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REACTION: The SARU-appointed administrator, Rian Oberholzer, would not have expected the WPRU saga to be an easy fix.

REACTION: Flyt, holding all the trump cards, are standing quietly on the sidelines as the latest developments in the Newlands saga plays out.

REACTION: Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth has opened up on his decision to sign for the Sharks.

URC NEWS: South African sides in the United Rugby Championship will have to contend with neutral referees when they finally take on overseas opposition on their home turf.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Former All Black hooker James Parsons says he would be ‘devastated’ to see the Springboks leave the Rugby Championship for the Six Nations in 2025

WATCH as Roc Nation President Michael R. Yormark and retired Springbok Tendai Mtawarira unpacks the advantage of South Africa's big trek from Super Rugby to the URC.

TEAM UPDATE: England coach Eddie Jones has cut his Test week squad from 35 to 25.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Lions have lost the services of another senior player.

INTERVIEW: France's South African-born fullback Scott Spedding feels the time has come to add the Springboks to the Six Nations.

TEAM UPDATE: Leinster wing James Lowe has been added to the Ireland squad after his remarkable performance for the province at the weekend.

NEWS: Sale Sharks face the prospect of losing Springboks duo Francois de Klerk and Lodewyk de Jager revealed Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson.

NEWS: Newcastle Falcons Director of Rugby Dean Richards has been charged with ‘conduct prejudicial to the interests of the union’ for a post-game rant.

SPOTLIGHT: England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie’s tackle technique has been put under the spotlight.

INTERVIEW: South African teams have not exactly covered themselves in glory in the opening half of the United Rugby Championship season.

INTERVIEW: Highlanders scrumhalf  Folau Fakatava has outlined his ambition to play for the All Blacks.

SPOTLIGHT: Hacjivah Dayimani says he has no intentions of returning to the backline as he continues to build his repertoire as a loose forward in the Stormers set-up.

SPOTLIGHT: No hiding his desire to wear the Wallabies gold, emerging playmaker Ben Donaldson is relishing the chance to lock horns with veteran Test star James O'Connor on Friday.

NEWS: England forward George Kruis has announced his retirement from rugby on his 32nd birthday in order to focus on his business commitments.

ROUND TWO WRAP: UFS Shimlas produced an attacking masterclass to thrash Maties 50-28 in Bloemfontein and end a seven-game drought against the Cape-based side.

SPOTLIGHT: Former England coach Clive Woodward has vehemently opposed the idea of South Africa joining the Six Nations in Europe.

WATCH as Roc Nation President Michael R. Yormark chats to @king365ed about the need to stop the mass player exodus facing South Africa.

REACTION: Springbok superstar Eben Etzebeth has responded to criticism from Bok legend Bakkies Botha.

WATCH as the Pretoria-born loose forward Riekert Hattingh goes on the rampage for his Major League Rugby club the Seattle Seawolves.

PLAYER IN FOCUS: The United Rugby Championship and Roc Nation combined to produce a series shining the spotlight on off-field endeavours, telling unique stories.

INTERVIEW: The Fijian Drua learnt quickly on debut how teams will attempt to stifle their strengths in Super Rugby Pacific and say they're already adapting.

TEAM NEWS: The Bulls named their squad that will travel to Parma, Italy, where they will take on Zebre in a United Rugby Championship clash on Friday.

NEWS: SA Rugby announced the confirmed competition structure for the remainder of the 2022 season.

NEWS: Moana Pasifika’s Round Two Super Rugby Pacific match against the Chiefs has been postponed due to player welfare concerns New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has announced.

NEWS: The Lions will be without Vincent and Emmanuel Tshituka for their clash against Leinster in Dublin.

REACTION: The Sharks already has a proverbial gold mine of international IP and the arrival of Eben Etzebeth will add even more to the growth of young players.

NEWS: Bulls flyhalf Morne Steyn will miss his team's next three games.

TEAM UPDATE: Gregor Townsend has added six players to his Six Nations Squad ahead of Scotland taking on France this Saturday at Murrayfield.

NEWS: It's official: A veteran is returning home to Sydney and will be available for the Wallabies' blockbuster three-Test series with England in June-July.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Bulls are reportedly set to lose Arno Both to Lyon, two years after he returned to Pretoria.

NEWS: Wales have recalled Bath No.8 Taulupe Faletau, who hasn’t featured for his country in nearly a year.

NEWS: The United Rugby Championship confirmed the rescheduling of three outstanding Welsh derbies that were postponed over the Christmas and New Year period.

NEWS: Ebrahim Patel, the first president of the South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU) and one of the driving forces behind the movement to rugby unity towards the end of the 20th century, passed away early on Monday.

NEWS: Rugby Legend Steve Roach looms as a secret weapon as the Waratahs strive to turn Leichhardt Oval into their own fortress this year.

REACTION: The Currie Cup's new schedule has an impact on the quality of rugby delivered by players admits Cheetahs head coach Hawies Fourie.

SPOTLIGHT: Springboks great John Phillip 'Bakkies' Botha could not contain his disappointment with Eben Etzebeth's early exit from France and Top 14 strugglers Toulon.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has called up a number of Currie Cup players for their United Rugby Championship rescheduled Round 10 trip to Ireland.

TEAM UPDATE: Coach Eddie Jones has named a 35-man England squad for next weekend’s Six Nations match against Wales at Twickenham.

RIP: Mark Alexander, President of SA Rugby, lead the tributes for former Springbok fullback Henry Oswald de Villiers, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 76.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Exeter made hard work of beating 14-man Newcastle as a late penalty from Joe Simmonds ensured they won 15-14 on Sunday.

URC REPORT: Ulster moved back up to second in the table with a 12-0 victory over the Dragons at a wet and windswept Rodney Parade.

NEWS: The Super Rugby Pacific Round Two draw has been reshuffled in New Zealand to give Moana Pasifika the best chance of being able to play their scheduled match against the Chiefs.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: Lachie Lonergan has downplayed his role in a last-ditch try that helped the Brumbies steal a 29-23 Super Rugby Pacific win over the Western Force at Canberra Stadium.

MATCH REPORT: James Lowe was back with a bang as his electric 56th-minute try lit up Leinster’s 29-7 United Rugby Championship win over the Ospreys at the RDS.

MATCH REPORT:  Sharks kept their winning run intact with a 43-31 win over a spirited Lions team at Ellis Park on Saturday. 

MATCH REPORT:  Cheetahs enhanced their status as Currie Cup contenders with a 28-17 win over Pumas in Nelspruit on Saturday.

NEWS: The Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth will spend another spell on the sidelines following his latest injury.

MATCH REPORT: Glasgow Warriors overcame the rain and some determined opposition to pick up a hard-fought 13-3 victory over Benetton which lifts them to second in the United Rugby Championship table.

MATCH REPORT: Connacht pulled off a historic first-ever win at Parc y Scarlets by beating the Welsh region 29-23 on Saturday.

WATCH Sharks centre Lukhanyo Am's sublime try against the Bulls on Saturday.

WATCH as we bring you the highlights from the weekend's Round Four Currie Cup matches - all the drama!

SUPER RUGBY MATCH REPORT: The Crusaders have survived an early-season fright from the Hurricanes to kick their 2022 campaign off with a 42-32 win in Dunedin.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: A Rohan Janse van Rensburg try helped Sale Sharks secure a narrow 22-21 win over Northampton Saints on Saturday.

REACTION: Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea has expressed player welfare concerns regarding the four-hour bus trips between Queenstown and Dunedin for the opening rounds of Super Rugby Pacific.

OPINION: RugbyPass writers tackle the big talking points ahead of the start of Super Rugby Pacific - the format, the play-offs and the value of the competition.

CURRIE CUP REPORT: Griquas held on for a tense 22-20 win over Western Province in a Round Four Currie Cup encounter in Kimberley on Friday.

SUPER RUGBY MATCH REPORT: The Chiefs put down an early marker when they beat the Highlanders 26-16 in the opening New Zealand derby match in Queenstown on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: The Six Nations have issued a statement confirming that they have no intention of adding or replacing any team in the competition.

PREMIERSHIP MATCH REPORT: Worcester ended a run of five successive defeats and gave Steve Diamond his first win in charge as they toppled Bristol 19-14 at Sixways.

NEWS: Courtney Lawes has resumed full training with England after recovering from concussion and is in contention to face Wales in next week's Six Nations match at Twickenham.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Currie Cup Round Four match between the Lions and Sharks at Ellis Park.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Currie Cup Round Four match between the Pumas and Cheetahs in Nelspruit.

SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC REPORT: The Waratahs gave newcomers Fijian Drua a rude awakening in their first venture into the Trans-Tasman competition.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Reds kicked off their season with a grinding 23-5 defeat of the Melbourne Rebels in Brisbane on Saturday.

BREAKING NEWS: The WPRFU and SARU confirmed that the Newlands Rugby Stadium was to be placed on the market in a sealed bidding process.

NEWS: Former All Black coach and England assistant coach John Mitchell is on the move again.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks’ Currie Cup campaign shifts to Johannesburg when they take on the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday following a two-week break.

INJURY UPDATE: Ireland hooker Ronan Kelleher has been ruled out of the remainder of the Six Nations due to a shoulder issue.

MATCH REPORT: Simon Zebo stole the show with a hat-trick of tries in Munster's 34-20 United Rugby Championship win over Edinburgh at Thomond Park.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Currie Cup Round Four match between Griquas and Western Province in Kimberley.

SPOTLIGHT: Speculation continued to mount this week regarding an eventual accession of South Africa into the Six Nations.

WATCH as South African coach Jacques Nienaber runs the rule over his team's opposition this year.

NEWS: France have overtaken Ireland in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings as a result of their 30-24 win at a raucous Stade de France on Saturday.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Sharks scrumhalf Grant Williams has been suspended for a month.

SUPER SATURDAY: It is going to be a significant weekend for the Irish provinces.

REACTION: The news of South Africa potentially joining the Six Nations has been met with widespread anger in the Northern Hemisphere.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Mziwakhe Nkosi has revealed his team for their Currie Cup encounter against the Sharks at Ellis Park on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Western Province have been bolstered by the inclusion of a few key players for their Currie Cup clash with Griquas in Kimberley on Friday.

BATTLE FOR THE THRONE: There could be a new team at the top of the Currie Cup standings after Round four this weekend.

MAKING NEW WAVES: The latest version of the Southern Hemisphere's much-hyped franchise championship kicks off a new era this week.

BREAKING NEWS: New Zealand Rugby confirmed they had secured a NZ$200-million (US$134-million) investment from US private equity firm.

NEWS: Eben Etzebeth's new team has finally been confirmed.

FRIDAY FRENZY: Munster faces another tough Scottish hurdle when they host Edinburgh in Limerick on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse has made a number of significant changes to his team for their Currie Cup Round Four encounter with the Cheetahs.

INTERVIEW: The Lions do not need reminding that 2022 is threatening to become their annus horribilis.

SCORE CORRECTION: The result in the Varsity Cup Round one fixture between CUT and UJ, played at the CUT Stadium, has been corrected.

NEWS: Former World Cup-winning Springbok captain Francois Pienaar and Sharks owner Marco V. Masotti have teamed up in a consortium that has obtained a controlling share in Saracens.

SPOTLIGHT: The Lions might be sitting at the bottom of the Currie Cup standings, but they are still a team the Sharks will not take lightly in Johannesburg on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: SA Rugby’s commitment to its SANZAAR partners seems to be waning after the release of a new "joint venture agreement".

NEWS: Stormers co-captain Salmaan Moerat has revealed his decision on his playing future.

SPOTLIGHT: England flyhalf Marcus Smith says he learned valuable lessons from Dan Biggar during last year's British and Irish Lions tour as he prepares to go head to head with the Wales stand-off in the Six Nations.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Griquas have lost their inspirational captain for a substantial period.

NEWS: Golden try will become golden point for the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific season, and a simple coin toss could play a key role in a team's chances of success.

NEWS: Top-flight clubs in England are to pause a programme of routine weekly COVID tests and concentrate their efforts on players and management showing symptoms of COVID.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: At the back of a commanding 38-25 win over the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld, the Cheetahs travel to Nelspruit to take on the Pumas on Saturday.

NEWS: The Western Force have cut ties with Sitaleki Timani after the former Wallabies lock opted against having the COVID-19 vaccine.

SPOTLIGHT: It seems Western Province are still hurting after their last meeting with Griquas in the Currie Cup.

SQUAD UPDATE: Two big names have been included in Eddie Jones' 25-man England squad for a Six Nations training camp in London.

OPINION: This Richie Mo’unga situation sums up so much about what’s so wrong with rugby in New Zealand.

NEWS: France wing Gabin Villiere will miss this month's Six Nations visit to Scotland with a facial injury, sources told AFP on Tuesday.

NEWS: The Stormers' United Rugby Championship match against Zebre Parma on Sunday, March 13 will be played at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.

OPINION: Paul Smith rates the England players after their 33-0 Six Nations shut-out of Italy.

OPINION: Paul Smith rates the French players after their 30-24 win over Ireland on Saturday!

TRANSFER NEWS: London Irish have bolstered their squad with some South African muscle.

NEWS: Tadhg Beirne has signed an IRFU contract which will see him play his rugby in this country until at least July 2025.

ROUND ONE WRAP: UCT scored a last-minute try to beat NWU in the opening round of the Varsity Cup, while there were also wins for Maties, UFS Shimlas, Wits and UJ.

SPOTLIGHT: It's an old cliche that what doesn't kill you will only make you stronger.

REACTION: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White knows that his team will have to reach the United Rugby Championship play-offs the hard way after they lost another home game to local rivals.

SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers will have several players returning from injury ahead of their match against Connacht in Ireland on February 26.

REACTION: Sharks head coach Sean Everitt is hoping scrumhalf Grant Williams doesn't get a heavy sanction for his red card against Bulls in Pretoria over the weekend.

SPOTLIGHT: France put themselves in pole position for Six Nations glory, while Scotland were brought back down to earth with a bang.

NEWS: Wales centre Uilisi Halaholo has been given a chance to prove his match fitness ahead of next week's Six Nations trip to England.

NEWS: Newcastle Falcons captain Mark Wilson has retired from rugby with immediate effect.

NEWS: The Stormers are reportedly set to lose Springbok Warrick Gelant at the end of the season.

NEWS: The Hurricanes have revealed their captain for the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season.

NEWS: Toulon announced that Springbok superstar Eben Etzebeth will be leaving the club at the end of the season.

OPINION: Liam Heagney rates the Ireland players after their 24-30 loss to France on Saturday!

WATCH as Stormers coach John Dobson speaks about how Manie Libbok is growing in confidence with each game due to the support he is getting.

REACTION: Referee Damon Murphy has joined the growing list of match officials under fire for their brain explosions in the game.

REACTION: The Lions players will have a hard look at themselves in the mirror after their latest defeat in the United Rugby Championship.

REACTION: Eddie Jones said there's no limit to how good Marcus Smith can be after the England flyhalf starred in Sunday's 33-0 thumping of Italy in Rome.

REACTION: Wales coach Wayne Pivac praised captain Dan Biggar as "someone who fights for every last inch" after the flyhalf played through the pain barrier to revive his side's Six Nations title hopes against Scotland.

SIX NATIONS REPORT: England bounced back from their Murrayfield disappointment to record a bonus-point win over Italy in Rome on Sunday.

REACTION: France captain Antoine Dupont said the squad are not talking about their chances of a Six Nations Grand Slam yet despite Saturday's impressive victory over Ireland.

REACTION: Dan Biggar hailed Wales' 20-17 win over Scotland in Cardiff on Saturday as one of the "best victories" of his career.

REACTION: Ireland coach Andy Farrell praised the "spirit" and "character" of his side after they came from 7-22 down early in the second half to agonisingly lose 24-30 to France.

REACTION: France coach Fabien Galthie said he is not thinking about winning the Six Nations despite Saturday's impressive 30-24 victory over Ireland.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Six Nations Round Two encounter between Italy and England in Rome.

SIX NATIONS REPORT: Dan Biggar's drop-goal 10 minutes from time proved decisive as Wales revived their title defence with a 20-17 win over Scotland in Cardiff on Saturday.

OPINION: Will Owen rates the Welsh players after their 20-17 Six Nations win over Scotland.

OPINION: Gavin Harper rates the Scottish players after their 17-20 Six Nations loss to Wales.

SIX NATIONS REPORT: France kept their Grand Slam dream alive with a hard-fought 30-24 win over Ireland in a thrilling encounter in Paris on Saturday.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Harlequins continued their miserable record on visits to Saracens as they suffered a 10-19 loss on Sunday.

URC REPORT: The Sharks got back to winning ways in the United Rugby Championship with a thrilling 29-22 victory over the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.

URC REPORT: The Stormers continued their upward trajectory in the United Rugby Championship with a 32-10 win over the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: The upcoming Super Rugby Pacific season shapes as career-defining for Josh Ioane.

REPORT: The Crusaders are not putting much value on their pre-season Super Rugby loss to the Hurricanes.

NEWS: Sharks CEO Eduard Coetzee has announced a new change to their rugby structure that will be effective from the 2022/2023 season.

WATCH as we bring you 20 of the most controversial moments in the game - from blatant cheating to just plain daft brain explosions.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Nemani Nadolo scored two tries as tournament leaders Leicester did the double over East Midlands rivals Northampton.

PRE-SEASON WRAP: The Chiefs have finished their build-up to the 2022 season undefeated, after beating the Blues and Highlanders in a game of three halves match in Queenstown on Saturday.

URC WRAP: Leinster and Glasgow Warriors moved to within a point of the table-topping Ulster side on the standings.

REACTION: Michele Lamaro said Italy should be inspired by their Under-20 team's historic win over England as the senior team await the Six Nations visit of the 2019 World Cup finalists.

NEWS: The Moana Pasifika Super Rugby Pacific squad continue to isolate in their Queenstown hotel after seven players were confirmed by Ministry of Health on Friday as positive COVID-19 cases.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Ospreys confirmed that attack coach, Brock James, will leave the regional rugby franchise at the end of the United Rugby Championship campaign.

WATCH as World Cup-winning Springbok prop Tendai Mtawarira and Roc Nation President Michael R. Yormark dish out some sage advice to young players making their way in the professional game.

NEWLANDS SPOTLIGHT: @king365ed brings to light the latest developments in the attempts to resurrect their ailing WPRFU

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

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round 12 encounter between the Bulls and Sharks at Loftus Versfeld.

SIX NATIONS, ROUND TWO: Eddie Jones says England "want to light up Rome" as they bid to bounce back from the narrow opening defeat by Scotland when they face Italy on Sunday.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Six Nations Round Two encounter between Wales and Scotland in Cardiff.

WATCH as World Cup-winning Springbok captain Siyamthanda Kolisi explains how the Sharks turned his career around.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round 12 encounter between the Lions and Stormers at Ellis Park.

NEWS: South African World Cup winner Eben Etzebeth could give last-place Toulon a lift by making his first Top 14 appearance of the season as they host Bordeaux-Begles on Saturday.

SIX NATIONS ROUND TWO: Wales may be the reigning champions, but it is easy to forget that fact as they prepare for Saturday's match against Scotland in Cardiff.

LOCAL SUPREMACY: It's another Saturday of local derbies in South Africa with the Stormers currently sitting at the top of the South African Shield conference by two points.

SPOTLIGHT: England's Six Nations defeat to Scotland has cost them third place in the World Rugby Rankings.

SIX NATIONS ROUND TWO: Former Ireland flyhalf Ronan Gara said France are "building something special" ahead of next year's World Cup.

REACTION: Sharks head coach Sean Everitt has explained his midfield selection for Saturday's United Rugby Championship clash against the Bulls in Pretoria.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Italy have made three changes for this Sunday’s Six Nations match against England.

INTERVIEW: Scotland coach Gregor Townsend believes his side have the tools to end their 20-year wait for a win in Cardiff as they look to build on their positive start to this season's Six Nations.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Jake White has revealed his Bulls team to face the Sharks in Pretoria on Saturday.

NEWS: The Crusaders are set to be without two key All Blacks players for the opening three rounds of the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific campaign.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: There are three changes to the Stormers backline for their United Rugby Championship encounter with the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.

NEWS: England will play the Barbarians at Twickenham on June 19 as part of their preparations for a tour of Australia.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Eddie Jones has named his England team to face Italy in the Six Nations this weekend.

NEWS: The Hurricanes will begin their 2022 Super Rugby Pacific campaign without TJ Perenara after the veteran scrumhalf sustained a knee injury that will keep him sidelined for about a month.

SPOTLIGHT: Joey Carbery has long been seen as Ireland playmaker Johnny Sexton's successor at flyhalf and on Saturday he gets his chance to rubberstamp his credentials against a vibrant France in the Six Nations.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ireland's talismanic captain Johnny Sexton will miss this weekend's Six Nations clash with France in Paris due to a hamstring injury, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) said on Thursday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: France head coach Fabien Galthie made two changes on Friday to his side for this weekend's Six Nations game with Ireland.

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

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Jac Morgan is set to make his Wales debut after being named in the reigning champions' starting XV to face Scotland in the Six Nations in Cardiff on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Gregor Townsend has named his squad to face Wales on Saturday in Cardiff in the second round of the 2022 Six Nations, where Grant Gilchrist will make his 50th appearance for Scotland.

CATCH-UP: Leinster host Edinburgh on a blockbuster of United Rugby Championship action on Friday, with four of the competition's top five taking to the field.

NEWS: Argentina rugby coach Mario Ledesma said Wednesday he was quitting his job for personal reasons, missing out on the chance to lead the team at the 2023 World Cup in France.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks and Bulls go head-to-head in an important United Rugby Championship clash at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.

Fiji Rugby Union chiefs have warned that “sneaky” agents are looking for players to launch a professional league in China and are targeting the country’s players with some already preparing to fly to Beijing.

SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers are not letting all the praise get to their heads as they prepare for an important United Rugby Championship derby against the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.

PRE-SEASON PREVIEW: The Waratahs and Reds are taking the same approach into their final pre-season Super Rugby hit-out on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: France lock Cameron Woki said head coach Fabien Galthie has the squad "right into" preparation for Ireland's trip to Paris in the Six Nations this weekend after returning to the set-up.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS: The Crusaders are currently preparing for their final pre-season hit out against the Hurricanes before the Super Rugby Pacific season officially kicks off next weekend.

WATCH as South Africa's Director of Rugby Johan Erasmus, in his first public event since returning from a two-month ban, interviews Springbok captain Siyamthanda Kolisi.

SPOTLIGHT: @king365ed reports on the latest breaking news in the polemical Newlands saga - with confirmation of criminal charges.

SPOTLIGHT: Former Springbok prop and current Lions scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys has warned that rugby should be wary of going soft.

SPOTLIGHT: @king365ed reports on the latest, behind the scenes, developments in the aeonian Newlands saga - with new threats of legal action.

SPOTLIGHT: Stormers coach John Dobson first lifted the lid on the challenges being faced by South African franchises - an adulterated currency against robust foreign capital.

SPOTLIGHT: From being mobbed by his teammates after his last-gasp winning drop goal in 2018 to the shake of the head on being replaced in the defeat by France two years later.

SQUAD UPDATE: Courtney Lawes will miss England's Six Nations clash with Italy this weekend as he remains under concussion protocols.

SPOTLIGHT: Dewi Lake says Wales must be more physical in Saturday's Six Nations clash against an in-form Scotland after their hammering by Ireland in their tournament opener.

SPOTLIGHT: Johnny Sexton says France present a different challenge to other Six Nations opponents because he and his Irish teammates have to brush up on the skills of individual players rather than a team system.

SPOTLIGHT: Wallabies coach Dave Rennie is not a fan of uncontested scrums in professional rugby - and he's not the only one.

SPOTLIGHT: Rugby Australia Chief Executive Andy Marinos says the expanded Super Rugby competition is imperative to developing pathways in the Pacific.

NEWS: Rugby authorities in New Zealand have confirmed the bubble safety in Queenstown ahead of the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific has been breached by covid and measures have been taken to control the potential for spread

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: England have called up lock Joe Launchbury to replace injured Lewis Ludlam for Sunday's Six Nations Test against Italy as coach Eddie Jones says his side will "light up Rome" after their loss to Scotland.

NEWS: South Africa's United Rugby Championship Player of the Month for January has been revealed.

SPOTLIGHT: Taniela Tupou has cheekily challenged Rugby Australia to "show me the money" as the rampaging Queensland Reds prop switches gears and begins to ponder his future.

SPOTLIGHT: Sharks are not fazed by external criticism ahead of their United Rugby Championship (URC) clash against the Bulls on Saturday.

Bulls take on the Sharks in what is set to be a gruelling contest between the two sides in the United Rugby Championship at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

BREAKING: The Springboks are scheduled to face Wales in three Test matches in the Incoming Series in July, before hosting the All Blacks and Argentina in the Rugby Championship in August and September, SA Rugby confirmed on Tuesday.

NEWS: History will be made in early April when the eagerly-anticipated Champions Cup round of 16 fixtures will be played over two legs for the first time.

NEWS: South Africa’s four United Rugby Championship teams will host Scarlets, Munster, Cardiff and Zebre Parma next month in two rescheduled rounds of the competition, which had to be postponed late last year.

SQUAD UPDATE: England boss Eddie Jones has recalled fit-again Joe Launchbury to his squad for next Sunday’s round two Six Nations match away to Italy in Rome.

SPOTLIGHT: Former Springbok wing Aphiwe Dyantyi has revealed he will make a return to rugby in 2023.

REACTION: Clive Woodward, England’s World Cup-winning coach claims Eddie Jones is getting an easy ride because of a “massive weakness” at the RFU.

WATCH as Stormers coach John Dobson opens up about the biggest challenge facing South African teams in the URC.

WATCH as 2021 South Africa Sevens Player of the year Ronald Brown breaks down his story from his unexpected battle with cancer to his dream of playing rugby again.

WATCH as Springboks utility back Jesse Kriel scored a double in the latest round of Japan Rugby League One action.

SPOTLIGHT: This weekend, the six New Zealand-based Super Rugby squads will head to Queenstown as a means of ensuring the opening rounds of the inaugural Pacific season can go ahead as planned.

INJURY UPDATE: Scotland have called up Dave Cherry after confirming Jamie Ritchie will miss this weekend's Six Nations clash against Wales with an injury.

IRELAND INJURY UPDATE: Andy Farrell has called up Connacht forward Dave Heffernan as injury cover as Ireland emerged from their Six Nations opener against Wales all but unscathed.

NEWS: Kieran Crowley has picked another young gun in his Italy squad for this weekend's Six Nations clash with England.

INJURY UPDATE: France centre Jonathan Danty will miss this weekend's Six Nations match with Ireland due to an ankle injury.

France cemented their status as pre-tournament favourites by launching their Six Nations campaign with a comprehensive 37-10 home win over perennial strugglers Italy on Sunday.

OPINION: Ireland have beaten Wales 29 – 7 in their opening Six Nations match at the Aviva Stadium.

OPINION: Scotland recorded consecutive wins over England for the first time since 1984 as a late Finn Russell penalty ensured they retained the Calcutta Cup at Murrayfield.

OPINION: Scotland won consecutive Calcutta Cups for the first time since 1984 by claiming a tense 20-17 win at rainy Murrayfield.

OPINION: Six Nations favourites France launched their 2022 campaign with a comfortable 37-10 home win over perennial strugglers Italy.

SQUAD UPDATE: Fabien Galthie has called up to players to his Six Nations squad, but there’s no room for Montpellier bad boy Mohamed Haouas.

NEWS: Wallaby prop James Slipper has signed a contract extension through to the end of 2023, giving him the chance of appearing at his fourth World Cup.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White speaks about finding the balance between bringing young players through and having the experience to call on.

SIX NATIONS REPORT: Six Nations title favourites France beat Italy 37-10 in Paris on Sunday with wing Gabin Villiere scoring three tries.

REACTION: Luke Cowan-Dickie has apologised to England supporters for conceding a penalty try in a 17-20 defeat by Scotland as Red Rose coach Eddie Jones accepted the blame for the Calcutta Cup loss at Murrayfield.

REACTION: Bulls head coach Jake White was not too disappointed after failing to secure a bonus-point win over Lions on Saturday in Pretoria.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Tom Roebuck and Robert Du Preez scored two tries each as Sale crushed English Premiership champions Harlequins 36-14 on Sunday.

An in-depth look at experienced South African official Jaco Peyper's contribution during Ireland's win over Wales on Saturday

OPINION: Fronted by new skipper Dan Biggar, Wayne Pivac’s men were given the tough task of chasing an away scalp in Dublin to open their Six Nations campaign.

NEWS: The Lions are reportedly set to lose two of their senior centres.

WATCH as World Cup-winning Springbok Duane Vermeulen arrives for a post-match interview barefooted and in shorts ... in sub-zero temperatures.

REACTION: Sharks head coach Sean Everitt says his team played into the Stormers hands during their 10-20 defeat in a United Rugby Championship clash in Cape Town on Saturday.

NEWS: Andrew Hore, CEO of the Auckland-based Blues, has expressed frustration at New Zealand's COVID-19 restrictions, saying they are getting "a bit silly".

Marcus Smith’s first start in the Six Nations as England’s flyhalf looked on course to be a successful one after he had scored all 17 of his side’s points with a quarter of the game to go.

With a record fourth John Eales Medal in his pocket, Michael Hooper can argue he has earned the strategic rest that will rule him out of the early rounds of the Super Rugby Pacific season.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Six Nations Round One encounter between France and Italy in Paris.

URC REPORT: The Stormers recorded their first home win in the United Rugby Championship when they beat the Sharks 20-10 in their Round Nine fixture in Cape Town on Saturday.

URC REPORT: The Bulls made it back-to-back wins over the Lions with a 21-13 victory in their Round Nine encounter in Pretoria on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT:  Scotland have retained the Calcutta Cup with a hard-fought 20-17 win over England at Murrayfield on Saturday.

SIX NATIONS REPORT:  Ireland made a huge statement as they recorded a comfortable 29-7 bonus-point win over Wales on Saturday in Dublin. 

WATCH as Sharks coach Etienne Fynn talks about two amazing comebacks in his team's impressive Currie Cup win over Western Province.

SIX NATIONS ROUND ONE: France host Italy on Sunday in both sides' opening game of this year's Six Nations.

REACTION: Ireland captain Johnny Sexton said there is a lot to "brush up on" for next weekend's tricky Six Nations visit to France despite their impressive bonus-point win over champions Wales.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Gloucester swept into second place in the English Premiership with a 24-7 victory against London Irish at Kingsholm on Friday.

URC REPORT: Ulster put in a commanding performance as they claimed a 32-12 bonus-point victory over Connacht at a chilly Kingspan Stadium on Friday.

WRAP: A Paolo Odogwu try deep into stoppage time plundered a 27-26 victory for Wasps who had been outplayed for much of the Premiership match by injury-ravaged Exeter Chiefs.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: The 2022 championship gets underway this weekend with Ireland at home to Wales, Scotland taking on arch-rivals England and favourites France facing Italy in Paris.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Six Nations Round One encounter between Scotland and England at Murrayfield

SPOTLIGHT: Once he was rampaging through opposition defensive lines, but now the only thing former Springbok back row Joe van Niekerk crashes throw is the dense foliage of the Costa Rican jungle.

NEWLANDS UPDATE: The decision by WPRFU officials to court the discredited former Southern Spears CEO Tony McKeever has come back to haunt them.

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

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

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Nine encounter between the Bulls and Lions at Loftus Versfeld.

INTERVIEW: Dan Biggar says he will be very surprised if he has to deliver a rousing captain's talk prior to the titleholders' Six Nations opener with Ireland on Saturday.

NEWS: France prop Mohamed Haouas was convicted on Friday for his role in burglaries worth tens of thousands of euros at tobacco vendors in France in 2014.

DEJA VU: Round Nine's South African derbies have arrived and it's the same fixtures as last weekend, but at different venues.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen named a new-look matchday 23 ahead of his side's return leg trip to Loftus in Round Nine of the United Rugby Championship.

NEWS: Star playmaker James O'Connor and coach Brad Thorn are in isolation after a second COVID-19 outbreak swept through Queensland Reds camp on the eve of the Super Rugby Pacific season.

NEWS: Leicester Tigers have agreed on a new deal with back-row Hanro Liebenberg.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Former Hurricanes back row forward Toa Halafihi will make his Italy debut in this weekend's Six Nations trip to France.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls have opted for continuity, making only one change to the starting XV that will take on the Lions in a United Rugby Championship match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

SIX NATIONS ROUND ONE: England coach Eddie Jones labelling Scotland "red-hot favourites" for the old rivals' Six Nations opener at Murrayfield on Saturday may be a familiar ploy, but he might have a point.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Coach Fabien Galthie is set to miss France’s opening Six Nations rugby match against Italy after testing positive for COVID-19.

SIX NATIONS ROUND ONE: Ireland goes into their season opener on Saturday against injury-hit holders Wales in a "good place".

PRE-SEASON REPORT: Moana Pasifika have been dealt a tough introduction to life in Super Rugby Pacific after being thrashed by the Chiefs in their first pre-season clash.

PRE-SEASON REPORT: The Highlanders have opened New Zealand’s Super Rugby Pacific pre-season with a tense 20-19 victory over the Crusaders in Weston.

SPOTLIGHT: Before Josh Ioane’s first season of Super Rugby away from the Highlanders even kicks off, the All Black is heading back to New Zealand’s deep south.

WATCH as Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie talks about one of the brightest prospects in his squad.

REACTION: Gregor Townsend said on Thursday England coach Eddie Jones' suggestion that Scotland are "red-hot favourites" for this weekend's Calcutta Cup clash was just a "song and dance" routine.

SPOTLIGHT: Wallabies wing Andrew Kellaway concedes he was a "passenger" while playing at the Waratahs and he already feels like the time is ticking on his career.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers coach John Dobson has made two changes to the team that will face the Sharks on Saturday at the Cape Town stadium.

IRISH DERBY: Ulster will be boosted by the availability of three of their Ireland stars as they aim to go top of the United Rugby Championship by beating Connacht on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Tom Curry will captain England in their Six Nations opener away to Scotland on Saturday after Eddie Jones' first two choices as skipper were ruled out through injury.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks have revealed their team to face the Stormers on Saturday at the Cape Town Stadium. 

SPOTLIGHT: France's head of performance Thibault Giroud said on Thursday he expects captain Antoine Dupont to feature against Italy in the Six Nations this weekend despite playing just once in the past seven weeks.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Jonny Gray has been recalled by Scotland for their Six Nations opener at home to England on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wales head coach Wayne Pivac has named his team to face Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin in the opening round of the 2022 Six Nations on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Andy Farrell has named the matchday 23 to kick start Ireland’s 2022 Six Nations Championship campaign against Wales at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

PREVIEW: France may be "red-hot favourites" to win the Six Nations according to England coach Eddie Jones, but several sides will fancy their title chances.

SPOTLIGHT: Another bruising encounter can be expected when the Bulls take on the Lions on Saturday in the return game of the United Rugby Championship.

SPOTLIGHT: In South Africa, he is enemy No.1. In Australia, he is a national hero.

SPOTLIGHT: While the global pandemic has been a major disrupter at all levels of the game, it’s the teams who are still vying for spots at the 2023 World Cup who have arguably been most affected.

WATCH as World Cup-winning Springbok Jaque Fourie unpacks the Lions' defensive frailties in their last few URC matches.

CURRIE CUP REPORT:  Sharks' second-half surge made sure their record a 35-20 win over Western Province at Kings Park on Wednesday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Highlanders have named the first team of 2022, to play the Crusaders in a pre-season outing in Weston on Friday.

SPOTLIGHT: Prop Brok Harris never thought he would be getting the opportunity to play his 100th match for the Stormers after he left the franchise in 2014.

NEWS: Dunedin’s Forysth Barr Stadium will host scheduled night matches for the opening three weeks of the Super Rugby Pacific season, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has announced.

CURRIE CUP REPORT:  The Cheetahs recorded a hard-fought bonus-point 38-25 win over the Bulls on Wednesday at Loftus Versfeld. 

INJURY UPDATE: Sale Sharks boss Alex Sanderson is poised to unleash fit-again duo Manu Tuilagi and Francois de Klerk in this weekend’s Premiership action.

NEWS: Eddie Jones is facing a selection headache ahead of England's opening Six Nations match against Scotland on Saturday.

WATCH as South Africa's all-conquering Sevens team show why they are such a big hit, both on and off the field.

SPOTLIGHT: Without their internationals and playing a rescheduled derby, there has been plenty of war talk from both Connacht and Ulster as the sides head into their clash in Belfast on Friday.

SPOTLIGHT: World-renowned referee Nigel Owens has pinpointed a major flaw regarding the modern-day referees.

SPOTLIGHT: It would be fair to suggest that this Friday’s hit-out between Moana Pasifika and the Chiefs is one of the most anticipated pre-season matches in Super Rugby’s 26-year history.

INTERVIEW: Scotland scrumhalf Ali Price said Gregor Townsend's men must build on an impressive set of wins over the past year.

SPOTLIGHT: All six of the New Zealand-based Super Rugby sides will pack up next week and temporarily move to a hub in Queenstown in a bid to avoid COVID-19 wreaking havoc on the fixtures.

TRANSFER NEWS: Munster Rugby confirmed that Malakai Fekitoa will join the province from Premiership side Wasps ahead of the 2022/23 season.

SPOTLIGHT: Newly-appointed Worcester Warriors director of rugby Steve Diamond has been linked with a raid on his former club Sale Sharks’ playing resources.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Currie Cup Round Three encounter between the Sharks and Western Province at Kings Park.

REACTION: James O'Connor says stepping down as Queensland Reds captain has lightened a load that took its toll during a run to the Super Rugby AU title.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS: Argentinean international Pablo Matera will make his first appearance for the Crusaders in the franchise's pre-season clash against the Highlanders.

NEWS: French Top 14 leaders Bordeaux-Begles' trip to Clermont this weekend has been postponed because of a coronavirus outbreak at the host club.

CURRIE CUP REPORT: The Griquas recorded a comfortable 41-20 win over the Pumas on Wednesday in Kimberley. 

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

SPOTLIGHT: Veteran Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu has been named captain of New Zealand's Moana Pasifika for their debut Super Rugby season.

OPINION: Hamish Bidwell takes a look at what we can expect from Super Rugby Pacific and which players are on trial.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Currie Cup Round Three encounter between Griquas and the Pumas in Kimberley.

INJURY UPDATE: Wales back row forward Ross Moriarty is available for Saturday's Six Nations opener against Ireland after proving his match fitness, assistant coach Stephen Jones said.

INJURY UPDATE: Racing 92 wing Teddy Thomas will miss France's opening two matches of the Six Nations.

NEXT LEVEL CONTEST: The Currie Cup may have had to settle for to midweek airtime thus far, but there is a heightened excitement and interest in a competition.

SPOTLIGHT: Stade Toulousain's Antoine Dupont, the World Player of the Year and current European Player of the Year, is in the running for another prestigious individual accolade.

NEWS: The troubled England build-up to their Six Nations opener against Scotland has eased slightly.

INTERVIEW: Johnny Sexton talks about Ireland versus Wales Six Nations opener on Saturday.

NEWS: Ireland appear set to have a full deck of cards to play with going into the opening weekend of the Six Nations, following an update from Portugal.

SPOTLIGHT: Toutai Kefu will coach a Tongan invitational side against a classic Reds team for charity, after the island nation was devastated by a volcano and tsunami.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: An exciting Bulls side will take on the Cheetahs in a Currie Cup encounter at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Flyhalf Tim Swiel will captain Western Province in their Currie Cup encounter with the Sharks in Durban on Wednesday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Cheetahs will be travelling with a bolstered team when they head north to Pretoria to face the Bulls on Wednesday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The KwaZulu-Natal versus Western Cape rivalry continues when the Sharks welcome Western Province to Kings Park on Wednesday.

SPOTLIGHT: The debate on whether Damian Willemse and Warrick Gelant can start in the same backline will go on until it eventually happens.

REACTION: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White expects a 'backlash' from the Lions when the two teams meet in a return match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

NEWS: Wallabies flyhalf Mike Harris has brought his two-year contract with Pau to a premature end after an injury-plagued year-and-a-half in south-western France.

NEWS: England added uncapped Louis Lynagh to their squad on Sunday ahead of their Six Nations opener away to Scotland after his Harlequins teammate Joe Marchant tested positive for Covid-19.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse has made just one change to his team for their Currie Cup Round Three encounter with Griquas in Kimberley on Wednesday.

WATCH as World Cup-winning Springbok lock Lodewyk de Jager produces a sublime juggling act for his English club Sale Sharks.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Injuries and departures will impact Griquas in the next few rounds of their Currie Cup campaign.

INJURY UPDATE: Jamie Bhatti has withdrawn from the Scotland squad ahead of Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener against England because of injury.

REACTION: Springbok Sevens coach Neil Powell applauded the effort of his squad on Sunday, when they beat Australia by 33-7 in the Final of the Spain Sevens in Seville.

NEWS: Super Rugby's Western Force will move from their Perth base to eastern Australia for early season fixtures to minimise coronavirus-related travel disruption, competition organisers said Monday.

TOP 14 WRAP: Toulon captain Baptiste Serin said South Africa's Cheslin Kolbe brings 'serenity to the team' even though he was unable to inspire them to victory on his Top 14 bow for the club.

REACTION: It was pure luck and resilience.

DAY THREE WRAP: The Springbok Sevens won another World Rugby Sevens Series tournament – their 34th successive match and fourth title in the 2022 season.

REACTION: Sharks coach Sean Everitt admitted his side were their own worst enemy following the 22-all draw against the Stormers on Saturday.

REACTION: Lions flank Jaco Kriel was far from happy with his team's lacklustre attitude following their latest United Rugby Championship defeat on Saturday.

SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers and the Sharks latest draw in the United Rugby Championship put on show some of the most talented fullbacks in South Africa, with Aphelele Fassi going head-to-head with Damian Willemse.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Sale Sharks produced a stunning second-half fightback to defeat Leicester Tigers 35-26 and consign the runaway Premiership leaders to a second straight league defeat.

SQUAD UPDATE: World player of the year Antoine Dupont and his Toulouse halfback partner Romain Ntamack have been called up to the France squad after recovering from Covid-19, the French Rugby Federation announced on Sunday.

MATCH REPORT: Jarrod Evans held his nerve to fire over a 45-metre penalty with the last kick of the game to give Cardiff their first win over Leinster since 2011 in a thrilling 29-27 United Rugby Championship victory at the Arms Park.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok legend Bob Skinstad believes last weekend's United Rugby Championship (URC)  fixtures much-needed 'spectacle of rugby' for the South African franchises.

WATCH as the Bulls' new Currie Cup coach Gert Smal opens up about the reasons for his departure from Cape Town after five years as Director of Rugby at the WPRFU.

URC MATCH REPORT: The Sharks and Stormers played to a 22-all draw in a dramatic finish to their encounter in Durban on Saturday.

URC MATCH REPORT: The Bulls bounced back from last week's shocker when they demolished a very poor Lions team 34-10 at Ellis Park on Saturday.

URC WRAP: The Ospreys overturned an 11-point half-time deficit to beat Edinburgh 23-19 in Swansea.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: The Steve Diamond era at Worcester Warriors began in losing fashion at Sixways as Northampton recorded a 29-13 victory.

DAY TWO WRAP: South Africa will be contesting their 10th consecutive Sevens World Series semifinal when they take on Ireland on Sunday.

TOP 14 WRAP: Bordeaux-Begles dominated Castres to win 23-10 on Saturday and increase their lead at the top of the French table.

URC WRAP: Ulster returned to United Rugby Championship action with a 27-15 bonus-point win over Scarlets in Belfast.

INJURY UPDATE: The Bulls will be without the services of their highly-rated, veteran lock Jacques du Plessis for the foreseeable future.

SPOTLIGHT: While England will launch their title quest away to Scotland at Murrayfield on February 5, Eddie Jones was keen to take a swipe at their final round opponents France at the official Six Nations launch.

NEWS: World Rugby have introduced a new scrum law trial for the upcoming Six Nations.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round 11 match between the Sharks and Stormers at Kings Park.

WATCH as Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen explains to @king365ed how they are coping with both their No.5 locks out injured.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round 11 match between the Lions and Bulls at Ellis Park.

REPORT: The NSW Waratahs have run out 24-14 winners against the Brumbies in their opening trial match of 2022.

COME IN NO.1: Winning the South African conference in the United Rugby Championship carries additional weight - a spot in Europe's premiers competition - the Champions Cup.

NEWS: Discussions are reportedly underway to relocate New Zealand’s five Super Rugby Pacific teams, as well as Moana Pasifika, to Queenstown.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Bath eked out a 21-17 victory over English champions Harlequins for only their second Premiership win of the season.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Italy coach Kieran Crowley has spoken with English Premiership backs Louis Lynagh and Alex Lozowski about their potential availability for the Azzurri.

NEWS: Mark McCall, the long-serving Director of Rugby at Saracens, is to take a break from his role at the Premiership club.

URC SPOTLIGHT: Ruan Pienaar is a respected figure that has made his mark on the international stage, so any advice he hands out is worth taking on board.

SPOTLIGHT: Springboks star Willie le Roux is primed to make his first Japan Rugby League One appearance this season after being named to start for Toyota Verblitz this weekend.

TOP 14 PREVIEW: Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe is in line to make his Toulon Top 14 bow at Stade Francais on Sunday.

FRIDAY SHOWDOWN: The busy United Rugby Championship (URC) programme gets underway on Friday with two exciting fixtures.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: There are two injury-enforced changes to the Stormers forward pack for the United Rugby Championship encounter with the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.

NEWS: English Premiership club Exeter Chiefs have decided to abandon their controversial Native American branding from July.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Marcel Coetzee will return to lead the Bulls during the must-win United Rugby Championship (URC) match against the Lions on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok Willem Alberts is set to start in the second row for the Lions ahead of their Round 9 United Rugby Championship (URC) encounter against the Bulls this Saturday.

NEWS: New Zealand Rugby has revealed a new playing and training kit for its teams.

SA RUGBY GONGS: South Africa revealed their stars for 2021 on Thursday, with a few surprises.

Some of the most controversial sending offs have occurred due to players being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

URC SPOTLIGHT: Jacques van Rooyen has an intimate knowledge of the Lions' inner workings, so he knows the back-to-back Trans-Jukskei derbies will be brutal arm-wrestles.

INJURY UPDATE: The Stormers suffered a cruel setback with the news that Salmaan Moerat, a co-captain, will be sidelined for about two months.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks team named to take on the Stormers at Kings Park on Saturday shows just two changes to the side that defeated the Lions last week.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: ACT local Ryan Lonergan will captain the Brumbies against the NSW Waratahs in this Saturday's Super Rugby trial at Bowral club.

NEWS: James O'Connor led the Queensland Reds to the Super Rugby AU title last season but won't captain in 2022, with Tate McDermott promoted alongside Liam Wright.

INJURY UPDATE: France head coach Fabien Galthie said captain Antoine Dupont is "doing well" after contracting COVID-19 and is likely to feature in next month's Six Nations openers.

SPOTLIGHT: South Africa's players' union, MyPlayers, has won a moral battle against World Rugby in the wake of Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus's ban.

Lions star Vincent Tshituka could be out of action for up to two months assistant coach Albert van den Berg revealed.

SPOTLIGHT: Wales coach Wayne Pivac said his squad's fitness problems, lack of playing time and poor recent results for the country's domestic sides "is not ideal".

NEWS: Former Wales international Phil Davies has been appointed World Rugby's new Director of Rugby, the global governing body announced on Wednesday.

NEWS: Gloucester has formed a new relationship with Kingswood College, a co-educational boarding school located in the heart of the Eastern Cape in South Africa.

NEWS: England captain Owen Farrell has been ruled out of the entire Six Nations with an ankle injury, coach Eddie Jones said on Wednesday.

NEWS: Harlequins announced that legendary scrumhalf Danny Care has signed a new deal with the Club.

As the Blitzboks are preparing for the fourth tournament of the 2022 World Series, the Spain Sevens in Seville this weekend, flyhalf Dewald Human said they will again apply the same principles that brought glory in Malaga last weekend.

Stars from across the game of rugby have responded to show their support for an under-12s rugby player that has been the victim of online trolls.

SPOTLIGHT: The success of the Irish province in the European Cup has again highlighted the enormity of the challenge faced by South African teams in the URC.

While the Sharks' backline has been enjoying the spotlight, the pack have been improving with each match.

INTERVIEW: All Black star Owen Franks has set a date for his Hurricanes debut, despite having been ruled out for this season with a serious injury.

TRANSFER NEWS: Steve Diamond will become Worcester Warriors Director of Rugby from the end of this season on a two-year contract.

NEWS: Joe Marler has pulled out of England's pre-Six Nations training squad in Brighton after testing positive for Covid-19, the Rugby Football Union announced Tuesday.

NEWS: New NSW Waratahs coach Darren Coleman is hopeful Kurtley Beale will return to the club from France, but says it won’t happen until 2023 as the Wallabies talent eyes a fourth World Cup campaign.

SPOTLIGHT: Siyamthanda Kolisi and Mbongeni Mbonambi’s presence in the Sharks team won’t make any difference to the Stormers ahead of the United Rugby Championship match on Saturday.

WATCH as @rugby365com brings you - with the assistance of contributor @AngyboyJ - the match-winning try by the Stormers that nobody saw.

SPOTLIGHT: Waratahs confirmed the signing of Wales, and British and Irish Lions International Jamie Roberts on a one-year injury coverage contract for the 2022 season.

REACTION: The Lions are not about to throw the baby out with the bathwater, following their loss to the Sharks at the weekend.

INJURY UPDATE: Flyhalf George Ford has received a belated call-up to the England Six Nations team.

NEWS: Covid-19 restrictions have forced the cancellation of two Super Rugby Pacific pre-season fixtures less than a month out from the beginning of the new season.

INJURY NEWS: Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies will be out of action for up to three months.

NEWS: Having already seen their head coach and defence coach sign for Bath, a report has now emerged which suggests Munster may also lose influential centre Damian de Allende to the English Premiership’s basement club.

NEWS: Hooker Pierre Bourgarit has pulled out of France's squad preparing for the upcoming Six Nations after contracting COVID-19.

CONTRACT NEWS: Harlequins announced that exciting fullback Tyrone Green has signed a new long-term deal to remain at the Club

NEWS: Springbok Sevens captain Siviwe Soyizwapi has been ruled out of this weekend's Spain Sevens tournament at Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla.

WATCH as Stormers coach John Dobson talks about the conundrum he has at fullback and flyhalf.

TRANSFER NEWS: He previously joined the Stormers for some Super Rugby. Now the Waratahs is on his wishlist for another stint in the Southern Hemisphere.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White spells out how his team will prioritise the URC and Currie Cup competitions.

DAY THREE WRAP: The inaugural Spain leg of the Sevens World Series provided a weekend to remember in Málaga.

NEWS: Following the conclusion of the Champions Cup pool stage, the matchups in the Round of 16 have been confirmed.

EUROPEAN CUP REPORT: Montpellier Hérault triumphed 37-26 over Exeter Chiefs on Sunday to secure the last available Round of 16 place.

TRANSFER NEWS: Australian star Kurtley Beale is to leave Top 14 side Racing 92 and return home, a source close to the affair told AFP.

EUROPEAN CUP REPORT: Sale Sharks rounded off their Champions Cup pool stage campaign with a commanding 49-10 win over Ospreys on Sunday.

SPOTLIGHT: France manager and former captain Raphael Ibanez has laughed off suggestions that Les Bleus are favourites for this season's Six Nations championship.

EUROPEAN CUP REPORT: Joris Segonds last-gasp penalty kept Stade Français Paris’ hopes of qualification alive in a thrilling 37-31 victory over Connacht.

REACTION: The Sharks are certainly not bashful about selling their array of international backline stars as the team's match winners.

WATCH as Western Province coach Jerome Paarwater unpacks his team's humbling 21-40 loss to the Bulls in a Currie Cup Round Two match in Cape Town this week.

DAY TWO WRAP: The inaugural Spain Sevens served up a treat, with dominant displays, major upsets and individual masterclasses on show at the Stadium Ciudad de Málaga.

EUROPEAN CUP REPORT: Munster beat Wasps 45-7 at Thomond Park on Sunday, ending their opponents' hopes of reaching the Round of 16.

URC MATCH REPORT: The Sharks held off a second-half charge by the Lions to score a 47-37 win in an 11-try thriller at Ellis Park on Saturday.

URC MATCH REPORT: The Stormers scored two late tries to halt the Bulls' impressive home record - a 30-26 win in a thrilling encounter at Loftus Versfeld.

EUROPEAN CUP REPORT: Wing Jimmy O’Brien scored four tries as Leinster claimed a dominant 64-7 victory at Bath on Saturday.

EUROPEAN CUP REPORT: Bristol Bears underlined their title credentials as they rounded off their Pool B campaign with a 52-21 victory over Scarlets in an entertaining match at Parc y Scarlets.

REACTION: Leinster head coach Leo Cullen remained relatively tight-lipped about the rumoured signing of Munster second row Jason Jenkins.

EUROPEAN CUP REPORT: Ulster survived a late ASM Clermont Auvergne comeback to run out 34-31 winners at Kingsholm Stadium on Saturday.

REACTION: The cancellation of Toulouse's match against Cardiff has "discredited" the European Champions Cup, the LNR.

NEWS: Europe's Champions Cup competition was dealt another hammer blow, with a game called off as a result of COVID.

WATCH as we bring you 10 of the most brutal tackles of all time.

REACTION: Toulouse President Didier Lacroix said the club will "take legal action" after European Champions Cup organisers cancelled this weekend's home game with Cardiff.

MATCH REPORT: Alex Dombrandt scored his third try of the game deep in added time to give Harlequins a 36-33 victory over Castres on Friday.

EUROPEAN CUP REPORT: Glasgow Warriors face an anxious wait over their play-off fate, after Stade Rochelais claimed a 38-30 win at Scotstoun Stadium on Saturday.

CHALLENGE CUP WRAP: Glen Young and Freddie Owsley scored two tries each in Edinburgh's emphatic 66-3 victory against Brive.

INJURY UPDATE: England captain Owen Farrell's prospects of featuring in the Six Nations suffered a fresh setback.

WRAP: Current Series pace-setters South Africa remain on course for a third tournament win of the campaign following a day of thrills at the Spain Sevens.

CONTRACT NEWS: France remains a popular stomping ground for South African players.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Eight match between the Bulls and Stormers at Loftus Versfeld.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Eight match between the Lions and Sharks at Ellis Park.

INTERVIEW: Sharks coach Sean Everitt's powerful team is missing a few key players for their trip to Johannesburg and the resumption of URC hostilities.

NORTH-SOUTH DERBY: South African teams return to action on the United Rugby Champion stage for the first time in almost two months.

TRANSFER NEWS: Leinster is set to fill an impending second row void with the signing of a Springbok lock that is currently on the books of Munster.

NEWS: Newcastle's European Challenge Cup game against Toulon on Saturday has been cancelled, after a COVID-19 outbreak at the English Premiership club.

CONTRACT NEWS: The Waratahs have signed the younger brother of All Blacks star Patrick Tuipulotu as one of two new recruits ahead of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season.

NEWS: Upcoming Sevens World Series tournaments in Vancouver and Los Angeles have been rescheduled due to COVID-19 concerns.

SPOTLIGHT: The likely departure of Springbok centre Damian de Allende would be a big loss for Munster revealed assistant coach Stephen Larkham.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls have a 'new' captain and several changes to the team for their URC encounter with the Stormers in Pretoria on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has revealed his team to face the Sharks on Saturday at Ellis Park.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Stormers have named a number of Springboks for their trip to Pretoria on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach Sean Everitt has named a powerful line-up in his team’s first United Rugby Championship clash of the year for their derby against the Lions on Saturday.

INJURY UPDATE: Henry Slade appears to be available for all of England's Six Nations matches, after Exeter said he was in contention for their Champions Cup match against Montpellier.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Wales wing Alex Cuthbert has been given a three-week ban for a dangerous tackle during the Ospreys' Champions Cup clash with Racing 92.

NEWS: Is a dark day for the French Rugby fraternity as they mourn the sudden death of flyhalf Jordan Michallet.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Ireland centre Bundee Aki will be available for Connacht's final Champions Cup pool game of the season against Stade Francais.

REPORT: The Sharks opened their Currie Cup campaign with a victory over the Griquas on Wednesday.

PREVIEW: Harlequins will be out to clinch the top spot in Pool B when they host qualification-chasing Castres Olympique on Friday.

SPOTLIGHT: Tonga prop Ben Tameifuna said on Wednesday a tsunami that hit the Pacific Island nation last weekend will "knock it back a few steps" after also struggling due to coronavirus restrictions.

REPORT:  Bulls continued their impressive Currie Cup dominance with a comfortable 40-21 win over Western Province at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday. 

CURRIE CUP REPORT: The Pumas recorded their first win of the season with an emphatic 50-9 win over the Lions at Ellis Park on Wednesday.

SPOTLIGHT: Blues head coach Leon MacDonald has issued a blunt warning to his side, and Super Rugby Pacific as a whole, as the ever-present threat of Covid-19 continues to loom large.

PREVIEW: Attention now switches to Spain for the next leg of the Sevens World Series!

WATCH as Bulls Currie Cup coach Gert Smal talks about the role of retired Springbok Werner Kruger as Bulls' new scrum consultant.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Gregor Townsend named five uncapped players in his 39-man squad for the upcoming Six Nations.

REACTION: England coach Eddie Jones believes Alfie Barbeary has the mentality as well as the talent to make his mark on the international stage.

SEVENS SPOTLIGHT: It’s probably fair to say the World Rugby Sevens Series is a globetrotting exercise on the high end of the sporting entertainment scale.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Currie Cup Round Two encounter between Western Province and the Bulls in Cape Town.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Currie Cup Round Two encounter between the Sharks and Griquas at Kings Park.

REACTION: Wales coach Wayne Pivac is confident the extra responsibility of captaincy will "add' to the game of Dan Biggar.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ireland coach Andy Farrell has named two uncapped players in his 37-strong squad for the upcoming Six Nations campaign.

NEWS: Gloucester Rugby announced that Charlie Chapman has penned a new deal to stay at Kingsholm.

WATCH as the Lions' backline, attack and skills coach Ricardo Loubscher speaks to @king365ed about the visit of the Springbok-laden Sharks URC side to Ellis Park this week.

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

NEWS: World Player of the Year Antoine Dupont has been named in France's Six Nations squad by head coach Fabien Galthie despite not having played since December 11.

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Wasps' Jacob Umaga is set for another frustrating stint on the sidelines.

MIDWEEK SHOWDOWN: Round two of the Currie Cup will see the Sharks open their campaign against the Griquas on Wednesday.

SQAUD ANNOUNCEMENT: Owen Farrell will captain England in the upcoming Six Nations after coach Eddie Jones announced a 36-man squad on Tuesday.

NEWS: Dan Biggar will captain title-holders Wales during the Six Nations in place of the injured Alun Wyn Jones, the Welsh Rugby Union announced on Tuesday.

NEWS: Bath has confirmed the arrival of two more South Africans at The Recreation Ground.

REACTION: Eddie Jones has explained his reasoning behind the decision to name Owen Farrell as England's Six Nations captain.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls have named a number of Springboks in their team for their Currie Cup Round Two encounter with Western Province.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions have named their team ahead of their second Currie Cup encounter.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Marcel Theunissen will start at flank in one of three changes to the Western Province forward pack for their Currie Cup clash with the Bulls at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse has been forced into making a number of changes to his team for their Currie Cup encounter with the Lions.

SPOTLIGHT: Bulls announced the inclusion of former prop, Werner Kruger, as a coaching consultant focused on working with the team’s front row.