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SPOTLIGHT: Following the announcement of the United Rugby Championship, we learn more about the 16 powerhouse teams.

OPINION: The Johannesburg-based Lions were outclassed from start to finish in an entertaining game that saw the British and Irish Lions run riot.

OPINION: Ian Cameron rates the British and Irish Lions after their 56-14 mauling of the Johannesburg-based Lions.

RUMBLE IN NELSPRUIT: Griquas will have their work cut out for them if they want to build on last weekend’s impressive victory over the Cheetahs.

CURRIE CUP REPORT: The Pumas moved up to second in the Currie Cup standings after a thrilling 26-22 over Griquas in Nelspruit on Friday.

OPINION: Ireland got back to action 15 weeks after they finished the Six Nations with a resounding flourish. Liam Heagney rates the Irish players!

OPINION: After a 20-month absence from the international game, the Springboks were a bit rusty in their 40-9 win over Georgia.

BREAKING NEWS: Junaid Moerat has won the first round in his protracted battle with Western Province Rugby Football Union President Zelt Marais.

REACTION: New Zealand coach Ian Foster has rejected any suggestion of an unwarranted mismatch after the All Blacks put a century of points on a hapless Tonga, saying Saturday's Test was not about the scoreline.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: It is certainly not the news the Springboks camp want to hear regarding their second row options.

WATCH as three legends of the game - Fourie du Preez, Schalk Burger and Jean de Villiers exchange some tall tales and good laughs.

MATCH REPORT: The race to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2023 threw out some incredible upsets in Africa this week.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: It was not a perfect performance from the Springboks, but it was a perfect debut for Aphelele Fassi.

REACTION: British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland has issued a warning to South Africa ahead of the start of their three-Test series later this month.

MATCH REPORT: Joe Cokanasiga toasted his first Test in 22 months with a smart brace as England overcame the USA 43-29 at Twickenham.

REACTION: Springboks lock Franco Mostert admitted there are a couple of kinks to iron out before the World Cup Champs can pose a real threat to the British and Irish Lions.

INTERVIEW: @king365ed chats to Lions Rugby Company CEO Rudolf Straeuli and Pieter Burger, Managing Director of Ellis Park Stadium (Pty) Ltd, about the financial status of the franchise.

MATCH REPORT: The expected slaughter happened at Ellis Park on Saturday, when the touring British and Irish Lions feasted on their outclassed opposition.

MATCH REPORT: Ireland got revenge for their World Cup loss when they beat Japan 39-31 in Dublin on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: New Zealand kicked off their Test season in sublime fashion, beating Tonga 102-0 at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.

POST-MATCH REACTION: Watch as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber runs the rule over his team, after their 40-9 win over Georgia in Pretoria.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Former France captain and current team manager Raphael Ibanez admitted two weeks in quarantine had hurt their chances.

NEWS: Players red-carded for high tackles are set to be sent back to tackling school – according to a new protocol from World Rugby.

MATCH REPORT: The Springboks put in a scrappy performance on their way to a 40-9 victory over Georgia in Pretoria on Friday.

REACTION: Eddie Jones has batted away a damning tweet by Michael Lynagh about his son, Louis, and England.

REACTION: The Junior Springboks' triumph in the Under-20 international series at Newlands on Saturday was a pleasing reward.

MATCH REPORT: Milestone man Leigh Halfpenny's knee injury has soured Wales' 68-12 rugby Test win over Canada.

STAT ATTACK: Harlequins' South African stars played a big role in their thrilling Premiership Final win over Exeter Chiefs at Twickenham on Saturday.

WATCH as World Cup-winning Springbok Bryan Habana unpacks the forthcoming series between South Africa and the British and Irish Lions. @king365ed reports.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the opening tour match between the Johannesburg-based Lions and the British and Irish Lions at Ellis Park.

SECONDS OUT, ROUND ONE: The much-anticipated British and Irish Lions tour finally gets off the ground at Ellis Park on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok loose forward Kwagga Smith has been trying to raise his game to try and emulate one of his role models.

NEWS: The British and Irish Lions may be willing to take a 'shortcut' in the hope of getting injured captain Alun Wyn Jones back on tour in South Africa.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Test between Ireland and Japan at Lansdowne Road in Dublin.

MATCH REPORT: Demonstrating superior playing depth, and discipline, the Maori All Blacks celebrated their 125th international match with a convincing 38-21 win over Manu Samoa at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Eddie Jones has named an England starting XV to take on the USA this Sunday containing just two of the starters that flopped in their last outing 15 weeks ago.

INJURY UPDATE: Mystery surrounds the make-up of the Wallabies side to face France in their Brisbane series opener on Wednesday as scrumhalf Jake Gordon makes a late push to wear the No. 9 jersey.

RECLAIMING TOP SPOT: New Zealand have warned Tonga they will be shown no mercy in Auckland on Saturday, with the once world-dominant All Blacks marking the Test as the start of their quest to return to the top.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Test between New Zealand and Tonga at Mt Smart in Auckland.

WATCH as Ivan van Rooyen talks about his discussions with Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber ahead of the opening match of the British and Irish Lions tour.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Test between South Africa and Georgia at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria.

TRANSFER NEWS: Harlequins confirmed that Tabai Matson will join the Club ahead of the 2021/22 season, leading the Premiership champions coaching contingent

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok captain Siya Kolisi says there won't be changes to the Boks' winning formula as they get the Test season underway against Georgia.

SPOTLIGHT: The Wallabies feel a recent taste of New Zealand rugby has set them up well for the test series against France, which opens next Wednesday in Brisbane.

WATCH as the Springbok players extend a special welcome top the British and Irish Lions - in several of the country's 11 languages.

REACTION: Sharks head coach Sean Everitt has pinpointed what went wrong during his side's 31-32 narrow defeat to Western Province.

NEWS: Scotland have been forced to call off their Test match against Romania later this month due to several positive Covid-19 tests being returned in the camp.

SPOTLIGHT: The final match of the U20 International Series between South Africa and Argentina at Newlands will mean more than just a result to the Junior Springboks, according to Bobby Alexander, who returns to the starting team at scrumhalf after missing two matches.

SPOTLIGHT: British and Irish Lions coach Warren has shed light on his flyhalf selection for the upcoming test against Johannesburg Lions.

SPOTLIGHT: Rugby Australia is waiting to learn if fans will be allowed at the first Test against France in Brisbane on Wednesday.

FIRST TEST: Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber knows that it won't be a walk in the park when his team comes up against Georgia in the first of two Tests on Friday.

TRANSFER NEWS: A talented player is returning to his roots by signing a long-term contract with Western Province.

SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER: With eight players in the British and Ireish Lions tour sqiad, it is not exactly Ireland's frontline selection.

REACTION: The Western Province's 32-31 win over the Sharks has been accompanied by an injury blow.

MT SMART DOUBLE HEADER: The New Zealand Māori and Samoa coaches named their teams for their encounter in Auckland on Saturday.

OPINION: Ian Cameron rates the British and Irish Lions players after their 28-10 win over Japan in Edinburgh.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has opted to push some of the younger players into the frontline against the British and Irish Lions on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Coach Warren Gatland surprised when he named his team for the opening match of the tour - against the Johannesburg-based Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok loosehead prop Retshegofaditswe Nché is ready to cement his place in the Springbok squad ahead of the British and Irish Lions series.

TOUR SPOTLIGHT: king365ed looks at the British and Irish Lions' tour opener against their namesakes at Ellis Park on Saturday.

CURRIE CUP MATCH REPORT: Flyhalf Tim Swiel kicked a penalty with three minutes remaining to secure the win that sent Western Province to the top of the standings.

NEWS: Homegrown Western Force prop Kieran Longbottom has paid tribute to the Perth-based franchise after announcing his retirement from rugby.

WATCH as veteran Georgian prop Nikoloz Khatiashvili chats to @king365ed about his team's encounter with the Springboks in Pretoria on Friday.

NEWS: Taking 25 years to achieve his dream job, incoming Waratahs coach Darren Coleman wants his Super Rugby team to show the same passion and resilience.

REACTION: The Cheetahs are going through one of their more challenging periods in their illustrious 125-year history, but are adamant they will emerge to restore their pride.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: New Zealand coach Ian Foster will rely on a number of new recruits as he look to bounce back from last year's under- performing start to his tenure.

TRANSFER NEWS: Ahead of their Super Rugby success run - 2016, 2017 and 2018 - the Lions had managed to lure a host of players from Pretoria to Johannesburg.

TRANSFER NEWS: London Irish continue to dip into the South African market to bolster their playing roster.

WATCH as British and Irish Lions captain Conor Murray speaks about the insights he has on the Springboks, after spending some time with their coaching staff.

SPOTLIGHT: It has been an agonising 19 months, but on Friday the World Champion Springboks will return from COVID-enforced exile to start a marathon season.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok scrumhalf Cobus Reinach says playing overseas has helped him get out of his "comfort zone".

NEWS: South African Kevin Foote will take charge of the Melbourne Rebels on a permanent basis.

TRANSFER NEWS: Ealing Trailfinders have signed South African loosehead prop Dylan Smith and two of his former Lions teammates ahead of the 2021/22 season.

TRANSFER NEWS: One of Australia's most experienced players will be heading to France.

REACTION: Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard is physically and mentally ready for Test rugby after battling a knee injury for most of the past season.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Currie Cup Round Three encounter between Western Province and the Sharks in Cape Town.

CAPE OF STORMS: The cold fronts that hit Cape Town this week will play a significant role in this Currie Cup Round Three fixture between Western Province and the Sharks.

REACTION: Officials from both camps were coy over suggestions that there could be a dramatic late schedule change for the British and Irish Lions' tour of South Africa.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Tonga have revealed their team to face the All Blacks at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland.

BREAKING NEWS: Premiership Rugby has welcomed the vote, at a meeting of the Rugby Football Union council, in favour of expansion.

SPOTLIGHT: Will Genia will likely be remembered as one of Australia’s greatest ever scrumhalves. He previews the new Wallaby season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Three players will make their Springbok debuts against Georgia on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Georgia coach Levan Maisashvili named a settled matchday 23 for Friday's Test against the Springboks in Pretoria.

NEWS: SA Rugby commended its 14 member unions for proactively halting all forms of club and amateur rugby in the wake of the current third wave of the COVID pandemic.

REACTION: Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber said No.8 Jasper Wiese forced his way into Friday's matchday squad against Georgia after his performances in England.

SPOTLIGHT: Sharks head coach Sean Everitt believes Curwin Bosch still has plenty of opportunities to prove his worth to the Springbok coaches.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: There are five changes to the Western Province team that will take on the Sharks at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wales have named five uncapped players in their squad to face Canada on Saturday as Leigh Halfpenny makes his 100th Test appearance.

WATCH as Houston SaberCats captain Luke Beauchamp asks for his own player to be sent off after learning that he swore at the referee.

INJURY UPDATE: The Wallabies have been forced to tweak their squad after they lost another veteran to injury,

INTERVIEW: The touring British and Irish Lions opted to focus on the game, despite the COVID-19 scare that appeared in the Springbok camp at the weekend.

NEWS: The Currie Cup match between the Cheetahs and Bulls, scheduled for Bloemfontein on Wednesday, has been cancelled in line with COVID-19 protocols.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Eddie Jones has named his final squad for England’s two upcoming Test matches.

REACTION: The appointment of Ireland scrumhalf Conor Murray as British and Irish Lions captain may have surprised some pundits.

BREAKING NEWS: The Springboks will immediately resume their preparations for the forthcoming Tests against Georgia after feedback received from the Lions Series Medical Advisory Group.

SPOTLIGHT: Following the conclusion of the domestic seasons in England and France, EPCR confirmed the format and qualifiers for the 2021/22 Champions Cup as Europe’s elite club tournament is set to return with a highly competitive schedule of 71 matches.

NEWS: The South African government has confirmed that the British and Irish Lions series will go ahead, despite the country moving to level four lockdown.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach Sean Everitt has revealed his team to face Western Province in their Currie Cup Round Three clash in Cape Town on Wednesday.

WATCH as we bring you the ultimate trailer ahead of the three-Test series between South Africa and the British and Irish Lions.

SPOTLIGHT: Speedster Rosko Specman believes his departure from the Bulls last year was the best thing that could have happened to him.

SPOTLIGHT: The Sevens pools have been confirmed for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics which kick-off at Tokyo Stadium on July 26.

TRANSFER NEWS: London Irish have completed the signing of Benhard Janse van Rensburg.

SQUAD UPDATE: Wales have been forced to call up four players into their mid-year internationals training squad after Warren Gatland dipped into their playing pool over the weekend.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions have revealed their squad to face British and Irish Lions on Saturday.

BREAKING NEWS: The Springboks cancelled Sunday's planned training session in Johannesburg as a precautionary measure.

REACTION: Conor Murray said he had been taken aback to be named as the new captain of the British and Irish Lions.

SPOTLIGHT: The Conor Murray-captained British and Irish Lions, as well as Georgia, arrive this week in Johannesburg, a city swamped by a COVID-19 third wave.

TRANSFER NEWS: Bulls confirmed that Nizaam Carr has decided to return to the Premiership.

NEWS: Rugby Australia has confirmed the first Test of the 2021 series against France will have a new venue.

TOUR SPOTLIGHT: The British and Irish Lions will land in South Africa on Monday to start an eight-match, three-Test tour of the Republic.

B&I LIONS TOUR SPOTLIGHT: South Africa wing Cheslin Kolbe ays he is relishing the prospect of facing the British and Irish Lions' "unbelievable" Duhan van der Merwe next month.

OPINION: Tom Vinicombe takes a look at the incredible depth New Zealand has and selects a backup XV.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White speaks about the possibility that veteran back Gio Aplon's career may have come to an end at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Chiefs franchise have confirmed Lachlan Boshier will be heading offshore to Japan.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Harlequins edged out holders Exeter Chiefs 40-38 in a dramatic English Premiership Final at Twickenham on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Buoyed by the capacity State of Origin crowd in Brisbane, Rugby Australia is hopeful the opening Wallabies-France Test can enjoy the same freedoms.

CURRIE CUP REPORT: Griquas climbed off the bottom of the Currie Cup standings with a 31-10 win over the Cheetahs in Kimberley on Saturday.

VIDEO: There is nothing he can't do.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Henco van Wyk will be the only Junior Springbok to earn a consecutive start when the South Africans take on Georgia at Markötter Stadium in Stellenbosch.

NEWS: The British and Irish Lions have revealed their new captain after Alun Wyn Jones was ruled out of the tour of South Africa by a dislocated shoulder.

SPOTLIGHT: After a 20-month absence from the international game, the Springboks are feeling the pain in training ahead of their first Test against Georgia next week.

NEWS: Scotland's 'A' international clash with England on Sunday has been called off, Scottish Rugby announced, due to three positive COVID-19 tests in their camp.

MATCH REPORT: A rusty Samoa suffered a setback at the start of their preparations for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Tonga.

MATCH REPORT: The British and Irish Lions beat Japan 28-10 at Murrayfield on Saturday in the curtain-raiser to their tour of South Africa but victory was overshadowed by captain Alun Wyn Jones' injury.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick said there is a simple plan in place to help get fullback Aphelele Fassi and other youngsters ready for the rigours of Test matches.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Duhan van der Merwe has vowed to ignore any social media outrage as he prepares to make his British and Irish Lions debut against Japan at Murrayfield.

NEWS: British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland has confirmed that captain Alun Wyn Jones has been ruled out of the team's tour to South Africa with a dislocated shoulder.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Premiership Final between Exeter Chiefs and Harlequins at Twickenham.

SPOTLIGHT: South Africa wing Cheslin Kolbe kicked the first drop goal of his career for Toulouse as they beat La Rochelle 18-8 at the Stade de France on Friday.

MATCH REPORT: The Bulls bounced back with a hard-fought 32-27 win over the Pumas on Friday at Loftus Versfeld.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the historic encounter between the British and Irish Lions and Japan at Murrayfield.

NEWS: The Sharks have announced a new coaching structure ahead of their participation in the United Rugby Championship later this year.

NEWS: Former Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has been appointed as the new head coach of Namibia's national team.

EXETER CHIEFS v HARLEQUINS: After one of the most entertaining seasons in the history of the Premiership, it all comes down to one final match at Twickenham Stadium to decide the champions of England.

NEWS: Australia's series-opening Test against France will be shifted out of Sydney due to a COVID-19 lockdown of the nation's biggest city.

NEWS: The All Blacks' midfield stocks suffered another blow.

NEWS: Former France flyhalf Frederic Michalak has joined Les Bleus' coaching set-up for the tour to Australia.

SPOTLIGHT: Jan Nathaniël du Plessis, a World Cup winner and an acclaimed prop with 70 Test caps for South Africa, is salivating at the prospect of getting a second crack at the British and Irish Lions.

WATCH as Springbok star and World Rugby Player of the Year 2019 opens up about the horror injury that almost ended his career.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Currie Cup Round Two encounter between the Bulls and Pumas at Loftus Versfeld.

TRIAL RUN: They have been trying hard to sell it as the real deal, but in essence it is a 'curtain raiser' for the eight-match tour to South Africa.

BREAKING NEWS: On the surface, it appears to be calm, but underneath there is another volcano about to erupt at Newlands. Jan de Koning reports.

NEWS: Fiji lock Leone Nakarawa has joined Toulon after failing a medical examination with Irish province Ulster.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Olympic bronze medallists Justin Geduld and Dylan Sage have been included in the 17-man preliminary Sevens squad.

FEELING BULLISH: Round Two of the Currie Cup continues this weekend after a thrilling midweek game between the Lions and Western Province.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: World Rugby will introduce two controversial new rules to test matches for the latter half of the season, according to reports out of Australia.

INTERVIEW: RugbyPass reporter Chris Jones chats to World Cup-winning Springbok Lodewyk de Jager about his rehabilitation.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Griquas coach Scott Mathie has been forced to name a new captain for his team's Round Two Currie Cup outing.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie has named a team with 13 players that will make their Currie Cup debut for the Bloemfontein outfit, against Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday.

REACTION: England coach Eddie Jones said he expects Manu Tuilagi to return in "very good condition" next season despite the centre's latest injury setback.

SPOTLIGHT: British and Irish Lions give a sneak peek inside the camp as they prepare for the ultimate tour to South Africa.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has added some serious muscle to his team for the Currie Cup Round Two clash against the Pumas in Pretoria on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse has been forced to tweak his victorious team for the trip to Pretoria on Friday.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok assistant coach Deon Davids says Duhan van der Merwe will be a "handful" during the British and Irish Lions series.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Japan boss Jamie Joseph placed his faith in his 2019 World Cup heroes Thursday, as he named an experienced team to face the B&I Lions in Edinburgh.

PREVIEW: All Black legend Jerome Kaino will make his final bow from professional rugby union when he leads Toulouse against La Rochelle in the final of the French Top 14.

TEAM UPDATE: British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland has been forced to make another change to his team ahead of their clash against Japan at Murrayfield.

NO FANS: The Māori All Blacks will host Manu Samoa at Sky Stadium in Wellington on Saturday, June 26 as they kick off the Test season in New Zealand.

NEWS: England Rugby has appointed John Mitchell as head coach of England A in their one-off game this weekend.

SPOTLIGHT: Dave Rennie will have no hesitation backing his youth policy once again as the Wallabies battle a worrying injury toll heading into next month's three-Test series with France.

TRANSFER NEWS: Experienced loose forward Blake Gibson is heading to the capital after signing with the Hurricanes for the 2022 Super Rugby season.

WATCH as British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland speaks about his tactical dilemma ahead of the one-off Test against Japan and the trip to South Africa.

CURRIE CUP REPORT: The Lions have held off the fast-finishing Western Province for a 38-32 win at Ellis Park on Wednesday.

SPOTLIGHT: There was some good news for Bok fans on Wednesday.

NEWS: Irish Rugby Union reveals that Leinster Academy manager Noel McNamara has been appointed to a senior coaching role with a South African franchise.

NEWS: The Highlanders have announced that four players from their 2021 squad have played their finals games for the team.

REACTION: They are learning the ropes of playing at the international level and mistakes are inevitable. 

TEAM UPDATE: Britsh ad Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland has been forced to change his squad to take on Japan at Murrayfield Stadium on Saturday.

NEWS: The Wallabies have lost a key player to injury ahead of their three-Test series against France.

SPOTLIGHT: Six Nations Rugby has announced the kick-off times for the 2022 season.

SPOTLIGHT: Owen Farrell may be on the bench for the B&I Lions warm-up match against Japan, but Warren Gatland expects him to be a key figure in the combined side's upcoming tour of South Africa.

SPOTLIGHT: The Wallabies are making everyday count with coaches awarding votes they plan to use toward selection for next month’s France Test series.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Currie Cup Round Two encounter between the Lions and Western Province at Ellis Park.

ELLIS PARK SHOWDOWN: The Lions and Western Province have revealed their teams for Wednesday's Currie Cup Round Two encounter in Johannesburg.

SPOTLIGHT: Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber has insisted the Bulls' defeat to Benetton does not serve as a prelude for the upcoming Test series against British and Irish Lions.

SPOTLIGHT: Western Province assistant coach Dawie Snyman shed light on the squad's selection.

WATCH as British and Irish Lions utility forward Iain Henderson talks about the absence of spectators on their tour of South Africa.

SPOTLIGHT: Springboks lock Franco Mostert predicted a very intense and physical second row battle against 'world-class' British and Irish Lions.

OPINION: The first All Blacks squad of the year has been named for next month’s Test series against Tonga and Fiji, and there is no shortage of talking points about the side.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Eddie Jones has named an updated 36-player England squad as they continue preparations for their July series of fixtures.

NEWS: The Western Force confirmed that club stalwarts Marcel Brache and Chris Heiberg are moving onto the next chapter of their careers.

We were lucky enough to speak to Springbok rugby legends Pierre Spies and John Smit as they recalled their memories of the 2009 British and Irish Lions series.

INJURY PRICE: The Pumas have paid a dear price for their impressive 39-10 demolition of the Lions last Friday.

SPOTLIGHT: The Wallabies are making everyday count with coaches awarding votes they plan to use toward selection for next month's France Test series.

NEWS: French international flyhalf Romain Ntamack has been ruled out of the Top 14 Final.

SPOTLIGHT: Rampaging Japan rugby star Kazuki Himeno on Tuesday pleaded to be let loose against the British and Irish Lions this weekend - just days after crossing the globe to join the team.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe is likely to miss the first Test match against Georgia, head coach Jacques Nienaber revealed.

NEWS: French club La Rochelle had some good news for their fans on Tuesday.

NEWS: A BlitzBok has been ruled out of Olympic Games contention following an ankle injury that will require surgery.

MEDIA SPOTLIGHT: The prospect of South Africa joining the Six Nations has resurfaced.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: British & Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland has named his side to take on Japan at Murrayfield Stadium on Saturday.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Leicester Tigers hooker Tom Youngs will be obliged to referee at least two community matches for his role in the ugly scenes at the end of the Bristol Bears, Leicester Tigers’ game nine days ago.

WATCH as British and Irish Lions defence coach Steve Tandy explains how they will use the Japan Test to prepare for the trip to South Africa.

SOCIAL REACTION: The South African champion Bulls have been outclassed 35-8 by Italian club Benetton in the final of the Rainbow Cup in Treviso in a shock upset that has stunned the rugby world.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The All Blacks selectors, Head Coach Ian Foster, assistant coach John Plumtree and former All Black Grant Fox, have named the squad for the 2021 Tests Series against Fiji and Tonga.

INJURY UPDATE: The Lions have suffered another massive setback in the wake of the embarrassing loss at the weekend.

SQUAD UPDATE: Manu Tuilagi has withdrawn from the England squad after picking up an injury during Sale Sharks’ Premiership semifinal.

TRANSFER NEWS: Perpignan, freshly-promoted to the Top 14, on Monday announced three signings including veteran Argentine scrumhalf Martin Landajo.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Junior Springbok coach Bafana Nhleko made some significant changes to his matchday squad against Argentina in round two of the U20 International Series in Stellenbosch on Wednesday.

SPOTLIGHT: The scrums are emerging as one of the key contests in the forthcoming British and Irish Lions Test series against South Africa.

SPOTLIGHT: Francois Steyn and Morné Steyn have set the standards for the rest of the Bok squad ahead of the upcoming British and Irish Lions series.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber has opened up on his team's good-cop-bad-cop approach when dealing with referees on the field.

REACTION: Triumphant Benetton skipper Dewald Duvenhage, a former Stormers scrumhalf, indicated that his side was fairly confident going into the historic Rainbow Cup Final.

REACTION: Western Province coach John Dobson was not pleased with certain aspects of his team's performance in their 48-24 win over the Bulls.

REACTION: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White admitted that his team looked "inexperienced" in their Rainbow Cup Final in Italy on Saturday.

REACTION: Bulls captain Marcell Coetzee apologised to his team's fans after their Rainbow Cup Final defeat to Benetton on Saturday.

NEWS: Saracens sealed their return to the English Premiership as they clinched promotion from the Championship with a 57-15 rout of Ealing on Sunday.

NEWS: Four long-term stalwarts of the Blues have finished their careers with the Auckland franchise following Saturday’s 23-15 win over the Highlanders.

TOP 14 REPORT: In a repeat of the European Champions Cup final, Toulouse will meet La Rochelle in France's Top 14 final after seeing off Bordeaux-Begles 24-21 in Lille on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Champions Exeter Chiefs reached their sixth successive Premiership final and will play Harlequins at Twickenham after beating Sale Sharks 40-30 in an absorbing play-off.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok centre Lukhanyo Am had nothing but praise for Wandisile Simelane as they began training together in the Springbok camp in Bloemfontein this week.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: France are the most dangerous side in Europe, with almost as much depth in their squad as the All Blacks, Australia's rugby director warned ahead of their Test series next month.

MATCH REPORT: JJ Kotze scored four as Western Province cruised to a convincing 48-24 victory over a depleted  Bulls side at Loftus Versfeld.

MATCH REPORT: Benetton were a class apart as they cruised past a hapless Bulls team for the inaugural Rainbow Cup trophy in Treviso on Saturday.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Harlequins staged one of the greatest comebacks in history to deprive Bristol of their first Premiership final appearance.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Combining necessity with World Cup planning, France coach Fabien Galthie opted for youth on Sunday as he filled out his 42-man squad for a three-Test July series in Australia.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Blues were crowned Super Rugby Trans-Tasman champions after they beat the Highlanders 23-15 in a thrilling Final in Auckland on Saturday.

CURRIE CUP MATCH REPORT: The Pumas made a BIG statement of intent when they demolished the Lions in their opening round of South African's premier domestic competition.

SPOTLIGHT: BlitzBok coach Neil Powell returned to Cape Town with the knowledge the team's culture, game plays and confidence all received a boost during the stay in Gauteng.

TOP 14 NEWS: La Rochelle reached the French Top 14 final for the first time on Friday with a 19-6 victory over Racing 92.

REACTION: The Junior Springboks got their Under-20 campaign off to a winning start with a hard-fought 29-10 victory over Uruguay in Stellenbosch.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Rainbow Cup Final between Benetton and the Bulls in Treviso.

RETURN OF THE OLD FRIEND: South Africa's oldest premier domestic competition returns this weekend.

MATCH REPORT: The Sharks defeated a spirited Griquas 30-16 in Kimberley to kick off their Currie Cup season on a positive note.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Currie Cup Round One match between the Bulls and Western Province at Loftus Versfeld.

UNCHARTED TERRITORIES: Treviso's Stadio Monigo will be the 'Coliseum' for this historic gladiatorial contest.

SPOTLIGHT: The British and Irish Lions’ incoming personnel will be playing catch-up in their quest to face South Africa, according to kicking coach Neil Jenkins.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Final between the Blues and Highlanders at Eden Park.

WATCH as South Africa's Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus explains the omission of in-form utility back Cornal Hendricks. Jan de Koning reports.

NEWS: London Irish confirmed the players that will depart the Club following the conclusion of the 2020/21 campaign.

REDEMPTION: It's been an agonising 18-year wait for the Blues to reach a Final and coach Leon MacDonald admits Saturday's decider against the Highlanders will be "special".

SPOTLIGHT: Captain Michael Hooper believes new Wallabies forwards coach Dan McKellar will be "licking his lips" at the size of some of his players as he looks to bring a harder edge to the squad.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Currie Cup Round One match between the Pumas and the Lions in Nelspruit.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has named his strongest possible matchday squad to hunt for gold at the end of the rainbow.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Western Province coach John Dobson has named his team to challenge the Bulls in Round one of the Currie Cup on Saturday.

NEWS: Firebrand flank Lachie Swinton is free for Wallabies selection to face France after escaping a further ban after his send-off in the final round of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.

TRANSFER NEWS: French Top 14 side Montpellier said they have signed Fijian wing Masivesi Dakuwaqa on a two-year deal.

NEWS: Lock Cory Hill has been released from Wales' training camp after he informed Cardiff Blues that he was exploring the possibility of playing abroad.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls will field a team with nine players from the club ranks when they host Western Province in the opening round of the Currie Cup on Saturday.

THE TOP FOUR: With the regular season now in the books, all eyes turn to the two mouth-watering Premiership semifinals taking place this Saturday.

WATCH as World Cup-winning prop Trevor Nyakane talks about being back in the Springbok camp and the front row competition in the squad. Jan de Koning reports.

NEWS: The Lions have revealed that two of their forwards will be joining rival teams on loan for the duration of the 2021 Currie Cup tournament.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Newly appointed Sharks Currie Cup captain Phepsi Buthelezi will lead a formidable Sharks side in their Currie Cup opener against the Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday.

WATCH as we bring you the lowdown on how South African teams can qualify to play in the European Cup.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Griquas coach Scott Mathie has made a number of changes to his team for their opening match of the Currie Cup season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions will travel to Mbombela this weekend, where they will face the Pumas in the first round of South Africa’s oldest and most prestigious competition, the Currie Cup.

NEWS: SA Rugby confirmed on Friday that the two Tests against Georgia, as a precursor to the British and Irish Lions Lions Series, will be played in Gauteng.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Pumas are planning an 'unpleasant' welcome for the Lions in Nelspruit on Friday.

INTERVIEW: Springbok enforcer Eben Etzebeth talks about his teenage switch from wing to the second row and what he most fears in life.

NEWS: Having already lost first-choice loosehead prop, Joe Moody, to a plantar fascia injury, the All Blacks will now have to also cope without their first-choice tighthead for their July Tests with Tonga and Fiji.

NEWS: Hurricanes playmaker Jordie Barrett has recommitted to the Wellington franchise for one more season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: For the first time this season, the Highlanders have named an unchanged lineup and the southerners will enter the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final with an incredibly settled team.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Leon MacDonald has made just one change to his Blues team for their Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Final with the Highlanders at Eden Park.

NEWS: France will travel to Australia with an enlarged rugby squad of 42 players but without any from the two teams that play the Top 14 final.

WATCH as World Cup-winning Springbok prop Steven Kitshoff speaks about his long-standing rivalry with British and Irish Lions giant Tadhg Furlong.

SPOTLIGHT: Sharks head coach Sean Everitt has named his captain for the upcoming Currie Cup campaign that kicks off this Saturday with an away clash against Griquas in Kimberley.

WATCH as Bulls captain Marcell Coetzee previews his team's Rainbow Cup Final encounter with Italian side Treviso. Jan de Koning reports.

SPOTLIGHT: Did you ever wonder what World Cup-winning Springbok scrumhalf Francois de Klerk will look like without his long, flowing blond locks?

REACTION: Bemused Exeter boss Rob Baxter has hit out against the mechanics of the system that has resulted in Chiefs pair Sam Skinner and Dave Ewers each getting four-match bans.

INJURY UPDATE: Ireland has been forced into a nid-year series squad change – James Hume for Garry Ringrose.

SPOTLIGHT: With South African teams moving a step closer to European inclusion, EPCR is currently finalising their formats for the 2022/23 season and beyond.

SPOTLIGHT: Western Province assistant coach Rito Hlungwani was keen for his team to claim the 'underdog' tag ahead of the Currie Cup opening round.

SPOTLIGHT: Ali Price admits the British and Irish Lions' Scottish contingent is desperate to be involved against Japan at Murrayfield.

SPOTLIGHT: Former Blues hooker James Parsons and former Highlanders lock Joe Wheeler have shut down concerns over the validity of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman title just days before the competition’s final.

INJURY UPDATE: England have been forced to revise their squad following an injury setback.

UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP: A new era will kick off for South African rugby in September 2021.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Exeter Chiefs have been handed a double blow ahead of Saturday' Premiership semi-final against Sale Sharks.

SPOTLIGHT: Michael Wells says he's not in the Wallabies squad to make up the numbers and will be going all out to get picked for the first Test against France in Sydney.

SPOTLIGHT: Josh Adams is eager to develop his relationship with Stuart Hogg from Six Nations rival to British and Irish Lions teammate knowing his artistry could enhance his own strike rate.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Junior Springbok coach Bafana Nhleko named Lions flank Siyemukela Ndlovu as captain for his side.

TRANSFER NEWS: New faces, new energy and new squad for Sharks Currie Cup season says coach Sean Everitt.

INJURY UPDATE: France captain Charles Ollivon underwent surgery on Tuesday in Lyon for a ruptured knee ligament and will be out for six months, a medical source said.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Māori All Blacks Coach Clayton McMillan has named a strong squad ahead of their two-match series against Manu Samoa.

WATCH as new Springbok forwards coach Deon Davids explains why the Du Preez twins, Dan and Jean-Luc, are back in the mix after three years in the international wilderness.

INJURY UPDATE: The Highlanders may be without two of their key players in this weekend’s Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final against the Blues in Auckland.

NEWS: London Irish fullback Tom Homer has retired from playing with immediate effect following the conclusion of the 2020/21 season.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls have announced a 28-man squad that will travel to Italy for the Rainbow Cup Final.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Western Force has strengthened its backline for the 2022 season with the signing of three exciting young players in Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Bayley Kuenzle and Reece Tapine on two-year contracts from the Brumbies.

NEWS: Gloucester hooker Jack Singleton has withdrawn from the England squad and is self-isolating following a COVID-19 close contact notification.

WATCH was Warren Gatland delivers his opening speech to the 2021 British and Irish Lions squad ahead of their tour to South Africa.

REACTION: Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie has painted a bleak picture regarding his team's readiness for the upcoming Currie Cup season.

CLUBS AND THEIR BOK NUMBERS: South Africa's Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus has hailed the Mancunian flavour to the Springbok squad. Liam Heagney reports.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: James Ryan will captain Ireland this July against Japan and the USA, as Johnny Sexton misses out on Andy Farrell’s 37-man squad.

REACTION: Japan rugby boss Jamie Joseph said he wanted his players to "feel the pressure", after warming up for the British and Irish Lions with a win over a select team on Saturday.

INJURY UPDATE: The Blues received a significant boost ahead of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Final.

NEWS: Blues head coach Leon MacDonald has revealed a couple of his key players are injury doubts for the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final against the Highlanders on Saturday.

OPINION: @king365ed gives you a sneak preview of just how brutal the Tests series between the Springboks and the British and Irish Lions could be.

REACTION: The Bulls found themselves in an extraordinary situation ahead of their Rainbow Cup Final in Italy.

STAT ATTACK: Makazole Mapimpi sent a warning to the British and Irish Lions with his performance against the Lions in the Rainbow Cup SA.

WATCH as South Africa's Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus reveals how he deals with the tricky maze that is European clubs. Jan de Koning reports.

SPOTLIGHT: Hurricanes head coach Jason Holland has dropped a hint over whether star players Jordie Barrett and Ardie Savea will stay at the franchise beyond this season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Fiji will be without backline star Semi Radradra for their Test series against the All Blacks with uncapped halfback Mosese Sorovi among the new faces.

NEWS: Biarritz are facing an inquiry by prosecutors over a mass pitch invasion by rugby fans flouting Covid distancing rules after their derby win over Bayonne on the weekend.

REACTION: Sharks coach Sean Everitt refused to blame the pre-match drama - which forced him into withdrawing two Springboks - for their loss to the Bulls.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has gone with form over reputation, including 11 uncapped players in his 38-man squad to take on France in a three-Test series next month.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi's exit from the Stormers was another transfer that raised a couple of eyebrows.

VIDEO: Want to know what players get up to on tour? Watch as three retired Springbok unpack some of the behind the scenes events.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: British & Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland has confirmed his 26-man training squad for Jersey

MATCH REPORT: Wales scrumhalf Kieran Hardy grabbed two tries but it wasn’t enough to secure victory as Edinburgh scored two converted tries in the last four minutes to earn a 28-28 draw in an entertaining finale to the season at Parc y Scarlets.

REACTION: Former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika and proud club man Morgan Turinui have dissected the NSW Waratahs' season from hell.

RAINBOW CUP MATCH REPORT: The Bulls scored three tries in a 10-minute period in the second half to book their place in the Final with a 34-22 win over the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Defending champions Exeter staged an extraordinary fightback with 14 men to beat Sale 20-19 and book a home play-off against the same opponents.

MATCH REPORT: The Blues' first-half display proved enough for a 31-21 win over Western Force on Saturday.

PRE-SEASON MATCH REPORT: The Cheetahs suffered their second pre-season loss when an inspired Griquas beat them 23-19 in Kimberley.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White explains the selection that may yet unearth another world-class blindside flank for South Africa.

MATCH REPORT: The Chiefs have completed the NSW Waratahs' season from hell with a 35-7 Super Rugby Trans-Tasman beating in Sydney.

SPOTLIGHT: Jesse Kriel believes the Top League is just as intense and physical as any other top rugby competition around the world.

NEWS: Premiership Rugby confirmed that London Irish’s Premiership Rugby match against Bristol Bears - scheduled for Saturday - has been called off.

PRO14 RAINBOW CUP: Retiring duo Scott Fardy and Michael Bent bowed out on a winning note as Leinster closed out the Pro14 Rainbow Cup with a 38-7 bonus-point victory over the Dragons at the RDS.

PRO14 RAINBOW CUP REPORT: Gavin Coombes scored four tries as Munster secured second place in the northern section of the ProO14 Rainbow Cup with a convincing 54-11 victory over Zebre in Parma.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Rainbow Cup South African Round Six match between the Sharks and Bulls at Kings Park.

MATCH REPORT:  Crusaders cruised to a comfortable 52-26 win over the Melbourne Rebels on Saturday. 

SPOTLIGHT: The Springbok Sevens squad received a boost in their Olympic preparation on Friday when stalwarts Stedman Gans, Dylan Sage and Mfundo Ndhlovu all made successful returns to the team.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Junior Springboks coach Bafana Nhleko on Saturday named George Cronje to lead the team in the forthcoming Under-20 International Series.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Round Five encounter between the Blues and Western Force in Auckland.

MATCH REPORT: The Highlanders kept their hopes of reaching the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final alive with a 33-12 win over Brumbies.

NEWS: The Sharks have been forced to tweak their backline ahead of their Rainbow Cup SA decider against the Bulls in Durban.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Round Five encounter between the Melbourne Rebels and the Crusaders in Sydney.

FINAL SHOOT-OUT: An outbreak of COVID-19 cases in the Ospreys camp has gifted Italian side Benetton a place in the June 19 Final.

SPOTLIGHT: Interim coach Kevin Foote has one last chance to push his case to become Melbourne Rebels coach, when they take on the Crusaders in Sydney on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: With Duane Vermeulen’s surgery and the 'fire pit accident' dominating headlines, Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber has some much-needed positive news for Bok fans.

NEWS: World Rugby Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit will make his last appearance in a Stormers jersey if he features in their Rainbow Cup outing against the Lions on Saturday.

CRASHING THE PARTY: The Highlanders should brace for a frosty reception as the Brumbies plot to eliminate New Zealand's unbeaten high-flyers from the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman title race on Friday.

MATCH REPORT: It was the perfect send-off for fifteen-Test All Black Ngani Laumape as Hurricanes secured a 43-14 win over the Reds on Friday.

THE LAST SHOT: The battle to finish top of the Premiership table and for the remaining European top tier spots will be decided this Saturday, as the regular season draws to a dramatic close.

NEWS: Australia’s quest to host the 2027 World Cup has come under threat following news that the United States has been accepted as a bid candidate.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Round Five encounter between the Brumbies and Highlanders in Canberra.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Eddie Jones has named a 34-player England squad as they begin preparations for their summer series of fixtures.

SPOTLIGHT: Eddie Jones will pay careful attention to soccer's European Championship in search of ideas to strengthen his own performance as England rugby coach.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Sharks captain Lukhanyo Am has outlined what his team need to do in order to secure a Rainbow Cup final spot.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Cheetahs have escaped unscathed from the COVID-19 scare that forced the cancellation of their pre-season outing against the Pumas.

BREAKING NEWS: The Rainbow Cup SA match between the Lions and Stormers, scheduled for Cape Town on Saturday, has been cancelled.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Round Five encounter between the Hurricanes and Reds in Wellington.

INTERVIEW: Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has a few injury concerns ahead of the three-Test series against France in July.

SPOTLIGHT: Duhan van der Merwe is a British and Irish Lions player who is set to attract plenty of focus on this year’s tour to South Africa.

TRANSFER NEWS: Newcastle Falcons have bolstered their tight-five stocks with the signing of Worcester Warriors pair Richard Palframan and George Merrick, both on two-year deals.

REACTION: Jacques Nienaber was not too worried about the burn wounds sustained by Damian de Allende and Rudolph Snyman ahead of the British and Irish Lions series.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Rebels will head into Saturday’s clash eager to end their season on a high note following a trio of stirring performances against the Hurricanes, Highlanders and the Chiefs.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Blues have named a settled look to their line-up for the all-important final round of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.

TRANSFER NEWS: Connacht Rugby have further boosted their options for next season with the signing of versatile, Irish-qualified South African Shayne Bolton.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Apart from having to rest an entire front row, a rash of injuries have also forced Sharks coach Sean Everitt to delay the naming of his bench.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Western Force finish their Super Rugby Trans-Tasman campaign this Saturday against the top of the table Blues at Eden Park in Auckland.

SPOTLIGHT: Uncapped No.8 Jasper Wiese will only fly out to join up with the Springboks at the end of the Premiership season next weekend. Liam Heagney reports.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The NSW Waratahs have named their team to face the Chiefs in Round Five of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan has named his team to face the Waratahs in Sydney at Brookvale Oval for their final round-robin Super Rugby Trans-Tasman clash.

SPOTLIGHT: The Springboks will not be bringing in cover for Duane Vermeulen, despite the No.8 undergoing surgery on Wednesday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has made a few interesting selections for the Rainbow Cup crunch match with the Sharks at Kings Park on Saturday.

NEWS: The 'northern’ representative in the Rainbow Cup Final has been revealed.

NEWS: Brumbies wing Tom Wright has re-signed with the club and Rugby Australia for a further two seasons until the end of the 2023 season.

NEWS: Sale won’t have South African lock JP du Preez available should they reach the Premiership final on June 26.

NEWS: The logistics are still being thrashed out ahead of Australia's three-Test series against France.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wallabies Nic White, Irae Simone and Tom Wright have all been named to start for the Brumbies in their final Super Rugby Trans-Tasman fixture on Friday.

NEWS; A neck injury means skipper Matt Toomua is set to miss Melbourne's final Super Rugby Trans-Tasman round against New Zealand champions, the Crusaders.

WATCH as Stormers coach John Dobson unpacks the reasons behind Springbok hooker Mbongeni Mbonambi's departure to the Sharks.

REACTION: Seasoned Springbok World Cup winner Duane Vermeulen underwent surgery on Wednesday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Queensland Reds have made three changes to their starting XV for Friday's Super Rugby Trans-Tasman fixture against the Hurricanes in Wellington.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Crusaders are preparing for their all-important clash with the Melbourne Rebels at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Hurricanes have made four changes to their starting XV for their match against the Reds on Friday.

WATCH as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber unpacks the decision to select veteran flyhalf Morné Steyn ahead of the talented young Curwin Bosch. Jan de Koning reports.

NEWS: The referees for the upcoming British and Irish Lions series have been revealed.

NEWS: The South African exodus from struggling French club Montpellier continues.

INJURY UPDATE: The Lions are preparing for their trip to Cape Town with an ever-growing injury list.

REACTION: Springbok centre Damian de Allende has opened up on the fire pit incident, which left him and fellow Bok RG Snyman with burns ahead of the British and Irish Lions series.

WATCH as the Springboks legend Tendai Mtawarira opens up about his journey from Zimbabwe to World Cup glory.

NEWS: The Bulls will be without one of their key players when they face the Sharks in their Rainbow Cup SA decider in Durban on Saturday.

NEWS: Gloucester's season is over after a second successive match was cancelled because of an outbreak of COVID-19 at the English Premiership club.

NEWS: Eastern Province's preparations for the upcoming season suffered a blow.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The last round of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition has arrived and with it a blanket finish at the top of the table with three unbeaten teams.

NEWS: The Wallabies' new forwards coach has been revealed ahead of the Test season.

NEWS: France received some bad news ahead of their trip to Australia.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Sharks have bolstered their squad with another big signing.

NEWS: Crusaders flyhalf Richie Mo'unga has won a second consecutive Player of the Year award, at the franchise's annual awards ceremony.

NEWS: The NSW Waratahs have 20 players on the injured list ahead of their final round Super Rugby Trans-Tasman clash against the Chiefs that will end a horror year.

NEWS: Former Tonga captain Siale Piutau will leave English Premiership side Bristol at the end of the season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Kyle Sinckler said the past month has been an emotional rollercoaster after originally missing out on selection in the British & Irish Lions squad before being called up for the tour to South Africa at the weekend.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: An enthusiastic group of six Springbok players returned to training in Bloemfontein on Monday.

REACTION: Jake White's Bulls are on the verge of clinching their third historic accolade in South Africa.

REACTION: The Sharks will be looking to "turn the tables" on the Bulls when they meet in their Rainbow Cup SA "decider" at Kings Park on Saturday.

INJURY UPDATE: Springboks pair Damian de Allende and RG Snyman sustained ‘substantial burns to their legs, hands and face’ over this past weekend.

NEWS: Eddie Jones has added to his coaching staff for England's series of fixtures. 

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Wales head coach Wayne Pivac on Monday named five uncapped players in his squad for Test matches against Canada and Argentina next month.

NEWS: All Blacks hardman Wayne 'Buck' Shelford - the player credited with injecting the fear factor into New Zealand's pre-match haka - was awarded a knighthood Monday for services to rugby.

NEWS: The Melbourne Rebels’ Super Rugby Trans-Tasman match against the Crusaders has been switched from Melbourne to Sydney as authorities battle to contain an outbreak of COVID-19 in Australia’s southern state of Victoria.

REACTION: Veteran Duane Vermeulen appears to be the first major injury casualty ahead of the British and Irish Lions series against the Springboks in July.

NEWS: Former France captain Guilhem Guirado said he plans to retire at the end of next season.

PREMIERSHIP MATCH REPORT: Exeter Chiefs forward Sam Simmonds has dealt the British and Irish Lions an injury scare ahead of their South Africa tour.

NEWS: The touring British and Irish Lions have been forced into making their first replacement for the trip to South Africa in July.

INTERVIEW: Eddie Jones has warned the older members of his current England squad changes will be made between now and the World Cup.

SPOTLIGHT: Wallaby coach Dave Rennie says there will be changes to his training squad named in March with hooker and second row still wide open to face France.

REACTION: Highlanders coach Clarke Dermody has revealed that a half-time talk from one of his assistant coaches helped propel his side to their record-breaking win over the Waratahs in Dunedin at the weekend.

SUPER RUGBY TRANS-TASMAN REPORT: The Chiefs bounced back from an upset loss to the Reds last week by grinding down a battling Melbourne Rebels 36-26 on Sunday.

NEWS: Samoa fullback Tim Nanai-Williams said on Sunday he will leave French Top 14 club Clermont at the end of the season.

REACTION: Former title-winning coach Michael Cheika has implored the Waratahs to address their defensive issues following a record 12th consecutive Super Rugby loss.

TOP 14 WRAP: Australian lock Matt Philip scored twice to keep Pau in the French top tier with Saturday's 41-25 win over Montpellier in the final round of the regular season.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Frans Steyn and Morné Steyn are in line to experience the rare honour of facing the British & Irish Lions for a second time after being named in a dynamic Springbok squad.

REACTION: Leicester Tigers boss Steve Borthwick poured fuel on the fire that was the controversial end to their Premiership home loss to Bristol Bears.

RAINBOW CUP REPORT: The Sharks kept their hopes of qualifying for the Rainbow Cup' 'North v South' final alive with a 33-21 bonus-point win over the Lions in Johannesburg.

PRO14 RAINBOW CUP REPORT: Ian Madigan repeated his Murrayfield heroics as he nailed another last-minute kick to hand Ulster a dramatic 34-31 Pro14 Rainbow Cup victory over Edinburgh.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: Bristol Bears held off a late Leicester charge to earn a 26-23 bonus-point win at Welford Road and seal a home semifinal in the Premiership.

SUPER RUGBY TRANS-TASMAN REPORT: The Brumbies were gifted their first win of the competition, as Hurricanes fullback Jordie Barrett missed two kicks in the closing minutes.

SPOTLIGHT: British and Irish Lions guru Ian McGeechan is petitioning for the inclusion of one of Ireland’s current coaching setup, but it’s not head coach Andy Farrell.

PRO14 RAINBOW CUP REPORT: Cardiff Blues completed their Pro14 Rainbow Cup campaign with a comprehensive 37-12 bonus-point victory over Zebre at Cardiff Arms Park.

INJURY UPDATE: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White painted a bleak picture regarding Springboks No.8 Duane Vermeulen.

NEWS: Premiership Rugby confirmed that Bath have been awarded four match points and Gloucester two following the cancellation of their Premiership Round 21 match.

SUPER RUGBY TRANS-TASMAN REPORT: Australia's nightmare continued on Saturday as the Highlanders cruised past a hopelessly outclassed Waratahs team.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White gives an update on the standing of seasoned utility back Cornal Hendricks on the eve of the Springbok squad announcement.

MATCH REPORT: Sale Sharks will go into the final weekend of the Premiership season with a chance of claiming a home semi-final following a dominant 45-12 triumph over fellow title contenders Harlequins.

SPOTLIGHT: Ahead of their Super Rugby Trans-Tasman clash with the Chiefs, Melbourne's Carter Gordon says he's learning a lot playing alongside Wallabies star Matt Toomua.

WATCH the footage that emerged of the now infamous training ground punch-up between two Welsh players.

MATCH REPORT: Glasgow Warriors moved top of the PRO14 Rainbow Cup table with a 15-12 victory over Leinster at Scotstoun.

MATCH REPORT: Connacht knocked Ospreys out of the running for the PRO14 Rainbow Cup with a season-closing 26-19 bonus-point win at the Sportsground.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Rainbow Cup Round Five encounter between the Lions and Sharks at Ellis Park.

SPOTLIGHT: As Jacques Nienaber gets ready to name his Springbok squad on Saturday, several positions will be under the spotlight.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Sharks have bolstered their midfield stocks.

SPOTLIGHT: Sale boss Alex Sanderson hit the nail on the head the other week when he colourfully suggested: "Getting a tighthead that can scrum and run is as rare as teddy bear s***."

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Round Four encounter between the Brumbies and Hurricanes in Canberra.

MATCH REPORT: The Bulls bounced back with a hard-fought 31-27 win over the Stormers at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.

SUPER RUGBY TRANS-TASMAN REPORT: The Blues reclaimed top spot on the standings, just hours after conceding it to their compatriots, the Crusaders.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Round Four encounter between the Highlanders and Waratahs in Dunedin.

SUPER RUGBY TRANS-TASMAN REPORT: The decision to rest a raft of their frontline players could come back to haunt the Crusaders.

MUST WIN: The introduction of the North-South Final has added a significant amount of merit and lodestone to the final two rounds of league action in both hemispheres.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Rainbow Cup Round Five encounter between the Bulls and Stormers at Loftus Versfeld.

WATCH as Stormers coach John Dobson reveals the full extent of lock John Schickerling's latest injury setback.

TOP 14 PREVIEW: Japan fullback Kotaro Matsushima said he "can't wait" to return to the Test scene, after a potentially busy end to the season with Clermont - which starts by hosting La Rochelle this weekend.

WATCH as 2019 World Rugby Player of the year Pieter-Steph du Toit names his favourite players from around the globe.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Flyhalf Robert du Preez will don the centre jersey when Sales Sharks host the Harlequins on Friday.

SPOTLIGHT: With all four teams confirmed for the Premiership semifinals, the battle for a home tie and a place in next season’s Champions Cup heats up in Round 21 of the regular season.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Round Four match between the Reds and Blues in Brisbane.

THE RARE DOUBLE: Brad Thorn is demanding the Queensland Reds resolve their defensive shortfalls as they chase rare back-to-back Super Rugby wins over New Zealand opposition.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan has named his team to face the Melbourne Rebels in Sydney following a disruptive week.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Round Four match between the Crusaders and Western Force in Christchurch.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Melbourne Rebels’ interim head coach, Kevin Foote, has named a strong match ahead of Sunday’s Round Four match against the Chiefs in Sydney.

NEWS: The Border Bulldogs will return to provincial rugby action for the first time in 17 months when the First Division kicks off later this month.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: In keeping with the theme of consistency, Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen opted with the same 23-man squad for their clash against Sharks.

NEWS: Dual-code international Israel Folau has applied for a Supreme Court injunction against Queensland Rugby League.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach Sean Everitt has picked a much-changed side for Saturday’s Rainbow Cup SA match against the Lions at Ellis Park.

NEWS: The Currie Cup will be back to normal this year - a double round strength-versus-strength competition.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Rosko Specman will start on the wing in one of four changes to the Stormers starting line-up for their Rainbow Cup SA crunch clash with the Bulls on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has revealed his team to face the Stormers on Friday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Exeter Chiefs have added their second new recruit ahead of the 2021/22 season with the signing of Sean O’Brien from Connacht.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Highlanders return to Forsyth Barr Stadium to face the Waratahs in their last round-robin home game of the season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea is back to lead his squad for Saturday’s crucial Super Rugby Trans-Tasman clash with the Brumbies in Canberra.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Waratahs have named their team to face the Highlanders in Round four of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Brumbies coach Dan McKellar has made five changes to the starting XV for the side's first home game of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman season against the Hurricanes on Saturday.

NEWS: Ireland head coach Andy Farrell is to be part of the British & Irish Lions coaching team for a third time and will join up after the Irish play two Tests in July.

SPOTLIGHT: Eddie Jones said on Wednesday he has nothing to apologise over for using some of his holidays in April to fulfil a consultancy role with Japanese side Suntory Sungoliath.

WATCH as Springbok loose forward Uzair Cassiem set the Internet ablaze with his unique farewell message to Welsh region Scarlets.

SPOTLIGHT: Since Elton Jantjies' loan move to French club Pau, loads of focus have been placed on the Lions' leadership.

NEWS: The Chiefs v Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby Trans-Tasman match on Sunday will be moved from Hamilton to Sydney.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Rosko Specman’s arrival at the Stormers has been met with loads of excitement.

SPOTLIGHT: Former All Blacks hooker James Parsons has outlined what Richie Mo’unga needs to do in order to keep Beauden Barrett out of the New Zealand No 10 jersey.

NEWS: La Rochelle's Fijian centre Levani Botia was on Wednesday suspended for four weeks after his red card in the European Champions Cup defeat by Toulouse.

NORTH V SOUTH: The Stormers coaching team have a big decision to make ahead of their crucial fixtures against the Bulls. 

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Blues will have a full deck of cards in hand for their pivotal clash against the Reds in Brisbane in the penultimate round of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Crusaders are preparing for their last regular-season home game in Christchurch and several players are set to get an opportunity this week.

NEWS: Racing 92's Argentina wing Juan Imhoff is a doubt for the Top 14 play-offs due to a thigh issue, a source close to the French club told AFP.

TRANSFER TALK: Springboks Elton Jantjies is reportedly set to join the Japanese side NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Western Force head coach Tim Sampson has made four changes to the starting line-up ahead of their encounter against the Crusaders in Christchurch.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Queensland Reds have made no changes to their starting XV for Friday’s final home match at Lang Park this year against the Blues.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Interim Scotland boss Mike Blair has named 17 uncapped players in a 37-strong squad for their upcoming fixtures against England A, Romania and Georgia.

SPOTLIGHT: Sharks lock Reniel Hugo says discipline remains a major issue for his team as they prepare for their clash against the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Western Force prop Tom Robertson predicts Toni Pulu could be a shock Wallabies bolter following the wing’s standout performances for the Perth-based franchise.

NEWS: Damian McKenzie's Super Rugby season is over.

TRANSFER NEWS: Former Lions and Montpelier prop Johannes Jonker is set to join Premiership side Bath.

SPOTLIGHT: James O'Connor is looking to celebrate a milestone he thought may never come when he leads Queensland against the Blues in their Super Rugby Trans-Tasman clash on Friday.

BlitzBok star Rosko Specman has not wasted any time in joining his new teammates at Newlands on Monday.

OPINION: RugbyPass correspondent Ben Smith wonders which version of Richie Mo'unga will arrive at the All Blacks this year.

VARSITY CUP AWARDS: Cohen Jasper drove away in a new vehicle after winning the Player That Rocks award in the 2021 Varsity Cup.

VARSITY CUP FINAL REPORT: UP-Tuks survived a second-half fightback from UCT to claim a 34-27 victory in Pretoria on Monday.

NEWS: Gloucester have cancelled Saturday's English Premiership match against Bath and called off all training after a Covid-19 outbreak at the club.

CROSSING THE BORDER: When it was confirmed that two Pacific Island franchises will enter Super Rugby next year, it seemed the fledgling competition had turned a corner.

NEWS: Frik du Preez, Northern Transvaal Legend and South Africa's Player of the 20th Century, was honoured by the Blue Bulls Rugby Union.

NEWS: Saracens are considering appealing against the Championship disputes committee’s decision to rule their game with Hartpury as a draw without any league points awarded.

SPOTLIGHT: No player, no matter how high their entertainment value, is above the laws of the game.

REACTION: Waratahs vice-captain Alex Newsome says Australia's Super Rugby sides have wrongly put New Zealand teams on a pedestal and need to start fronting up.

NEWS: Brumbies announced the appointment of Ben Alexander to the Board of Directors as the representative of the Rugby Union Players Association.

SPOTLIGHT: It has been a while for Dylan Sage, but old habits die hard in the Springbok Sevens team.

NEWS: SANZAAR confirmed that the Chiefs versus Melbourne Rebels match have been rescheduled due to the ongoing effect of Covid-19.

REACTION: Western Force prop Tom Robertson says the players have been made to pay dearly for a poor Super Rugby Trans-Tasman defensive display against the Hurricanes.

SPOTLIGHT: Unbeaten UCT will go into Monday’s decider as favourites, but UP-Tuks appear to be peaking at the right time of the tournament.