Argentina will draw on the positives from their loss to the All Blacks a few weeks ago when the two teams face off once again in Round Five of the Rugby Championship in Buenos Aires.

NEWS: New Zealand rugby officials on Tuesday terminated the contract of a teenage star who viciously assaulted four people including two women, following a public outcry after he escaped conviction.

INTERVIEW: Australia will look to match South Africa's physicality when the two teams go head-to-head in a Rugby Championship encounter at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

INJURY UPDATE: Blue Bulls scrumhalf Andre Warner looks set to miss the Currie Cup play-offs.

INTERVIEW: Golden Lions coach Johan Ackermann issued a timely warning to his charges to keep their feet firmly planted on the ground.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok flyhalf Patrick Lambie looks set to play a prominent role against the Wallabies in Pretoria on Saturday. Josh Isaacson reports.

EXCLUSIVE: rugby365 columnist Ethienne Reynecke explains why he is NOT an ardent Springbok fan, but a supporter of all things South African rugby.

INJURY UPDATE: Western Province have no new injury concerns ahead of their match against the Boland, but they will be without Springboks Juan de Jongh and Mbongeni Mbonambi for the Round Nine clash.

NEWS: Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx will play no part in the Test match against Australia at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: Western Province strengthened their cause in the race to the play-offs with a 52-31 away win against Griquas and their players dominate our famous Team of the Week for Round Eight.

EXCLUSIVE: Jan de Koning spoke to England utility back Henry Slade about the vastly different competition structures in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Mike Ford vowed to bring the excitement back to Toulon after being unveiled as the three-time European champions' backs coach on Monday.

INTERVIEW: Wallabies tighthead prop Sekope Kepu is eager to show Tendai Mtawarira who's boss at scrum time when the Springboks host the Wallabies at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. Josh Isaacson reports.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand prop Charlie Faumuina said he was looking forward to another tough contest up front when his team takes on Argentina in Round Five of the Rugby Championship in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

TOP 14 WRAP: Giant Georgian forward Mamuka Gorgodze scored the crucial try to hand three-time European champions Toulon a much-needed 23-21 win over previously undefeated Clermont in the Top 14 on Sunday.

NEWS: Mourad Boudjellal, who has bankrolled Toulon to three European titles, revealed he could sever his 10-year association with the French giants this season.

NEWS: Manu Tuilagi has received a fresh blow in his attempts to return to Eddie Jones' England set-up in time for next year's Six Nations.

INTERVIEW: Western Province will be keeping a keen eye on Ellis Park on Friday, just hours before facing the Boland Cavalier at Newlands.

MATCH REPORT: Bath's unbeaten start to the season came to an end as Owen Williams kicked 17 points at Welford Road to give Leicester Tigers a 34-14 victory.

REACTION: The Free State Cheetahs' unbeaten record will count for nothing if they do not start playing an 80-minute game.

REACTION: Wallaby Adam Ashley insisted that claiming an attacking bonus point against Lyon was what counted.

INTERVIEW: Australia arrived in South Africa on Sunday determined to record their first-ever win at Loftus Versfeld.

NRC ROUND FIVE WRAP: The National Rugby Championship's first ever double-header produced 22 tries at Concord Oval.

NPC SPOTLIGHT: rugby365 columnist Richard Neal, in his weekly wrap, looks at a number of hat-trick being scored by forwards in New Zealand's National Provincial Championship.

TOP 14 SATURDAY WRAP: Defending champions Racing 92 once again failed to get past Top 14 rivals Castres, falling 23-31 in the early French rugby championship clash on Saturday.

PRO12 SATURDAY WRAP: Ireland scrumhalf Conor Murray scored a try-double for Munster but it was the Irish province's pack that came to the fore in this comfortable 28-14 bonus-point victory over Edinburgh.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: Saracens unbeaten start to the season was brought to a halt by a brilliant first-half display from Harlequins as they claimed a 17-10 win at the Stoop.

MATCH REPORT: Captain Albertus Smith scored three tries as the Golden Lions thrashed the Eastern Province Kings 71-7 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

REACTION: The 2017 Super Rugby fixtures were confirmed earlier in the week and Lions coach Johan Ackermann was grateful for his team's travel schedule, after a nightmare draw in this year's competition.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Former South African Rugby Union President Oregan Hoskins says the SA government's failure to responsibly implement transformation will hamper the development of "players of colour".

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika will have the perfect opportunity to test different back row combinations over the next two weeks.

REACTION: Golden Lions coach Johan Ackermann is excited by the opportunity to sit down and share ideas with Springbok head coach Allister Coetzee and all the South African Super Rugby coaches at the coaching conference in October. 

NEWS: Sam Warburton has been confirmed as Wales captain for their November internationals against Australia, Argentina, Japan and South Africa.

MATCH REPORT: Try doubles from Olly Woodburn and Thomas Waldrom gave Exeter Chiefs a 41-17 bonus-point victory over Bristol in a Premiership match at Ashton Gate on Friday.

PRO12 FRIDAY WRAP: Paddy Jackson's spectacular try 20 minutes from time helped Ulster move top of the Pro12 table.

MATCH REPORT: Western Province overcame a resilient Griquas, winning 52-31, to move into the top four on the Currie Cup standings.

MATCH REPORT: The Free State Cheetahs sealed top spot in the Currie Cup standings - with a week to go - after hammering a hapless Pumas team in Nelspruit on Friday.

MATCH REPORT: The Blue Bulls moved to the top of the Currie Cup standings with a 48-26 demolition of the Boland Cavaliers in Wellington on Friday.

NEWS: Harlequins forward Jack Clifford will miss England's upcoming Tests after being told he requires ankle surgery that will rule him out for at least 10 weeks.

NEWS: Bath Rugby confirmed that tighthead prop David Wilson has joined Newcastle Falcons with immediate effect.

NEWS: Bayonne's Argentina international fullback Martin Bustos Moyano will be sidelined for at least three months with a lingering wrist injury, the Top 14 side confirmed on Friday.

REACTION: Saracens confirmed on Friday that they will not appeal the decision from an independent RFU disciplinary panel to suspend Chris Ashton for 13 weeks for biting.

NEWS: Saracens confirm that Fiji wing Savenaca Rawaca will no longer be joining the club.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Golden Lions head coach Johan Ackermann believes that the Currie Cup is still among the greatest provincial club competitions in the world. 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The BlitzBoks have been pooled with Scotland and the USA for the first leg of the 2016/2017 World Sevens Series in Dubai.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The first ever National Rugby Championship double header will take place this Saturday at Concord Oval.

NEWS: The Western Force continue to add to their coaching stocks with the announcement that experienced coach Alan Gaffney will work with the franchise as an Attack Specialist for the 2017 Super Rugby season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand's effort to change the Super Rugby play-off format was thwarted by South Africa and Australia, who wanted the continuation of a guaranteed home play-off spot for conference winners.

TOP 14 WEEK SIX: Things don't get any easier for under-pressure Toulon coach Diego Dominguez as his side host in-form Top 14 leaders Clermont on the weekend.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Fiji, Samoa and Tonga produce some prodigious natural talent, but the Pacific Islands are being drained of even teenage potential stars by unscrupulous agents.

INTERVIEW: Golden Lions coach Johan Ackermann is grooming Sevens Springbok Albertus Smith as one of the future leaders of the team.

CELTIC SPOTLIGHT: Just three teams remain unbeaten heading into Round Four of the Pro12 with Cardiff Blues, Ospreys and Ulster setting the pace at the top of the Championship table.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT It will be a decisive weekend for the seven Currie Cup Premier Division teams in the hunt for possible semifinal berths and those in with a chance of earning home semifinals as well.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: History will be made on Saturday when the Gold Cup, SA Rugby's national championship for non-university, clubs takes its first international strides with matches being staged concurrently in three different countries.

NEWS: Brive flyhalf Matthieu Ugalde has been given a 14-week ban for eye-gouging. 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Bottom-of-the-log Bristol Rugby would hope that home ground advantage counts in their favour when they take on Exeter Chiefs at Ashton Gate.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Western Province will have Juan de Jongh and Mbongeni Mbonambi, who recently returned from international duty, in their ranks for their Currie Cup clash in Kimberley against Griquas on Friday.

NEWS: Stade Français will have to do without their French international flyhalf Jules Plisson for the next three Top 14 games after officials punished the 25-year-old for violent conduct.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Former South African Rugby Union President Oregan Hoskins believes that the state of rugby in South Africa is in such a crisis that it is on a verge of permanent ruin.  

NEWS: Despite the huge presence of overseas clubs looking to sign up young South African rugby stars at the 2016 Craven Week, most players opted to ply their trade in South Africa.

REACTION: Blue Bulls head coach Nollis Marais believes that his team will have to be at their very best if they are to challenge for Super Rugby honours in 2017. 

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Malcolm Marx and Julian Redelinghuys are back in the Currie Cup spotlight when the Golden Lions take on the Eastern Province Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

EXCLUSIVE: Africa, an old Roman said, keeps coming up with something strange. Rugby, it seems, is the same.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Argentina star Juan Martin Hernandez will be out of action for a month with a knee injury.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: rugby365 looks at Wallaby great David Pocock, recently described on the Australian Rugby Union website as "an enigma wrapped in a riddle".

NEWS: Queensland Country forward Conor Mitchell has signed for the Australian Men's Sevens squad as they begin preparations for the 2016-2017 Sevens World Series.

NEWS: Wales and Exeter Chiefs prop Tomas Francis has been banned for two weeks after he was found guilty of kicking an opponent in the head during the Chiefs' match against Harlequins last weekend. 

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Wing Sefa Naivalu and hooker Tolu Latu were Thursday called into Australia's squad for their Rugby Championship clashes against South Africa and Argentina next month.

Jan de Koning and Tauriq Ebrahim wonder if SANZAAR has lost the plot - making a bad sequel of an already poor production?

REACTION: Toulon President Mourad Boudjellal insisted that under-fire coach Diego Dominguez was not in his crosshairs after a poor start to the Top 14 season.

NEWS: The cities of Tbilisi and Kutaisi will play host to stars of the future in May and June next year, when Georgia host the World Rugby Under-20 Championship.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Free State Cheetahs coach Franco Smith wasted no time in drafting in some big guns for their penultimate Currie Cup league match.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Experienced backs Pat Lambie and Willie le Roux were included in a 31-man Springbok squad.

NEWS: Cardiff Blues' top try scorer, Tom James has penned a new long-term contract with Cardiff Blues after being in fine form in the opening weeks of the 2016/17 season.

INTERVIEW: Blue Bulls head coach Nollis Marais feels rushing back Springboks just to give them game time is not in the best interest of the team.

NEWS: He may have not yet made a Super Rugby appearance for the Crusaders but centre Jack Goodhue has pledged his future to the franchise after signing a deal until 2019.

NEWS: Tongan international Nafi Tuitavake will make the trip across the English Channel after putting pen to paper with Northampton Saints.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Pumas made two changes to their starting line-up for what promises to be a challenging test against the unbeaten Free State Cheetahs.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Griquas coach Peter Engledow has added some serious muscle to his pack for their Currie Cup crunch match against Western Province.

THIS WEEK'S CARTOON: rugby365's Matthew Ackermann looks at some of the posers Springbok coach Alister Coetzee is facing!

NEWS: Saracens and England wing Chris Ashton was handed a 13-week ban for biting.

OPINION: Jan de Koning decided to play 'selector' and suggested some much-needed changes to the Springbok team.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Boland head coach Brent Janse van Rensburg has shuffled his team for their clash against the Blue Bulls at Boland Stadium in Wellington on Friday.

EXCLUSIVE: For the second time in two Rugby Championship matches the Springboks were confused by a refereeing decision at the line-out.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: EP Kings coach Barend Pieterse has made a number of changes to his matchday 22 for their Currie Cup Premier Division match against the Golden Lions in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP, WEEK FOUR: Not surprisingly the two dominant forces in the Rugby Championship, New Zealand and Australia, again provide the bulk of rugby365's famous weekly selection.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Blue Bulls head coach Nollis Marais believes that the competition for places in the Bulls starting team has resulted in every player putting their best foot forward in the famous blue shirt. 

NEWS: Fiji lock Api Ratuniyarawa is leaving France to join Northampton Saints in England.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Western Province will be out to keep Clinton Swart quiet when they face Griquas in their crunch Currie Cup Premier Division clash in Kimberley on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Blue Bulls coach Nollis Marais made four changes and included Jacobie Adriaanse at tighthead prop in his side that will face Boland Cavaliers in Wellington on Saturday. 

NEWS: The Currie Cup Premier Division semifinals and final will be moved back by a week to avoid any potential clashes with the Rugby Championship Test between the Springboks and All Blacks in Durban on October 8.

NEWS: Not only does the complicated, unpopular and confusing Super Rugby format stay in place for 2017, it has a new twist to it.

INJURY UPDATE: The Blue Bulls will be without the services of star win Travis Ismaiel, when they complete their Currie Cup league fixtures this week.

NEWS: Saracens wing Chris Ashton has been charged with two acts of biting by the English Rugby Football Union.

NEWS: The much-criticized 18-team Super Rugby system will remain unchanged for at least another year.

The Rugby championship rests and the only Test match is in Poland as the Rugby Europe Trophy gets under way.

NEWS: South African lock Andries Ferreira has joined injury-plagued Top 14 side Toulon from the Golden Lions.

INJURY UPDATE: Western Province scrumhalf Golden Masimla is set to miss the rest of his team's Currie Cup Premier Division campaign with an ankle injury.

NEWS: Five members of the Springboks' Rugby Championship squad have been released for Currie Cup duty this coming weekend.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: The Free State Cheetahs remain unbeaten in this year's Currie Cup Premier Division and they dominate rugby365's famous Team of the Week for Round Seven.

NPC SPOTLIGHT: rugby365 columnist Richard Neal, in his weekly wrap, looks at what he regards as the most extraordinary round of New Zealand's National Provincial Championship.

REACTION: Wasps boss Dai Young said there was more to come from his side after their 70-22 home defeat of Bristol in the English Premiership on Sunday.

INJURY UPDATE: The Pumas have three new injuries concerns after their 23-31 loss to Western Province in the Currie Cup Premier Division last weekend.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Blue Bulls head coach Nollis Marais believes that Springbok coach Allister Coetzee needs to sit down with provincial coaches to formulate a game plan that will suit South African rugby at all levels of the game.

IN THE CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: The Free State Cheetahs have become the first team to book their place in the Currie Cup play-offs.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen has included Waisake Naholo and Damian McKenzie in his squad to tour Argentina and South Africa.

TOP 14 SUNDAY WRAP: All Black Casey Laulala scored a brace of tries to cap a stunning individual performance and help guide defending Top 14 champions Racing 92 to a comprehensive 41-30 victory over arch-rivals Toulon.

PREMIERSHIP SUNDAY WRAP: Wasps missed out on making Premiership history by a solitary point after scoring ten tries in an unforgettable 70-22 victory over Bristol.

REACTION: Blue Bulls head coach Nollis Marais believes that his team is finding form at the right time, having won three matches on the trot in this year's Currie Cup Premier Division tournament. 

REACTION: Sharks head coach Robert du Preez does not know if he will have the services of flyhalf Patrick Lambie for the Currie Cup Premier Division play-offs.

REACTION: Western Province know that they have to keep winning if they want to secure a spot in this year's Currie Cup Premier Division play-offs.

TOP 14 SATURDAY WRAP: Clermont ran in five tries to beat Bordeaux 40-16 on Saturday to go top in France as surprise early pacesetters La Rochelle surrendered a 12-point half-time lead to slump to a 28-29 defeat at Brive.

NPC ROUND FOUR WRAP: Round Four of the National Rugby Championship saw Wallabies squad members pushing for selection in the upcoming Rugby Championship tour.

REACTION: The All Blacks' easy canter to the Rugby Championship crown has triggered concerns in New Zealand.

REACTION: Coach Daniel Hourcade has lambasted Argentina's defence for conceding 21 early points in their Rugby Championship loss to the Wallabies in Perth at the weekend.

REACTION: South Africa's systems are failing them and that is why they have dropped further behind New Zealand in the global pecking order.

NEWS: New Zealand's plans to reshuffle their lineup after wrapping up the Rugby Championship may be forced rather than manufactured.

NEWS: Wallaby star forward David Pocock will miss the rest of the Rugby Championship.

PRO12 SATURDAY WRAP: Rassie Erasmus' Munster secured their second victory of the campaign while Sam Davies starred for Ospreys in their emphatic victory.

NEWS: The Pro12 Round Three fixture between Zebre and Connacht was abandoned at half-time due to adverse weather conditions.

NEWS: Saracens' England discard Chris Ashton could be facing a second long spell on the sidelines for a disciplinary offence after it was claimed he bit Northampton's Alex Waller in Saturday's Premiership clash.

SATURDAY PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Saracens, Bath and Worcester Warriors bagged victories in their Premiership Round Three matches on Saturday.

REPORT: Western Province were made to work hard for their 31-23 bonus point victory over the Pumas at Newlands on Saturday.

OPINION: Argentina looked a spent force, especially after the opening salvo, as they went down 20-36 to Australia in Perth on Saturday.

REACTION: Edinburgh head coach Alan Solomons admitted his side's defensive weaknesses cost them in a 20-33 defeat to Leinster on Friday.

REACTION: Springbok coach Allister Coetzee does not believe in knee-jerk reactions but warned his ailing squad may be in for a shake-up after their 13-41 thumping by New Zealand on Saturday.

REPORT: The Sharks ran riot in a soaked Kings Park Stadium to claim an emphatic 53-0 bonus point victory over the Eastern Province Kings in Durban on Saturday.

OPINION: Australia scored 21 points in the opening 12 minutes to set up a 41-20 win over Argentina in Perth on Saturday.

REACTION: The ease with which New Zealand wrapped up the 2016 Rugby Championship in record time has surprised their usually confident coach Steve Hansen.

REACTION: Scarlets were minutes away from claiming their first Pro12 point of the new campaign but a late try changed their fate and left head coach Wayne Pivac frustrated.

NEWS: Leinster fullback Niall Morris has been forced to retire from rugby due to an ankle injury he sustained in May 2015.

OPINION: The All Blacks were a far-cry from their best but still managed to pick up a convincing 41-13 victory over the Springboks in Christchurch to seal the Rugby Championship crown.

OPINION: The Springboks may have lost 13-41 to the All Blacks in Christchurch but it was certainly not the blow-out everyone was expecting.

REPORT: Australia moved to No.2 on the Rugby Championship standings with an impressive 36-20 demolition of Argentina in Perth on Saturday.

REPORT: South Africa produced their most impressive performance of the year, but it was still not good enough to threaten New Zealand.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: First-half tries from John Afoa and Charlie Sharples and the flawless kicking of Greig Laidlaw helped Gloucester break their Premiership duck.

FRIDAY PRO12 WRAP: Louis Ludik and Iain Henderson grabbed the tries as Ulster beat Scarlets 19-8 on Friday at the Kingspan Stadium.

REPORT: The Blue Bulls cemented their place in the play-off positions with a 57-20 hammering of a hapless Griquas outfit in their Currie Cup encounter in Pretoria on Friday.

CAPTAIN'S INTERVIEW: New Zealand captain Kieran Read has hammered home the message he does not want a repeat of last week's start against Argentina.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Argentina plan to target playmakers Bernard Foley and Quade Cooper as they gear up for an ambush win over the Wallabies in their Rugby Championship Test in Perth on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: rugby365 law guru Paul Dobson looks at the rare incident that occurred during the match between the Wallabies and the Springboks.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: South African skipper Adriaan Strauss has dismissed strident criticism of his underperforming side as he revealed a plan to unsettle New Zealand when they clash in Christchurch on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Sharks head coach Robert du Preez admits that his team's scrum was in a shambles during their 30-38 defeat to the Free State Cheetahs last week.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Western Province head coach John Dobson said his players are ready to fight for their place in the Currie Cup Premier Division play-offs.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND FOUR: Australia confront an improved Argentina in the Rugby Championship on Saturday.

NEWS: The Crusaders have added the final piece to their coaching team for the 2017 Super Rugby season and beyond by appointing Jason Ryan as assistant coach. 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The National Rugby Championship (NRC) has so far delivered enthralling, exciting and telling matches.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Tryless All Blacks prop Owen Franks is 80 minutes away from claiming one of Test rugby's least distinguished and rarely sought records, and there is a suspicion he is proud of it.

TOP 14 WEEK FIVE: Racing 92 entertain arch-rivals Toulon on Sunday in a re-run of last season's Top 14 final clash of the titans, which was won by the Parisian club.

NEWS: Forwards Lopeti Timani and Tom Robertson are set to make their debuts in the transitional Wallabies team after being retained as reserves for Saturday's Rugby Championship Test against Argentina in Perth.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND FOUR: It's a 'by how much' game apparently. Nobody seems to expect anything but an All Black victory.

CELTIC SPOTLIGHT: Ospreys created history last Saturday by becoming the first outfit in the history of the championship to record six consecutive try bonus-points in a run of games that dates back to April.

MATCH REPORT: The Cheetahs put in a superb second-half performance to beat the Golden Lions 37-29 in an electrifying encounter in Bloemfontein on Thursday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: After an unbeaten pre-season and a win in their Premiership opener against Sale Sharks – optimism was everywhere at Newcastle Falcons.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand coach Steve Hansen brushed off criticism from Eddie Jones, saying the England boss was no "rocket scientist" for pointing out the All Blacks have flaws and denying his country exerts undue control over the sport.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand and South Africa revisited one of the game's most notorious incidents and promised a fierce battle as the All Blacks bid to wrap up the Rugby Championship with two rounds to spare.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: The burning desire to stay in the running for semifinal berths will be a key driving force in the Currie Cup Premier Division this weekend.

NEWS: New Zealand Sevens international Bryce Heem has extended his stay at Worcester Warriors.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Nizaam Carr will make his first appearance for Western Province this season, in the Currie Cup clash with the Pumas at Newlands on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Hoffman Maritz, who was the Pumas' Currie Cup Player of the Year in 2015, makes his first appearance of this year's campaign after recovering from surgery on a hamstring tear.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok flyhalf Patrick Lambie has finally recovered from his concussion symptoms and will make his return to the playing field.

NEWS: After two disappointing results in the opening rounds of the PRO12 campaign, to Munster and Edinburgh, Scarlets is in desperate need to improve.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Australian-based scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli will start for Argentina in Saturday's Rugby Championship clash with Australia in Perth.

NEWS: Ospreys have agreed to extend Rob McCusker’s short-term contract signing him up until the end of the season after his impressive early season form.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Paul Dobson looks at the famous Barrett family that litters New Zealand rugby with their sublime talents.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: rugby365 law guru Paul Dobson looks at "long-arm transfer to the back" that occurred during the match between the Wallabies and the Springboks.

NEWS: Worcester Warriors flank Alafoti Faosiliva has been handed a one-week ban after he was sent off during a Premiership match against Gloucester last Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Australia coach Michael Cheika named his sixth different lock combination of the year on Thursday.

GOLD CUP WRAP: SA Rugby’s three-nation championship for non-university clubs kicked off in style last Saturday when defending champions Durbanville-Bellville march to a 40-14 win over Old Selbornians.

Jan de Koning and Tauriq Ebrahim look at what appears to be a fast-sinking Springbok boat and their upcoming Test against the All Blacks.

INTERVIEW: Warren Gatland can guide the British and Irish Lions to a sensational series win over New Zealand next year.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The New Zealand team to play South Africa shows just two changes.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has made two changes to his starting XV to face the All Blacks in Christchurch on Saturday.

CURRIE CUP ROUND SEVEN: Strap yourself in. It is going to be a wild ride in Bloemfontein on Thursday.

The Irish Rugby Football Union's referees are instructed to use current laws in ridding their game of foul play.

BIG GAME IN THE SPOTLIGHT: South Africa may only be ranked fourth and rated rank outsiders, but New Zealand rate them much higher.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Griquas head coach Peter Engledow has made three changes to his side to face the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup clash in Pretoria on Friday.

BIG MATCH INTERVIEW: Springbok assistant coach Johann van Graan said the key word to beating the All Blacks is "pressure".

INTERVIEW: Blue Bulls backline coach David Manuel is determined to take his team's attacking game to unprecedented heights.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Eastern Province Kings coach Barend Pieterse has rung the changes ahead of his team's Currie Cup encounter with the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.

NEWS: Premiership side Bath have re-signed back row forward Leroy Houston on a short-term deal until the end of October.

NEWS: Former All Blacks captain and current Blues coach Tana Umaga has been appointed the assistant coach for the Maori All Blacks.

THIS WEEK'S CARTOON: rugby365's Matthew Ackermann wonders how Springbok coach Allister Coetzee plans to instil discipline in his team

NEWS: Clubs from France's two elite divisions of Rugby Union will be docked points if they fail to field an average minimum of 60 percent French-reared players per game from the 2017/18 season.

BIG TEST BUILD-UP: South Africa accept that they are some distance behind New Zealand in the game's global pecking order.

NEWS: Western Province head coach John Dobson confirmed that flank Nizaam Carr is fit and ready to take the field ahead of the Cape team's clash against the Pumas at Newlands on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Free State Cheetahs coach Franco Smith places so much value on winning the Currie Cup that he opted to stay home, rather than attend a SANZAR conference.

INTERVIEW: England boss Eddie Jones plans to borrow some ideas from Great Britain's successful Olympians as he sets his sights on leading his team to the top of the world rankings.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Niel Marais will start at flyhalf when the Free State Cheetahs take on the Golden Lions in a Currie Cup Premier Division match at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Thursday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wallabies scrum coach Mario Ledesma is having to endure a good bit of ribbing from his compatriots this week.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Golden Lions have made two changes to their starting XV for their clash against the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Thursday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Flank Roelof Smit will make a first start for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup against Griquas at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.

NEWS: SANZAAR are still searching for answers to try and rectify a convoluted and unpopular Super Rugby format ahead of the 2017 edition. 

NEWS: Montpellier's South African hooker Bismarck Du Plessis has been ruled out for up to three months after tearing a muscle in his chest, sources in the club confirmed on Monday.

INJURY UPDATE: The Blue Bulls received a triple boost as they had into the home straight of the Currie Cup competition.

EXCLUSIVE: rugby365 law guru Paul Dobson looks at play in the in-goal area after an incident in the match between the Wallabies and the Springboks.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP, WEEK THREE: For once New Zealand don't completely dominate rugby365's famous weekly selection.

South Africa sail  a leaking boat across the Tasman to New Zealand.

NEWS: Australia trade places with South Africa in the World Rugby Rankings after defeating the Springboks 23-17 in the third round of the Rugby Championship.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: The Golden Lions produced some exceptional rugby in their 58-32 win over Western Province and that is why they dominate rugby365's famous Team of the Week for Round Six.

SEVENS RESULTS: Glenwood High school beat hosts and tournament favourites Durban high school in the semifinal and Cup Final to walk away with the title of DHS Sevens champs at the weekend.

NEWS: Newcastle Falcons signed Dominic Waldouck on a permanent contract after his impressing performance during his trial spell at the club.

NEWS: Former New Zealand Under-20 who can run on as fullback or wing Jason Woodward have joined Bristol from the Hurricanes.

NEWS: South Africa received a significant boost ahead of their Rugby Championship crunch encounter with New Zealand in Christchurch on Saturday.

INJURY UPDATE: Springbok flyhalf Patrick Lambie could make a return to the playing field when the Sharks take on the Eastern Province Kings in Durban on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Golden Lions may be back in the Currie Cup race, but they still face a steep uphill if they are to retain their title.

INJURY UPDATE: The Pumas have a number of injury concerns to contend with after their 14-41 loss to the Blue Bulls last Saturday in the Currie Cup Premier Division.

NEWS: Toulon wing Vincent Clerc has been ruled out of action until the end of year after undergoing an operation on his right achilles tendon, the Top 14 club announced Monday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: All Blacks forward Jerome Kaino believes the Springboks will still be a big threat in Christchurch on Saturday, despite the South Africans' dismal performances on the rugby field this year.

REACTION: The Pumas head coach Marthinus Mentz admits that his side was outplayed during their 14-41 loss to the Blue Bulls at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.

NEWS: All Black Filo Tiatia will take over from countryman Mark Hammett as head coach of Japan's Sunwolves Super Rugby side, league officials said on Monday.