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WATCH as WPPR (Pty) Ltd Chairman Ebrahim Rasool discusses the possibility of power-hungry and often gladiatorial clubs ceding control to an equity partner.

CASTING THE NET WIDE: The decision to lift the ban on players based abroad is beginning to pay dividends for the Springboks.

INTERVIEW: The Cheetahs are just weeks away from making an announcement about their future.

WATCH as WPPR (Pty) Ltd Chairman Ebrahim Rasool addresses the ongoing administrative issues surrounding the union, WPRFU, and the Newlands saga.

WATCH as Stormers coach John Dobson opens up about the future of World Rugby player of the year Pieter-Steph du Toit.

CONFIRMED: SA Rugby has stepped in to 'assist' Western Province Rugby Football Union, amidst a looming financial crisis. Jan de Koning reports.

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.

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.

INTERVIEW: The Lions, like most, if not all franchises, are feeling the financial pinch. However, unlike most, they have decided to lay their cards on the table.

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

WATCH as share some unique stories from the brutal British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa in 2009.

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

SPOTLIGHT: The Springboks camp were delivered a scare in Toulouse’s Top 14 clash against Clermont when star wing Cheslin Kolbe limped from the field after just seven minutes of play.

NEWS: Cheetahs star Rosko Specman is set to feature for the Stormers over the next few weeks.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Exeter Chiefs recorded their biggest win in the Premiership when they smashed Newcastle Falcons 74-3 at Sandy Park on Sunday.

SUPER RUGBY TRANS-TASMAN REPORT: The Melbourne Rebels have been unable to back up Queensland's breakthrough Australian Super Rugby Trans-Tasman victory.

REACTION: Cheetahs captain Ruan Pienaar admitted there were very few positives to take out of his team's shock 35-43 loss to the Invitational XV in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

WATCH as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber unpacks his goals ahead of the international season. Jan de Koning reports.

MATCH REPORT: The Cheetahs were handed a reality check during their pre-season friendly.

MATCH REPORT: Glasgow Warriors came from behind to record a 27-16 victory over the Dragons at the Cardiff City Stadium.

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.

MATCH REPORT: Benetton maintained their 100 percent record in the PRO14 Rainbow Cup with a 20-12 victory over 14-man Connacht.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP:  Harlequins guaranteed their presence in the Premiership play-offs after edging Bath 44-33 in a roller-coaster afternoon at Twickenham Stoop.

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.

SUPER RUGBY TRANS-TASMAN REPORT: The Reds survived a late fightback from the Chiefs to secure a thrilling 40-34 win in Townsville on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY TRANS-TASMAN REPORT: The Blues climbed back to the top of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman standings after they thumped the Brumbies 38-10 at Eden Park on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY TRANS-TASMAN REPORT: The Crusaders ran in eight tries on their way to a 54-28 win over the Waratahs in Wollongong on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Rassie Erasmus, South Africa's Director of Rugby and coach of 2019 World Cup-winning Springboks, expects the touring B&I Lions to play a fast, open game.

INTERVIEW: As Eben Etzebeth nurses himself back to fitness, he is thinking of the "massive" British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa.

REACTION: After 13 matches between Australian and New Zealand opposition in the Trans Tasman Super Rugby competition, the Queensland Reds finally ended Aussie teams' losing streak in their 40-34 win over the Waikato Chiefs.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the pre-season friendly between the Cheetahs and an Invitation XV in Bloemfontein.

WATCH as Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie and his captain Ruan Pienaar talk about the veteran scrumhalf's Springbok prospects. Jan de Koning report.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Round Three match between the Reds and Chiefs in Townsville.

MATCH REPORT: The Western Force have been dealt a brutal reality check about rugby life in New Zealand, with the Hurricanes running in seven tries to nil in a 43-6 Napier romp.

NEWS: The RFU have taken the decision to postpone Saracens’ final game of the regular Championship season with Hartpury.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Round Three match between the Blues and Brumbies in Auckland.

NEWS: Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber will name a 'full-strength' team to face Georgia in two warm-up matches in July.

TOP 14 REPORT: Joris Segonds booted 26 points to help Stade Francais to a 46-27 victory over Lyon on Friday, a fifth consecutive Top 14 win that sees them temporarily leapfrog Toulon into sixth place in the table.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby Trans_tasman Round Three match between the Waratahs and Crusaders in Wollongong.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: More than a dozen New Zealand-based players, including five from club rugby, have been named in the latest Manu Samoa squad to face the Maori All Blacks and Tonga in June and July.

NEWS: The Sharks have used the bye week to sign contract extensions with a host of their most talented young players.

NEWS: Toulouse wing Cheslin Kolbe has added the Champions Cup Try of the Season award to his Champions Cup winners’ medal.

AUSSIE STRUGGLERS: The Western Force are treating their first foray into New Zealand territory in four years as somewhat of a home affair.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Sale Sharks booked a play-off place and kept their hopes of a home semifinal alive after a 22-12 victory over league leaders Bristol on Friday.

SPOTLIGHT: Australia and former Reds captain Samu Kerevi is reportedly set to chase an Olympic medal in Tokyo with the sevens squad.

RAINBOW CUP PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Munster gave retiring duo Christiaan Stander and Tommy O’Donnell a winning Thomond Park send-off.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Cheetahs are going to stay true to their DNA and play an expansive game in their encounter with and Invitation XV in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

VARSITY CUP SEMIFINAL WRAP: UP-Tuks dethroned Maties, before UCT dominated NWU at Tuks Stadium on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Melbourne Rebels have welcomed back Lachie Anderson to its starting XV for Sunday's clash against the Highlanders in Sydney.

MASSIVE MOVES: Several massive clashes await in the Rainbow Cup this weekend that will see teams edge closer to who will contest the final on June 19 against the South African winner.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: A tumultuous week will end with the Highlanders playing in the bustling western suburbs of Sydney rather than the tranquillity of Queenstown.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: The season has entered the home straight and we have six more mouth-watering contests to further whet the appetite.

SPOTLIGHT: The Springbok coaching staff were both satisfied and encouraged by the ongoing progress of the squad preparations ahead of the upcoming international season.

NEWS: One of Ulster's stalwarts has announced his retirement from the professional game.

NEWS: SA Rugby and the British & Irish Lions confirmed a revised Lions Series fixture list and venues on Friday.

NEWS: The venue for the ‘North v South’ Rainbow Cup Final on Saturday, June 19 has been confirmed.

PREVIEW: Stade Francais host Lyon on Friday seeking a fifth consecutive league win that would go a long way in helping the capital side into the Top 14 play-offs.

NEWS: British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland has named the backroom staff for the 2021 Lions Series in South Africa.

SPOTLIGHT: Wasps boss Lee Blackett has warned that Rugby Union must avoid soccer-style red card appeals to the referee by players who are the victims of high tackles.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: The Harlequins career of Mike Brown is over after the England fullback failed in his appeal to get the six-match ban he was given for a stamp reduced.

TRANSFER NEWS: Two Currie Cup-winning captains are returning to Cape Town.

WATCH as we bring you one of the most fortuitous tries ever.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Queensland Reds have made four changes to their starting XV for Saturday’s clash against the Chiefs in Townsville.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Blues are under no illusions about the challenge facing them from the Brumbies in the third-round clash of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman at Eden Park on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan has named his team to face the Queensland Reds in Townsville, following his side's 40-19 win over the Brumbies last weekend.

SPOTLIGHT: SA Rugby did their damnedest to put a positive spin on a very desperate situation, but at least one big player in the industry has sounded the alarm.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Captain Allan Alaalatoa will become just the 14th player to represent the  Brumbies in 100 Super Rugby matches when he leads the side against the Blues at Eden Park on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders captain Scott Barrett re-joined the team in Coogee this week and will resume the captaincy on Saturday when the team takes on the Waratahs in Wollongong.

NEWS: Melbourne's Super Rugby Trans-Tasman clash with the Highlanders will be played in Sydney on Sunday with the Rebels unable to fly to New Zealand for the match.

WATCH as Stormers coach John Dobson and Western Province Professional Rugby Chairman Ebrahim Rasool take exception to inaccurate media reports on player salaries.

WATCH as we bring you the five finalists for the European Cup Try of the Season.

NEWS: All members of the British and Irish Lions squad have received their first coronavirus vaccinations ahead of the summer tour to South Africa.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Cheetahs may not have the 'easy' practice match some thought it would be, when they face an Invitation XV in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Unwanted in Australia and on the verge of giving rugby away three years ago, Ben Gunter is now poised to realise his childhood dream and take on the British and Irish Lions.

NEWS: Quinn Tupaea has recommitted to the Chiefs, inking a new deal with the club.

TRANSFER NEWS: Northampton Saints confirmed that Reuben Bird-Tulloch, Tommy Mathews, Ryan Olowofela and Tui Uru will leave the Club at the end of the season.

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

WATCH All Blacks great Sir John Kirwan has revealed he has deep concerns about New Zealand’s upcoming test matches against Tonga and Fiji in July.

TRANSFER NEWS: France centre Geoffrey Doumayrou is to leave La Rochelle at the end of the season to return to his home town club of Montpellier, the Top 14 club announced on Wednesday.

SPOTLIGHT: Former All Blacks stars Jeff Wilson and Mils Muliaina have ranked Crusaders playmaker Richie Mo’unga as the greatest Super Rugby player of all-time.

NEWS: Melbourne Rebels versus Highlanders Super Rugby Trans-Tasman fixture will be played in Queenstown or Sydney.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Western Force continue to prepare for its first away fixture of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman season against the Hurricanes in Napier at McLean Park on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Hurricanes coach Jason Holland continues to utilise his squad to create competition for positions.

SPOTLIGHT: Varsity Cup, which has earned a strong reputation for innovation, will use the Smart Ball during Friday’s semi-finals at Tuks Stadium as well as the final at the same venue on Monday.

INJURY UPDATE: New Scotland centre Cameron Redpath is unlikely to play again this year after Bath confirmed he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in their recent Premiership loss to Sale and will now undergo surgery this Wednesday.

SPOTLIGHT: South African great Jean de Villiers has picked his Springbok midfield for the British and Irish Lions series.

SPOTLIGHT: France coach Fabien Galthie wants "two complete teams" for the tour to Australia in July in order to combat the twin problems of Covid quarantine and a crammed fixture list, he said in an interview with Sud-Ouest on Tuesday.

WATCH as we bring you an analysis of the World Rugby Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit.

SPOTLIGHT: Western Force chief executive Tony Lewis has urged Rugby Australia to forge ties with Asia to create another competition that will better prepare players for the rigours of Super Rugby.

REACTION: The Lions are finally beginning to reap the reward for their hard work of the last six months, but the real challenge now is "consistency".

TEAM OF THE WEEK: Sean Holley takes a stab at naming the best players from 16 teams in the Rainbow Cup.

CONTRACT NEWS: The Bulls may have lost their first match at the weekend, but they have scored big in the contract department.

VARSITY CUP WRAP: NWU beat CUT 35-32 at the Tuks B-Field on Tuesday to book their place in the Varsity Cup semi-finals, while Wits finished their campaign on a high.

CONTRACT NEWS: After an outstanding rookie Super Rugby season in the backrow, Canberra-local Rory Scott has re-signed with the Brumbies until the end of 2023.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Japan boss Jamie Joseph on Monday named 19 of Japan's World Cup heroes in his first squad since their historic 2019 exploits for "huge" matches against the British and Irish Lions and Ireland.

REACTION: The Springboks may not have played for 19 months, but the form of several key players suggest they will pose a real threat to the British and Irish Lions.

NEWS: The Cheetahs will face an ‘Invitational’ team – consisting of talent from South Africa’s Rainbow Cup franchises – at the Free State Stadium on Saturday.

NEWS: Wasps announced that Academy product Charlie Atkinson has extended his contract with the Club and has been promoted to next season’s first team squad.

SPOTLIGHT: Former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has thrown his support behind one of his former Crusaders teammates to fill in for national skipper Sam Cane over the coming months.

NEWS: The Junior Springboks will make a welcome return to the international stage.

SPOTLIGHT: With their hopes of securing a second Super Rugby title dead in the water, Queensland are out to restore some pride against the Chiefs in Townsville on Saturday.

NEWS: New Zealand suspended quarantine-free travel with Australia's Victoria state over a new coronavirus cluster Tuesday, the fourth time the trans-Tasman travel bubble has been disrupted since it opened last month.

REACTION: Mining magnate Clive Palmer has given the Queensland Rugby League until Wednesday to register Israel Folau to play for a Gold Coast third-tier club.

SPOTLIGHT: Winless Melbourne say they need to throw the first punch if they want to be in the fight with the Highlanders, who they meet in Round Three of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman on Sunday.

VARSITY WRAP: CUT claimed a thrilling 41-40 victory against UP-Tuks at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday, while there were also Round 9 wins for UCT, NWU, Wits and Maties.

TRANSFER NEWS: A familiar face will be heading back to Bloemfontein.

REACTION: The Sharks' second defeat of the season has highlighted a couple of problem areas in Sean Everitt's squad.  

REACTION: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White admits his side's decision-making under pressure proved to be costly.

REACTION: Former Scotland coach Matt Williams has not held back when criticising the “over-officious” performance of the English referees in the Champions Cup Final.

REACTION: The Stormers' 25-22 win over the Sharks on Saturday was accompanied by a massive sigh of relief. 

REACTION: Jerome Kaino said it felt "unreal" to have helped Toulouse win a record fifth European Champions Cup title after a tense 22-17 victory over 14-man La Rochelle in an all-French final at Twickenham on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: All Black Beauden Barrett ended his one-season stint in Japan empty-handed after losing in Sunday's Top League final, but hinted he may return after the 2023 World Cup.

REACTION: A nine-try rout by the Crusaders over the Reds has rammed home the gulf between the Trans-Tasman nations that coach Scott Robertson admits is still easy to see.

EUROPEAN CUP REPORT: Toulouse beat 14-man La Rochelle 22-17 to win the Champions Cup Final in a thrilling finish at Twickenham on Saturday.

RAINBOW CUP SA MATCH REPORT: The Lions finally got their first win of the season, beating the Bulls 34-33 in a thrilling affair at Ellis Park on Saturday.

RAINBOW CUP SA MATCH REPORT: Replacement flyhalf Tim Swiel landed a penalty three minutes from time to secure the Stormers a crucial second win.

CHALLENGE CUP REPORT: Montpellier held on to edge out Leicester 18-17 in the European Challenge Cup final at Twickenham on Friday.

SUPER RUGBY TRANS-TASMAN REPORT:  Richie Mo’unga scored a hat-trick the Crusaders smash the Queensland Reds in their Super Rugby Tran-Tasman match on Saturday. 

SUPER RUGBY TRANS-TASMAN REPORT: The Chiefs have extended New Zealand’s undefeated start to Super Rugby Trans-Tasman to nine matches after they toppled the Brumbies 40-19 at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton on Saturday.

NEWS: South Africa will contest the Rugby Championship this year and co-host the Southern Hemisphere tournament with Australia and New Zealand, officials said Friday.

WATCH as we bring you Episode Two of the #SpiritofRugby series with unique stories of the iconic British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa in 1997.

WATCH all the action and celebration as Toulouse secured their fifth Champions Cup trophy.

REACTION: Western Force coach Tim Sampson says a 15-25 loss to the Highlanders was the reality check his team needed ahead of their three-match swing in New Zealand.

SUPER RUGBY TRANS-TASMAN REPORT: The Hurricanes kept the New Zealand teams' flawless record intact with a 35-13 win over Melbourne Rebels on Friday.

NEWS: Controversial code-hopper Israel Folau is attempting to make a comeback to Australian Rugby League via an amateur Gold Coast club.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Rainbow Cup South Africa Round Four match between the Lions and Bulls at Ellis Park.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White explains what threats the Lions pose to his team in their showdown at Ellis Park on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Rainbow Cup South Africa Round Four match between the Sharks and Stormers at Kings Park.

LA ROCHELLE V TOULOUSE: One's a beast. The other's a freak. And if one of them doesn't get you, reckons Will Skelton, the other one will.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Round Two encounter between the Reds and Crusaders in Brisbane.

WATCH as Stormers captain Steven Kitshoff opens up about his team's famed scrumming power. Jan de Koning reports.

SPOTLIGHT: The Reds have welcomed back their stars to face the Crusaders in a game former captain James Horwill anticipates could have a huge impact on the code.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Round Two encounter between the Chiefs and Brumbies in Hamilton.

INTERVIEW: La Rochelle star Dillyn Leyds sheds light on the 'disappointing call which halted his Springboks dream.

SUPER RUGBY TRANS-TASMAN REPORT:  The Blues have returned to the summit of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman table after condemning the Waratahs to their 10th successive defeat on Saturday.

REACTION: Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has shared some of his thoughts on Warren Gatland's British and Irish Lions squad announcement on Thursday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Rugby Australia Chief Executive Andy Marinos reveals all are in good spirit following a meeting with the Member Unions.

MOMENTOUS SHOWDOWN IN SHARK TANK: It will be brutal when the Sharks and Stormers go head-to-head in a crunch match in Durban on Saturday.

NEWS: Two New Zealand rugby clubs have vowed to crack down on bad behaviour following an on-field fight.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has tweaked his team for the trip down the N1 to Johannesburg.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has been forced into making a change ahead of his team's Rainbow Cup South Africa Round Four match.

SUPER RUGBY TRANS-TASMAN REPORT: The Western Force have been made to pay dearly for their ill-discipline during a 15-25 Super Rugby Trans-Tasman loss to the Highlanders in Perth.

NEWS: Rugby Australia and the Queensland Rugby Union announced the re-signing of flyhalf James O’Connor through to the end of 2023.

NEWS: Bath Rugby confirmed that Girvan Dempsey will leave at the end of the 2020/21 season when his contract finishes.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Sharks supporters will have to wait another two weeks for Springboks star Makazole Mapimpi to take to the field.

VARSITY CUP WRAP: UWC blew the Varsity Cup semi-final race wide open with a 60-19 thrashing of CUT, while there were also Round 8 wins for UFS Shimlas, Maties, UP-Tuks and UCT on Thursday.

SPOTLIGHT: The Springboks candidates and management staff were given a BIG "reality check" at the recent alignment caps.

WATCH as Stormers coach John Dobson explains why they might discard their expansive approach against the Sharks this coming Saturday.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Mike Brown is to appeal against the six-match ban for stamping that threatens to bring his Harlequins career to an abrupt end, it was announced Thursday.

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

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Both the Sharks and the Stormers will run out onto Jonsson Kings Park looking for a big performance in this Saturday’s Rainbow Cup SA match when the two teams meet in the return leg of the competition.

NEWS: Australia launched its bid to host the 2027 Rugby World Cup, calling it a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" which would generate billions of dollars and return the sport to its former glories.

NEWS: Former Australia head coach Michael Cheika has been named Director of Rugby at Japanese side NEC Green Rockets, the club announced Thursday.

CHAMPS V CHAMPS: The Australian teams will be desperate to avoid another white-wash when they face the New Zealand sides this weekend.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Reds will be bolstered by the return of seven Wallabies squad members in their starting side for the showdown with the Crusaders.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Crusaders are preparing for their first trip across the Tasman since March last year, and will travel to Brisbane on Thursday ahead of their match against the Reds on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Cheslin Kolbe admitted the tension surrounding Toulouse's quest for a fifth European Champions Cup title was affecting him.

NEWS: Perry Baker, a two-time World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year, headlines a string of top-flight recruits to the new Premier Rugby Sevens pro league set to debut later this year.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Wasps prop Ben Morris and Gloucester lock Matias Alemanno will miss the remainder of the 2020/21 Premiership campaign after each player was given a three-match ban following red-carded tackles.

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

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Blues return to their fortress of Eden Park to host their first Australian opponents in over a year.

WATCH as the British and Irish Lions start to stir up the emotions ahead of their eight-match trip to South Africa.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Australian Capital Territories products Ryan and Lachlan Lonergan will become the first set of brothers from Canberra to start for the Brumbies.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan has named his team to face the Brumbies on home soil following their nail-biting 20-19 win over the Western Force last weekend.

WATCH as two South African players look ahead to their arm-wrestle in the European Cup Final at Twickenham on Saturday.

NEWS: Italy's new head coach has been revealed.

SPOTLIGHT: La Rochelle coach Ronan O'Gara has warned his side will be up against an attack few Test teams can match when they face the "X-factor" threat of French rivals Toulouse in this weekend's European Champions Cup final.

INJURY UPDATE: Sharks No.8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe's dream of a Springbok comeback has been shattered.

NEWS: Toulouse's Australian playmaker will likely not be fit in time for Saturday's European Champions Cup Final against La Rochelle, according to coach Ugo Mola.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Stormers have been bolstered by the return of a number of key players for their Rainbow Cup SA match against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.

NEWS: The British & Irish Lions have confirmed that the 1888 Cup match against Japan at Murrayfield Stadium on Saturday, June 26 will welcome a crowd of 16 500 supporters.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Melbourne Rebels will welcome back a wave of Super Rugby experience ahead of Friday’s crucial clash against the Hurricanes in Wellington.

SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks will not be hitting the panic button after their performance against the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Western Force continue their inaugural Super Rugby Trans-Tasman campaign on Friday, when they go head-to-head with the high-flying Highlanders in Perth.

SPOTLIGHT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White said the captain's challenge - on trial in the Rainbow Cup - is a necessary evil.

REACTION: Former World Cup-winning All Black coach Steve Hansen has broken his silence on the public feud between the NZR and the NZRPA over the ongoing Silver Lake saga.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Highlanders will welcome back two of their All Blacks stars for their Super Rugby Trans-Tasman clash against the Western Force in Perth on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Fan favourite Ngani Laumape will return to the starting line-up for the Hurricanes when they face the Rebels in the second round of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.

NEWS: The Lions, desperate to end their winless streak, was dealt another cruel blow on Tuesday.

INJURY UPDATE: The Stormers received a significant boost ahead of their crucial Rainbow Cup Round Four encounter with the Sharks.

SPOTLIGHT: Western Force veteran Jeremy Thrush says he loves getting in the face of his fellow Kiwis and he wants to do it again in Friday's clash with the Highlanders.

PREMIERSHIP MATCH REPORT: Exeter Chiefs No.8 Sam Simmonds broke the record for most tries scored in a season, as his team swept aside London Irish 31-12.

CONTRACT NEWS: The Southern Hemisphere's most dominant and successful team, the Crusaders, secured their future success with a key signing.

NEWS: There was a rash of retirements from players in Europe on Tuesday - two of those very young players forced by injury to end their careers.

NEWS: World Rugby and hosts, SA Rugby, have confirmed the dates for the World Cup Sevens in Cape Town.

TRANSFER NEWS: One of the Lions' loose forwards will be heading to France.

INTERVIEW: The Western Force will look to end a seven-year drought against New Zealand opposition when they face the Highlanders in a Trans-Tasman Round Two encounter in Perth on Friday.

NEWS: The latest eye-tracking technology using Virtual Reality (VR) to help detect concussion has made its debut in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.

VARSITY CUP WRAP: Fullback Zander du Plessis kicked an 83rd-minute penalty goal to give UP-Tuks a 42-39 win against UFS Shimlas at Loftus Versfeld on Monday, while there were also Round 7 victories for Maties and UCT.

SPOTLIGHT: Plans for a club World Cup, every four years but not before 2024, are "progressing very nicely", according to Vincent Gaillard, head of the body that organises European Cup rugby.

CHAMPIONS CUP NEWS: La Rochelle's Fiji centre Levani Botia remains a doubt for this weekend's European Final, despite returning to training.

REACTION: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen was full of praise for young flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse after his team's narrow 37-39 loss to the Stormers on Saturday.

OPINION: @rugby365com contributor Angus Opperman opens up on the Stormers' performances in the first two rounds of the Rainbow Cup.

TRANSFER TALK: Former Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has reportedly been linked with the head coaching job at Italian club Rovigo Delta.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Newcastle Falcons mounted a second-half surge to claim back-to-back Premiership victories at Kingston Park Stadium on Monday.

REACTION: Rugby Australia chief Andy Marinos concedes there's a gulf in standard between Australian rugby and the might of New Zealand but remains "absolutely" confident the Wallabies will beat France in July's three-Test series.

NEWS: New Zealand Rugby have confirmed that the All Blacks will host their Pacific Island neighbours in a historic Test window in July.

REACTION: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has vented his frustrations after his side had to rely on a missed conversion from Noah Lolesio to secure victory over the Brumbies on Saturday.

WATCH as a rugby fan attempts to explain the laws of the game to a friend - with hilarious consequences.

NEWS: Dual-code star Kyle Eastmond has hung up his boots saying he no longer has the passion "to influence the game".

SPOTLIGHT: France great Frederic Michalak warned the Wallabies that France would be at their flamboyant best as they chase a rare Test victory on Australian soil in July.

SPOTLIGHT: The Waratahs aren't ruling out sending an SOS for Wallabies captain Michael Hooper as they look to resuscitate their Super Rugby Trans-Tasman campaign.

TRANSFER NEWS: Exeter Chiefs newcomer Josh Iosefa-Scott admits he is relishing the challenge that lies ahead after officially confirming his move to the reigning Premiership champions.

REACTION: It was almost a case of men against boys at Loftus Versfeld this past weekend, as the Bulls overtook the Sharks in the race for a place in the Rainbow Cup Final.

REACTION: The Stormers finally broke their Rainbow Cup drought, but it may have come at a price.

REACTION: Jake White is renowned as a coach with a knack for motivating his players.

TOP LEAGUE WRAP: Former Wallaby coach Robbie Deans has guided Panasonic Wild Knights to Japan's Top League Final for the fifth time in eight years.

RAINBOW CUP REPORT: Ospreys maintained their interest in the competition with a bonus-point 42-26 win over Dragons in an entertaining game at Rodney Parade.

TOP 14 WRAP: Toulouse's forward coach Jean Bouilhou said his side were distracted, after being beaten 32-28 at home by struggling Bayonne.

REACTION: After a horror start to Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, the Melbourne Rebels at least have three Wallabies squad members back to face the Hurricanes.

SUPER RUGBY TRANS-TASMAN REPORT: The Western Force have suffered a heartbreaking 19-20 loss to the Chiefs after Argentinian flyhalf Domingo Miotti missed a conversion attempt after the final siren.

NEWS: Loosehead prop Aidan Ross and hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho have recommitted to the Chiefs, both inking a new deal with the franchise.

RAINBOW CUP REPORT: Replacement flyhalf Tim Swiel kicked an 83rd-minute penalty to help the Stormers edge the Lions 39-37 in their Rainbow Cup SA encounter in Johannesburg on Saturday.

PRO14 RAINBOW CUP REPORT: Glasgow Warriors bagged their second bonus-point victory over Edinburgh in successive weeks with a 31-24 Rainbow Cup win at Murrayfield.

RAINBOW CUP REPORT: The Bulls climbed to the top of the Rainbow Cup SA standings after they thumped the Sharks 43-9 in Pretoria on Saturday.

NEWS: Former All Black captain Kieran Read has officially retired from the game following Verblitz’s semifinal loss to the Wild Knights at the weekend.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Ellis Genge scored a brace and was sent to the sin-bin as Leicester Tigers held off another late Harlequins comeback to claim a thrilling 35-29 victory over the visitors at Welford Road.

PRO14 RAINBOW CUP REPORT: Benetton enhanced their status as the Pro14 Rainbow Cup’s unlikely pace-setters with a 34-27 victory over Zebre in Treviso.

PRO14 RAINBOW CUP REPORT: Jarrod Evans kicked a late penalty to secure Cardiff Blues a third victory this season over the Scarlets, winning 29-28 in Llanelli.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The weekend kicks off with Bath Rugby hosting Sale Sharks at The Rec on Friday in a battle of seventh versus third in the standings.

SPOTLIGHT: PRO14 Rainbow Cup is set to culminate in a historic ‘North v South’ Final on June 19.

SUPER RUGBY TRANS-TASMAN REPORT: Young Brumbies flyhalf Noah Lolesio missed a touchline conversion on the final hooter, as the Crusaders escaped with a fortuitous 31-29 win.

SUPER RUGBY TRANS-TASMAN REPORT: The Rebels'new coach, Kevin Foote, had the worst possible start to his tenure in Melbourne.

REACTION: Interim coach Chris Whitaker says the Waratahs' traditional attacking style needs to be tempered if they're to emerge from the doldrums.

REACTION: Retired All Black captain Richie McCaw has broken his silence on the public feud between NZ Rugby and the NZRPA over the ongoing Silver Lake saga.

TOP 14 WRAP: Racing 92 scored four tries to defeat struggling Pau 35-29 on Friday to move into second place in the Top 14 table and boost their play-off hopes.

MATCH REPORT: Connacht handed Munster their first defeat of the PRO14 Rainbow Cup with a hard-fought 24-20 victory at Thomond Park.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Rainbow Cup SA Round Three match between the Bulls and Sharks at Loftus Versfeld.

RAINBOW CUP REPORT: Leinster triumphed 21-17 as they subjected Ulster to a third successive defeat in the PRO14 Rainbow Cup at the RDS Arena.

MATCH REPORT: Sale Sharks stayed on course for a Premiership play-off place after beating Bath 24-20 at the Recreation Ground.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Rainbow Cup SA Round Three match between the Lions and Stormers at Ellis Park.

NEWS: England Rugby assistant coaches Simon Amor and Jason Ryles are stepping down from their roles.

SPOTLIGHT: The depth of the South African national Sevens squad was on full display at the Rugby Africa Solidarity Sevens Camp at the Markötter Stadium in Stellenbosch on Friday, with both local sides in the tournament delivering strong performances.

WATCH as we bring you one of the most amazing stories to come from the game played with an oval-shaped ball.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Round One encounter between the Crusaders and Brumbies in Christchurch.

REACTION: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White was full of praise for flyhalf Morne Steyn after the Bulls' 20-16 victory over the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.

REACTION: New Zealand's Rugby Players' Association unveiled a funding proposal Friday designed to keep the legendary All Blacks in Kiwi hands.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Highlanders got their Super Rugby Trans-Tasman campaign off to a perfect start with a 40-19 win over the Reds in Dunedin on Friday.

DANCE OF THE DESPERATES: The focus is on the top-of-the-table clash in Pretoria, but 50-odd kilometres down the N1 there is an equally intriguing encounter.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Hurricanes ran in 10 tries on their way to a 64-48 win over the Waratahs in a Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Round One clash in Sydney on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: There are four changes to the Stormers starting line-up for the Rainbow Cup SA encounter with the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Rainbow Cup Pro14 match between Leinster and Ulster in Dublin.

TRANSFER NEWS: All Blacks centurion Owen Franks will head to the capital to continue his distinguished rugby career next year after signing for the Hurricanes.

SPOTLIGHT: Francois de Klerk and Lodewyk de Jager are the poster boys of Sale Sharks' 11-strong South African contingent.

INTERVIEW: The Brumbies will be up against it when they travel to Christchurch to take on the Crusaders in the opening round of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition.

WINNING STREAKS: Munster and Benetton will put their 100 percent records on the line this week.

AUSSIES V KIWIS: Australia's underdogs face New Zealand's might as a new Super Rugby tournament kicks off.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Hurricanes head coach Jason Holland believes there is plenty of excitement building in the squad as they head across the ditch to kick off their Super Rugby Trans-Tasman campaign.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Five players have amassed heavy bans - a collective 16 weeks - following a card laden weekend of Rainbow Cup action.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls have brought back another couple of Springboks ahead of their top-of-the-table Rainbow Cup SA match against the Sharks on Saturday.

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

REACTION: Veteran Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones is the BIG winner in the 2021 British and Irish Lions squad, heading for South Africa in July.

SPOTLIGHT: Springboks legendary scrumhalf Fourie du Preez has been singled out as the best No.9 at a World Cup by his southern hemisphere counterparts. 

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has revealed his team to face the Stormers in their Rainbow Cup SA match in Johannesburg on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks team named to travel to Pretoria to take on the Bulls on Saturday shows just one change to the matchday 23 as the team continues to build momentum in playing personnel in the Rainbow Cup SA competition.

Despite all the column inches and airtime dedicated to how Saracens might suffer when it came to the 2021 British and Irish Lions selection, the club emerged with the biggest representation in Warren Gatland’s squad for South Africa.

REACTION: NZ Rugby CEO Mark Robinson has slammed his Players’ Association counterpart Rob Nichol for his organisation’s “attempt to destroy the Silver Lake deal”.

PREVIEW: There will be familiar faces amongst the South African squads assembled by Springbok Sevens coach Neil Powell for the second tournament of Rugby Africa's Solidarity Sevens Camp

The All Blacks reportedly turned down the chance to play the Springboks in Dubai.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok prop Frans Malherbe has warned the Stormers not to underestimate the Lions' pack.  

NEWS: Melbourne Rebels will kick off Super Rugby Trans-Tasman on a positive note with playmaker Matt Toomua committing to the franshise and the Wallabies through to the 2023 World Cup.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Melbourne Rebels' interim coach, Kevin Foote, has named what he believes to be a strong matchday 23 for Saturday's opening Trans-Tasman clash against the Blues.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan has named his team to face the Western Force in the opening round of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: There’s an excitement in the Blues camp as they begin a new competition and international travel when they take on the Rebels.

SPOTLIGHT: Scotland will host Japan in a rugby Test in November in the first meeting since the Japanese won a group match between the two nations at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

WATCH as the BT Sports' #RugbyTonight and 2007 World Cup-winning Springbok captain John Smit puts the spotlight on Cheslin Kolbe.

NEWS: The Hurricanes announced the signing of New Zealand Under 20 flyhalf Aidan Morgan until 2024.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Western Force will be going to battle this Saturday against the Chiefs in Perth in the inaugural Super Rugby Trans-Tasman season opener.

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Toulouse captain Julien Marchand has been banned for four weeks.

SPOTLIGHT: Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie says Central University of Technology (CUT) fullback Cohen Jasper has shown his class during this year’s Varsity Cup.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Highlanders will be without under-fire All Blacks star Shannon Frizell for their opening Super Rugby Trans-Tasman clash.

SPOTLIGHT: Sharks flyhalf Curwin Bosch is ready to do all he can to convince the Springbok coaches to pick him for the upcoming British and Irish Lions series.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Brumbies hooker Folau Fainga'a and inside centre Irae Simone will both make their 50th Super Rugby appearance in Saturday's blockbuster showdown against the Crusaders in Christchurch.

TRANSFER NEWS: Loose forward Juarno Augustus has signed a two-year deal with English Premiership side Northampton Saints.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Codie Taylor will become the Crusaders' 21st centurion.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Queensland Reds and Wallabies back Jordan Petaia is battling a thigh injury that will likely keep him out of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman and cruel his chances of facing the French in three Tests later this year.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: NSW Waratahs have named their team to face the Hurricanes in the opening round of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition.

NEWS: Wasps announced the signing of Doncaster Knights captain Robin Hislop, who will join the Club at the end of the season.

NEWS: Nick Phipps has put pen to paper on a contract extension with London Irish.

CONTRACT NEWS: The World Cup-winning Springbok Ruan Pienaar has finally ended the retirement speculations.

NEWS: The stellar Harlequins career of the long-serving Mike Brown is over.

SPOTLIGHT: The British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa will dominate the landscape, but July will bring another momentous occasion.

SPOTLIGHT: The Brumbies are hopeful three weeks on the road against new opponents will help ease the heartbreak of their Super Rugby AU Final loss to Queensland.

SPOTLIGHT: Western Force has ramped up preparations for Saturday's Super Rugby Trans-Tasman season opener against the Chiefs at HBF Park.

NEWS: Connacht have said they are ‘disappointed’ that Ireland second row Quinn Roux will leave the province when his contract expires at the end of this season.

REACTION: South Africa's Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus is not shy to speak his mind.

SPOTLIGHT: SA Rugby has revealed the financial implications of the Covid-19 pandemic.

INJURY UPDATE: The winless Lions received a timely boost ahead of the arrival of an equally desperate Stormers team at Ellis Park.

TOP 14 WRAP: Scrumhalf Benoit Paillaugue said the bonus point was "the cherry on the cake" as Handre Pollard's Montpellier edged closer to safety in the French Top 14 with Tuesday's 29-10 home win over Toulon.

REACTION: The Stormers will be hoping for some good news on the injury front, as they hit the road in the hope of ending their losing streak.

NEWS: England's second-string men's Rugby Union team will no longer be known as the 'Saxons', the Rugby Football Union announced on Tuesday.

NEWS: The winner of the 2021 British and Irish Lions versus Springboks series will be the recipients of the first perpetual trophy in the history of the Tour.

UPDATE: The World Cup-winning Springboks will signal their return from international rugby exile with two historic matches ahead of their three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions.

NEWS: The kick-off times and venues for the final four rounds of the Rainbow Cup SA were confirmed

TRANSFER NEWS: New Zealand centre Ngani Laumape is one of five new signings for next season announced by French Top 14 side Stade Francais.

NEWS: The Italian Rugby Federation confirmed on Monday that their two-Test tour in July to New Zealand would not go ahead because of continued concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.

OPINION: New Zealand columnist Ben Smith takes a swipe at the Springboks' claims that they are the world's best team.

NEWS: All Black scrumhalf Thomas Tekanapu Perenara's brief flirtation with Rugby League is over.

NEWS: Ireland and Leinster tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong has extended his IRFU contract up to the end of the 2021/22 season.

NEWS: Dane Haylett-Petty’s playing future is in the balance after the Wallabies star suffered a major set-back in his recovery from ongoing concussion symptoms.

TRANSFER NEWS: Wasps announced the signing of England second-row Elliott Stooke, who will join the Club at the end of the season from Bath Rugby.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Australia and New Zealand have agreed to keep red card player replacements and goalline drop-outs for the inaugural Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition.

LISTEN as the famous prankster Darren Simpson calls up 1995 World Cup-winning Springbok captain Francois Pienaar.

NEWS: Chiefs chief executive Michael Collins has responded to allegations that his franchise’s players may have been involved in unruly behaviour at the team’s hotel following their Super Rugby Aotearoa final defeat on Saturday.

VARSITY SHIELD REPORT: Wing Nathan Nkutu scored a late extra-time try as CPUT beat WSU 30-26 in the Varsity Shield Final at Tuks Stadium on Sunday.

NEWS: New Zealand Rugby [NZR] have confirmed All Blacks star Caleb Clarke has committed to to chasing an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo later this year.

REACTION: Sharks head coach Sean Everitt believes Springbok captain Siya Kolisi is getting "better and better" with each performance in a Sharks jersey.

NEWS: The Chairman of the NSW Rugby Union Roger Davis has today announced he will not stand for re-election and will resign from the Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting on May 31.

REACTION: Super Rugby's dominant force, the Crusaders know their bulging trophy cabinet makes them unpopular but say critics should at least give them respect.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Marcus Smith scored a sensational injury-time converted try to help Harlequins edge Wasps 48-46 at the Twickenham Stoop.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White talks about the prospect of South African teams getting access to the European Cup.

TOP 14 WRAP: Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies had a successful French Top 14 debut on Saturday.

RAINBOW CUP REPORT: Teddy Williams made an instant impact as his late try helped Cardiff Blues to a 17-16 win over the Dragons in their Pro14 Rainbow Cup encounter at Cardiff Arms Park.

REACTION: Game-day gym sessions have been essential for Brad Thorn, who as a coach no longer has the luxury of "hitting something" when he turns up at the rugby.

NEWS: The Springboks' warm-up Tests ahead of the British and Irish Lions series has reportedly hit a snag.

REACTION: Allan Alaalatoa was hoping to compare title-winning tales with brother Michael when the pair clash in Round One of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition this coming Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: The Sharks have built on their impressive start with a 34-26 win over Lions at Kings Park on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Hugo Keenan scored a hat-trick of tries as Leinster came from 16 points down to claim their first PRO14 Rainbow Cup win with a 50-21 victory over provincial rivals Connacht at the Sportsground.

MATCH REPORT: The Scarlets recorded their first victory of the PRO14 Rainbow Cup with a 22-6 win over the Ospreys in atrocious conditions in Llanelli.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: George McGuigan and Sean Robinson notched a brace apiece as seven-try Newcastle ran riot at Kingston Park, overpowering London Irish 52-27.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: James O'Connor has scored a try five minutes into injury time as the Queensland Reds finally found a way past a 13-man Brumbies outfit to seal a remarkable 19-16 Super Rugby AU Final win

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Crusaders were crowned Super Rugby Aotearoa champions again after they beat the Chiefs 24-13 in a thrilling Final in Christchurch on Saturday.

PREMIERSHIP MATCH REPORT: Sale Sharks moved up to second in the table after a battling 26-10 triumph over Leicester at the AJ Bell Stadium.

MATCH REPORT: The Stormers suffered their second consecutive Rainbow Cup defeat at Cape Town Stadium.

INTERVIEW: Warren Gatland says looking after the mental health of his British and Irish Lions players could be his toughest challenge as they prepare for up to 10 weeks in a COVID-19 bubble.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Rainbow Cup SA Round Two match between the Sharks and Lions at Kings Park.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Rainbow Cup SA Round Two match between the Stormers and Bulls at the Cape Town Stadium.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Rainbow Cup Pro14 Round Two match between Connacht and Leinster at the Sportsground in Galway.

RAINBOW CUP PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Conor Murray celebrated his British and Irish Lions selection with a try in Munster's 38-10 thumping of Ulster at Thomond Park.

INJURY UPDATE: Stormers head coach John Dobson revealed some "devastating" injury news on Friday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby AU Final between the Reds and Brumbies in Brisbane.

SPOTLIGHT: Warren Gatland said concerns over Johnny Sexton's "durability" lay behind one of his "toughest decisions" in omitting the veteran flyhalf from the upcoming British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby Aotearoa Final between the Crusaders and Chiefs in Christchurch.

CRUSADERS V CHIEFS: The last time the Chiefs played the Crusaders, Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan made the somewhat surprising call to start pocket-rocket Damian McKenzie at flyhalf.

NEWS: Coach Tony Brown has been forced to skip Highlanders' Super Rugby Trans-Tasman campaign to help Japan prepare to face the British and Irish Lions, in a situation he conceded Friday was "not ideal".

HEAVY HITTERS: The naming of Warren Gatland's British and Irish Lions squad this week will intensify the domestic focus more on the leading candidates for the Springbok squad.

REDS V BRUMBIES: Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa is sure his team have come armed with the tricks and tactics necessary to slow the Queensland Reds' scrum dominance in Saturday's decider.

RAINBOW CUP PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Glasgow edged a seven-try thriller to as they wrestled possession of the 1872 Cup back from Edinburgh.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Rainbow Cup Pro14 Round Two match between Munster and Ulster at Thomond Park.

NEWS: Rugby Australia is hailing the Super Rugby AU season a success and is still working to lock in the competition structure for 2022 with an expanded trans-Tasman format most likely.

VARSITY SHIELD MATCHDAY WRAP: There were wins for the TUT Vikings, UKZN Impi and Rhodes in the final round of league action at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.

NEWS: The NSW Rugby Union (NSWRU) revealed they are 'open' to handing the Waratahs head coach job to a suitable candidate outside Australia.

RAINBOW CUP Pro14 MATCH REPORT: Benetton followed up their shock win over Glasgow Warriors by claiming a 25-20 victory at Italian rivals Zebre on Friday.

SEEKING RETRIBUTION: After a dramatic first round, this weekend serves up a bumper schedule.

REACTION: Alun Wyn Jones has been given the honour of captaining the British and Irish Lions, but coach Warren Gatland has warned he'll have to earn his place in the team.

DOWN UNDER: France will have to observe a two-week isolation period before July's three-match Test series in Australia.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Stormers have been forced to make a number of changes for the Rainbow Cup SA encounter with the Bulls at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The race for the Premiership Rugby semi-finals could take a pivotal turn this weekend.

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Stormers No.8 Willie Engelbrecht is free to face the Bulls.

REACTION: British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland called the decision to name Alun Wyn Jones as his captain a "relatively easy".

NEWS: France will travel to Australia for three Tests in 11 days this July, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) said on Thursday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has named his team to face the Sharks in their Rainbow Cup SA Round Two clash in Durban on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach Sean Everitt has revealed his team for their Rainbow Cup SA Round Two clash against the Lions in Durban on Saturday.

TOP 14 SPOTLIGHT: More than most people, South Africa wing Cheslin Kolbe, now the toast of Toulouse, is used to avoiding trouble.

BREAKING NEWS: The 37 names, including the captain of the British and Irish Lions, have been revealed.

TRANSFER: The Bulls have bolstered their midfield stocks.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has adjusted his matchday squad slightly as they prepare to travel to the Cape where they will face the Stormers.

SUPER RUGBY AU SPOTLIGHT: Brad Thorn is sticking to what's worked for the Final, where the regular captain and Test back row forward Liam Wright will play off the bench.

SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA SPOTLIGHT: The Crusaders are warm favourites to collect more domestic silverware when they take on the Chiefs in the Final.

READERS' FORUM: Join us as we bring you the LIVE STREAMING of the British and Irish Lions squad announcement for their tour of South Africa.

SPOTLIGHT: The opening round of PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA action threw up plenty of talking points, from Reniel Hugo’s stunning hat-trick to the Stormers’ red-card double.

SPOTLIGHT: The battle for places in the Springbok team to face the British and Irish Lions is going to have a knock-on effect in the Rainbow Cup.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has made just one change to his matchday 23 for Saturday's Super Rugby Aotearoa Final.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan has named his team to face the Crusaders in the Super Rugby Aotearoa Final on Saturday.

NEWS: Toulouse captain Julien Marchand has been cited for a dangerous tackle during the weekend's European Champions Cup semifinal, tournament organisers said on Wednesday.

TRANSFER NEWS: London Irish have completed the short-term signing of scrumhalf Nic Groom.

INJURY UPDATE: It never rains, but it pours.

TRANSFER NEWS: English Premiership club Harlequins on Wednesday announced the signing of Italy international flyhalf Tommaso Allan.

SPOTLIGHT: Japan star Kazuki Himeno has been named Super Rugby Aotearoa Rookie of the Year following an impressive debut campaign with the Highlanders this season.

REACTION: The real All Blacks have put their foot down and asked the Walter Sisulu University to stop using a bastardised version of the famous Maori war chant, the haka.

INJURY UPDATE: World Cup-winning Springbok lock Rudolph Snyman has suffered a setback during the most recent block of his rehabilitation.

INTERVIEW: The former Junior Springbok Lloyd Greef faces another roadblock en route to his NFL dream.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Queensland Reds have made three changes to their starting XV for Saturday's Super Rugby AU Final against the Brumbies.

WATCH as we bring you the highlights from the last time the British and Irish Lions toured South Africa - 2009.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Brumbies coach Dan McKellar has made four changes to the starting XV for Saturday's Super Rugby AU Final against the Queensland Reds.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Sale Sharks coach Alex Sanderson fears the worst after admitting that he could lose his Springboks stars until Christmas after they face the British and Irish Lions.

WATCH as Stormers assistant coach Dawie Snyman addresses the selection issues they face as a result of disciplinary hearings, injuries and player release to the national Sevens team.

VARSITY SHIELD MATCHDAY WRAP: WSU beat an understrength CPUT 39-5 at Tuks Stadium on Tuesday to book a spot in Sunday's Final against the same opponents.

TOP 14 NEWS: Toulon were dealt a blow in their bid to nail down a domestic play-off spot, with news Tuesday that lock Romain Taofifenua will be sidelined for "several weeks".

NEWS: The Melbourne Rebels have turned to another South African to replace Dave Wessels as the head coach of the Aussie franchise.

SPOTLIGHT: Retired New Zealand flyhalf Andrew Mehrtens has accused the NRL of trying to weaken Rugby Union in his native land and undermine the All Blacks.

TRANSFER TALK: Welsh region Ospreys are reportedly set to sign two Highlanders Super Rugby Aotearoa players, former Scarlets back Michael Collins and former Ireland age-grade lock Jack Regan.

NEWS: Former England dual international Sam Burgess pleaded guilty to driving with an illicit drug in his system.

REACTION: Watch as Sharks coach Sean Everitt analyses the good and the bad aspects of his team's Rainbow Cup win over the Stormers.

SPOTLIGHT: Queensland Reds scrumhalf Tate McDermott won't be distracted by Wallabies selection debate ahead of Saturday's Super Rugby AU final against the Brumbies.

INJURY UPDATE: The Lions confirmed that one of their key players will play no further part in the Rainbow Cup.

TOP 14 NEWS: Bordeaux-Begles will play the first of their two postponed Top 14 matches, against Agen, on May 21.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Western Force wing Toni Pulu has been banned for three games for his clumsy tackle during the Super Rugby AU semifinal against the Brumbies.

EUROPEAN CUP AWARDS: La Rochelle and Toulouse have received added recognition, following their qualification for the Champions Cup Final at Twickenham Stadium.

SPOTLIGHT: Wits co-captain Constant Beckerling has etched his name into Varsity Cup folklore with his passionate post-match interviews.

SPOTLIGHT: Watch as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White looks ahead to the big north-south derby - when the Bulls face the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Former Blues captain James Parsons believes the Australian teams are in a good position to cause some upsets over their New Zealand counterparts in the upcoming Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition.

NEWS: Rugby Australia and the Brumbies confirmed that backrow Rob Valetini has re-signed until the end of 2023.

REACTION: Montpellier scrumhalf Benoit Paillaugue said South African World Cup winner Handre Pollard will have "a very big role to play" in the rest of the campaign.

NEWS: France will entertain New Zealand in November, sources told AFP on Monday.

NEWS: In a move to help synergize and foster better relationships with the rugby clubs in Pretoria, the Bulls' contracted players were allocated to the Carlton League clubs via a draft system.

NEWS: The third Varsity Cup bubble in Tshwane has been pushed out by a week.

SPOTLIGHT: Happy to claim the underdog status, coach Dan McKellar says the Super Rugby AU season has positioned the Brumbies perfectly to snatch the title from competition favourites Queensland.

SPOTLIGHT: Stand-in Hurricanes captain Dane Coles says he is glad the captain’s referral law won’t be implemented in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman over the coming weeks.

INTERVIEW: Springboks star Cheslin Kolbe has opened up about his career so far and his time in France with Toulouse.

REACTION:  South African coaches shared their views on the new Rainbow Cup trial laws following the first round of action.

Queensland Reds playmaker James O'Connor has been voted Super Rugby AU MVP by fans.

INJURY UPDATE: The Stormers have been dealt a cruel blow as flyhalf Kade Wolhuter has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

VARSITY CUP WRAP: CPUT overpowered the UKZN Impi at Tuks Stadium on Sunday, while there were also Round 5 wins for the TUT Vikings and WSU.

SUPER RUGBY AU SPOTLIGHT: All year the Queensland Reds have been sticking to a simple theme in their quest to return to the Super Rugby AU Final - earn it.

MATCH REPORT: La Rochelle booked a Champions Cup final spot with a hard-fought 32-23 win over Leinster on Sunday. 

TRANSFER NEWS: All Blacks lock Dominic Bird is returning to New Zealand from a successful stint in France to link up with the Hurricanes for next year’s Super Rugby competition.

REACTION:  The Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen painted a bleak picture regarding one of their most talented players.

CHALLENGE CUP REPORT: Montpellier put in a herculean defensive display to defeat Bath Rugby 19-10 and secure a spot against Leicester Tigers in the European Rugby Challenge Cup final.

NEWS: Centurion England scrumhalf Ben Youngs has ruled himself out of British and Irish Lions tour selection to South Africa, citing personal reasons for his unavailability.

REACTION: Toulouse coach Ugo Mola said "Star Wars" are underway, after the joint-record four-time winners reached this month's European Champions Cup Final.

WATCH as Jim Hamilton and Eben Etzebeth reminisce about the infamous clash they had in Nelspruit back in 2013.

WATCH as another refereeing decision confuses spectators and pundits alike.

RAINBOW CUP MATCH REPORT: The Bulls, who have already won two domestic competitions in the last six months, got their latest campaign off to a winning start.

REACTION: The Chiefs will start their preparation for a shot at glory, but for the Blues it is back to the proverbial drawing board.

RAINBOW CUP MATCH REPORT: The Stormers lost their first match at their new home, the Cape Town Stadium, when the Sharks staged a remarkable second-half comeback.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the European Cup semifinal encounter between La Rochelle and Leinster at Stade Marcel Deflandre.

EUROPEAN CUP MATCH REPORT: Toulouse beat Bordeaux-Begles 21-9 in an all-French encounter at Stade Ernest Wallon on Saturday to advance to the Final.

MATCH REPORT: The Brumbies have booked their place in another Super Rugby AU title decider with a tense and drama-charged 21-9 qualifying final triumph over the Western Force in Canberra.

REACTION: While a double yellow card isn’t unheard of in top-level professional rugby encounters, normally the dual sin-binning is a result of a fairly comprehensive stoush between two players.

REACTION: The Stormers are sweating over the injuries of three key players, following their 30-33 loss to the Sharks in Cape Town on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Blues ended their Super Rugby Aotearoa season with a hard-fought 39-19 win over Chiefs on Saturday.

VARSITY CUP WRAP: CUT overturned a 15-point half-time deficit to beat Maties 23-18, while there were also Round Six Varsity Cup wins for UFS Shimlas, UWC and NWU.

CHALLENGE CUP REPORT: Leicester Tigers put in a superb second-half display to hit back from 11 points down and defeat Ulster 33-24 at Welford Road to secure a spot in the European Challenge Cup Final.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Rainbow Cup match between the Bulls and Lions in Pretoria.

NEWS: Ireland's tour of Fiji has been called off because of a coronavirus outbreak in the Pacific island, the Irish Rugby Football Union announced Friday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the European Cup semifinal encounter between Toulouse and Bordeaux-Bègles at Stade Ernest Wallon.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Rainbow Cup match between the Stormers and Sharks in Cape Town.

NEWS: William Small-Smith has announced that he will be hanging up his boots following a professional rugby career of 10 years.

MATCH REPORT: The Hurricanes concluded their Super Rugby Aotearao campaign in fine style with a 41-22 win over Highlanders on Friday.

INJURY UPDATE: South Africa’s World Cup winner Handre Pollard has been named on the bench for Montpellier’s European Challenge Cup clash against Bath this Saturday.

NO LIMITS: Wallaby lock Will Skelton said La Rochelle will have a "real old crack" as they host joint-record four-time winners Leinster in their first European Champions Cup semifinal on Sunday.

INJURY UPDATE: The Stormers' vice-captain, Salmaan Moerat, faces an uncertain future, at least in the short-term, after injuring his neck in training.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby Aotearoa Round 10 encounter between the Blues and Chiefs in Auckland.

TRANSFER NEWS: Connacht Rugby confirmed that Dewald Senekal will join the province as forwards coach from the beginning of the 2021/22 season.

NEWS: EPCR and the Rugby Football Union (RFU) announced that the iconic Twickenham Stadium will host the 2021 Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals with a limited number of fans permitted to attend both showpiece matches, in line with the UK government’s roadmap to recovery.

MAY DAY: The significance of the date should not be lost on South Africa's leading players. Jan de Koning looks at Round One of another domestic competition.

UNCHARTED WATERS: The Western Force are entering uncharted waters, but coach Tim Sampson is backing the team's old heads to provide a calming influence in Saturday's semi-final showdown against the Brumbies in Canberra.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Varsity Cup match between UP-Tuks and UCT Ikeys at Loftus Versfeld has been cancelled in line with Covid-19 protocols.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls welcome back a wealth of experience in the matchday squad to battle the Lions at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Crusaders have managed to lure Argentina's best player to Christchurch.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Former England captain Dylan Hartley has questioned who exactly had the expertise to judge head coach Eddie Jones following the publication of the RFU’s controversial Six Nations debrief.

SEMIFINAL: A first European Challenge Cup Final will be at stake for both Leicester Tigers and Ulster, when they clash on Friday.

TOUR SPOTLIGHT: Scotland flyhalf Finn Russell said on Thursday being named in the British and Irish Lions' squad next week would be "amazing".

BREAKING NEWS: Dave Wessels has announced he's stepping down as Melbourne Rebels coach effective immediately.

NEWS: Rugby Australia has recorded a net deficit of $27.1million for 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the governing body losing so much money it even considered reverting to amateur status.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit will make his long-awaited return from injury for the Stormers.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has named his team to face the Bulls in their Rainbow Cup SA opener in Pretoria on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby Aotearoa Round 10 encounter between the Hurricanes and Highlanders in Wellington.

PENULTIMATE SHOWDOWN: Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan is taking this weekend’s clash with the Blues as an opportunity to freshen up his squad ahead of next weekend’s grand final in Christchurch.

TRANSFER NEWS: Warriors have completed the signing of Wales Under-20s wing Harri Doel from Scarlets for the 2021/22 season.

RAINBOW CUP SPOTLIGHT: Stormers forwards coach Rito Hlungwani is not too worried about Siya Kolisi giving the Sharks some inside information ahead of their Rainbow Cup SA opener in Cape Town on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS: Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan has named his team to face the Blues at Eden Park on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach Sean Everitt has revealed his team to face the Stormers in their Rainbow Cup opener in Cape Town on Saturday.

WATCH as World Cup-winning Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies speaks ahead of his first training session with French club Pau.

Springbok centre Jesse Kriel continued his roadshow through the Japan Top League with a brilliant performance for his Canon Eagles side in their must-win clash over NTT Shining Arcs.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Sharks have lured back one of their former stalwarts from the Lions.

INJURY UPDATE: The Queensland Reds have been dealt a hefty injury blow ahead of the Super Rugby AU Final.

NEWS: New Zealand Rugby backed a "revolutionary" plan to sell a stake in the All Blacks to US investors Thursday, ignoring opposition from top players who fear the deal will sully rugby's most storied team.

NEWS: Wales star George North is out of contention for the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa.

TRANSFER NEWS: Edinburgh Rugby announced the signing of versatile 25-year-old back Henry Immelman from French TOP14 side Montpellier, adding depth and quality across the outside backs for the capital club.

SPOTLIGHT: Eddie Jones is giving Beauden Barrett "little pieces of gold".

NEWS: Wales will open their 2022 Six Nations title defence away to Ireland in February.

WATCH as All Black star Beauden Barrett talks about the proposed Trans-Tasman Super Rugby and suggest a left-field entry.

NEWS: The England legend will be returning to his old team after 14 years.

RAINBOW CUP SPOTLIGHT: Sharks prop Thomas du Toit believes the Stormers have added more strings to their bow ahead of their Rainbow Cup SA opener at Cape Town Stadium.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The final outing in the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition is more of a start than a finish for the Blues when they host the Chiefs at Eden Park on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand Rugby is poised to vote on the sale of a multi-million dollar stake in its legendary All Blacks brand to a private equity firm in the United States.

INJURY UPDATE: Ireland skipper Johnny Sexton will miss out on a final chance to press his claims for British and Irish Lions tour selection.

NEWS: Harlequins centre Andre Esterhuizen and Bath prop Ben Obano both received heavy bans for their respective red cards at the weekend.

VARSITY CUP MATCHDAY WRAP: Maties won a hard-fought battle against NWU, while there were also Round Five victories for Wits and UJ.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Hurricanes have made just two changes to their starting side to face the Highlanders in Friday’s final round-robin Super Rugby Aotearoa match against the Highlanders in Wellington.

WATCH as Stormers coach John Dobson explains his approach to the upcoming Rainbow Cup and the rest of the year.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Highlanders return off the bye and head to the capital to take on the Hurricanes on Friday in their last game of the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition.

NEWS: Scotland and British and Irish Lions wing Tommy Seymour on Wednesday announced his retirement from professional rugby.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Brumbies coach Dan McKellar will welcome back several Wallabies for the Super Rugby AU semifinal showdown with the Western Force.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Western Force will take on the reigning champion Brumbies in the franchise's first Super Rugby AU play-off appearance this Saturday.

EUROPEAN CUP SEMIFINAL: Bordeaux-Begles recorded no new positive COVID-19 tests.

NEWS: The impasse between the B&I Lions and the release of players from Premiership clubs ahead of the tour to South Africa has been resolved.

VIDEO: All Black World Cup winner TJ Perenara says he's genuinely interested in a switch to the NRL after direct talks with Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson.