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FRIDAY FRENZY: Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie is looking at the 'bigger picture' as he fields a much-changed team in his side's third match in the Challenge Series.

INTERVIEW: Ospreys boss Toby Booth has been speaking about the challenge of matching the standards set by the South African sides in the United Championship as he prepares to take on the Stormers.

BREAKING NEWS: England's Premiership is facing a worrying crisis, with a second club kicked out of the competition as a result of growing financial concerns.

INTERVIEW: Faced with a high-riding Lions side this coming weekend in the United Rugby Championship, Ulster will arrive in Johannesburg brimming with confidence.

SPOTLIGHT: Sharks flyhalf Henry Chamberlain is hoping the Bok coaches are keeping a close eye on him.

SPOTLIGHT: Flyhalf Chris Smith is the Bulls' go-to guy at No.10 in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, and he's done so steadily, and almost stealthily.

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

BREAKING NEWS: Wasps have become the latest club to fall prey to the cash crunch bedevilling the Premiership.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse believes the returning Springboks could be the catalysts to take the Sharks to the next level over the next few weeks.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Ulster coaching team have named the squad that will travel to South Africa to play the Lions and Sharks over the next two weekends in the United Rugby Championship.

NEWS: Paul Delport has decided to step down as the Springbok Women’s Sevens coach following the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town last month, where South Africa finished 14th overall.

NEWS: The Highlanders' coaching group for the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific season has found its missing piece.

SPOTLIGHT: For long-time supporters of top Irish provincial team Munster a glance at the current United Rugby Championship log must be both an unusual and depressing experience.

NEWS: The chief executive of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Claude Atcher, was removed from his position Tuesday by tournament organisers after he was suspended in August by France's sports minister due to "alarming managerial practices".

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Stormers flyhalf Manie Libbok has addressed recent speculation about his Springbok prospects.

NEWS: Twins Jean-Luc and Dan du Preez have both made big contract decisions.

TRANSFER NEWS: Saracens announced the signing of Tom Howe and Andrew Kitchener on short-term deals.

WATCH AS Bulls backs coach Chris Rossouw speaks about last week's loss to Glasgow and facing Munster in Limerick this week.

It’s been Marco Bortolami’s lifelong dream to work as a mechanic for Ferrari, but right now it’s his Benetton team that he has firing on all cylinders.

WATCH as Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie calls out Emerging Ireland over their gamesmanship.

NEWS: Former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is determined not to lose focus as a potential clash looms between his two national coaching roles across both codes of rugby.

WATCH as World Cup-winning former Springbok captain John Smit unpacks the way to get the best out of the Sharks' suite of Stirling stars.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White unpacks the way forward, after his team's first loss of the season.

SQUAD UPDATE: Springbok duo Herschel Jantjies and Damian Willemse will return to South Africa following the Stormers' win over Zebre at the weekend.

WATCH as Stormers coach John Dobson explains what he has in mind for South Africa Under-20 captain Sacha Mngomezulu this season.

Sharks wing Thaakir Abrahams produced a stunning individual effort with a wow factor reminiscent of fellow countryman and Springboks star Cheslin Kolbe in the Sharks' 34-54 defeat to Leinster.

MATCH REPORT: The Emerging Irish team completed their short tour of South African unbeaten, edging a willing Cheetahs outfit 21-14 in Bloemfontein on Sunday.

SUNDAY WRAP: Saracens continued their unbeaten start to the Premiership season with a comprehensive 34-14 victory at Newcastle.

REACTION: Love him, or hate him, Johnny Sexton is world-class.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Sale Sharks have appointed their first-ever mental health lead, becoming the first Premiership club to officially partner up with the mental health movement.

MATCH REPORT: Impressive Benetton beat the Dragons 34-14 to climb into fourth place in the United Rugby Championship.

WORLD CUP WRAP: Keira Bevan landed a penalty in the 85th minute to seal a dramatic 18-15 win for Wales over Scotland at the women's Rugby World Cup, while Canada and Italy also tasted victory in Whangarei on Sunday.

The Springbok Women had a good review of their match against France last Saturday, analysed and digested the statistics, and are now ready to focus on Fiji, their second opponent in World Cup in New Zealand.

REACTION: Sharks coach Sean Everitt was searching for positives after his team's humbling loss to Leinster at the weekend.

Blues lock Patrick Tuipulotu will captain the inaugural All Blacks XV squad selected for two matches against Ireland A and the Barbarians next month.

MATCH REPORT: Franco Smith made a big statement against the Jake White-coached Bulls, as Glasgow Warriors recorded a commanding 35-21 win in their United Rugby Championship Round Four encounter on Saturday.

TRANSFER TALK: Ulster have confirmed that they will be recruiting a prop 'that is a proven winner on the biggest stage'.

WATCH as Lions centre Henco van Wyk shows he is made for international rugby.

MATCH REPORT: The Stormers kept their flawless United Rugby Championship start intact with a hard-fought 37-20 bonus point win over Zebre on Saturday in Parma. 

SATURDAY WRAP: Raffi Quirke came off the bench to fire Sale Sharks to an impressive 26-16 victory against English Premiership champions Leicester on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Ulster cruised past Ospreys with a 47-17 victory in their United Rugby Championship Round Four clash at Ravenhill Stadium.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: New Zealand coach Ian Foster is sticking with the players who won the Rugby Championship and restored some pride to the wounded All Blacks, saying they "deserve" selection in the squad named on Sunday to tour the northern hemisphere.

MATCH REPORT: Cardiff picked up their first win since Round One, as they beat the Scarlets 16-10 in a United Rugby Championship Round Four encounter Llanelli on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: The Currie Cup champions, the Pumas, edged Western Province 27-20 in a thrilling match in the Challenge Series in Bloemfontein on Sunday.

MATCH REPORT:  Leinster surged clear after half-time to emerge with a 54-34 bonus-point victory from their thrilling encounter with the Sharks in Dublin.

Toulon head coach Franck Azema said Cheslin Kolbe is a "driving force" for the team after the South Africa wing made a try-scoring return from injury in Saturday's 47-0 French Top 14 hammering of Brive.

INJURY UPDATE: One of the Bulls' most talented and exciting players will miss the Springboks' year-end tour through injury.

WATCH as Stormers coach John Dobson vents his frustration over what he described as an 'inconsistent' three-week ban handed out to prop Sazi Sandi.

SUNDAY FUNDAY: The Cheetahs will host unbeaten Emerging Ireland in the Challenge Series on Sunday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Retired Welsh referee Nigel Owens has revealed why he recently accepted an invitation from United Rugby Championship referees boss Tappe Henning to become part of the four-strong independent referee selection panel.

REACTION: Worcester Warriors' player Harri Doel said on Friday he was "gutted" to hear the English side has been liquidated this week and his contract had been terminated.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round Four United Rugby Championship encounter between Glasgow Warriors and the Bulls.

WORLD CUP WRAP: Big wins for England, France and New Zealand on Day one of the World Cup.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round Four United Rugby Championship encounter between Leinster and the Sharks at the RDS in Dublin.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Exeter Chiefs powered to a 50-14 win over Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate on Friday.

SPOTLIGHT: Rugby Australia might walk away from their Super Rugby partnership after the governing body was left disappointed with New Zealand Rugby, according to reports. 

URC REPORT: Connacht crowned their first appearance on the Sportsground’s new 4G pitch with a dogged 20-11 United Rugby Championship derby win over Munster.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round Four United Rugby Championship encounter between Zebre and the Stormers in Parma.

WATCH as Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen talks about his team's three-match URC sweep of Wales and Scotland.

NEWS: Sharks will be the first of the South African clubs in action when Harlequins travel to Durban in the Champions Cup.

URC REPORT: The Lions ended their three-match United Rugby Championship tour unbeaten with a thrilling 22-19 win over Edinburgh on Friday.

SATURDAY PREVIEW: Victory over Leinster in Dublin never comes easy, even more so if you attempt such a feat at the RDS.

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: The disciplinary decision on Sazi Sandi's act of foul play has been revealed.

TRANSFER TALK: Top French club Toulon have reportedly shown keen interest in signing the Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has named a very young front row to face off against a grizzled Glasgow Warriors at the Scotstoun Stadium on Saturday.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round Four United Rugby Championship encounter between Edinburgh and the Lions in the Scottish capital.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers coach John Dobson has made a number of changes, including a 'new' captain, for their United Rugby Championship encounter with Zebre at the Stadio Lanfranchi, in Parma, on Saturday.

WORLD CUP SPOTLIGHT: The World Cup opening match day at Eden Park on October 8 has officially sold out, with a record crowd set to fill New Zealand’s iconic national stadium.

TRANSFER NEWS: New Zealand loosehead prop Karl Tu'inukuafe has officially been unveiled as a Montpellier player.

NEWS: Ten referees in England have raised concerns in an external RFU investigation about potential barriers to progression and feedback provided to them based on body size, weight or shape.

NEWS: Former England rugby star Steve Thompson says he feels like a "phoney" because he cannot remember being part of the 2003 World Cup-winning team.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks take an almost unchanged line-up into Saturday's United Rugby Championship clash against Leinster, as they look to finish their three-match European tour on a high.

WORLD CUP SPOTLIGHT: It was a case of “the road less travelled” for the Springbok Women when they made their return to international rugby in 2017, three years after their 2014 Rugby World Cup exit.

TOP 14 PREVIEW: Raymond Rhule says having a "special bond" with fellow Springbok Dillyn Leyds has allowed the pair to blossom at La Rochelle, before Saturday's trip to Bayonne.

NEWS: New Zealand Rugby revealed some more contract news.

TRANSFER NEWS: Northampton Saints confirmed that veteran flyhalf Dan Biggar will leave the club at the end of the 2022/23 season.

UPDATE: Worcester were suspended from the English Premiership and Premiership Rugby Cup for the rest of this season on Thursday and will be relegated from the top flight after plunging into a financial crisis.

MATCH REPORT: The Griquas bounce back with a comfortable 41-7 win over the Bulls on Wednesday in Bloemfontein.

NEWS: The Bulls will be sporting their pink strip when they host the Sharks in a United Rugby Championship clash on October 30.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Damian Willemse has taken his commitment to the Stormers to another level.

TRANSFER NEWS: Edinburgh announced that British & Irish Lions and Scotland star wing Duhan van der Merwe is returning to the capital on a long-term deal, subject to visa, medical and regulatory clearances.

REACTION: The RFU revealed that Worcester Warriors are likely to be relegated from the Premiership.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Former Scotland international Jim Hamilton has questioned the wisdom of Leicester Tigers shelling out a massive amount of money to sign Springboks flyhalf Handre Pollard.

MATCH REPORT: Emerging Ireland recorded back-to-back victories on South African soil, beating the Pumas 28-24 on Wednesday. 

FRIDAY PREVIEW: Former Springbok captain John Smit believes Edinburgh will be a "step too far" for the Lions in Round Four of the 2022/23 United Rugby Championship season.

NEWS: Troubled Premiership club Worcester are braced for a player exodus after a company that holds their contracts was wound up at a court hearing on Wednesday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has revealed his team to face Edinburgh in their United Rugby Championship Round Four clash in Scotland on Friday.

WATCH as World Cup-winning Springbok captain John Smit explains what impact the results of URC matches could have on the Springboks' World Cup campaign.

NEWS: The officials for the Springboks’ four Tests in November have been confirmed. 

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Springbok Women's team to play France in their opening Pool C match of the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand has a familiar and experienced look to it.

SPOTLIGHT: Sharks loose forward Phepsi Buthelezi believes there is enough firepower in his touring squad to shock Irish giants Leinster in Dublin on Saturday.

NEWS: England will be without a key player for their November internationals.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Samoa on Wednesday took advantage of World Rugby's new eligibility rules.

MIDWEEK MADNESS: The Currie Cup champions, the Pumas, get their first taste of competitive rugby since winning the title in sensational fashion in Kimberley in June.

WATCH as World Cup-winning Springbok captain John Smit and Scottish legend John Barclay unpack South Africa's great start to URC Two.

SPOTLIGHT: A player who used to torment them in the colours of a rival South African franchise might just prove to be one of the most formidable obstacles the Sharks need to overcome on Saturday.

NEWS: France international Gabin Villiere is set for further ankle surgery which will rule the wing out of the Six Nations champions' November internationals.

SPOTLIGHT: Rugby chiefs must take urgent action to reduce head injuries after a study indicated that former international players are 15 times more likely to develop motor neurone disease.

NEWS: There was some big transfer news coming out of Japan on Tuesday.

SPOTLIGHT: The growth of the Springbok Women’s team over the last 12 months and their determined climb up the world rankings had many take notice of a potential new entry into the top ten of the world game.

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

SPOTLIGHT: England flank Tom Curry believes Rugby Union has "come on leaps and bounds in terms of player safety" amid fears the sport's future is at stake from concussion.

NEWS: Handre Pollard, the World Cup-winning Springbok flyhalf, is currently being assessed for his latest injury and the news is not good.

SPOTLIGHT: Stormers head coach John Dobson is hoping to find solutions to a few problems during his team’s three-match United Rugby Championship tour.

NEWS: Jordie Barrett has officially put pen-to-paper on a new deal that will keep him in the capital, with the Hurricanes and New Zealand Rugby, through till the end of 2025.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Stormers have left three key players behind, as they headed off on a three-match United Rugby Championship tour to Italy and Wales.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The unbeaten Bulls departed for a three-match European trip on Monday without three stars.

NEWS: The South Africa 'A' coaching team has been revealed ahead of the Springboks' November tour.

NEWS: The Springboks will face a Six Nations team ahead of their 2023 World Cup campaign in France.

WATCH as Lions assistant coach Ricardo Loubscher and loose forward Francke Horn unpack the enormity of the challenge of facing Edinburgh on the Scottish team's home soil.

WATCH as Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen unpacks his team's success during a two-match sweep on their tour of Wales.

SPOTLIGHT: Leinster head coach Leo Cullen knows that the Sharks will be getting some "inside information" ahead of their clash in Dublin on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth has finally arrived in Durban and he went straight to the weights.

NEWS: Ruben Machelm, the interim CEO of Western Province Professional Rugby for the past year, has ended his association with the organisation.

SPOTLIGHT: The Springbok Women are perfectly happy to sail under the radar at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

NEWS: Wales will face two former World Cup champions next year, as part of preparations for the 2023 tournament in France.

NEWS: The Highlanders have revealed their new attack coach ahead of the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season.

TOP 14 SUNDAY REPORT: Melvyn Jaminet enjoyed a 100 percent success rate with the boot to lead Toulouse to a 19-17 win over Montpellier on Sunday.

SPOTLIGHT: There was the usual chatter and small talk amongst the 12 captains at the women's World Cup at Eden Park in Auckland, during the official captain's photo of the showpiece.

UPDATE: Worcester Warriors have had to withdraw medical insurance from players at the behest of their insurance providers, further denting hopes of a rapid return to the field for the ailing club.

REACTION: Watch as Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie explains why his team was forced to field three hookers at the weekend.

SQUAD UPDATE: England coach Eddie Jones has been forced to replace three players from a pre-season camp.

SPOTLIGHT: World Rugby will have to revisit the decision to allow referees to arbitrarily decide when water breaks should be in the game.

REACTION: Cardiff 'representatives' will meet with the management of a local pub on Monday, following some apparent 'appalling behaviour' by some players at the establishment over the weekend.

ROUND THREE OVERVIEW: South African teams are dominating the opening rounds of the URC with all four franchises populating the top eight of the league table.

MATCH REPORT: Harlequins hooker Jack Musk scored two tries as his side recorded a bonus-point 35-29 victory at home to Northampton in the Premiership.

SPOTLIGHT: Sharks head coach Sean Everitt praised his team's character for staying in the fight against the Dragons in Newport on Saturday.

REACTION: Evan Roos is one of the most exciting young players in South Africa, but his temperament has been under the spotlight.

TOP 14 SATURDAY WRAP: South Africa fullback Dillyn Leyds scored nine points from the tee as La Rochelle beat Racing92 24-19 to take over as leaders of the French Top 14 on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Roger Tuivasa-Scheck has moved to end speculation he could return to the NRL from Rugby Union.

SPOTLIGHT: Eddie Jones has told players looking to break into his England side to forget about a Test call-up if they fail to be wholly committed to defensive duties, despite the start of the new Premiership season featuring a blizzard of tries.

MATCH REPORT: Munster's superior maul delivered their opening win of the season as they overcame Zebre Parma 21-5 in their United Rugby Championship Round Three match at Musgrave Park.

MATCH REPORT: The Sharks recorded their second straight victory on their United Rugby Championship tour with a 20-19 win over the Dragons in a scrappy affair in Newport on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: The Stormers made it two wins from two matches in the 2022/2023 United Rugby Championship season after they recorded a 34-18 victory over Edinburgh in Cape Town on Saturday.

REACTION: The Jurie Roux saga continues to garner banner headlines - most of which suggest his fate is sealed.

MATCH REPORT: Benetton held off a second-half Scarlets fightback to claim a 34-23 victory from their United Rugby Championship clash in Treviso.

SATURDAY WRAP: Handre Pollard limped off just 27 minutes into his Leicester debut, just five weeks after a knee injury prematurely ended his Rugby Championship campaign with the Springboks.

MATCH REPORT: Keelan Giles scored a pair of tries as the Ospreys registered a 32-17 bonus-point victory over Glasgow Warriors in their United Rugby Championship[ Round Three match in Swansea on Saturday.

REACTION: New Zealand centre Quinn Tupaea is targeting next year's World Cup as he begins a nine-month recovery from a knee injury sustained against Australia.

REACTION: Edinburgh head coach Mike Blair revealed his frustrations with the referee Frank Murphy’s scrum decisions in his side's 18-34 defeat to the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.

REACTION: The owners of English Premiership club Worcester hit out at both players and supporters as the crisis around the team intensified.

INJURY UPDATE: The Bulls may have remained unbeaten in the United Rugby Championship, but they may well be without three stars on their European trip.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round Three United Rugby Championship encounter between the Dragons and Sharks at Rodney Parade in Newport.

REPORT: Bristol Bears suffered their first defeat of the Premiership season as they were outgunned by Newcastle Falcons 35-20 at Kingston Park on Friday.

MATCH REPORT: The Cheetahs opened their Challenge Series campaign with a 17-14 win over the Bulls in a scrappy affair in Bloemfontein on Friday.

MATCH REPORT: The Bulls recorded their third consecutive United Rugby Championship win of the season, beating Connacht 28-14 at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.

MATCH REPORT: The Emerging Ireland team proved far too strong for the beaten Currie Cup finalists Griquas.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round Three United Rugby Championship encounter between the Stormers and Edinburgh in Cape Town.

NEWS: There was some big news coming out of the Stormers camp on Friday.

MATCH REPORT: It was a very successful tour for the Lions as they secured back-to-back wins in Wales.

MATCH REPORT: A dominant first half helped Leinster triumph 20-13 and go three wins from three in a top-of-the-table Irish derby clash with Ulster at a rain-swept Kingspan Stadium in Belfast.

NEWS: The winner of South Africa's Players’ Player of the Year award has been revealed.

WATCH as new Bulls recruit Chris Smit knocks himself out while in the process of scoring a try.

NEWS: All Blacks centre Quinn Tupaea faces nine months out and may miss the World Cup with the knee injury he sustained in a cleanout by Australia's Darcy Swain.

TOP 14 PREVIEW: Ever since the end of the 1990s French rugby and the Top 14 has been littered with gnarly, aggressive Georgian forwards making mincemeat of opponents at set-pieces, but one 20-year-old back is helping change the image of the Lelos.

SATURDAY PREVIEW: Sharks head coach Sean Everitt knows that his team will be up against a different Dragons side on Saturday to the one they faced in Durban in April last season.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round Three United Rugby Championship encounter between Cardiff and the Lions at Arms Park.

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

BLOEMFONTEIN BATTLE: Friday has become a little bit more entertaining as the Challenge Series kicks off in Bloemfontein.

NEWS: Ireland centre Bundee Aki is set to miss home Tests against world champions South Africa and Fiji.

INTERVIEW: Joseph Dweba is not everybody's cup of tea and has come in for some severe criticism in the wake of some underwhelming Springbok performances this year.

FRIDAY PREVIEW: Irish province Connacht won't have the infamous Galway Gale as an ally. They will certainly have to be content with the Pretoria passion on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks know that the clash against the Dragons this Saturday, in their second tour match of this year's United Rugby Championship is going to be a challenge.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers head coach John Dobson has revealed his team to face Edinburgh in Cape Town on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Friday's Irish Derby in Belfast could identify the main rival to the South African hopes of repeating last year’s trophy success in the United Rugby Championship.

INJURY UPDATE: World Cup-winning Springbok lock Rudolph Snyman's injury woes were compounded this week.

NEWS: The record attendance for a women's World Cup match is set to be broken.

REACTION: Worcester Warriors captain Ted Hill said on Wednesday that while "everyone wants everything to work out" at the English Premiership crisis club, his teammates will need a "Plan B" regarding their own futures amid the ongoing uncertainty over the team's future.

REACTION: Exeter Director of Rugby Rob Baxter said higher England match fees could help stop players leaving the Premiership for bigger salaries abroad.

NEWS: Leon MacDonald has been announced as Head Coach of the All Blacks XV and will guide the team on a two-match end-of-year tour.

NEWS: Three former players, including two Ireland internationals, have issued legal proceedings against the Irish Rugby Football Union that are reportedly related to alleged concussion injuries.

TRANSFER NEWS: Leicester Tigers have agreed deals with England stars Freddie Steward, George Martin and Jack van Poortvliet.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: As the rugby world braces itself for the third round of the United Rugby Championship, the Bulls get set to host a hungry Connacht team at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.

NEWS: World Rugby will be watching closely after approving a host of new rules to be trialled at two Queensland Reds games.

INJURY UPDATE: Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard has shared some positive news regarding his knee injury.

OPINION: Respected and acclaimed former Test referee Freek Burger gives 101 hints that can help match officials deal with the current crisis in the game.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: On the back of a morale-boosting 28-27 win against Ospreys in Swansea, the Lions take on Cardiff on Friday.

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

MEDICAL UPDATE: The Stormers paid a dear price for Irish international Bundee Aki's vicious and illegal cleanout of star back Seabelo Senatla's injury.

NEWS: Bok superstar Cheslin Kolbe has opened up on who he thinks will be 'favourites' for the 2023 World Cup.

INJURY UPDATE: France centre Arthur Vincent will be sidelined for 'several months' after aggravating a left knee injury on his return to Top 14 action with French champions Montpellier.

SPOTLIGHT: Saturday's win over the Ospreys in Swansea was an example of the depth the Lions are building among their halfbacks.

SPOTLIGHT: Referee Mathieu Raynal said he took "100 percent responsibility" for the disputed decision at the end of this month's first Test between Australia and New Zealand.

NEWS: United Rugby Championship Head of Match Officials Tappe Henning has added a new element to the competition with the introduction of an independent referee selection panel.

SPOTLIGHT: Sharks star Aphelele Fassi is hoping he can grow his game this season and be a leader on the field as well.

SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers could have a few more Boks back in their team for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship Round Three clash against Edinburgh at Cape Town Stadium

SPOTLIGHT: None celebrated winning the United Rugby Championship Grand Final more than Hacjivah Dayimani, and the rapid loose forward is determined for the Stormers to deliver a second successive title to the region.

NEWS: English Premiership side Worcester were suspended from all competitions by the Rugby Football Union on Monday after failing to meet a funding ultimatum.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The United Rugby Championship Head of Match Officials Tappe Henning is very pleased with his referees' performance.

NEWS: While there were minimal changes to the World Rugby Rankings as a result of the final round of matches in the Rugby Championship, there was plenty of movement for the teams involved over the course of the six-week-long competition.

STAT ATTACK: It was the closest tournament in several years with the title only being decided by the result of the last match of the season.

REACTION: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White is extremely pleased with his inexperienced team's performance against Edinburgh on Saturday. 

REACTION: Lions head coach says there is more "belief" creeping into his squad.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Eddie Jones has named a 36-player England squad who will meet for a three-day training camp this weekend.

SPOTLIGHT: The Springboks might not have won the Rugby Championship, however they head into their year-end tour with a formidable No.8 - Jasper Wiese.

REACTION: Stormers head coach John Dobson revealed that wing Seabelo Senatla is set to be out of action for a lengthy period after he sustained a "serious injury" in a dangerous cleanout from Connacht centre Bundee Aki.

NEWS: Rugby Australia boss Andy Marinos has ruled out involvement by teams from Japan or the US in Super Rugby in the near future, saying fans want consistency in the competition.

SPOTLIGHT: After their latest Bledisloe Cup humiliation, the Wallabies can at least take heart that they won't lose at Eden Park in 2023, with the ground off limits thanks to the FIFA Women's World Cup.

SPOTLIGHT: With less than a year to go until the Rugby World Cup, England coach Eddie Jones is trying to formulate a group of players who can think for themselves.

WRAP: Australia centre Irae Simone scored his first Top 14 try as Clermont beat La Rochelle 22-13 at home on Sunday.

NEWS: Leinster's former England head coach Stuart Lancaster has been appointed Racing 92 boss for next season, the Irish province announced on Monday.

REACTION: It was an inauspicious United Rugby Championship opener on Friday for the Sharks.

SPOTLIGHT: Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has made a very blunt assessment of the state of Test match officials following his team's 14-40 defeat to All Blacks on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Controversial former Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus is likely to be back with the team on their end-of-year Northern Hemisphere tour as a lengthy ban from attending matches comes to an end.

MATCH REPORT: Exeter snatched a second successive home win with the last play of the game to thwart Harlequins’ stunning second-half comeback.

MATCH REPORT: Dragons claimed their first United Rugby Championship win of the season after hitting back to beat Munster 23-17 at home.

SPOTLIGHT: After using 34 players in this year's Rugby Championship, Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber believes that some questions have been answered over position depth.

REACTION: It was not too long ago when the bell tolled for All Blacks coach Ian Foster.

REACTION: Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has defended his team's game plan once again after they fell short in their bid to win the Rugby Championship title.

REACTION: Second best in all areas by their own admission, the Wallabies must now regroup from another Eden Park shellacking to take on the might of European rugby.

REACTION: Argentina head coach Michael Cheika has revealed his frustrations with the refereeing decisions in his team's 21-38 defeat to the Boks in Durban.

TOP 14 SATURDAY WRAP: South African flyhalf Tristan Tedder kicked 14 points as Perpignan claimed their first win of the Top 14 season with a 19-13 victory over Toulon on Saturday.

RUGBY CHAMPS REPORT: The All Blacks have claimed the Rugby Championship title once again after the Springboks failed to meet their targets in their final-round match against Argentina on Saturday.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: Worcester director of rugby Steve Diamond revealed his players held a vote over whether to go ahead with Saturday's match against Newcastle.

MATCH REPORT: Scrumhalf John Cooney scored 30 points as Ulster beat Scarlets 55-39 in a 12-try thriller at Parc y Scarlets.

MATCH REPORT: The Lions got their URC tour off to a winning start when they edged the Ospreys 28-27 in a thriller in Swansea on Saturday.

REPORT: The All Blacks kept their hopes of bagging the Rugby Championship title, beating the Wallabies 40-14 at Eden Park on Saturday.

SOCIAL REACTION: A contentious try by veteran second row Sam Whitelock has left many fans scratching their heads after the All Blacks defeated the Wallabies in Auckland on Saturday.

NEWS: Three "rivalry" match-ups for each team are a feature of the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific draw announced on Sunday.

REPORT: A late Morne Steyn penalty handed the Bulls a dramatic 33-31 win against Edinburgh at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round Two United Rugby Championship encounter between the Ospreys and the Lions in Swansea.

OPINION: The Springboks ended their Rugby Championship with a hard-fought 38-21 win over the Los Pumas at Kings Park on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: The Stormers started their United Rugby Championship title defence with a 38-15 bonus-point win over Connacht in Stellenbosch on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round Six Rugby Championship Test between South Africa and Argentina at Kings Park in Durban.

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

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round Two United Rugby Championship encounter between the Stormers and Connacht at the Danie Craven stadium in Stellenbosch.

MATCH REPORT: The Sharks managed to hold on for a nailbiting 42-37 United Rugby Championship win over Zebre in Parma on Friday.

SATURDAY PREVIEW: Stormers coach John Dobson readily admits his team has a MASSIVE target on their proverbial backs.

OPINION: The Wallabies have fallen to a sizeable loss at Eden Park, suffering a 14-40 defeat at the hands of their arch-rivals, the All Blacks.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round Six Rugby Championship Test between New Zealand and Australia at Eden Park in Auckland.

OPINION: Following a controversial finish in Melbourne, the All Blacks and Wallabies both entered their Eden Park rematch with a point to prove.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP, ROUND SIX: New Zealand can put one hand on the Rugby Championship trophy with victory against Australia at their Eden Park fortress on Saturday.

NEWS: French Top 14 side Racing 92 confirmed on Thursday they have held talks with Leinster's senior coach Stuart Lancaster about joining the club next season.

MATCH REPORT: Wasps managed to put fears of financial ruin to one side for 80 minutes at least with a 39-31 win at Bath in the English Premiership on Friday.

MATCH REPORT: Glasgow Warriors bounced back from their opening-round defeat to Benetton with a 52-24 bonus-point victory over Cardiff at Scotstoun.

MATCH REPORT: Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan helped himself to four tries as Leinster had little trouble in beating Benetton 42-10 in the United Rugby Championship at the RDS.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round Two United Rugby Championship encounter between Zebre and the Sharks in Parma.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok Women prop Babalwa Latsha does not take the huge responsibility of having to represent South Africa at the 2021 World Cup lightly. 

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has revealed his team to face Edinburgh in Pretoria on Saturday.

WATCH the day Springbok hard man Bakkie Botha his captain for just 'one more' chance to lay into an opponent.

FRIDAY PREVIEW: @king365ed looks at the intriguing start to Round Two of the @URCOfficial, as some South African teams hit the road.

SPOTLIGHT: Marius Louw believes his knowledge of the game has been steadily increasing since he arrived in Johannesburg a few months ago.

NEWS: Ireland midfielder Chris Farrell has been stood down with immediate effect by Munster after the Bordeaux Court of Appeal confirmed on Thursday he had been charged with the alleged non-prevention of crime in the Grenoble rugby club rape case.

TOP 14 PREVIEW: New Zealand centre Francis Saili says he has "massive shoes to fill" as Virimi Vakatawa's replacement at Racing 92 before Saturday’s Top 14 trip to Toulouse.

NEWS: Some of the Bulls' stars have made decisions regarding their playing futures.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers head coach John Dobson has revealed his team to face Connacht in their URC opener on Saturday.

WATCH AS United Rugby Championship CEO Martin Anayi unpacks the success of the first season and the attraction of South African teams.

REACTION: Bristol owner Steve Lansdown said on Thursday that investing in English club rugby amounts to putting money into a "black hole" as Premiership sides Wasps and Worcester struggle to stay afloat.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby makes a very generous and unique offer to fans at the United Rugby Championship encounter between his team and Edinburgh Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP, ROUND SIX: The 2022 edition of the Rugby Championship has been an intriguing one and it will go down to the wire in Durban on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Dave Rennie has lit the fuse ahead of the Rugby Championship finale.

STATISTICAL ANALYSES: @king365ed crunches the numbers ahead of the decisive Round Six Rugby Championship encounter between the Springboks and Los Pumas.

SPOTLIGHT: Stormers head coach John Dobson is hoping Alapati Leiua will help him solve some midfield puzzles in the 2022/2023 season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sam Whitelock will captain New Zealand against Australia for this weekend's pivotal Rugby Championship clash in Auckland with Sam Cane ruled out as the All Blacks rung the changes Thursday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Argentina head coach Michael Cheika has revealed his team for Saturday's Rugby Championship finale against the Springboks in Durban.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wallabies head coach Dave Rennie has revealed his team to face the All Blacks in Saturday's Rugby Championship Round Six clash in Auckland.

INTERVIEW: South Africa's coach Jacques Nienaber has taken a not-so-subtle dig at media hacks that have looked to stir trouble for his team.

REACTION: Wallabies head coach Dave Rennie says World Rugby admitted that a crunch time-wasting call in the opening Bledisloe Cup loss was wrong.

NEWS: Wasps are the latest English Premiership club in danger of financial ruin after revealing their intention to appoint an administrator.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions have made a number of changes for the opening match of their United Rugby Championship tour.

NEWS: Australia's Darcy Swain has received a lengthy ban for the incident that left New Zealand's Quinn Tupaea with a bad knee injury.

SPOTLIGHT: Despite getting the better of their opponents in Buenos Aires, the Springboks are taking nothing for granted ahead of their rematch with Argentina in the final round of the Rugby Championship in Durban.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks have bulked up with some Springbok muscle for their opening match of the United Rugby Championship season - against a much-improved Zebre on Friday.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Nolusindiso Booi will lead the Springbok Women to New Zealand in what will be a third Rugby World Cup for the South African captain and lock.

UPDATE: Cash-strapped Worcester Warriors' participation in the Premiership has been cast into doubt.

NEWS: The match official appointments for the United Championship Round Two fixtures have been confirmed.

SPOTLIGHT: The Wallabies have no issue with French referee Mathieu Raynal officiating their rematch with the All Blacks even as they still fume from late decisions in their opening Bledisloe Cup defeat.

SPOTLIGHT: It took hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels just 15 minutes to announce himself in the 2022/23 United Rugby Championship in what was a powerful statement against the Lions.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: @king365ed delves into the archives to highlight the amazing journey of Springbok flyhalf Francois Philippus Lodewyk Steyn.

REACTION: Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber is adamant that utility Frans Steyn is more than capable of being a victorious 'driver' of the team.

SPOTLIGHT: The unsung hero of last season’s title win, Andre-Hugo Venter has all the ability to establish himself as a regular in the Stormers' starting line-up in the 2022-23 United Rugby Championship.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Australia 'A' coach Jason Gilmore has confirmed a 34-man squad for the upcoming three-match tour against Japan XV in Japan.

INTERVIEW: Edinburgh, loaded with Scottish internationals and a South African physicality, can expect a 'hot' welcome at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: New Glasgow Warriors coach Franco Smith believes that Northern Hemisphere teams need to up their physicality if they want to win on a regular basis in South Africa.

NEWS: Veteran Springbok Ruan Pienaar has stepped down as captain of the Cheetahs.

NEWS UPDATE: French prosecutors on Tuesday demanded prison time for Bernard Laporte, a towering figure in French rugby.

TRANSFER NEWS: Experienced Samoan international centre Alapati Leiua has signed with the Stormers for the new season.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Argentina head coach Michael Cheika has named a 29-man squad to travel to South Africa for the final round of the Rugby Championship.

INJURY UPDATE: British and Irish Lions fullback Liam Williams will miss Wales' November Test series, including a clash with Australia, after injuring his collarbone.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Coach Jacques Nienaber has tweaked his team for the Rugby Championship decider between South Africa and Argentina.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers will start the defence of their United Rugby Championship title sporting a couple of new faces and revamped backline.

REACTION: The Lions, South Africa's worst-performing team in the inaugural United Rugby Championship competition, are determined to make a better fist of it this season.

TEAM UPDATE: All Black captain Sam Cane could miss the pivotal Rugby Championship clash against Australia in Auckland at the weekend.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks have revealed their 28-man touring squad for the United Rugby Championship three-week tour.

TRANSFER NEWS: Jack Debreczeni will rejoin Super Rugby after the playmaker signed with the Brumbies for the 2023 season.

NEWS: Australia’s last-gasp defeat to New Zealand in Melbourne last week has dropped them to a new low of ninth in the World Rugby Rankings.

TRANSFER TALK: Springboks hooker Malcolm Marx reportedly could be the next big name to head to France in search of a lucrative contract in the Top 14.

REACTION: The Springboks' backline has been given a little bit more freedom on attack, according to centre Damian De Allende.

SQUAD UPDATE: Coach Jacques Nienaber has recalled a couple of exciting backline players for the final round of South Africa's Rugby Championship campaign.

WRAP: Toulon edged Clermont 30-29 in the Top 14 in a game that marked the latest return of veteran France international Mathieu Bastareaud to Toulon.

REACTION: Five days after the dramatic Melbourne Test, Australian remains consumed by contentious calls in the Wallabies' 37-39 Bledisloe Cup loss to New Zealand.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: @leezil07 looks at the options available, should Damian Willemse be ruled out of the decisive final round of the Rugby Championship.

REACTION: Irish powerhouse Leinster was almost shocked by a South African-laden Zebre on Saturday, but had the highlight of Springbok Jason Jenkins making an impressive debut for the side.

TRANSFER TALK: The All Blacks are set to lose two of their most experienced players following the 2023 World Cup with Beauden Barrett and Nepo Laulala both reportedly weighing up deals with French clubs.

REACTION: The Springboks kept themselves in contention for the Rugby Championship with a hard-fought 36-20 win over Argentina following a turbulent week for the team.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White speak about the imminent return of Springbok utility back Johan Goosen.

SPOTLIGHT: All Black scrumhalf Aaron Smith said that it was "very special" to host the Wallabies at Eden Park on Saturday with the chance to clinch the Rugby Championship title.

MATCH REPORT: United Rugby Championship finalist the Bulls opened their season with a 31-15 win over Lions on Saturday at Ellis Park.

MATCH REPORT: Ulster opened their United Rugby Championship season with a convincing 36-10 bonus point victory over Irish rivals Connacht at Ravenhill in Belfast.

REPORT: South Africa stormed to second of the Rugby Championship table with a five-try bonus point 36-20 victory over dogged Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

WATCH as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber and captain Siyamthanda Kolisi react to reports on illicit drug use in the team.

MATCH REPORT: Jack Walsh held his nerve to convert a last-minute try from Rhys Davies and earn the Ospreys a 23-all draw in a pulsating United Rugby Championship derby against the Scarlets in Llanelli.

REACTION: Worcester Director of Rugby Steve Diamond said the cash-strapped club still faced an uncertain future after a gutsy 21-36 loss at home to Exeter in the English Premiership on Sunday.

SATURDAY WRAP: Flank Sam Underhill is set to miss England's year-end Tests because of a shoulder problem that requires surgery.

REPORT: Cash-strapped Worcester put their off-field problems to one side in a spirited display before losing 21-36 at home to Exeter in a Premiership clash on Sunday.

MATCH REPORT: Cardiff put down a big marker with a 20-13 win over Munster on Saturday at Cardiff Arms Park.

REACTION: While the Australian media has gone into a total meltdown of the Bledisloe Cup controversy, there is another very balanced take on the saga.

REACTION: All Black coach Ian Foster has stood by his post-match endorsement of the Bledisloe Cup time-wasting penalty.

MATCH REPORT: Leinster just about escaped with a bonus-point victory over Zebre Parma in the opening round of the United Rugby Championship at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi on Saturday.

REACTION: The South African Rugby Union moved swiftly to squash rumours that 'several' Springboks have tested positive for the use of illicit drugs

URC REPORT: Benetton got their 2022/2023 United Rugby Championship campaign off to a perfect start with a 33-11 win over Glasgow Warriors in Treviso on Friday.

OPINION: South Africa stayed alive in the Rugby Championship with a hard-earned 36-20 win over Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round Five Rugby Championship Test between Argentina and South Africa in Buenos Aires

WATCH as new BlitzBok coach Sandile Ngcobo and his second in command Philip Snyman talk about how the team can become No.1 again.

NEWS: Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies and team dietician Zeenat Simjee have released statements addressing the allegations they are currently facing.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok captain Siyamthanda Kolisi predicts a fierce breakdown battle in their must-win Rugby Championship clash against Argentina, as victory for either side will keep them in the hunt for the title.

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

WATCH as we bring you new evidence of the contentious call by French referee Mathieu Raynal to overturn a penalty awarded to Australian flyhalf Bernard Foley.

NEWS: Crisis-hit Worcester's English Premiership game against Exeter this weekend will go ahead as scheduled after the club met Friday's deadline to provide safety certification for matches at their Sixways Stadium.

REPORT: It’s been a long time between drinks for Wellington, but the Lions have finally ended their Ranfurly Shield drought with a 19-12 win over Hawke’s Bay in Napier.

REACTION: Staff at crisis-hit Premiership club Worcester have called for a change of ownership and expressed their anger over “continual broken promises” that have left their future in jeopardy.

REACTION: Bernard Foley, at the centre of a controversial ref call in the Bledisloe Cup loss, says the Wallabies must re-set and target a breakthrough win at Eden Park.

SATURDAY PREVIEW: The Bulls, beaten finalists last season, are looking to take their game up to a level where they will be crowned champions at the end of the 2022-23 United Rugby Championship season.

ONE-ON-ONE WITH MARK ALEXANDER: @king365ed sat down for an exclusive chat with the SARU kingpin about their trouble with WPRFU clubs and the Newlands saga.

NEWS: The Rugby Europe Championship is to expand the number of teams participating as part of an overhauled tournament format.

Clermont's Australia centre Irae Simone said lining up alongside former New Zealand midfielder George Moala for the club is "scary" before they head to Toulon in the Top 14 on Sunday.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP, ROUND FIVE: Argentina are on the verge of an incredible feat should they secure a win over South Africa this Saturday in Buenos Aires.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Wallabies will sink to their worst-ever world ranking on the back of their dramatic loss to the All Blacks in Melbourne.

SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks have taken the next step in their evolution under the ownership of MVM Holdings.

REACTION: All Blacks head coach Ian Foster has thrown his support behind French referee Mathieu Raynal after his team edged the Wallabies 39-37 in a controversial Rugby Championship clash in Melbourne.

NEWS: The world's best players will return to Melbourne in an action-packed weekend of Super Rugby.

NEWS: Worcester Warriors face suspension from all competitions unless the financially-stricken English Premiership club meet Friday's deadline to provide safety certification for matches at their Sixways Stadium.

SPOTLIGHT: Stormers head coach John Dobson will have to make some key midfield decisions in the opening rounds of the new United Rugby Championship season.

REACTION: Wallabies head coach Dave Rennie was left stunned after his team had victory snatched away from them in their Rugby Championship encounter against the All Blacks in Melbourne on Thursday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls will go into their United Rugby Championship season-opening match against the Lions with a surprise selection at fullback.

NEWS: Two former World Rugby Sevens Series winners will provide the core of the newly appointed Springbok Sevens management.

BREAKING NEWS: Bulls director of rugby, Jake White, has committed for a long-term stay at Loftus Versfeld with a contract extension that will see him at the helm of the side until 2027.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Argentina's Australian coach Michael Cheika made seven changes to his team announced on Thursday for the weekend clash with world champions South Africa in Buenos Aires.

RUGBY CHAMPS REPORT: The Wallabies' Bledisloe Cup drought has stretched to a 20th year after they suffered a heartbreaking 37-39 loss to the All Blacks in a drama-charged Test in Melbourne.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has named his team for their United Rugby Championship season-opener.

SPOTLIGHT: Bulls backline coach Chris Rossouw has pinpointed some key areas his team will need to focus on for the 2022/2023 United Rugby Championship season.

WATCH as Springbok scrumhalf Francois de Klerk talks about 'parking' the box kick for the remainder of the Rugby Championship.

NEWS: The finalists for South Africa's Players' Player of the Year award have been named.

URC ROUND ONE: Edoardo Padovani has set his sights on Glasgow Warriors after Benetton clinched a dramatic late victory over Edinburgh in their final pre-season fixture.

NEWS: The Cheetahs have been forced to go 'local' for their Challenge Series, which gets underway later this month.

OPINION: The Wallabies hosted the All Blacks at Docklands Stadium in front of a sell-out Melbourne crowd on Thursday.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Ireland coaching group have named the 35 man squad that will travel to South Africa in late September to play in the Challenge Series.

OPINION: It was a true 80-minute encounter in Melbourne on Thursday with the All Blacks claiming a last-minute 39-37 win over the Wallabies.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round Five Rugby Championship Test between Australia and New Zealand in Melbourne.

SPOTLIGHT: The World Schools Festival returns in 2022, with the best schools in the world will be taking each other on.

WATCH as seasoned Springbok Francois de Klerk opens up on possibly 'helping out' as a flyhalf and playing off the bench.

SPOTLIGHT: The Springboks will have the perfect opportunity to look at new talent for the No.10 jersey when they embark on their end-of-year tour in November.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber admitted that a lack of consistency in selection this year may have resulted in his team not hitting specific targets.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP, ROUND FIVE: James Slipper admits he's been surprised by the All Blacks' faltering form but the Wallabies skipper expects them to be at their bruising best for the Bledisloe Cup clash in Melbourne on Thursday.

SPOTLIGHT: The second season of the United Rugby Championship gets underway this coming weekend against the background of a dramatically changed global landscape in the game.

NEWS: The cancellation of Justin Bieber's concert means the Stormers will be able to play one of their opening United Rugby Championship games at Cape Town Stadium.

SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand legend Sean Fitzpatrick, who paid two visits to Buckingham Palace with the All Blacks, said the late Queen Elizabeth II taught him an invaluable piece of etiquette.

NEWS: As the Wallabies and All Blacks prepare to battle for the Bledisloe Cup, Japan is offering to be the peace-maker in the simmering Super Rugby stand-off between the trans-Tasman rivals.

SPOTLIGHT: With the Wallabies conceding 14.5 penalties a game in the Rugby Championship, skipper James Slipper says they need improved discipline against New Zealand.

NEWS: Worcester's co-owners agreed a deal to sell the financially-troubled English Premiership club on Tuesday as they moved closer to avoiding the threat of bankruptcy.

SPOTLIGHT: As we approach the two last rounds of the Rugby Championship, the trophy is anyone's to take.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber has revealed his team for Saturday's clash against Argentina in Buenos Aires.

SPOTLIGHT: Describing him as the benchmark Test wing, Will Jordan knows he will have his hands full trying to contain Wallabies game-breaker Marika Koroibete in Thursday's Bledisloe Cup encounter.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: All Blacks head coach Ian Foster has revealed his team to face the Wallabies in Melbourne on Thursday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has turned over almost half of his run-on side ahead of Thursday's Bledisloe Cup encounter against the All Blacks, with scrumhalf Nic White the highest profile casualty.

SPOTLIGHT: Elton Jantjies has appeared to respond to his latest off-field scandal with a cryptic social media post on Instagram.

REACTION: South Africa's Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus has broken his silence on the allegations surrounding flyhalf Elton Jantjies.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok assistant coach Deon Davids has backed Damian Willemse to alleviate any flyhalf concerns ahead of their penultimate Rugby Championship match against Argentina.

TRANSFER NEWS: After nine years playing overseas, Monty Ioane is returning to Australia.

SQUAD UPDATE: Springbok hooker Mbongeni Mbonambi joined the national squad in Buenos Aires on Monday after completing the initial stages of his recovery from the knee injury that sidelined him before the second Rugby Championship Test against New Zealand in Johannesburg last month.

NEWS: Argentina have been forced to switch the venue for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash against South Africa from Jose Amalfitani Stadium in Buenos Aires because of the poor condition of the pitch

WATCH as we bring you five of the best tries from the inaugural United Rugby Championship season.

NEW JERSEY: Drawn from the Western Cape's rich art history and central role in the fabric of local communities, this season's Stormers jersey features an artistic flair in the design.

SPOTLIGHT: Australia's coaching staff have been working overtime to determine why they've struggled to win successive Tests this year as they prepare for the Bledisloe Cup clash in Melbourne on Thursday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: A couple of South African rugby players have pinpointed why they prefer the United Rugby Championship over the Super Rugby.

The United Rugby Championship Round one clash between Cardiff and Munster has been rescheduled.

SPOTLIGHT: The Western Force are set to come up against a familiar face in November after they locked in two pre-season games against Israel Folau's Japanese side Urayasu D-Rocks.

TOP 14 REPORT: Toulouse climbed to the summit of the early Top 14 table with a 28-8 home victory over Toulon on Sunday, but saw France flyhalf Romain Ntamack limp off with an ankle injury.

REACTION: Two members of the Springbok touring squad have been sent home after reports of an extra-marital tryst between the duo.

SPOTLIGHT: Loose forward Vincent Tshituka has explained his decision to leave the Lions for a three-year contract with the Sharks in Durban.

DAY THREE WRAP: Olympic champions Fiji turned on a dazzling display to win the Sevens World Cup after emphatic victories against Australia and New Zealand at the Cape Town Stadium on Sunday.

OPINION: Elton Jantjies' untimely departure from the Springbok team has left coach Jacques Nienaber with limited options. Jan de Koning looks into his crystal ball.

REACTION: Worcester Director of Rugby Steve Diamond has revealed that a deal could be reached for an investor to buy the financially-stricken club in the next three days.

SPOTLIGHT: All Blacks coach Ian Foster has attributed the Rugby Championship's competitiveness to improvements made by the Michael Cheika-coached Argentines.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok No.8 Jasper Wiese says his team will be out to get bonus points in their final two Rugby Championship clashes against Argentina.

TOP 14 SATURDAY WRAP: La Rochelle survived a late scare to edge Lyon 23-21 and take pole position in the Top 14 on Saturday with champions Montpellier bouncing back from their opening round defeat to beat Bordeaux-Begles.

INTERVIEW: The Wallabies will be aiming to make up for their 8-24 loss to South Africa when they host the All Blacks in Melbourne on Thursday.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: Harlequins survived a scare to beat Newcastle 40-31 in Round One of the 2022/2023 Premiership season.

WATCH as prop Retshegofaditswe Nche talks about South Africa's plans for success on the two-Test trip to Argentina.

DAY TWO WRAP: Ireland produced a strong performance to knock the BlitzBoks out of the Sevens World Cup in Cape Town with a 24-14 win in their quarterfinal on Saturday.

DAY THREE WRAP: New Zealand will face Pacific rivals Fiji in the Final of the Sevens World Cup tournament in Cape Town on Sunday.

SPOTLIGHT: With no certainty to take on the All Blacks in the Bledisloe Cup clash in Melbourne on Thursday, Wallabies veteran Kurtley Beale says he will be ready if he gets the opportunity.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok wing Makazole Mapimpi said he was glad he got the opportunity to right some wrongs against the Wallabies in Sydney last weekend.

SUNDAY WRAP: Wales star Louis Rees-Zammit sparked a spectacular second-half fightback as Gloucester launched their Premiership campaign with a 27-21 victory over Wasps at Kingsholm.

MATCH REPORT: The Sharks put down an important marker when they beat the defending-champion Stormers 21-12 in a United Rugby Championship pre-season outing in Port Elizabeth on Friday.

SPOTLIGHT: Lawrence Dallaglio believes the gap with the Southern Hemisphere has never been narrower to offer European nations hope a year out from the Rugby World Cup.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Argentina head coach Michael Cheika has revealed his squad for their upcoming Tests against the Springboks in the Rugby Championship.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Bordeaux coach Christophe Urios has hailed the immediate impact of their Congolese signing Madosh Tambwe.

REACTION: The Springbok Sevens team will be looking for a more dominant performance on defence when they take on Ireland in the quarter-finals of World Cup Sevens at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

DAY ONE WRAP: There were some shocking results on the opening day of the 2022 World Cup Sevens in Cape Town.

SPOTLIGHT: Japan thrilled fans with their swashbuckling style at the 2019 Rugby World Cup but head coach Jamie Joseph believes it would be "pointless" to play the same way at next year's tournament.

LISTEN as @king365ed and acclaimed radio anchor John Maytham go head-to-head over the much-publicized Jurie Roux saga.

SPOTLIGHT: Canan Moodie's performance in Sydney is causing a stir in New Zealand.

SPOTLIGHT: Ned Lester looks at they key factors in the Trans-Tasman battle between Australia and New Zealand in the next fortnight.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS: The Stormers and the Sharks have revealed their teams for Friday's pre-season clash.

SPOTLIGHT: World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin says he is "confident" about fan safety with one year to go to the Rugby World Cup in France despite the security issues surrounding May's Champions League final held in Paris.

JERSEY LAUNCH: The Bulls have revealed their 2022/2023 home and alternative kit just a week ahead of the opening round of the United Rugby Championship.

JERSEY LAUNCH: The Sharks have unveiled their brand new jersey ahead of their 2022/23 United Rugby Championship campaign.

SPOTLIGHT: The Springboks got back to business on the training field in Buenos Aires to prepare for the big task of attempting to win their two remaining Rugby Championship matches.

SPOTLIGHT: Life does not always deliver a fairy tale ending and Neil Powell has experienced enough highs and lows in 15 years of Sevens to realise that.

SPOTLIGHT: Wallabies legend David Campese says the current state of Rugby Union is "a joke".

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: South Africa sevens coach Neil Powell confirmed his squad of 12 players with two players set to miss the historical 2022 World Cup Sevens at Cape Town Stadium.

URC BUILD-UP: Ulster could have a big boost for their trip to South Africa in October.

SPOTLIGHT Will Genia says young No.10 Noah Lolesio must be held accountable after the performance in Sydney ‘failed to fire a shot’.

With an anticipated record-breaking crowd of more than 150 000 fans set to create an unforgettable atmosphere in an iconic venue, Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 aims to set new standards in Cape Town this weekend.

FEATURE: Mohed Altrad's appearance in the dock marks another remarkable chapter in the never-dull life of a man who turned up in Montpellier from Syria in 1970 without a penny or a word of French.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Wallabies head coach Dave Rennie has revealed his squad for their Bledisloe Tests against the All Blacks.

NEWS: Bath Rugby have named Ben Spencer as club captain for the 2022/23 season.

REACTION: France midfielder Virimi Vakatawa has explained the reason why retired from playing rugby with immediate effect at the age of 30.

NEWS: Top New Zealand broadcaster and former Tonga international, Willie Los’e, has died in Cape Town.

He did not know what the question was going to be when he saw an incoming call from Springbok Sevens coach Neil Powell, but Cecil Africa instinctively knew the answer.

NEWS: Harlequins CEO Laurie Dalrymple has responded via Twitter to a report on the extent of the club’s debt, saying it is “factually inaccurate.”

SPOTLIGHT: Those already celebrating the 'demise' and 'departure' of Jurie Roux should calm down.

STATISTICAL REVIEW: Siyamthanda Kolisi produced arguably the most influential performance of his Springbok career in South Africa's 24-8 demolition of the Wallabies in Sydney this past weekend.

SEVENS SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Australia’s World Rugby Sevens Series Champion teams have confirmed their squads for the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town.

INTERVIEW: Few things excite a South African Sevens player more than running out onto the pitch at Cape Town Stadium to the cheer of thousands upon thousands of passionate supporters.

OPINION: New Zealand is slowly working its way back towards the top of the world rankings and one man is credited with the revival.

BREAKING NEWS: Racing 92 announced on Monday that France centre Virimi Vakatawa has been banned from playing in France.

TRANSFER NEWS: Bulls have acquired the services of loose-forward, Marco van Staden, who will make a much-anticipated return to Loftus Versfeld.

NEWS: Round four of the Rugby Championship was ‘bounce back day’ with New Zealand and South Africa both overturning their defeats to Argentina and Australia the previous week in emphatic style.

SPOTLIGHT: Bernard Laporte, the president of the French Rugby Federation, has served as a player, coach and even a minister, overcoming controversy and setbacks to become one of the most powerful figures in the sport.

NEWS: Bernard Laporte, a towering figure in French rugby, goes on trial on Wednesday on charges of corruption and influence-peddling.

OPINION: @king365ed delves into the statistics to see what parts of the Springbok game is not working in @SanzarTRC.

The magic from the Los Pumas history-making victory in Christchurch, the first on New Zealand soil, couldn’t be replicated a second time as the All Blacks ran rampant in a 53-3 win in Hamilton.

OPINION: RugbyPass scribe Ben Smith looks back at the reasons for South Africa's emphatic win over Australia at the weekend and what the rest of the Rugby Championship holds.

REACTION: Springbok utility back Damian Willemse had plenty of praise for Elton Jantjies after Saturday's 24-8 victory over the Wallabies in Sydney on Saturday.

Game-breaking All Black Ardie Savea will miss next week’s Bledisloe Cup match in Melbourne in a reprieve for the Wallabies as they seek to break a 20-year drought.

REACTION: As Wallabies fans piled out of the Sydney Football Stadium after watching their side's 8-24 defeat to South Africa, James Slipper gathered his troops and addressed them.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Springboks are bracing themselves for a challenging test against Argentina on September 17.

REACTION: New Zealand forwards coach Jason Ryan Sunday called for consistency after the 53-3 thrashing of Argentina, saying it should not take a setback to fire up the All Blacks.

TOP 14 REPORT: Toulouse opened their Top 14 campaign on Sunday with a 26-25 victory at Bordeaux-Begles as the hosts missed three consecutive late penalties.

WATCH as Eben Etzebeth and Allan Alaalatoa enjoy a beer together after Springboks'  24-8 win over Wallabies in Sydney on Saturday. 

SPOTLIGHT: The All Blacks got their Rugby Championship title challenge back on track with a 53-3 thrashing of Argentina on Saturday.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: New Zealand Under-19 head coach Mark Hammett has selected his squad to embark on a tour to South Africa later this month.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP REPORT:  The Springboks produced a ruthless performance to end their almost decade-long drought in Sydney, beating the Wallabies 24-8 on Saturday.

There is a pledge that needs to be made by all new Springbok players.

MATCH REPORT: New Zealand beat Argentina 53-3 in their Rugby Championship Test in Hamilton on Saturday, scoring seven unanswered tries in an emphatic display to avenge last week's shock loss to the Pumas.

REACTION: Wallabies coach Dave Rennie admits his side missed a golden opportunity to put one hand on the Rugby Championship trophy, brutalised 24-8 by South Africa in Sydney.

REACTION: Canan Moodie has been making headlines throughout the week and he certainly delivered on Saturday.

OPINION: The Springboks bounced back from their defeat in Adelaide with a morale-boosting 24-8 win over the Wallabies in Sydney.

SPOTLIGHT: Saturday’s Rugby Championship encounter in Sydney had a feisty denouement when a mass scuffle that had Eben Etzebeth and Allan Alaalatoa at its heart broke out.

La Rochelle walked away with the honours in the headline fixture on the opening day of the Top 14 season on Saturday with the European champions downing Top 14 titleholders Montpellier 26-22.

NEWS: Italian URC club Benetton have revealed their contract with Monty Ioane has been terminated by mutual agreement just months after the Test wing agreed to an extension.

Former South Africa prop and La Rochelle scrum coach Gurthro Steenkamp says his side are starting from "zero" as the new French Top 14 campaign begins this Saturday, despite winning last season's European Champions Cup.

REACTION: After landing on the wrong side of a 53-3 pasting in Hamilton, Pumas loose forward Pablo Matera appeared to let out some of his frustrations on All Blacks hooker Dane Coles during the post-match formalities.

OPINION: The Wallabies hosted South Africa at the newly renovated Allianz Stadium in front of a sell-out crowd.

SPOTLIGHT: The battle between Canan Moodie and Marika Koroibete out wide is one of the more interesting sub-plots in Saturday's Rugby Championship Round Four Test.

REACTION: Petulant Australia scrumhalf Nic White would have thought that by Friday the heat would have lowered on him over his theatrics in Adelaide last week.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round Four Rugby Championship Test between Australia and South Africa in Sydney.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Round Four Rugby Championship Test between New Zealand and Argentina in Hamilton.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND FOUR: New Zealand will need to play without fear against Argentina in Hamilton on Saturday to avenge their shock defeat last weekend and prevent the humiliation of losing a fourth successive home Test.

NEWLANDS UPDATE: The South African Rugby Union has balked at 'requests' from a growing number of clubs to terminate the administration of the Western Province Rugby Football Union.

PRE-SEASON REPORT: The defending-champion Stormers scored 14 tries on their way to a convincing 94-7 win against the South Western Districts Eagles in a URC warm-up match in George on Friday.

NEWS UPDATE: A coordinated social media video campaign on Friday highlighted that the Worcester players and staff remain unpaid.

REPORT: The Sharks edged the Lions 45-43 in a United Rugby Championship pre-season thriller at Ellis Park on Friday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Australia head coach Dave Rennie has confirmed that regular captain Michael Hooper will not return for the rest of the Rugby Championship season.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND FOUR: Springbok captain Siyamthanda Kolisi says he understands the frustration in South Africa after his team's inconsistent performances this year.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Neil Powell has revealed his squad for the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The All Blacks need more variation in their game given their ball-in-hand "mentality" is being exploited by opposition teams, says scrumhalf Aaron Smith.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS: The Lions, the worst of the South African teams in last season's United Rugby Championship, will introduce some of their new recruits in a pre-season encounter with the Sharks.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Japan head coach Jamie Joseph on Friday named a mammoth 52-man preliminary squad to face New Zealand, England and France.

FEATURE: The Bulls will have an effective weapon in their arsenal when they begin their 2022/23 United Rugby Championship campaign against an old foe – the Lions.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Flank Junior Pokomela will captain a Stormers XV in a pre-season friendly against the South Western Districts Eagles in George on Friday.

Jake White shared his views on the current state of Test rugby and its effect on Jacques Nienaber ad Ian Foster.

RANKINGS PREVIEW: New Zealand face a new world ranking low if they are beaten for the second successive Saturday at home by Argentina.

WATCH as veteran utility forward Deon Fourie talks about the much-maligned role of a hooker in the Springbok set-up.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Argentina coach Michael Cheika on Thursday laughed off suggestions his in-form team are favourites to notch another win over New Zealand in this weekend's Rugby Championship Test at Hamilton.

NEWS: Worcester Warriors boss Steve Diamond has tweeted confirmation that all his players have been paid and that their Premiership season will begin as planned away to London Irish on September 10.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: All Blacks coach Ian Foster took a dig at critics who "want blood" as he defended naming an unchanged team on Thursday for the Rugby Championship Test against Argentina in Hamilton.