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MATCH REPORT: Benetton continued their excellent start to the United Rugby Championship season by beating Italian rivals Zebre 36-14 at Stadio Monigo.

SPOTLIGHT: Stormers head coach John Dobson has shed some light on the discussions with SA Rugby over the upcoming 'compulsory rest period' for the top Springboks.

SPOTLIGHT: Stormers head coach John Dobson has described centre Dan du Plessis as one of the most important players in his team

OPINION: The world of rugby witnessed some historic rugby events in 2023. 

MATCH REPORT: Exeter powered to the top of the English Premiership with a 24-14 victory over west country rivals Bristol at Ashton Gate on Friday.

SATURDAY PREVIEW: Sharks head coach John Plumtree says the Stormers have provided his team with something to aspire to as the two teams go head-to-head in a United Rugby Championship derby in Cape Town.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers head coach John Dobson has tweaked his matchday squad for Saturday's United Rugby Championship Round Nine clash against the Sharks.

OPINION:  It comes as no surprise that the World Cup winners South Africa headline the prestigious @rugby365com Team of the Year selections.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach John Plumtree has revealed his matchday squad for Saturday's United Rugby Championship Round Nine clash against the Stormers in Cape Town.

NEWS: England will be without Manu Tuilagi for the start of the Six Nations after the powerful centre suffered a groin injury in Sale's Premiership victory over Saracens last week.

NEWS: Duhan van der Merwe has described his latest decision on his playing future as a "no-brainer".

SPOTLIGHT: Sharks head coach John Plumtree says fatigue has become a big problem in his squad as they brace themselves for another big South African derby against the Stormers.

SPOTLIGHT: World Cup-winning Springbok Jasper Wiese continues to raise the bar in England's Premiership.

SPOTLIGHT: The son of a Springbok great, Andre-Hugo Venter is writing his own story in a breakthrough year for the Stormers.

OPINION: Wales coach Warren Gatland is never short of a view on the game, even though he often comes across as salty when speaking his mind.

SPOTLIGHT: After 13 years in the Western Province and Stormers structures, hooker Scarra Ntubeni admitted that he has questioned his career decisions.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White catches everyone by surprise with his reaction to the calls by the match officials in their 20-26 loss to the Stormers at the weekend.

SPOTLIGHT: Stormers hooker Scarra Ntubeni admitted that it will be a bit "weird" when he comes up against Eben Etzebeth in a United Rugby Championship clash in Cape Town on Saturday.

WATCH as Stormers captain Deon Fourie explains how the North-South derby has evolved in recent years, with much of the 'malice' gone from the game.

NEWS: The match official appointments of the United Rugby Championship Round nine derbies have been confirmed.

NEWS: Top 14 clubs Toulon and Toulouse have both been sanctioned over breaching the Top 14’s salary cap with Cheslin Kolbe’s transfer in 2021.

INJURY SPOTLIGHT: One of Wales' key players is set to be on the sidelines for the next few months.

MATCH REPORT: Harry Byrne kicked Leinster to a 9-3 Christmas derby win over Munster at a wet and windy Thomond Park as they returned to the top of the United Rugby Championship.

MATCH REPORT: The Ospreys completed the double over west Wales rivals Scarlets as they won their first league game at Parc Y Scarlets since 2015 with a 25-11 triumph.

MATCH REPORT: Cardiff ran in nine tries as they stormed to an emphatic 55-21 Boxing Day United Rugby Championship victory over local rivals Dragons at Arms Park.

NEWS: A record-breaking crowd of over 30,000 will roar on the decisive 1872 Cup match between Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors at Murrayfield on Saturday.

REACTION: With 2023 running to its obligatory conclusion, we revisit one of the most captivating contests of the year.

NEWS: The Cheetahs confirmed media reports that stalwart Robert Ebersohn has hung up his boots.

WATCH as Stormers coach John Dobson gives a status update ahead of the Round Nine URC face-off with the Springbok-laden Sharks.

SPOTLIGHT: David Nucifora and Peter Horne taking on key RA roles after helping Ireland to world No.1 has raised the prospect of Joe Schmidt coaching the Wallabies.

BOXING DAY PREDICTIONS: RG Snyman's decision to swap his red Munster jersey for the blue one of arch-rivals Leinster has added a lot of spice to Tuesday's big Irish derby.

WRAP: All Black loose forward Shannon Frizell was the toast of Fuchu after scoring four tries, leading Brave Lupus to a successful Christmas Eve heist at the home of Kobe Steelers.

TRANSFER NEWS: Gloucester confirmed the immediate signing of flyhalf Charlie Atkinson, who arrives from Leicester Tigers on a permanent deal.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White explains to @king365ed what aspects of the game his team most needs to work on as they head into their Christmas break.

SPOTLIGHT: New All Blacks coach Scott Robertson's move to have Wayne Smith on board as a performance director has been hailed a masterstroke.

WATCH as @king365ed brings you the post-match reaction of Stormers and Bulls camps after their intense and bruising URC face-off in Cape Town.

SPOTLOGHT: Just a week after claiming their first European Challenge Cup win, Black Lion continue to set the standard in the Super Cup as they are crowned 2023 champions. 

TOP 14 SATURDAY WRAP: Siya Kolisi's Racing 92 hammered promoted Oyonnax 66-10 on Saturday to move three points clear at the summit of the French Top 14.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: Exeter maintained their superb home form as they defeated Leicester 29-10 in front of a record crowd at Sandy Park.

MATCH REPORT: The Stormers continued their winning streak over the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship with a 26-20 victory in a Round Eight match in Cape Town on Saturday.

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

MATCH REPORT: Benetton maintained their stranglehold on the Italian derby by dispatching Zebre Parma 31-24 in the United Rugby Championship.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White explains to @king365ed the role of a former Stormers stalwart in the success of the Pretoria-based franchise this season.

FRIDAY WRAP: Premiership leaders Sale Sharks showed their title credentials as they edged out fellow high-fliers Saracens 22-20 in a Christmas thriller.

MATCH REPORT: Late tries from Johnny Matthews and Ally Miller saw injury-hit Glasgow Warriors beat Edinburgh 22-10 to seize the initiative in the 1872 Cup and move top of the United Rugby Championship table.

MATCH REPORT: John Cooney's kicking was the difference as Ulster edged out Connacht 20-19 in the United Rugby Championship.

WATCH as Stormers coach John Dobson reveals exactly how many players are currently on the injury list and for how long.

PREVIEW: @king365ed looks at the #BIG North-South derby - when the Stormers host the Bulls at the Cape Town stadium.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Elrigh Louw leads a determined Bulls side who travel to the Cape for the first instalment of the North-South derby in the current 2023-24 season.

NEWS: Retired Wales great Alun Wyn Jones has revealed he was diagnosed with a heart condition towards the end of his career and has called for better screening for players.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Jean-Luc du Plessis will play his 50th game for the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship North-South clash against the Bulls at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

JAPAN LEAGUE ONE, ROUND THREE PREVIEW: This weekend sees the unbeaten, Sagamihara Dynaboars visit Aichi to tackle a star-laden Toyota Verblitz.

WATCH as Cheetahs forwards coach Izak van der Westhuizen talks about the stop-start nature of their European campaign.

NEWS: Rugby Australia announced that the widely respected Peter Horne will head its revised high-performance department, in the role of Director of High-Performance.

SPOTLIGHT: If the game was not already hyped to the hilt, the battle at No.10 alone will be worth the value of an entry ticket.

FRIDAY PREVIEW: It's all about local pride and bragging rights as derbies dominate the United Rugby Championship Round Eight matches on Friday.

TEAM UPDATE: Evan Roos versus Cameron Hanekom was billed as one of the 'head acts' of the #BIG North-South derby.

STAT ATTACK: The Springboks' work at the breakdown has made sure they dominate the 2023 stats season.  

REVELATION: @king365ed looks into the latest developments in the protracted Stormers equity saga and finds another legal battle looming.

TRANSFER NEWS: Experienced France centre Gael Fickou has extended his Racing 92 contract to 2027, the Parisian club announced.

NEWS: Head coach Scott Robertson completed his 2024 All Blacks management group, adding his former Crusaders assistant Tamati Ellison as contact skills coach.

NEWS: Western Province Professional Rugby and Griquas/Griqualand-West Rugby Union have signed a strategic player development agreement that harnesses the combined capabilities of WP Rugby and GWR to cultivate talent and establish progression pathways for players.

INJURY NEWS: Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has issued a positive injury update ahead of Tuesday’s United Rugby Championship match against Munster in Thomond Park.

STAT ATTACK: Double World Cup winner Albertus 'Kwagga' Smith is officially the turnover king of 2023. 

WATCH as Stormers assistant coach Dawie Snyman previews the #BIG North-South derby face-off against the Bulls.

LISTEN as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White explains to @king365ed why the #BIG North-South derby is vital for the South African game.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT:  The recruitment of two double World Cup-winning Springboks has been labelled as super signings by the United Rugby Championship.

SPOTLIGHT: It seems that RG Snyman's stay in Dublin will not be a very long one.

TRANSFER NEWS: Legendary Wallabies playmaker Matt Giteau revealed he will come out of retirement to join San Diego Legion for the 2024 Major League Rugby season.

SPOTLIGHT: All Black legend Sonny Bill Williams has blamed Eddie Jones and former Rugby Australia Chairman Hamish McLennan for Mark Nawaqanitawase's defection to Rugby League.

STAT ATTACK: Travelling to and from South Africa remains a major challenge for United Rugby Championship teams.

WATCH as Stormers assistant coach Dawie Snyman reveals details of why veteran prop Frans Malherbe has not played since the World Cup.

NEWS: Two-time World Cup winner RG Snyman has revealed his new team.

NEWS: The match officials appointments for the United Rugby Championship Round Eight Christmas derby fixtures have been confirmed.

WATCH this teaser ahead of the launch of the #BIG Dricus du Plessis interview!

SPOTLIGHT: The United Rugby Championship resumes this week - after two weeks of Champions Cup and Challenge Cup action - with the focus on the rising attendance figures.

SPOTLIGHT: Stormers head coach John Dobson said he felt like he had won another championship after he received news that the Red Disa investment was approved.

SPOTLIGHT: Jacques Nienaber has been mesmerising the Leinster squad with his coaching style since he arrived in Dublin in November.

REACTION: Michael Cheika's decision to quit his post with the Pumas has raised the inevitable question as to whether or not he will return as Wallaby coach.

SPOTLIGHT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has identified his team's mental growth as the biggest positive of 2023.

NEWS: Argentina unveiled their new head coach on Monday.

WATCH as @king365ed chats to coach John Plumtree and centre Francois Venter about the Sharks' inability to win away from home.

NEWS: Caelan Doris has committed his long-term future with Leinster by signing a new three-year contract extension until 2027.

SPOTLIGHT: France’s celebrated scrumhalf Antoine Dupont is gearing up for a remarkable year in 2024, driven by his World Cup disappointment and a hunger for new victories.

WATCH as EPCR CEO Jacques Raynaud and Chairman Dominic McKay chat to @king365ed about the shockingly poor spectator numbers at the 62,000-seater Ellis Park stadium.

JAPAN LEAGUE ONE, ROUND TWO WRAP: The Eagles recover their poise after the disastrous opening round mauling by the Wild Knights, holding off Verblitz 24-22 in a thrilling contest in Kanagawa.

SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers will have to tweak their back three for upcoming derbies against the Bulls and the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship.

SUNDAY WRAP: Outside centre Pierre-Louis Barassi scored two of Stade Toulousain's seven tries as they showed impressive form at Harlequins in their 47-19 win.

REACTION: It may sound like a fishy story, but the Bulls truly let a big one get away.

REPORT: The French hosts capitalised on Ospreys’ No.8 Morgan Morse receiving an early yellow card - recording a commanding 38-5 win.

WATCH as EPCR Chairman Dominic McKay and CEO Jacques Raynaud explain where Cape Town sit in the race to host the European Cup and Challenge Cup Finals.

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

MATCH REPORT: The Cheetahs on Sunday sent another powerful message to the South African Rugby Union about getting more regular international competition.

REACTION: Stormers head coach John Dobson admitted the famous Champions Cup win over Stade Rochelais is a step in the right direction.

MATCH REPORT: A late brace from replacement Jaco Coetzee secured a 39-32 win for Bath over Cardiff in a ten-try thriller at the Arms Park.

MATCH REPORT: Ulster bounced back from defeat with a 31-15 victory over French Top 14 leaders Racing 92 at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: The Bulls will be kicking themselves after they went down 28-29 to Lyon in a Champions Cup Round Two encounter in France on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Teenage fullback Theo Attissogbe scored the most vital of tries for Pau as they grabbed a last-minute 24-21 win over the Dragons in Pool 1 of the EPCR Challenge Cup.

MATCH REPORT: Josh van der Flier inspired Leinster to a bonus-point 37-27 win over a much-changed Sale Sharks in Round Two of the Champions Cup.

MATCH REPORT: The Lions showed they can score tries by doing so five times in their 35-13 victory over Newcastle Falcons in the EPCR Challenge Cup at Ellis Park on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Champions Cup Round Two encounter between the Lyon and the Bulls.

MATCH REPORT: Flying Scottish wing Duhan van der Merwe contributed a pair of tries as Edinburgh ran out 34-21 winners over Castres in the EPCR Challenge Cup at Hive Stadium on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Fullback Rhyno Smith became Benetton’s all-time leading try scorer in EPCR competitions as his side enjoyed a thumping 29-7 win over Perpignan in Pool 2 of the Challenge Cup.

MATCH REPORT: The Stormers recorded their first Champions Cup win of the season, beating Stade Rochelais in Cape Town on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Challenge Cup Round Two encounter between the Lions and Newcastle Falcons at Ellis Park.

MATCH REPORT: Bordeaux-Bègles wing Damian Penaud put in an exquisite performance as the French side ran out 36-17 winners over Bristol Bears in the Champions Cup.

MATCH REPORT: Zebre Parma flyhalf Geronimo Prisciantelli kicked two penalties and a conversion as the Italian side defeated TOP14 club Oyonnax 21-14 in the Challenge Cup.

REPORT: Inside centre Tom Hartley, making his first start in the Champions Cup, notched a brace for Saracens in a 55-36 rout of Connacht at Barnet Copthall Stadium on Saturday.

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

REPORT: Hooker Santiago Socino scored two tries in five minutes as Gloucester defeated ASM Clermont Auvergne 28-17 for their second EPCR Challenge Cup win of the season.

MATCH REPORT: Black Lion flyhalf Luka Matkava kicked 13 points as he helped the Georgian side to a 23-7 win over lacklustre Scarlets.

MATCH REPORT: Replacement Tom Lockett gave Northampton Saints a 22-19 victory over RC Toulon with a late try as the English side picked up their second Champions Cup win of the season.

WATCH as @king365ed chats with EPCR Chairman Dominic McKay about the future of the Cheetahs in Europe.

MATCH REPORT: Fullback Josh McKay scored a vital second-half try as Glasgow Warriors bounced back from an opening match defeat to take a narrow 12-11 win over Bayonnais in the Champions Cup.

PREVIEW: @king365ed looks at Saturday and Sunday's Round Two Champions Cup fixtures and makes some interesting predictions!

SATURDAY PREVIEW: The EPCR showdown this weekend takes place in Bloemfontein when the Cheetahs host the Sharks in Round two of Pool 1 on Sunday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers head coach John Dobson has revealed his team to face Stade Rochelais in their Champions Cup Round Two clash at Cape Town Stadium.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Cheetahs will welcome the Sharks to Bloemfontein on Sunday for a mouth-watering EPCR Challenge Cup local derby.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has revealed his team to face Lyon in their Champions Cup Round Two clash in France on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has named a new starting XV for their European Challenge Cup Round Two clash against Newcastle Falcons at Ellis Park on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach John Plumtree has made two changes to his starting team for Sunday's Challenge Cup Round Two clash against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

NEWS: The Red Disa consortium's equity deal in securing a controlling shareholding in WP Professional Rugby (Pty Ltd) was this week approved by the South African Competition Commission.

Two groups of 23 players have been invited to attend Under-20 alignment camps in Stellenbosch and Pretoria in January to kickstart the preparations for the SA Rugby Academy and Junior Springbok season.

NEWS: Scarlets and Wales prop Samson Lee has been forced to retire at the age of 31 after failing to recover from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

FRIDAY PREVIEW: The debutants from Georgia may not have gotten the win against Gloucester last weekend, but they pushed the English visitors close. The real challenge will be away fixtures like this one. Heading into uncharted territory, Black Lion are bound to come up short.

NEWS: Former Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber could be reunited with one of his World Cup winners.

FRIDAY PREVIEW: Glasgow Warriors centre Huw Jones believes the time has come for the Scottish side to start supporting their promising performances with victories, starting with Friday’s Champions Cup Round Two trip to Aviron Bayonnais.

NEWS: One of South Africa's top players will have a new team next season.

JAPAN LEAGUE ONE, ROUND TWO PREVIEW: There will be some interesting battles between Springbok and All Black stars in Round Two of Japan Rugby League One.

REACTION: Eddie Jones believes South Africa's World Cup-winning wing Cheslin Kolbe, now playing in Japan for Tokyo Sungoliath, could be an inspiration for his Japan players.

NEWS: Andy Farrell has signed a new long-term contract to remain as head coach of Ireland until the end of the 2027 World Cup.

NEWS: Rob Howley has been restored to Wales' coaching staff for the first time since being banned for breaching betting regulations, it was announced on Thursday.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES: @king365com explicates the menagerie of media reports around the attenuated WPRFU administrative and Newlands sale sagas.

NEWS: A month after claiming World Rugby’s biggest prize, Ardie Savea has claimed the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year at the New Zealand Rugby Awards.

NEWS: MyPlayers has revealed who are their top performers for 2023.

VIDEO: Cheetahs captain Victor Sekekete says they are hungry for something bigger and it all starts against a star-studded Springbok-laden Sharks team in Bloemfontein on Sunday. 

REACTION: All Black great Sonny Bill Williams launched a stinging attack on Eddie Jones on Thursday, calling him "a disgrace" who "obviously lied" to the Australian players and fans.

NEWS: The Saracens No.8 Billy Vunipola has had his red card overturned.

WATCH as Bulls scrumhalf Izak Burger speaks about the challenging trip to France for a Round Two Champions Cup encounter with Lyon.

SPOTLIGHT: Stormers prop Neethling Fouche is relishing the prospect of seeing some familiar faces when his team comes up against Stade Rochelais on Saturday.

NEWS: Eddie Jones was named by Japan as their new head coach on Wednesday, six weeks after the Australian quit the Wallabies following their dismal showing at the World Cup.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok star Steven Kitshoff admits that his move to Ulster has been far from plain sailing as he looks to step up his game ahead of a crunch Champions Cup tie against Racing 92.

SPOTLIGHT: Fans of the Japan Rugby League One may feel like they are watching the World Cup all over again.

NEWS: England wing Henry Arundell has signed a two-year extension to his contract at French Top 14 club Racing 92, meaning he cannot play at the Six Nations next year.

NEWS: Moana Pasifika will stage a Super Rugby match in Tonga for the first time in history next year in a bid to grow the sport on the island, the club said Wednesday.

SPOTLIGHT: Stormers stalwart Deon Fourie admitted that his team is in a bit of a transition period when it comes to leadership, but it is all part of the bigger picture.

INJURY NEWS: France scrumhalf Baptiste Serin has been ruled out of contention of next year's Six Nations with a shoulder injury, his club Toulon announced on Tuesday.

WATCH as Lions coach Ricardo Loubscher explains the three pillars that have helped the Lions up their performance this season.

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Saracens No.8 Billy Vunipola will face a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday after he received a red card in his team's Champions Cup opener against the Bulls in Pretoria over the weekend.

REACTION: Leicester Tigers flyhalf Handre Pollard says his club got an example of the depth in South African rugby when they faced the Stormers in their Champions Cup opener over the weekend.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White drops some serious selection hints ahead of Round Two of the Champions Cup.

SPOTLIGHT: Stephen Moore has urged Rugby Australia to learn from a "pretty unfortunate 12 months" and not be afraid of the prospect of appointing a foreigner as the next Wallabies coach.

NEWS: SA Rugby has joined the chorus of tributes to Syd Millar, the former chairman of what is now World Rugby, who has passed away aged 89.

NEWS: Rugby Australia hopes the announcement of Eddie Jones' successor looms next after unveiling the first-ever full-time coach of the Wallaroos.

NEWS: After more than a decade in professional rugby, lock Dominic Bird has decided to call it time on his illustrious career.

NEWS: Scrumhalf TJ Perenara is targeting a return to the All Blacks in 2024 after a year spent recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon and having to watch the World Cup on the sidelines.

NEWS: The north-east city of Sunderland will stage the opening match of the 2025 Women's World Cup in England, with the final of a "generational" event to be played at Twickenham.

SPOTLIGHT: Harlequins may have beaten Racing 92 31-28 in their Champions Cup opener at La Defense Arena in Paris at the weekend, but it is the performances of two World Cup winners that headlined the encounter.

REACTION: Sometimes taking the more conservative approach does have its benefits.

WATCH as Boks Office host Hanyani Shimange and his guests - South African legends Jean de Villiers and Brian Habana, as well as two-time World Cup winner Damian Willemse - solve the BlitzBoks' problems.

SPOTLIGHT: The competition for Olympics spots will be far from easy for Michael Hooper and Antoine Dupont, World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin admitted.

WATCH as Stormers coach John Dobson reveals the best 'story' to come out of his team's 26-35 loss to Leicester Tigers in their Euro Cup opener at the weekend.

WRAP ROUND ONE: Cheslin Kolbe showed his incredible class as he kicked off his Suntory Sungoliath career with a 52-26 away win against reigning champions Kubota Spears.

SUNDAY WRAP: Andre Esterhuizen scored one of Harlequins' four tries as his team beat World Cup Springbok teammate and captain Siya Kolisi's Racing 92 in a Champions Cup outing.

Welcome to an exhilarating Day Two of the Sevens Tournament in Cape Town!

Welcome to an exhilarating Day Two of the Sevens Tournament in Cape Town!

MATCH REPORT: Sam Simmonds scored a vital bonus-point try as Montpellier  got their EPCR Challenge Cup campaign off to a perfect start at Newcastle Falcons.

SUNDAY WRAP: Replacement flyhalf Ciaran Frawley kicked three crucial penalties, including a stunning effort from deep in his own half, to help a determined Leinster overcome Champions Cup holders Stade Rochelais.

REACTION: The BlitzBoks are a team that are best when they have ball in hand and that showed a week ago when they triumphed in Dubai, but disappointingly for Springbok Sevens supporters, they could not do the same this weekend in Cape Town, and paid the price.

MATCH REPORT: Two-time World Cup-winning Springbok flyhalf Handré Pollard produced a match-saving performance, as his Leicester Tigers team held out against a willing and very young Stormers side.

MATCH REPORT: The Lions won a penalty riddled Challenge Cup match over Perpignan by 28-12 with flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse slotting eight kicks to secure the win for his side.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Challenge Cup Round One encounter between Perpignan and the Lions.

REACTION: It’s amazing what a bit of canny housekeeping can do.

SATURDAY WRAP: Bath produced a second-half rout to start their Champions Cup campaign with a 37-14 win over Ulster at The Rec.

REACTION: Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie says it is vital to have good start in any competition you play in, and his side managed to do that with a fairly comfortable win over Zebre in Parma on Saturday.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White takes aim at some unruly fans at Loftus Versfeld.

MATCH REPORT: The Sharks well and truly got back to their winning ways after demolishing Pau 45-5 in the Challenge Cup Durban on Saturday.

NEWS: Eddie Jones is set to be re-appointed as the head coach of Japan's national rugby team pending approval from the union's board, local media reported Sunday, less than two months after he walked out on the Wallabies.

REACTION: It was the performance Sharks coach John Plumtree had been waiting for and on Saturday night the Sharks, spearheaded by sterling performances by their Springboks, delivered in their Challenge Cup victory over Pau.

CHALLENGE CUP SATURDAY WRAP: A late brace of tries from Rio Dyer helped the Dragons to a 24-7 bonus-point win at Rodney Parade in the EPCR Challenge Cup against Oyonnax.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Champions Cup Round One encounter between the Bulls and Saracens at Loftus Versfeld.

MATCH REPORT: The Bulls got their European campaign off to a fine start, powering past three-time champions Saracens 27-16 at Loftus Versfeld, in Pretoria, on Saturday.

REACTION: The BlitzBoks qualified for the HSBC SVNS Cape Town quarterfinals despite going down to Ireland in their final pool game at a vibrant DHL Stadium on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the South African matches at the HSBC SVNS in Cape Town on Saturday.

WRAP: All the women's results of the HSBC SVNS Cape Town Day One.

All the men's results of HSBC SVNS Cape Town Day One.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Challenge Cup Round One encounter between the Sharks and Section Paloise at Kings Park in Durban.

MATCH REPORT: The Cheetahs kicked off their Challenge Cup campaign with a convincing 33-15 victory over Zebre in Parma on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Challenge Cup Round One encounter between Zebre and the Cheetahs in Parma.

NEWS: Two of the Springboks’ biggest rivals both head to South Africa in 2024 for mouth-watering two-Test series.

MATCH REPORT: On a difficult night in France, Edinburgh fell to an 18-31 defeat to ASM Clermont Auvergne in the opening fixture of the EPCR Challenge Cup 2023-24.

MATCH REPORT: Centre Tommy Freeman scored two first half tries for Northampton Saints as they secured an impressive 28-19 opening day Champions Cup victory at Glasgow Warriors.

MATCH REPORT: In an action-packed opener to Pool 1 of this season’s Champions Cup, braces from Union Bordeaux-Bègles fullback Romain Buros and wing Pablo Uberti caught the headlines as the French side braved a windy night at The Sportsground to smash Connacht 41-5.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY PREVIEWS: @king365ed talks to Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White and Stormers coach John Dobson about their Round One Champions Cup outings.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Champions Cup Round One encounter between Leicester Tigers and the Stormers at Welford Road.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the South African matches at the HSBC SVNS in Cape Town on Sunday.

NEWS: The South African Rugby Union has extended the contract of Rian Oberholzer as Chief Executive Officer for a further two years, the organisation confirmed on Friday.

PREVIEW: Three South African teams are in action in the European Challenge Cup this weekend with the Sharks, Lions and Cheetahs geared to face some top quality sides.

NEWS: The Currie Cup has undergone a complete overhaul that will allow all 14 unions to play for the coveted gold trophy from 2025 onwards.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks, bolstered by the return of some vital personnel, will be hoping that a change in competition will halt their disappointing start to the season when they host Section Paloise in their Challenge Cup match in Durban on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lock forward Ruan Vermaak will make his return to action for the Bulls when the Pretoria franchise begins its 2023/24 Champions Cup campaign.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Cheetahs welcome back their loan players Marnus van der Merwe and Rewan Kruger for their first Challenge Cup game against Zebre in Parma at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi on Saturday.

FESTIVE: The stage is set for HSBC SVNS Cape Town on December 9-10 at DHL Stadium as the world’s best 12 men’s and women’s sevens teams are ready to showcase their incredible talents on the pitch.

NEWS: The SA Rugby have approved new tackle laws to make rugby safer at school and club level.

TEAMS ANNOUNCEMENT: The Stormers will face the Leicester Tigers for the first time in their Champions Cup season opener at Welford Road on Sunday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Jaco Visagie will captain the Lions in their Challenge Cup encounter with Perpignan at Stade Aime Giral on Sunday.

WATCH as Springbok Ivan van Zyl talks about his return to his old stomping ground - Loftus Versfeld!

FRIDAY PREVIEW: Connacht back row forward Paul Boyle has warned Union Bordeaux-Bègles to expect weather conditions they have never experienced before.

PREVIEW: Clermont Auvergne’s clash with Edinburgh kicks off the Challenge Cup at the Stade Marcel-Michelin in Clermont-Ferrand - a match between two clubs with realistic title aspirations.

The best rugby sevens teams in the world have been warmly welcomed to Cape Town ahead of the second round of HSBC SVNS 2024.

PREVIEW: Several Springboks and All Blacks stars who started in the World Cup Final will be in action when Japan's club rugby season kicks off this weekend.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Blitzboks head coach Sandile Ngcobo named Tiaan Pretorius as the only new player in his squad for this weekend's HSBC SVNS Cape Town tournament.

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Lions lock Ruben Schoeman has been handed a three-week suspension following his red card offence during United Rugby Championship Round Seven clash against Dragons.

NEWS: The British & Irish Lions will face Argentina in 2025 for the Lions 1888 Cup.

SPOTLIGHT: Lions forwards coach Julian Redelinghuys predicts that South African teams will approach their second season in the European Cup differently as far as rotation of players in the different campaigns are concerned.

WATCH as Stormers defence coach Norman Laker previews the Champions Cup Round One encounter with Leicester Tigers.

WATCH as the BOKS OFFICE team get the real story behind the famous nickname of World Cup winner Deon Fourie.

TRANSFER NEWS: Rising Wallabies star Mark Nawaqanitawase announced Thursday he will jump codes and join rugby league powerhouse Sydney Roosters, with beleaguered Rugby Australia voicing disappointment.

NEWS: La Rochelle's director of rugby Ronan O'Gara has been handed a one-week touchline ban for ill-discipline and will be in the stands for this weekend's Champions Cup game with Leinster, Top 14 organisers the French national league (LNR) announced on Wednesday.

WATCH as the hugely popular BOKS OFFICE, hosted by Hanyani Shimange with Springbok legend Jean de Villiers and Schalk Burger, returned for another incredible episode.

SPOTLIGHT: Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie has his sights set on the quarterfinal of the Challenge Cup and it all starts for his team in Parma against Zebre at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranch on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Jacques Nienaber wanted to make something clear to Irish media during his first official press conference as Leinster's senior coach this week.

NEWS: Japan international Shota Horie said Wednesday he will retire at the end of this season after playing in four World Cups including a 2019 quarterfinal on home soil.

NEWS: The BlitzBoks Women's Sevens assistant coach Cecil Africa revealed his team will make the most of their home-ground advantage at this weekend's HSBC SVNS Cape Town. 

SPOTLIGHT: Highly-rated prop Angus Bell has put his hand up to captain the wounded Wallabies after conceding Australia's World Cup flop still haunts the playing group.

WATCH as Bulls outside back Sebastian de Klerk talks to @king365ed about the value that World Cup-winning Springboks bring to the Bulls and reveals who is the most valuable.

SQUAD UPDATE: The BlitzBoks have added two players to their squad after an injury blow.

SPOTLIGHT: The hostilities between the 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams are already great value, but there will be so much more on offer across the weekend, that Cape Town.

SPOTLIGHT: Sanele Nohamba has been a beacon of light for the Lions in their United Rugby Championship campaign this season.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has revealed the 26 players for his sides’ first Challenge Cup outing of the 2023/24 season.

INTERVIEW: Two-time World Cup-winning flyhalf Handre Pollard speaks about goalkicking and Springbok rival Manie Libbok!

REACTION: It took him six tournaments to get there, but when Masande Mtshali finally scored his first try in a BlitzBok jersey in Dubai, the 20-year-old forward almost missed this very significant milestone in his short Sevens career.

NEWS: Fiji international Api Ratuniyarawa admitted to committing a series of sex offences before he was due to play for the Barbarians against Wales.

SQUAD UPDATE: Munster's lock stocks are starting to look a bit thin ahead of some big matches.

SPOTLIGHT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen is ready to put his squad's depth to the test over the next few weeks as they switch their attention to the Challenge Cup.

TRANSFER NEWS: Wales star George North will join French second division team Provence on a two-year contract from next year, the ProD2 club announced Monday.

NEWS: Tom Foley, who was the TMO for this year's World Cup Final, has decided to step away from international match officiating for the foreseeable future.

WATCH AS Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie talks about heading into a second European season.

WATCH AS Stormers coach John Dobson explains what his selection tactics are for the opening round of the European Cup competition.

POOL DRAW: The two South African Sevens teams will both face the USA on the opening day of the HSBC SVNS Cape Town next Saturday, with the pools announced shortly after the Springbok Sevens team claimed a fifth consecutive title in Dubai on Sunday.

TOP 14 SUNDAY WRAP: Stade Francais rebounded from a tumultuous week to record a comprehensive 27-12 victory over champions Toulouse in the Top 14 on Sunday.

NEWS: All Black head coach Scott Robertson hailed the "class" of Beauden Barrett after the playmaker committed to another World Cup cycle on Monday by signing with New Zealand Rugby until the end of 2027.

REPORT: Leicester Tigers sent a strong message to their European opposition with an emphatic 47-3 rout of the Newcastle Falcons in a Premiership encounter on Sunday.

DAY TWO WRAP: Selvyn Davids pulled the strings as defending champions South Africa beat Argentina 12-7 in a thumping encounter to claim their fifth straight Emirates Dubai Sevens title.

REACTION: The Bulls are currently flying the South African flag in Europe, sitting pretty in third place in the United Rugby Championship.

WATCH as Sharks coach John Plumtree gives a brutally honest assessment of his team's humbling loss to the Bulls in a URC Round Seven encounter.

TOP 14 SATURDAY WRAP: Siya Kolisi's Racing 92 claimed a late bonuspoint that sent them back to the summit of the French Top 14 despite Saturday's 18-23 loss at Clermont.

MATCH REPORT: Ciaran Frawley's last-gasp try saw Leinster snatch a 24-22 derby win from the jaws of defeat and end Connacht's near year-long unbeaten run at the Sportsground.

MATCH REPORT: Substitute Giacomo Da Re scored a late try as Benetton fought back for an 18-13 United Rugby Championship victory over Ospreys at Stadio di Monigo on Saturday night.

MATCH REPORT: The Stormers finally returned to winning ways in the United Rugby Championship, but it wasn't pretty.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: Northampton ended Saracens’ five-match winning streak as Phil Dowson’s men secured a gritty 18-12 Premiership win in London on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: An impressive second-half performance from Edinburgh brought them a thoroughly deserved 27-24 win over Ulster at Ravenhill Stadium – their first in Belfast since 2018.

DAY ONE WRAP: Seven of last season's top eight qualified for the men's quarterfinals after day one of the Emirates Dubai, the first event of a revamped HSBC SVNS 2024.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Seven match between the Stormers and Zebre Parma at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.

MATCH REPORT: Gareth Davies scored two of Scarlets' five tries as they edged to a 29-23 bonus-point United Rugby Championship victory over 14-man Cardiff at the Arms Park.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Seven match between the Lions and the Dragons at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

MATCH REPORT: The Lions overcame a questionable red card to record a bonus-point 49-24 win over a deficient Dragons team in their URC match at Ellis Park, in Johannesburg, on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: A rampant Bulls scored six tries as they demolished the Sharks in their 44-10 run-away victory in the United Rugby Championship at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Seven match between the Bulls and the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria

MATCH REPORT: Marcus Smith won the duel between England’s flyhalves in waiting at The Stoop but it was the contribution of Harlequins’ pack that underpinned a 36-3 victory over Sale.

NEWS: World Rugby has finally released a statement on the pending court case over neurological injuries.

NEWS: Lyon second row Romain Taofifenua will be available for France's Six Nations campaign after changing his mind over his decision to retire from international rugby after the World Cup, he said Friday.

MATCH REPORT: Munster turned in an electric attacking performance to beat United Rugby Championship leaders Glasgow Warriors 40-29 at Musgrave Park.

WATCH a World Cup-winning Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber gives his first interview since his move to Irish province Leinster

SEASON PREVIEW: Forty-four days after the World Cup concluded, 14 of the players who featured during South Africa's thrilling one-point victory over New Zealand in the Final will suit up for club duty in Japan.

SATURDAY PREVIEW: There will be a big spotlight on the Springboks in action at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday when the Bulls host the Sharks in a United Rugby Championship Round Seven match.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has named a powerful team for their United Rugby Championship Round Seven clash against the Sharks in Pretoria on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers head coach John Dobson has revealed his team to face Zebre Parma in a United Rugby Championship Round Seven clash in Stellenbosch on Saturday.

South Africa's BlitzBoks are looking to equal Fiji’s record of the most consecutive Cup titles in one country after winning five-straight in Hong Kong between 2015 and 2019.

LISTEN as celebrated former Springbok captain Jean de Villiers previews the URC Round Seven face-off between the Bulls and Sharks at Loftus Versfeld.

NEWS: It doesn’t happen too often that a rugby coach is satisfied with the amount of preparation done before a major tournament, but that’s not the case for Springbok Women's Sevens coach Renfred Dazel on match day minus one of the Dubai Sevens 2023, the first of eight tournaments in the new SVNS.

NEWS: French Top 14 club Stade Francais announced they had disciplined players and coaches after a member of Pau's coaching staff was reportedly hit in the face after last weekend's game between the teams.

WATCH as Ox Nche talks about taking on fellow Springbok Wilco Louw in the big Loftus face-off on Saturday.

INTERVIEW: Newly crowned World Rugby Player of the Year Ardie Savea said Friday that he wanted to "try something new" and test himself after moving to Japan's big-spending league.

SPOTLIGHT: Few would argue the impact Rights Mkhari has had on teams she has been involved with – whether it was in fifteens for the Springbok Women or the Bulls Daisies, or in the abbreviated game with the Springbok Women's Sevens, the soft-spoken Limpopo-raised player has gained the respect of all.

TOP 14 SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand second row forward Sam Whitelock said he hopes to find a positive side to last month's World Cup Final loss, after arriving at French Top 14 club Pau on a two-year deal.

NEWS: Rugby Australia will implement a new two-year trial that will see the legal height of tackles lowered in the community game, as they look to minimise head injuries.

REACTION: Saracens Director of Rugby Mark McCall has criticised the "shameful" treatment of Owen Farrell.

ROUND ONE PREVIEW: An exciting new era for Sevens will begin in Dubai on Saturday and Sunday (December 2 and 3), as the highly anticipated HSBC SVNS 2024 kicks off.

SPOTLIGHT: As the United Rugby Championship heads into its seventh round, it is the sixth team on the log that is currently rated as the top defensive team in the competition.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions coaching staff has named an unchanged line-up to face the Dragons in the United Rugby Championship at Ellis Park on Saturday.

URC ROUND SEVENS, PREVIEW: United Rugby Championship Round Seven kicks off with a blockbusting showdown between Munster and Glasgow Warriors at Musgrave Park.

NEWS: Italy’s Andrea Piardi will referee the Pool One meeting between the Bulls and reigning Premiership champions Saracens at Loftus Versfeld following the announcement of the referees for Rounds One and Two of the 2023/24 Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup

NEWS: England captain Owen Farrell will not be available for the 2024 Six Nations campaign.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach John Plumtree has revealed his team to face the Bulls in a United Rugby Championship Round Seven clash in Pretoria on Saturday.

REACTION: Springbok star Damian Willemse says his Stormers teammates should not be too hard on themselves after their recent United Rugby Championship tour.

SPOTLIGHT: Sharks prop Ox Nche is under no illusions about the challenge his team will face when they come up against the Bulls in their United Rugby Championship Round Seven encounter in Pretoria on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Sam Cane has suggested that the All Blacks eligibility rules should be reviewed following his move to Sungoliath in Japan.

WATCH Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White reveals the true value of two-time World Cup-winning Springbok utility back Willie le Roux.

TRANSFER NEWS: New Zealand tighthead prop Owen Franks, who had a stint with Toulouse in the Top 14 during the World Cup, has signed a contract with the Crusaders for the 2024 Super Rugby season, the Christchurch-based franchise announced on Wednesday.

SPOTLIGHT: No.8 Nizaam Carr is relishing the prospect of going up against the 'best in the world' when the Bulls host the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

STAT ATTACK: The Bulls will host the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday in the first of the #BIG South African derbies in the United Rugby Championship.

SPOTLIGHT: Experienced BlitzBok forward Impi Visser believes this weekend's Dubai Sevens tournament will give his team the perfect opportunity to put some respect back into the jersey.

SPOTLIGHT: Stormers head coach John Dobson admits that a lot of "strategic calls" will have to be made over the next few weeks as the Champions Cup takes centre stage.

REACTION: The level of abuse hurled at match officials in the wake of last month's World Cup Final, has reached unprecedented levels.

SPOTLIGHT: The Lions are fully aware of the work they have to put in to build a winning culture. 

NEWS: Former Fiji head coach Simon Raiwalui has landed a new job.

SPOTLIGHT: After a winless four-match United Rugby Championship tour the Stormers got a number of important players back this week and it is not just their World Cup winners.

NEWS: Munster head coach Graham Rowntree is expecting Springbok lock RG Snyman to return to the playing field in March next year in a "worst-case scenario".

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

UPDATE: The Lions confirmed that Sanela Nohamba has joined the list of players extending their stay with the Lions. 

SPOTLIGHT: Just a month after contesting for the World Cup title in the final, Springbok star-wing Cheslin Kolbe and All Blacks captain Sam Cane have reunited at Tokyo Sungoliath in Japan.

NEWS: Five members of the World Cup-winning Springbok squad in France were nominated for the SA Rugby Player of the Year Award for 2023.

SPOTLIGHT: Scott Robertson is a man who embraces pressure and he knows it will reach new heights in his tenure as head coach of the All Blacks.

NEWS: Former Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika is reportedly eager to prolong his role as Los Pumas head coach until the end of the next World Cup.

SPOTLIGHT: The Bulls' Jaco van der Walt is one of a handful of very talented flyhalves in Pretoria and says the competition amongst them helps him grow as a player.

NEWS: World Cup winning Springbok RG Snyman will not renew his contract with Munster after it expires at the end of the season. 

SPOTLIGHT: World Cup-winning Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has officially started his new job at Leinster on Monday.

SPOTLIGHT: The All Blacks had to overcome doubt, scepticism and scrutiny as they marched into the 2023 World Cup Final on October 28.

BREAKING: The hugely popular Boks Office hit show is set to debut at the HSBC SVNS CPT.

NEWS: South Africa's two-time World Cup winning captain Siya Kolisi said he had been nervous before tasting victory on his Racing 92 debut as they beat La Rochelle 32-10 in Paris to take over the number one spot in the French Top 14 table.

MATCH REPORT: Glasgow made it five wins from six to go top of the United Rugby Championship table after recovering from a 0-14 deficit to inflict a second defeat of the season on Ulster.

REACTION: Jake White, the Bulls Director of Rugby, reiterated the intricate difficulties of travelling after visiting Connacht coach Pete Wilkin rued the fact that his side could not to come away with a losing bonus point.

MATCH REPORT: Exeter earned their first Premiership away win in over a year with a 20-14 victory over Newcastle in a topsy-turvy game at Kingston Park.

SATURDAY WRAP: Handre Pollard had another sterling performance for Leicester in their 38-20 victory over Gloucester in the Premiership on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Ospreys centre Keiran Williams scored two tries to earn his side a 31-9 derby victory and condemn Scarlets to another defeat in Swansea in the United Rugby Championship on Sunday.

REACTION: The next four-year cycle leading up to the World Cup in Australia has started and Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen believes he has players that can play a big role.

REACTION: Sharks head coach John Plumtree admitted that the returning Springboks was the catalyst his team needed and it was there for all to see against the Dragons on Saturday.

TOP 14 SATURDAY WRAP: Uncapped English flyhalf Joe Simmonds slotted 15 points as surprise packages Pau beat Stade Francais 30-6 on Saturday to take the lead in the French Top 14.

REPORT: A classy 65th-minute finish from Jordan Larmour gave Leinster a decisive third try in their 21-16 United Rugby Championship win over Munster at the Lansdowne Road Stadium.

REPORT: The Sharks recorded their first win over the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship season, beating Dragons 69-14 at Kings Park on Saturday.

WATCH as Springbok Willem Alberts stole the show during the Lions' 61-19 win over Zebre on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Six match between the Sharks and Dragons at Kings Park in Durban.

MATCH REPORT: The Bulls stamped their authority in their first United Rugby Championship game back at Loftus Versfeld when they disposed of Connacht in searing heat by 53-27 on Saturday.

SATURDAY PREVIEW: As Round Six of the United Rugby Championship gets underway this weekend all the South African teams are looking at getting back to winning ways.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Six match between the Bulls and Connacht at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

MATCH REPORT: The Lions recorded their second win of the 2023/2024 United Rugby Championship season when they thumped Zebre 61-19 in their Round Six encounter at Ellis Park on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Six match between the Lions and Zebre at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

Music is going next level at HSBC SVNS as over 40 artists join the party across the weekend at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium!

MATCH REPORT: The Stormers ended their four-week European tour with a devastating 24-31 defeat to Cardiff at Arms Park on Friday. 

NEWS: Cash strapped Rugby Australia has secured access to an AU$80 million line of credit over the next five years in its bid to pump more money into developing the floundering code.

REACTION: Stormers head coach John Dobson was questioning his team's decision-making with ball in hand again after they suffered their fourth defeat in a row in this season's United Rugby Championship.

PREMIERSHIP FRIDAY WRAP: George Ford kicked a late penalty as Sale beat Bath 11-9 on Friday to extend their lead at the top of the English Premiership to five points.

MATCH REPORT: Marco Zanon scored a pair of tries to lead Benetton to a come-from-behind 24-22 United Rugby Championship victory over Edinburgh in Scotland.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Six match between Cardiff and the Stormers in the Welsh capital.

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Dragons head of performance, Dan Baugh has been handed a four-week ban by the United Rugby Championship following his altercation with referee Ben Whitehouse.

TOP 14 SPOTLIGHT: South Africa's two-time World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi is set to make his Top 14 debut for Racing 92, head coach Stuart Lancaster said on Friday.

PREVIEW: @king365ed looks at the Friday matches in Round Six of the United Rugby Championship.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks have wasted no time in pressing on the buttons of their World Cup winning Springboks for the United Rugby Championship clash with the Dragons at Kings Park on Saturday.

PROFILE: Listen as Stormers loose forward Evan Roos talks of the valuable advice he received from Springbok Eben Etzebeth. 

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok Willie le Roux will make his debut for the Bulls at fullback when they host Connacht at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

NEWS: Experienced playmaker Selvyn Davids will lead the Springbok Sevens team for the 2024 SVNS series, starting in Dubai next weekend, where he will be joined by two uncapped players in the first of the eight tournaments of the revamped season.

NEWS: The Waikato Chiefs and Auckland Blues will travel to Japan in February for games against top local teams in preparation for the Super Rugby Pacific season, officials said Friday.

NEWS: The Stormers will take on Northampton Saints in an exhibition match at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens in March.

NEWS: The Bulls' Marcell Coetzee has been suspended for three United Rugby Championship matches following his red card in the Round 5 game against Edinburgh.

NEWS: The stellar line-up for the Cup competition at this year’s World Schools Festival is gathering pace.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions host Zebre at home at Ellis Park this weekend and will be out to keep their record intact having not lost a game against the Italians.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Prop Brok Harris will captain the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship match against Cardiff on Friday, which will see him bring up 400 senior professional caps.

NEWS: The Free State Rugby Union revealed the newly elected leadership, following the Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday, November 22.

WATCH as Stormers assistant coach Dawie Snyman and centre Ruhan Nel chat to @king365ed about their URC Round Six encounter with Cardiff.

INTERVIEW: The return of the World Cup-winning Springboks has elevated the Bulls' training.

TRANSFER TALK: Former Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt is reportedly one of the leading candidates to take over the role as head coach of the Wallabies.

NEWS: Munster confirmed that Peter O’Mahony has made the decision to step down as squad captain after over 10 years leading the province.

WATCH as the Sharks' full collection of World Cup winners start training with the team.

Details of the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024 have been announced.

SPOTLIGHT: The dust is slowly settling on the Springboks' latest World Cup victory and the magnitude of their success still hasn’t fully sunk in for some of their stars.

SPOTLIGHT: It has been nearly a month since the World Cup Final in Paris and seems the All Blacks are still picking up the pieces after their defeat to the Springboks.

PROFILE: Richard Kriel is eager to take his career to the next level at the Lions.

SEVENS SPOTLIGHT: A decade ago, a number of 20-year-olds joined the SA Rugby Sevens Academy – as it was known at the time – and not too long after joining the set-up in Stellenbosch, engrained their names in the history books of the BlitzBoks.

LISTEN as Bulls utility back Devon Williams chats to @king365ed about facing Connacht at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

NEWS: Former England assistant Richard Cockerill has been sacked by Montpellier just seven games into the Top 14 season.

INJURY UPDATE: The Stormers, desperate to end their losing streak on their month-long European venture, has had their second row resources further depleted.

NEWS: England star Tom Curry has been ruled out of the Six Nations tournament after the flank's club Sale revealed he needs surgery on a hip injury.

SPOTLIGHT: Lukhanyo Am says the Sharks are "growing and learning" and that it won't be long before they are "very dangerous" as a few of their World Cup-winning Boks returned to training this week.

The long overseas tours for the South African team in the United Rugby Championship have recently come under scrutiny. 

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

SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand playmaker Richie Mo'unga said that he can imagine playing in Japan "until I retire" and is not thinking about a future return to the All Blacks.

REACTION: New Rugby Australia Chairman Dan Herbert says all stakeholders and fans will be listened to as part of the ailing code's concerted effort to revive the game in Australia.

NEWS: About 30 minutes after the Wallabies’ record 6-40 World Cup defeat to Wales in Lyon a couple of months ago, then-Australia coach Eddie Jones was asked about an alleged meeting with Japan.

WATCH as two-time World Cup-winning Springbok Steven Kitshoff gets put through his paces for the first time at Ravenhill Stadium.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Former Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper is set to make his Sevens debut in Perth in January after being officially confirmed in the Australian men's squad.

SPOTLIGHT: France captain Antoine Dupont said he will have to make "sacrifices" if he is to feature for his country at next year's Olympic Games in Paris.

WATCH as Director of Rugby Neil Powell and coach John Plumtree explain to @king365ed what it will take to get the Sharks out of their current slump.

NEWS: The Stormers revealed that one of the true legends of Cape Town has hung up his boots.

INJURY UPDATE: Leinster loosehead Ed Byrne has returned to full training this week ahead of their clash with United Rugby Championship winners Munster in Dublin.

SPOTLIGHT: The Springboks have a "secret sauce" that sets them apart from other international teams.

NEWS: The fifth member of the 1995 World Cup winning Springboks has died.

NEWS: Exeter apologised to former England wing Ugo Monye after he reported being subjected to racist abuse following the Chiefs' 25-24 win over Gloucester on Sunday.

TOP 14 WRAP: La Rochelle prepared for Siya Kolisi's Racing 92 debut this coming weekend with a 25-21 win over Bordeaux-Begles on Sunday in the French Top 14.

SPOTLIGHT: Hamish McLennan intends to finally uncover the truth about Eddie Jones's links to coaching Japan while still the Wallabies' mentor even after being overthrown as Rugby Australia chairman.

REACTION: Claiming to be the victim of a power grab, Hamish McLennan believes his axing as Rugby Australia chairman will only create further division in a code already badly fractured.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White explains why the URC runs the risk of producing the same nightmares that forced South African teams out of Super Rugby.

REPORT: Henry Slade landed a 45-metre penalty with the last kick of the match to secure a 25-24 victory and maintain Gloucester’s miserable record at Sandy Park.

NEWS: Dragons recorded their first home win in more than a year, beating Ospreys 20-5 in United Rugby Championship’s Round Five match at Rodney Parade.

REACTION: Stormers captain Neethling Fouche said it is heartbreaking knowing you delivered your best performance but still suffered a defeat at the hands of Munster.

NEWS: The defiant Hamish McLennan has finally resigned as Rugby Australia Chairman following an intense board meeting.

NEWS: Controversial former French Rugby Federation (FFR) president Bernard Laporte has been appointed director of rugby of struggling Montpellier, the Top 14 club's billionaire owner Mohed Altrad said on Saturday.

REACTION: Sharks coach John Plumtree is brutally honest about the run of bad luck his side is currently going through. He confirms that he has never lost so many matches in a row in his time as a coach.

REACTION: The Lions' No. 8 Francke Horn feels the silver lining from their 17-24 loss to Ulster was the one point they managed to get out of the game. 

TOP 14 SATURDAY WRAP: South Africa's two-time World Cup winning captain Siya Kolisi watched from the stands as his new club Racing 92 beat Stade Francais 13-9 on Saturday in the French Top 14 but their local rivals remained in the number one spot.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White addresses the rash of cards - including a red to captain Marcell Coetzee - and the way forward, after a disappointing finish to their URC tour.

SATURDAY WRAP: World Cup winning Springbok Handre Pollard contributed 16 points with the boot to help Leicester Tigers overcome a stubborn Northampton Saints for their first Premiership home win of the season.

MATCH REPORT: Glasgow Warriors ran in four tries to earn a 26-12 bonus-point victory over Benetton.

MATCH REPORT: Leinster's international-laden team moved to the top of the United Rugby Championship after beating a young Scarlets side 54-5 at the RDS.

MATCH REPORT: The Dragons recorded their first home win in the United Rugby Championship for more than a year after seeing off 14-man Ospreys 20-5 at Rodney Parade.

MATCH REPORT: The Stormers' winless run away from home continued when they went down 3-10 to Munster in tough conditions in Limerick on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Five match between Munster and the Stormers at Thomond Park in Limerick.

MATCH REPORT: So near yet so far as the Sharks slumped to their fifth loss in the United Rugby Championship which saw them lose their first home game against Connacht by 12-13 in Durban on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Five match between the Sharks and Connacht at Kings Park in Durban.

MATCH REPORT: The Bulls concluded their European tour with a 23-31 defeat to Edinburgh in Round Five of the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship.

WATCH as Springbok star Steven Kitshoff lands in Ireland to embark on his new journey at Ulster.

Hamish McLennan has vowed to stay on as Rugby Australia Chairman, despite been given an ultimatum to step down by six state unions.

NEWS: Wales legend Alun Wyn Jones will bring to an end his illustrious career when he leads out Toulon on Saturday against ASM Clermont Auvergne.

FRIDAY WRAP: Bath Head of Rugby Johann Van Graan admitted he breathed a sigh of relief at his side's narrow 20-19 Premiership victory over neighbours Bristol.

MATCH REPORT: Zebre claimed a converted try five minutes into stoppage time to salvage a 22-22 draw against United Rugby Championship opponents Cardiff in northern Italy.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Five match between Edinburgh and the Bulls in Edinburgh.

MATCH REPORT: The Lions ended their four-match United Rugby Championship tour with a 17-24 defeat to Ulster in Belfast on Friday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Five match between Ulster and the Lions at Ravenhill Stadium in Belfast.

PREVIEW: @king365ed looks at Saturday's Round Five URC matches - check out his predictions!

NEWS: South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed that two men have been taken in for questioning following the break-in at the South African Rugby Union's headquarters in Cape Town.

NEWS: In the wake of a thrilling 2023 World Cup victory, MyPlayers has announced the nominees for the Players' Player of the Year Awards.

NEWS: Six member unions, including Queensland, the ACT and Western Australia, have called on Rugby Australia Chairman Hamish McLennan to quit.

SPOTLIGHT: Cheslin Kolbe is a man with unwavering faith and it certainly came in handy during those agonising minutes in the closing stages of the World Cup Final at Stade de France in Paris.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wing Leolin Zas will play his 50th match for the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship encounter with Munster on Saturday.

NEWS: The United Rugby Championship disciplinary process has come down hard on two Sharks players - banning both for four weeks.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks coach John Plumtree wasted no time in drafting in a World Cup Springbok, as they look to end their winless start to the United Rugby Championship season.

FRIDAY PREVIEW: Lions and Bulls will be hoping to conclude their European tour on a high in Round Five of the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship.

PREVIEW: Two in-form French sides meet in the Top 14 on Saturday as leaders Stade Francais host Racing 92, although South Africa's two-time World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi is not expected to make his debut for another week.

WATCH as retired former Springbok captain Jean de Villiers shares his insights on how the Stormers can solve some of their problems.

WATCH as Sharks coach John Plumtree unpacks the reasons behind his team's winless start to the URC season.

SPOTLIGHT: Two familiar faces could be seen during the Sharks' training sessions ahead of their United Rugby Championship Round Five clash against Connacht in Durban on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls are eyeing the scalp of their Round Five host Edinburgh as the South Africans look to complete their European travels with another successful showing in the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship.

NEWS: Springbok wing Dillyn Leyds has signed on the dotted line for his French club.

NEWS: The British & Irish Lions have announced the formation of a historic partnership with the Premiership and the United Rugby Championship for the 2025 Lions Tour to Australia.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions coaches have made two changes for their United Rugby Championship clash with Ulster at Ravenhill Stadium in Belfast on Friday.

SPOTLIGHT: A second successive Springbok success at the World Cup has an obvious positive spin-off for rugby in the nation the team represents but it could also benefit other countries.

It was scenes of jubilation and joy as the World Cup stars returned to their hometowns.

NEWS: England wing Jonny May has been banned for three games after his first game back for Gloucester after the World Cup.

SPOTLIGHT: One of Australia's greats is open to coaching the Wallabies but says he's had no discussions with Rugby Australia about replacing Eddie Jones.

NEWS: Michael Hooper has joined Australia's Sevens squad in a bid to cap his glittering career with an Olympic gold medal.

NEWS: France captain Antoine Dupont will sit out this season's Six Nations to prepare for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris less than a year after the disappointment of an early World Cup exit.

WATCH as Sharks coach John Plumtree gives an injury update on his returning World Cup Springboks.

SPOTLIGHT: Former Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber is set to start his new job with Leinster's coaching team next week and his first task will be a big one.

NEWS: SA Rugby has sent their condolences to the family of the student who lost her life a week after the Springbok Trophy Tour in East London.

SPOTLIGHT: In 2017 Shona-Leah Westons' rugby career with the Springbok Women took a tumble, literally and figuratively.

WATCH as forwards coach Rito Hlungwani chats to @king365ed about the cubage and caliber of forwards the Stormers have lost in recent years and how they are dealing with it

SPOTLIGHT: Duhan van der Merwe is not like "every other wing” and that is why the Bulls will be keeping a close eye on him when they face Edinburgh

NEWS: The South African Rugby Union confirmed that there was a break-in at the Plattekloof headquarters in Cape Town.

REACTION: The Welsh Rugby Union has apologised after an independent review found the organisation an "unforgiving, even vindictive" place to work for some employees.

OPINION: @king365ed, having returned from South Africa's successful campaign in France, sat down and named an all-time Springbok World Cup XV.

TEAM UPDATE: While the remainder of the World Cup stars are returning this week, Leinster has a few injury issues to deal with ahead of back-to-back domestic derbies.

SPOTLIGHT: The Lions' 12th position on the log, despite three out of four losses on tour in the United Rugby Championship, is due to the four bonus points they managed to get in their first three games.

SPOTLIGHT: The match officials appointments of the United Rugby Championship Round Five fixtures have been confirmed

NEWS: Ulster will be without the services of fullback Ethan McIlroy for their United Rugby Championship match against the Lions at Ravenhill Stadium in Belfast on Friday.

SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers will not be making drastic changes to their game ahead of their big United Rugby Championship Round Five match against Munster in Limerick on Saturday.

INJURY UPDATE: Munster are set to be without a key player for their crunch United Rugby Championship clash with the Stormers in Limerick on Saturday.

NEWS: Insisting it's no takeover, Phil Waugh is confident of getting the powerhouse Brumbies on side after announcing NSW as the first state union to agree to the strategic reset of Australian rugby.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Connacht management team have named a 29-man travelling squad to South Africa for the United Rugby Championship fixtures against the Sharks and Bulls.

WATCH as Bulls' new recruit Mpilo Gumede revealed he has found his happy place at the Pretoria-based franchise. 

WRAP: Olympic qualifying was in the headlines, but it was New Zealand who sounded a warning to other teams ahead of the start of the 2023-24 HSBC SVNS season.

WATCH as departing coach Jacques Nienaber drops a hint that he might return to the Springbok fold in the not-too-distant future.

WEEKEND WRAP: England wing Henry Arundell marked his Top 14 debut with a hat-trick of tries but it was not enough to prevent Racing 92 from slipping to a 31-26 defeat at Toulon on Sunday.

Zebre Parma ended their 22-match losing run in the United Rugby Championship with a 12-10 win over the Sharks on a night of tears and high emotion at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.

NEWS: Former Wallaby boss Eddie Jones expects to be working again by January.

SUNDAY WRAP: Saracens produced a wonderful display to dismiss Newcastle Falcons and gain a bonus point in a 50-12 Premiership rout at Kingston Park.

MATCH REPORT: Leinster scored five tries in a 33-10 bonus-point win over Dragons in the United Rugby Championship.

TRANSFER NEWS: The market value of South African players have skyrocketed since last month's World Cup victory, with at least two Ireland-based Springboks being courting by teams from France and South Africa.

REACTION: Stormers head coach John Dobson admitted that frustration levels reached a new high during his team's United Rugby Championship Round Four clash in Treviso on Saturday.

REACTION: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has plenty of praise for Sanele Nohamba after the player produced a man-of-the-match performance against Scarlets in Llanelli on Saturday.

TOP 14 SATURDAY WRAP: Toulouse welcomed back more of their World Cup stars and raced to a huge lead but were made to sweat by last-place Perpignan before winning 43-34 in the Top 14 on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: A Ben Healy drop-goal with the last kick of the match earned Edinburgh a dramatic 25-22 win over Connacht just as the Irish side appeared to have snatched a late draw.

SATURDAY WRAP: Handre Pollard and Jasper Wiese's return to the Premiership has not gone as planned as their club Leicester Tigers suffers a 25-29 defeat to Harlequins.

MATCH REPORT: An impressive comeback from Glasgow Warriors saw them overturn a 0-10 deficit to win a hard-fought United Rugby Championship encounter 31-23 with Ospreys in Swansea.

MATCH REPORT: The Lions claim their first win of the United Rugby Championship season with a nail-biting 24-23 victory over Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets Llanelli.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Four match between the Scarlets and the Lions at Parc y Scarlets Llanelli.

MATCH REPORT: The Stormers suffered their second defeat in a row on tour when they went down 17-20 to Benetton in the United Rugby Championship Round Four match in Treviso.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Four match between Benetton and the Stormers at Stadio Monigo in Treviso.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White reveals the real value of his team's hard-earned URC win over Cardiff at Arms Park at the weekend.

REACTION: The Sharks will return home from their four-match European tour still winless and with a solitary bonus-point to show for their month-long venture at the start of the United Rugby Championship.

REACTION: England flank Tom Curry has doubled down on the claim of racism he levelled against South Africa, just days after Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi labelled England as 'unprofessional'.

MATCH REPORT: Bath produced a stunning second-half performance to win a pulsating West Country derby against Gloucester 45-27 at a sold-out Kingsholm.

MATCH REPORT: Tries in either half from Jacob Stockdale and Nick Timoney allowed Ulster to battle back from 14-3 down to beat Munster 21-14 in the United Rugby Championship.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Four match between Zebre Parma and the Sharks at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Four match between Cardiff and the Bulls at Cardiff Arms Park.

REPORT: The Bulls held on in the face of a late rally to edge Cardiff 18-12 in a thrilling United Rugby Championship encounter at Arm Park on Friday.

MATCH REPORT: Italian outfit Zebre won their first match in 18 months when they edged a shockingly poor Sharks team 12-10 in their United Rugby Championship encounter at Stadio Lanfranchi, in Parma, on Friday.

SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers have added another big name to their long-term injury list as they prepare to face Benetton in their United Rugby Championship Round Four clash on Saturday.

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY PREVIEW: The Stormers will be looking to get their United Rugby Championship campaign back on track in Italy this weekend.

NEWS: Two of South Africa's World Cup-winning Springboks will return to domestic action less than a week after completing a victory tour of their home country.

SPOTLIGHT: Head coach John Dobson says Duane Vermeulen is keen on joining the Stormers as a coach.