SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: It should be no surprise to anyone that the two games that the Chiefs haven’t lost this year are games of which their playmaking maestro Damian McKenzie has been playing at fullback.
Here is your chance to have your say. Vote now for your South African Team of the Week.
OPINION: Here it is, your chance to have your say and name your South African Team of the Week.
Few people could argue that the four semifinalists have been the best teams in this year's FNB Varsity Cup; but who knows whether form, fate or luck will be the determining factors in the matches themselves.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: With the final FNB Varsity Cup semifinal place yet to be confirmed, and pride - for those out of contention - still to play for, Round 9 is set to be action-packed.
LISTEN as the @rugby365com welcomes @pauldelport9 to the show. The SA #womensrugby #7s coach gives his views on the struggling @THESTORMERS and chats about the @OfficialHK7s.
Gregg van Molendorff, the deputy headmaster of Graeme College of Grahamstown, has serious concerns about the way sport in schools is developing. He has opened his concerns to further thought and debate.
OPINION: The Sharks surprised many pundits with their performance at Ellis Park in Round Eight.
There are lots of interesting results this week as we get closer to Easter and its tournaments.
VARSITY CUP REACTION: FNB Maties sealed their place in the final of the FNB Varsity Cup with a clinical performance against FNB UFS Shimlas to reiterate why it will take an extraordinary performance to stop them.
OPINION: Here it is, the South African Team of the Week as selected by you ... the readers!
Need some help with your Super Rugby predictions for round nine? We've got some suggestions. Use at your own risk.
REACTION: Not only has Israel Folau's social media post been labeled 'unacceptable', but now Rugby Australia have made it clear that they "have intention to terminate his contract,"
The match between the Bulls and the Jaguares in Pretoria was decided in the last ten minutes. For the Bulls it was suicide rather than simple defeat.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks have unveiled their team for their Super Rugby Round Nine clash against the Jaguares in Durban.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Brumbies received a timely boost ahead of their Super Rugby match against Lions on Saturday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Swys de Bruin has made a number of changes to his team to face the Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday.
FINALLY THEY MEET: Four weeks ago the Crusaders and Highlanders were scheduled to meet in Dunedin. The Christchurch massacre resulted in that match being cancelled.
NEWS: Munster Rugby confirmed that Ronan O’Mahony will retire from professional rugby with immediate effect.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams is facing a lengthy period on the sidelines.
NEWS: The Queensland Rugby Union confirmed that Reds coach Brad Thorn will remain at Ballymore through 2020.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Queensland Reds have made four changes to their starting XV for Saturday's match against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.
SUPER RUGBY INTERVIEW: Lions coach Swys de Bruin was cautiously optimistic ahead of his team's departure on a three-match Australasian tour.
UPDATE: All Blacks legend Dan Carter underwent surgery on his neck.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk is honing his survival skills in the English Premiership in preparation for South Africa’s bid for World Cup glory in Japan.
UPDATE: The Premiership have demanded that club, in particularly Saracens are required to supply information to the Rugby Salary Cap Manager.
NEWS: Concerning comments from RugbyWA Chairman John Edwards suggests that things are not all peachy in Western Australia.
Vlok Cilliers has just turned 51, having spent most of his life kicking rugby balls to great effect. Playing days over, the 1996 Springbok coached kickers in Blue Bulls, men who included Morné Steyn who profited greatly from the coaching.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Former Wallabies captain George Gregan on Wednesday backed England to win a wide-open Rugby World Cup in Japan.
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Leicerster Tigers Tom Youngs appeared before an independent disciplinary panel and was handed a three-week suspension.
NEWS: Wallaby utility back Israel Folau could be heading for a showdown with Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle, after he again took to social media to express his religious beliefs.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Chiefs head coach Colin Cooper has selected a strong matchday-23 to face the Blues at FMG Stadium Waikato on Saturday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls coach Pote Human wasted no time in rushing a host of Springboks back for their Super Rugby Round Nine encounter with the Reds.
TRANSFER NEWS: Sale Sharks announced that former All Black second-row Bryn Evans has signed a one year extension to remain in the Premiership.
SEVENS SPOTLIGHT: In terms of consistency, finishing seventh one week and winning the next may not be ideal, but it’s something the Springbok Sevens team managed to pull off, as recently as last month.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: A new captain to steer the ship might be the sliver of hope the Stormers need to secure a win on tour.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has named a side that features seven changes, for their Super Rugby Round Nine encounter with the Highlanders in Christchurch on Friday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: All Black great Ben Smith will play his 150th game for the Highlanders against the Crusaders on Friday.
SPOTLIGHT: A stark report in The Guardian had laid bare the precarious finances of clubs in the English Premiership.
Paddy O'Brien moves the Sevens caravan from Hong Kong to Singapore this weekend, club competitions in Europe are heading for a climax, Super Rugby rumbles on, there are two Under-18 international tournaments, and there are three finals in South Africa. There is lots to keep the referees away from mischief.
CONFIRMED: SANZAAR revealed the abbreviated six-match schedule for this year's Rugby Championship including all match venues and kick-off times.
ANALYSIS: For a player who made the ‘unbelievable’ a regular occurrence over the last three years, the magic and aura around the two-time World Rugby Player of the Year has slowly dissipated in 2019.
NEWS: Harlequins confirmed that current Academy Transition Coach and former player Tom Williams will leave the Club at the end of the current season to pursue a career outside of rugby.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Stormers have named a new captain for the final match of their Australasian tour.
SUPER RUGBY INTERVIEW: The Brumbies looks set to welcome back some of their big guns when the Lions arrive in Canberra for a Round Nine encounter on Saturday.
NEWS: Scotland's most capped player Ross Ford is to leave Edinburgh at the end of the season, ending a 12-year association with the side.
REACTION: Sale Sharks prop Jake Pope has received a six-month ban, following his second violation of the Rugby Football Union Illicit Drugs Programme.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wallabies back Jack Maddocks is among the injured Melbourne Rebels players to be ruled out of their Super Rugby home clash with the Stormers.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: There might be loads of speculations, however, one thing is certain the Crusaders will not change their name... just yet.
CONTRACT NEWS: South African international Werner Kruger has become the latest player to put pen to paper to agree a new deal with the Scarlets.
The Highlanders’ season got off to an inauspicious start back in February when they had to come from behind to pip the Chiefs by three points in Hamilton.
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Junior Wallabies squad has been named for the 2019 Oceania Under-20 Championship and boasts several Super Rugby up-and-comers, including Queensland Reds utility Isaac Lucas.
NEWS: Edinburgh have confirmed their plans to construct a new purpose-built 7,800-seater stadium on the back pitches at Murrayfield are still waiting to get the all-clear
INJURY UPDATE: Springbok Sevens forward Zain Davids will undergo shoulder surgery on Wednesday and has been ruled out of the last three tournaments of the World Rugby Sevens Series.
NEWS: Reports emerging from Wales claim that Gareth Anscombe has lost his appeal against the wage band he was placed in under the new pay system introduced by the Professional Rugby Board.
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Leicester Tigers and England hooker Tom Youngs is due to appear before a disciplinary panel.
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Rebels centre Bill Meakes will be available for selection when his side face the struggling Stormers on Friday.
INJURY UPDATE: The Blues will be without the services of two of their key players for the upcoming fortnight as Sonny Bill Williams and Blake Gibson have been ruled out due to injury.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Rugby Australia is working on other options if the mooted world league doesn’t go ahead, with a more meaningful Rugby Championship on the SANZAAR agenda.
INJURY REPORT: There is some good and bad news on the injury front for the Bulls ahead of their Super Rugby Round Nine clash against the Reds in Pretoria.
VIDEO: If Sébastien Chabal and an entourage of men clad as cavemen performing ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 miles)’ at the Hong Kong Sevens last week was not strange enough, things have become even more bizarre.
HONG KONG SPOTLIGHT: If anyone has wondered what 41-year-old former French international Sebastien Chabal is doing these days, they would have been surprised to see him appear on their television screens at the Hong Kong Sevens at the weekend.
NEWS: This player was regarded as one of the most devastating finishers in English rugby during his club career.
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Swys de Bruin revealed his 26-man squad for their Australasia tour.
CONTRACT NEWS: Glasgow Warriors coach Dave Rennie has signed a one-year contract extension, which will see him remain at Scotstoun until at least June 2020.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: In the wake of the historic triumph at Loftus Versfeld, a first-ever win in Durban does not seem so far-fetched for the Jaguares.
VARSITY CUP SEMIFINALS WRAP: FNB Maties will host FNB UP-Tuks in the 2019 FNB Varsity Cup Final after they won their respective semifinals on Monday.
NEWS: The Blue Card will be rolled out across South Africa in the next few weeks at all levels of the game, except elite adult tournaments or matches where World Rugby have approved the use of HIA (Head Injury Assessments).
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers might need a miracle if they are to turn their season around after a string of poor performances.
WATCH: Not only was this try a great team effort, but the Jaguares may have found their next big star in Domingo Miotti.
LISTEN as Lions coach Swys de Bruin speaks about the problems that resulted in his team's heavy loss to the Sharks at the weekend.
INJURY UPDATE: Under fire Stormers coach Robbie Fleck sent an SOS to Cape Town for reinforcements, as he looks to salvage something from a winless Australasian tour.
Theo Pieterse's Itembelihle township team played the Lambs XV, a touring team from England chosen from some 20 different schools. It is an organisation started in 2006 along Barbarian lines. Pieterse reports from a match played as part of the 125th birthday celebrations of Kingswood College.
Graeme College were very proud to host Gill College on Saturday, which is one of our oldest rugby derby weekends.
NEWS: The French rugby federation was ordered by an industrial tribunal Monday to pay 1.0 million euros in compensation to sacked national coach Guy Noves.
TRANSFER TALK: All Black star Julian Savea could join South Africa's Southern Kings according to reports.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Tendai Mtawarira, affectionately known as Beast, readily admits a scrawny referee once gave him some scrumming tips.
NEWS: All Black star centre Malakai Fekitoa has been called up by the Barbarians for their match against England XV
CONTRACT NEWS: Munster Rugby and the IRFU confirmed that Head Coach Johann van Graan has extended his contract for a further two years, and will remain with the province until June 2022.
SUPER RUGBY REACTION: The plaudits flowed freely for Sharks prop Tendai Mtawarira, who celebrated a record 157th appearance by a South African player.
SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Stormers coach Robbie Fleck has come under some heavy criticism from fans after his side slumped to a 12-24 loss to the Reds in Brisbane.
PRO14 REPORT: Josh Lewis held his nerve with a late penalty to earn the Dragons a share of the spoils in a dramatic 18-all draw with Southern Kings on Sunday.
SEVENS SPOTLIGHT: The Hong Kong Sevens is getting ready to farewell its long-term home.
When the All Blacks travelled to England for the 2015 World Cup, there was never any question marks over who would start in the New Zealand midfield come the knockout stages of the tournament.
INTERVIEW: Wallabies coach Michael Cheika says he is in no hurry to appoint a new attack coach after Stephen Larkham was axed.
SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Bulls coach Pote Human did not hide his disappointment with his players' lack of discipline in their 20-22 loss to the Jaguares at the weekend.
DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Bill Meakes of the Rebels will appear at a SANZAAR judicial committee hearing, after being cited for foul play during a Super Rugby match at the weekend.
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Jaguares' second-half comeback made sure they record their first-ever win over the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
TOP 14 RE{ORT: Maxime Machenaud failed with a last-minute penalty goal as Racing 92 drew 31-31 with Clermont in the French Top 14 on Sunday.
SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Stormers and Springbok captain Siyamthanda Kolisi put his hand up and accepted 'blame' for his team's third straight loss on their tour of Australasia.
NEWS: Rugby Australia returned to profit last year after controversially axing one of its Super Rugby sides,.
PRO14 REPORT: Cory Allen scored the crucial bonus-point try as Ospreys cruised to 31-14 win over Cheetahs to keep their pursuit of a place in the PRO14 Final Series alive.
SUPER RUGBY REACTION: The Melbourne Rebels are looking to run away with conference honours and leave Australia's traditional heavyweights scrambling desperately for a play-off berth.
In a Premier Interschools match on Saturday, Maritzburg College went down to a wet Durban as underdogs and came close to ending top dogs. The fairytale ending did not happen, but some truths were told.
PRO14 REPORT: Iliesa Ratuva Tavuyara drove over in added time as his Benetton side drew 27-27 with Leinster in a thrilling fixture which kept the home side’s PRO14 Final Series hopes alive.
PREMIERSHIP REPORT: A first-half Mark Atkinson hat-trick ensured Gloucester pressed home their top four credentials with a thrilling 40-31 victory against Northampton Saints at Franklin's Gardens.
PRO14 REPORT: Jaco van der Walt produced nine minutes of magic as Edinburgh came from behind to beat Scarlets 20-12 in Llanelli.
WATCH all the highlights from the weekend's Round Eight Super Rugby matches.
PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Exeter Chiefs ran in seven tries at Welford Road to put a major dent in Leicester Tigers’ hopes of Premiership survival.
FINALS WRAP: Fiji made history with FIVE straight titles in a row in the Sevens World Series' showpiece event.
PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Saracens found their feet in the second half and Alex Lozowski crossed at the death to claim a hard-fought bonus-point 26-12 win against Newcastle Falcons at Allianz Park.
TOP14 WRAP: Former New Zealand international Malakai Fekitoa scored twice as Toulon ended Toulouse's record 14-match unbeaten run in the French Top 14 with a 25-10 victory on Saturday.
LISTEN as freelance journalist Antoinette Muller explains to the @rugby365com team the recipe the Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens use to make it a success.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Wallabies flank David Pocock has paid tribute to Tendai Mtawarira on Twitter, before the prop becomes South Africa's most capped Super Rugby player.
Playing at home, a fired up Durbanville side, outlasted SACS in an impressive display to win 33-24 (half-time: 7-12).
SEMIFINALS WRAP: France advanced to the Final for the first time ever, where they will meet Fiji!
DAY THREE WRAP: South Africa's final hopes of retaining their World Series crown was well-and-truly ended by the blistering pace of American speedster Carlin Isles.
PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Nathan Hughes scored a double as Wasps powered to a 28-16 bonus-point win over Worcester Warriors at Ricoh Arena.
SUPER RUGBY MATCH REPORT: Wallabies star Israel Folau broke the all-time record for tries, but it was not enough to earn the Waratahs victory against the Blues.
VARSITY CUP SPOTLIGHT: For FNB UP-Tuks the semifinals of the FNB Varsity Cup will be a question of whether being rested is better than being match-hardened, and trying to rewrite history.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Pro14 is a tougher competition than what the Cheetahs were faced with in Super Rugby says CEO Harold Verster.
DAY TWO WRAP: The United States Eagles are still in the fight, despite narrow losses to England and Wales in the tournament's final pool matches on Saturday.
PRO14 REPORT: Connacht took a huge step towards the PRO14 Final Series with a nervy 6-5 victory over Zebre.
PRO14 REPORT: Munster came from behind to beat Cardiff Blues 45-21 and secure their Pro14 Finals place.
PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Eleven points from Rhys Priestland helped Bath Rugby claim the West Country bragging rights with a bonus-point 26-19 win over Bristol Bears at Twickenham Stadium.
SUPER RUGBY MATCH REPORT: The Crusaders came back from a half-time deficit to stamp their authority on the game and smash the Brumbies 36-14 in Christchurch on Saturday.
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Hurricanes held on in the face of a number of fierce raids by the Highlanders to record a crucial 31-28 win in Dunedin on Friday.
TRANSFER TALK: New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen is set to become the director of rugby at Japanese club Verblitz according to media reports.
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: Fullback Reece Hodge scored a hat-trick as the Rebels eased past the Sunwolves, winning 42-15 in Brisbane on Saturday.
DAY ONE WRAP: There were very little to get excited about as Samoa, South Africa, England, USA, New Zealand, Fiji, Argentina and France all won their opening pool matches.
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Brad Thorn has backed a rejuvenated Lukhan Salakaia-Loto to be among the men to lead a depleted Reds on their tour of South Africa.
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Reds got their campaign back on track with as 24-12 win over the Stormers in a scrappy affair in Brisbane on Friday.
PREMIERSHIP REPORT: A metronomic 23 points from the boot of AJ MacGinty steered Sale Sharks to a crucial 28-17 victory over Harlequins that reignites their Premiership top-four hopes.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS: The Cheetahs are highly motivated to finish their season on a memorable note.
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Sharks produced their best performance of the season when they smashed the Lions 42-5 at Ellis Park on Friday.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Bulls head coach Pote Human is not too concerned about heading into Saturday's match against the Jaguares without star flyhalf Handré Pollard.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS: A few years ago Berton Klaasen had given up the dream of playing professional rugby.
MILESTONE MATCHES: The Sharks' veteran Springbok loosehead prop Tendai Mtawarira and South African referee Jaco Peyper will reach special milestones this weekend.
NEWS: One of Gloucester Rugby’s longest serving players, Tom Savage, will embark upon a new playing challenge at the end of the current season when he moves to Japan to join Suntory Sungoliath.
NEWS: Saracens have confirmed Marcelo Bosch will leave the club at the end of the season.
PRO14 REPORT: Xander Fagerson crashed over to seal a 30-7 bonus-point win for Glasgow Warriors as they retain their place at the summit of the Pro14 Conference A.
NEWS: The Southern Kings and French club Toulon have agreed to a close working relationship between the two sides.
FNB Maties wrapped up their fifth unbeaten FNB Varsity Cup campaign with an emphatic 84-26 win against FNB UWC on Monday, which is allowing them approach the playoff stage in confident - though considered - mood.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: @rugby365com's law guru Paul Dobson looks at another controversial moment in last week's Round Seven action.
NEWS: England coach Eddie Jones has ruled himself out of replacing the Wallabies' Michael Cheika after this year's World Cup, saying Australia needs "generational change".
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Pro14 returns after an exciting quarterfinal round of the European Champions Cup.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Jaguares have made a few modifications to the side that will face the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
NEWS: One of the most exciting players of his generation, All Black, Crusaders and Hawke's Bay outside back Israel Dagg, is hanging up his boots.
European Professional Club Rugby has named the match officials for the semifinals of the Heineken Cup and the Challenge Cup.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: With five rounds left of Premiership Rugby action there is still plenty to play for, and Round 18 promises to be another cracker.
Paarl Gim go to Rondebosch on Saturday to play Bishops, a match that was first played 90 years ago.
SEVENS SPOTLIGHT: Zimbabwe is hoping to snap up a berth on the World Series this week in Hong Kong - with a little help from their friends.
OPINION: Scotty Stevenson, Mils Muliaina and Ali Williams heap praise on the Blues and Crusaders.
THE ULTIMATE TEST: Sevens fans are in for a treat this weekend as the World Series moves on to the seventh round in Hong Kong.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Blues will be chasing a fourth straight win when they host the desperate Waratahs at Eden Park.
TOP 14, WEEK 21: Top 14 leaders Toulouse will turn their attention from Europe to a tough away trip to Toulon at Marseille's Velodrome this weekend, as one player plots to use space research to give the side an edge.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Sharks head coach Robert du Preez believes his team will be taking some "momentum" into their clash with the Lions, despite their defeat to the Bulls last weekend.
The @rugby365com team welcomes on board a new voice, freelance journalist Antoinette Muller, as they discuss the ever-increasing number of schools tournaments.
Two great South African Rugby schools meet in Paarl on Saturday when Paarl Boys' High host thirteen teams from Hoërskool Outeniqua of George.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Melbourne Rebels coach Dave Wessels knows all too well the big threat Sunwolves' flyhalf Hayden Parker poses.
Need some help with your Super Rugby predictions for the weekend? We've got your back.
FRIDAY FRENZY: Desperation is not a word you would have heard from the cliche-driven media briefings this week.
Jaco Peyper reaches a century this weekend - a century of Super Rugby matches refereed.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Robbie Fleck believes it won't be long before the Stormers find their perfect balance.
SPOTLIGHT: Wasps forward Ashley Johnson says the club is up for the fight, as they look to finish their campaign with a flourish in their five remaining games.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Two club rugby players have been banned from rugby following New Zealand Rugby Judicial Committee hearings into anti-doping charges brought by Drug Free Sport New Zealand (DFSNZ).
Self-confessed French rugby doper Anthony Martrette has been found dead at the age of 41 in his apartment in Port-Vendres in the Pyrenees-Orientales.
How important is intentionally in awarding a penalty? This may well be a case of unintentionally.
As they have done for 98 years, Glenwood and Maritzburg College meet on the rugby field with enthusiasm undimmed by time.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has named his side for Saturday's Super Rugby Round Eight match against the Brumbies.
OPINION: You have had tour say and named your South African Team of the Week. As was the case last week, it makes for some interesting reading.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Waratahs have named some changes to their starting line up ahead of Round Eight of Super Rugby where they’ll travel to Auckland to take on the Blues.
NEWS: After an additional round of testing, Springboks and Sharks hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle's B-sample also revealed the presence of the banned substance, Zeranol.
VARSITY CUP BUILD-UP: Going into the final round of the league phase of the FNB Varsity Cup, FNB Maties and FNB UP-Tuks looked odds-on favourites to set up a fourth final between them - but FNB NWU Pukke put paid to such presumptive talk.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Blues have named virtually an unchanged side to host the Waratahs in their third straight home game at Eden Park on Saturday.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: After seven rounds of competition, the Sharks have once again failed to live up to their potential in Super Rugby.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Melbourne Rebels have kept the faith with their starting XV, naming only one change to the side which defeated the Queensland Reds by 19 points.
SOCIAL MEDIA REACTION: The all South African affair between the Sharks and the Bulls at Kings Park Stadium on Saturday proved to be a heated encounter, as the visitors came away with a 19-16 win.
WATCH a classic Blast from the Past, when Western Province was riding the crest of the wave and the Du Plessis brothers ruled the roost.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls head coach Pote Human has named his team to face the Jaguares in Pretoria.
OPINION: There was an early-season wobble, but the Crusaders are back to their best.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sunwolves have made a few changes to their forward pack to face the Melbourne Rebels at AAMI Park on Saturday.
INJURY UPDATE: Saracens will keep a close eye on injured captain Brad Barritt.
VARSITY CUP SPOTLIGHT: FNB UFS Shimlas coach Hendro Scholtz is under no illusions about the task at hand now that his charges have claimed the final semifinal place in this year’s FNB Varsity Cup.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Reds attack coach Jim McKay has made no secret of their intention when they host the Stormers on Friday.
SQUAD UPDATE: Chris Dry has been promoted to the Springbok Sevens 12-man squad at the Hong Kong Sevens after Zain Davids was ruled out due to a shoulder injury picked up in training earlier on Wednesday.
NEWS: SA Rugby posted a modest post-tax profit of R2m after two years of losses, it was announced at the Annual Meeting of the organisation in Cape Town on Wednesday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Brumbies head coach Dan McKellar has revealed his team to face the Crusaders in a Super Rugby Round Eight match in Christchurch on Saturday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: There are seven changes in the Stormers starting line-up to face the Reds in at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Friday, with five of those coming up front.
NEWS: Former France skipper Raphael Ibanez will once again don his coach's hat from July to October with New Zealand club Thames Valley.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Queensland Reds have made three changes to their starting XV for Friday’s match against the Stormers at Suncorp Stadium.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Swys de Bruin has revealed his team to face the Sharks in a Super Rugby Round Eight clash in Johannesburg on Friday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks team named to take on the Lions in Johannesburg on Friday shows just two changes to last week’s side for this important Super Rugby derby match.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Brumbies won't be lacking in effort when they take on the Crusaders after expectations were made "crystal clear" by their Super Rugby coach Dan McKellar.
NEWS: The Crusaders said they were considering a name change.
The first of the big interschool derbies which forms part of the Premier Interschools series, kicks off in Durban on Saturday, 6 April 2019, when Glenwood play Maritzburg College.
The Crusaders showed why they are Super Rugby's most successful team - with nine titles. Jan de Koning provides the reasons and the stats to back it up!
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Australia's under-fire coach Michael Cheika insisted Wednesday that the Wallabies will come out firing at this year's Rugby World Cup, despite a wretched year of results.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Just two changes have been made to the Hurricanes starting XV to face the Highlanders in the Round Eight Super Rugby match in Dunedin on Friday.
OPINION: European rugby returned with a bang this weekend, as the Champions Cup quarterfinals reminded us all that there is still plenty of life left in the 2018/19 European season.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger has named his team to face the Hurricanes in a Super Rugby Round Eight clash in Dunedin on Friday.
TRANSFER NEWS: Gloucester and flyhlaf Danny Cipriani have finally shut down all the speculation as he signed a new contract with the English Premiership club.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Zacharia 'Swys' de Bruin has set his sights on taking the Lions from consistent Super Rugby finalists to Super Rugby champions.
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: The mystery surrounding Bulls and Springbok hooker Schalk Brits’ disciplinary hearing has been settled.
TRANSFER RUMOURS: The Stormers have set their sights on Springboks and Sharks' forgotten flyhalf Curwin Bosch.
NEWS: SA Rugby have announced changes to their 2019 competition structures.
WRAP: In what was a day of reckoning for four teams vying for a FNB Varsity Cup semifinal place, FNB UFS Shimlas had the answers.
INJURY UPDATE: Ireland rugby captain Rory Best is a relieved man after a scan revealed he had not suffered as serious an ankle injury as first feared.
TRANSFER NEWS: The Scarlets have bolstered their pack for next season.
INJURY UPDATE: The wing suffered a grade two MCL (medial collateral ligament) injury in training.
TRANSFER NEWS: Leinster's experienced Irish international prop Jack McGrath says he will play for Ulster from next season in a bid to revive his career which has stagnated.
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Southern Kings have been given a boost ahead of the PRO14 Round 19 match against Dragons.
Ashley Johnson has lifted the lid on how he positively coped with the mental trauma of his six months drug ban.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: In the wake of Schalk Brits' controversial ban, take a look at some of the most ugliest and vicious fights - definitely worthy of lengthy bans.
NEWS: Wallabies hopeful Jake Gordon has signed a two-year contract extension with Super Rugby's Waratahs as he pushes for a place in this year's World Cup.
The Border Rugby Union has no home and the provincial team will play no games for the next two years.
Glenwood High of Durban went down to the Cape and played two matches in the World Schools Festival - against John McGlashan College of New Zealand on 25 March 2019 and the Africa Pacific Dragons on 29 March 2019.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Saracens Rugby Club and Tottenham Hotspur Football Club announced an exciting five-year partnership that will see Saracens play its annual showpiece fixture at the new, state-of-the-art Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
TRANSFER NEWS: The Bulls have bolstered their front row stocks.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Reds are ready to repay the Stormers 'in kind' when the two sides meet in Brisbane on Friday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: A 31-man touring squad departed Llandarcy Academy of Sport on Monday for a two-game Pro14 mini-tour to South Africa.
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: The Sharks will be without hooker Akker van der Merwe for the next few weeks after his fist fight with Schalk Brits.
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: The mystery surrounding Bulls and Springbok hooker Schalk Brits' disciplinary hearing deepened on Monday.
CHAMPIONS CUP REACTION: Toulouse captain and former New Zealand loose forward Jerome Kaino said his team's 22-21 Champions Cup quarterfinal win over Racing was the best club rugby result of his 15-year senior career.
NEWS: Former Premier League football manager Ian Holloway will become Warriors’ new kicking coach ahead of the 2019/20 season.
INJURY UPDATE: Ireland will be without one of their star loose forwards at this year's World Cup in Japan.
NEWS: In a major coup, New Zealand Rugby have managed to keep the All Blacks' most capped number nine and second most capped Highlanders player in the country after the World Cup.
The Japan Rugby Football Union's stance, rather than South African opposition or 'harsh' conditions, made it 'easy' for SANZAAR to cull the Sunwolves.
MATCH REPORT: Four-time winners Toulouse beat Racing 92 on Sunday to claim their first European Champions Cup semi-final spot since 2011.
SEVENS SPOTLIGHT: He has been around the block – and the globe – with the Blitzboks, and he arrived in Hong Kong for his eighth visit this weekend, so when Chris Dry said that Springbok Sevens team will aim “to keep things simple this week”, his advice will be taken to heart.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: A fourth consecutive defeat for the Hurricanes against the Crusaders has once again raised question marks over who should wear the All Blacks 10 jersey after Beauden Barrett’s less-than-impressive showing on Friday.
SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Sharks' 16-19 defeat to the Bulls has left Robert du Preez in a very difficult predicament.
SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck believes his side's 9-24 defeat to the Blues was their 'best game of the year'.
March is going rapidly. Spring is springing in the north and autumn is settling in down south. And still there is rugby in both halves.
SQUAD UPDATE: The Stormers will be without two key forwards for their Super Rugby Round Eight clash against the Reds in Brisbane on Friday.
NEWS: The Springboks management team has a new member.
SUPER RUGBY REACTION: When crowd favourite Quade Cooper went south to join the Melbourne Rebels after being unwanted by Reds head coach Brad Thorn, they risked a number of fans going with him.
DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS: Schalk Brits and Akker van Merwe might have buried the hatchet following the pair's intense altercation during the Bulls' 19-16 win over the Sharks.
TRANSFER NEWS: Another All Black star will be leaving New Zealand after this year's World Cup in Japan.
NEWS: Springbok legend Naas Botha has accepted the role as head coach of the India Rugby team.
CHAMPIONS CUP REACTION: Ulster head coach Dan McFarland refused to blame star wing Jacob Stockdale after his fumbled touchdown cost his side dearly in their Champions Cup quarter-final defeat to Leinster.
The second World Schools Rugby Festival held in South Africa ended at the Markötter Field in Stellenbosch on Saturday, 30 March 2019, again with a massive win for hosts Paul Roos.
WATCH all the highlights from the weekend's main matches - Super Rugby Round Sevens and the European Champions Cup quarterfinals.
MATCH REPORT: Chiefs continued their Super Rugby revival after a horror start to the season with a dramatic 30-27 win over Argentina's Jaguares in Buenos Aires on Saturday.
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Bulls secured a home and away double over the Sharks this season with a 19-16 win at Kings Park on Saturday.
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: A Saracens side without England captain Owen Farrell overwhelmed Glasgow 56-27 in a European Champions Cup quarterfinal on Saturday.
LISTEN as former @LionsRugbyCo President Kevin de Klerk reveals one of the worst moments of back-stabbing in his illustrious career.
SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Hurricanes fans have shown their outrage on Twitter at their team’s performance after they were comfortably dispatched 8-32 by the Crusaders at the Westpac Stadium on Friday.
VARSITY CUP SPOTLIGHT: Following three straight years featuring in the FNB Varsity Cup semifinals, FNB UJ have had somewhat of a reality check this season.
MATCH REPORT: Rebels move to the top of the Australian conference with a 32-13 win over the Reds at the Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Leinster continue the defence of their European title against Ulster on Saturday with their Irish rivals warning they were not travelling to Dublin just to make up the numbers.
Late Easter and earlier school holidays result in far fewer schools match results this week.
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Leinster advanced to the Champions Cup semifinals after a narrow 21-18 win over Irish rivals Ulster at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
CHAMPIONS CUP: Munster will play in a record 14th European Cup semifinal next month after defeating Edinburgh 17-13 in a thrilling Champions Cup quarterfinal on Saturday at Murrayfield.
NEWS: Owen Farrell was ruled out of Saracens' European Champions Cup quarterfinal at home to Glasgow on Saturday after his wife went into labour.
GRUDGE MATCH: The build-up to the weekend's Round Seven action was dominated by the hype around Quade Cooper and Will Genia's return to Brisbane
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: @rugby365com law guru Paul Dobson looks at another incident which highlighted the shortcomings of match officials.
SUPER RUGBY MATCH REPORT: The Stormers' dismal record in New Zealand was kept intact thanks to a 9-24 defeat to the Blues at Eden Park in Auckland.
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Junior Springboks have named a 34-man training squad that will assemble in Stellenbosch next week.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers have a good flyhalf, but they just don't use him.
NEWS: France are on the hunt for a world-class coach
SUPER RUGBY REACTION: The Sunwolves made a statement to the tournament organisers as they left the Waratahs shell-shocked.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: With the European Champions Cup quarterfinal just a few days to go, Rugby365 take a look at a few key South African players in action this weekend.
SUPER RUGBY REACTION: An injury to All Blacks captain Kieran Read, who was forced off halfway through his comeback match, has soured the Crusaders' comfortable 32-8 victory over the Hurricanes.
CONTRACT FOCUS: Having recently kicked the winning penalty in their Gallagher Premiership away win at Wasps, flyhalf Brett Connon has signed a new two-year contract with Newcastle Falcons.
NEWS: Wallaby lock Will Skelton has ended speculation about his future by signing a new two-year deal with Saracens that rules him out of the World Cup in Japan unless Australian rugby chiefs relax their current stance.
WATCH as Michael Cheika talks about his backroom shake-up, ‘that’ Jake White phone call and plans post World Cup 2019.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Sunwolves head coach Tony Brown believes the ‘bad blood’ between South Africa and Japan had led to the decision for the Japanese-based franchise to be axed from Super Rugby after 2020.
MATCH REPORT: Crusaders bounced back in style with a impressive 32-8 win over the Hurricanes at the Westpac Stadium, Wellington.
Most referees have the ambition to go up higher, to referee matches at a higher level. But none will have gone as high as Graham Allen plans to go.
MATCH REPORT: The Waratahs have crashed back to earth with one of their most humiliating Super Rugby defeats.
SUPER RUGBY: Need some inspiration for how to get your predictions horribly wrong this weekend? We're here to help.
NEWS UPDATE: Newcastle Falcons lock Calum Green won't know the outcome of his disciplinary hearing until April 2 - at the earliest.
The nation of Japan will offer rugby fans a cornucopia of stunning and unspoiled regions to explore.
There will be a new team at the Grant Khomo Week for Under-16 schoolboy representative teams in June this year.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The likes of Leinster and Saracens might be favourites when it comes to winning the Champions Cup, however Scotland side Edinburgh are determined to upset the tournament’s modern routine.
SPOTLIGHT: Europe's biggest stars will clash this coming weekend in the Champions Cup quarterfinals, with the eight teams left in the competition boasting a total of 13 European Cup titles between them.
Sharks prop Tendai Mtawarira is set to level the record for the most Super Rugby appearances for a South African player when his side host the Bulls this Saturday.
VARSITY CUP SPOTLIGHT: Following a chastening defeat to FNB UP-Tuks in Round 7 of this year’s FNB Varsity Cup, FNB NWU Pukke reminded punters of their ability on Monday.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: There has been quite a fierce backlash on Twitter over Eddie Jones’ latest comments on the British and Irish Lions tour, which have irritated many fans and players.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Will there be a handshake at the end of the Reds and Rebels game on Saturday?
OPINION: You asked for it and here it is - the readers' choices for the South African Team of the Week after Super Rugby Round Six.
NEWS: Australia head coach Michael Cheika could be heading to the Premiership following the World Cup.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Australia's new Director of Rugby Scott Johnson Friday said there was no reason why the Wallabies can't win the World Cup despite coming off their worst season in decades.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Stormers have made six changes to their starting line-up for their encounter with the Blues in Auckland on Saturday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Blues head coach Leon MacDonald has unveiled his team to face the Stormers in a Super Rugby Round Seven clash in Auckland.
STAR ATTRACTION: The return to action of All Blacks Kieran Read is the headliner, with good reason.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Melbourne Rebels are set to welcome back a host of key players for their massive Australian Conference match against the Queensland Reds on Saturday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lock Michael Allardice will take over the captaincy in the absence of locking companion Brodie Retallick when the Chiefs face the Jaguares at José Amalfitani Stadium in Buenos Aires on Saturday.
The @rugby365com team has two venerable guests this week - SANZAAR CEO, Andy Marinos and former @LionsRugbyCo President Kevin de Klerk.
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Sharks put their campaign back on track with a 28-14 win over the Rebels in Durban on Saturday.
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Lions recorded a bonus-point 37-24 win over the Sunwolves in an entertaining match in Singapore on Saturday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Queensland Reds have made two changes to their starting XV for Saturday’s clash against the Rebels at Suncorp Stadium.
NEWS: James Botham, grandson of England cricket great Ian Botham, has signed a first senior contract with Welsh regional rugby side Cardiff Blues.
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Chiefs recorded their first win of the season, doing so in impressive fashion by putting 50 points past the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
FNB UCT Ikey Tigers will go into the final round of the FNB Varsity Cup league phase with an outside chance of a playoff berth, but a little bit of fortune could have made things more certain for them.
Day 2 of the World Rugby Festival taking place at Paul Roos in Stellenbosch on a glorious autumn day produced lopsided results with victories to the South African sides in all five matches.
CONTRACT NEWS: Brumbies lock Darcy Swain has signed a new deal with the Super Rugby franchise.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Craig Burden must be the most unlucky player in South Africa, perhaps even the world.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks will be looking to right the wrongs when they face the Bulls at Kings Park on Saturday.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Crusaders could not have asked for a tougher task to get their campaign back on track when they face the Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday.
The Rugby World Cup is upon us soon and that means that match officials will be named to act as referees, assistant referees, TMOs and citing officials.
Glasgow faces a very tough test this Saturday as they travel to Allianz Park to take on Saracens in the quarterfinal of the Champions Cup.
In a day and age where constant changes are being made to make rugby safer, it is refreshing to see a textbook tackle that is in no way dangerous.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The most anticipated 'reunion' of the year takes place at the Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls coach Pote Human made a number of changes to his team ahead of their trip to Durban and a Round Seven Super Rugby crunch match against the Sharks.
WORLD CUP SPOTLIGHT: Wallaby coach Michael Cheika is using schoolboy talent as guinea pigs to refine his re-jigged blueprint.
NEWS: World Rugby's controversial plan for a Nations Championship suffered a setback.
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Siviwe Soyizwapi will captain the Springbok Sevens team at Hong Kong Sevens.
UPDATE: Sharks centre learns his fate at disciplinary hearing.
REACTION: England is in danger of missing out on a chance to hire Warren Gatland after the Rugby Football Union admitted Eddie Jones' successor would not be hired until after the World Cup.
SPOTLIGHT: @rugby365com law guru Paul Dobson tackles another questionable call.
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: A SANZAAR judicial committee has found Angus Scott-Young of the Reds guilty of contravening Law 9.12: A player must not physically abuse anyone.
TRANSFER NEWS: The Blues and New Zealand Rugby have landed two key player signatures.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has named a full-strength team to face the Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers will have to use more of their brains when they face the Blues on Saturday.
OPINION: To use a hackneyed adage: 'There is a new sheriff in town!'
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: 'The Sunwolves have, as they have done all season, made several changes to their team for a Round Seven Super Rugby encounter with the Waratahs.
On Monday FNB Maties displayed all the qualities which champion sports teams do, not least one trying to win the FNB Varsity Cup for a record fifth time.
Here is your chance to have a say. Take our poll and name your South African Super Rugby Team of the Week!
INJURY UPDATE: Highlanders and All Blacks scrumhalf Aaron Smith is set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Waratahs Head Coach Daryl Gibson has shuffled his starting XV ahead of his side’s home game on Friday in Newcastle when they come up against the Sunwolves.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Hurricanes head coach John Plumtree has named his team to face the Crusaders in Wellington on Friday.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Does anyone enjoy playing rugby at Kings Park?
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Jan de Koning turns to the numbers to see how 'successful' Mzansi teams have been in Aotearoa and the Land Down Under.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The unpredictable nature of Super Rugby 2019 has made for some interesting viewing in the first six rounds.
INJURY UPDATE: An Italian veteran has undergone knee surgery in Rome.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: @rugby365's law guru Paul Dobson looks at the flawed tackling technique of England flyhalf Owen Farrell.
SPOTLIGHT: England head coach Eddie Jones has taken an indirect dig at Wales head coach Warren Gatland by swatting away suggestions of coaching the British and Irish Lions in 2021.
The 2019 World Schools Festival started at Paul Roos Gymnasium in the lovely university town of Stellenbosch on Tuesday, 26 Match 2019.
CONTRACT NEWS: Johnny McNicholl has become the latest high-profile player to agree to a new deal with the Scarlets.
NEWS: French Rugby President Bernard Laporte is eyeing some high-profile names to take the national side through to the next Rugby World Cup in 2023.
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Another player will face the music after being accused of 'biting' in a Premiership match.
INJURY UPDATE: Springbok stalwart Duane Vermeulen has been declared fit for this Saturday's South African Super Rugby derby between the Bulls and the Sharks in Durban.
The first term ends, and it's a great opportunity to have rugby tournaments. And so we have lots of results.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Waratahs have labelled their much-improved defence the 'Blue Wall' and it's certainly proving harder to breach than in recent Super Rugby seasons.
INJURY UPDATE: New Zealand captain Kieran Read has been cleared for this Friday’s Super Rugby clash between the Crusaders and Hurricanes in Wellington.
CONTRACT NEWS: Munster and the Irish Rugby Football Union have confirmed that Joey Carbery has signed a two-year contract extension that will see him remain with the province until June 2022.
INJURY UPDATE: The Stormers could have a second row headache in their build-up to their Round Seven Super Rugby encounter with the Blues.
TRANSFER NEWS: Fijian Sevens captain Kalione Nasoko and international teammate Eroni Sau will play for Pro 14 outfit Edinburgh next season after they both agreed to join on Monday.
REACTION: The axing of Japan's Sunwolves from Super Rugby will damage efforts to promote the sport in Asia, the team's Chief Executive said Saturday.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The British and Irish Lions’ plans to host a test match against a top international side at Twickenham in preparation for their 2021 tour of South Africa is being met with backlash by Premiership clubs.
ROUND EIGHT WRAP: While FNB Maties reaffirmed their FNB Varsity Cup favourites tag on Monday; FNB UP-Tuks and FNB NWU Pukke showed - in differing ways - why they have it within them to win the title too.
TRANSFER NEWS: Kings hooker Michael Willemse has signed a two-year contract with Edinburgh.
England and Saracens flyhalf Owen Farrell is in the news again ... for all the wrong reasons.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Fans from all over the world have taken to Twitter to react to the news that the Sunwolves will be axed from after the 2020 season.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: France’s dismal form has resulted in the side calling in one of Crusaders’ mastermind in preparation for their World Cup campaign.
REACTION: Israel Folau’s aerial skills is so good, Crusaders coach Scott Robertson thinks he should have a job at NASA following the Waratahs’ shock 20-12 win over champions.
SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Bulls head coach Pote Human described his team's 20-56 defeat by the Chiefs as a "humiliation".
SUPER RUGBY REACTION: "Organised chaos" is the name of the game when facing the Sunwolves.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: To a large degree Round Eight of this year’s FNB Varsity Cup will be ‘judgment day’, so who will state their cases best?
SUPER RUGBY NEWS: Sharks centre Marius Louw has been cited for foul play, during his team's 28-14 win over the Rebels in Durban at the weekend.
The March school holidays means it is time for Rugby festivals. Glenwood travelled down to Cape Town to play in the Wynberg Rugby Festival before they take part in the 2019 Edition of the illustrious World Schools Festival to be held at Paul Roos Gymnasium.
Kearsney hosted St Charles after an absence of this fixture for two years, and both teams should be commended on their commitment and tenacious defence on the day.
SCHOOL FESTIVAL: It was a very successful Grey High School Rugby Festival for the St Andrew’s College 1st XV as they came away unbeaten after victories were achieved against Gauteng teams St John's College and Jeppe High School.
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Reds produced their best performance of the season so far when they hammered the Brumbies 36-14 in Brisbane on Saturday.
PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: Jake Polledri crossed late on to seal an impressive victory for Gloucester - which keeps them well-placed for a top-four finish.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Why was Wayne Barnes "voted the third most-hated man in New Zealand"?
SUPER RUGBY REACTION: The Stormers will need more than just a powerful forward pack to reach the play-offs in this year's Super Rugby competition.
PRO14 REPORT: First-half tries from Callum Gibbins, Kyle Steyn and Rory Hughes inspired Glasgow Warriors to a convincing 35-17 win over the Cheetahs on Saturday.
PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Exeter Chiefs secured their place in the Premiership semifinals as they beat Bath 29-10.
The first team results from the second and final day of the Grey High Rugby Festival in Port Elizabeth on Saturday reveal close wins for Die Brandwag of Uitenhage, Selborne of East London and, closest of all, St Andrew's of Grahamstown.
PRO14 REPORT: A virtuoso performance from Rob Lyttle ensured Ulster's good form continued as they dispatched a spirited Southern Kings outfit 33-19 to enhance their play-off ambitions.
INJURY UPDATE: A worrying injury to a key player is just another headache for Brumbies coach Dan McKellar after a loss to Queensland he admitted was hard to watch at times on Sunday.
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The defending champions Crusaders suffered their first defeat of the season when they went down 12-20 at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.
SUPER RUGBY RECTION: Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has said his team will bounce back after the Waratahs ended their 19-game winning streak.
REACTION: The Japan Rugby Football Union has dispute SANZAAR's claims that they were not willing to underwrite the Sunwolves.
WATCH all the highlights from Round Six of Super Rugby!
PRO14 REPORT: Munster staged an impressive second-half comeback to overcome a stubborn Zebre side to record a bonus-point win at Thomond Park.
VARSITY CUP: FNB UP-Tuks may have overtaken FNB Maties at the top of the FNB Varsity Cup table this week, but they are not resting on their laurels.
TOP 14 WRAP: Toulon coach Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe said his side's 42-33 defeat by Lyon in the Top 14 on Saturday reflected their whole campaign.
PRO14 REPORT: An incredible four-try showing from fullback Dan Evans led Ospreys to a comeback triumph and denied Dragons a first away win in four years.
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Hurricanes edged the Stormers 34-28 in a tense encounter at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.
REACTION: The mosque massacre that took place in Christchurch just over a week ago has led to calls nationwide for the Crusaders to change their name out of respect for the Muslim victims.
NEWS: This highly-rated Kiwi coach has ruled himself out of the running to coach the Wallabies after this year's World Cup.
WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN: Wales are on a national record run of 14 successive Test wins and Gareth Anscombe admits their recent hot form has put them in the spotlight.
REACTION: Japan may be on the outer, but South Africa appears to be firmly entrenched in the SANZAAR team.
PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Northampton Saints are up to fifth in the Premiership Rugby table after a domineering and free-flowing 29-15 win at Welford Road in the East Midlands Derby.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Out of favour New Zealand international Julian Savea will finally return to action, Toulon announced on Friday.
PRO14 REPORT: Cardiff Blues put on quite a show in front of a sell-out Cardiff Arms Park as an irrepressible first-half display proved enough to see off Welsh rivals the Scarlets with a 41-17 win.
SIMPLY THE BEST: The spectator numbers and television viewers are down, but officials still believed the competition has the best entertainment value.
Six Nations and Rugby Europe's International Championship are over now, Grand Slams and all, but there is till lots of top rugby to keep the referees on their toes.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Crusaders say they will be playing for the whole of grief-stricken Christchurch when the reigning champions make their first appearance since last week's terrorist attacks in New Zealand.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Owen Farrell has been the subject of much debate over his captaincy in the aftermath of the Six Nations.
The Blues and the Highlanders battle it out in a Super Rugby Round Six encounter at Eden Park. Stay up to date with the latest Super Rugby news here.
PRO14 REPORT: A dominant display from the Edinburgh pack saw them record an impressive bonus-point win over Conference B table-toppers Leinster.
TOP 14, WEEK 20: Liam Messam admitted Toulon were left frustrated by last week's narrow defeat by Montpellier, a loss that all but ends Mourad Boudjellal's club's shout of reaching the six play-off spots.
PRO14 REPORT: Matt Healy’s try double kept Connacht on course for the PRO14 Finals Series as they ended Benetton Rugby’s eight-game unbeaten streak with a in a 29-14 win at the Sportsground.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: It will be a case of do or die for the Cheetahs in the fourth-last pool round of the Pro14 on Saturday.
NEWS: The Six Nations Player of the Championship for 2019 has been revealed.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Rebels are looking for feisty scrumhalf Michael Ruru to sink his teeth into the Sharks in his first start of the season.
REACTION: The unwillingness - or inability - of the Japanese Rugby Football Union to continue funding the Sunwolves has resulted in their axing from Super Rugby.
NEWS: The Junior Springboks will take on England and Wales in the UK late in April in vital warm-up matches for the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Argentina in June.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Southern Kings have named their team to take on Ulster ahead of their Pro14 Round 18 clash at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: After some mouth-watering weekends of Six Nations, the Pro14 returns.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Brumbies prop James Slipper has been named in a strong starting XV as he makes the return to his former stomping ground when the Canberra side meets the Reds.
TEAM UPDATE: There is a late change to the Stormers team to face the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: One of the tightest races in Premiership Rugby history continues with the weekend opening at Welford Road on Friday, a huge crowd heading to see the arrival of the Tigers most fierce rivals, Northampton Saints.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Queensland Reds have made five changes to their starting XV for Sunday clash against the Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium.
INJURY UPDATE: The Melbourne Rebels will be without one of their key players for a lengthy period.
NEWS: The worst kept secret has been confirmed. The Sunwolves are no more!
REACTION: For the first six weeks of this year's FNB Varsity Cup FNB UWC fulfilled the doubters' prophecies, but then Monday happened.
REACTION: The Sunwolves have called on their fans to continue standing by them, following their axing from Super Rugby.
WATCH as Lions wing Sylvian Mahuza talks about the revolution of youth currently underway at Ellis Park.
TRANSFER NEWS: Simon Kerrod will join Harlequins from Worcester Warriors for the start of the 2019/20 season, the Club is excited to confirm.
TRANSFER NEWS: Cardiff Blues have continued building for the future by securing the services of Wales back-three star Hallam Amos.
Watch Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones on winning the Six Nations Player of the Championship award for 2019.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Hurricanes flyhalf Beauden Barrett will take over the captaincy for Saturday's Super Rugby match against the Stormers at Westpac Stadium.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Chiefs Head Coach Colin Cooper has selected a strong twenty three to face the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.
AXE HOVERING: By the time the first match kicks off on Friday, the Sunwolves will know if they still have a future in the competition.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: There are three changes to the Stormers team to face the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers are sweating over the availability of two key forwards on their Australasian tour
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions coach Swys de Bruin made six changes to his side for the Super Rugby Round Six encounter with the Sunwolves in Singapore on Saturday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: A handful of regular Rebels have been rotated out of the matchday 23 this week.
LISTEN as the @rugby365com team chats to new @SouthernKingsSA owner Loyiso Dotwana about how his consortium will make the Eastern Cape franchise great again!
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks welcome the Rebels to Kings Park on Saturday in a sixth round Super Rugby clash that holds great importance for both sides.
THE REVAMP: Japan's ground-breaking Sunwolves team are set to be axed from Super Rugby, a report said on Wednesday.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Ben Smith explains why Beauden Barrett may unwrap his cross-field kicks in Wellington on Saturday.
PREDICTIONS: Super Rugby action rolls on, as do the predictions in a season where even some experts are struggling to get the scores right all the time.
NEWS: Wasps revealed that versatile back Rob Miller has signed a new deal, becoming the tenth first-team player to commit to the club in recent months.
The twelfth Tony Stoops Rugby Festival ended at Hoërskool Brackenfell on Wednesday 20 March 2019, and 34 rugby teams went home.
NEWS: The Hurricanes have positioned themselves well for the future by signing five of their most promising players for at least the next two seasons.
On balance, it was a productive Guinness Six Nations for England. Alex Shaw analyses their campaign!
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Waratahs return to the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday to take on reigning Super Rugby champions Crusaders in Round Six of Super Rugby.
VARSITY CUP: It's taken almost four years, but FNB CUT Ixias finally earned the bragging rights they've so coveted in Bloemfontein.
Easter is late this year and so the Easter break is happening early in rent. Most schools are on holiday and there are few results as a result, except for those at tournaments.
In a game that never reached the heights it might have at the Graeme Rugby Day, the St Andrew’s College 1st XV still managed to run out comfortable 27-13 winners against SACS from Cape Town on Saturday.
Hoërskool Garsfontein hosted the North-South Rugby Festival, starting on 15 March 2019 and ending on 19 March 2019 after four days of high-scoring rugby.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sunwolves have lost three key players ahead of their Round Six Super Rugby encounter with the Lions in Singapore on Saturday.
REACTION: Springbok captain Siyamthanda Kolisi is confident New Zealand officials will ensure the safety of the team's Muslim members.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Le Crunch duo of England and France have always felt they hold the whip hand when it comes it rugby in Europe.
NEWS: The Junior Springboks will face the Under-20 teams of Georgia and Argentina, as well as a Namibian XV in an exciting International Series in the Western Cape in April.
REACTION: The four existing Welsh regions will continue to play separately for the 2019/20 season after the Professional Rugby Board (PRB) ruled out a merger that threatened to plunge the sport into turmoil.
TRANSFER NEWS: South Africa lock Stephan Lewies has become the latest player to join Harlequins ahead of next season.
TRANSFER NEWS: The Australia wing has signed a three-year deal with Stade Francais, the French club announced.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: There are just two changes to the Crusaders side that will face the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday.
PREMIERSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Johan Ackermann has dismissed speculation that Danny Cipriani could quit Gloucester in the off-season.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wales' Grand Slam winner Gareth Anscombe has urged officials to end the uncertainty surrounding the regional game or risk a player exodus.
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Kings have announced a 25-man that will travel to Belfast to take on Ulster in a PRO14 Round 18 clash on Saturday, March 23.
WATCH as seasoned prop Lizo Gqoboka speaks about the Bulls' first encounter with New Zealand opposition this year.
UPDATE: The NSW Waratahs are pressing ahead with plans to play defending Super Rugby champions the Crusaders on the patch-up Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Midfielder Burger Odendaal and flank Ruan Steenkamp will make a return to the Bulls run-on team against the Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday as coach Pote Human made minimal changes for the side's fifth match.
LISTEN as Sharks assistant coach Ricardo Loubscher speaks about a "massive" week that awaits them, as they look to bounce back from two consecutive defeats.
After three days of wonderful schoolboy rugby in which 46 matches were played in good spirit and 2 071 points were scored, only two teams ended with 100% records, winning three out of three - Duineveld of Upington and Potchefstroom Gimnasium.
At the end of Oakdale's Rugby Tournament of three splendid match days, two awards were made and a team was chosen.
OPINION: It was a strange weekend - not just because of the tragedy in Christchurch, but also some interesting results.
REACTION: Crusaders' Sam Whitelock and Kieran Read called for the immediate focus following the Christchurch mosque massacres to remain on the grieving Muslim community and not be sidetracked by their team's name.
OPINION: Six Nations 2019 is over and it is time for rugby365 to reveal their Team of the Tournament.
INJURY REPORT: Seasoned Springboks lock Eben Etzebeth could be available for Stormers' Round six match against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday.
Jan de Koning looks beyond the scoreline to find the reasons for the most stupefying comeback and a lopsided penalty count of Super Rugby's Week Five.
FNB Wits had more than just FNB Varsity Cup points and log positions on the mind when they faced FNB UCT Ikey Tigers on Monday.
INJURY UPDATE: France captain Guilhem Guirado suffered a fractured rib during Les Bleus' final Six Nations match against Italy at the weekend, his Top 14 side Toulon confirmed.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Highlanders will field a strong side against the Blues for Friday's Super Rugby Round Six clash at Eden Park.
THE AFTERMATH: Billy Vunipola believes England will have to keep a low profile ahead of the World Cup.
CONTRACT NEWS: William Small-Smith extended his contract with the Cheetahs for another two years.
LISTEN as Lions team doctor Rob Collins reveals the long list of casualties ahead of their Super Rugby Round Six match against the Sunwolves in Singapore on Saturday.
INJURY UPDATE: The Jaguares limped back home from their heavy defeat to the Stormers last Friday with a number of injuries.
INJURY UPDATE: Italy international Tommaso Castello has undergone surgery on a broken leg after a bruising Six Nations campaign for the Azzurri, the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) revealed.
NEWS: There is a significant change near the top of the latest World Rugby Rankings.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The coaching staff at the Blues have rewarded good form in naming their starting line-up to host the Highlanders in a Round Six Super Rugby encounter at Eden Park on Friday.
INJURY UPDATE: The Bulls will have a number of players back ahead of their Super Rugby Round Six clash against the Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday
CONTRACT NEWS: Glasgow Warriors have been boosted by the news that Scotland internationals Alex Allan and D'Arcy Rae have penned new deals, ahead of an important period of the season.
ROUND SEVEN WRAP: FNB UP-Tuks are the new FNB Varsity Cup log leaders after beating third-placed FNB NWU Pukke on Monday, while there were significant wins for FNB UFS Shimlas and FNB UWC.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: He might be small in stature, but Herschel Jantjies’ presence has made an enormous impact in the Stormers side.
NEWS: Veteran lock Andries Ferreira has departed the Hurricanes and returned to South Africa.
TRANSFER NEWS: Cardiff Blues have announced the signing of Wales wing Josh Adams from Worcester ahead of next season.
TRANSFER NEWS: Just days after scooping up Argentina scrumhalf Martin Landajo, Harlequins have seal a contract with another Los Puma star.
Wales fans have set their sights on toppling the All Blacks after the newly updated world rankings were released.
Lionel Mapoe's never-give-up attitude summed up the Lions' team spirit on Saturday as they fought back from 28 points down to beat the Rebels.
St Charles College of Pietermaritzburg played hosts to Michaelhouse and Clifton College on a blisteringly hot day to kick off the winter sports programme for all three schools on Saturday.
TRANSFER NEWS: Harlequins have bolster their side with a third international star in a space of two days.
ANALYSIS: Scotland’s unthinkable 31-point comeback delivered shades of déjà vu, as flyhalf Finn Russell made plays eerily similar to last year’s clash at Murrayfield.
REACTION: New Zealand's leading players have rallied to ease the 'heavy hearts' of people, in the wake the terrorist attack last Friday.
TRANSFER NEWS: The Harlequins have bolstered their scrumhalf stocks.
TRANSFER NEWS: Leinster Rugby and the IRFU have confirmed a contract extension for Head Coach Leo Cullen.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Scott Higginbotham forecasts some tough selection decisions for coach Brad Thorn after the Reds' comeback win in Japan breathed life into their campaign.
England saved their best for last as they galloped away to 12 tries in an 80-0 victory over Scotland at Twickenham. There was no doubting that they were the best team in the Six Nations, worthy winners of the Grand Slam.
On a day of calm, pleasant weather. Hoërskool Brackenfell hosted the second day of the big, cheerful Tony Stoops Festival.
It was a lovely sunny, still day in Riversdale on Monday, 18 March 2019, the second day of the Oakdale Rugby tournament.
This is Ireland Under-20's year. After Round 4, they had already won the Under-20 Six Nations. They were in an unassailable position, but still the wanted a Grand Slam, and they went across the Irish Sea to Wales and fetched it home to Ireland - for the very first time.
South Africa has a great debt of gratitude to enthusiastic schoolmasters. Lent has only just started, it's therefore not yet Easter and already their boys are getting the chance to get out onto the rugby field to perform heroic acts. And already there are surprises.
INJURY UPDATE: Italy could be without one of their stalwarts when the World Cup comes around in September.
TRANSFER NEWS: Harlequins have signed another Argentina international ahead of the 2019/20 season.
For the 10th time in the last 12 years, Georgia have won Rugby Europe's Championship. This is their third successive win after Romania won it in 2017.