All News

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok legend Bryan Habana has picked his Springbok team to face the British and Irish Lions this year.

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.

SPOTLIGHT: @king365ed continues to dig into the mire that is the WPRFU and Newlands boardroom saga - with some shocking financial revelations.

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.

INTERVIEW: Three of New Zealand's biggest names were asked by @rugby365com for their predictions for the upcoming B&I Lions series in South Africa.

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.

WATCH as @king365ed interviews Toulouse-based coach AB Zondagh about why South Africans enjoy settling and playing in France.

OPINION: With the Rainbow Cup now effectively turned into a domestic series, @rugby365com contributor Angus Opperman has come up with a novel idea.

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.

SPOTLIGHT: The one position where British and Irish Lions don't have any clarity, ahead of their series to South Africa, is at flyhalf.

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.

VIDEO: Just a couple of months ago, there was a cloud of uncertainty surrounding the Stormers.

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.

WATCH as we bring you the best moments that earned Will Jordan the accolade of Player of the Week in the Crusaders' 29-6 demolition of the Blues.

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

NEWS: The British and Irish Lions looks set to lose one of their most potent weapons on their tour of South Africa.

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.

NEWS: Wasps have issued an injury update that has confirmed Joe Launchbury won’t be back into action until 2022 following his first-half injury during last Sunday’s Premiership win over Bath.

NEWS: All Black and former Chiefs co-captain Liam Messam has made a surprise return to the Hamilton-based franchise.

REACTION: Brumbies fullback Tom Banks says Western Force have plenty of threats without banned centre Tevita Kuridrani, who will miss the Super Rugby AU semifinal.

SPOTLIGHT: Following a stellar Six Nations campaign, Wayne Pivac’s championship winners are set to take on current world champions, South Africa.

SPOTLIGHT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen will have to make some big decisions ahead of his team's Rainbow Cup opener against the Bulls on Saturday.

VARSITY CUP WRAP: UCT hammered CUT in a top-of-the-log Varsity Cup clash at Tuks Stadium on Monday, while UP-Tuks claimed a hard-fought win against UWC.

SPOTLIGHT: Sharks head coach Sean Everitt is expecting the Stormers to try and bully them in the set-pieces once again in their Rainbow Cup SA opener.

NEWS: The Western Force have suffered a huge blow with strike centre Tevita Kuridrani rubbed out of their historic Super Rugby AU semifinal against the Brumbies on Saturday.

INJURY UPDATE: Former France wing Yoann Huget is likely to have played the final game of his career after Toulouse said on Monday he had torn his Achilles tendon.

NEWS: Harlequins centre André Esterhuizen and Bath prop Beno Obano will both appear before an online independent disciplinary panel on Tuesday.

SPOTLIGHT: Japan has fast become the epicentre of world rugby.

TRANSFER NEWS: Munster Rugby and the IRFU confirmed that scrumhalf Rowan Osborne will join the province at the start of the 2021/22 season on a one-year contract.

OPINION: The imminent departure of World Cup-winning Springbok Mbongeni Mbonambi to the Sharks may yet turn out to be a blessing in disguise for the Stormers.

LIFE OF A LION: Watch Jamie Heaslip as he discusses his life as a British and Irish Lion – ahead of the tour to South Africa.

SPOTLIGHT: The Bulls honour the class of 1997, who is the only provincial team to secure a win over the British and Irish Lions. 

NEWS: Wasps director of rugby Lee Blackett described Joe Launchbury’s knee injury as a “gut-wrenching moment” and admitted he fears it will keep the captain off the pitch for a lengthy period.

NEWS: The Queensland Reds have received approval from the Queensland Health Department to return to Brisbane following their Super Rugby loss to the Western Force in Perth.

REPORT:  Saracens successfully negotiated the toughest assignment of their Championship season by crushing leaders Ealing 48-20 at StoneX Stadium.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Wasps' miserable run of Premiership results ended as they won a game of nine tries 39-29 against Bath at the Ricoh Arena.

SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA MATCH REPORT: The Crusaders will host the Final, after they blew an error-prone Blues team away in Christchurch on Sunday.

REACTION: It was not a great game and an act of thuggery further soured the occasion.

RAINBOW CUP MATCH REPORT: The Dragons started their campaign with a 52-32 bonus-point win over Welsh rivals Scarlets.

TOP LEAGUE WRAP: There were some mixed results for the Australians in Japanese rugby's Top League but Michael Hooper can't complain after his side made the quarterfinals.

SPOTLIGHT: Premiership chiefs will meet Monday in an attempt to find a solution to the problem of player release for the British and Irish Lions.

RAINBOW CUP REPORT: Damian de Allende put in a man-of-the-match performance in Munster's impressive 27-3 victory over Leinster in Dublin.

SPOTLIGHT: Court cases are always snake pits and gladiatorial, as the opposing camps go head to head. Jan de Koning endeavours to disentangle the WPRFU versus Flyt/Dreamworld stand-off.

RAINBOW CUP REPORT: The Ospreys began their Rainbow Cup campaign with a bonus-point 36-14 victory over the Cardiff Blues at the Liberty Stadium.

REACTION: Chiefs match-winner Damian McKenzie revealed why he apologised 'regularly' to teammate Bryn Gatland in the 26-24 win over the Hurricanes.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: A second-half hat-trick of tries from Francois Hougaard was not quite enough to secure victory for Worcester as they went down 32-35 to play-off contenders Sale Sharks at Sixways.

SPOTLIGHT: The revised schedule for the PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA will see three consecutive “Super Saturdays” of top-class local rugby action, starting next weekend on May 1.

RAINBOW CUP REPORT: Benetton ended their long wait for a Pro14 victory as they opened their Rainbow Cup campaign with an impressive 46-19 win against Glasgow Warriors in Treviso.

REACTION: The Western Force have been hammered twice by the Brumbies this season, but they are backing themselves to turn it around in next week's Super Rugby AU semifinal.

SUPER RUGBY AU MATCH REPORT: The Waratahs is the first Australian team to endure a winless campaign, following a 25-36 loss to a Rebels side reduced to 13 men.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby Aotearoa Round Nine match between the Crusaders and Blues in Christchurch.

NEWS: This weekend's Top 14 match between Bordeaux-Begles and Montpellier was postponed on Saturday after Bordeaux reported another positive Covid-19 case within their squad.

TOP 14 SATURDAY WRAP: Scrumhalf Antoine Dupont said he was worried for Yoann Huget, after the France wing suffered an Achilles injury.

REACTION: The Queensland Reds have been made to pay for their decision to turn down two late penalties in their 27-30 loss to the Western Force.

REACTION: Despite two massive court cases and a potentially costly disciplinary hearing looming, WPRFU and WPPR deny there is a cash flow crisis. Jan de Koning reports.

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

RAINBOW CUP REPORT: A last-gasp try from replacement winger Peter Sullivan gave Connacht a dramatic 26-24 victory over Ulster at the Kingspan in the PRO14 Rainbow Cup’s opening round.

RAINBOW CUP REPORT: Matt Currie scored a try on his first Edinburgh start as Richard Cockerill's side claimed an opening PRO14 Rainbow Cup triumph courtesy of an improved second-half display against Zebre.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: The reigning champions Exeter Chiefs made a statement with impressive 20-12 win over log-leaders Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate. 

SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA MATCH REPORT: All Black Damian McKenzie slotted an 82nd-minute penalty to steal a win for the Chiefs and keep them in the hunt for a place in the Final.

INJURY UPDATE: South Africa's World Cup winner Handre Pollard is set to return from injury in the coming weeks.

NEWS: New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and Rugby Australia (RA) have confirmed the final schedule for Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.

REACTION: Rugby World Cup-winning coach Clive Woodward did not hold back when describing Rugby Football Union’s Six Nations debrief,

SUPER RUGBY AU MATCH REPORT: The Western Force have beaten the Queensland Reds in a 30-27 to snatch a spot in the semifinals.

SPOTLIGHT: Wallabies star Dane Haylett-Petty says he'd hang up the boots if that was the medical advice as he nears six months out of action while recovering from concussion symptoms.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Pro14 Rainbow Cup Round One match between Ulster and Connacht in Belfast.

TOP 14: Toulouse's former New Zealand prop Charlie Faumuina said a win over Racing 92 in the Top 14 on Saturday would "put them in good stead" for next weekend's European Champions Cup semifinal.

VARSITY CUP WRAP: Maties claimed an important 31-24 victory against UP-Tuks at Loftus Versfeld on Thursday.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Bulls will be saying goodbye to one of their forwards.

PREVIEW: The Premiership log-leaders Bristol Bears and reigning champions Exeter Chiefs will kick off this weekend's action.

LATE CHANGES: The Pro14 Rainbow Cup begins on Friday and despite a late change in format, there are some exciting fixtures to savour in the inaugural competition.

LEAVING IT LATE: Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan is not expecting an easy time of things when his team comes up against the Hurricanes on Friday.

INTERVIEW: Three more Australian players have been selected in a Japan training squad and Brave Blossoms coach Jamie Joseph has outlined the appeal of defecting north.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby Aotearoa Round Nine match between the Chiefs and Hurricanes in Hamilton.

SPOTLIGHT: Saracens and England flyhalf Owen Farrell has been accused of getting away with another highly questionably challenge in his Championship debut.

WATCH as the All Blacks' world-renowned Haka has transformed throughout the years.

NEWS: Three innovative law variations have been approved by World Rugby for use in the Rainbow Cup.

THE FINAL HURDLE: They hatched the history-making plan during the pre-season, and now the Western Force have the chance to fulfil it when they tackle the Queensland Reds at HBF Park on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: After two narrow losses in the last three games, the Blues are turning inwards for their focus for the Super Rugby Aotearoa match against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Sunday.

NEWS: Two players have been released by Edinburgh with immediate effect,

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has named his team for their home game against the Blues on Sunday.

NEWS: Two-time European Cup winner Ronan O’Gara has been rewarded for helping steer La Rochelle to their maiden Champions Cup semi-final with a promotion to director of rugby.

NEWS: Sale Sharks coach Alex Sanderson has revealed that World Cup-winning lock Lood De Jager is determined to feature in the Springboks side that will host the Lions in South Africa in July.

OLYMPICS: The Springbok Sevens team returned to full training at their Stellenbosch Academy of Sport base this week, with their eyes firmly fixed on their main goal for the season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Visits by Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick and World Cup-winning prop Frans Malherbe added to the excitement in the last few days at the SA Rugby Academy in Stellenbosch.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The British and Irish Lions have found an unlikely ally in Bernard Laporte, with the Frenchman saying it is vital their "legend lives on".

NEWS: PRO14 Rugby and SA Rugby will operate dual Rainbow Cup tournaments with no cross-hemisphere fixtures.

SPOTLIGHT: World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin said Wednesday the coronavirus pandemic had cost the sport an estimated £1 billion ($1.4 billion) in lost revenue.

SPOTLIGHT: Eben Etzebeth has revealed details of the broken finger accident that currently has him sidelined at Toulon.

NEWS: Premiership Rugby chief executive Darren Childs is to step down "over the coming weeks" it was announced Wednesday.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Sale Sharks will be without the services of South African flyhalf Robert du Preez after he was suspended for three weeks.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Dane Coles will step up to lead the Hurricanes in Friday’s Super Rugby Aotearoa match against the Chiefs.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan has made six changes to his matchday 23 to face the Hurricanes.

NEWS: England head coach Eddie Jones retains the "full support" of the Rugby Football Union following a review into the team's disappointing fifth-place finish in the 2021 Six Nations.

SPOTLIGHT: Former Springbok coach Peter de Villiers is still not happy with the quality of refereeing in South Africa.

SPOTLIGHT: South Africa's Rugby World Cup winner Elton Jantjies has opened up on his move to France ahead of the upcoming British and Irish Lions series.

NEWS: Three French Top 14 matches at the weekend were postponed following Covid-19 positives at Bordeaux-Begles, Brive and Castres, the league announced on Tuesday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: With a place in the Super Rugby AU finals on the line, the Western Force have named a powerful squad to take on the undefeated Queensland Reds for the Anzac Round match this Friday at HBF Park.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Queensland Reds have made three changes to their starting XV for Friday’s final round of the 2021 Super Rugby AU regular season against the Western Force in Perth.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Waratahs have named their team to face the Melbourne Rebels on Saturday in Round Ten of Super Rugby AU 2021.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Melbourne Rebels head coach Dave Wessels has named a strong Match Day 23 ahead of his side’s must-win clash against the NSW Waratahs at Bankwest Stadium on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Rainbow Cup has reportedly hit another setback.

NEWS: Promising Melbourne Rebels lock Trevor Hosea won't play again unless his team make the Super Rugby AU Final after he was handed a two-match ban.

NEWS: Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones announced on Tuesday that he has signed a one-year contract extension with the Welsh Rugby Union and Pro14 side Ospreys.

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

VARSITY SHIELD WRAP: CPUT scored eight tries in their impressive 54-20 win against TUT at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday, while there were also Round Four victories for UFH and UKZN.

SPOTLIGHT: Moana Pasifika have revealed key details over the eligibility of its playing roster for next year's Super Rugby competition.

SPOTLIGHT: Hurricanes hooker Dane Coles has backed his long-time teammate TJ Perenara to succeed in the 13-man code should he agree to terms to join the Sydney Roosters

NEWS: The match official appointments for the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup semifinals have been announced on Tuesday following a meeting of EPCR's selection committee.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Samoa international Jamie-Jerry Taulagi has lodged an appeal against the 10-week suspension.

INJURY UPDATE: The double champion Bulls will start their Rainbow Cup campaign without two of their World Cup-winning Springboks.

SUPER RUGBY AU SPOTLIGHT: Hunting a Super Rugby AU finals spot heading into the last round, Melbourne are looking for a favour from Queensland in their clash with the Western Force.

SPOTLIGHT: The Rainbow Cup will see the Pro14's finest share the stage with the best South Africa has to offer.

SPOTLIGHT: The opening match of the Rainbow Cup will be a fascinating affair - for many reasons.

NEWS: Experienced prop Steven Kitshoff has signed a three-year contract extension with Western Province Professional Rugby (WPPR) and has been appointed Stormers captain.

RAINBOW CUP NEWS: Pro14 champions Leinster will start their Rainbow Cup campaign without one of their key players.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Blues prop Alex Hodgman will play no further part in Super Rugby Aotearoa this season after copping a three-week ban for the red card during his side’s loss to the Highlanders on Friday.

NEWS: Super Rugby Aotearoa franchise the Highlanders will investigate how multiple fans were injured in a fall at their home stadium in Dunedin.

NEWS: Scarlets great Dwayne Peel rejoined his home club as head coach ahead of the 2021-22 season.

TRANSFER NEWS: Ambitious Sale Sharks have extended the stay of another big name on their already impressive roster.

VARSITY SHIELD WRAP: CPUT, TUT and WSU continued their winning starts to the Varsity Shield at Tuks Stadium on Sunday.

WATCH as we bring you some amazing moments from the game - a WWE collection.

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Melbourne Rebels lock Trevor Hosea has been cited for alleged foul play during his side's defeat to Brumbies.

SPOTLIGHT: World Cup winner Schalk Brits believes the British and Irish Lions have missed a golden opportunity to boost their chances of a Test series triumph over the Springboks.

TOP 14 WRAP: Springbok wing Dillyn Leyds was at his best again for French club La Rochelle.

REACTION: A lot of fans are not happy with the new captain’s referral rule.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: A late converted try helped Bath edge Leicester Tigers 21-20 at The Recreation Ground on Sunday.

NEWS: Fiji's Super Rugby team could be based in New Zealand next year.

NEWS: All Blacks star Dane Coles has put pen to paper.

TRANSFER TALK: Springbok Juan de Jongh is reportedly set to make a return to the Stormers.

SUPER RUGBY AU REPORT: The Brumbies have held off the fast-finishing Rebels for a 26-20 victory, with the Super Rugby AU finals make-up to come down to the last round.

NEWS: The All Blacks could reportedly square off against a surprise opponent in one of two additional Tests to the three matches already pencilled in for their end-of-year tour.

SPOTLIGHT: Former England lock George Kruis has insisted it would be 'madness' to get rid of Eddie Jones as England head coach.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Chiefs recorded their fourth win in a row after they edged the Crusaders 26-25 in Hamilton on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY AU REPORT: A late Domingo Miotti penalty gave the Western Force a thrilling 31-30 win over the Waratahs in their Super Rugby AU match in Perth on Saturday.

NEWS: Agen were relegated from the French Top 14 on Friday despite not playing with their fate sealed by an embarrassing record of 20 defeats in 20 games.

NEWS: Jersey has been confirmed as the location for the British and Irish Lions’ training camp before they depart for South Africa.

NEWS: A fourth member of South Africa's World Cup-winning Springbok team has signed up for the growing Roc Nation Sports squad.

TRANSFER NEWS: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has opened up about his new star.

SPOTLIGHT: Western Force coach Tim Sampson is hopeful superstar fullback Rob Kearney will be able to return for Friday's season-defining clash with the Queensland Reds in Perth.

PREMIERSHIP MATCH REPORT: Northampton Saints moved into the top four, for at least 24 hours, after a bonus-point win over London Irish - winning 44-26 at Franklin’s Gardens.

MATCH REPORT: The Highlanders secured their first win at home with a hard-fought 35-29 victory over Blues in Dunedin.

OPINION: Former England flyhalf Andy Goode believes Warren Gatland made a mistake by suggesting that Premiership clubs could scupper their players’ chances of representing the British and Irish Lions.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Sale Sharks overcame a first-half red card for Rob du Preez to boost their Premiership playoff prospects following a 25-22 triumph over Gloucester at the AJ Bell Stadium.

NEWS: The trio of Nama Xaba, Kwenzo Blose and Evan Roos are the latest talented young players to commit their futures to Western Province Professional Rugby (WPPR).

JERSEY LAUNCH: The Lions have revealed a new jersey for the 2021 season.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby Aotearoa Round Eight match between the Chiefs and Crusaders in Hamilton.

RIP: John Dawes, the only British and Irish Lions captain to lead the combined side to a Test series win in New Zealand, has died.

NEWS: Julian Savea has put pen to paper for the team.

SUFFERING FANS: Western Force players are determined to give their long-suffering fans a rare dose of joy in Saturday's clash with the Waratahs at HBF Park.

SPOTLIGHT: England lock George Kruis has given insight to the British and Irish Lions ahead of their Series in South Africa.

WATCH Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White answers many prickly posers - including the uncertainty surrounding the Rainbow Cup

SPOTLIGHT: The Springboks got a big reality check during their strategic alignment camps.

VARSITY SHIELD WRAP: WSU scored a late converted try to beat UKZN 32-31, while there were also Varsity Shield wins for TUT and CPUT at Tuks Stadium on Thursday.

PREVIEW: Wayne Barnes will be the man in the middle, for the 237th time, as Round 16 of the Premiership gets underway at Franklin’s Gardens on Friday, with Northampton Saints welcoming London Irish.

NEWS: The Leinster forward has announced his retirement from rugby at the end of the current season.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby Aotearoa Round Eight match between the Highlanders and Blues in Dunedin.

BRUTAL BLOWOUT: New Zealand Rugby has warned that the intensity of the domestic competition is not sustainable.

NEWS: One of the All Blacks' top players could be saddling up for a switch to the National Rugby League in Australia.

PREVIEW: Veteran Wallaby halfbacks Quade Cooper and Will Genia begin the knockout stage of the Japan Top League this weekend with ambitious club Kintetsu Liners.

SPOTLIGHT: Fiji’s gold medal chasing Olympic Games Sevens players and internationals who have represented other nations are set to join the Fijian Drua squad.

INJURY UPDATE: All Blacks and Crusaders centre Jack Goodhue is expected to be sidelined for the rest of the year.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok wing Raymond Rhule has been nominated for the prestigious EPCR European Player of the Year 2021 award after his incredible form at La Rochelle.

REACTION: Warren Gatland revealed that English Premiership clubs could scupper their players' chances of representing the British and Irish Lions in South Africa.

SPOTLIGHT: Stade Francais captain Paul Alo-Emile warned his side to be wary of a depleted Racing 92 ahead of Saturday's Parisian derby at the La Defense Arena.

NEWS: The Parisian Top 14 derby between Racing 92 and Stade Francais, scheduled for Saturday, has been postponed to the weekend of May 1 over fears of a potential Covid-19 outbreak.

REACTION: It was probably one of the worst-kept secrets, but the Bulls have confirmed the return of a seasoned European-based utility forward.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Western Force are searching for its second consecutive Super Rugby AU victory on Saturday in Round 9 against the NSW Waratahs at HBF Park.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Waratahs have made three changes to their starting team for their clash against the Western Force.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Melbourne Rebels will enter this Sunday’s Super Rugby AU clash against the second-placed Brumbies, welcoming back a plethora of Super Rugby experience.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Crusaders will celebrate another big milestone this week, with scrumhalf Mitch Drummond set to become the 20th Crusader to play 100 games for the franchise.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Chiefs return home this Saturday to take on current Super Rugby Aotearoa competition leaders and defending champions the Crusaders.

NEWS: In a significant step forward for Pacific Island rugby, Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua have been granted conditional licences to join a planned new professional competition next year.

TRANSFER NEWS: France second row Romain Taofifenua will join Lyon next season on a three-year deal, the Top 14 club said on Wednesday.

NEWS: Bordeaux-Begles' game at Agen in the Top 14 this weekend has been postponed after the visitors recorded coronavirus cases in their squad, the French national league (LNR) said on Wednesday.

SPOTLIGHT: The Walter Sisulu University (WSU) have caused a social media storm after performing a haka before their opening match of the Varsity Shield.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Brumbies coach Dan McKellar has made five changes to the starting XV for the side's Round Nine Super Rugby AU fixture against the Melbourne Rebels on Sunday.

INTERVIEW: After suffering their second loss of the Super Rugby AU season to the Reds, the Brumbies want to book a win against the Rebels ahead of the play-offs.

NEWS: South Africa has lost a third World Cup-winning lock to injury ahead of the British and Irish Lions tour.

NEWS: Kagoshima City will host the Springbok Sevens squad for their final pre-tournament camp before the Olympic Games in Tokyo in July, the City and SA Rugby confirmed on Wednesday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: While the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy is safely in the cabinet, there is still plenty at stake when the Blues take on the Highlanders.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Highlanders coach Tony Brown made minimal changes to the side to face the Blues in a Super Rugby Aotearoa Round Eight match.

TRANSFER NEWS: Another Springbok is heading to Europe ahead of the British and Irish Lions tour.

TRANSFER NEWS: Ireland's Simon Zebo is to return to Munster for the 2021/22 campaign, the Irish province announced Wednesday.

REACTION: Warren Gatland said the British and Irish Lions would benefit from "new voices" on their tour of South Africa.

NEWS: The Cape Town Stadium has been gifted the first match of the Rainbow Cup, despite ongoing challenges with the competition.

REACTION: Walter Sisulu University captain Litha Nkula has explained why the team performs the All Blacks’ Haka before their Varsity Shield matches.

TRANSFER NEWS: Former Sunwolves star Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco has signed a two-year deal with the Waratahs as he aims to stake a claim in Dave Rennie’s Wallabies squad.

TRANSFER NEWS: South African hooker Reinach Venter will leave Clermont before his short-term deal finishes at the end of the season.

TRANSFER NEWS: New Zealand flyhalf Lima Sopoaga will join Lyon from Wasps next season, the English club announced on Tuesday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Springboks flyhalf Elton Jantjies has been given the opportunity to leave the Lions.

NEWS: Cardiff Blues Director of Rugby Dai Young has signed a "long-term contract", it was announced on Tuesday.

WATCH as Springboks loose forward Jacques Potgieter revealed the reason why he signed for the Cheetahs.

NEWS: Toulouse will welcome Bordeaux-Begles on May 1 in the semifinal of the Champions Cup.

TRANSFER NEWS: Ulster Rugby agreed terms which will see Springbok Marcell Coetzee released from the club at the end of this month, ahead of his planned departure at the conclusion of the 2020/21 season.

SPOTLIGHT: Folau Fakatava’s ACL injury suffered in the Highlanders’ loss to the Chiefs was a blow to the in-form halfback, but it could have far-reaching consequences due to an impending World Rugby law change.

BREAKING NEWS: British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland has announced the coaching team for the 2021 tour to South Africa.

NEWS: Ardie Savea will miss six to eight weeks because of a knee injury, ruling the Hurricanes skipper out of the Super Rugby trans-Tasman competition.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Crusaders scrumhalf Bryn Hall believes the Hurricanes may have uncovered their next long-term flyhalf in the form of teenage rookie Ruben Love.

VARSITY SHIELD WRAP: CPUT claimed a hard-fought opening-round Varsity Shield win against UFH at Loftus Versfeld, while UKZN routed Rhodes and WSU ripped up the record book against DUT.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Two more South African-born players have been included in Japan's latest squad as they prepare for their June clash against the British and Irish Lions.

TRANSFER NEWS: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has bolstered his squad once again.

TRANSFER NEWS: One of the Crusaders' stars will be heading to Ireland.

UPDATE: All Blacks captain Sam Cane provided an update after he had surgery to repair his torn pectoral tendon.

NEWS: Another Ireland loose forward will retire at the end of the season.

WATCH as All Black recruit Beauden Barrett continued his rich vein of Top League form for Sungoliath.

NEWS: An outbreak of Covid-19 in the Toulon squad has led to the postponement of this weekend's Top 14 match at Montpellier.

SPOTLIGHT: While big money overseas beckons, the Rebels are hopeful off-contract Wallabies playmaker Matt Toomua feels that his future lies in Melbourne.

NEWS: Clermont's bid to win the Top 14 took a blow on Monday.

REACTION: Highlanders coach Tony Brown has effectively ruled out his side qualifying for this year’s Super Rugby Aotearoa Final.

VARSITY CUP: UCT, CUT Ixias and the host UP-Tuks have recorded their third consecutive wins, while UWC bounced back with a win over Madibaz in Round three.

REACTION: James O'Connor's career looked set to fizzle out in 2017, but he has gone from strength to strength since then after addressing a range of off-field issues.

MATCH REPORT:  Toulouse booked a Champions Cup semi-final spot with a 21-12 win over ASM Clermont Auvergne on Sunday at Stade Marcel-Michelin. 

NEWS: Former Italy captain Massimo Cuttitta has died from Covid-19 complications, the Italian rugby federation (FIR) announced on Sunday. He was 54.

MATCH REPORT: Bordeaux-Begles booked an European Champions Cup semi-final spot with a 24-21 win over Racing 92 on Sunday.

SPOTLIGHT: Melbourne Rebels may swap one Wallabies star for another.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the European Cup quarterfinal match between ASM Clermont Auvergne and Toulouse at Stade Marcel-Michelin.

SPOTLIGHT: Injured NRL convert Suliasi Vunivalu says he's likely to return for the next Queensland Reds game and is intent on winning back respect after an inauspicious start to life in Rugby Union.