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REACTION: Retired Springboks wing Jon-Paul Pietersen has said he had a career beyond his "wildest dreams".

OPINION: The facts of the Newlands saga are well documented. However, what do the fans, the broader public, think about it all?

OPINION: Ian Cameron rates the England players after they lost 6-11 to a motivated Scotland!

OPINION: Scotland has waited 38 years to win at Twickenham. Gavin Harper rates the Scotland players!

OPINION: As the dust settles on a disjointed, yet satisfying, Currie Cup season, Jan de Koning looks at some of the posers facing one of the franchises.

REACTION: South Africa Rugby World Cup winner JP Pietersen announced his retirement on Friday at the age of 34.

REACTION: Antoine Dupont's performance during Francé's opening Six Nations match against Italy has just reinforced how supremely talented and influential the 24-year-old is.

REACTION: Scotland coach Gregor Townsend said his side had got a "monkey off our backs" after ending their 38-year wait for a win at Twickenham.

REACTION: Eddie Jones volunteered to be the scapegoat for England's 6-11 defeat to Scotland a Twickenham on Saturday.

OPINION: The @rugby365com selectors sat down and debated, long into the night, before we finally named our stars of the season.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Scotland ended a 38-year wait with a gritty 11-6 Six Nations victory over England at Twickenham on Saturday.

SIX NATIONS MATCH REPORT: Scotland ended their 38-year wait for a win at Twickenham with an 11-6 success over reigning champions England.

SIX NATIONS MATCH REPORT: France started their campaign with a seven-try 50-10 bonus-point victory over Italy in Rome on Saturday.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Bath's losing run was extended to five games on Saturday.

INTERVIEW: For the first time in more than a decade, legendary referee Nigel Owens will not be part of the Six Nations.

SPOTLIGHT: Wales midfielder Jamie Roberts and Scotland flank Ryan Wilson have outlined which Springboks could make a potential SANZAAR XV to take on the British and Lions.

THE AFTERMATH: The return of the Currie Cup trophy to Loftus Versfeld capped off what has been a successful period for the Bulls franchise.

NEWS: One of South Africa's biggest rugby stars has officially called time on an illustrious rugby playing career that has spanned 16 years.

SIX NATIONS ROUND ONE: Ireland face Wales on Sunday hoping for their first Six Nations victory in Cardiff for eight years but up against a team desperate to make amends for a terrible campaign in 2020.

SPOTLIGHT: Lions star Hacjivah Dayimani took a very different and unique route to the heights he is currently achieving in rugby.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Six Nations Round One encounter between England and Scotland at Twickenham.

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

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: England lock Jonny Hill has cut out the jokes with Exeter teammates Stuart Hogg and Jonny Gray ahead of Saturday's Calcutta Cup clash at Twickenham.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Italy's greatest rivals remain themselves, coach Franco Smith said Friday.

PRE-SEASON REPORT: The Waratahs made a pre-season statement when they beat the Reds 45-33 in their trial in Narrabri.

PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Connacht kept alive their hopes of making the PRO14 final with a 30-20 away win over the Dragons at Rodney Parade.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wales named their team to face Ireland in their opening match of the Six Nations, in Cardiff on Sunday.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: A try from Sale Sharks fullback Luke James three minutes from time proved decisive as leaders Bristol Bears’ six-game winning run in the Premiership came to an end with a 20-13 defeat.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ireland has made four changes to their team to face Wales in Round One of the Six Nations in Cardiff on Sunday.

REACTION: Ireland coach Andy Farrell has responded to claims that Ireland's Sunday Six Nations opener versus Wales in Cardiff will be easy.

SPOTLIGHT: A year ago, Branco du Preez etched his name into the BlitzBoks and World Sevens Series history books.

NEWS: A Rugby League star has signed a two-year contract with New Zealand Rugby.

SPOTLIGHT: All Blacks and Hurricanes hooker Dane Coles hinted that 2021 may be his final year of professional rugby in New Zealand.

NEWS: The Wallabies have collectively agreed to a multi-million dollar pay cut to help the cash-strapped code through the coronavirus pandemic, Rugby Australia said Friday.

SIX NATIONS ROUND ONE: Rugby Union's oldest international rivalry will feature two of the sport's youngest talents when England begin their title defence against Scotland on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: World Rugby vice-chairman Bernard Laporte said on Thursday a decision on July's Test window, including the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, will be made by the end of next month.

INTERVIEW: Staging this year's British and Irish Lions tour in Australia rather than on home ground "would be the biggest disappointment" in the Springboks' history.

TOP14 PREVIEW: This weekend, Springboks wing Dillyn Leyds' club La Rochelle can go top of the Top 14 as they head to Racing 92.

SIX NATIONS ROUND ONE: France will be counting on the dynamic form of star scrumhalf Antoine Dupont to energise their campaign.

NEWS: Former England dual rugby international Sam Burgess was found guilty in a Sydney court Friday of intimidating his ex-father-in-law while in the midst of a messy marriage break-up.

PREVIEW: It is first v third and second v fourth in the Premiership this weekend as another nail-biting season sees just seven points separate the sides in second and eighth.

PREVIEW: Connacht head to Newport to take on the Dragons on Friday as they look to reduce the gap to Conference B leaders Munster.

WATCH as Sharks paid tribute their legendary wing Lwazi Mvovo.

TRANSFER NEWS: Cheetahs lock Carl Wegner has finally revealed the Italian club he will be joining.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Scotland coach Gregor Townsend has selected his team to face England in the opening round of the 2021 Six Nations.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Eddie Jones has named his England side for their opening 2021 Six Nations match this weekend.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Head coach Fabien Galthié has named his France team to take on Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Saturday in the opening round of the Six Nations.

NEWS: World Rugby have issued an update on discussions aimed at enhancing the Test calendar outside of the annual Six Nations and Rugby Championship tournaments.

WATCH as we bring you a reminder of the strike power the Bulls had in their backline in the Currie Cup season.

NEWS: Argentina skipper Pablo Matera will miss Stade Francais' away game at Montpellier on Saturday after picking up a short ban for having accumulated three yellow cards, officials said.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Ireland would be "laughed at" if they claimed to be among the best teams in the world, said captain Johnny Sexton.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Major doubts still surround this July’s tour to South Africa but that uncertainty won’t stop Warren Gatland from trying to do everything he can to be as best prepared as possible.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Argentina-born centre Ignacio Brex will win his first cap for Italy after being named Thursday in their Six Nations opener against France in Rome.

SPOTLIGHT: That reigning champions England is the team to beat heading into a Six Nations is not unusual. A look at what we can expect in this tournament.

NEWS: One of Wales' key players has been suspended for the first two matches of the 2021 Six Nations Championship following a breach of coronavirus protocols, the Welsh Rugby Union announced Wednesday.

NEWS: Controversial Wallaby Israel Folau's hopes of a dramatic return to Australia's NRL have been dashed after the Illawarra Dragons said it had ended talks with the player.

NEWS: England's Premiership is to introduce fines for any breaches of coronavirus protocols by players, coaches or members of club staff.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: The 2021 Championship gets underway this weekend, with England looking to mount a successful defence of their title.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Queensland Reds have announced a 25-man squad for Friday's pre-season fixture against the Waratahs in Narrabri.

OPINION: The Player Ratings are in for the Bulls after their dramatic win over the Sharks in the Currie Cup Final.

OPINION: The Sharks let a 10-point lead slip to suffer a heart-breaking 19-26 loss to the Bulls in the Currie Cup Final. Jan de Koning rates the Sharks players.

WOLRD CUP 2021: Springbok Women’s captain Nolusindiso Booi embraced the support for her team following a visit by Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber and scrum coach Daan Human as they continue their preparation for the World Cup in New Zealand.

SPOTLIGHT: John Mitchell has suggested the feeling there is unfinished business with England. 

NEWS: The men's World Rugby Under-20 Championship scheduled for Italy in June and July "will not take place this year because of the current impact of the Covid-19 pandemic,"

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: One of NZ's best players has opened up on his omission from last year’s All Blacks squad.

INJURY FIGHT-BACK: Bobby de Wee likes to tell people that the vivid scar running from his left hip to his knee is the legacy of a childhood shark attack.

TRANSFER NEWS: Gloucester confirmed the departure of Australian hooker, James Hanson.

NEWS: Former France captain Jean-Pierre Bastiat, who claimed a Five Nations grand slam in 1977, has died at the age of 71.

SPOTLIGHT: England will pay a high price if they lose concentration against Scotland playmaker Finn Russell even for a moment of Saturday's Six Nations opener.

REACTION: Bath boss Stuart Hooper believes South African import Jaco Coetzee brings the type of 'intimidation factor' his team needs.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Rob Penney has named his side that will take on the Queensland Reds at the trial match in Narrabri on Friday.

SPOTLIGHT: New Ireland forwards coach Paul O'Connell will be honest with the Irish internationals he played with.

INTERVIEW: Western Force captain Ian Prior is convinced his team will put on a good show in their season opener against the Brumbies.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: It is time the rebuilt Reds squad claimed some silverware, says captain Liam Wright.

BREAKING NEWS: The Lions have revealed that one of their Springbok locks is moving on.

NEWS: The former President of Toulon rugby club, Mourad Boudjellal, has switched from the oval ball to a round one.

NEWS: It's the decision that everyone was waiting for.

NEWS: Andy Marinos has simple instructions to "get the game going" as he begins his new job as Rugby Australia boss.

NEWS: The door is open for Israel Folau to make a return to the NRL after league chief Andrew Abdo confirmed he would consider a formal application as part of due process.

WATCH as we count down 10 of the best players from the last decade.

POST-MATCH ANALYSES: Lippy players can sometimes get the better of referees, but Jaco Peyper had the last say at the weekend.

NEWS: The Lions have lost one of their props.

NEWS: Ireland has suffered a double injury setback on the eve of their Six Nations campaign.

NEWS: England assistant coach John Mitchell has revealed his decision on his coaching future.

NEWS: A Welsh international has announced his retirement from professional rugby with immediate effect.

NEWS: The Brumbies revealed that their Super Rugby AU pre-season trial against the Western Force has been rescheduled to next Tuesday - February 9.

TRANSFER NEWS: Western Province loose forward Jaco Coetzee has been released early from his contract and will join Bath after signing a deal with the English Premiership team.

SOCIAL REACTION: Rugby Australia's offer to host the 2021 British and Irish Lions Tour with the World Champions South Africa has divided the rugby fraternity.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: SA Rugby's future could be in serious danger predicts Chief Executive Jurie Roux.

CLUB SURVIVAL: Like so many things in these pandemic times, the uncertainty about when club rugby will return lingers.

NEWS: Springboks and Scarlets prop Werner Kruger will retire from rugby at the end of the season, bringing the curtain down on a remarkable 16-year career

REACTION: The Sharks may have fallen short in the Currie Cup Final, but coach Sean Everitt is adamant their season has been a 'success'.

NEWS: The process to determine future hosts of the men’s and women’s World Cups has officially kicked off with the start of the Dialogue phase.

SPOTLIGHT: Andy Marinos lamented the Wallabies' lack of a "cutting edge" and inability to close out games.

REACTION: Many of the headlines focused on flank Arno Botha's extra-time winner, but the foundation for the Bulls' Currie Cup triumph was laid earlier in the season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: There are some major concerns ahead of England's Six Nations opener against Scotland.

NEWS: Argentina star Pablo Matera scored his first try for French Top 14 side Stade Francais on Sunday as he continues to rehabilitate his image after a racism row saw him suspended as Pumas captain.

NEWS: A combined Australian and French team could play the British and Irish Lions if their tour of South Africa is shifted to Australia.

REACTION: Northampton Saints have issued an update on George Furbank after he was injured in a brutal mid-air collision.

PREMIERSHIP SUNDAY WRAP: Wasps' impressive run of five consecutive wins came to an abrupt halt as they were blown away by Harlequins, losing 49-17.

TEAM UPDATE: Hooker Camille Chat will miss France's opening Six Nations game, while back row forward Gregory Alldritt has been recalled to the squad.

INTERVIEW: Dave Rennie, entering his second season as head coach of the Wallabies, has talked up the French side that will be visiting Australia’s shores later this year.

PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Tadhg Furlong gave the Ireland selectors the pre-Six Nations boost they were looking for.

SPOTLIGHT: As the France squad prepared for the Six Nations in seclusion in Nice, the cluster of COVID-19 cases at Top 14 leaders Toulouse might have sent a shiver through the bubble.

TOP 14 SATURDAY WRAP: Bordeaux-Begles scored a try six minutes into added time to win 37-36 at Clermont on Saturday and continue their Top 14 revival.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: Northampton Saints edged Gloucester 31-26 in their Premiership Round Seven match at Kingsholm on Saturday.

PRO14 REPORT: JJ Hanrahan's last-gasp drop goal snatched a late 18-16 Pro14 victory for Munster at Benetton.

CURRIE CUP REPORT: The Bulls were crowned Currie Cup champions after they beat the Sharks 26-19 in extra-time in their Final in Pretoria on Saturday.

NEWS: London Irish have bolstered their coaching team with a South African.

NEWS: As the IRFU come to the end of their negotiating period with currently contracted players across the provinces, speculation is once again mounting around CJ Stander’s future.

OUT OF FAVOUR: Eddie Jones’ England squad never fails to leave sections of the public scratching their heads over players who have missed out.

PREMIERSHIP FRIDAY WRAP: Leaders Bristol showcased their title credentials with a 48-3 demolition of local rivals Bath at Ashton Gate.

NEWS: Jaco Peyper will join a select group of referees who have taken charge of five Currie Cup finals.

MOVING TOUR: Peter de Villiers, Springbok coach in 2009 when the Springboks won the series against the British and Irish Lions, is extremely concerned that the increasing calls for the tour to be moved to the UK will become reality.

WATCH as World Cup-winning Springbok scrumhalf Francois de Klerk is compared to the strike power of the venomous green mamba.

WATCH as the Bulls break the Sharks hearts, yet again, with a late winner in the 2020/21 Currie Cup Final.

SPOTLIGHT: With 14 months having passed since their World Cup 2019 victory over England, Faf de Klerk admits he cannot wait to run out in a Springbok jersey again.

In an exclusive interview with seasoned rugby writer Wim van der Berg, SA Schools Rugby Union (SASRU) Chairman Noel Ingle address the state of South African schools' rugby and its future.

TRANSFER NEWS: Leicester Tigers may already with have a replacement for Jordan Taufua.

NEWS: Rugby League star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has confirmed he will cross codes at the end of this year’s NRL season to pursue his dream of playing for the All Blacks.

TOP 14 FRIDAY WRAP: Veteran flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc admitted he was "saddened" by having helped push his hometown club Montpellier deeper into the French Top 14 mire.

NEWS: An outbreak of Covid-19 at Top 14 leaders Toulouse has forced the postponement of their visit to second-placed La Rochelle to a "later date", the league said on Friday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Currie Cup Final between the Bulls and the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld.

WHAT HISTORY TELLS US: @rugby365com contributor Wim van der Berg takes a look at past finals and draws some conclusions.

CONTRACT NEWS: The Cheetahs have lured an inactive Southern Kings prop to Bloemfontein.

PREVIEW: Champions Leinster get an opportunity to go back to the top of their conference in the Pro14.

NEWS: The French government on Thursday gave its support to health protocols drawn up by Six Nations organisers.

WHY CURRIE CUP IS SPECIAL: @rugby365com contributor Wim van der Berg takes a look at the evolution of South Africa's premier domestic competition.

NEWS: SANZAAR, Southern Hemisphere rugby's controlling body, has a new Chairman.

TRIAL MATCH: The Western Force continue their preparations for the Super Rugby season in a trial match against the ACT Brumbies in Canberra on February 6.

WELCOME BACK: Premiership Rugby gets back underway this weekend after three weeks away, and there’s no better way to kick-start the action than with a West Country derby on Friday.

INTERVIEW: Naming midfield greenhorn Marco Jansen van Vuren to face off against one of the world's premier centres in a Currie Cup Final may well be perceived as a massive gamble.

CURRIE CUP FINAL: Despite all the adversarial comments about the poor state of South African rugby, the interest and excitement have gone through the roof in the last few days.

NEW SIGNINGS: The Melbourne Rebels has bolstered their 2021 playing squad by adding some South American flair, and announced the signings of Argentinian duo, Lucio Sordoni and Ignacio Calás on Friday.

NEWS: The burglary trial of France prop Mohamed Haouas, scheduled for Friday in Montpellier, has been postponed to May 28, his lawyer said.

NEWS: Warriors captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has again been linked with a move to New Zealand Rugby with a report claiming this season will be his last in the NRL.

NEWS: A mouth-watering triple-header will open the World Cup in September.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Scotland must do everything they can to keep Finn Russell out of harm’s way if they want to mount a credible challenge for Six Nations glory, according to former prop Peter Wright.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has tweaked his team for the Currie Cup Final.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks coach Sean Everitt has revealed his team to face the Bulls in Saturday's Currie Cup Final in Pretoria.

NEWS: Munster's South African-born lock Jean Kleyn has been suspended for two weeks for dangerous play.

STAT ATTACK: Looking back at the last five Currie Cup finals at Loftus Versfeld, it’s clear why the Bulls refer to their home ground as a “fortress”.

TOP 14 NEWS: Bayonne had a third match of the season postponed.

NEWS: Lingering concussion symptoms forced an All Black out of the game.

TOUR FANS: Former British and Irish Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones said on Tuesday no fans during this year's South Africa tour would be a "travesty."

AOTEAROA SPOTLIGHT: Long gone are the days when the Blues and the relationship with their feeder unions were so frosty that the Super Rugby franchise refused to let the Auckland province share their facilities.

SUPER RUGBY AU SPOTLIGHT: They've been written off as wooden spoon contenders in the betting markets but former Wallabies flank Matt Hodgson says people will be pleasantly surprised by how many wins the Western Force rack up this year.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: One of the Sharks' biggest names had something to say about the underdog tag his team has been given.

NEWS: The French federation (FFR) and the body running professional rugby in France, the LNR, on Thursday found an "agreement in principle" to cut France's Six Nations squad by a quarter to 31, an official said.

LEADING SIDE: Australian fly-half Zack Holmes said Toulouse's lack of fear in attack has installed them as leaders of the Top 14 ahead of Sunday's trip to second-placed La Rochelle.

NEWS: Six Nations chief executive Ben Morel remained confident Wednesday the 2021 championship would go ahead as scheduled.

NEWS: Former Lions loose forward Ruan Ackermann has signed a new deal with the Premiership side,  Gloucester.

SPOTLIGHT: Eddie Jones has opened up on Joe Marler's future for England.

NEWS: A key Scottish flank should know by this weekend whether he has a chance of playing in Scotland's Six Nations opening game with champions England

TRANSFER NEWS: The Cheetahs exodus is growing by the day with the Rhyno Smith the latest player to head North.

INJURY UPDATE: Ireland captain Johnny Sexton is hopeful he will be fit for the Six Nations opener against Wales

NEWS: The Fiji international has signed a one-year deal with Ulster, the Pro14 club announced on Wednesday.

FIT CAPTAIN: France captain Charles Ollivon said on Tuesday he will be fit to face Italy in the Six Nations opener on February 6.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: Flyhalf Curwin Bosch will once again be a key figure for the Sharks when they face the Bulls in Saturday's Currie Cup Final at Loftus Versfeld.

TEAM MANAGEMENT: The Brumbies have rounded out their backroom staff for the 2021 Super Rugby season with the appointments of Brad Mayo and Ed Hollis.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Bulls assistant coach Chris Rossouw has been keeping a close eye on Sharks and admits they are ‘an exciting group’.

TRANSFER NEWS: Bath Rugby confirmed the signing of South African hooker Jacques du Toit, who joins the squad with immediate effect from Cheetahs.

INJURY UPDATE: Crusaders hooker Andrew Makalio has been ruled out for the upcoming Super Rugby Aotearoa season.

NEWS: England suffered a fresh setback on Tuesday ahead of their Six Nations defence.

SPOTLIGHT: Wallabies playmaker Kurtley Beale has outlined his ambition to return to the Australian national set-up under Dave Rennie as he eyes a place at the 2023 World Cup in France.

TITLE DEFENCE: Super Rugby Trans-Tasman is still four months away, but Brumbies star Rob Valetini is already eyeing a title challenge when Australia’s five Super Rugby sides go head-to-head with their New Zealand opposites.

CLUB RELEASE: The versatile New Zealand fullback Bryce Heem will leave Toulon at the end of the week "for major family reasons," the French Top 14 club announced on Monday in a statement.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Wasps fullback Matteo Minozzi was omitted from Italy's Six Nations squad over his concerns of living in a COVID-19 bubble during the Championship.

WATCH as Bulls coach Jake White breaks down his team's 26-21 win over the Lions in the Currie Cup semifinal at the weekend.

NEWS: Former Harlequins director of rugby Paul Gustard was appointed defence coach of Italian Pro14 outfit Treviso on Tuesday, a week after leaving the English Premiership side.

SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks Chief Executive Officer Eduard Coetzee has opened up about the challenges his team faced during the Currie Cup season.

TRANSFER NEWS: Fiji back-row Viliame 'Bill' Mata has signed a contract extension with Edinburgh, the Scottish capital rugby club announced Tuesday.

SQUAD UPDATE: England has been forced to withdraw two key players from their Six Nations training squad.

STAT ATTACK: Two Boks dominated the overall stats at the completion of this year’s regulation matches in the Currie Cup.

FLASHBACK: The direction of the game at the domestic level is a big concern.

STAT ATTACK: Renowned rugby writer Wim van der Berg takes a look at how this weekend's Currie Cup semi-finalist have dominated the tournament over the years.

INJURY UPDATE: Centre Virimi Vakatawa is likely to miss two of France's opening Six Nations games with knee ligament damage.

TRANSFER NEWS: Chris Ashton, once an England try-scoring machine, has signed for Premiership club Worcester Warriors.

TOP 14 WRAP: South African World Cup winner Eben Etzebeth started the first game of his career at blindside flank in Toulon's 35-13 home victory over 14-man Stade Francais.

TROPHIES: While a Grand Slam, the greatest achievement in the Six Nations, does not come with an actual prize, there are plenty of trophies on offer in rugby’s oldest Championship.

NEGOTIATIONS: Veteran Springbok flank Jacques Potgieter could well make a return to the first-class game with the Cheetahs.

INJURY UPDATE: Leinster Rugby Head Coach Leo Cullen has issued an injury update ahead of the PRO14 game away to Scarlets on Saturday evening in Parc y Scarlets (Kick Off: 7.35pm.

REACTION: Munster was kicking themselves after failing again to topple PRO14 champions Leinster despite racking up an early 10-point lead in their Irish PRO14 derby at Thomond Park on Saturday night.

REACTION: French Rugby Federation (FFR) vice-president Serge Simon said that the choice to hold a Six Nations camp in a part of the country with one of the highest rates of coronavirus cases was justified.

CURRIE CUP REACTION: Western Province's semi-final exit has highlighted the team's long-standing flyhalf problem.

POST-ISOLATION RETURN: The Brumbies have welcomed the return of star prop Scott Sio to their pre-season training camp, just over three weeks out from the start of the new Super Rugby AU season.

NEWS: Welsh Rugby Union is set to receive £13.5 million in a new government funding package aimed at helping spectator sports hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

REACTION: Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen admitted his team has no one to blame but themselves after the 21-26 defeat to the Bulls.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Ireland coaching group have selected a squad of 36 players for the upcoming Six Nations Championships.

TRANSFER TALK: Bath may have found their replacement for Montpellier bound No.8 Zach Mercer, according to media reports.

RETIREMENT: Italy's 107-time capped hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini announced the end of his international career on Sunday.

INJURY UPDATE: Racing 92 centre Virimi Vakatawa has been withdrawn from France's Six Nations squad because of injury and will be replaced by Lyon's Pierre-Louis Barassi, the French rugby federation announced Sunday.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The uncapped Ronald Brown, who has recently recovered from a serious illness, will join a raft of experienced Springbok Sevens squad.

MATCH REPORT: Rhys Webb responded to his omission from Wales’ Six Nations squad with two tries in Ospreys’ impressive come-from-behind 26-20 PRO14 win at Connacht.

TOP 14 SATURDAY WRAP: Toulouse defence coach Laurent Thuery praised South Africa Rugby World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe's attitude as he played his first game since mid-December.

CURRIE CUP REPORT: The Sharks advanced to the Currie Cup Final after they edged Western Province 19-9 at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday.

PARTNERSHIP: The Sharks have announced a second new global partnership in two weeks.

CURRIE CUP REPORT: The Bulls will host this season's Currie Cup Final after they beat an ill-disciplined Lions team 26-21 in their semifinal in Pretoria on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: England coach Eddie Jones believes Paolo Odogwu has the potential to be "world-class" after selecting the uncapped centre in his squad for the Six Nations.

It was a cheeky try by Jordan Larmour in the 68th minute that gave Leinster a slender 3 point lead which they held on to for the away win at Thomand Park against fellow Irish club Munster.

PRO14 REPORT: Edinburgh battled to a 26-10 victory at Zebre in the absence of head coach Richard Cockerill and fullback Blair Kinghorn.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Currie Cup semi-finals are scheduled to be contested at Loftus Versfeld and Newlands.

WATCH as Pro14 welcomes South Africa's teams to the new 'expanded' group chat.

WATCH as Sharks scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba received one of the biggest hits of the season against Western Province in Saturday’s Currie Cup semi-final clash.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Currie Cup semifinal encounter between the Bulls and the Lions in Pretoria.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Two uncapped backs were included in reigning champions England's 28-man squad for the Six Nations Championship announced Friday.

INTERVIEW: South African rugby players have become a staple of European squads over the course of the last two decades.

MATCH REPORT: Cardiff Blues interim director of rugby Dai Young celebrated his return to the region after a 10-year absence with a 13-10 win over the Scarlets in Llanelli.

NEW DEAL: Harlequins has confirmed that Quins stalwart Danny Care has signed a new deal with the club.

NZ SEVENS: Northland’s Brady Rush, son of All Blacks Sevens legend Eric Rush, is set to follow in his father’s footsteps, joining the All Blacks Sevens squad as a contracted player in 2021.

RECRUITS' INPUT: Western Force coach Tim Sampson has been tapping into the wisdom of his international recruits as he aims to build a title-winning game plan.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Currie Cup semifinal between Western Province and the Sharks in Cape Town.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: Alistair Vermaak will have some big shoes to fill.

FINAL FOUR: Winning at all cost will be the only objective when the four Currie Cup semifinalists take the field on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld and Newlands respectively.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen opens up on how his team can beat the Bulls in Saturday's semifinal at Loftus Versfeld.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has named his matchday squad that will face the Lions in their Currie Cup semi-final at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

TOP 14 FRIDAY WRAP: Back-row Gregory Alldritt said on Friday exams on a knee problem next week led to his strange exclusion from France's Six Nations squad despite scoring twice in La Rochelle's 40-3 home win over Bayonne.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has named a strong team for their Currie Cup semifinal against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Western Province head coach John Dobson has revealed his team to face the Sharks in Saturday's semifinal in Cape Town.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks have named their side to travel to Cape Town to take on Western Province on Saturday boasting a strong line-up for the crunch match.

SQUAD UPDATE: Bordeaux flank Cameron Woki was drafted into the France squad for the opening Six Nations game against Italy following the withdrawal of Gregory Alldritt.

OPINION: In less than a month’s time, Super Rugby will be returning to the South Pacific.

CONTRACT NEWS: Edinburgh Rugby have managed to hold on to  Jaco van der Walt, who has become the latest star to re-sign with the capital club after putting pen-to-paper.

SPOTLIGHT: European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) chairman Simon Halliday expects South Africa's Pro16 teams will be allowed to qualify for the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup in 2022.

THE CHALLENGE: Munster coach Johann van Graan has achieved a lot since making Limerick his home, but one thing has eluded him up until now - a win against defending PRO14 champions Leinster

TESTING ERROR: Premiership club Bath says they have returned 18 false positive COVID-19 results in the latest round of testing due to an operator error at Premiership Rugby's testing partners Randox Health.

NEWS: The French league has banned a player for lifting a referee to celebrate a win.

SQUAD REACTION: Wales coach Wayne Pivac said on Wednesday he had been barred from selecting Bath flyhalf Rhys Priestland in his squad for the upcoming Six Nations.

NEW LEADER: Head Coach Rob Penney on Thursday named the man set to lead a new era for the NSW Waratahs, with flyhalf Jake Gordon getting the nod.

WEEKEND'S FIXTURE: Stade Francais hooker Tolu Latu said he had been "lucky" to score four tries this season and that what he most wants from Sunday's trip to Toulon is a French Top 14 victory.

POSITIVE TEST: England assistant coach Matt Proudfoot has tested positive for COVID-19 and is self-isolating.

SPOTLIGHT: A British and Irish Lions legend has weighed in on the uncertainty surrounding this year’s British and Irish Lions Tour to South Africa.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Scotland boss Gregor Townsend has named a 35-man squad for the 2021 Six Nations.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Western Province assistant coach Dawie Snyman believes his team have what it takes to handle the high-pressure situation of the Currie Cup semi-final.

TRANSFER: Leicester Tigers have signed Argentina international Julián Montoya.

NEWS: Rasta Rasivhenge and Marius van der Westhuizen will hold the whistle in the Currie Cup semi-finals on Saturday in Pretoria and Cape Town respectively.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: Sharks captain Lukhanyo Am answered some questions ahead of his team's Currie Cup semifinal at Newlands.

WALES SQUAD: Under pressure Wales boss Wayne Pivac has named a 36-strong squad for the upcoming Six Nations which starts at home to Ireland on February 7, including uncapped Scarlets back row Josh Macleod.

TRANSFER TALK: Scotland international and former Stormers centre Huw Jones has been linked with a move to the Top 14 having previously been touted for a switch to the Premiership.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: The Bulls will not focus too much on their last outing against the Lions ahead of their semifinal in Pretoria on Saturday.

CLUB ACTION: Bath have closed their training ground after a number of players and coaching staff tested positive for the coronavirus, the English Premiership club said in a statement issued Tuesday.

NEWS: Harlequins confirms that Head of Rugby, Paul Gustard, will leave the Club.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: World champions South Africa "will do anything" to play the British and Irish Lions.

NEWS: Toulouse president Didier Lacroix said on Tuesday Argentina back Juan Cruz Mallia had signed a contract with the Top 14 leaders until the end of the season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Star Argentinian scrumhalf Tomás Cubelli says he feels the pain of the Western Force's past heartbreak after the Jaguares were also booted out from Super Rugby ranks.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Curwin Bosch will not be the main target when Western Province and Sharks go head-to-head at Newlands Stadium on Saturday.

RETURNING HOME: When Arno Botha jumped on a flight out of Ireland in early March, his return home to South Africa was meant to be fleeting.

REACTION: Cheetahs chairman Ryno Opperman has shed some light on the financial state of the Union amid 'misleading' media reports.

TRANSFER NEWS: Bath Rugby have confirmed South African playmaker Tian Schoeman will join the Premiership club.

FORCE TRANSFER: There were more than 36,000 souls teeming inside Suncorp Stadium on 13 May 2012, but slumped deep in the innards of the ground, Richard Kahui had never felt more alone.

NEWS: England will be without Australian skills coach Jason Ryles for the Six Nations rugby tournament after he opted against travelling to Europe with his family during the pandemic.

CURRIE SPOTLIGHT: Sharks head coach Sean Everitt will doing everything he can to ensure his team will be battle-ready for their semifinal against Western province on Saturday.

NEWS: Montpellier wing Vincent Rattez was called up to France's Six Nations squad on Monday as a replacement for Toulouse utility back Thomas Ramos.

REVEALED: England have unveiled their latest rugby design, fashioning a special 150th RFU anniversary shirt

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: SA Rugby Director of Rugby, Rassie Erasmus praised all the participating sides for their perseverance in what has been a challenging 2020 season.

TRANSFER NEWS: Ireland international flyhalf Ian Keatley has joined Glasgow Warriors on a deal until the end of the 2020/21 season, adding a wealth of top-flight experience to Danny Wilson’s squad.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Bulls centre Stedman Gans has warned that there will be no time for complacency ahead of their semifinal clash against the Lions.

TOP 14 WRAP: Toulon coach Patrice Collazo praised South Africa's Rugby World Cup-winner Eben Etzebeth after he returned from concussion in Sunday's 29-23 victory at Racing 92.

SUPER RUGBY AU: Liam Wright has reflected on Queensland rugby's ability to hang on to local talent and unearth "hidden gems" as they eye a Super Rugby AU title this year.

SPOTLIGHT: He may have gone on to steer England to a Rugby World Cup in 2003, but one former player of his says Clive Woodward was not up to much in his early days as a coach.

WATCH as Racing 92’s star centre Virimi Vakatawa went from hero to zero briefly after costing his side a much-needed try.

PRO14 REPORT: A passing train driver helped Glasgow Warriors get back on track as Danny Wilson's team climbed off the bottom of their Pro14 conference with a 23-22 triumph over Edinburgh.

WATCH as Peter de Villiers talks about the players in the EP Elephants squad and the upcoming Franchise Cup.

INTERVIEW: Veteran referee JP Doyle has revealed some of the difficult characters he had to deal with on the field.

NEWS: Another big name is set to be heading to Pretoria soon.

UPDATE: The French Rugby Federation (FFR) announced on Saturday that its board had approved a private equity firm's investment in the Six Nations.

NEWS: Billy Vunipola completed Saracens’ first match since their relegation from the  Premiership but the England number eight was powerless to prevent Ealing emerging 27-26 winners.

NEWS: Montpellier are targeting a big name for the vacant head coaching position.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: Siya Kolisi's playing future has been under the spotlight ever since the Sharks' partnership with MVM Holdings was officially unveiled.

SPOTLIGHT: Mac Grealy has taken the best bits of Kalyn Ponga's game and is seen as the next Tim Horan at the Queensland Reds.

NEWS: Upper Hutt’s Maidstone Park will play host to the Hurricanes pre-season clash against the Blues and the Chiefs on February 13.

NEWS: The Sharks have done what Western Province could not.

NEWS: There will be only one England international in action for Saracens before the champions' Six Nations opener against Scotland on February 6.

NEWS: The Crusaders have confirmed the appointment of a fifth coach for the 2021 Super Rugby season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Cash-strapped Rugby Australia has thrown up the prospect of hosting a mini World Cup during July for the Southern Hemisphere rugby-starved fans.

TRANSFER NEWS: Ealing Trailfinders have confirmed that they signed South African Bobby de Wee from the Southern Kings.

CURRIE SPOTLIGHT: Jake White reflects on how far his team has come since he took over.

NEWS: French rugby high-flyers La Rochelle will face a further period of isolation following the latest round of Covid-19 testing.

TOP 14, SATURDAY WRAP: France wing Damian Penaud said Clermont were "satisfied" after Jean-Pascal Barraque kicked his first penalty goal in more than four years to take them up to fourth.

SPOTLIGHT: Clive Woodward has tabled his wishlist should the tour go ahead, devising a strategic plan to flummox the Springboks in his latest column for Daily Mail UK.

TOP14 PREVIEW: South African lock Ryno Pieterse said he is happy the "rollercoaster" experience of his first few months at Castres is over ahead of travelling to fellow Top 14 strugglers Montpellier on Sunday.

SPOTLIGHT: Wallabies scrumhalf Nic White believes the Brumbies only need to make minor tweaks to challenge for back-to-back Super RugbyAU crowns

READERS' VIEW: The final pool round of the Currie Cup season is over and now it is time for the readers to vote for their Team of the Week.

NEW LEAGUE: The Japan Rugby Football Union will launch a three-tier professional league from January 2022 in a bid to raise the domestic game to a new level.

NEWS: Sale Sharks announced the appointment of former club captain Alex Sanderson as Director of Rugby

NEWS: The final two rounds of group matches in the European Champions and Challenge Cups will be cancelled.

NEW APPOINTMENT: Former Saracens boss Brendan Venter believes Alex Sanderson, who is set to be named Sale Sharks’ new director of rugby, is a “brilliant” choice and uniquely equipped to get the best out of the club’s 11 strong contingent of South African players.

NEW RUGBY DIRECTOR: Six Nations Rugby announced the appointment of Julie Paterson as Director of Rugby.

REACTION: Wallabies prop Tom Robertson concedes he was unhappy at the NSW Waratahs last year, and has described his move to the Western Force as like a breath of fresh air.

NEWS: Liam Williams will miss Wales's Six Nations opener against Ireland next month after receiving a three-game ban for his red card in Scarlets' Pro14 loss to Cardiff Blues.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: Can the Lions cause an upset at Loftus Versfeld?

POSITIVE TESTS: Japan's Top League rugby was put on hold after scores of players tested positive for the coronavirus, the latest setback for sport in the country just six months before the Tokyo Olympics.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: Western Province are leaving no stone unturned ahead of their semifinal against the Sharks.

NEWS: COVID-19 again threatens to disrupt the home-and-away season.

FIXTURES: Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter wants the English and European champions to make the most of an unexpected two-week break despite wanting to fill the gap with Premiership fixtures.

NEWS: The Western Force's Argentine contingent has been cut by one.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: Sharks head coach Sean Everitt has answered some questions concerning the readiness of his squad,

INJURY: Record-breaking Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones is making good progress in his recovery from a knee injury ahead of next month's start of the Six Nations, according to his Ospreys coach Toby Booth.

NEWS: Harlequins and England wing Chris Ashton is unhappy.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Japan is fast becoming the epicentre of world rugby with former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans declaring the Top League the "new destination of choice" because of its unique, back-to-the-future model and the country's wholesome lifestyle.

NEWS: It's the news that teams have been waiting to hear

SPOTLIGHT: Free State Cheetahs Managing Director Harold Verster does not want the rugby community to forget how SA Rugby has treated the union in 2020.

Are the Six Nations greedy or just short-sighted when it comes to the plight of the Pacific Nations?

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Bristol prop Kyle Sinckler has been banned for two weeks and will miss the start of England’s Six Nations campaign on February 6 at home to Scotland.

LIONS TOUR: A petition has been created online to postpone the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa to 2022 and avoid the series being moved to the United Kingdom and Ireland. Rising Covid-19 cases in South Africa, in conjunction with a new variant of the virus, have made it unlikely that the world champions will host the Lions as planned this year.

NEWS: Toulon are looking to bolster their squad with some big names again.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand Rugby’s negotiations with US private equity firm Silver Lake are advancing, with reports suggesting a minority stake of up to 15 percent could soon be sold off.

WARATAHS ROSTER: The NSW Waratahs have unveiled their full roster ahead of the start of the Super Rugby AU competition, with a changing of the guard seeing some fresh talent come into the squad.

NEWS: Controversial cross-code athlete Israel Folau has been linked – albeit tenuously – with a move back to Rugby Union.

REACTION: PRO14 and the Top 14 in France have announced a raft of rescheduled league fixtures after it was confirmed that this month’s planned two rounds of European matches have been postponed. 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Bizarre scenes played out in France’s second-tier Pro D2 on Friday when a player was red-carded for celebrating his side’s win by lifting the referee into the air.

REACTION: Pumas hope their Currie Cup campaign proved that they belong in SA Rugby’s new Franchise Cup competition.

NEWS: A mouth-watering clash has been scrapped.

NEW FOCUS: The final month of an unprecedented year has seen Cobus Wiese face the shock exit of Steve Diamond, Sale Shark’s director of rugby, suffer three successive defeats and experience snow for the first time in his life.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Bulls and Lions will meet in the first of the two Currie Cup semi-finals on Saturday, January 23, as SA Rugby announced the kick-off times on Tuesday.

NEWS: European Champions Cup and Challenge Cup have been suspended after the French government said the Covid-19 pandemic made it too risky for French teams to play, organisers said Monday.

LIFE PROGRAMME: On the pitch, Saracens have become one of the giants of European rugby. Off it, they are using their powerful platform to prepare prisoners for life after release.

SCHEDULE RETAINED: England's Premiership ruby union clubs will take a two-week, mid-season break, organisers said after it was announced earlier Monday that both the European Champions Cup and Challenge Cup tournaments were being suspended because of coronavirus concerns raised by French authorities.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: French sports minister Roxana Maracineanu said on Tuesday she needs further "guarantees" from other governments to allow France to face Ireland and England in the upcoming Six Nations.

NEW CHALLENGE: He went from freezing conditions in Ireland to bench pressing his own hotel bed in Brisbane, but Irish rugby legend Rob Kearney was all smiles when he finally met his new Western Force teammates in Perth on Tuesday.

UPDATE: Bristol Bears prop Kyle Sinckler will appear before an online independent disciplinary panel on Tuesday.

NEW COMPETITION: The contrasting weather conditions to which the sides in the different hemispheres must adapt will provide interesting tactical challenges to coaches when the upcoming Rainbow Cup tournament kicks off in April.

SELECTION: Racing 92's exciting young wing Donovan Taofifenua was one of three uncapped players named by France coach Fabien Galthie on Monday in his squad of 37 to prepare for this year's Six Nations which is due to begin next month.

TRANSFER: England stalwart Mike Brown is set to swap London for Newcastle, with the fullback set to link back up with former Harlequins head coach Dean Richards at the Falcons.

NEWS: The Tongan Rugby Union have announced a new chief executive as part of the union’s plans to improve governance and administrative leadership in the coming years.

TRANSFER TALK: Francois Hougaard could be the latest Springbok to be lured back to South Africa by Jake White’s  Bulls franchise.

After having an awful season with the Chiefs finishing last in Super Rugby Aotearoa what happens to Warren Gatland if the B&I Lions tour to South Africa later this year is cancelled?

MATCH REPORT: The Pumas recorded a rare and historic 44-14 victory over table-topping Bulls on Sunday.

TOP 14: Record 20-time champions Toulouse ran in seven tries in a 48-24 demolition of old rivals Stade Francais on Sunday to take pole position in the French Top 14.

SPOTLIGHT: British and Irish Lions legend Ian McGeechan opens up on who he will pick for the B&I Lions tour to South Africa.

REACTION: Bristol Bears prop Kyle Sinckler has issued a Twitter apology after a comment he made to referee Karl Dickson during his side’s victory over Exeter Chiefs was widely criticised.

MATCH REPORT: Harlequins and London Irish delivered the first draw of the season during a pulsating London derby at The Stoop.

SIX NATIONS: French rugby federation president Bernard Laporte remains optimistic that the Six Nations will go ahead as scheduled despite the COVID-19 crisis.

With Manu Tuilagi's earliest projected return from injury being touted as April/May, will he be fit enough to be selected for the B&I Lions tour of South Africa in July?

CURRIE CUP REPORT: The Cheetahs ended their Currie Cup campaign with a hard-fought 22-18 win over Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday.

NEWS: The French government has recommended rugby clubs postpone upcoming European Cup matches with British teams due to the new COVID-19 variant.

Not only did Wales and B&I Lions player Liam Williams get red carded for charging into a ruck head first, he then decided to compound that by chirping ref Craig Evans as he left the field

TRANSFER TALK: Bath Rugby’s young back row Zach Mercer has signed with French club Montpellier - ending his future chances of playing for England in the process.

TOP 14 WRAP: Former France coach Philippe Saint-Andre said it was a blow to the squad's morale to lose his second game in charge of Top 14 strugglers Montpellier on Sunday. 

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions have revealed their team to face the Pumas in Nelspruit on Saturday.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Currie Cup Round Seven encounter between the Pumas and the Bulls in Nelspruit.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Perhaps the biggest losers from the relatively sudden reformating of Super Rugby are Argentina and, more specifically, the Jaguares.

Scarlets were reduced to 14 men when Liam Williams was red carded battled manfully but Cardiff Blues just proved a little too strong for them in the end

WATCH as former England front row Brian Moore sat down with Jim Hamilton to discuss the state of rugby in the modern era.

NEWS: COVID-19 precautionary measures have triggered the adjustment of the Currie Cup play-off dates.

PRO14 REPORT: Ospreys edged a cagey Welsh derby with Dragons 28-20 to earn their first win at Rodney Parade in four visits and remain unbeaten in 2021.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls have named a youthful matchday squad that will face the Pumas in their final regular-season Currie Cup match at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Sunday.

Georgian lock Lasha Jaiani has signed up with English Pro14 club Wasps and is available with immediate effect.

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

PRO14 REPORT: In a tense all Italian affair Zebre came out the winners 22-18 giving them bragging rights with back to back wins over local rivals Benetton

FINAL ROUND: It is the final pool round of the Currie Cup season and there are just two games.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: Bristol Bears delivered an outstanding performance on both sides of the ball to beat Exeter Chiefs 20-7 at Sandy Park for the second season running.

NEWS: World Rugby is to introduce a fit and proper person's test for elected officials.

PRO14 REPORT: Munster returned to winning ways in the Pro14 after they recorded a 10-16 victory over Connacht at the Sportsground in Galway.

PRO14 REPORT: Triple-defending champions Leinster bounced back from their first defeat in 27 Championship games with a 24-12 win over  Ulster.

PREMIERSHIP FRIDAY WRAP: Sale Sharks secured their second consecutive Premiership victory under interim head coach Paul Deacon with a battling 20-13 triumph over Worcester Warriors at the AJ Bell Stadium.

UPDATE: Springbok Aphiwe Dyantyi has reportedly opted to appeal his four-year doping ban.

BATTLE OF THE FAFS: The Christmas and New Year festivities may be over, but there is sure to be plenty of joy and cheer on offer throughout five mouth-watering Premiership Rugby battles in Round 6.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Pumas head coach, Jimmy Stonehouse, opted for consistency in selection for their final Currie Cup match of the season.

WATCH some of rugby's most hilarious moments.

PREVIEW: The PRO14 completes its three-week stint between European breaks with six more matches this weekend, including two re-arranged games from Round 9.

NEWS: Sale will be without one of their Boks for the next few weeks.

POSTPONEMENT: The crunch Top 14 match between Racing 92 and leaders La Rochelle on Sunday was postponed indefinitely following further positive cases of Covid-19 at La Rochelle.

READERS' VIEW: The votes have been counted and the readers' Currie Cup Team of the Week for Round Six has been revealed.

NEWS: The Waratahs have bolstered their backline stocks with the signing of former Brisbane NRL star Izaia Perese for the 2021 Super Rugby season.

HEAD INJURIES: The French Rugby Federation (FFR) announced on Thursday it will trial the use of coloured bibs in training sessions among amateur clubs in an attempt to reduce the risk of head injuries.

COVID-19: Premiership Rugby said Thursday there had been a drop in the number of positive coronavirus cases in the top flight of English club rugby union following its latest round of testing.

COACHES: Former Cardiff Blues boss Dai Young has returned as the interim Director of Rugby after coach John Mulvihill left his position as head coach with "immediate effect due to personal reasons", the Welsh capital club announced Thursday.

CURRIE CUP REACTION: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen is a frustrated man after his side missed a golden opportunity to secure a home seminal in this season's Currie Cup campaign.

TOP 14: La Rochelle's Kiwi head coach Jono Gibbes said recent hammerings at Racing 92 will serve as motivation for Saturday's Top 14 match in Paris.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Western Province have shifted their focus to ensure they are at their best in the Currie Cup semifinal against the Sharks.

NEWS: Ireland coach Andy Farrell has added a very iconic figure to his coaching staff following an inconsistent first calendar year. 

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Griquas head coach, Scott Mathie, made two changes to his backline and two to his pack for their final Currie Cup clash of the season, against the Cheetahs in Kimberley.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Beauden Barrett set his sights on reclaiming the All Blacks' number 10 jersey Wednesday as he prepares to begin a stint in Japan, which is battling a coronavirus surge.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Cheetahs head coach Hawies Fourie has revealed his team to face Griquas in their final-round Currie Cup clash in Kimberley on Saturday.

BREAKING NEWS: The final round Currie Cup match between Western Province and the Sharks has been cancelled in line with COVID-19 protocols.

NEW MEASURES: English Premiership rugby is to ban players from taking ice baths and engaging in face-to-face try celebrations in a bid to restrict the spread of the coronavirus.

TOP 14: Philippe Saint-Andre saw his first game in charge of floundering Montpellier end in a 24-20 defeat by Lyon on Wednesday but the former France coach vowed to keep the team in the elite Top 14 even if it meant surviving on "three, four hours sleep".

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Currie Cup Round Five encounter between the Bulls and Lions in Pretoria.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Brumbies have confirmed their squad for the 2021 Super Rugby Season, with 28 of the club’s 2020 title squad returning next year.

NEWS: Mark Alexander, the President of SA Rugby, has paid tribute to the hugely influential role Mluleki George played in the normalisation of South African sports and politics.

INJURY: Clermont's French international backrow forward Alexandre Lapandry will be sidelined for a further two months, the Top 14 club announced Tuesday.

MATCH REPORT: The Bulls cemented their place at the top of the Currie Cup table with a 22-15 win over the Lions at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday.

CANCELLED: Premiership Rugby confirmed that Northampton Saints’ Premiership Rugby match against Leicester Tigers, scheduled for Saturday, has been called off.

TRAINING: The Brumbies have proven their commitment to winning back-to-back Super Rugby AU titles with some players skipping Christmas with their families to ensure they didn't miss training.

MIDWEEK BRUISER: Wednesday's match will set the tone for a high-octane final stretch as the pool stage concludes this week and the top teams battle it out for home semifinals.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Western Province camp believes that Newlands deserves to host one last Currie Cup semifinal.

NEWS: Covid-hit Bayonne's Top 14 match against Toulon, scheduled for Friday, has been postponed because of coronavirus infections.

TIME-CHANGE: The kick-off time for the seventh round Currie Cup fixture between Western Province and the Sharks in Cape Town on Saturday has been changed.

REACTION: Flyhalf Ian Madigan revealed the Ulster squad's response when Marcell Coetzee announced that he was heading back to South Africa to play for the Bulls.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has named his team to face the Bulls at Loftus on Wednesday.

TRANSFER: Gloucester Rugby has confirmed the signing on Andrew Davidson from Edinburgh ahead of the 2021-22 season.

TRANSFER NEWS: Worcester Warriors have recruited Scotland international wing Duhan van der Merwe from Edinburgh as their first major signing for the 2021/22 season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: After a rejuvenation of sorts in 2020, the Blues will have to reinvent themselves again in the coming Super Rugby Aotearoa season, having lost star recruit Beauden Barrett to Japan for the year.

REACTION: Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen is not taking any chances against the table-topping Bulls on Wednesday.

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Sale Sharks Dan Du Preez finds himself in heaps of trouble following his moment of madness against Gloucester on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has finalised his team for Wednesday's Currie Cup clash against the Lions.

SOCIAL BUZZ: With major doubt being cast over the viability of the British and Irish Lions to South Africa, an alternative suggestion has been gaining legs in Europe.

COACH DEPARTURE: Crusaders and Canterbury Assistant Coach Mark Jones has confirmed he will not return to Christchurch ahead of the Crusaders 2021 Super Rugby season, and will instead take up the position of Senior Assistant Coach with English club, Worcester Warriors.

ON SCHEDULE: Tournament organisers said Monday they still expected the 2021 Six Nations Championship to go ahead as scheduled in February and March despite the rising number of coronavirus cases in Britain, Ireland and the rest of Europe.

READERS' VIEW: Round Six of the Currie Cup is done and dusted and now it's time for the readers to vote for their team of the week.

SPOTLIGHT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has opened up on his personal battle with COVID-19 and the friends he lost to the virus.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby, Jake White, has named an extended squad in preparation for the Currie Cup clash against the Lions at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday.

SPOTLIGHT: The EPCR have held a meeting to discuss their Covid-19 protocols, hot on the heels of rumblings from France suggesting a number of Top 14 clubs are not entirely satisfied with the status quo in relation to controlling the virus.

NEWS: The Bulls have created a new role in their coaching team, which the franchise described as "another first in South African Rugby".

NEW APPOINTMENT: Former WA rugby union representative Tony Lewis will look to emulate the success of New Zealand’s champion province, the Tasman Mako, in developing talented young players after being appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of the Western Force.

TRANSFER NEWS: Tight-head prop Jon Welsh has returned to Newcastle Falcons – signing up until the end of the season.

REACTION: Sale Sharks number eight Daniel du Preez, along with officials, has come under scrutiny for a dangerous tackle made on Gloucester’s Chris Harris during Saturday’s Premiership clash.

NEWS: France coach Fabien Galthie will have a 37-man squad for the upcoming Six Nations after an agreement between the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and the league (LNR), sources told AFP on Monday.

CURRIE CUP REACTION: Cheetahs head coach Hawies Fourie has questioned the penalty decision for an off-the-ball incident in the second half of their crucial clash against Western Province.

CURRIE CUP REACTION: John Dobson believes the game of rugby has become more like "trench warfare", and he used his team's match against the Cheetahs as an example.

CURRIE CUP REACTION: Two-time World Cup winner Francois Steyn battled to hold back the tears after the Cheetahs' defeat to Western Province in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

POINTS AWARDED: Premiership Rugby confirmed that that Northampton Saints have been awarded four points and London Irish two following the cancellation of their Premiership Rugby Round Five match.

CANCELLATION: French rugby club Bayonne, affected by the new coronavirus variant that was recently detected in Britain, announced Sunday they would not play their two final pool games of the European Challenge Cup, against Leicester and Zebre on January 15 and 22.

TOP 14 WRAP Stade Francais notched up a bonus-point, six-try 51-21 demolition of 14-man Brive to move into fourth spot in the Top 14 on Sunday.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks had a point to prove.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Leicester Tigers kicked off a new year with a 36-31 win over Bath at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Sunday in Round Five of the Premiership season.

REACTION: Toulon coach Patrice Collazo admitted there was "zero positive" from his team's 18-31 defeat to Bordeaux in the French Top 14 on Saturday.

CURRIE CUP REPORT: Á late penalty kick from Tim Swiel helped Western Province edge the Cheetahs 31-29 in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

CURRIE CUP REPORT: The Sharks thumped Griquas 47-19 in their Currie Cup Round Six match in Durban on Saturday.

COACH: Former France coach Philippe Saint-Andre on Sunday took over as head coach of Montpellier after the Top 14 club sacked Xavier Garbajosa.

REACTION: British and Irish Lions Managing Director Ben Calveley has opened up on the upcoming tour to South Africa.

In a scintillating match with 4 tries apiece Connacht ran out the winners by 35-24. It was the Jack Carty show with two tries, three penalties and three conversions that made the difference.

TOP 14, SATURDAY WRAP: Hooker Pierre Bourgarit scored a hat-trick of first-half tries as La Rochelle crushed rock-bottom Agen 43-13 on Saturday to bolster their French Top 14 title hopes.

CURRIE CUP REPORT: The Lions recorded a valuable 33-25 win over the Pumas in their Currie Cup Round Six match in Nelspruit on Saturday.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: A late try from the returning Josh Beaumont helped Sale seal a 22-19 win over Gloucester at Kingsholm on Saturday.

PRO14 REPORT: Two first-half tries were enough for Ulster to seal a 15-10 derby triumph over Munster.

PRO14 REPORT: Edinburgh held on grimly to edge past Glasgow Warriors 10-7 at the death with a lone penalty kick from South African born flyhalf Jaco van der Walt being the difference.

PRO14 REPORT: A Luca Bigi brace helped Zebre begin 2021 in style as they saw off Italian rivals Benetton 24-15 in a hard-fought derby in Treviso.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Currie Cup Round Six encounter between the Sharks and Griquas in Durban.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Currie Cup Round Six encounter between the Cheetahs and Western Province in Bloemfontein.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Currie Cup Round Six encounter between the Pumas and Lions in Nelspruit.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Newcastle Falcons tasted Premiership defeat for their first time this season, falling to last year’s semifinalists Bristol Bears 17-29 at Ashton Gate on Friday.

READERS' VIEW: With all the votes in, players from the Cheetahs dominate the rugby365 readers' Team of the Week for Round Five.

INJURIES: Scotland suffered a triple Six Nations injury blow on Thursday when Glasgow's Fraser Brown, George Horne and Alex Allan were all ruled out of the tournament.

PRO14 REPORT: Cardiff Blues’ first visit to the Cardiff City Stadium since April 2012 ended in defeat, as Ospreys emerged 17-3 victors after a hard-fought New Year’s Day battle in the Welsh capital.

PRO14 REPORT: Second-half tries from Sione Kalamafoni and Sam Costelow inspired Scarlets to their sixth successive win over Welsh regions.

PREVIEW: Springbok loose-forward Marcell Coetzee is expected back from injury to bolster Ulster in Saturday’s plum PRO14 derby against Munster at the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast.

NEWS: The British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa is in serious danger of not going ahead this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

PREVIEW: The 2020/2021 season enters Round Five this weekend with only four matches.

TOP 14: Former New Zealand sevens international Ben Lam said he has found his feet at Bordeaux-Begles, aided by a growing taste for the signature French food speciality of foie gras.

FRANCHISES: Top English club Saracens is hoping to organise matches against South Africa’s top four franchises that will be playing in the PRO14’s Rainbow Cup.

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION: Every point counts with five teams still in the running for semifinal places.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach Sean Everitt has once again had to implement changes to the team ahead of their clash against Griquas on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Cheetahs head coach Hawies Fourie has revealed his team to face Western Province in their crucial Currie Cup Round Six match in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse made seven changes to his matchday squad for their Currie Cup fixture against the Lions in Nelspruit.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Griquas head coach Scott Mathie has made one change to his side for their clash against the Sharks.

NEWS: France received some bad news on Wednesday.

TRANSFER: Argentine back-rower Rodrigo Bruni, who played in the Pumas' stunning triumph over the All Blacks last month, on Wednesday signed a deal to play for French second-tier outfit Vannes.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Western Province head coach John Dobson has revealed his team to face the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

INJURY: Rob Baxter has allayed fears that Stuart Hogg is a major Six Nations doubt for Scotland after Gregor Townsend’s Test level skipper limped out of last Saturday’s Premiership win by Exeter over Gloucester at Sandy Park.

CANCELLATION: The French Rugby top-flight game between Bayonne and Pau scheduled for Saturday has been cancelled after a series of positive Covid tests.

HEARING: Ahsee Tuala of Northampton Saints appeared before an online independent disciplinary panel on Tuesday, following a citing in the match between Northampton Saints and Worcester Warriors on Saturday 26 December.

WATCH as All Black great Beauden Barrett rocks the fans just moments after stepping into the Japanese club circuit for the first time.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: Western Province hooker Bongi Mbonambi believes the Cheetahs will try and run his team ragged in their crucial Round Six encounter in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: The Cheetahs will be looking to build on their win against the Sharks when they face Western Province in a crucial Round Six encounter in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

RETURN: Scarlets and Wales second row Jake Ball will be heading back to Australia at the end of the season.

LOCKDOWN: The adjusted lockdown regulations announced on Monday night have led to yet another change in this season’s Currie Cup fixtures.

NEWS: Premiership Rugby confirmed that Harlequins' Premiership match against Worcester Warriors, scheduled for New Year's Day, has been called off.

DISCIPLINE: Pablo Matera must complete an educational course before he can play again for the Pumas or resume the Test captaincy, the Argentina Rugby Union (UAR) has announced.

RETIREMENT: Former France centre Mathieu Bastareaud will miss the rest of the Top 14 season with a knee injury, the Lyon player announced on Monday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has opened up on his team's new signing.

INTERVIEW: The past weekend’s Currie Cup matches brought more realism for the Cheetahs’ play-off chances and kept Western Province on course after both secured home victories against the Sharks and Griquas respectively.

INJURIES: The Lions have provided an injury update on some of their players.

NEWS: Western Province coach John Dobson was reluctant to give details, but the source of his captain's COVID-19 contact has been confirmed.

NEWS: Premiership Rugby have announced how points will be awarded for the Newcastle Falcons v Leicester Tigers and Bath v London Irish games which were cancelled over the weekend.

REACTION: The competition logjam means the final fortnight of league action is going to make for an intriguing and brutal run into the Currie Cup play-offs.

READERS' VIEW: It is that time of the week again. You get to vote for your team of the week.

TOP 14: La Rochelle beat Montpellier 22-9 on Sunday to maintain their Top 14 lead despite playing an hour with 14 men,  but the two teams immediately below both picked up bonus points to gain ground.

NEWS: France's star playmaker faces a race against time after suffering a horror injury.

IN THE NEWS: Mr Mark Alexander, president of SA Rugby, has expressed his condolences to the family of the late Mr Ivan Pekeur, the Boland Rugby Union president, who passed away during the early hours on Sunday morning.

PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Ulster staged a superb second-half fightback to beat Connacht 32-19 and claim their first win in Galway for more than five years.

PREMIERSHIP MATCH REPORT: Tries from Charlie Atkinson and Tom Cruse, plus a perfect kicking display from All Black Lima Sopoaga secured victory for Wasps.

CURRIE CUP MATCH REPORT: The Cheetahs put their campaign back on track with an impressive bonus-point win over a decidedly unimpressive Sharks team in Bloemfontein on Sunday.

PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Angus O'Brien's late try propelled Scarlets to a comeback Derby Day victory over Ospreys at a windswept Parc y Scarlets.

REACTION: World Cup-winning Springbok captain Siyamthanda Kolisi will miss Western Province's crucial trip to Bloemfontein this week.

REACTION: Exeter's Director of Rugby Rob Baxter hailed his players' gritty 28-20 win against Gloucester after they were unable to train together for a fortnight.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: Bristol Bears kept the pressure on leaders Exeter Chiefs as Round Four got underway.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Currie Cup Round Five encounter between Cheetahs and Sharks in Bloemfontein.

PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Cardiff Blues won a turgid Boxing Day derby against the Dragons, running out 13-12 victors at Rodney Parade.