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IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Last weekend's results have sent the school's Top 20 into a wild spin.

NEWS: Stormers wing Leolin Zas has been suspended for two weeks by a SANZAAR Judicial Hearing for taking an opponent out in the air during his side's 30-32 loss to the Waratahs in Round 10. 

St Andrew’s College played their first home fixture on Saturday vs St Stithians College. The two schools have a long standing friendship, this time St Andrew's welcomed the team from Johannesburg to Grahamstown.

It started early at Hoërskool Diamantveld in perfect Kimberley weather - the second day  of  Super Schools rugby.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Australia Under-20 side have been named for the first of two matches against New Zealand U20s at the Oceania Rugby U20 Championship.

NEWS: The Western Force have named a 24-man travelling squad ahead of the team's clash with the Sunwolves on Saturday.

NEWS: Crusaders’ tighthead prop, Michael Alaalatoa, has re-signed with the team for another two years.

NEWS: Veteran French international flyhalf Frederic Michalak on Sunday signed a one-year deal with the option of a further season with Lyon who have been promoted to the Top 14.

VARSITY SEVENS, DAY TWO WRAP: UWC and Maties face the tough task of defending the Cape region from their northern counterparts as the sides head into the Varsity Sevens Cup semifinals on Monday.

REACTION: All Blacks superstar Dan Carter insists his calf injury is nothing serious and it will not sideline him from this month's European Cup Final.

PREMIERSHIP SUNDAY WRAP: Kyle Sinckler's brilliant solo score and Charlie Walker's ten-minute brace sealed Harlequins' bonus-point 32-25 win over London Irish, moving Quins back into the top six and ensuring the Exiles will finish bottom.

TOP 14 WRAP: France international scrumhalf Maxime Machenaud kicked Racing 92 to a 26-20 victory over Clermont on Sunday, snapping the Top 14 leaders' winning run at eight games.

The matches for the second day of the K2 Rugby Festival in Oudtshoorn were drawn up after Day 1's matches had been played.

REACTION: There is a sense of relief in the Jaguares camp after they recorded their second victory in Super Rugby when they thrashed the Southern Kings 73-27 in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

In the last round of Pool matches at the Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament in Fukuoka Glenwood remain unbeaten.

There are four foreign (non-Japanese) referees taking part in the Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament in Fukuoka, Japan.

REACTION: Cheetahs head coach Franco Smith was disappointed with his team's performance in the scrums in their 17-30 loss to the Reds on Saturday.

REACTION: Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck says the red card handed to wing Leolin Zas was not the defining factor in his team's 30-32 loss to the Waratahs at Newlands on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: rugby365 bring you all the weekend's schools result, from all the various festivals and a classic clash.

Monday's matches at the Wildeklawer Super Schools tournament are scheduled for SuperSport television broadcasts.

Day one wrap: The K2 Festival is taking place in Oudshoorn over the long weekend.

REACTION: The Waratahs' have kept their play-off hopes well and truly alive with their 32-30 win over the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.

NEWS: Cheetahs flank Paul Schoeman has been suspended for one week for a dangerous tackle in his team's 17-30 loss to the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday.

REACTION: Bulls head coach Nollis Marais does not want hear any talk about play-offs in his camp, despite his team being just one point adrift of Africa Conference One leaders, the Stormers.

NEWS: The Reds received a huge blow with the news that their star centre Samu Kerevi suffered a broken hand in their 30-17 win over the Cheetahs in Brisbane on Saturday.

NEWS: Stormers wing Leolin Zas is set to appear in front of a SANZAAR Judicial Hearing following his red card in his team's 30-32 defeat at the hands of the Waratahs at Newlands on Saturday.

Day one Results: Wynberg, playing host to several schools for its 175th birthday celebrations, had a good win on the first day.

REACTION: South Africa coach Jake White on Saturday hailed his explosive mix of French and Springbok talent which is sparking Montpellier's charge to the Top 14 title.

REPORT: The Jaguares recorded their second Super Rugby win of the season, when they put a hapless Kings team to the sword in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

VARSITY SEVENS DAY ONE WRAP: NWU-Pukke continued their success in the Varsity scene when they emerged unbeaten after the opening day's action in the Varsity Sevens competition at Villagers.

Pro 12 Saturday Wrap: Ospreys picked up a derby win over fellow countrymen Cardiff Blues on Saturday, prevailing 40-27 in the Judgement Day clash at the Principality Stadium in Wales.

REACTION: Leicester coach Aaron Mauger was a relatively happy man after his side secured a 12th successive appearance in the English Premiership play-offs with a 31-17 win at home to Worcester on Saturday.

REPORT: The Waratahs scored a 78th-minute try to steal a 32-30 win over the Stormers in a Super Rugby Round 10 encounter at Newlands on Saturday.

Currie Cup Saturday Wrap: Seeking for their fourth consecutive victory in this Currie Cup encounter,  Border blew their chances for advancement in the Currie Cup this year when they came short 28-3  against the aggressive Pumas team.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Leicester Tigers secured their place in their 12th successive Premiership semifinal with a 31-17 bonus-point win over Worcester at Welford Road on Saturday.

Day one Wrap: Day one of the Grey Festival has come to an end, the teams and crowd said goodbye to a successful day as their prepare for yet another full day on Monday.  

REPORT: The Hurricanes taught the Lions a real lesson when they routed them 50-17 in their Super Rugby Round 10 match at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Day one wrap: The annual Wildeklawer rugby festival had the whole of Kimberley buzzing, there were some tough battles and the teams did not disappoint in the icy Kimberley weather.  

REPORT: Toulouse boosted their hopes of making the Top 14 playoffs with a battling 12-10 win at struggling Toulon on Saturday.

NEWS: Brumbies CEO Michael Jones has agreed to leave the Brumbies after reaching a confidential settlement with the club's board to leave the job next week.

NEWS: Rampant Japan pulverised South Korea 85-0 in their Asian Rugby Championship opener on Saturday, giving the national set-up a boost after stuttering progress since last year's World Cup heroics.

REACTION: Blues coach Tana Umaga sees their next five fixtures as an opportunity to improve after holding off a late Rebels comeback to secure a 36-30 victory  in Auckland.

REPORT: Scrumhalf Nick Frisby scored two second-half tries as the Reds beat the Cheetahs 30-17 in their Super Rugby showdown in Brisbane on Saturday.

REPORT: The Highlanders raced back into play-off contention with a hard-earned 23-10 win over the Brumbies in Invercargill on Saturday.

REPORT: The Blues held on in the face of a powerful late surge by the Rebels win 36-30 in their Round 10 Super Rugby encounter in Auckland on Saturday.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Four penalties from Greig Laidlaw saw Gloucester snatch a 12-11 win at Sale Sharks to inflict the hosts' first Premiership defeat at the AJ Bell Stadium this season and claim their only victory in Manchester since 2001.

PRO12 FRIDAY WRAP: Glasgow Warriors went top of the table after scoring ten tries in their 70-10 win over Zebre - their biggest ever in the Pro12.

NEWS: Exeter Chiefs flank Tom Johnson has witnessed first-hand an extraordinary transformation during his eight seasons with Exeter Chiefs and the loose forward has no intention of the fairytale slowing down anytime soon.

REPORT: The Griquas ground out a 30-14 victory over the Boland Cavaliers in their clash at the Boland Stadium in Wellington, moving one step closer to qualifying for the Currie Cup Premier Division.

NEWS: Rob Andrew and the Rugby Football Union will part ways, when he quits his position as Director of Professional Rugby at the end of season.

Team Announcement: The teams who will partake in the Oudtshoorn K2 festival.

Nigel Owens and Johnny Lacey have been appointed to referee Europe Professional Club Rugby's two finals later this month.

Preview: The Annual Oudtshoorn K2 Festival commencing on April 30, is a two day festival who has the potential to be a notable event given the 16 school participating.

On April 30 and May 2, 20 schools will take part in the annual Wildeklawer Tournament which take place at Hoërskool Diamantveld in Kimberley.

In the second round of the Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament Glenwood won their second pool match, this time by a big margin.

REPORT: The Bulls closed the gap on their arch-rivals the Stormers at the top of the Africa conference with a 42-20 bonus-point demolition of a hapless Western Force in Perth on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Kings head coach Deon Davids has made nine changes to his team, including two positional changes, ahead of their match against the Jaguares in Bueons Aires.

NEWS: Cheetahs captain Francois Venter has been withdrawn form Saturday's meeting with the Reds at Suncorp Stadium.

Nelson Mandela Bay schools are gearing up for a stiff examination from their rivals across the border at the Grey Rugby Festival starting on Saturday (30 April 2016).

NEWS: Queen's College is gearing up for stiff competition from rivals in the Nelson Mandela Bay area when they compete in the Grey rugby Festival on Saturday, April 30.

NEWS: Reds skipper James Slipper has called on their reserve bench to help secure an elusive Super Rugby win when they host the Cheetahs at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

INTERVIEW: After being named as Harlequins' new defence coach for next season, veteran No.8 Nick Easter insists he is relishing the opportunity to make his mark on the sidelines.

REPORT: The Chiefs held on in the face of a strong, late surge by the Sharks to secure a thrilling 24-22 win in their Super Rugby Round 10 encounter in New Plymouth on Friday.

It is the 17th annual Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament at the Global Arena in Munakata, Fukuoka, on the island of Kyushu, and Glenwood are there.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lock Vaea Fifita's elevation to the starting XV represents the only change to the Hurricanes' team to play the Lions in Johannesburg on Sunday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Japan will use the Asia Rugby Championship to try to regain some lost momentum since last year's World Cup heroics, beginning with Saturday's home opener against South Korea.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Jaguares head coach Raul Perez has opted for drastic variation yet again, making 14 changes to his run-on side that lost to the Sunwolves last week for their meeting with the Kings in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

PREVIEW: Veteran Australian playmaker Matt Giteau will line up for Toulon in Saturday's heavyweight Top 14 duel against Toulouse as the French season builds towards a thrilling climax.

NEWS: Reds flank Hendrik Tui has re-signed with the club through to the end of 2017, the team confirmed on Friday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT. Jan de Koning looks at the Saturday matches in Part Two of Super Rugby's Round 10.

With just two rounds of the Guinness PRO12 remaining the tension and excitement is building as teams battle to earn a place in the championship's flagship event, the Final at Murrayfield on May 28.

NEWS: Suspended Italian prop Martin Castrogiovanni has 'hurt' his club and teammates at Racing 92 by partying with Paris Saint-Germain footballers in Las Vegas, his coach said.

PREVIEW: Sale Sharks are desperate to bring European Champions Cup rugby back to the North West and hooker Tommy Taylor knows that starts with victory over Gloucester on Friday.

NEWS: The Bulls have been forced into a change ahead of their of their Super Rugby Round 10 encounter with the Western Force in Perth on Friday.

NEWS: Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck is excited to have his "first-choice" midfield pairing starting in their clash against a Wallaby-laden Waratahs outfit at Newlands on Saturday.

NEWS: England revealed that Neal Hatley has agreed to join Eddie Jones' coaching staff as scrum coach at the end of the 2015/16 season.

NEWS: Wales and Scarlets wing Harry Robinson has retired with immediate effect following a serious neck injury.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers co-captains Juan de Jongh and Frans Malherbe both return for the Super Rugby match against the Waratahs at Newlands on Saturday.

There will be a lot at stake for Tiaan van Wyk as he leads Landboudal in the much anticipated Classic Class against Augsburg on Saturday, April 30.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Young Pieter Scholtz will make his Super Rugby debut for the Lions against Hurricanes at Ellis Park on Saturday.

News: Talented prop Oliver Hoskins signed a two-year deal with London Irish from Australian Super Rugby side Western Force.

Farewell: Saracens legend Jacques Burger has confirmed that he will retire from rugby after this weekend's Premiership clash against Newcastle Falcons at Allianz Park.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Brumbies will receive a boost in the form of David Pocock, who will return from suspension at openside flank for Saturday's Round 10 Super Rugby match-up with the Highlanders in Invercargill.

There are four major rugby festivals over the long weekend.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Jamie Hagan will make his Super Rugby run-on debut, after being named by Rebels coach Tony McGahan in the starting XV for Saturday's Round 10 game against the Blues at Eden Park in Auckland.

News: Hard-hitting lock Adam Coleman will remain in Perth with the Western Force, after re-signing with the club for a further year.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Fred Zeilinga will start at flyhalf for the Cheetahs in their match against the Reds at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

Experienced captain Willem Coetzee will lead Augsburg in the annual Classic Clash, when they take on Landboudal in Clan William on April 30.

REACTION: Chiefs coach Dave Rennie angrily denied cheating in the dying minutes of his side's nail-biting Super Rugby win over the Hurricanes last weekend.

Four Border Schools will be taking part  in the Grey Rugby Festival in Port Elizabeth on Saturday and Monday (30 April 30-2 May 2016).

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: A toe injury to Liam Coltman and the suspension of Jason Emery has forced changes to the Highlanders team to take on the Brumbies in Invercargill on Saturday. 

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Blues remain 'hopeful' that All Black Patrick Tuipulotu will be able to make a return for their Super Rugby clash against the Rebels at Eden Park on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Waratahs head coach Daryl Gibson has opted for a similar line-up to the team who defeated the Western Force for this weekend's Round 10 match against the Stormers in Cape Town.  

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Reds have announced an unchanged side to play the Cheetahs at Suncorp Stadium this Saturday.

NEWS: New Zealand Rugby was in good heart after a successful 2015 on the field and off the field where the financial foundation of the game was strengthened, said New Zealand Rugby Chairman Brent Impey.

EKSKLUSIEF: Jan de Koning en Eugene Eloff vergelyk die style van Super Rugby en die Europese-bekerreeks, terwyl die adjunk minister van sport die verbod op SARU verduidelik.

EXCLUSIVE: Jan de Koning and Tauriq Ebrahim compare the styles in Super Rugby and the European Cup, while the deputy minister of sport explains the ban slapped on SARU.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT. Jan de Koning looks at the Friday matches in Part One of Super Rugby's Round 10.

WEDNESDAY WRAP: Warren Williams scored three tries for the Griffons as they continued to build momentum in the Currie Cup Qualifying competition, claiming their second successive win by beating the Falcons 49-26 in Kempton Park on Wednesday.

NEWS: Former England forwards coach Graham Rowntree will join Harlequins next season, the English Premiership side announced Wednesday.

NEWS: Six Nations Grand Slam-winners Owen Farrell and Joe Marler will both be available for their clubs' respective European finals and England's tour of Australia.

NEWS: Harlequins prop Joe Marler and Wasps prop Simon McIntyre have been suspended for two weeks following independent Disciplinary Hearings on Wednesday.

EXCUSIVE: The Cheetahs will not let a few defeats distract them from their goal to become a team that can both entertain and win.

INTERVIEW: The Reds are determined to bring an end to their mid-match slumps and turn their season around.

NEWS: London Irish lock Nic Rouse has been forced to retire from professional rugby due to a shoulder injury.  

NEWS: Glasgow Warriors have announced a group of players who will leave the club in the PRO12 off-season.

NEWS: Scotland tighthead prop Kevin Bryce has signed a two-year contract with Edinburgh and will join the club from the start of 2016/17 season.

As they celebrate their 150th anniversary, Durban High School are relishing the prospect of making an impact when they compete in the Grey Rugby Festival

EXCLUSIVE: rugby365 cartoonist Matthew Ackermann looks at the difference between Super Rugby and the European Cup.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Western Force coach Michael Foley has given the side a shake up for Friday's Round 10 Super Rugby clash with the Bulls.

NEWS: Fijian second-row Leone Nakarawa will be released from his Glasgow Warriors contract at the end of the season to move to a club in France.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Chiefs have been dealt another injury blow ahead of their Super Rugby Round 10 encounter with the Sharks.

The unbeaten Weston College has a tough task ahead of them, playing Treverton College in a Classic Clash, and captain Kyran Dick knows all too well the importance of this encounter.

NEWS: Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham wants his team to bounce back from their 40-14 thrashing by the Crusaders last week when they face the Highlanders on Saturday.

INTERVIEW: Australian coach Michael Cheika is keen to unleash some new Wallabies on Six Nations champions England.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Israel Folau is starting to warm into a new spot at the Waratahs but he’s not thinking about a potential Test switch just yet.

Don't you love Rondebosch Boys' High? Win or lose their results are in on a Saturday afternoon.

NEWS: Italy prop Martin Castrogiovanni has been suspended by Racing 92 after he was photographed partying with Paris Saint-Germain players in Las Vegas, his club said on Tuesday.

INTERVIEW: Wallaby great Michael Lynagh has said an England 3-0 series win when they tour Australia in June is a "realistic" ambition for Eddie Jones's side.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks team to play the Chiefs on Friday in their final Super Rugby tour match shows a number of changes to last week's victorious side.

NEWS: Bath lock Dominic Day will leave the English club at the end of the 2016 season to seek a new challenge in Japan.

Fixture: On April 30 and May 2, 20 schools will partake in the annual Wildeklawer Tournament which take place at Hoërskool Diamantveld in Kimberley.

NEWS: Junior Springbok coach Dawie Theron said his team are making solid progress in preparation for the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in June.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: There is a change right at the top this week and a bit of filtering lower down.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: A community development programme in Khayelitsha has gone from teaching Touch Rugby players basic rugby skills, to topping some of Cape Town's well-respected Southern Suburbs rugby schools a mere two years later.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Southern Kings head coach Deon Davids included the returning Edgar Marutlulle and Sithembiso Sithole in his 25-man touring squad for their trip to Argentina this weekend to face the Jaguares.

NEWS: Connact will be without prop Denis Buckley and centre Bundee Aki for Friday's meeting with Benetton Treviso at Stadio Monigo.

EXCLUSIVE: rugby365 law guru Paul Dobson looks uncontested scrums and why it sometimes happens in the game of rugby.

NEWS: Scarlets have agreed new contract terms with front row trio Peter Edwards, Wyn Jones and Dylan Evans.

Treverton College first XV captain Tihan van Zuydam will look to edge his side ahead of Weston College in the overall stats when the schools meet in a Classic Clash on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls coach Nollis Marais named Hanro Liebenberg at No.8 in the Bulls team to take on the Western Force in Perth on Friday in their tour opener Down Under.

Things are tense in Europe's clubs as May and its finals approach.

NEWS: The Brumbies will be without Joe Tomane for six to eight weeks after the wing damaged his medial collateral ligament in his right knee during their 14-40 demolition by the Crusaders.

REPORT: Alexandria High headed to Ukhanyo Secondary in search of revenge and they got just that, edging their hosts 17-10 in a Classic Clash.

NEWS: Jaguares and Argentina stars Santiago Cordero and Matias Moroni will join the Argentina Sevens squad ahead of the final two legs of the World Sevens Series.

EXCLUSIVE: Eugene Eloff, a regular to the Afrikaans listeners of our weekly podcast productions, joins rugby365's growing list of columnists.

NEWS: Crusaders wing Nemani has been suspended from all forms of the game for four weeks for a dangerous tackle in his team's 40-14 win over the Brumbies.

NEWS: The Lions are hoping for a reprieve on their front row injuries, as they step up preparations for a Super Rugby crunch encounter with the Hurricanes.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Crusaders sent out a stern warning to rest of the competition after their victory in Canberra and that is why four of their stars are in our famous Team of the Week for Round Nine.

NEWS: Johan Erasmus, the General Manager at the South African Rugby Union has accepted a new position as Director of Rugby at Munster in Ireland.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: With the genes of legends running in his veins, Stormers flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis will be in the spotlight more than most players.

NEWS: England stars Owen Farrell and Joe Marler have both been cited for foul play in their respective European semifinal matches this past weekend.

REACTION: The South African Rugby Union is confident that it's right to host and bid for international tournaments will be reinstated at the next Eminent Persons' Group report.

NEWS: Lions prop Ruan Dreyer is set to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines after he fractured his wrist in his team's 45-10 win over the Southern Kings.

NEWS: Highlanders centre Jason Emery has been suspended for four weeks by a SANZAAR Judicial Hearing on Monday after a dangerous tackle on Sharks fullback Willie le Roux on Saturday.

NEWS: The South African Rugby Union may no longer be able to host or bid to host major and mega international tournaments.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Here, "Other" means not just the first XV but all the teams who played on the day.

NEWS: Kings head coach Deon Davids has confirmed that utility back Malcolm Jaer will be out for around six weeks following a broken hand sustained during their 10-45 mauling by the Lions at the weekend.

Kearsney went down from Botha's Hill to play Glenwood. The 1st XV lost 21-7.

NEWS: Glasgow Warriors have signed two new wings in Rory Hughes and Junior Bulumakau on new one-year deals until at least May 2017.

NEWS: The Waratahs will be without the services of prop Benn Robinson for their clash against the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.

NEWS: Scarlets lock Jake Ball believes that Judgement Day is the closest players will get to experiencing international rugby.

REPORT: Graeme College went from Grahamstown to Queenstown to play Queen's College and suffered a hefty 6-50 defeat.

NEWS: Loosehead prop Ryan Bevington has signed a new one-year contract with Ospreys on his existing deal that concludes at the end of this season. 

REACTION: Dan Carter hailed rival flyhalf Owen Farrell as a "great competitor" ahead of their expected clash in next month's European Champions Cup Final.

Report: Glenwood carried on with their winning-ways, this time beating Kearsney College.

Report: For the second week in a row South African College High School (SACS) went out to Paarl, this time to Gim who beat them 17-13.

NEWS: Scrumhalf Cobus Reinach and loose forward Philip van der Walt have both returned home from the Sharks' tour to New Zealand after picking up injuries in the 15-14 win over the Highlanders.

REACTION: New Zealand great Dan Carter believes Saracens will be the favourites when they face his Racing 92 side in next month's European Champions Cup Final.

REPORT: A mammoth defensive effort and a near 50-metre Johan Goosen penalty, helped Racing 92 book their place in their first-ever Champions Cup Final after edging Leicester Tigers 19-16 on Sunday.

NEWS: Prolific Crusaders wing Nemani Nadolo has been cited for alleged foul play during his side's 40-14 demolition of the Brumbies on Sunday.

NEWS: Highlanders centre Jason Emery will have a nervous few hours ahead of him as he is set to appear in front of a SANZAAR Judicial hearing following his red card against the Sharks.

REACTION: Cheetahs coach Franco Smith does not see his side's 14-36 loss to the Rebels as a step in the wrong direction as he feels there are signs of improvement each week.

REACTION: Lions head coach Johan Ackermann is wary of the challenge that awaits them at Ellis Park and feels the main challenge is for his side to be mentally ready.

REPORT: Despite a dismal performance, the Stormers somehow managed to secure a 40-22 victory over the Reds at Newlands and coach Robbie Fleck remains resolute in focussing on the positives.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Results of schools first XVs in South Africa continue to surprise.

REACTION: There were some mixed reactions from the Jaguares' head coach, Paul Perez, and some of his players after they suffered a 28-36 defeat to the Sunwolves in Japan.

REPORT: The Crusaders secured their sixth successive victory over the Brumbies when they cruised to a bonus point 40-14 victory in Canberra on Sunday.

REACTION: His younger brother may have been grabbing the headlines this season but Mako Vunipola shone as Saracens marched through to the Champions Cup final.

NEWS: Dynamic New Zealand Sevens star Ardie Savea has abandoned his Olympic dream by announcing he wants to focus on trying to establish an All Blacks Test career.

REPORT: Montpellier's South African contingent earned them a ticket to the Challenge Cup Final as flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis kicked 17 points and Bismarck du Plessis powered over for a try.

REPORT: Bath showed their fighting spirit to hold off a fierce Sale Sharks with a 32-26 bonus-point Premiership victory at the Rec on Saturday.

Currie Cup Saturday Wrap: The Sharks XV secured a victory over struggling Namibian side, Welwitschias in the King Zwelithini Stadium, Durban on Saturday.

REPORT: The Lions continued their rise up the Super Rugby standings with a 45-10 bonus-point demolition of the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

NEWS: Saracens secured their second Champions Cup final in three years when they beat Wasps 24-17 in the first semifinal at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.

REPORT: The Stormers managed to secure a 40-22 Super Rugby win over the Reds at Newlands on Saturday, but they left it rather late.

NEWS: The hearing of the alleged violations of the Varsity Cup regulations by newly-crowned champions North-West University (Pukke) has been postponed until May.

REACTION: Not all the pundits will agree, but Rebels coach Tony McGahan believes his team is now genuine Super Rugby play-off contenders.

REPORT: The Waratahs put their Super Rugby campaign back on track with an emphatic 49-13 win over a hapless Western Force in Perth on Saturday.

REPORT: The Chiefs, reduced to 14 men in the latter stages, held on for a nailbiting win over the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday.

REPORT: Samoan international Tusi Pisi produced a masterclass that saw the Sunwolves record their first ever win in Super Rugby, beating the Jaguares 36-28 in Tokyo on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Dan Carter is rugby's answer to football superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, according to the man who has helped the All Blacks great take the European Rugby Champions Cup by storm.

REPORT: Harlequins stormed into their fourth European Challenge Cup Final, but their 30-6 win over  Grenoble was marred by the petulant behaviour of England bad boy Joe Marler.

CURRIE CUP FRIDAY WRAP: Centre Daniel du Plessis scored two tries as Western Province beat Free State 36-31 in Bloemfontein on Friday.

NEWS: The Sharks are in discussions with the City of Durban to play matches at the Moses Mabhida Stadium from 2017.

Preview: After a win over Paarl neighbors Paul Roos Gymnasium, Paarl Gimnasium will host South African College Schools (SACS) on April 23.

We have just one Premiership match this weekend, but an extremely significant one in the race not only for the Premiership top six, but in the battle for a spot in the semifinals

NEWS: England Premiership Rugby's chief executive, Mark McCafferty, believes one of the English sides winning the Champions Cup will be a fine way to 'recover' from the country's World Cup failure.

NEWS: Highlanders centre Jason Emery will be hoping for a lenient sentance from SANZAAR's Judicial Officer after being red-carded for a dangerous tackle on Sharks fullback Willie le Roux.

REPORT: The Rebels produced a second-half surge to beat the Cheetahs 36-14 in their Super Rugby match in Melbourne on Friday.

NEWS: Ospreys No.8 Dan Baker has undergone surgery on his shoulder and will miss the last two games of the PRO12 season.  

NEWS: Junior Springbok coach Dawie Theron is confident that their plans for the World Rugby Under-20 Championships are falling into place, as his provisional training squad continues to put in the hard yards at their training base in Stellenbosch.

NEWS: Bath have suspended loose forward Alafoti Faosiliva after he pleaded guilty to assault.

NEWS: Northampton Saints wing Pat Howard has put pen to paper with the Newport Gwent Dragons and will join the squad for the 2017 PRO12 season.

REPORT: Rookie flyhalf Garth April kicked the Sharks to  one-point win over the defending Super Rugby champion Highlanders in Dunedin on Friday.

NEWS: Tighthead prop Taufa'ao Filise has resigned with Welsh region Cardiff Blues for the 2016/2017 season.

News: Brumbies' No.8 Jarrad Butler has re-signed an one year contract with the Australian Super Rugby side, the Brumbies.

NEWS: Former All Black prop Carl Hayman joined Top 14 side Pau and will take charge of their forwards from next season.

NEWS: The Waratahs have received a welcome boost with three of their home-grown talents, Jed Holloway, Andrew Kellaway and Matt Sandell, re-committing to the club.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham has made only one change to his side to host the Crusaders in Canberra on Sunday.

CHAMPIONS CUP SEMIFINAL: Leicester coach Aaron Mauger will look to put his knowledge of former Crusaders and New Zealand team-mate Dan Carter to good use when the Tigers face Racing 92 in a Champions Cup semifinal on Sunday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has made to changes to his side to face the Brumbies in Canberra on Sunday.

CHAMPIONS CUP SEMIFINAL: Wasps can take a step closer to reclaiming past European Rugby Champions Cup glories on Saturday, but they face a Saracens side determined to finally get their name on the trophy.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT. Jan de Koning looks at the Saturday and Sunday matches in Part Two of Super Rugby's Round Nine.

PREVIEW: This Saturday, Kearsney go down from Botha's Hill to take on the powerful Glenwood sides.

PREVIEW: It's a big year for Wynberg this year as it celebrates its 175th birthday.

Glenwood High School is again travelling to Japan to compete in the SANIX World Youth Rugby Championships as South Africa's representative.

NEWS: 32-year-old Luke Narraway has signed a one year contract extension with the London Irish.

Interview: Scarlets' fullback Liam Williams labeled the last year as frustrating with injuries hampering his season on both an international and regional level.

INTERVIEW: The Sharks are determined to show they are not the rag-tag bunch of no-hopers most pundits believe them to be.

NEWS: Stormers centre Damian de Allende knows that he and his teammates will have to keep Reds centre Samu Kerevi quiet in their Round Nine Super Rugby clash at Newlands on Saturday.

FAREWELL: Glasgow Warriors' scrumhalf Mike Blair has retired with immediate effect and will take up a new coaching role at the club next season.

NEWS: The South African Rugby Union confirmed on Thursday that they had assumed administrative control of the Eastern Province Rugby Union.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Southern Kings head coach Deon Davids has made nine changes to his starting line-up ahead of the clash against the Lions this weekend.

NEWS: No.8 Joe Bearman, who is close to completing a century of Ospreys appearances have sign a one-year contract at the Welsh club.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Damian de Allende will make his first start of the season at inside centre in a Stormers starting line-up which features five changes and a positional switch for the clash with the Reds.

NEWS: Oyonnax wing Silvère Tian was banned until June 30, 2017, for having directed "threatening actions or words" towards referee Romain Poite during a Top 14 match earlier this month.

NEWS: Former Wallabies and Queensland Reds coach Jim McKay has been appointed the new coach of Kobelco Steelers in Japan.

NEWS: New Zealand's World Cup-winning flyhalf Dan Carter, at French club Racing 92, was nominated for the 2016 European Player of the Year.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Johan Ackermann has made a number of changes to his team for their encounter against the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday. 

REACTION: The national ruling body, the African National Congress, has distanced itself from claims by a member that the Springbok logo should become extinct.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sunwolves head coach Mark Hammett has made three changes to his team for their home match against the Jaguares in Tokyo on Saturday.

NEWS: Australian-born Harrison Orr has become Newcastle Falcons' fourth confirmed signing for next season following the arrivals of Leicester Tigers' Vereniki Goneva, Jersey prop Sam Lockwood and England Sevens scrumhalf Sam Egerton.

EXCLUSIVE: rugby365 law guru Paul Dobson explains an interesting  piece of scrum law.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Jaguares coach Raúl Pérez has once again tinkered with his team ahead of their Super Rugby basement battle with the Sunwolves.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Reds side to face the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday features two changes to the starting line-up, which lost to the Bulls last weekend. 

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Western Force has made two changes to the starting XV with South African-born players Francios van Wyk and Marcel Brache will be part of the strong 23-man squad who will partake in the crucial Super Rugby match against the Waratahs. 

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Rob Horne and Tatafu Polota-Nau have both returned from injury for the Waratahs' Round Nine Super Rugby match against the Western Force in Perth this Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Chiefs head coach Dave Rennie named a powerful side for their crunch match against the Hurricanes at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Blade Thomson's return from injury is the only change to the Hurricanes starting side for their crucial Super Rugby match against the Chiefs at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.

EKSKLUSIEF: Jan de Koning en Eugene Eloff gesels oor Super Rugby, terwyl Wynona Louw die kollig op die Sewes laat val.

EXCLUSIVE: Jan de Koning and Tauriq Ebrahim talk Super Rugby and European Cup, while Wynona Louw gives her views on the Sevens.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT. Jan de Koning looks at the Friday matches in Part One of Super Rugby's Round Nine.

INTERVIEW: Complacency is the Lions' biggest threat when the high-flying franchise head down to Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

NEWS: Leinster wing, Fergus McFadden, appeared before an independent PRO12 Rugby Disciplinary Committee in Cardiff on Wednesday.

COMPETITION TIME: rugby365 and adidas provides our readers with an opportunity to win some wonderful prizes.

NEWS: Scarlets wing Daniel van der Merwe will undergo surgery on Thursday, April 21, ruling him out for the remainder of the PRO12 season.

NEWS: The Hurricanes can breathe a sigh of relief as assistant coach John Plumtree has agreed to stay on with the franchise.

NEWS: NWU-Pukke utility back Sylvian Mahuza has joined the Golden Lions XV.

NEWS: The break couldn't have come at a better time for the Blues, as centre Rene Ranger won't be the only one spending some time on the sideline through injury.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Argentine wing Juan Imhoff says he joined Racing 92 because of his ambition to win trophies, but they must overcome the "best scrum in Europe".

NEWS: The New Zealand Rugby Union and the Blues revealed that lock Patrick Tuipulotu has recommitted to the All Blacks and his domestic franchise until the end of the 2019 season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Flank Colby Fainga’a's return from injury headlines a number of new inclusions in the Rebels 23-man squad for Friday’s meeting with the Cheetahs at AAMI Park.

EXCLUSIVE: rugby365 cartoonist Matthew Ackermann looks at the new king of the South African rugby jungle.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Garth April will start at flyhalf for the Sharks when they face the Highlanders on Friday, while Chiliboy Ralepelle has been named on the bench.

TEAM ANNOUNCENT: Head coach Franco Smith has made only one change to his side that smashed the Sunwolves last week for their three-match tour to Australia.

NEWS: England Sevens scrumhalf Sam Egerton has penned a deal with Newcastle Falcons and will join the Premiership side next season.

NEWS: The Springbok emblem has once again been put on the endangered list by the South African government.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Head coach Jamie Joseph has made a number of changes to his starting xv to host the Sharks in Dunedin on Friday. 

NEWS: Southern Kings head coach Deon Davids said a number of his players were still battling with injuries ahead their clash with the Lions on Saturday.

The motivated fullback Mason Brooks will lead Alexandria High School in their Classic Clash against Ukhanyo Secondary School on Friday.

There will be a lot on the line for Ukhanyo Secondary's captain Mphumezi Magobhiyane, as attempts to lead his side to retain their Classic Clash title against rivals Alexandria High.

NEWS: Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young reckons his men will have to crank their performance up a gear if they are to seal a place in the European Rugby Champions Cup Final.

The four European semifinals are the main focus of attentions this weekend.

NEWS: Bulls head coach, Nollis Marais, has selected a blended squad of youth and experience for their three-match tour to Australia.

NEWS: Flank Jake Heenan and centre Craig Ronaldson have signed two-year extension contracts with PRO12 side, Connacht.

NEWS: Ten universities accross South Africa will compete in the annual Varsity Sevens tournament at Villager Rugby Club, Cape Town over the weekend, April 30 to May 2.

NEWS: Super Rugby will be entering Round Nine this weekend, but Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck still does not know the make-up of his best starting XV.

NEWS: The Brumbies will be looking to avoid defeat to another New Zealand side when they face the Crusaders in a blockbuster Round Nine clash on Sunday.

NEWS: Reds centre Anthony Fainga'a believes they have to embrace Newlands' large and vocal crowd if they want to beat the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.

NEWS: The All Blacks have beaten out five other nominees to be named the Laureus World Team of the Year while Dan Carter has scooped the Comeback of the Year award in Berlin on Monday.

Report: Hoërskool Vryburg was crowned 2016 Pukke 16 Series champions this past weekend after a convincing 57-5 win over defending champions Hoërskool Pionier.

Die Tiere van Daniël Pienaar het Saterdag, 16 April 2016, op Uitenhage rugbykragte teen Grey gemeet.

REPORT: Wits solidified their promotion to the 2017 Varsity Cup competition by claiming a 39-2 victory over UWC to be crowned the 2016 Varsity Shield champions at the Wits Rugby Stadium.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: With Kenya's famed track and field team still unsure whether it will be allowed to compete at the Rio Olympics, an unlikely new medal prospect has emerged for the African nation - their men's Sevens rugby outfit.

NEWS: Melbourne Rebels wing Dominic Shipperley will miss the remainder of the 2016 Super Rugby season with a knee injury.

INTERVIEW: Racing 92 are operating at just 50 percent of their potential according to kicking coach Ronan O'Gara.

NEWS: The Highlanders are officially head-hunting John Plumtree to replace Jamie Joseph as head coach at the Dunedin-based franchise.

NEWS: England Grand Slam hero Mako Vunipola has urged Saracens to improve their discipline to give themselves the best chance of getting past Wasps in Saturday's Champions Cup semi-final.

NEWS: Singapore champions, Kenya, will face 12-time Series-winners, New Zealand, in Pool A in the ninth round of the World Sevens Series, which takes place in Paris on 13-15 May.

NEWS: Former Melbourne Rebels star Danny Cipriani's breath smelt of alcohol and he had "glazed" eyes after crashing his car into a taxi, a court was told on Monday.

EXCLUSIVE: The organisers of the Varsity Cup have found themselves staring down both barrels after further allegations have surfaced that newly-crowned champions NWU-Pukke may have fielded an ineligible player.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Lions secured a crucial win over the Stormers and they dominate rugby365's famous Super Rugby Team of the Week for Round Eight.

REACTION: Sharks Director of Rugby Gary Gold says his team's inability to secure possession was the driving force behind their 18-23 defeat to the Blues in Auckland in Round Eight of Super Rugby.

NEWS: Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young believes wing Christian Wade's six tries in their 54-35 Premiership quarter-final win over Worcester Warriors should put him on England boss Eddie Jones' radar.

REPORT: Keasrney went up to the Midlands. The first XV lost to Hilton 23-31.

REACTION: He may have escaped formal sanction, but Stormers boss Thelo Wakefield should expect a call from SANZAAR CEO Andy Marinos over his referee rant at the weekend.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Here, "Other" means not just the first XV but all the teams who played on the day.

REACTION: Bulls head coach Nollis Marais believes his side weren't accurate enough in the 41-22 win over the Reds at Loftus on Saturday.

REPORT: Hoërskool Nico Malan asserted an 18-5 victory over Muir College in Humansdorp on April 16.

NEWS: Lions hooker Malcom Marx will be out of action for a "few weeks" after injuring his neck in the 29-22 win over the Stormers.

EXCLUSIVE: Ethienne Reynecke, the newest member of the rugby365 family, dissects the red-hot topic of whether overseas-based players should play for the Springboks.

REACTION: The Brumbies will be looking to build momentum following Saturday’s memorable 26-20 win over the Waratahs at Allianz Stadium as they prepare to take on the Crusaders on Sunday.

REPORT: Queen’s College played host to Selborne College as part of its annual reunion weekend.

REACTION: Rebels head coach Tony McGahan has challenged his players to find the next level ahead of their encounter with the Cheetahs at AAMI Park on Friday.

REACTION: Newcastle boss Dean Richards said his side could not afford to relax after a 13-6 win at home to English Premiership relegation rivals London Irish on Sunday.

NEWS: Three players have been cited from Pro12 matches played on Friday in addition to the red card issued to the Benetton Treviso lock forward Dean Budd.

REACTION: Reds flank Liam Gill believes his side can bag a win when they face the Stormers at Newslands on Saturday depite coming off a 41-22 thumping by the Bulls at Loftus.

REPORT: Oakdale het afgegaan Worcester toe en daar teen HTS Drostdy 26-13 gewen.

NEWS: The Blues said Monday that Rene Ranger had ruptured a knee ligament, potentially ending the destructive centre's Super Rugby season and stalling his bid for an All Blacks recall.

TOP 14 WRAP: Toulouse boosted their chances of making the end-of-season play-offs with a commanding 14-3 win over Racing 92 on Sunday.

REPORT: In an Interschools Premiership match Paarl Gimnasium beat Paul Roos Gymnasium of Stellenbosch 28-24 in Paarl on Saturday.

REPORT: Boland Landbou won a very evenly contested match against the South African College High School (SACS) 28-18 on the Farm.

PREMIERSHIP SUNDAY WRAP: Newcastle's biggest attendance of the season to date saw them secure a vital victory over fellow Premiership strugglers London Irish.

PRO12 REPORT: Cardiff Blues boosted their Champions Cup hopes with a 28-8 Welsh derby win over Newport Gwent Dragons in the Pro12.

REACTION: The Bulls are not letting their mini winning streak get to their heads ahead of their three-match tour to Australia.

REACTION: Reds co-interim coach Nick Stiles said his team was not accurate enough against a strong Bulls side at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

SINGAPORE SEVENS WRAP: Kenya put in one of the best performances ever in Sevens to beat Fiji 30-7 in the Cup Final at the Singapore Sevens on Sunday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: There are some interesting results this week that suggest this could be a season of surprises.

REACTION: Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck believes the win was there for the taking against the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.

REACTION: The Lions will hoping that their win over the Stormers at Ellis Park did not come at a cost, with hooker Malcom Marx and prop Julian Redelinghuys both leaving the field with injuries during the game.

NEWS: Reds flank Michael Gunn will join his teammates in Cape Town on Monday, after No,8 Jake Schatz suffered a strained Medial Cruciate Ligament in his side's loss to the Bulls in Pretoria.

SINGAPORE SEMIFINALS Alivereti Veitokani scored a try at the death as Fiji beat South Africa 26-21 in their Cup semifinal at the Singapore Sevens on Sunday.

REACTION: Blues head coach Tana Umaga was pleased with the way his team fought back in the second half to beat the Sharks in Auckland on Saturday.

REACTION: Jaguares lock Matias Alemanno said his team was left "with a bitter taste" in their mouths after their 15-32 loss to the Crusaders in Round Eight of Super Rugby.

SINGAPORE QUARTERFINALS: South Africa advanced to the Cup semifinals at the Singapore Sevens when they beat New Zealand 12-7 in their quarterfinal on Sunday.

PRO12 SATURDAY WRAP: Niyi Adeolokun scored twice as Connacht scored 29 unanswered points to claim a bonus-point 35-14 win over Irish provincial rivals Munster.

SATURDAY PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Chris Ashton crossed for a first-half double as Saracens all but secured a home Premiership semifinal.

Saturday Wrap: The Boland Cavaliers turned it on during the second half to beat the visiting Eastern Province (EP) Kings 37-18 in their quest for Currie Cup Premier Division status.

WRAP: The Armitage brothers, Delon and Steffon'  scored three tries between them as Toulon sealed a 25-9 bonus-point victory at Pau.

REPORT: The Lions put down a big marker in the South African conference with a thrilling 29-22 win over the Stormers at Ellis Park on Saturday.

REPORT: The Bulls continued their evolution into a more dynamic team with an emphatic 41-22 win over the Reds in Pretoria on Saturday.

REPORT: On their Brug Street field in Paarl, Paarl Boys' High beat Bishops 58-12 in the First XV match.

Reaction: Niell Powell's BlitzBoks secured wins over Scotland, Russia and Kenya to top pool C and will  play the quarterfinals against New Zealand in Singapore on Sunday.

REPORT: The Brumbies ended a decade-long drought against the Waratahs when they beat them 26-20 in Sydney on Saturday.

DAY ONE WRAP: South Africa and France have achieved clean sweeps on Day One, while Argentina drew with Japan to remain unbeaten.

REPORT: The Blues held on to beat the Sharks 23-18 in a hard-fought, if somewhat scrappy, Super Rugby match in Auckland on Saturday.

WRAP: First and second placed Fiji and New Zealand made up for their early defeats as they soared to victory during their second encounters of the pool stages, while Australia also came out on top against Japan.

Down from their Midlands fastness Michaelhouse come to face the might of Glenwood.

REPORT: Castres boosted their chances of progressing to the Top 14 play-offs with a 33-28 victory at Grenoble.

INTERVIEW: England head coach Eddie Jones has warned several of his Grand Slam winners they could be dropped for the tour to Australia because he is unhappy with their complacent attitudes.

WRAP: New Zealand, Fiji and Australia made up for their early defeats as they soared to victory during their second encounters of the pool stages.

NEWS: New recruit Michael van der Spuy will join the Cheetahs on their three-match tour of Australia from Sunday.

WRAP: It was a shocking start to the Singapore Sevens showdown, with Samoa topping Fiji, Japan beating Wales and Argentina edging out Australia.

REPORT: Ollie Thorley's debut try was enough to see Gloucester past Exeter Chiefs 16-9 at Kingsholm and keep their hopes of a top six finish alive.

FRIDAY WRAP: Clinton Swart scored 19 points to lead the Griquas to a 56-29 win over the Falcons while SWD Eagles and Border also picked up favourable results.

PRO12 FRIDAY WRAP: Leinster surged five points clear of Connacht at the summit after three tries in 11 second half minutes helped them to a 30-23 victory over Edinburgh.

REPORT: The Cheetahs ran in a whopping 14 tries to claw the Sunwolves to shreds 92-17 in a very one-sided match in Bloemfontein on Friday.

NEWS: Junior Springbok coach Dawie Theron is satisfied with the progress of his provisional Junior Springbok training squad since they assembled in camp two weeks ago.

PREVIEW: Those matches played along the line from East London up into the mountains are old and always hotly contested - in the best possible way.

INJURED: Toulon's Australian playmaker Matt Giteau will be out for up to three weeks after having re-injured his troublesome groin.

REPORT: The Hurricanes issued a timely warning to their main rivals in the Super Rugby play-off race when they dispatched the Rebels 38-13 in Melbourne on Friday.

NEWS: World Rugby said Friday it had agreed on a rescue package for the financially strapped Tonga Rugby Union (TRU) designed to address long-standing governance concerns.

EXCLUSIVE: Jan de Koning spoke to Lions centre Lionel Mapoe ahead of the Super Rugby crunch match against the Stormers on Saturday.

INTERVIEW: Springbok Sevens speedster Seabelo Senatla is eager to score more tries in Singapore to improve his personal best.

REPORT: The Crusaders closed the gap on the tournament leaders, the Chiefs, with an emphatic bonus-point win over the Jaguares on Friday.

PREVIEW: On Saturday, Paarl Boys' High play host to 17 teams from the Diocesan College.

PREVIEW: Toulon will need to solve their flyhalf conundrum if they are to challenge for a second Top 14 crown in three years this season.

NEWS: The Crusaders are commencing the process to appoint a new head coach to replace Todd Blackadder, who is leaving at the end of the 2016 season after eight years in charge of the team.

SEVENS: Rugby looks for another foothold in Asia with the Singapore Sevens kicking off this weekend.

PREVIEW: A new era for rugby in the United States will get under way on Sunday when the game's first ever professional league in America kicks off with games in California and Colorado.

PREVIEW: On Saturday, April 16, Paarl Gimnasium host Paul Roos Gymnasium in Paarl - a Premier Interschools match.

EXCLUSIVE: rugby365 cartoonist Matthew Ackermann looks what is the real driving force behind the Springboks.

Paarl Gym and Paul Roos take centre stage this weekend.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT. Jan de Koning looks at the Saturday matches in Part Two of Super Rugby's Round Eight.

Glasgow Warrior' bonus point victory over Zebre in their rearranged Round 12 game lifted the Warriors to third in the table, their highest placing this campaign, with all teams now having played 19 games.

European Professional Club Rugby has announced the four referees for the semifinals of the Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup.

PREVIEW: Worcester Warriors want to finish tenth in the Premiership as a bare minimum and will push to overtake Bath, according to lock Darren Barry.

NEWS: The England forward-duo Maro Itoje and George Kruis have both signed new deals to remain at the Saracens until 2019.

NEWS: Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck said his team will have to tighten their defence out wide if they are to beat a dangerous Lions side in Johannesburg on Saturday. 

LEGEND: Adaptable sportsman, Sonny Bill Williams gave his Hong Kong Sevens runners-up trophy to an eight-year-old fan, after the final against Fiji.

Singapore is returning to the World Series this weekend as the eighth of 10 stops this year - with rugby's return to the Olympic Games looming in August.

NEWS: Ospreys announced that their wing Jeff Hassler has undergone shoulder surgery and is out for the rest of the season.

FIXTURES: The annual Grey Rugby festival has been reduced to a two-day festival with a total of 64 matches to be played on April 30 and May 2.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers coach Robbie Fleck has made four changes to his starting line-up to face the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT ON BATTLE OF LOFTUS: Bulls coach Nollis Marais warned his team about the potential danger of looking ahead to their Australian tour and slipping up against the Reds.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions coach Johan Ackermann has resisted the temptation to make changes ahead of his team's Super Rugby crunch encounter with the Stormers.

NEWS: Bath captain Stuart Hooper has been forced to retire with immediate effect due to injury.

NEWS: Racing 92 wing Marc Andreu was suspended for eight weeks by the France's Ligue Nationale de Rugby on Wednesday for stepping on Toulon flank Virgile Bruni's face.

NEWS: England captain James Rodwell is set to make his record-breaking 69th consecutive tournament appearance at the World Rugby Sevens Series in Singapore this weekend.

NEWS: Rassie Erasmus is set to leave his post as SARU General Manger of High Performance to become Munster's first-ever Director of Rugby later this year, according to reports in Ireland.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks Director of Rugby Gary Gold has made three changes to his run-on side that lost to the Lions last weekend to face the Blues on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks Director of Rugby Gary Gold has made three changes to his run-on side that lost to the Lions last weekend to face the Blues on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks Director of Rugby Gary Gold has made three changes to his run-on side that lost to the Lions last weekend to face the Blues on Saturday.

SA SCHOOLS: This coming Saturday April 16, the crowd will see the repeat of the 2015 final when Pionier High School and Vryburg High School lock horns for the Pukke 16 series title.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Playmaker Tusi Pisi returns to the Sunwolves' starting team for their match against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Reds team to face the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday features one change to the starting line-up which defeated the Highlanders last weekend. 

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham has made two changes to his side to take on the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: A settled Blues side will face the Sharks at Eden Park on Saturday, however, talented flank Blake Gibson will play no part in the match.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Coach Daryl Gibson has named a new-look side for the Waratahs' return match against the Brumbies at Allianz Stadium this Saturday.

NEWS: All Blacks World Cup-winning lock Brad Thorn will become an assistant coach at the Reds after his success helping the side's youth team, the Reds said on Thursday.

EKSKLUSIEF: Jan de Koning en Eugene Eloff bespreek die nuwe Springbok-afrigter, terwyl Wynona Louw weer na die Varsity-beker kyk.

EXCLUSIVE: Jan de Koning and Tauriq Ebrahim give their views on the new Springbok coach, while Wynona Louw again looks at the Varsity Cup.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT. Jan de Koning looks at the Friday matches in Part One of Super Rugby's Round Eight.

NEWS: Racing 92 flyhalf Dan Carter skipped training Wednesday as coaches rested the star Kiwi playmaker with an eye firmly set on the European Cup semifinal against Leicester on April 24.

The one packs down at the side of the scrum, the other, at the back of it!

The one packs down at the side of the scrum, the other, at the back of it!

The one packs down at the side of the scrum, the other, at the back of it!

NEWS: Former Stormers lock Quinn Roux is one of four uncapped players called up by Ireland for a one-day training camp, ahead of their South African tour in June.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Hurricanes will feature a new-look midfield when they head to Melbourne for their clash with the Rebels on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Jaguares coach Raúl Perez wasted no time in recalling a host of frontline players for their final match on their New Zealand.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Cheetahs coach Franco Smith has made five changes to his run-on side to host the Sunwolves at Toyota Stadium on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls coach Nollis Marais made three changes to his backline to play the Reds in a Super Rugby match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Rebels have named an unchanged line-up to their side that claimed the club's first victory over the Waratahs last weekend.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ryan Crotty will play his 100th game for the Crusaders on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Liam Messam will captain the New Zealand Sevens side at this weekend’s Singapore Sevens event, while Bay of Plenty's Isaac Te Aute will earn his first cap.

NEWS: Jesse Parahi will re-join the Australia Sevens squad from National Rugby League outfit the Wests Tigers on a two-year deal, effective immediately.

NEWS: Former Blues lock Kurtis Haiu has died at the age of just 31, after a long battle with cancer.

NEWS: Racing 92 hooker and captain Dimitri Szarzewski will miss the Champions Cup semi-final against Leicester with a knee injury.

YOUNG GUNS FINAL: UP-Tuks claimed their fourth Young Guns title in five years following a comprehensive 47-24 victory over UJ  in the Young Guns Final on Tuesday.

NEWS: England's Grand Slam-winning wing Anthony Watson has been handed a two-game ban by a Rugby Football Union (RFU) disciplinary panel on Tuesday.

NEWS: Crusaders outside back Johnny McNicholl will head to Wales at the end of this year to play for the Scarlets Club in Llanelli. 

REACTION: All Black coach Steve Hansen said that he expects South Africa to remain competitive under new mentor Allister Coetzee, even though the former Stormers boss faces a "tough environment" at the Springboks.

NEWS: Allister Coetzee believes there is nothing wrong with the way the national team has been playing over the last few years.

NEWS: Chiefs scrumhalf Augustine Pulu will join the Blues in 2017 following the completion of his Super Rugby campaign with the Waikato side.

IN THE SPOTLOGHT: Following an action-packed weekend of school's rugby and much deliberation, there are certainly changes this week.

TEAM NEWS: Rebels flank Colby Fainga’a is set to undergo a fitness test ahead of the Rebels' clash with the Hurricanes at AAMI Park on Friday.

NEWS: Ellis Park has become a victim of the El Nino effect that has caused break-up during scrummaging, rucks and mauls since the first home Super Rugby game of the 2016 season.

REACTION: NWU-Pukke hoisted their first Varsity Cup title at the third time of asking when they travelled to Stellenbosch and edged Maties 7-6 at the Danie Craven Stadium.

PROFILE: New Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has been involved with rugby as a player, team manager, assistant coach and head coach since 1974.

NEWS: Transformation in rugby has been an issue for a long time in South Africa, but new Springbok head coach Allister Coetzee believes it will only make the national team stronger.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: It took us some time, but the rugby365 team finally came up with our famous weekly selection.

NEWS: Kings coach Deon Davids admits their bye weekend has come at a fortunate time as a number of his players are still battling with injuries.

TEAM NEWS: All Blacks Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens has called up three players to his side as injury replacements for this weekend’s Singapore Sevens tournament.  

The men's Sevens moves on to Singapore with two rounds in Europe to go after that while the women move up to Langford on Vancouver Island.

NEWS: Newcastle Falcons’ flank Todd Clever still has plenty left in the tank to star in Premiership Rugby’s Move Like A Pro campaign as the 33-year-old knows the importance of eating as healthily as he can.

NEWS: Scotland international prop Zander Fagerson has penned a new three-year contract with Glasgow Warriors, which will see him stay at Scotstoun until at least May 2019.

CAST YOUR VOTE: Allister Coetzee was named the new Springbok coach on Tuesday. Is his appointment good for South African rugby?

NEWS: Blitzboks coach Neil Powell has called-up Chris Dry to replace the injured Phillip Snyman at the Singapore Sevens tournament this weekend.

NEWS: The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) has announced the Australian Rugby Strategic Plan for 2016-2020 underpinned by a vision “to inspire all Australians to enjoy our great global game”.

BREAKING NEWS: The worst-kept secret in South Africa rugby was confirmed on Tuesday - Allister Coetzee is the new Springbok coach.

NEWS: Australian Rugby Union (ARU) recorded a deficit of almost Aus$10 million (US$7.6 million) last year in its worst result in over a decade, the organisation has told stakeholders.

NEWS: Wales flank Justin Tipuric will miss his country's tour to New Zealand after suffering a concussion during the recent Six Nations tournament.

NEWS: Bulls coach Nollis Marais is happy to continue backing the young second row forwards in his squad, as he looks to evolve the franchise's style of play.

REPORT: It took 10 extra minutes after the full-time hooter for NWU-Pukke to score a converted try and claim their first-ever Varsity Cup title, with a 7-6 scoreline, against Maties in Stellenbosch on Monday.

NEWS: Stormers forwards coach Russell Winter is expecting a tough contest when they face the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.

INTERVIEW: The Lions wasted very little time celebrating and knuckled down very quickly for what coach Johan Ackermann described as a "massive" challenge.

RESULTS: The eagerly awaited match between host Glenwood High School and Framesby High School, saw Glenwood beat Framesby 65-9.

As in the past, we are keen to acknowledge all the teams who played by recording their scores.

REPORT: UCT have secured their place in next year's Varsity Cup after they beat UWC 40-5 in a promotion/relegation match at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Monday.

NEWS: The Waratahs, one of three Allianz Stadium tenants, lashed out at the New South Wales government's plans that could leave them homeless.

NEWS: World Rugby has announced the two panels, 12 on each panel, of match officials for the Olympic Games in Rio in August.

REACTION: Northampton Saints Director of Rugby Jim Mallinder believes England ought to include uncapped back row forward Teimana Harrison in their squad for their three-Test tour of Australia in June.

NEWS: Kings coach Deon Davids wants his side to take responsibility for their performances and reflect on the areas that need improvement after their 6-38 defeat to the Bulls in Port Elizabeth last Saturday.

REACTION: Dan Carter's dream season with Racing 92 has continued with a thrilling 19-16 European Cup quarterfinal victory over French arch-rivals Toulon.

NEWS: Australia Sevens coach Andy Friend expects more from his side following their fourh-place finish at the Cathay Hong Kong Sevens after being knocked out of Cup contention by Fiji in the semi-finals on Sunday.

INTERVIEW: The revitalise Reds will be looking to take momentum into their tough two-match tour of South Africa.

NEWS: The England Sevens team secured a 19-0 victory over the USA in the Cathay Hong Kong Sevens Plate Final on Sunday.

NEWS: Brumbies back row forward Ita Vaea has decided to retire from the game - effective immediately.

NEWS: BlitzBoks coach Neil Powell has shifted his focus to the Singapore Sevens next weekend after his side bowed down to New Zealand in the Hong Kong Sevens semi-final on Sunday.

INTERVIEW: Stormers coach Robbie Fleck has seen the future and it is a bright young flyhalf. Jan de Koning reports.

In a Premier Interschools match on Saturday Paul Roos beat a good Grey side 36-21 on the Markötter Field.

In a Premier Interschools match on Saturday Paul Roos beat a good Grey side 36-21 on the Markötter Field.

INTERVIEW: Great Britain coach Simon Amor said he was hopeful of making a strong showing at the Olympics despite a tough build-up with the squad still undecided and only coming together in May.

REPORT: Maxime Machenaud stepped up with two minutes to go to slot a penalty that sent Racing 92 into the European Cup semifinals.

INTERVIEW: Former England coach Stuart Lancaster said he still thinks about his country's World Cup nightmare "every minute of every day".

REPORT: Leicester Tigers charged into the last four of Europe's premier club competition, the Champions Cup, with a 41-13 of French giants Stade Francais.

NEWS: There are some big scores amongst the schools results those week.

NEWS: Sunwolves lock Tim Bond has been slapped with a four-week ban for foul play, following their 19-46 loss to the Stormers at the weekend.

NEWS: Jean Deysel has been called up to the Sharks squad for their three-match tour of New Zealand.

FINALS WRAP: Fiji opened up a gap at the top of the Sevens World Series standings, when they claimed their 16th Cup title at the famous Hong Kong tournament on Sunday.

SEMIFINAL WRAP: In one of the most classic showdowns in the tournament's history New Zealand scored a try deep in the second half extra time to edge their arch-rivals South Africa at the Hong Kong Sevens.

NEWS: The much-improved Reds were given a timely boost ahead their two-match tour to South Africa.

INTERVIEW: Japan hooker Shota Horie believes his star-struck Sunwolves teammates may have been "overwhelmed" by the Newlands atmosphere.

HONG KONG quarterfinals: It is arch rivals South Africa versus New Zealand in the semifinals of the Hong Kong Sevens - the seventh leg on the World Series.

NEWS: Sharks scrumhalf Michael Claassens has been issued with a citing commissioner warning (an off-field yellow card) for foul play.

VARSITY CUP FINAL: After nine rounds of action and two weeks of postponements, the Varsity Cup has finally reached it pinnacle - the Final

REPORT: The Bulls ran in six unanswered tries to hand the Southern Kings a 38-6 hiding at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

CHALLENGE CUP REPORT: Newport Gwent Dragons reached the European Challenge Cup semifinals on Saturday by knocking out holders Gloucester 23-21 with the winning try coming just four minutes from time.

REPORT: Chris Ashton scored a try against his former club as Saracens came from behind to beat English rivals Northampton 29-20 in a European Champions Cup quarterfinal on Saturday.

REPORT: The Lions were able to grind out a 24-9 victory over the Sharks at Kings Park in an unimaginative and dull 80 minutes of rugby.

REPORT: New Zealand fullback Charles Piutau scored a try at the death as Wasps pulled off an amazing 25-24 win against Exeter Chiefs in a Champions Cup quarterfinal match at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday.

PROMOTION/RELEGATION: UCT-Ikeys will be looking to avoid falling out of the Varsity Cup when they meet UWC in the dreaded promotion/relegation match at the Danie Craven Stadium on Monday.

NEWS: Sunwolves lock Timothy Bond has been cited for dangerous tackle in his team's 19-46 loss to the Stormers at Newlands on Friday.

REPORT: Montpellier reached their first European semifinal on Friday when they defeated hosts Sale 25-19 in the Challenge Cup quarterfinals.

REPORT: The Reds held on for dear life to upset the Highlanders 28-27 in Brisbane and record their first victory of the 2016 Super Rugby campaign.

DAY TWO WRAP: Saracens-bound flyer Savenaca Rawaca starred on Saturday as defending champions Fiji looked the team to beat at the Hong Kong Sevens, the unofficial dress rehearsal for the Rio Olympics.

REPORT: Running rugby was the order of the day as the Hurricanes ran in six tries, including a Julian Savea hat-trick, to claim a bonus point 40-22 victory over the Jaguares in Wellington on Saturday.

Holidays and Easter over, schools rugby down in the Western Cape gets into full swuing this Saturday.

NEWS: Great Britain Sevens will look at bringing players from 15-a-side rugby into their squad in a bid to bolster their challenge for Olympic glory.

PRO12 REPORT: Glasgow Warriors made it a magnificent seven Pro12 wins on the trot as second-half Ali Price and Alex Dunbar tries quelled a lively early display from Zebre.

REPORT: The Stormers scored seven tries to record a 46-19 bonus-point win against the travelling Sunwolves at Newlands in Cape Town on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Loose forwards Brendon O'Connor, Lachlan McCaffrey and Mike Fitzgerald return to the Leicester Tigers line-up for Sunday's European Rugby Champions Cup quarterfinal against Stade Francais Paris at Welford Road.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: South African Morne Steyn has been given the nod to start at flyhalf ahead of France international Jules Plisson for Stade Francais in Sunday's European Champions Cup quarterfinal.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok Johan Goosen will play at outside centre for Racing 92 in their Champions Cup quarterfinal clash against defending champions Toulon in Paris on Sunday. 

DAY ONE WRAP: James Rodwell inspired England to an important win over South Africa on the opening day of the famous Hong Kong Sevens tournament on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Australia international Matt Giteau will start at flyhalf for Toulon in their European Champions Cup quarterfinal on Sunday despite not having played for almost four months.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Exeter Chiefs coach Rob Baxter has urged his troops to prioritise defence when they face London Wasps in their European Champions Cup quarter-final at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wasps’ Director of Rugby Dai Young has named his side to take on Exeter Chiefs in the European Champions Cup Quarter Final at the Ricoh Arena this Saturday.

REPORT: Richie Mo'unga slotted a 79th-minute conversion as the Crusaders stole a one-point victory against the Western Force in Perth on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Centre Brad Barrit will lead the Saracens against Northampton Saints in the club's first ever Championship Cup knock-out game on Saturday at Allianz Park.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: England Grand Slam-winning captain Dylan Hartley will miss Northampton's European Champions Cup clash away to Premiership rivals Saracens on Saturday.

REPORT: The table-topping Chiefs walked away with a bonus-point win, but not before being given a big fright by the Blues.

NEWS: The Worcester Warriors will become the first Premiership rugby club to convert to the latest generation of artificial grass pitch ahead of the 2016/17 season.

NEWS:  The Griquas got their Currie Cup Qualifying campaign off to a winning start with a 34-14 win over the Griffons in a wet and windy Kimberley on Thursday.

PREVIEW: Grey High of Port Elizabeth, for so long the top school in the Eastern Cape, play Paul Roos Gymnasium, always a top school in the Western Cape.

The one's iconic smile terrorises Gotham City's superhero, the other terrorises Super Rugby defences.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT. Jan de Koning looks at the Saturday matches in Part Two of Super Rugby's Round Seven.

INTERVIEW: Stade Francais president Thomas Savare has warned that memories of their 2001 European Cup Final defeat to Leicester would provide added motivation for the struggling French champions when the two sides meet this weekend.

CHAMPIONS CUP PREVIEW: Dan Carter said lining up against Toulon and "good mate" Ma'a Nonu in the European Champions Cup will be "special".