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INVESTIGATION: @king365ed goes behind the scenes to find out just how deep the rot is at a decaying Lions Rugby Company!

NEWS: Wallabies assistant coach Dan McKellar and scrum coach Petrus du Plessis have resigned from their respective positions effective immediately.

Experienced scrumhalf Baptiste Serin has been added to France's Six Nations squad instead of Nolann Le Garrec, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) announced.

NEWS: All Blacks coach Ian Foster admitted Wednesday it was "highly unlikely" that he would be in charge next year, as speculation grows in New Zealand about his future.

STAT ATTACK: Jasper Wiese has put his hand up once again to be the first-choice pick for South Africa's No.8 jersey when the World Cup starts later this year.

STATISTICAL SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers' strong defensive performance in Saturday's North-South derby helped pave the way for their victory.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: England centre Manu Tuilagi received a ban on Tuesday after being sent off playing for club side Sale Sharks last weekend.

NEWS: The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has until Wednesday to clear up their decision regarding the Tel Aviv Heat and the Mzansi challenge the Israel Rugby Union (IRU) confirmed. 

REACTION: Lions Company CEO Rudolf Straeuli is not about to sweep any perceived administrative issues and player unhappiness under the carpet.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks will not deviate from their counter-attacking plan, despite the loss of fullback Aphelele Fassi ahead of their crucial United Rugby Championship clash against Ulster this weekend.

SEVENS SPOTLIGHT: A long-haul flight on your way to a Test debut can feel like it lasts forever, especially if that first appearance for your country was the culmination of a lifetime of hard work and sacrifices.

England captain Owen Farrell expressed sympathy for his Wales opponents as he urged his side to relish the challenge of playing in Cardiff should Saturday's strike-threatened Six Nations international go ahead.

NEWS: Wales coach Warren Gatland has delayed naming his team for Saturday's strike-threatened Six Nations clash against England in Cardiff, a Welsh Rugby Union spokeswoman told AFP on Tuesday.

VARSITY CUP WRAP: Defending champions UP-Tuks were shocked on home turf in Pretoria when UFS Shimlas scored a narrow 26-25 victory, while Maties sneak past Ikeys at the Danie Craven Stadium.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: A bumper Sydney crowd doesn't faze Allan Alaalatoa and his Brumbies as they kick off their Super Rugby Pacific campaign against their biggest rivals.

REACTION: SA Rugby President Mark Alexander has responded to reports suggesting he is fearing for his life due to the Mzansi challenge saga.

SPOTLIGHT: Courtney Lawes could make an England comeback in this weekend's Six Nations clash against Wales, but Tom Curry's hopes of a Test return have been scuppered by an unspecified leg injury.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Stormers loose forward Deon Fourie is slowly but surely booking his spot in the Springboks' 2023 World Cup squad.

SPOTLIGHT: Warren Gatland is confident Wales' clash with England on Saturday will go ahead and hopes the dispute between his players and the Welsh Rugby Union will be resolved.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok Sibusiso Nkosi's return for the Bulls' United Rugby Championship fixture against Stormers is a testimony of how support can nullify the stigma around mental health in rugby.

INJURY UPDATE: Joey Carbery has been called up to the enlarged Ireland squad for Saturday's Six Nations match with Italy as talismanic flyhalf Johnny Sexton is undergoing rehab for a groin injury he suffered in the 32-19 win over France over a week ago.

SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers got what they were hoping for when Glasgow Warriors pipped Ulster at Scotstoun, but the threats to South Africa's overall ambitions in the competition are multiplying.

SPOTLIGHT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen admitted that depth remains an issue in his squad after they suffered another United Rugby Championship defeat over the weekend.

SPOTLIGHT: Peter O'Mahony said on Monday Ireland's incredible journey under head coach Andy Farrell since the 2019 Rugby World Cup had been the pivotal factor in him signing a year-long extension to his present contract.

SPOTLIGHT: A mentally and physically revitalised Michael Hooper has changed his tune and says he's ready to resume the Wallabies captaincy if he's asked.

NEWS: Castres announced they had sacked head coach Pierre-Henry Broncan and replaced him with former British and Irish Lions lock Jeremy Davidson, despite them finishing runners-up in the French Top 14 last season.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: A 36-player England squad has been named by head coach Steve Borthwick for their Round Three Six Nations match against Wales.

REACTION: The Stormers are well on their way to another South African Shield title after their 23-19 win over the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Leicester Tigers secured a hard-fought 24-18 victory over league leaders Saracens at Welford Road in Round 17 of the Premiership

JAPAN LEAGUE ONE, ROUND EIGHT WRAP: Director of Rugby Steve Hansen's bold decision to move Wille le Roux to flyhalf for Verblitz's clash against the Green Rockets paid off.

REACTION:  Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White refused to make any excuses following his team's 19-23 defeat to the Stormers at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

REACTION: Sharks finally have a flyhalf they can rely on reveals Director of Rugby Niel Powell.

REACTION: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen dispelled suggestions that there is a "disconnect" between players and coaches in Johannesburg.

MATCH REPORT: Leinster maintained their 100 per cent record in the United Rugby Championship with a convincing 43-14 home win over Dragons.

MATCH REPORT: Cardiff has caused a huge upset by beating Benetton 30-13 thanks to a very late score by Ben Thomas in the United Rugby Championship at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Scarlets produced a dominant home performance to claim a 42-14 victory over Edinburgh in the BKT United Rugby Championship.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: There were wins for Northampton Saints and London Irish on Saturday in Round 17 of the Premiership.

URC REPORT: The Lions are still without a win against fellow South African opposition this season after they suffered a 7-29 defeat to the Sharks in a Round 14 clash at Ellis Park on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Connacht is heading back to Galway with five points in the bag after beating Zebre 57-34 in round 14 of the United Rugby Championship on Saturday.

EXCLUSIVE: Suspended former Western Province Rugby Football Union President Zelt Marais is facing yet another disciplinary hearing.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Springbok coaches, management and a group of 14 players will kick off the 2023 season with a three-week physical and rugby development camp in Cape Town – from Sunday until Friday, March 10.

England international Manu Tuilagi could get a lengthy ban after he was sent off for foul play during Sale Sharks' 34-38 defeat to Northampton Saints at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday.

WATCH as Bulls veteran Morne Steyn perfectly executes a monstrous 50:22 - from his own 22.

NEWS: Italy’s Jake Polledri will miss the Six Nations fixture against Ireland next week with the news that the Gloucester flanker required surgery on his right shoulder.

URC REPORT: The Stormers produced an outstanding defensive performance in their 23-19 victory over the Bulls in a Round 14 clash at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: All Blacks star Rieko Ioane has denied claims that he has taken a contract in Japan’s Rugby League One.

NEWS: Reece Hodge, the experienced Wallaby utility back, is set to join French Top 14 club Bayonne after the World Cup.

MATCH REPORT: Munster showed no mercy as Gavin Coombes’ hat-trick of tries inspired a thumping 58-3 win over an off-colour Ospreys in their United Rugby Championship clash at Thomond Park.

FRIDAY WRAP: Scrumhalf Harry Randall scored two tries to move Bristol off the bottom of the Premiership table with a bonus-point victory over Newcastle at Ashton Gate.

SATURDAY PREVIEW: The spotlight will be on the South African derbies this weekend as the 2022/2023 United Rugby Championship season enters Round 14.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round 14 encounter between the Bulls and Stormers at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round 14 encounter between the Lions and Sharks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

SPOTLIGHT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White believes Saturday's clash against the Stormers will be the "biggest" North-South derby he will be involved in since he took charge of the Bulls.

STATS ATTACK: The Stormers will have to keep a close eye on Bulls duo Elrich Louw and Ruan Nortje based on the United Rugby Championship's latest stats piece.

PREVIEW: Uzair Cassiem revealed the dream to play for the Springboks will always be a constant as he plies his trade in France with Bayonne.

SPOTLIGHT: Eddie Jones says he will consider pinching Australia's Super Rugby Pacific coaches to form part of a Wallabies set-up intent on pulling off the heist of winning the Rugby World Cup.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Stormers made two changes to the side that will face the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.

NEWS: Former Springbok captain Wynand Claassen suffered a major setback in his bid to have the Newlands stadium declared a heritage site.

MATCH REPORT: Glasgow Warriors extended their unbeaten streak in all competitions to 10 matches with a hard-fought 17-11 United Rugby Championship victory over Ulster at Scotstoun.

NEWS UPDATE: The fall-out over the South African Rugby Union’s decision to 'withdraw' an invitation to Tel Aviv Heat to play in the Mzansi Challenge has escalated - resulting in court action against the national body.

TRANSFER NEWS: Former Highlanders utility back Kendrick Lynn has returned to New Zealand after nine years in France.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls have announced a strong matchday 23 that will do battle against the Stormers in round 14 of the United Rugby Championship, in Pretoria.

REACTION: Wales head coach Warren Gatland would not support his players if they decided to strike ahead of their Six Nations clash with England.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Travis Ismaiel will complete a national team trifecta at the LA Sevens next weekend after being named in the BlitzBoks Sevens squad that will contest the North American leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series in the USA and Canada later this month.

SPOTLIGHT: Stormers hooker Siyabonga Ntubeni is ready to give his all on the field again as we enter the business end of the United Rugby Championship's round-robin stage.

WATCH as Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen explains to @king365ed why his team struggles against South African rivals, but remain competitive in Europe.

WATCH as Stormers defence coach Norman Laker talks about the impact the departure of veteran Springbok Marcell Coetzee had on the Bulls.

SPOTLIGHT: Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell made it clear that he wants Aphelele Fassi to extend his stay in Durban.

JAPAN LEAGUE ONE, ROUND EIGHT: There was some big news on Faf de Klerk coming out of Japan on Thursday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has revealed his team to face the Sharks in a United Rugby Championship Round 14 clash in Johannesburg on Saturday.

WATCH as Nigel Owens returns to review another week of Six Nations action!

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell has revealed his team to face the Lions in a United Rugby Championship Round 14 clash in Johannesburg on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Australian rugby is celebrating a recruitment win after Frankie Goldsbrough resisted Rugby League's overtures to sign with the Queensland Reds.

FRIDAY PREVIEW: Ulster will face an uphill task against one of the form teams of the United Rugby Championship in Franco Smith’s Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium on Friday.

NEWS: Cheslin Kolbe wanted to get something off his chest.

NEWS UPDATE: Wasps have been cleared to play in next season's Championship, but there will be no such place in the English second-tier for fellow crisis club Worcester.

NEWS: Ireland lock Tadhg Beirne has been ruled out for the rest of the Six Nations due to surgery on his ankle, the Irish Rugby Football Union said Thursday.

WATCH as Stormers defence coach Norman Laker tells @king365ed how they will deal with the expected wet conditions at Loftus Versfeld.

SPOTLIGHT: Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones believes he will have the goods to replicate the Springboks' success.

REACTION: Former Wales captain Sam Warburton has thrown his weight behind a possible players' strike that could threaten next week's Six Nations clash against England in Cardiff.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: France prop Uini Atonio will play no further part in his team's 2023 Six Nations campaign.

WATCH as Bulls scrum coach Werner Kruger unpacks the #BIG North-South derby at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

NEWS UPDATE: The Welsh Rugby Union and the country's professional players on Wednesday moved closer to a deal that could avert a threatening player strike.

UPDATE: @king365ed unpacks the latest development in the protracted Newlands sale saga!

SPOTLIGHT: Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones is not too concerned about who is going to be the next All Blacks coach.

SPOTLIGHT: Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham says Eddie Jones' all-seeing eye will keep Super Rugby Pacific players "on edge" as they bid to secure a spot in the Wallabies' World Cup squad.

INJURY UPDATE: Springbok lock Rudolf Snyman will make his long-awaited in March, Munster confirmed.

SPOTLIGHT: It's a World Cup year and players will be looking to put their hands up for selection in this season's Super Rugby Pacific campaign.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The return of Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has been accompanied by a different 'energy'  at Loftus Versfeld.

TRANSFER NEWS: Munster confirmed that Malakai Fekitoa will depart at the end of the current season, after one year at the Irish province.

SQUAD UPDATE: Steve Borthwick is counting the cost of his first win as England coach.

NEWS: The under-fire and cash-strapped Welsh Rugby Union is facing a new crisis that could scupper their next Six Nations Test.

NEWS: The match officials' appointments of the United Rugby Championship Round 14 fixtures have been confirmed.

Sharks flyhalf Curwin Bosch's latest admission has placed a big target on former teammate and Lions stand-in captain Marius Louw.

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: France prop Uini Atonio has cited following his controversial yellow card during the Six Nations Round two clash against Ireland.

DERBY SPOTLIGHT: Stormers’ recent dominance over their nemesis the Bulls has added some much-needed needle to the BIG North-South derby at Loftus Versfeld this coming Saturday.

INJURY UPDATE: The Lions will head into Saturday's Round 14 United Rugby Championship encounter with the Sharks without one of their key playmakers.

SPOTLIGHT: Super Rugby chiefs have moved to reduce the role of oft-maligned television match officials in a concerted effort to speed up play in the 2023 tournament.

TEAM UPDATE: Ireland coach Andy Farrell retained 25 players for the two-day mini-camp at the team's high-performance centre later this week.

TRANSFER NEWS: Weekend media reports were littered with news that the Stormers' Springbok flyhalf Manie Libbok is on the Racing 92 wish list.

Ireland and Scotland were left as the only teams in the 2023 Six Nations still in with a chance of a Grand Slam after impressive wins over France and Wales respectively, while England recorded a first victory under coach Steve Borthwick.

Warren Gatland has called on beleaguered Wales to show their mettle as they bid to snap out of the rut which has seen them crash to heavy defeats in their opening two Six Nations matches.

WATCH as Lions Company CEO Rudolf Straeuli explains to @king365ed why moving away from Ellis Park is not an option at the moment.

France may have built their success in the 2022 Six Nations by abandoning possession and counter-punching their opponents - but their change in strategy this year has yet to pay off as their 19-32 defeat to Ireland showed.

REACTION: Ireland captain Johnny Sexton says his side must build on their 32-19 win over France and secure either the Six Nations title or Grand Slam with no repeat of their dip in form in 2019.

SPOTLIGHT: The pressure in the race for play-off places is mounting as the United Rugby Championship returns during the first bye week of the Six Nations.

MATCH REPORT: England bounced back from last week's shock loss to Scotland to record a 31-14 win over Italy in a Six Nations Round Two match at Twickenham on Sunday.

PRE-SEASON WRAP: Len Ikitau's second-half double was enough for the Brumbies to skip clear after the Melbourne Rebels had fired their first shots ahead of the Super Rugby Pacific season.

NEWS UPDATE: World Rugby has been formally dragged into the blowout over the South African Rugby Union's decision to "withdraw" an invitation to Tel Aviv Heat to play in the Mzansi Challenge.

OPINION: Wales’ first-round performance didn’t go as planned, but Warren Gatland used his strong record against Scotland to his advantage and rang the changes in key positions.

MATCH REPORT: Scotland finally broke their long-lived second-round stumbles with a 35-7 win over Wales at Murrayfield on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Ireland recorded their 13th successive home win, beating the Six Nations title holders France 32-19 at Landsdown Road on Saturday.

REACTION: Scotland coach Gregor Townsend praised the "focus and competitiveness" of Finn Russell after the mercurial flyhalf delivered three assists for tries in a record 35-7 win over Wales on Saturday.

REACTION: Ireland head coach Andy Farrell said "character" had been the pivotal factor in his side's impressive 32-19 Six Nations victory over defending champions France in a match he labelled as a "titanic game."

TRANSFER NEWS: Fiji international centre Semi Radradra signed a two-year deal with Lyon as the Top 14 side became the 30-year-old's third French club.

OPINION: Daniel Gallan rates the England players after their 31-14 win over Italy at Twickenham on Sunday!

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Six Nations Round Two encounter between England and Italy at Twickenham in London.

SIX NATIONS BUILD-UP: Italy flyhalf Tommaso Allan made a very brave statement ahead of the Six Nations Round two clash against England at Twickenham.

SOCIAL REACTION: Top international referee Wayne Barnes stirred up a storm online following some controversial calls during the Six Nations fixture between Ireland and France in Dublin on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok wing Sibusiso Nkosi is "feeling the light" again after taking some time off to deal with mental health issues.

OPINION: Scotland backed up their Calcutta Cup success with a bonus point 35-7 thumping of a hapless Wales at Murrayfield.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Six Nations Round Two encounter between Scotland and Wales at Murrayfield in Edinburgh.

OPINION: The arrival of France in Dublin two years on from their last visit was the perfect moment to stress test the voluminous progress of Ireland under Andy Farrell, going from relatively nowhere to becoming the world’s No. 1 ranked side.

OPINION: France is the only team to have won at Landsdown Road during Andy Farrell’s tenure and they came to Dublin in excellent form.

ROUND TWO PREVIEW: England coach Steve Borthwick has warned his side to beware of the speed of Italy's backs ahead of their Six Nations clash at Twickenham on Sunday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Six Nations Round Two encounter between Ireland and France in Dublin.

REACTION: Steve Borthwick said the memory of being dropped by England while on honeymoon had steeled him for demoting Marcus Smith to the bench for Sunday's Six Nations international against Italy at Twickenham.

WATCH as Lions CEO Rudolf Straeuli tells @king365ed about the contract negotiations with their coaching staff and players.

LISTEN as South Africa's Director of Rugby Johan Erasmus calls out former Springbok coach Nick Mallett over a series of inaccurate statements on television.

DEVELOPING NEWS: @king365ed brings you the latest developments around the WPRFU's protracted administration and the feelings of some fringe clubs.

UPDATE: The Bulls confirmed the appointment of the experienced coach Sean Everitt on a short-term deal.

SPOTLIGHT: Ireland scrumhalf Conor Murray is "in good form" and ready to face France in their Six Nations blockbuster on Saturday despite his father suffering serious injuries in a road accident.

ROUND TWO PREVIEW: Scotland head into their match against Wales at Murrayfield on Saturday determined to avoid a repeat of the second-round stumbles that have so often proved costly to their Six Nations hopes.

NEWS: The new owners of former Premiership club Worcester said on Thursday that a renamed team would not play in English Rugby Union's second tier next season.

REACTION: Eddie Jones has admitted Steve Borthwick was "probably right" when stating he had inherited an England rugby team that "weren't good at anything".

NEWS: Springbok Sibusiso Nkosi returned to training with the Bulls on Thursday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Marcus Smith has been dropped to the bench, with England captain Owen Farrell named at flyhalf for Sunday's Six Nations match against Italy at Twickenham.

SPOTLIGHT: Huw Jones believes he is better equipped to deal with the complexities of the No.13 channel as he revives his international career with Scotland.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: A string of home defeats shattered the All Blacks' aura of invincibility but talisman Ardie Savea revealed that the three-time champions will find a "fix" before this year's World Cup.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Paolo Garbisi will miss Italy's Six Nations clash with England this weekend as the Montpellier flyhalf continues his recovery from a knee injury suffered at the start of the year.

SPOTLIGHT: Regarded as one of the "pillars" of the London Irish team, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, has been named Player of the Month for January 2023.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has made one change to his starting XV for Saturday's crunch Six Nations clash against France in Dublin.

TRANSFER NEWS: Northampton Saints confirmed that David Ribbans will depart the Club at the end of the 2022/23 season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: France head coach Fabien Galthie has revealed his team to face Ireland in a Six Nations Round Two clash in Dublin on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: All Blacks captain Sam Cane is hoping that the bosses at New Zealand Rugby's headquarters can help limit the off-field distractions for his team ahead of the World Cup.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wales coach Warren Gatland has dropped three British and Irish Lions forwards from a revamped starting XV for Saturday's Six Nations match against Scotland.

Ireland host France at Lansdowne Road on Saturday in one of the most eagerly awaited Six Nations clashes of recent years pitching the top two world ranked teams against each other.

NEWS: Former Sharks coach Sean Everitt is reportedly a new addition to the Bulls' coaching team.

SPOTLIGHT: Ireland captain Johnny Sexton said he will be fit for this weekend's Six Nations match against France before joking that he hoped he had not jinxed himself for the fixture.

INJURY UPDATE: Munster issued some positive news regarding injured Springbok Rudolf Snyman.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Zander Fagerson has been recalled to Scotland's starting side for their Six Nations match at home to Wales on Saturday.

NEWS: One of the Stormers' key players has signed a contract extension.

NEWS: All Blacks star Dane Coles decided that he will retire at the end of 2023.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: England head coach Steve Borthwick has cut his squad from 36 to 29 ahead of this Sunday’s Six Nations round two match at home to Italy.

SPOTLIGHT: France flyhalf Romain Ntamack says Ireland are "comfortable favourites" for Saturday's predicted Six Nations title decider with Ireland in Dublin.

NEWS: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson caused a stir on Wednesday when he revealed that New Zealand Rugby will make an announcement on the appointment process for the next All Blacks “in the next few days”.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has made his much-anticipated return to Loftus Versfeld.

NEWS: Former Springbok captain Jean De Villiers has been making headlines for his heroics, apprehending an alleged shoplifter in Paarl.

NEWS: Veteran New Zealand lock Brodie Retallick on Wednesday joined the exodus of All Blacks signing to play for Japanese clubs in 2024 following the Rugby World Cup.

WATCH as Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell unpacks his team's tough run-in to the URC play-offs.

NEWS: England will be bolstering their coaching team ahead of the World Cup in France later this year.

SUPER SPOTLIGHT: A pre-season trial game will serve as a critical moment in Harry Wilson's rugby career.

INTERVIEW: Ireland wing James Lowe says it will be "a different French beast" that faces the Irish in what some are already billing as the Six Nations title decider in Dublin on Saturday.

REACTION: Scotland wing Duhan van der Merwe has opened up on his sensational try in his team's 29-23 win over England in Round One of this year's Six Nations.

NEWS: Wales great Alun Wyn Jones has been passed fit to play against Scotland in the Six Nations, British media reported Tuesday.

NEWS: South Africa will have to break an eight-decade-long drought when they face New Zealand in the Rugby Championship this year.

NEWS: England is set to lose the services of another top-flight coach.

NEWS: All Black Test centurions Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett have announced they will spend time playing in Japan from 2024.

SPOTLIGHT: Melbourne will look to a trimmed-down Trevor Hosea to have a bigger presence as the Rebels try to get their Super Rugby Pacific season off to a flying start.

REACTION: Tel Aviv Heat, Israel's first professional team, has slammed the South African Rugby Union for peddling 'politics of hatred '.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: England may have a new coaching set-up, but they are still playing the same 'robotic' style as before.

SPOTLIGHT: There are a few changes in World Rugby's Rankings after the first round of this year's Six Nations.

SQUAD UPDATE: Henry Slade has recovered from injury in time to be named in England's 36-man squad for Saturday's Six Nations clash against Italy.

NEWS: A court in Argentina on Monday sentenced five amateur rugby players from the same team to life imprisonment for beating a teenager to death in a crime with alleged racist undertones.

REACTION: Stormers head coach John Dobson had plenty of praise for his forwards after they bullied the Sharks in Durban over the weekend.

REACTION: Steve Borthwick said the England team he took over from Eddie Jones "weren't good at anything" following a defeat in his first match in charge.

NEWS: Ireland will be without three big names when they face France in a Six Nations Round Two clash in Dublin on Saturday.

INTERVIEW: France got the defence of their Six Nations title off to a winning start on Sunday but it was, as the Duke of Wellington said about the Battle of Waterloo, "a close run thing".

SPOTLIGHT: The 2023 Six Nations started with a trio of away wins to mark the start of the international season in this World Cup year.

NEWS: All Blacks mental skills coach Gilbert Enoka, who introduced what he called a "no d***heads policy" into the New Zealand set-up, has joined Premier League club Chelsea on a short-term consultancy basis.

NEWS: Western Province Rugby has signed another talented group of junior players who start their professional rugby journey this year.

NEWS: England head coach Simon Middleton will leave his job at the end of the upcoming Women's Six Nations, it was announced on Monday.

NEWS: The All Blacks and Highlanders' coaching teams received some good news on one of their players.

REACTION: France coach Fabien Galthie said Sunday's tight 29-24 Six Nations win over Italy left a "bitter taste" despite taking Les Bleus' Test match winning streak to 14 matches.

REACTION: Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell found it hard to defend his team's performance after they suffered a demoralising 19-46 defeat to the Stormer.

ANALYSIS: Ben Smith unpacks the tactical error that backfired on England in Steve Borthwick's first Test in charge!

JAPAN LEAGUE ONE ROUND SEVEN WRAP: Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk has picked up an injury while on duty for the Yokoyama Eagles in Japan.

REACTION: Gregor Townsend compared Duhan van der Merwe's superb solo try to something out of the 'Jonah Lomu Rugby' video game as Scotland condemned Steve Borthwick to defeat in his first match as England boss.

SPOTLIGHT: Eddie Jones may have had the best win percentage of any England coach, but the Australian has been quietly erased from the RFU's England rugby media collage at Twickenham.

MATCH REPORT: France got their Six Nations title defence off to a winning start after squeezing past Italy 29-24 in Rome on Sunday.

REACTION: Warren Gatland remained positive despite his second spell as Wales coach starting with a comprehensive 10-34 loss at home to Ireland in a Six Nations opener at Cardiff on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: The try of the 2023  Six Nations may have already been scored in the first round care of Duhan van der Merwe.

REACTION: Stormers head coach John Dobson admitted that his team will have to learn to be successful without star playmaker Manie Libbok.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Six Nations Round One encounter between Italy and France at Stadio Olimpico, in Rome.

URC REPORT: The Stormers returned to winning ways in the United Rugby Championship with a convincing 46-19 victory over the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.

PRE-SEASON REPORT: Reds No.8 Harry Wilson took the first steps out of the Wallabies wilderness with a two-try haul against the Western Force

SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand forward Ardie Savea says the opportunity to earn a significant payday was the main reason behind his decision to join Japan's Kobelco Kobe Steelers after the Rugby World Cup this year.

MATCH REPORT: Scotland scored their third successive win over England when they came from behind to open their 2023 Six Nations campaign with a 29-23 win at Twickenham on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Ireland, the world's top-ranked team, ended a 10-year wait for a win in Cardiff to put down a big marker in the opening match of the Six Nations.

OPINION: Ian Cameron rates the Irish players after their 34-10 Six Nations Round One win over Wales.

OPINION: Gavin Harper rates the Scotland players after their 29-23 win over England in a Six Nations Round One encounter.

OPINION: Liam Heagney rates the England players after their heartbreaking 23-29 loss to Scotland at Twickenham.

OPINION: PA news agency rates the Welsh players after their 10-34 loss to Ireland in Six Nations Round One.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Six Nations Round One encounter between England and Scotland at Twickenham in London.

NEWS: Matt Giteau has announced he is retiring aged 40 after a career in which he won 103 caps, but he may be remembered more for 'Giteau's Law' which was key to the Wallabies reaching the 2015 Rugby World Cup Final.

WATCH as Aphelele Onke Okuhle Fassi explains what aspects of his game he is working on in order to get a recall to the Springbok team.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Six Nations Round One encounter between Wales and Ireland in Cardiff.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round 1 catch-up encounter between the Sharks and Stormers at Kings Park in Durban.

NEWS: Hollie Davidson and Jaco Peyper head a stellar inaugural management committee elected to the representative body for international high performance match officials, chaired by Mark Egan.

WATCH as World Rugby referees Angus Gardner and Matthew Carley sit down to explain all the latest laws for players.

INTERVIEW: South Africa's franchises will be without the services of their World Cup-bound Springboks for much longer than initially expected.

NEWS: Japanese club Red Dolphins suspended operations after a media report alleged players stripped, groped waitresses and smashed glasses at a bar.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lyon wing Ethan Dumortier will celebrate his first cap for France when the defending champions start their Six Nations campaign with a trip to Italy on Sunday.

PREVIEW ROUND ONE: Ange Capuozzo faces a "big challenge" in Italy's Six Nations opener against defending champions France after bursting onto the Test scene last year, coach Kieran Crowley said.

ROUND ONE CATCH-UP MATCH: The Stormers will be looking to not only cement their place at No.2 on the United Rugby Championship standings, but also avoid the ignominy of losing three consecutive matches.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks return to Kings Park on Saturday when they host the Stormers in what will be another intense United Rugby Championship clash between two old rivals.

PREVIEW ROUND ONE: Warren Gatland said he wanted to make Wales fans "proud" of their team when they launch their Six Nations campaign at home to Ireland on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Flank Deon Fourie will captain the Stormers in their United Rugby Championship encounter with the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.

NEWS: SA Rugby announced on Friday that it had withdrawn an invitation to the Tel Aviv Heat to play in the Mzansi Challenge, following representations from multiple stakeholders.

NEWS: The Blue Bulls Rugby Union confirmed that they have been made aware of an alleged murder case involving a young rugby player who represented the Blue Bulls Country Districts during the 2022 season.

NEWS: Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) chiefs have admitted being in "denial" over the extent of sexism and misogyny in the organisation and said warning signs were missed.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Tommaso Allan will start at No.10 for a buoyant Italy team against France in their Six Nations opener, with the Azzurri keen to push on after their historic victory over the Wallabies.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: This year's Six Nations Championship starts on Saturday - and for officials confronting multiple crises among Europe's elite, kick-off cannot come soon enough.

INTERVIEW: Bulls coach Jake White has spoken out about what was a near-death experience that opened his eyes and reignited his passion for the game.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Six Nations gets underway on Saturday, with players hoping to impress ahead of the World Cup which starts in September.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Steve Borthwick has named his first England side - to take on Scotland in their Six Nations opener at Twickenham on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: World Rugby chief Bill Beaumont said Friday the sport's "high profile" means it is coming under more scrutiny than ever before, with a series of scandals rocking Europe's elite teams.

SPOTLIGHT: The lure of the 2025 British and Irish Lions series and 2027 home World Cup could be key factors in keeping Wallabies powerhouse Taniela Tupou in Australia long-term.

SPOTLIGHT: Saturday's United Rugby Championship South African derby in Durban has a mini Springbok trial packed into the drama in the Shark Tank.

WATCH as Springbok outside back Canan Moodie talks about his meteoric rise to international honours and winning the Young Player of the Year award.

TEAM UPDATE: Leigh Halfpenny has been ruled out of Wales' Six Nations opener against Ireland on Saturday due to a back spasm.

PREVIEW ROUND ONE: Steve Borthwick begins his career as England head coach against Scotland in Saturday's Six Nations opener at Twickenham with a side showing several changes from the Eddie Jones era.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: One-time Springbok Stephan Lewies has been slapped with a two-match ban for foul play, after he captained Harlequins to a 24-42 loss to London Irish in a Premiership match at the weekend.

NEWS: Choirs have been told they can no longer sing the Tom Jones hit 'Delilah' while performing during Wales rugby international matchdays at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ireland head coach Andrew Farrell has named his match-day squad to face Wales in the Millenium Stadium on the opening weekend of the 2023 Six Nations Championship.

NEWS: Fiji is looking for a new head coach seven months before the World Cup after New Zealander Vernon Cotter resigned on Thursday because of "personal reasons".

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell seemed to have finally turned the Durban-based franchise into silverware contenders, instead of being the ultimate pretenders.

NEWS UPDATE: The Rugby Football Union has once again 'moved the goalposts' for the return of suspended Premiership clubs Wasps and Worcester Warriors.

Ireland great Mike Gibson believes the current side head into the Six Nations with justified confidence of success following a rise to number one in the world rankings that is "beyond dreams".

NEWS: In a first for women's rugby in South Africa, the Blue Bulls Company has awarded 35 female rugby players professional contracts.

INTERVIEW: Steve Borthwick heads into his first match as England head coach, a Calcutta Cup clash against Scotland at Twickenham on Saturday, determined to ensure the team avoid making the same mistakes that marred his international career.

PREVIEW: There will be Springbok bragging rights up for grabs when Round Seven of Japan's League One takes place at the weekend.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has named his squad to face England in the opening fixture of the 2023 Six Nations this Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok lock Eben Etzbeth, South Africa's best player, underpinned the unpredictable nature of the 2023 World Cup.

NEWS: The Stormers, renowned for their attacking prowess, retained one of their most clinical finishers.

NEWS: The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) committee has unanimously approved a proposal to achieve 40 percent female representation on its committee by the end of 2023.

SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks' impressive Champions Cup show in the Pool stage has made sure four of the players make the longlist of nominees for the 2023 EPCR Player of the Year award.

SPOTLIGHT: Ireland winning the Six Nations title will not have a direct impact on their hopes of finally reaching at least the World Cup semifinals.

SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers received some positive news on Evan Roos after he limped off the field in his team's United Rugby Championship clash against Ulster over the weekend.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Warren Gatland says Wales will relish being the underdogs in their Six Nations opener at home to Ireland on Saturday - the first match of his second stint in charge.

NEWS: The South African Rugby Union on Wednesday revealed the full fixture list for the Springboks in 2023 - including the World Cup.

REACTION: Overlooked in World Rugby Awards, Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth has finally been rewarded for his incredible 2022 season.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: England head coach Steve Borthwick has trimmed his squad down to 29 players ahead of their Six Nations opener against Scotland at Twickenham on Saturday.

WATCH as Springbok World Cup winner Francois de Klerk produces another special play in Japan's League One.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wales head coach Warren Gatland has named his team to face Ireland at a sold-out Millennium Stadium in the opening round of the 2023 Six Nations on Saturday.

NEWS: The winner of South Africa's Player of the Year award for 2022 has finally been unveiled.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Smartphone changed the landscape of the world forever and it seems now the introduction of the Smart Ball could have the same effect on rugby.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks claimed arguably the key result of the weekend in terms of the play-off battle with their hard-fought 22-19 victory up in Edinburgh taking them into the top eight.

NEWS: SA Rugby has announced the competition structure for the 2023 rugby season.

SPOTLIGHT: Stormers head coach John Dobson admitted that he never experienced so much bad luck with injuries before and during a game as he did in Belfast over the weekend.

SPOTLIGHT: It might be his second coming as Wallabies coach but Eddie Jones insists he should not be treated as the messiah as he sets his sights on resurrecting a golden era for Rugby Union in Australia.

INJURY UPDATE: England have suffered a fresh injury blow ahead of this weekend's Six Nations opener against Scotland after Dan Kelly was ruled out with a thigh injury.

NEWS: Acting Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Nigel Walker has warned the future of the game in Wales is at stake over the allegations of misogyny, sexism, racism and homophobia that have roiled the organisation.

REACTION: The Lions assistant coach Jaque Fourie admitted his team is in dire need of regrouping and reset sessions following their challenging tour.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Bordeaux-Begles lock Thomas Jolmes was called up to France's extended 42-man Six Nations squad after Yacouba Camara withdrew with a knee injury, the French management announced on Monday.

SPOTLIGHT: Former France loose forward Olivier Magne said off-the-field problems bedevilling the country's rugby are "sad" to see as Les Bleus prepare to start the defence of their Six Nations crown on Sunday.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: England head coach Steve Borthwick has confirmed his 36-man squad for this weekend’s Six Nations opener against Scotland.

WATCH as Wallabies duo Nic White and Ned Hanigan take part in bizarre scenes at the Australian Open in Melbourne.

NEWS: The chief executive officer of the Welsh Rugby Union resigned on Sunday amid allegations of a "toxic culture" at the organisation.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Toulon wing Gabin Villiere, who played his first club game in two months on Saturday, was recalled Sunday to a revised 42-man France squad ahead of the Six Nations which begins next weekend.

DAY THREE WRAP: New Zealand produced a powerful performance to crush the BlitzBoks 38-0 in the Final at Sydney Sevens on Sunday.

REACTION: Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell praised his team's fighting spirit on defence after their 22-19 victory over Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday.

SQUAD UPDATE: Ulster hooker Tom Stewart has joined the Ireland squad in Quinta da Lago to provide additional cover following a hamstring issue picked up by Ronan Kelleher.

REACTION: Bulls assistant coach Chris Rossouw has opened up on a big missed opportunity in his side's United Rugby Championship Round 13 encounter against the Scarlets in Llanelli

MATCH REPORT: Ospreys were forced to dig deep and staged an impressive comeback, beating Zebre 28-24 at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.

JAPAN LEAGUE ONE WRAP: The Wild Knights and Kubota Spears remain unbeaten, but only after both came through in thrillers that headlined the latest round of Japan Rugby League One.

TOP 14 SATURDAY WRAP: Racing 92 director of rugby Laurent Travers hailed Finn Russell as "honourable" after the Scotland flyhalf kicked an 80th-minute penalty to claim a 39-36 win over La Rochelle.

PREMIERSHIP MATCH REPORT: Michael Dykes ran in a debut hat-trick as London Irish took the derby day spoils in a 42-24 home win over Harlequins.

URC REPORT: Luke McGrath scored two of Leinster's six tries as they made it 13 wins out of 13 United Rugby Championship games with a 38-14 win over Cardiff at the RDS.

The 2023 Six Nations gets underway this weekend and with it, the famous Rugby365 SuperBru pool makes a comeback.

URC REPORT: Fraser Brown scored a brace of tries to help Glasgow Warriors to a 42-28 United Rugby Championship victory over Dragons at Rodney Parade.

URC REPORT: Munster ran in six tries to leapfrog Benetton and climb into fifth place in the United Rugby Championship table with a 40-30 win over Benetton.

URC REPORT: Connacht continued their winning run over South African teams in Galway after they thumped the Lions 43-24 in a Round 13 United Rugby Championship clash.

DAY TWO WRAP: The South African Sevens team secured a dramatic 17-14 win over New Zealand at Allianz Stadium on Saturday to finish undefeated in Pool B at the Sydney Sevens and book a place in the quarter-finals.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Italy coach Kieran Crowley named on Saturday a 30-man squad for the Azzurri's opening Six Nations matches with reigning champions France and England.

URC REPORT: The Sharks moved into the top eight in the United Rugby Championship standings after a thrilling 22-19 win over Edinburgh at the Edinburgh Rugby Stadium on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Blue Bulls Rugby Union President Willem Strauss has given an update on Jake White.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Arron Reed’s last-minute try helped Sale Sharks earn a dramatic 30-27 win over a resilient Bath Rugby side who saw three men receive yellow cards at the AJ Bell Stadium.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round 13 United Rugby Championship clash between Connacht and the Lions in Galway.

URC MATCH REPORT:  A late try by Johnny McNicholl made sure the Scarlets recorded a 37-28 win over the Bulls in Llanelli on Friday. 

URC REPORT: The Stormers will be going back to the drawing board after they suffered a demoralising 5-35 defeat to Ulster in a United Rugby Championship Round 13 clash in Belfast on Friday.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: Francois Hougaard scored a dramatic winning try on his Saracens league debut as the Premiership leaders edged out Bristol 20-19 on Saturday.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round 13 United Rugby Championship clash between Edinburgh and the Sharks at the Edinburgh Rugby Stadium.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY PREVIEW: The United Rugby Championship tournament is reaching te business end as teams are eager to secure home playoff spots.

REACTION: The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has been left with no choice but to address their controversial decision to change tackle rules in the amateur game in England.

NEWS: The Bulls have confirmed the signing of a Premiership and Champions Cup winner.

NEWS: England have suffered a Six Nations injury blow after Elliot Daly was ruled out of the tournament with a hamstring problem.

NEWS: The Premier Division Clubs that participate in the Premiership of the Welsh Rugby Union are astonished and appalled by the allegations of sexism, racism and misogyny levelled at the Union.

REACTION: It was a case of when it rains it pours for the Stormers in Belfast on Friday.

WATCH as Springbok prop Wilco Louw stuns the Stoltman brothers Tom and Luke with his incredible strength.

NEWS: France captain Antoine Dupont will miss training this weekend for "personal reasons," a Les Bleus coaching staff source said on Thursday.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round 13 United Rugby Championship clash between the Scarlets and the Bulls in Llanelli.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round 13 United Rugby Championship clash between Ulster and the Stormers in Belfast.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell has revealed his team to face Edinburgh in Round 13 of the 2022/23 United Rugby Championship season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has tweaked his starting XV for Saturday's United Rugby Championship Round 13 clash against Connacht.

NEWS: Bernard Laporte on Friday resigned from his role as president of France's Rugby Union federation after being convicted of corruption, the sports minister said.

FRIDAY PREVIEW: The URC enters Round 13 on Friday where the teams will have the play-offs in the back of their minds as there are only six rounds of pool matches remaining in the competition including this week’s fixtures.

NEWS: Ireland coach Andy Farrell feels the tag of being Six Nations title favourites will ultimately aid Ireland in their World Cup quest for glory.

NEWS: World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin said there are plans in place to reduce the legal tackle height in the elite game.

NEWS: European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) have announced the dates, venues and kick-off times of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup Round of 16 matches.

NEWS: As Gareth Edwards was racing down the left touchline to finish off an unforgettable moments in rugby on his way to scoring the greatest try ever, his fear was that his hamstrings would stop him crowning a stunning move.

NEWS: Northampton flanker Lewis Ludlam said new England coach Steve Borthwick's combination of intelligence and passion had already made an impression on the squad.

NEWS: England star Ben Youngs has asked for clarity on the change to the tackle rule in the amateur game while there is fear the rule changes will spark a player exodus at club level.

SPOTLIGHT: Lions defence coach Jaque Fourie knows that his team will need to start putting 80-minute performances together if they are to make the play-offs in the 2022/23 United Rugby Championship season.

NEWS: Prosecutors in Argentina on Wednesday asked for life imprisonment for eight rugby players on trial over the killing of a teenager outside a nightclub three years ago, a crime that shocked the nation.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls have revealed their matchday squad for their Round 13 United Rugby Championship clash against Scarlets in Llanelli on Friday.

SPOTLIGHT: There is no shirt number more synonymous with the Six Nations than the iconic No.10 jersey – and with good reason.

JAPAN LEAGUE PREVIEW: Springbok Faf de Klerk and his Yokohama Canon Eagles teammates are primed to challenge defending champions Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights’ five-year unbeaten run in round six of Japan Rugby League One on Saturday.

NEWS: French clubs have voted against Bernard Laporte's proposal to appoint Patrick Buisson as interim president of the country's rugby federation (FFR), the governing body announced on Thursday.

NEWS: Alex King, new attack coach for Wales, believes the new backroom staff of Warren Gatland can help inspire a Wales revival despite little time with the squad ahead of the Six Nations opener against Ireland in Cardiff on February 4.

WORLD SEVENS SERIES: The Hamilton post-mortem earlier this week was brutal, but honest and much-needed for the Springbok Sevens team.

DAY ONE WRAP: The Springbok Sevens team opened their Sydney Sevens tournament with a strong showing on Friday, beating African foes Kenya 31-5 in their opening Pool B clash, leading 21-0 at the break at Allianz Stadium.

NEWS: Welsh Rugby Union chairman Ieuan Evans apologised for the WRU’s conduct following allegations of sexist, racist and homophobic bullying within the governing body and appointed a task force with "external expertise" to clean up Welsh rugby.

NEWS: Former SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux's battle to overturn the ruling that he pays back ZAR37-million to the University of Stellenbosch began in the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers head coach John Dobson has revealed his team for their Round 13 United Rugby Championship clash against Ulster in Belfast on Friday.

NEWS: Injury woes in the French camp ahead of the Six Nations are mounting with yet another player, Antoine Dupont’s understudy Leo Coly, sent back to his club (Montpellier) after suffering a thigh injury during training.

NEWS: England have been hit by an injury blow ahead of the Six Nations.

NEWS: South Africa is set to host the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in 2023 and 2024.

NEWS: Hacjivah Dayimani's playing future has been decided after starring for the Stormers since he joined in 2021.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok and Bulls flank Nizaam Carr says they are not going to let one horrible result derail their campaign as their focus shifts from the Champions Cup to the United Rugby Championship this week.

STATISTICAL SPOTLIGHT: With the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup taking a break until the end of March, the spotlight will now be on the United Rugby Championship for South Africa's teams.

NEWS: The delayed Round One United Rugby Championship fixture between the Sharks and the Stormers has a new timeslot.

SPOTLIGHT: Cameron Redpath believes the Six Nations represents an ideal opportunity to cement his place in the Scotland set-up following an injury-plagued start to his international career.

NEWS: England international Joe Launchbury has come out in support of his countrymen being lured to play in Japan due to the financial uncertainty in European club rugby.

NEWS: Wallaby coach Eddie Jones has an ally in stand-in sevens captain Henry Hutchison in his endeavour to poach rugby league players for national rugby side.

NEWS: Welsh Rugby Union chief Steve Phillips has vowed to make immediate changes in the governing body after admitting he was "shocked and appalled" by allegations of racist, homophobic and sexist bullying.

NEWS: French Rugby Federation (FFR) president Bernard Laporte was released without charge on Tuesday after being detained earlier in the day as part of an investigation into suspected tax fraud.

NEWS: Scotland followed the example of England, Ireland and Wales by banning transgender women from competing in contact rugby in the female category of the sport on Tuesday.

NEWS: Raphael Ibanez has extended his contract as general manager of the France rugby team until 2028.

If the opening rounds of the Champions’ Cup and Challenge Cup are anything to go by, then South African franchises have certainly made a massive impression first up.

NEWS: Ireland coach Andy Farrell and skipper Johnny Sexton have strongly disagreed with the RFU decision to limit the community game in England to waist-high tackles only from next season.

NEWS: The match officials' appointments of the United Rugby Championship Round 13 fixtures have been confirmed.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Northampton Saints centre, Fraser Dingwall has been suspended for three weeks for a dangerous tackle on Dillyn Leyds (Stade Rochelais) in Round Four of the Championship.

NEWS: Wales head coach Warren Gatland wants the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) to relook the 60-cap selection rule amidst fears of a player exodus.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT:  Ruben Van Heerden's signing has been welcomed with a smile and a list of expectations from the Stormers forwards coach Rito Hlungwani.

NEWS: England coach Steve Borthwicks’ woes continue with the withdrawal of Elliot Daly and Jamie George from the England squad due to injury.

BREAKING NEWS: French rugby federation president Bernard Laporte has been taken into custody for tax fraud, financial prosecutors said on Tuesday.

NEWS: Blitzbok Zain Davids says the SA Sevens team need to muscle up in order to have a more physical presence at the breakdowns.

NEWS: All Black legend Dan Carter has come out in support of axed Wallabies coach Dave Rennie, saying the sacking came out of the blue.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Happy but there are still two areas that are causing stress for  Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen.

The launch of the Six Nations gives coaches and captains a chance to size each other up before the action commences and this year it was County Hall in London that played host to the curtain-raiser.

NEWS: The 33-year-old experienced hooker Tom Cruse has signed with Northampton Saints until the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

REACTION: Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie's admission regarding Toulon could sound very concerning to the Bloemfontein faithful.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Lock Marvin Orie has been named captain of a 27-man Stormers squad for their United Rugby Championship encounter with Ulster in Belfast on Friday.

NEWS: Owen Farrell, who completed a ban for a dangerous tackle just in time for the Six Nations, has indicated, somewhat ironically, that he wants England to lead the way in making rugby safer.

NEWS: James Murphy exchanged a family holiday in the Kruger National Park for Sydney to join the Springbok Sevens squad for the Sevens this weekend.

NEWS: One of the top try scorers on the Sevens World Series, Kenya’s Collins Injera, has decided to call a halt on his career spanning 17 years.

NEWS: A young Leinster lock’s promising career has been cut short at the age of 23 due to a knee injury.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Captain Johnny Sexton dispelled injury concerns, declaring he is "good to go" for Ireland's Six Nations rugby opener against Wales in Cardiff on February 4.

SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT: It was a good weekend for the teams from South Africa in the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.

NEWS: South African born lock David Ribbans has been called up to join the England squad for a five-day camp.

NEWS: Former Wallaby and returning Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham predicts players will be on edge and out to impress new Australian coach Eddie Jones.

N THE SPOTLIGHT: Former winners Leinster and La Rochelle ended top of their groups thanks to impressive victories this weekend.

REACTION: Stormers head coach John Dobson made no excuses for his team's dismal start in their 30-16 win over Clermont on Saturday.

NEWS: Jamie Hodgson has been added to the Scotland squad for the upcoming Six Nations on Monday following fitness doubts over lock Jonny Gray.

NEWS: For the first time in the history of the Champions Cup tournament two Rounds of 16 matches will be played in South Africa.

TRANSFER NEWS: English flyhalf Freddie Burns will join the Highlanders for the 2023 edition of Super Rugby Pacific.

NEWS: Following the dramatic conclusion of the pool stage, only 12 teams have survived with newcomers Lions and Cheetahs booking spots in the Round of 16, respectively.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Edinburgh held on for a 20-14 victory over Saracens in a gripping Champions Cup Round 4 contest at the DAM Health Stadium on Sunday. 

NEWS: New England coach Steve Borthwick has put his stamp on the way forward for his team by scrapping overseas trips which were part of Eddie Jones’ preparation.

MATCH REPORT: Munster were defeated 16-20 in an enthralling Champions Cup Round 4 tussle with Stade Toulouse at the Stade Ernest Wallon on Sunday.

MATCH REPORT: London Irish’s hopes of reaching the Round of 16 went up in smoke after Montpellier completed an incredible comeback to draw 21-21 in the Champions Cup at GGL Stadium on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Ulster secured a place in the Champions Cup Round of 16 in dramatic fashion as they beat Sale Sharks 22-11 in Belfast on Saturday.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT:  The Stormers booked their spot in the Round of 16 with an emphatic 30-16 win over Clermont on Saturday in Cape Town. 

REACTION: The BlitzBoks dropped two close results at the New Zealand Sevens on Sunday and finished in a disappointing seventh place at the FMG Stadium in Hamilton.

CHALLENGE CUP REPORT: A last-minute penalty kick by Siya Masuku made sure the Cheetahs earned a spot in the Round of 16. 

CHALLENGE CUP REPORT: The Lions booked a home tie in the Round of 16 with a hard-fought 30-25 win over the Dragons on Sunday. 

WRAP: A host of South African players were on the try scoring list in round five of Japan Rugby League One.

TRANSFER NEWS: Rugby Australia and the Brumbies are thrilled to announce prop Allan Alaalatoa has committed his future to Australian Rugby until the end of 2027.

REACTION: Adapting to the Northern Hemisphere weather conditions continues to be a major challenge for the Bulls.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round Four Challenge Cup encounter between the Cheetahs and Section Paloise in Parma.

MATCH REPORT: Connacht Rugby missed out on home advantage in the Challenge Cup Round of 16 as they were beaten 35-21 at Newcastle Falcons on Saturday

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round Four Challenge Cup encounter between the Dragons and the Lions in Newport.

MATCH REPORT: Cardiff Rugby missed the chance to top Challenge Cup Pool A as they were beaten 37-24 at Brive on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Benetton Rugby couldn’t quite make it to the top of Pool B in the Challenge Cup – but they put in a determined display to edge Stade Français Paris 35-32 on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Gloucester Rugby hooker George McGuigan was the hero as he dotted down twice in a 26-17 win over Union Bordeaux-Bègles on Saturday to earn a place in the Champions Cup Round of 16.

MATCH REPORT: Leinster secured the top spot in Champions Cup Pool A and home advantage in the knockout stage as they overcame Racing 92 26-10 in Dublin on Saturday.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Exeter Chiefs earned a home tie in the Champions Cup Round of 16 after an emphatic 40-3 mauling of Castres Olympique at Sandy Park on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Northampton Saints exited the Champions Cup as they fell to a 13-31 defeat at the hands of defending champions Stade Rochelais in their Pool B meeting at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday.

SEVENS WRAP: Argentina secured World Rugby Sevens Series gold on a dramatic day two in Hamilton.

NEWS: European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) confirmed that it has been decided to move the venue of the Challenge Cup, Round four fixture between the Dragons and the Lions.

MATCH REPORT: The Harlequins produced a stunning performance, beating the Sharks 39-29 at the Twickenham Stoop in London. 

MATCH REPORT: Scarlets sealed top spot in Challenge Cup Pool B and a home match in the Round of 16 as they romped to a 20-7 win at Aviron Bayonnais in Round 4 on Saturday.

DAY ONE WRAP: A late try by Zain Davids against Argentina ensured that the BlitzBoks team finished the opening day of the New Zealand Sevens in Hamilton unbeaten as they progressed to the quarter-finals on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round Four Champions Cup encounter between the Stormers and Clermont in Cape Town.

TRANSFER NEWS: Experienced lock Ruben van Heerden will join the Stormers this week on a short-term contract.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: The Bulls will have to wait a little longer to see if they qualify for the Round of 16 in the Champions Cup after they suffered a 7-31 defeat to Lyon at Matmut Stadium de Gerland.

CHALLENGE CUP REPORT: RC Toulon secured a home tie in the EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16 as they eased to a 14-5 victory over Zebre Parma at the Stade Félix Mayol on Friday.

CHALLENGE CUP REPORT: Glasgow Warriors ensured they will have home advantage in the EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16 with an entertaining 19-19 draw with Bath at Scotstoun Stadium on Friday.

NEWS: Wallabies veteran Kurtley Beale was granted bail and ordered to surrender his passport on Saturday after being charged over an alleged sexual assault at a Sydney pub last month.

WATCH as Eben Etzebeth shows why he is not just a big strong physical second row star, but the Bok is actually a rugby genius.

WATCH as SARU designated Administrator Rian Oberholzer and WPRFU General Manager of Amateur Rugby Danny Jones unpack the process of the sale of Newlands Stadium.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round Four Champions Cup encounter between the Harlequins and the Sharks In London.

DO-OR-DIE: It’s all to play for at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday when the Stormers welcome Clermont Auvergne in Round Four of the Champions Cup.

SPOTLIGHT: SARU's designated Administrator for the Western Province Rugby Football Union, Rian Oberholzer, says there is some impatience when it comes to money that is owed to Flyt/Dreamworld.

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY PREVIEW: The Lions and the Cheetahs will be targeting strong finishes to their Challenge pool fixtures as they aim to finish in the top six in Pool B of the competition.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Rugby Football Union (RFU) announced that it approved a tackle height reduction across community rugby in England.

NEWS: Rugby World Cup said it was focussed on sailing into calmer waters following all the scandals that rocked the French Rugby Federation (FFR) in recent months.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: A new halfback pairing will dictate the backline of the Stormers when they host Clermont Auvergne in the Champions Cup at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

CHALLENGE CUP REPORT: Bristol Bears picked up a 33-19 bonus-point win over Perpignan at Ashton Gate on Friday as they ended their EPCR Challenge Cup Pool A campaign in style.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Ospreys qualified for the Champions Cup Round of 16 as an 88th-minute Jac Morgan score, converted by Owen Williams, handed them a 27-26 win at Leicester Tigers on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks team to take on Harlequins this weekend in their final pool match of the Champions Cup shows five changes from the side that defeated Bordeaux at Kings Park last weekend.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round Four Champions Cup encounter between Lyon and the Bulls at Matmut Stadium de Gerland.

NEWS: Wallabies playmaker Kurtley Beale was reportedly detained Friday over an alleged sexual assault, with Rugby Australia saying it was "aware of the situation".

BREAKING NEWS: Rugby Australia and the NSW Waratahs have suspended Kurtley Beale from all forms of Rugby with immediate effect.

FRIDAY PREVIEW: The Bulls, who are currently in sixth place in Pool A of the Champions Cup, will line up against Lyon at Matmut Stadium de Gerland in the opening match of the weekend on Friday.

FRIDAY PREVIEW: Glasgow Warriors seek a fourth win in the EPCR Challenge Cup as they welcome Bath on Friday.

VIDEO: Watch as SARU designated Administrator Rian Oberholzer opens up about the possibility of legal action if the Wynand Claassen heritage crusade succeeds.

SPOTLIGHT: The Western Province Rugby Football Union has provided a summary of their legal opinion on why Newlands Rugby Stadium should not be declared a heritage site.

NEWS: Eddie Jones has dropped his first selection hints in the wide-open race to wear the Wallabies' No.10 in France and it doesn't bode well for Quade Cooper.

JAPAN LEAGUE PREVIEW: Springbok Malcolm Marx returns to action this weekend for the Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay clash with the Kobelco Kobe Steelers in round five of the Japan Rugby League One which kicks off in Kanagawa on Saturday.

WORLD SEVENS SERIES: After a short break for the holiday season, the World Rugby Sevens Series 2023 continues with New Zealand kicking off what will be a thrilling year for sevens.

SPOTLIGHT: Lions forwards coach Albert van den Berg says some "hard calls" need to be made if his team are to become a force in Europe.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls have made a few changes to their personnel in their matchday 23 that will duel French side, Lyon on Friday in Round Four of the 2022/23 Champions Cup.

REACTION: Chris Robshaw believes Eddie Jones will be determined to avenge his sacking by England and predicts Australia will benefit from an immediate uplift following his appointment as their head coach.

NEWS: Stephan Lewies, captain of Harlequins, has re-committed to the club for the 2023/24 season.

NEWS: Retired back row Sam Warburton said his old boss, new Wales coach Warren Gatland, is held in high regard and could still make a huge impact.

NEWS: The sale of Newlands Stadium remains crucial to the future sustainability of Western Province Rugby.

NEWS: Scotland wing Rufus McLean has been suspended by club side Glasgow after pleading guilty to domestic abuse charges.

NEWS: More than 55 former amateur rugby players have sent a letter to World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union, which oversees English rugby, and the Welsh Rugby Union alleging that not enough is done to protect them from brain injuries ahead of a potential lawsuit.

NEWS: Scotland fullback Stuart Hogg is expected to be fit for the upcoming Six Nations despite a heel injury, his club Exeter's director of rugby said on Wednesday.

NEWS: Ireland coach Andy Farrell has named Jonny Sexton to lead Ireland while his understudy, Joey Carbery, has been omitted from the squad for the Six Nations.

REACTION: Sacked Wallabies coach Dave Rennie insisted he had the support of the players and staff as his successor Eddie Jones laid out his vision of a more attacking style of rugby.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Sharks star Makazole Mapimpi will not be able to play his team's Round Four Champions Cup clash against Harlequins on Saturday.

NEWS: The European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) have handed the Bristol Bears a suspended fine of €10,000 while five match points were also deducted.

NEWS: Christophe Urios said on Wednesday he was "thrilled" to take over from sacked former New Zealand loose forward Jono Gibbes as two-time French Top 14 winners Clermont's head coach.

NEWS: The South African rugby public is finally set to get answers or closure relating to Newlands Rugby Stadium.

SPOTLIGHT: Ruhan Nel has opened up about the weight on his shoulders that comes with wearing the Stormers' No.13 jersey.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Bulls scrumhalf Zak Burger wants his team to adapt quickly to the climate and travelling schedule ahead of Friday's Champions Cup match in France.

NEWS: The ‘outstanding rugby intellect’ of Ken Owens impressed Wales coach Warren Gatland to the point where he appointed the Scarlets hooker as Wales captain for the Six Nations.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Exeter Chiefs centre Henry Slade is free to play after his red card against the Bulls was dismissed.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell has named a 28-man touring squad that will travel to London for their Champions Cup return leg pool match against Harlequins.

SPOTLIGHT: Black humour has become the order of the day down Twickenham way after news that Eddie Jones is back "like Freddie Krueger in a tracksuit to haunt English dreams".

NEWS: Gregor Townsend said on Tuesday it dawned on him this week after naming his 40-man squad for the Six Nations that he could be leading his country into the tournament for the last time.

SPOTLIGHT: Stormers assistant coach Dawie Snyman provided some positive news on two of his team's Springboks ahead of their final Champions Cup pool match against Clermont on Saturday.

NEWS: The ‘dislike’ of England, especially by Scotland, is something the Roses should thrive on in the upcoming Six Nations, says England defence coach Kevin Sinfield.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Lock Paul Willemse was named in France's Six Nations squad after missing five Tests last year with a knee injury, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) announced.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Former England wing Ruaridh McConnochie was named in Scotland's 40-man squad for the Six Nations on Tuesday, with Ireland under-20 international Ben Healy also among a group of four uncapped players.

OPINION: Aside from having quality players, a team also need the right man in charge if they want to be crowned the 2023 World Cup champions.

NEWS: Springbok prop Frans Malherbe has put pen to paper.

STATISTICAL SPOTLIGHT: There is no question that the Sharks are a different beast when they got their full contingent of Boks playing for them.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Ken Owens was named as Wales captain for the Six Nations on Tuesday as returning coach Warren Gatland announced his 37-man squad for the championship.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Bulls confirmed the signing of Henry Immelman from Scottish side Edinburgh, on a three-year deal.

NEWS: Cameron Woki, a pivotal figure in France's Six Nations Grand Slam last season, will miss this year's tournament due to a broken wrist, sources close to the player told AFP.

SPOTLIGHT: Eddie Jones believes the Wallabies' Rugby Championship opener against the Springboks in July will be a "pivotal game" in their build-up to the World Cup in France this year.

REACTION: Steve Borthwick has no concerns about the prospect of Jones using any 'inside knowledge' gained from seven years as England coach against his former employers.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls have named a 31-man  squad for a two-match tour to France and Wales.

NEWS: English Premiership clubs have been warned that their financial situation is "clearly unsustainable" in a damning report on the cash crisis crippling the domestic game.

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Springbok wing Makazole Mapimpi finds himself in hot water after a potential eye-gouge during the Sharks' European Champions Cup's win over Bordeaux in Durban on Saturday.

SEVENS SPOTLIGHT: Springbok Sevens stalwart Ryan Oosthuizen will be completing a personal milestone this weekend at the New Zealand Sevens tournament in Hamilton.

REACTION: New coach Eddie Jones will mastermind a "reset" of the Wallabies ahead of the World Cup and has matured since his previous stint in charge, Rugby Australia's boss told AFP.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Bulls assistant coach Pine Pienaar has placed a huge target on Lyon's Arno Botha as the two teams prepare to go head-on-head this weekend.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The South African franchises will have to play their home semifinal matches in Europe - should they progress that far in the tournament.

REACTION: England coach Steve Borthwick retained Owen Farrell as captain while recalling veterans Dan Cole and Elliot Daly as he announced his first Six Nations squad on Monday.

SPOTLIGHT: Stormers head coach John Dobson says rugby is facing problems with laws relating to safety and the number of red cards that are being dished out week in and week out.

NEWS: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has been discharged from the hospital.

NEWS: Ailing French rugby powerhouse Clermont sacked head coach Jono Gibbes on Monday, with the humiliating 29-44 home defeat in the Champions Cup by Leicester the final straw.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Steve Borthwick has named his first England squad that will meet for a Six Nations training camp next week.

REACTION: The Lions are in desperate need of overturning their fortunes after another difficult outing in Europe.

NEWS: Former England boss Eddie Jones was appointed the new Australia coach on Monday in "a major coup" after Dave Rennie was sacked, and vowed to steer them to World Cup glory in France this year.

REACTION: Stormers head coach John Dobson will have to think about his flyhalf options ahead of the Champions Cup Round Four clash against Clermont.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Harlequins recovered from 18 points down to lead Racing 92 in the Champions Cup on Sunday, but a last-gasp Nolann Le Garrec penalty snatched a 30-29 victory for the Top 14 side in Paris.

JAPAN LEAGUE ONE WRAP: The back-to-back league finalists Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights and Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath scored big wins in the fourth round of Japan Rugby League One.

MATCH REPORT: Bath Rugby fell to a 35-23 defeat to RC Toulon at Kingsholm Stadium on Sunday as the visitors secured their passage to the Challenge Cup Round of 16

REACTION: The Bulls will still be going forward with their plans to shift Wandisile Simelane around in the backline, despite the 24-year-old showing some encouraging signs in the outside centre position.

SPOTLIGHT: Rugby Australia delivered some surprising news on Monday in the form of Eddie Jones becoming the new head coach of the Wallabies.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: The Stormers are on the cusp of qualifying for the Round of 16 of the Champions Cup after a 28-14 win over London Irish in a Round Three encounter in Brentford.

MATCH REPORT: Cardiff Rugby booked their spot in the Challenge Cup Round of 16 thanks to a dominant 42-10 home win over Newcastle Falcons at Cardiff Arms Park on Sunday.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Edinburgh battled to a brilliant 34-21 bonus-point win over Heineken Champions Cup Pool A rivals Castres Olympique at the Pierre Fabre Stadium on Sunday to qualify for the Round of 16.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round Three Champions Cup encounter between London Irish and the Stormers in Brentford.