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WATCH as Stormers coach John Dobson speaks about the growth and maturity of flyhalf Manie Libbok since his arrival in Cape Town.

WATCH as incoming Sharks coach John Plumtree unpacks the cost of New Zealand's decision to kick South Africa out of Super Rugby.

NEWS: Coach Eddie Jones has brought renowned sports psychologist Corinne Reid, who assisted with England's 2019 World Cup campaign, across to the Wallabies.

WATCH as Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell talks about the 'trap' they fell into in their 5-35 URC quarterfinal loss to Leinster at the weekend.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White unpacks what he feels are 'inconsistencies' in rulings by match officials.

REACTION: Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie was not a happy man after the Cheetahs victory over Western Province in Bloemfontein on Saturday, saying his side needs to make a step-up going into the next three weeks.

NEWS: England coach Steve Borthwick completed his backroom line-up for the World Cup on Sunday.

JAPAN LEAGUE ONE WRAP: The 'real' return of Quade Cooper has trumped the brilliance of Israel Folau as Hanazono Kintetsu Liners took an important step towards Division One survival in Japan Rugby League One.

MATCH REPORT: Noah Lolesio has sent a message to Wallabies coach Eddie Jones and rival Carter Gordon as he helped the Brumbies to a thrilling 33-26 Super Rugby Pacific victory over the Melbourne Rebels.

MATCH REPORT: Sharks' United Rugby Championship campaign came to an end as they went down 5-35 to Leinster in the quarterfinal clash in Dublin on Saturday.

NEWS: The line-up for the United Rugby Championship semifinals has been confirmed with Dublin and Cape Town hosting games on Saturday, May 13.

MATCH REPORT: Munster claimed a place in the United Rugby Championship semifinals after beating Glasgow Warriors 14-5 at Scotstoun.

MATCH REPORT: The Sharks have dealt the Bulls another crushing blow by beating them 41-27 in the Currie Cup at Loftus on Saturday.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: It was celebration and heartache all around after the 24th and final round of league action.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the United Rugby Championship quarterfinal encounter between Leinster and the Sharks in Dublin.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Currie Cup Round Nine encounter between the Bulls and Sharks at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

MATCH REPORT: The defending URC champions the Stormers booked their place in the semifinals with a commanding 33-21 victory over the Bulls at Cape Town Stadium.

MATCH REPORT: The Pumas are back to winning ways with a comfortable victory over the Griffons at the Nelspruit rugby club in the Currie Cup on Saturday, taking this encounter by 45-25

MATCH REPORT: Cheetahs Robertson Ebersohn (100th cap) and captain Victor Sekekete (50th cap) were gifted with a hard-earned 26-21 Currie Cup win over Western Province in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Currie Cup Round Nine encounter between the Pumas and Griffons in Nelspruit.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Currie Cup Round Nine encounter between the Cheetahs and Western Province in Bloemfontein.

SATURDAY WRAP: Julian Savea equalled the record for most tries in Super Rugby but it was not enough to stop the Hurricanes crashing to a 24-27 upset loss to Fijian Drua in Suva on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: When Deon Fourie was a little boy he used to collect blades of grass. Kikuyu grass to be exact.

MATCH REPORT: Jack Carty booted five penalties to send Connacht into the United Rugby Championship semi-finals after a 15-10 victory over Ulster at Kingspan Stadium.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the United Rugby Championship quarterfinal encounter between the Stormers and Bulls ion Cape Town.

SATURDAY PREVIEW: The tournament pace-setters, the Cheetahs and Pumas, will look to cement the advantage they have over an ever-improving chasing pack.

NEWS: A capacity crowd will welcome the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld when they face Australia in the Rugby Championship in Pretoria on 8 July with all tickets sold out for this clash.

SATURDAY PREVIEW: Only three spots are up for grabs as six teams battle it out in the 2023 United Rugby Championship quarterfinals on Saturday.

NEWS: Ahead of this weekend's United Rugby Championship quarterfinals it has been confirmed that extra time or a place-kick competition will determine the winner should any game finish as a draw after 80 minutes.

MATCH REPORT: With a gargantuan defence effort, Griquas won an emphatic duel against the Lions in Kimberley on Friday when they held on for 83 minutes to take it by 25-21.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Currie Cup Round Nine encounter between Griquas and the Lions in Kimberley.

MATCH REPORT: Flyhalf Damian McKenzie and fullback Shaun Stevenson led the Chiefs counter-attacking game as the Hamilton-based team beat the Highlanders 52-28 to extend their winning start to the season in Super Rugby Pacific to 10 matches.

SPOTLIGHT: John Plumtree says he is not the same coach that left the Sharks a decade ago as he plots a way forward for the Durban franchise in his impending second stint.

WATCH as England lock Charlie Ewels chats one-on-one with @king365ed about his dream to get back into the World Cup frame and his conversations with coach Steve Borthwick.

NEWS: Stormers' build-up to the crucial United Rugby Championship quarterfinal clash against Bulls has been accompanied by unfortunate news.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls have made minor adjustments to the matchday 23 that will do duty against the Stormers in Cape Town.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers have been bolstered by the return of flank Deon Fourie and wing Leolin Zas for the United Rugby Championship quarterfinal against the Bulls at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks take on Leinster in the United Rugby Championship quarterfinals at Landsdowne Road on Saturday with the tournament heading towards its climax.

TOP 14 PREVIEW: Wales back row forward Ross Moriarty said he chose to be omitted from their preliminary World Cup squad this week to focus on playing for his new club Brive.

FRIDAY PREVIEW: Griquas coach Pieter Bergh put the status of the competition into perspective when he said the 'quality' of the Currie Cup this year is at a higher level than in 2022.

SPOTLIGHT: England forward Courtney Lawes has said young rugby players should have no qualms about playing abroad even if it hampers their Test prospects.

QUARTERFINAL PREVIEW: The first United Rugby Championship quarterfinal clash will see Ulster and Connacht of Ireland go head-to-head on Friday at Ravenhill Stadium.

SPOTLIGHT: John Plumtree says there is an "uneven playing field" for the South African franchises in the United Rugby Championship and European competitions.

ROUND 24 PREVIEW: The race for the final few places in next year's European Cup reaches its climax on the final day of the Premiership's regular season.

NEWS: Springbok loose forward Duane Vermeulen is among 10 players set to leave Ulster at the end of the season.

NEWS: The RFU announced that John Mitchell will be appointed to the role of England Women’s head coach after the World Cup, where he is currently the defence coach for Japan.

BREAKING NEWS: The Bulls suffered a cruel blow in the build-up to their United Rugby Championship quarterfinal trip to Cape Town.

Sharks have a slight chance of short-circuiting Leinster's United Rugby Championship season with the dynamic and history-making duo Lukhanyo Am and Makazole Mapimpi.

WATCH as Robert Thompson Ebersohn chats to @king365ed about how he turned a major letdown into an opportunity to encourage youngsters.

NEWS: The Sharks officially unveiled their new head coach on Thursday.

PREVIEW: The time has come for the big names to step it up as the Replacement Battle for Japan Rugby League One kicks off in Mie on Friday.

NEWS: It seems like the southern hemisphere will finally get a seat at the top table as Mark Alexander, Agustin Pichot and Hamish McLennan have all been linked to a top job at World Rugby.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS: The Reds and Waratahs have both made minimal team changes for Saturday's pivotal Super Rugby Pacific derby in Townsville.

NEWS: All Black star Will Jordan is set to play for the first time in eight months after being sidelined by a "migraine-related condition".

LISTEN as Bulls coach Jake White unpacks his team's rocky road to the URC quarterfinal face-off with the Stormers.

SPOTLIGHT: Springboks Retshegofaditswe Nché and Mbongeni Mbonambi are the latest Sharks players to sign on the dotted line.

NEWS: Leinster, who take on arch-rivals Stade Rochelais in the showpiece Champions Cup decider in Dublin in less than three weeks’ time, have the lion’s share of the prestigious shortlist for the 2023 Player of the Year award.

Not only will Saturday’s United Rugby Championship quarterfinal be a vital match for the Stormers and Bulls, but it will also be a significant occasion for Steven Kitshoff.

WATCH as URC Head of Match Officials Tappe Henning unpacks what the ideal profile of a good TMO should be and why not all referees make good TMOs.

The Bulls confirmed the 35-women roster of contracted players for the Bulls Daisies over the next two seasons.

NEWS: Bernard Lapasset, former president of Rugby Union's governing body and the driving force behind Paris' successful 2024 Olympic bid, has died. He was 75.

SPOTLIGHT: Lock Rudolph Snyman is hoping his recent performances for Munster will catch the attention of the Bok coaching team again.

SPOTLIGHT: The Western Force are hopeful of luring Wallabies scrumhalf Nic White for next season, but Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham won't give up the star veteran without a fight.

REACTION: Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber finally broke his silence on the knee surgery of captain Siyamthanda Kolisi.

TRANSFER NEWS: Bath announced that former Wasps head coach Lee Blackett will join the club as an assistant coach.

WATCH as URC Head of Match Officials Tappe Henning unpacks how they are fixing refereeing howlers with their new 'independent' panel.

There were probably a few doubters when former Springbok assistant coach Franco Smith took over the reigns at Glasgow Warriors.

OPINION: Two high-profile departures from the Lions in the last week had me wondering about the Intellectual Property the franchise has lost in recent years and if that is the reason for their failure to make the URC play-offs for a second successive year.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers received some incredible news ahead of their United Rugby Championship quarterfinal match against the Bulls on Saturday.

NEWS: The match officials appointments for the United Rugby Championship quarterfinals have been confirmed.

NEWS: The South African Rugby Union are counting the cost of their franchises' participation in European competitions as they reported a minor deficit despite a record income.

NEWS: The Sharks have struck gold with the news that No.8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe has committed to a new deal.

NEWS: Rugby union competitions around the world are bracing for a possible exodus of top players to Japan after the World Cup in France later this year.

NEWS: Scrumhalf Morgan Parra will hang up his playing boots and join the coaching staff at French Top 14 side Stade Francais at the end of the season, he told French daily L'Equipe on Monday.

SPOTLIGHT: Waratahs hooker Dave Porecki believes it's more important for the Waratahs to beat the Reds than worry about Wallabies spots.

INTERVIEW: Jock Campbell's season has gone a bit like the Queensland Reds', but the understated back thinks he and the team are now finally finding their feet.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Wales head coach Waren Gatland has named a 54-player preliminary training squad for Rugby World Cup 2023.

NEWS: The Sharks have announced two more re-signings with the news that burly prop Ntuthuko Mchunu and wing Marnus Potgieter will stay in Durban.

SPOTLIGHT: A few legends have given Jake White exactly the perspective he was seeking as he prepares his Bulls team for their URC quarterfinal against the Stormers in Cape Town this weekend.

INJURY UPDATE: Leinster provided injury updates on some of their players ahead of the United Rugby Championship quarterfinal against the Sharks in Dublin on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Bulls assistant coach Hugo van As admitted that his team’s plan to build momentum ahead of their United Rugby Championship quarterfinal "didn’t work out".

NEWS: Coach Eddie Jones insisted Monday his plan was to return the Wallabies to world number one.

NEWS: A Springbok has walked away with the Players’ Player of the Year award at Saracens.

NEWS: French side Pau have won the services of one of the most experienced locks in world rugby with the signing of All Black Sam Whitelock.

SPOTLIGHT: Leinster boss Leo Cullen wants his squad to take full advantage of this play-off window they are currently in.

NEWS: Rugby Australia have started the search for a new CEO.

NEWS: England and Bath lock Dave Attwoord will retire from professional rugby at the end of the 2022/23 season and to celebrate he will be swimming the English Channel.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Stade Rochelais advanced to the Champions Cup Final again after they beat Exeter Chiefs 47-28 in their semifinal in Bordeaux on Sunday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the European Cup semifinal encounter between Stade Rochelais and Exeter Chiefs at Stade Bordeaux.

CHALLENGE CUP REPORT: Toulon will face Glasgow Warriors in the Challenge Cup Final after they beat Benetton 23-0 in their semifinal on Sunday.

MATCH REPORT: During a rain-delayed game the Cheetahs climbed to the top of the Currie Cup log when they made small fry of the Griffons in Bloemfontein on Friday evening, claiming a 33-10 victory.

NEWS: The Sharks have been boosted by the news that two of their loose forwards will be staying in Durban for a few more seasons.

REACTION: Stormers head coach John Dobson was full of praise for his young Western Province squad after they thumped the Bulls in the Currie Cup in Cape Town on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: A defence coach for the Springboks seems to be the only position that the South African Rugby Union (SARU) are looking to fill.

NEWS: Brilliant playmaker Damian McKenzie has recommitted to the All Blacks and the Chiefs hours after piloting the latter to an epic Super Rugby Pacific win over the Crusaders.

REACTION: The Bulls' medical staff will be keeping a close eye on flyhalf Johan Goosen ahead of their United Rugby Championship quarterfinal against the Stormers.

MATCH REPORT: The Franco Smith-coached Glasgow reached the Challenge Cup Final with a come-from-behind 35-17 win over the Scarlets in the semifinal in Llanelli on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: A try by Western Province wing Luke Burger in the last minute of the game has afforded the homeside with a bonus point in their victory of 31-7 over the Bulls in Cape Town on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Curie Cup Round Eight encounter between Western Province and the Bulls in Cape Town.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Leinster will have the luxury of playing in a Champions Cup Final in Dublin after they thumped Toulouse 41-22 in their semifinal clash at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the European Cup semifinal encounter between Leinster and Toulouse at Lansdowne Road in Dublin.

SATURDAY WRAP: The Super Rugby Pacific leaders have beaten the defending champions, the Chiefs running out 34-24 winners over the Crusaders.

MATCH REPORT: The Sharks managed a well-earned 24-6 win over Griquas in the Currie Cup in Durban on Saturday, but despite their efforts, they remain in third position on the log.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Curie Cup Round Eight encounter between the Sharks and Griquas at Kings Park in Durban.

UPDATE: Springbok captain Siyamthanda Kolisi is officially on the road to recovery after he underwent surgery on his knee in Cape Town on Friday.

REACTION: The rule book managed to ensure the Cheetahs bag a full-house of five points and better their points difference on the log during the rain delayed Currie Cup match between the Cheetahs and the Griffons on Friday evening.

NEWS: Springbok captain Siyamthanda Kolisi reportedly underwent surgery on his injured knee on Friday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Curie Cup Round Eight encounter between the Cheetahs and Griffons at the Free State stadium in Bloemfontein.

MATCH REPORT: The Lions recorded an emphatic win over the defending champions and handed them only their second loss in the Currie Cup with their 26-10 victory at Ellis Park on Friday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Curie Cup Round Eight encounter between the Lions and Pumas at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

PREVIEW: Scarlets will be looking to avenge their recent defeat at Glasgow Warriors and so halt their six-match winning sequence.

PREVIEW: The two top teams in the Currie Cup, the Pumas and Cheetahs, will be out to put daylight between them and the rest of the field this weekend.

PREVIEW: The Champions Cup has reached the semifinal stage and there are intriguing clashes in Ireland and France.

MATCH REPORT: The Brumbies have suffered their second loss of the Super Rugby Pacific season, beaten 32-27 by the Hurricanes in Wellington.

NEWS: South African forward Jono Ross will call time on his rugby career at the end of the 2022-23 Premiership season.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Stormers will be losing one of their locks at the end of the season.

SPOTLIGHT: Stuart Lancaster will leave his post as Leinster's senior coach with "his prestige in the sport way beyond" what it was when he stepped down as England coach after the 2015 Rugby World Cup debacle.

UPDATE: South African coach Gerhard 'Pote' Human learned his fate after a fight with a rival coach in the USA last weekend.

NEWS: Paris Saint-Germain have emerged as candidates to buy the Stade de France but the Qatar-owned club's priority remains securing ownership of the Parc des Princes, their historic home in the French capital.

SPOTLIGHT: The Bulls head to Cape Town on Saturday to face a dangerous Western Province team, having finally ended the frustration and chagrin of a horrid 10-match losing streak.

WATCH as the RugbyPass Offload Podcast panel chats to retired Springbok Pierre Spies, the man they labelled the Ultimate Beast.

TRANSFER NEWS: South African loose forward Henco Venter will be making the move to Glasgow Warriors ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, after agreeing to switch to Scotstoun from the Sharks subject to a visa.

INTERVIEW: Crusaders coach Scott Robertson said he was savouring the prospect of taking on the table-topping Chiefs in a "critical" clash this weekend.

TRANSFER NEWS: Leicester Tigers lock Eli Snyman will leave the club at the conclusion of the 2022/23 campaign to join Benetton Rugby.

NEWS: New Zealand Rugby has reported a financial loss of over $47 million in 2022.

NEWS: Five of the Lions’ forwards and one backline player have signed contract extensions with the union for the next two years.

NEWS: Rugby Australia and the Queensland Reds announced loos forward Harry Wilson has re-committed to Australian Rugby until at least the end of 2025.

NEWS: World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin has said draws for future World Cups will be better balanced following complaints about the lopsided format of this year's edition in France.

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Wales lock Dafydd Jenkins will miss Exeter Chiefs's European Champions Cup semifinal against La Rochelle on Sunday after receiving a three-week ban.

NEWS: Jurie Roux, the former Chief Executive Officer of the South African Rugby Union, may have reached the end of the road in his protracted battle with the University of Stellenbosch.

INTERVIEW: @king365ed has a ONE-ON-ONE chat with departing Lions coach Albert van den Berg.

BREAKING: Despite acknowledging that the South African Rugby Union 'bent the knee' to political extremists, World Rugby will not take any action over the Mzanzi Challenge logomachy.

NEWS: Three years ago Teboho ‘Oupa’ Mohojé would probably not have thought that he would make his 100th appearance for the Cheetahs after overcoming insurmountable set-backs in his career.

NEWS: SA Rugby announced that three current Springbok assistant coaches had signed contract extensions for another four years, which will see them remain with the team until the conclusion of the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

TRANSFER NEWS: Springbok fullback Willem Le Roux has confirmed his departure from Japanese club Toyota Verblitz.

NEWS: Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham says Rugby Australia may need to come to the table and help re-sign some veteran Wallabies stars as fears mount Nicolas White and James Slipper could leave Super Rugby Pacific.

NEWS: Rugby Australia has announced a surplus of $8.2 million at its 2022 annual general meeting, returning the business to profit for the first time in four years.

NEWS: Scotland great Greig Laidlaw announced his retirement aged 37, ending a career that saw him captain his country more times than any other player.

NEWS: Incoming All Black coach Scott Robertson will look to replicate his Super Rugby success at Test level by bringing on board three coaches with Crusaders ties.

SPOTLIGHT: Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith has some injury concerns to deal with ahead of his team's Challenge Cup semifinal against the Scarlets in Llanelli.

NEWS: As this season's Champions Cup and Challenge Cup approach the closing stages with four sensational semi-finals scheduled for this weekend, EPCR announced that the 2024 edition Finals Weekend will take place at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

SPOTLIGHT: The two most successful teams in European Cup history go head-to-head at Lansdowne Road in Dublin on Saturday - for many, the real Final.

OPINION: It seems like the Springboks' management will soon have to start looking at some new captaincy options for this year’s World Cup.

SPOTLIGHT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White says there are positives and negatives to facing the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship quarterfinals.

REACTION: Major League Rugby is to investigate the deplorable incident between a South African coach and his American rival at the weekend.

INJURY UPDATE: It seems like the Springboks' worst fear is set to be confirmed soon.

SPOTLIGHT: A United Rugby Championship quarterfinal between the Stormers and Bulls has set tongues wagging, but it is going to get heated a week before that in an intriguing Currie Cup clash.

INJURY UPDATE: The Champions Cup favourites Leinster is hoping for some good news ahead of their semifinal clash against Toulouse on Saturday.

NEWS: The highly-anticipated dates and kick-off times of the 2023 United Rugby Championship quarterfinals have been confirmed.

N THE SPOTLIGHT: La Rochelle's South African wing Dillyn Leyds scored as they beat Clermont 26-13 in the French Top 14 on Saturday ahead of next weekend's Champions Cup semifinal against Exeter Chiefs.

URC RECAP: The 2022/2023 season is set to go down as a failure for a Sharks squad boasting several top Springboks in their camp and a strong bank balance courtesy of their owners.

WATCH as South African coach Pote Human stormed onto the field and start a fight during a Major League Rugby clash in the USA.

NEWS: Japan-based Wallabies wing Marika Koroibete was named Australian Rugby Union's best player by his peers Monday, winning his second John Eales Medal despite featuring in only nine Tests in 2022.

SPOTLIGHT: Lions Rugby Company board Chairman Altmann Allers dismissed as 'normal business', but a coaches' meeting with senior management on Monday will determine the future of some staff members.

CURRIE CUP REPORT: Griquas climbed into the top four on the Currie standings with a 42-27 bonus-point win over the Griffons in Kimberley on Sunday.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: English Premiership leaders Saracens ensured they finished the regular season top of the table and ended London Irish's hopes of qualifying for the title-deciding play-offs with a 45-21 win on Sunday.

NEWS: Springbok superstar Eben Etzebeth believes he will be fit for the start of this year's Rugby Championship in July.

JAPAN LEAGUE ONE, ROUND 16 WRAP: Quade Cooper's long-awaited comeback for Kintetsu Liners proved tactical, and lasted for just one minute as the regular season of Japan Rugby League One was completed.

REACTION: Bulls assistant coach Chris Rossouw says now is "probably the best time to hit" the Stormers as there have been some question marks over the Capetonians' form in recent weeks.

WATCH as Stormers Evan Roos' latest off-the-ball antics earned him a yellow card in his side's United Rugby Championship clash against Benetton in Stellenbosch on Friday.

REACTION: It was difficult to hold back the tears says Lions legend Jaco Kriel after his final match for the franchise.

REACTION: Waratahs coach Darren Coleman believes player resting protocols are tainting the "integrity" of Super Rugby Pacific, following their heavy loss to the Blues.

REACTION: The Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell admitted his team’s quarterfinal trip to Dublin is not mission impossible despite some major injury concerns. 

URC REPORT: The Sharks' quest to qualify for a European Champions Cup spot came to an end with a 22-all draw to Munster at Kings Park on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The eight teams who will compete in the United Rugby Championship Play-Offs have confirmed their places in the quarterfinals as the race to become the 2022/23 champions kick into gear.

URC REPORT: Glasgow Warriors made it 17 successive matches unbeaten at their Scotstoun fortress after holding on to claim a 29-27 victory over Connacht.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Curie Cup Round Seven encounter between the Bulls and Lions at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers are counting the cost of their victory over Benetton in Stellenbosch on Friday.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: Sale secured a home semifinal in the English Premiership play-offs after a hard-fought 25-22 win at Gloucester on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round 18 encounter between the Sharks and Munster at Kings Park in Durban.

MATCH REPORT: The Bulls have given their Currie Cup campaign an injection with their 30-19 victory over the Lions at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

URC REPORT: Thomas Young scored a brace of tries as Cardiff won the Welsh Shield with a 38-21 United Rugby Championship victory over Ospreys on Judgement Day at the Millennium Stadium.

URC REPORT: The Bulls made a big United Rugby Championship statement, beating Leinster 62-7 at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. 

URC REPORT: Dragons ended a run of 10 successive United Rugby Championship defeats as they ended their campaign with a 31-14 win over Scarlets on Judgement Day at the Principality Stadium.

SUPER RUGBY SATURDAY WRAP: The understrength Waratahs conceded seven tries in a 21-55 Super Rugby Pacific thumping by the Blues at a wet Eden Park in Auckland.

URC REPORT: The Lions concluded their United Rugby Championship season with a 50-35 win over Zebre on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld. 

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round 18 encounter between the Lions and Zebre at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

REACTION: The Sharks could have dropped to seventh spot on the Currie Cup log had they lost their encounter with the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Friday.

SPOTLIGHT: Glasgow head coach Franco Smith said it was a 'compliment' to be linked to the Springboks' head coach role.

MATCH REPORT: Defending Currie Cup champions the Pumas have jumped to top of the log after a sterling win over Western Province in Nelspruit on Friday.

NEWS: The legal tackle height in English amateur rugby will be lowered to the base of the sternum from July 1 following a vote by the Rugby Football Union council on Friday.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Northampton kept their hopes of a place in the English Premiership play-offs alive with a 66-5 hammering of basement club Newcastle on Friday.

URC REPORT: Ulster secured second place in the United Ruby Championship table following the 28-14 victory over Edinburgh at the Kingspan Stadium.

URC REPORT: The Stormers will be able to take a bit of momentum into the United Rugby Championship play-offs after they beat Benetton 38-22 in their final-round clash in Stellenbosch on Friday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round 18 encounter between the Stormers and Benetton at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Curie Cup Round Seven encounter between the Pumas and Western Province at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Curie Cup Round Seven encounter between the Cheetahs and Sharks in Bloemfontein.

MATCH REPORT: The Sharks have got their bite back after a great victory in the Currie Cup with a 24-17 win over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Friday.

SPOTLIGHT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White says his name "doesn’t crop up" amongst the potential candidates to be the next Springbok head coach.

SATURDAY PREVIEW: Champions Cup qualification will be the name of the game for a few teams on Saturday as the United Rugby Championship concludes its league phase.

PREVIEW: The top four teams are facing off in the Currie Cup this weekend with the top two, the Cheetahs and Pumas, hosting three and four, the Sharks and Western Province.

WRAP: The Chiefs have kept their unbeaten Super Rugby record intact with a comprehensive 50-17 win over Fijia Drua in Hamilton.

NEWS: EPCR announced the launch of the host city bidding processes for its 2025 and 2026 Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals weekends.

NEWS: World Rugby's effort to assist colour-blind fans will have a major impact on the Springboks and All Blacks.

NEWS: Wales loose forward Josh Navidi has announced his immediate retirement from rugby after failing to successfully recover from a serious neck injury sustained against the Springboks in Cape Town.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has revealed his team to face Leinster in their United Rugby Championship final-round clash on Saturday in Pretoria.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions have a major boost for their United Rugby Championship Round 18 clash against Zebre.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell has revealed his team to face Munster in their United Rugby Championship final-round clash in Durban on Saturday.

NEWS: Wales flyhalf Dan Biggar only arrived at Toulon four months ago but he has quickly made himself a fan favourite on the Cote d'Azur with a little help from Jonny Wilkinson's French teacher.

NEWS: Western Force lock Jeremy Thrush is happily back in retirement with the former All Blacks star cutting short his Super Rugby Pacific return due to a heel injury.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round 18 encounter between the Bulls and Leinster at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

UPDATE: England wing Jack Nowell will be available for Exeter's Champions Cup semifinal against La Rochelle after avoiding a ban for criticising a referee on Twitter.

SPOTLIGHT: Wandisile Simelane admits that he hasn’t been close to reaching his full potential since joining the Bulls.

FRIDAY PREVIEW: The defending champion Stormers will be in a 'desperate' frame of mind against Benetton in Stellenbosch on Friday, as they look to finish the regular season on a high - ahead of the URC play-offs.

REFEREE NEWS: Ahead of the semifinals of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup, EPCR announced the match officials.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers coach John Dobson has made a number of changes to the team for the final match of the regular season, when they face Italian outfit Benetton at the Danie Craven Stadium on Friday.

PREVIEW: As Japan Rugby League One heads into Round 16, and with the semi-finals just two weeks away, the two top teams are vying for positions and will unleash their Springboks this weekend.

NEWS: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is set to make a shock return to Rugby League, after agreeing to leave the XV-man game and inking a three-year deal with the Warriors from 2024.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Western Force have bolstered their back row stocks by signing Wallabies No.8 Isi Naisarani for the rest of the Super Rugby Pacific season.

REACTION: Western Force coach Simon Cron has expressed his disgust at how Lachie Swinton's brutal late hit on flyhalf Jake Strachan went unnoticed during Saturday's 16-36 loss to the Waratahs.

WATCH as South Africa's most capped player of all time, Victor Matfield, unpacks the reasons for his choices to replace Jacques Nienaber as Springbok coach.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Sharks will be sporting two Siya’s with the news that Cheetahs flyhalf Siya Masuku will make the move to Durban at the end of the season.

SPOTLIGHT: Scotland hooker Stuart McInally has announced he is hanging up his boots to pursue a career as a commercial airline pilot.

NEWS: Sevens superstar Rosko Specman, the Griquas flyer, has been around the block, but the coveted Currie Cup has always eluded him.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok prop Thomas du Toit says his impending departure from the Sharks is starting to "sink in".

SPOTLIGHT: Johan Goosen, raised on the saddle of a horse, is back in the saddle of Jake White's Bulls.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATES: The outcome of the disciplinary hearings of Ellis Genge and Olly Woodburn, following the English Premiership's Round 22 action this past weekend, has been made public.

NEWS: Western Province suffered a big blow ahead of their Currie Cup Round Seven clash against the Pumas at Mbombela Stadium on Friday.

WATCH as Irish legend Gordon D'Arcy and South Africa's most capped player Victor Matfield explain the value Jacques Nienaber will bring to Leinster.

SPOTLIGHT: The Bulls are not letting talk of 'second-string' or 'B-teams' infiltrate their camp ahead of their United Rugby Championship final-round clash against Leinster in Pretoria on Saturday.

NEWS: Exeter and England wing Jack Nowell was charged with misconduct by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) on Tuesday after criticising a referee on Twitter.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Lions’ only mission this Saturday against Zebre is to put down a big statement for next season’s United Rugby Championship.

WATCH as South Africa's most capped Springbok of all time, Victor Matfield, delivers a brutal assessment of the Lions' decline.

WATCH as Leinster veteran Ed Byrne speaks about the Bulls' threats and the excitement amongst the young players stepping onto the hallowed Loftus Versfeld turf for the first time.

INJURY UPDATE: Springbok lock Rudolf 'RG' Snyman will miss Munster's United Rugby Championship match against the Sharks due to an injury. 

NEWS: Lachlan Swinton has copped a seven week suspension for a late tackle against the Force, which effectively will see his World Cup dreams fade in the mist and he won’t play another game in the regular season.

NEWS: The match officials appointments of the United Rugby Championship Round 18 fixtures have been confirmed.

WATCH as Stormers scrumhalf Paul de Wet, bringing up his 50th cap, talks about facing off against Benetton veteran Dewaldt Duvenage, with 350 first-class caps.

NEWS: World Rugby is set to trial a Television Match Official (TMO) Bunker at the Under-20 Championship in South Africa and may adopt the law for the World Cup in France.

NEWS: Experienced Kiwi Brad Mooar will join Steve Hansen’s World XV coaching group for the blockbuster clash with the  Barbarians this summer.

NEWS: Only a year ago Carter Gordon was playing second fiddle to Matt Toomua, but this week Wallaby coach Eddie Jones was whispering nuggets of wisdom in his ear.

NEWS: Brad Thorn will leave the Reds at the end of the season, after a poor start to the Super Rugby campaign.

MATCH REPORT: The NWU Eagles claimed their second Varsity Cup title with a hard-fought 27-25 victory over UCT Ikey Tigers at the Fanie du Toit Sports Ground in Potchefstroom.

REACTION: Retired South Africa wing Bryan Habana said he is "not surprised" about Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber's imminent departure after this year's World Cup.

The usual after-effects associated with a long-haul flight from Japan were nowhere to be seen on the smiling face of Nadine Roos as she prepares with her South Africa Women’s Sevens teammates for this week's World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series tournament in Stellenbosch.

REACTION: The Cheslin Kolbe 'soap opera' in Toulon had another chapter added to it at the weekend.

SPOTLIGHT: Eddie Jones' second coming as Wallabies coach has officially begun after a three-day camp on the Gold Coast kicked off on Monday.

INTERVIEW: Wallabies hopeful Josh Flook says he is thrilled to be a part of the 33-man squad on the Gold Coast for the first camp under new coach Eddie Jones.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Bulls team seemed to be finally hitting their strides and the players could finally be rewarded for their hard graft. 

WATCH Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen and captain Marius Louw speak about the legend that is Jaco Kriel!

REACTION: It was a match that could have boosted the Stormers' chances of retaining the United Rugby Championship trophy. 

CONTRACT NEWS: The Cheetahs confirmed that six players extended their contracts, while an 'All-American' scrumhalf is also returning to Bloemfontein.

OPINION: The dust had hardly settled on the shock announcement of Jacques Nienaber's impending departure and the focus shifted to his possible successor.

WATCH as Munster coach Graham Rowntree talks about Springbok lock Rudolph Snyman's form.

MATCH REPORT: Leicester wing Chris Ashton scored a hat-trick as he became the first player to record 100 Premiership tries in a 62-19 hammering of Exeter on Sunday.

MATCH REPORT: Burly replacement Cebo Dlamini scored the match-winning try well into the referee's additional time as Griquas snatched a late winner against the Lions at Ellis Park on Sunday.

WATCH as Leinster coach Leo Cullen unpacks the reasons for their decision to sign Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber.

NEWS: The Waikato Chiefs believe All Blacks captain Sam Cane is rediscovering his best form after the evergreen flanker turned in another impressive performance for the Super Rugby Pacific leaders.

MATCH REPORT: The defending champion Pumas continued to set the pace in South Africa's premier domestic competition with a 64-6 rout of the hapless Griffons at the NorthWest Stadium, in Welkom, on Sunday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Curie Cup Round Six encounter between the Lions and Griquas at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Curie Cup Round Six encounter between the Griffons and Pumas at the NorthWest Stadium in Welkom.

JAPAN LEAGUE ONE WRAP: Former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans experienced defeat for the first time in four-and-a-half years as his Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights were upset 44-25 by Shizuoka Blue Revs in the penultimate qualifying round of Japan Rugby League One.

NEWS: New Australia coach Eddie Jones was dealt a blow Sunday when seven players picked in his maiden squad were ruled out after a spate of concussions and injuries during a bruising Super Rugby Pacific weekend.

REACTION: If the Lions weren’t good enough against Leinster in their United Rugby Championship match at Ellis Park on Saturday, the loss would not hurt so much, coach Ivan van Rooyen said.

REACTION: The Bulls need to be at their very best if they want to end Leinster’s unbeaten run says assistant coach Pine Pienaar.

WRAP: Harlequins scored seven tries as they sealed a bonus-point 48-20 victory over Newcastle Falcons at the Twickenham Stoop on Saturday afternoon.

MATCH REPORT: The Cheetahs left it late but they reclaimed the top spot on the Currie Cup standings - at least for the next 24 hours - when a hard-earned 26-17 win over Western Province in a scrappy Round Six encounter in Cape Town.

NEWS: Rieko Ioane became the second All Black to resign until the end of the next Rugby World Cup cycle in 2027.

URC REPORT: Debutant Sam Prendergast landed a last-minute penalty to snatch a 39-36 win over the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Connacht confirmed their place in the Untied Rugby Championship play-offs after a 38-19 win over Cardiff.

URC REPORT:  The Stormers' incredible home record came to an abrupt end with a 24-26 defeat to Munster on Saturday at the Cape Town Stadium. 

MATCH REPORT: Darcy Graham scored two tries as Edinburgh coasted a comfortable 45-21 United Rugby Championship victory over Ospreys.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round 17 encounter between the Stormers and Munster in Cape Town.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round 17 encounter between the Lions and Leinster at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Curie Cup Round Six encounter between Western Province and the Cheetahs in Cape Town.

URC REPORT: The Bulls kept their United Rugby Championship play-off hopes alive with a comfortable 78-12 bonus-point win over Zebre at Ellis Park on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round 17 encounter between the Bulls and Zebre at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

NEWS: Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber will finish his run as the national coach at the conclusion of the team’s World Cup campaign in France before taking up a position in Leinster’s coaching ranks in Ireland next year.

SATURDAY WRAP: The unbeaten Chiefs overcame a nine-point deficit at half-time to beat the Hurricanes 33-17 on Saturday and reclaim the top spot in Super Rugby Pacific.

REACTION: Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham has hailed his team's composure after they held off a surging Fijian Drua to stretch their Super Rugby Pacific record to seven wins from eight this season.

URC REPORT: Hooker Tom Stewart claimed a second consecutive hat-trick in the United Rugby Championship to help Ulster to a six-try 40-19 victory over the Dragons in Belfast.

URC REPORT: On a wet and windy night at Scotstoun, Glasgow Warriors did what they had to do in order to book a home draw in the URC play-off quarterfinals with one game of the regular season to spare, beating Scarlets 12-9.

PREMIERSHIP FRIDAY WRAP: Sale Sharks sealed their spot in the play-offs with an impressive 36-20 victory over hosts Bristol Bears on Friday.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White explains why they signed England lock Charlie Ewels at Loftus Versfeld on a short-term contract.

URC REPORT: The Sharks took a significant step in their quest to qualify for the United Rugby Championship quarterfinals with a thrilling 43-33 bonus-point win over Benetton at Kings Park on Friday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round 17 encounter between the Sharks and Benetton at Kings Park in Durban.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Curie Cup Round Six encounter between the Sharks and Bulls at Kings Park in Durban.

MATCH REPORT: The Bulls held out in the face of a determined second-half comeback to record a bonus-point 24-20 Currie Cup Round Six win over the Sharks at Kings Park, in Durban, on Friday.

SATURDAY PREVIEW: It is all about securing wins as the Bulls and Lions fight to remain in the race for the playoffs in the penultimate round of the United Rugby Championship pool matches.

FRIDAY WRAP: The Queensland Reds won for the first time overseas in four years to burst Moana Pasifika's bubble in Samoa with a comfortable 40-28 victory.

PREVIEW: Jake White does not have the luxury of his full United Rugby Championship squad at his disposal, but he is courageously pushing ahead with his two-pronged assault on domestic and international competitions.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Johan Goosen will get his first Bulls start in the United Rugby Championship since recovering from his shoulder repair seven weeks ago.

If Victor Matfield is to be believed, and as a former lock we have to take his word for it, Eben Etzebeth is the best lock the world has ever seen.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: There are three changes to the Stormers’ starting forward pack and one in the backline for their United Rugby Championship encounter with Munster at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions have named their team to face Leinster in Round 17 of the United Rugby Championship on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: United States President Joe Biden told an Irish audience he would prefer his children to play rugby rather than American football due to the risk of brain injuries.

PREVIEW: New Zealand wing George Bridge said his Montpellier side are "on the up" before hosting Castres on Saturday in a rerun of last season's French Top 14 Final.

VARSITY SHIELD REPORT: UWC have been crowned the 2023 Varsity Shield champions for a third time when they held off CPUT for a brave and valiant 24-18 victory in Bellville, Cape Town.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The United Rugby Championship returns with a vengeance this week and South African-born and raised Benetton playmaker Rhyno Smith is excited to go against his former team when the Italians march into Durban to face the Sharks.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok and Stormers lock Marvin Orie is not underestimating the threat posed by fellow South African RG Snyman.

FRIDAY PREVIEW: The Sharks are entering their United Rugby Championship Round 17 clash against Benetton in a do-or-die situation with a play-off spot and Champions Cup qualification on the line. 

WATCH as former Munster and Ireland star Alan Quinlan hands out some handy advice to the Lions and Bulls ahead of their respective URC face-offs with unbeaten Irish province Leinster.

SPOTLIGHT: The match officials appointments for the United Rugby Championship Round 17 fixtures have been confirmed.

STATS ATTACK: Sixteen rounds of the United Rugby Championship are gone, two to go, and a huge amount in the melting pot.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Gloucester head coach George Skivington has suggested that Ruan Ackermann could still potentially be a World Cup wildcard for England despite talks of a long injury lay-off.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell has revealed his team for a pivotal United Rugby Championship Round 17 clash against Benetton on Friday.

PREVIEW: As the Japan Rugby League One kicks into overdrive and teams jostle for that pivotal semi-final spot, a win for Springbok Faf de Klerk’s Eagles will put Yokohama in pole position for a place in the final four, requiring just one log point from their final round tie with Kobelco Kobe Steelers.

NEWS: Rugby Australia and the Brumbies announced hooker Billy Pollard has committed his future to Australian Rugby until the end of 2025.

NEWS: Japan wants to bring back the World Cup to Asia for a second time as they aim to host it again as early as 2035, the country's rugby union chief said.

NEWS: Michael Hooper is excited about the fact that he is flirting with his career, not knowing what his next move is going to be.

NEWS: Saracens and England No.8 Billy Vunipola will miss the rest of the season after sustaining a knee injury in his club's Champions Cup defeat at La Rochelle.

SPOTLIGHT: Lions captain Marius Louw admitted that his team will be relying on the thin air in Johannesburg to do its job when they face Leinster in a United Rugby Championship Round 17 clash.

SPOTLIGHT: England wing Chris Ashton is to retire at the end of the season after an 18-year career in Rugby Union and Rugby League, Premiership club Leicester announced on Wednesday.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok lock Jason Jenkins knows that altitude will be a factor as he travels to South Africa with Leinster this week.

WATCH as Springbok legend Schalk Willem Petrus Burger chats to @king365ed about the reasons behind the cash-flush Sharks' inability to get full value about their star-studded squad.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: World Rugby is considering adopting orange cards for the World Cup, according to Joel Jutge, the governing body’s head of match officials.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Incoming All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson is reportedly looking to raid some Super Rugby franchises to enhance his coaching roster.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Bulls have reportedly bolstered their second-row stocks with an England international.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: An inexperienced Leinster squad will depart Dublin on Tuesday for their final two games in the regular season of the United Rugby Championship.

NEWS: Ireland stars Josh van der Flier and James Ryan have signed IRFU contract extensions.

LISTEN as Leinster coach Leo Cullen opens up about his upcoming URC trip to South Africa and two matches at iconic stadiums - Ellis Park and Loftus Versfeld.

SPOTLIGHT: Scrumhalf Embrose Papier says it is time the Bulls' players take more responsibility as they look to finish the season on a high note.

WATCH as Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen unpacks the main lessons from his team's debut season in Europe and what awaits his team in the next fortnight.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Angus Blyth has had his suspension reduced from six to three weeks after the Queensland lock was sent off for a late, high hit on Brumbies wing Corey Toole.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: A 31-man Munster travelling squad is heading to South Africa ahead of the two final United Rugby Championship rounds of the regular season.

The North West University Eagles will host the University of Cape Town Tigers in the Final of the 2023 Varsity Cup.

SPOTLIGHT: Exeter's Director of Rugby Rob Baxter has weighed in on the travelling debate after his team smashed the Stormers in their Champions Cup quarterfinal on Saturday.

The final spot for the Rugby World Cup in France in 2023 has been occupied by Portugal and only nine months lay ahead before the big event kicks off.

NEWS: Springbok Jasper Wiese says he felt mad and disappointed when both Leicester coaches, Steve Borthwick and Kevin Sinfield, announced their departure to the RFU and the England job at the end of last year.

ANALYSIS: Exeter Chiefs dominated the pride of South Africa when they beat the Stormers (42-17) with a commanding performance in their Champions Cup quarterfinal at Sandy Park at the weekend.

NEWS: The final verdict is in: Ireland flyhalf Johnny Sexton will not take part in Leinster’s remaining fixtures this season after limping off with a groin injury sustained during the Six Nations.

REACTION: New Zealand scrumhalf Tawera Kerr-Barlow said holders La Rochelle need to improve after he scored twice to overcome Saracens 24-10 on Sunday to reach the Champions Cup last four.

REACTION: The possibility of criminal charges has been placed on the table in the wake of a revelation that a Lions coach has accused a colleague of 'spying' on him.

MATCH REPORT: The Cheetahs put their Currie Cup campaign back on track with a commanding 52-15 win over a 14-man Lions team at Ellis Park on Sunday.

STATISTICAL SPOTLIGHT: The scoreline might suggest Saturday's quarterfinal between Toulouse and the Sharks was one-sided, but that was far from the case as the visitors showed some fight in France.

SPOTLIGHT: Stormers head coach John Dobson said he is disappointed with his role in Saturday's Champions Cup quarterfinal defeat to Exeter Chiefs.

REACTION: Wallabies coach Eddie Jone, says he didn’t look to pick “the commentators choice” when he announced his first national squad ahead of their training camp.

REACTION: Dai Flanagan, coach of Welsh side Dragons, says his side must change their habits and shake off the bad ones to set different standards.

ROUND 14 WRAP: The race to the semifinals in the second edition of Japan Rugby League One looks set to go down to the wire after the teams ranked one to five all won on Matchday 14.

NEWS; The Springbok Sevens conceded valuable ground to their opponents in the race to automatic qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games with their joint-12th placed-finish at the Singapore Sevens on Sunday, but more disappointing was the fact that they could not sustain the good effort from Hong Kong last weekend.

WATCH as Springbok and current Glasgow Warriors coach Franco Smith unpacks the South African teams' first season in Europe's premier competitions.

NEWS: Queensland Reds captain Liam Wright is still optimistic about their season, opting to stay positive despite his coach Brad Thorn’s despondence after their loss to the Brumbies on Friday.

SPOTLIGHT: Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell says his team's disallowed try midway in the second half against Toulouse was the big "turning point in the game".

NEWS: Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham has put his faith in Noah Lolesio and believes he still has a future with the Wallabies after the number ten's "superb" response to his Test squad snubbing.

NEWS: After five of their key forwards hobbled off injured in their bruising loss to the Blues, the Rebels got some good news that at least two of them will be ready to face fourth-placed Crusaders, who are the reigning Super Rugby Pacific champions.

SEVENS WRAP: New Zealand stamped their class as the top nation after winning the Singapore Sevens title fending off the resilient Argentinians 19-17 to cap off a weekend of intense rugby action at the National Stadium on Sunday.

MATCH REPORT: Springbok Franco Smith snuffed out the last hope South Africa had of its continued participation in Europe.

MATCH REPORT: Saracens couldn't match a masterful Stade Rochelais performance in the Champions Cup quarterfinals as they went down 10-24 to the defending champions at the Stade Marcel Deflandre on Sunday.

MATCH REPORT: Western Province scored seven tries for a full house of five log points on their way to a 47-28 win against Griffons in their Currie Cup encounter in Cape Town on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Cardiff's hopes of a third Challenge Cup title ended at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo with a 23-27 quarterfinal loss to Benetton on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Stormers head coach John Dobson admitted that his team missed Deon Fourie's influence in their Champions Cup quarterfinal against Exeter Chiefs on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Currie Cup Round Five encounter between the Lions and Cheetahs at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

MATCH REPORT: Toulon powered into the Challenge Cup semifinals with an emphatic 48-23 win over reigning champions Lyon at the Stade Félix Mayol on Saturday.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: The Stormers' first Champions Cup campaign has ended after they fell to a 17-42 defeat to Exeter Chiefs in their quarterfinal at Sandy Park on Saturday.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: The Sharks have been knocked out of the Champions Cup after they suffered a 20-54 defeat to Stade Toulousain in their Champions Cup quarterfinal at Stade Ernest Wallon in Toulouse.

SATURDAY WRAP: Melbourne's Super Rugby Pacific clash with the Blues has ended in misery with a crushing 54-17 defeat as well as losing three key players to injury.

MATCH REPORT: A 77th-minute Sam Costelow conversion proved the difference as Scarlets reached the Challenge Cup semifinals for the first time with a dramatic 32-30 win over ASM Clermont Auvergne at the Parc y Scarlets on Friday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Currie Cup Round Five encounter between Western Province and the Griffons in Cape Town.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Leinster emphatically underlined their Champions Cup credentials with an impressive 55-24 thrashing of Leicester Tigers in the quarterfinals in Dublin on Friday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the European Challenge Cup quarterfinal encounter between Glasgow Warriors and the Lions at Scotstoun.

WATCH as Bulls forwards coach Russell Winter unpacks his team's demolition of Griquas, their first Currie Cup win of the season.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the European Cup quarterfinal encounter between Exeter Chiefs and the Stormers at Sandy Park.

MATCH REPORT: The Sharks' impressive defensive effort in the second half made sure they record a 19-12 win over the Pumas at Kings Park on Friday.

MATCH REPORT: The Bulls finally recorded their first Currie Cup win of the season.

SATURDAY PREVIEW: It will be a battle of the Springboks when Glasgow Warriors host the Lions at Scotstoun Stadium on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the European Cup quarterfinal encounter between Stade Toulousain and the Sharks at Stade Ernest Wallon, in Toulouse.

UPDATE: The date for a Celebration of Life event for the late Ian McIntosh has been revealed.

SEVENS WRAP: Defending champions Fiji suffered a surprising setback against near-neighbours Samoa at the Singapore Rugby Sevens on Saturday, while series leaders New Zealand asserted their class with wins against Australia and South Africa in the pools.

REACTION: Seasoned Stormers utility forward Deon Fourie has given his side of the story on the altercation between himself and controversial England prop Joe Marler.

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY PREVIEW: The South African rugby public will be eager to see if their country will be represented in the Champions Cups semifinals this season.

FRIDAY WRAP: Brad Thorn fears he has taken the Reds as far as he can after the floodgates opened in the first loss to the Brumbies in Brisbane since 2015.

SPOTLIGHT: After surviving a cancer scare, Melbourne hooker Jordan Uelese knows there are far worse things than being called big and ugly.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell has been forced to make some changes to his matchday squad for Saturday's Champions Cup quarterfinal against Toulouse in France.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Currie Cup Round Five encounter between the Sharks and Pumas at Kings Park in Durban.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has made two forced changes to his team for their European Challenge Cup quarterfinal encounter with an in-form Glasgow Warriors on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Legendary former referee Nigel Owens has reportedly turned down an offer to join the Springboks' coaching team ahead of this year's World Cup in France.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth is set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Currie Cup Round Five encounter between the Bulls and Griquas at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

WATCH as Reds lock Angus Blyth commits an act of foul play that is likely to earn him a very long ban.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers head coach John Dobson has revealed his team for their Champions Cup quarterfinal at Sandy Park on Saturday.

NEWS: SA Rugby has established a task team to consider World Rugby's recommendations on lowering tackle height in schools and club rugby.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White makes a bold statement, following his reinstatement as Currie Cup coach.

INTERVIEW: South African sides the Stormers and the Sharks will compete in the Champions Cup quarterfinals on Saturday, in a first for the country.

PREVIEW: The Easter Weekend will serve up a sweet dose of Currie Cup action as the fifth round of matches are spread over three days, from Friday to Sunday.

CHALLENGE CUP QUARTERFINAL: Having beaten two French teams in their last two Challenge Cup ties, Scarlets will be bidding for the hat-trick when they host three-time winners Clermont Auvergne at Parc y Scarlets on Friday.

WATCH as Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie delivers an unhealthy dosage of bad news on the knee injury of veteran Springbok utility Francois Philippus Lodewyk Steyn.

NEWS: European Professional Club Rugby announced the venues which are in line to host the Champions Cup semifinal matches later this month.

WATCH as England scrumhalf Ben Youngs talks about the South African influence at Leicester Tigers ahead of their European Cup quarterfinal trip to Leinster.

SPOTLIGHT: Stade Toulousain and the Sharks will go head-to-head in a European Cup quarterfinal at Stade Ernest-Wallon in the Sept Deniers district of Toulouse, in southwestern France.

PREVIEW: Japan Rugby League One boasts a batch of quality international flyhalves to rival any league in the world, and three of them will look to helm their sides towards the semifinals as competition resumes after last weekend’s bye.

WORLD SERIES ROUND NINE: Fresh off a thrilling weekend in Hong Kong, the world's 16 best teams have arrived in Singapore for the next stop on the global calendar.

SPOTLIGHT: Heads down and work is the theme inside the Stormers camp as they prepare for their first Champions Cup quarterfinal fixture against Exeter Chiefs.

REACTION: The tributes continued to pour in in the wake of the passing of the legendary ex-Sharks and Springbok coach Ian McIntosh.

SPOTLIGHT: Racism has been experienced by players at all levels of elite rugby in England, according to a survey published by the Rugby Football Union.

NEWS: His early days as a Blitzbok were a breeze for Shaun Williams.

Leicester Tigers will be looking to be the first club to inflict defeat on Leinster this season when they meet in Dublin on Friday.

STAT ATTACK: Springbok No.8 Jasper Wiese was one of three Premiership players that stood out in the Champions Cup Round of 16 clashes.

INJURY UPDATE: The Sharks will be without one of their Boks during key stage in the season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS: James O'Connor has been benched and Suliasi Vunivalu left out altogether from the Reds side to face the Brumbies in Super Rugby Pacific.

NEWS: The Bulls have announced adjustments to its Currie Cup coaching structures for the remainder of the season.

#RIP MASTER: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ian McIntosh - a great man of rugby who gave back so much and worked tirelessly to promote the game of rugby."

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: The Lions backrow Emmanuel Tshituka has been suspended for three weeks.

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: La Rochelle prop Georges-Henri Colombe has been banned for four weeks ban for dangerous play at a ruck during last weekend's Champions Cup last 16 win, tournament organisers European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) announced on Wednesday.

WATCH as former Springbok assistant coach Swys de Bruin points out the disgusting tactic used by England and Harlequins prop Joe Marler.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Just a month ago the Lions found themselves facing one of the biggest internal face-offs.

NEWS: Former Wales international Dafydd James has revealed he has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia as a legal case of former sportsmen and women claiming they suffered brain injuries during their careers has grown to 380.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions have named their 25-man squad to travel to Scotland for their EPCR Challenge Cup quarterfinal encounter against Glasgow Warriors.

NEWS: All Blacks prop Ethan de Groot has re-signed with New Zealand Rugby until the end of 2026.

VARSITY CUP WRAP: The visiting UFS Shimlas put on a masterclass of attacking rugby as they thrashed the Maties 44-12 and booked a home semifinal.

SPOTLIGHT: Rassie Erasmus made no secret of his desire to take on another coaching challenge one day.

REACTION: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake said his team's losing streak is "irrelevant" as they pick up the pieces after their Champions Cup exit.

REACTION: Head coach Hawies Fourie hopes that the Cheetahs’ recent run in the European Challenge Cup will open more ‘doors’ to international competition.

SPOTLIGHT: Exeter Chiefs Director of Rugby Rob Baxter believes his team will be underdogs against the Stormers in their Champions Cup quarterfinal on Saturday.

TRANSFER TALK: Springbok loose forward Pieter-Steph du Toit’s move to French rugby club Toulon has reportedly fallen through due to his high price tag.

NEWS: EPCR have announced the referees for the quarterfinals of the Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup who have been appointed by a committee chaired by the organiser’s Head of Match Officials, Tony Spreadbury.

SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks took down some important notes when the Bulls faced Toulouse over the weekend.

INJURY UPDATE: Ireland star Garry Ringrose will be available for Leinster's Champions Cup quarterfinal match against Leicester Tigers on Friday.

REVIEW: There were of course disappointed teams who failed to make the cut, but the line-ups for the quarterfinal round of both the Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup provide a good advertisement for the strength of the United Rugby Championship.

TRANSFER NEWS: Exeter Chiefs have been busy in the transfer market, announcing the signings of two new players following the acquisition of  Wales centre Joe Hawkins.

Following a highly-competitive Round of 16 weekend, EPCR announced the dates, venues and kick-off times of the Heineken Champions Cup quarterfinal matches.

SPOTLIGHT: Stormers head coach John Dobson praised his team for sticking to the plan in their Champions Cup Round of 16 clash against the Harlequins in Cape Town on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks could be forced to make some big changes for their Champions Cup quarterfinal next weekend.

MATCH REPORT: Toulouse march into the Champions Cup quarterfinals with a commanding 33-9 win over Bulls on Sunday.

MATCH REPORT: Hooker Jack Yeandle crossed in the final play of extra time to send Exeter Chiefs into the Champions Cup quarterfinals on tries scored as they drew 33-33 with 14-man Montpellier Hérault at Sandy Park on Sunday.

REACTION: When you play the Challenge Cup quarterfinals you field your strongest team.

REACTION: Glasgow head coach Franco Smith believes his team can be a lot more clinical despite their 73-33 win over the Dragons in their Challenge Cup Round of 16 clash.

SPOTLIGHT: Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones has taken a brutal swipe at veteran lock Rory Arnold.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Teenage sensation Max Jorgensen and Melbourne playmaker Carter Gordon are among six uncapped players in Eddie Jones's first Wallabies squad ahead of this year's Rugby World Cup.

DAY THREE WRAP: Leroy Carter beat the dead-ball line and two defenders in a high-speed chase as New Zealand raced to a big early lead in the first half before Fiji - looking for consecutive win number 42 in Hong Kong - hit back from 90 metres out.

Following the conclusion of the EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16, the fixtures for the quarterfinals on the weekend of April 7/8 are now confirmed.

CURRIE CUP REPORT: Griquas produced a second-half fightback to beat Western Province 32-13 in their Currie Cup Round Four clash at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

CHALLENGE CUP WRAP: Connacht exited the Challenge Cup at the Round of 16 stage following a 41-19 defeat at the hands of Benetton at the Stadio Comunale di Mongio on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Saracens twice came from behind to beat Ospreys 35-20 on Sunday, securing their place in the Champions Cup quarterfinals.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Champions Cup Round of 16 encounter between Stade Toulousain and the Bulls in Toulouse.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: The Sharks advanced to the quarterfinals of the Champions Cup after they thumped Munster 50-35 in their Round of 16 clash at Kings Park on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: The Lions recorded their second successive Currie Cup win, beating the Sharks 34-22 at Ellis Park on Saturday.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: The Stormers booked their spot in the Champions Cup quarterfinals with a 32-28 win over Premiership side Harlequins at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT:  A resilient Lions team survived an early red card to book a spot in the Challenge Cup quarterfinals. 

DAY TWO WRAP: The BlitzBoks will face Fiji in their Cup quarterfinal at the Hong Kong Sevens on Sunday.

SATURDAY WRAP: Wing Emoni Narawa has scored two first-half tries as the Chiefs extended their winning start to the Super Rugby Pacific season to six matches with a 20-13 win over the Blues.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: Western Force were left to rue a poor first half after falling just short against the Hurricanes, with the Super Rugby Pacific heavyweights taking a 45-42 win in Palmerston North on Sunday.

MATCH REPORT: Springboks Jasper Wiese and Handre Pollard scored all their team's points as Leicester Tigers booked their place in the Champions Cup quarterfinals.

CURRIE CUP REPORT: Gloucester were minutes away from the Champions Cup quarterfinals before Stade Rochelais wing Teddy Thomas’ 78th-minute try broke English hearts in a 26-29 defeat at the Stade Marcel Deflandre on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: The defending-champion Pumas routed the Cheetahs 61-21, to replace them at the top of the Currie Cup standings.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Leinster powered into the Champions Cup quarter-inals after seeing off a dogged Ulster side 30-15 at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

WATCH as Stormers star Damian Willemse produced an "outrageous" finish in his team's Champions Cup Round of 16 victory over Harlequins at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

PREVIEW: If South African sides were unsure of the challenge of playing in Europe, they will get a full-on reality check this weekend when three massive games involving South African franchises take place in the Champions Cup.

WELCOME to the readers' forum for the challenge Cup Round of 16 encounter between Toulon and the Cheetahs.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Champions Cup Round of 16 encounter between the Stormers and Harlequins in Cape Town.

FRIDAY WRAP: Bristol Bears exited the Challenge Cup at the Round of 16 stage as they fell to a 26-33 reverse at the hands of ASM Clermont Auvergne at Ashton Gate.

INTERVIEW: The Cheetahs will feature in their first big European play-off match when they face Toulon in the Round of 16 on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Champions Cup Round of 16 encounter between the Sharks and Munster at Kings Park in Durban.

DAY ONE WRAP: Results went largely as expected on a rainy day in Hong Kong with victories for New Zealand, Australia (defending Sevens World Series champions), Fiji, Argentina and France among others.

SPOTLIGHT: Munster head coach Graham Rowntree has compared the Sharks to Europe's most successful club ahead of their Champions Cup Round of 16 clash in Durban on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY WRAP: The depleted Crusaders have made it 12 straight wins over the Queensland Reds, who are again counting the costs of unforced errors in a second-straight Super Rugby Pacific loss.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and the country’s four regions have agreed to a new financial package aimed at enabling sustainability and growth over the next six years.

SPOTLIGHT: For a player who suffered multiple concussions that forced his premature retirement from rugby at the age of 28, former Springbok playmaker Pat Lambie is an important voice in the debate around making the game safer.

MATCH REPORT: The Griffons recorded their first win since returning to the Currie Cup competition, edging a Bulls 32-28 in Welkom on Friday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Currie Cup Round Four encounter between the Cheetahs and Pumas in Bloemfontein.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen opted for continuity as he made one change for the historic Challenge Cup Round of 16 match against Racing 92.

SATURDAY PREVIEW: The Cheetahs and Lions face the toughest assignments of their debut Challenge Cup campaign.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers head coach John Dobson has revealed his team to face the Harlequins in a Champions Cup last 16 clash on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Currie Cup Round Four encounter between the Griffons anbd Bulls in Welkom.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls have made just one change to their matchday 23 that will take on Stade Toulouse in the Round of 16 of the 2022/23 Champions Cup.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Cheetahs travelled to France this week, where they will face French giants RC Toulon on Saturday at Stade Felix Mayol.

NEWS: The Springboks will be losing one of their coaches after this year's World Cup in France.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell has made two changes to his forward pack for Saturday's Champions Cup Round of 16 clash against Munster at Kings Park on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White believes pressure will be the key to limiting Antoine Dupont's influence in their Champions Cup Round of 16 clash.

PREVIEW: The Cheetahs' status as the Currie Cup pace-setters will be put to the test when they host the defending champion Pumas in Bloemfontein on Friday.

FRIDAY PREVIEW: Leicester Tigers will be hoping for a return to winning ways in front of their home fans when they host Edinburgh in the Champions Cup Round of 16 on Friday.

FRIDAY PREVIEW: Two former Challenge Cup winners Bristol Bears and Clermont Auvergne meet for the first time in the competition in the Round of 16 at Ashton Gate on Friday.

ROUND EIGHT: Time is running out for teams hoping to catch the pace-setting New Zealand team, as the Hong Kong leg of the Sevens World Series gets underway on Friday.

WATCH as talismanic Stormers coach John Dobson explains how he will deal with the absence of cup-tied lock Ruben van Heerden in their Round of 16 European Cup encounter with Harlequins.

WATCH as Lions Currie Cup captain Jaco Visagie chats to @king365ed and unpacks the lack of spectators at the iconic Ellis Park Stadium.

SPOTLIGHT: The Bulls' Champions Cup last 16 trip to Toulouse on Sunday will have additional significance for the French club's Springboks loose-forward Rynhardt Elstadt.

NEWS: Super Rugby Pacific has become more fluid and high-scoring this season, with time spent on stoppages drastically reduced by a slew of rule changes, data from the opening four rounds showed Thursday.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: A group of 41 players will attend this year’s SA Rugby Academy programme, which will also kick-start the Junior Springboks’ preparations for the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in South Africa later this year.

NEWS: European Professional Club Rugby [EPCR] have announced the key 2023/24 dates for its tournaments.

SPOTLIGHT: Eddie Jones has added another layer of spice to the Super Rugby Pacific clash in Canberra, with the Test coach declaring Wallabies jerseys are on the line.

INJURY UPDATE: Saracens Director of Rugby Mark McCall said they are increasingly confident flyhalf Owen Farrell will be fit for this weekend's Champions Cup last 16 tie with the Ospreys.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok legend Bismarck du Plessis doesn’t seem too happy about some of the antics going on in the modern game at the moment.

NEWS: France captain Antoine Dupont has been named the Six Nations player of the championship for a third time.

SPOTLIGHT: Lions backline coach Ricardo Loubscher believes the unpredictability that comes with French rugby makes his team's preparations for their Challenge Cup Round of 16 clash a tad hard.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls have revealed their team for their Currie Cup Round Four clash against the Griffons in Welkom.

NEWS: New Zealand wing Sevu Reece will miss the Rugby World Cup after it was revealed Wednesday that a serious knee injury will sideline him for the rest of the year.

SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks are ready to right the wrongs in the Champions Cup after their poor performance against Scarlets in Llanelli in the United Rugby Championship last weekend.

INTERVIEW: The city of Cape Town could host the grand final of Europe's two most prized events - the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup - in the not-too-distant future.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Two World Cup-winning Springboks will face off at Durban's Kings Park in a European Cup Round of 16 match.

UPDATE: South African wing Cheslin Kolbe suffered only a 'sprained' ankle during Toulon's win over Lyon in a Top 14 encounter at the weekend.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse has kept changes to the minimum for his team's top-of-the-table Currie Cup Round Four encounter with the Cheetahs.