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SPOTLIGHT: Ben Smith takes a look at the alternative options for the World Cup-winning Springboks in the Rugby Championships, given their current injury crisis.

OPINION: @rugby365 columnist and two-time World Rugby Junior Championship winner Eugene Eloff takes a look at how officials in the Eastern, Southern and Western Cape let the game down.

REACTION: Springbok legend Bakkies Botha has questioned the length of Owen Farrell's ban.

INTERVIEW: The Southern Kings don't know when or in what competition they will play next, but feel they have a readymade coach to take over from Robbie Kempson.

OPINION: Jan de Koning takes a look at the next big decision that will pave the way for the future success or failure of Western Province rugby.

WATCH as retired England internationals James Haskell and Dylan Hartley explain the brutal tally the game has taken on their bodies.

SPOTLIGHT: Seems like South Africa's live rugby drought will conclude with some scintillating matches.

NEWS: It seems New Zealand has listened to Wallaby coach Dave Rennie's concerns.

SPOTLIGHT: Director of Performance Robbie Kempson has admitted that Southern Kings’s fate is solely in the hands of the South African Rugby Union.

REACTION: All Blacks star Richie Mo’unga has opened up on rumours him and several teammates were considering pulling out of this year’s Rugby Championship for family reasons.

SPOTLIGHT: Newly-appointed Georgia coach Levan Maisashvili said his side's inclusion in the upcoming Nations Cup is a chance to prove their ability to be included in the Six Nations

NEWS: The Western Force has revealed some news regarding their coach.

CHAMPIONS CUP SPOTLIGHT: Saracens and Exeter expect to enter their quarterfinals with two key players available.

BREAKING NEWS: Montpellier have provided an update on Handre Pollard after the Springbok star sustained a serious knee injury on club duty last week.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Gloucester coach George Skivington described it as his team's worst performance since he arrived at the club.

NEWS: Wallaby player Lopeti Timani was hit with a €10,000 fine on Monday by a court in La Rochelle.

ONE OF ONE: Jan de Koning sat down with Marco V Masotti to chat about the attempt of his consortium, MVM Holdings, to obtain a controlling share in WP Rugby and what value they bring to the table.

CHAMPIONS CUP QUARTERFINALS: Two Irish provinces will have the task of showcasing the depth of the PRO14 as the Champions Cup quarter-finals start this coming weekend.

SPOTLIGHT: Los Pumas’ legend Juan Martín Hernández has urged Jaguares to look at potentially joining the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) amid an uncertain future for Super Rugby.

OPINION: Dave Rennie has named his first Wallabies squad as head coach, selecting just 16 of the 31 players from last year’s Rugby World Cup in favour of the next wave of talent.

SPOTLIGHT: Cheetahs looseforward Junior Pokomela stated that the enforced lockdown break has had numerous benefits for the players.

ONE-ON-ONE: Jan de Koning sat down for a chat with former Junior All Black and now Cardiff resident Nick Williams about the challenges of moving to and playing in Europe.

TOP 14 WRAP: Argentina flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez scored 14 points in a 22-16 victory over Castres, described as "extraordinary" by Stade Francais coach Gonzalo Quesada.

SEVENS SPOTLIGHT: The physical handover of their 2019/20 World Rugby Sevens Series silver medals has given the BlitzBoks some closure and finality on the interrupted season.

THREE ROUNDS TO GO: Three of the four places in the semifinals are still up for grabs.

NEWS: The Boks will be looking for new players for a key position.

REACTION: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has shut down talks of relinquishing the Bledisloe Cup hosting rights to Australia.

SPOTLIGHT: Edinburgh prop Pierre Schoeman has not played for Scotland yet, but he already has the British and Irish Lions on his mind.

SPOTLIGHT: A former Springbok captain believes it would be madness to let the Boks play in this year's Rugby Championship.

NEWS: Wallabies coach Dave Rennie did not hold back when asked about NZ Rugby's Bledisloe Cup demands.

PREMIERSHIP SUNDAY WRAP: A strong Sale Sharks side went down 22-37 at home to Bath in Round 20 of the 2019/2020 Premiership season on Sunday.

PRE-MATCH SPOTLIGHT: The Brumbies and Reds will go head-to-head for the fourth times this year. Except, this time it is for the title of being Australia's meanest team.

With the Rugby Championship set to become a lengthy two and a half month competition all ensconced in Australia it's likely that Ian Foster will be selecting an extended squad giving those fringe players who "almost" made it a second chance to travel with the All Blacks.

MATCH REPORT: Leinster secured their third successive Pro14 trophy with a 27-5 win over Ulster on Saturday.

INTERVIEW: The Boks will be boosted by one big difference from the Bok classes of 2009 and 2021.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Sixteen uncapped players were included Sunday in new coach Dave Rennie's first Wallabies squad.

WATCH: Cheslin Kolbe is back in the French news as the World Cup-winner once again stole the headlines in Toulouse's 39-23 victory over La Rochelle but former teammate Dillyn Leyds was not too happy with the birthday present he received.

SPOTLIGHT: Seems like the 2020 Rugby Championship has caused another concern in New Zealand.

TOP14 WRAP: Two first-half tries from South Africa Rugby World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe set Toulouse on the road to a 39-23 win over French Top 14 title rivals La Rochelle on Saturday.

NEWS: Handre Pollard was taken to hospital after Montpellier's 17-41 Top 14 loss at Racing 92 on Friday.

REACTION: SA Rugby has responded to Friday's Rugby Championship announcement.

SUPER RUGBY AU REPORT: The Reds will face the Brumbies in next weekend's Super Rugby AU Final.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Pro14 Final between Leinster and Ulster in Dublin.

NEWS: England's players have accepted a 25 percent pay cut for the 2020-21 season as the Rugby Football Union tries to limit the financial fall-out from the coronavirus.

OPINION: Jan de Koning takes a look at the systemic problems facing the Southern Kings and asks if they can rise like the proverbial phoenix from the ashes from what appears to be their Armageddon.

NEWS: Sale Sharks boss Steve Diamond has an extraordinary take on his star lock's latest injury.

SPOTLIGHT: The Rugby Football Union published the 10-page short-form written judgment regarding the five-match ban handed down to England captain Owen Farrell.

NEWS: The French league (LNR), backed by their English Premiership counterparts, have filed a complaint against World Rugby with the European Commission.

LEINSTER V ULSTER: Star flyhalf Jonathan Sexton has been benched for Saturday's Pro14 Final.

REACTION: The New Zealand Prime Minister's "SANZAAR politics" comment did not sit well with rugby bosses.

NEWS: The Chiefs will be searching for some coaching talent.

JUST ONE-SHOT: Queensland Reds captain Liam Wright knows his side's desperate line defence won't be enough if they are to navigate past the Melbourne Rebels on Saturday and into the Super Rugby AU final.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby AU semifinal between the Reds and the Melbourne Rebels in Brisbane.

NEWS: Australia was picked over New Zealand to host the coronavirus-affected Rugby Championship on Friday, but the pandemic may prevent world champions South Africa from even taking part.

NEWS: All Black Liam Squire’s time in Japan has come to a premature end.

NEWS: Argentina’s coaching staff and five more players have tested positive for the coronavirus, adding to the six positive tests announced last week, the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) revealed.

REACTION: The Western Province Rugby Football Union has reacted to claims that they have 'parted with logic' in their financial dealings.

NEWS: Harlequins flyhalf Marcus Smith became the second-youngest player to reach 500 Premiership points.

NEWS: Six Nations officials unveiled the eight-team year-end Nations Cup, which replaces the traditional international Test window.

WATCH: Ireland legend Brian O'Driscoll has joined the numerous voices in sharing his opinion on Owen Farrell's punishment following his horrific tackle on Charlie Atkinson, labelling the England captain as a "lucky boy".

TOP14, ROUND TWO: The Top14 season continues with yet another enticing match-up as Wallabies playmaker Kurtley Beale makes his home Racing 92 debut against Handre Pollard's Montpellier.

WATCH as we take you back to Japan 2019, when South Africa scaled the top of the totem pole.

NEWS: The two most prestigious awards on offer in the Pro14 have been scooped up by Edinburgh.

SPOTLIGHT: SANZAAR officials will hold a telephone hook-up to try to finalise details of the upcoming Rugby Championship, with Australia in the running to host.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN: New Zealand's National Provincial Championship gets underway on Friday.

NEWS: Rugby Australia announced an addition to its policy regarding the eligibility and selection of overseas-based players.

OPINION: The infamous contretemps in rugby circles in the Western Cape is redoubtable for its fractionalizing effect.

NEWS: South Island second row Mitch Dunshea has a massive challenge on his hands if he’s going to clock up many minutes with the Crusaders next year.

REACTION: Jan de Koning chats to WPRFU President Zelt Marais about the latest boardroom drama.

CONTRACT NEWS: All Blacks, Crusaders and Northland midfielder Jack Goodhue has committed his long-term future to New Zealand.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Exeter suffered an injury scare when their Scotland international Stuart Hogg limped out of the Chiefs' 35-22 Premiership victory over Gloucester.

NEWS: The English Premiership confirmed that two players have tested positive in the latest round of the league's Coronavirus testing.

Andrew Brace has been appointed as the match referee for the PRO14 Final between Leinster and Ulster at the Aviva Stadium. 

REACTION: There is an outpouring of outrage over the 'slap on the wrist' treatment meted out to England captain Owen Farrell.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Melbourne Rebels head coach Dave Wessels has dropped a selection surprise for his team's Super Rugby AU semifinal against the Reds.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Queensland Reds have revealed their team to face the Melbourne Rebels in Saturday’s Super Rugby AU semifinal.

Jacob Umaga has made the English fans go into a frenzy after his exceptional performance against Leicester Tigers, with many calling for his immediate inclusion into the England squad.

PRO14 SPOTLIGHT: The tournaments Dream Team features four South Africans, even though only one actually comes from an SA franchise.

NEWS: Montpellier's France prop Mohamed Haouas is set to return for his Top 14 side this weekend after being penalised for off the field misdemeanours, coach Xavier Garbajosa said on Wednesday.

SPOTLIGHT: As that often-used sententia goes: 'Read between the lines.'

SPOTLIGHT: RugbyPass scribe Tom Vinicombe takes a look at the All Black players who returned from abroad to play in New Zealand's National Provincial Championship.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: The Fiji Rugby Union has confirmed that a teenage loose forward has been banned from all levels of rugby in Fiji and abroad for six years.

SPOTLIGHT: Ulster may start as the odds-on underdogs this weekend against Leinster in the PRO14 final, but if they are to have a chance, much of their forward momentum will come down to their “clutch player” – Marcell Coetzee.

INTERVIEW: Former All Blacks lock Isaac Ross' rugby future in Japan looks over -  Rugbypass writer Alex McLeod reports. 

NEWS: England coach Eddie Jones has reportedly taken on a second club team consultancy, adding MLR side San Diego Legion to his commitments with Suntory Sungoliath, the Japanese Top League outfit.

SPOTLIGHT: New reports suggest that Australia might be favourites to host the Rugby Championship.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: England captain Owen Farrell has pleaded guilty to his dangerous high tackle charge.

REACTION: Toulouse President Didier Lacroix said it was a difficult decision to move this month's European Champions Cup quarterfinal with Ulster to Stade Ernest Wallon.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Highlanders have raided the Crusaders once again as they look to re-build their squad for the 2021 Super Rugby campaign, signing Tongan utility back Fetuli Paea on a two-year deal.

NEWS: The brain drain at Newlands has gone into overdrive.

INTERVIEW: Breakdown menace Fraser McReight insists international rugby is a way off, despite establishing himself in the Reds' exciting young back row in 2020.

WATCH as Springbok duo Andre Esterhuizen and Wilco Louw talk about their first training session at the Harlequins.

MATCH REPORT: Bristol reclaimed second place in the Premiership after swamping Northampton 47-10 at Ashton Gate.

SPOTLIGHT: Fresh reports out of Europe suggest that Springboks will not be included in the Eight Nations tournament.

TRANSFER NEWS: NSW Waratahs confirmed Tom Robertson will not return to the club in 2021 after pursuing a playing opportunity elsewhere.

WATCH: Bristol Bears coach Pat Lam berated the sanction handed to Siale Piutau, using the pre-match interview of his side's 47-10 victory over Northampton Saints to air his views.

SPOTLIGHT: Being a flyhalf in New Zealand isn’t easy when you’ve got Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga competing for your position at All Blacks level.

The referee appointments for the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup quarter-final matches have been announced following a selection committee meeting chaired by EPCR’s Head of Match Officials, Joel Jutge.

NEWS: The Dragons completed all negotiations with its playing squad regarding salaries.

SPOTLIGHT: RugbyPass reporter Michael Pulman takes a look at the challenges facing New Zealand's National Provincial Championship.

TRANSFER NEWS: Sale Sharks confirmed that the club has reached an agreement with Rob Webber which will see the club’s former hooker make an emphatic return to professional rugby.

FOUR ROUNDS TO GO: There are just 20 points left on the table in the race for a place in the semifinals.

NEWS: Steve Diamond has revealed Sale Sharks will be sending seven players to join the Springboks training squad – minus the injured Lood de Jager.

INJURY UPDATE: All Blacks centre Braydon Ennor faces a lengthy injury lay-off after rupturing an ACL during New Zealand's North versus South game on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Melbourne's skipper Dane Haylett-Petty says they fancy their chances against the Reds in Saturday's Super Rugby AU semifinal in Brisbane.

NEWS: The draw for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France has been moved to December.

SPOTLIGHT: The Reds are light on finals experience when you glance at the team sheet, until you scroll down to superstar coach Brad Thorn.

NEWS: Andrew Kitchener of Worcester Warriors and Siale Piutau of Bristol Bears appeared before a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel.

WATCH: Thomas Ramos is all the rage in France after his magical pass started an exceptional Toulouse counter-attack but is this pass better than All Blacks legend Carlos Spencer?

NEWS: The All Blacks find themselves in a bizarre situation after they named their squad on Sunday.

NEWS: Brumbies revealed that local pathway product Mack Hansen has committed to the franchise for next season.

TRANSFER NEWS: Another South African player has moved overseas.

REACTION: World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper said it was "unfortunate" the French league who run the Top 14 are taking legal action against the sport's global governing body.

REACTION: The appointment of Ebrahim Rasool as the new Chairman of Western Province Rugby Football Union will 'usher in an exciting era for WP' says Zelts Marais.

NEWS: Leinster expect to have James Ryan available for selection for Saturday’s Pro14 final against Ulster following his remarkable recovery from shoulder surgery.

WATCH as World Cup-winning Springbok captain Siyamthanda Kolisi explains that while sport is a 'unifying factor', it is not the solution to all of society's ills.

The Premiership action continues to come thick and fast, with an enticing set of midweek fixtures to look forward to in Round 19.

NEWS: The bulk of the All Blacks squad named at the weekend will assemble with their National Provincial Championship teams this week.

Lood De Jager has injured his troublesome shoulder yet again - does this spell the beginning of the end for the Springbok star?

CONTRACT NEWS: The Hurricanes and New Zealand Rugby announced the re-signing of Fraser Armstrong through until the end of 2021.

TOP 14 SUNDAY SPOTLIGHT: Kotaro Matsushima's widely-anticipated debut in the French Top 14 lasted just 16 minutes on Sunday when he was forced off the pitch with a thigh injury.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Bulls continue their trend of luring players back from abroad.

NEWS: Melbourne will host a 2022 Bledisloe Cup Test after this year's match in Victoria was cancelled due to coronavirus.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Ian Foster has rewarded Super Rugby Aotearoa form in naming the first All Blacks squad of his tenure as coach of the New Zealand national team.

NEWS: Queensland prop Ruan Smith may miss the chance to suit up against his former team Melbourne in Saturday's Super Rugby AU sudden-death final after being sent for a COVID-19 test.

SQUAD NEWS: Western Force trio Kyle Godwin, Feleti Kaitu'u and Brynard Stander have been asked to remain in Sydney and join a host of NSW Waratahs players vying for a Wallabies berth later this year.

OPINION: Former England flyhalf and Rugbypass columnist Andy Goode weighs in on Owen Farrell's latest reckless tackle incident.

WATCH: Owen Farrell's non-existent tackle technique has once again been thrust into the limelight as the England captain finally saw red for a vicious challenge on Wasps' Charlie Atkinson.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Saracens’ Owen Farrell will appear before an online disciplinary panel on Tuesday.

New All Blacks Caleb Clarke and Hoskins Sotutu share a deep connection from their Dad's being teammates at the Blues.

REACTION: The Brumbies have urged officials to wise up to the Queensland Reds at scrum time in the Super Rugby AU finals after claiming they were hard done by in their loss at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: The culling of two independent directors of the board, Johan van der Merwe and Andre van der Veen, has caused more than just a stir in Western Province circles.

REPORT: Ulster ensured next weekend's Pro14 Final will be an all-Irish affair after mounting a storming comeback to beat Edinburgh at Murrayfield.

MATCH REPORT: New Zealand and the rest of the rugby world wanted an exciting game of rugby, and the North and South Islands delivered it.

NEWS: The Western Province boardroom drama added another chapter with the appointment of a new Chairman

After struggling with travel to and from Queensland in round 7 the Rebels don't want to make the same mistake twice and want their flight schedule changed.

SPOTLIGHT: The Rugby Championship have been dealt a blow with six Argentine players testing positive to COVID-19 while in a training camp.

TOP 14 WRAP: Maori flyhalf Ihaia West scored 24 points as New Zealand back row forward Victor Vito celebrated his 100th La Rochelle match with a 29-15 victory over Toulon in the French Top 14 on Saturday.

REACTION: Owen Farrell may miss Saracens' Champions Cup quarterfinal with Leinster as a result of his flawed tackling technique, but Director of Rugby Mark McCall insists he has improved.

REACTION: England skipper Owen Farrell could be ruled out of Saracens' European Champions Cup quarterfinal against Leinster after he was sent off for a dangerous, head-high tackle in a Premiership match on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby AU Round 10 encounter between the Melbourne Rebels and Western Force in Newcastle.

MATCH REPORT:  The Melbourne Rebels left it late to claim a hard-fought 34-30 win over Western Force in Newcastle. 

NEWS: Springboks Aphiwe Dyantyi finally has a confirmed date for his long-awaited career-defining dope hearing.

PRO14 REPORT: Leinster extended their winning streak to 24 games and moved one step closer to regaining their Pro14 crown with a bruising 13-3 victory over Munster at the Aviva Stadium.

PREMIERSHIP FRIDAY WRAP: Bristol Bears scores 26 unanswered points in the second half to thump Worcester Warriors 36-13 at Sixways on Friday.

NO HOLDS BARRED: The desire to watch rugby, after a five-month 'drought', may see Loftus Versfeld packet once again.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: World Cup-winning Springbok Francois de Klerk produced another masterclass as Sale Sharks strengthened their play-off push.

SPOTLIGHT: Legendary former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has finally revealed the best athlete he ever coached - and it's not Richie McCaw.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby AU Round 10 encounter between the Reds and Brumbies Brisbane.

TOP 14 REPORT: South African World Cup winner Handre Pollard kicked 13 points, but his Montpellier side suffered a last-gasp 23-26 defeat in the opening game of the new French Top 14 season on Friday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the long-awaited North versus South match in Wellington.

MATCH REPORT: The Queensland Reds will enter next weekend's Super Rugby AU preliminary final in top gear after a slick 26-7 defeat of the Brumbies on Saturday.

NEWS: Major League Rugby said Friday an exclusive negotiating agreement with a Hawaiian group for an expansion team expired with no deal.

SPOTLIGHT: The Highlanders announced that head coach Aaron Mauger would be parting ways with the Super Rugby franchise.

NATIONAL TRIAL: As much as the All Blacks selectors have tried to downplay the glaring hints that suggest this clash is nothing more than a national trial, the inter-island spirit of the occasion hasn't been lost on two of the fixture's key players.

SPOTLIGHT: The new French Top 14 season begins on Friday with a host of international names set make their debuts for their clubs over the weekend.

SPOTLIGHT: All Black legend Dan Carter believed he had a target on his jersey when he came up against one particular opponent. 

WALLABY TRIAL: The Queensland Reds will host the Brumbies in what could effectively be a Wallaby trial and also a preview of a possible Final two weeks later.

PLAY-OFF CONTENDERS: With just five rounds to go in the Premiership the race for the semifinals is hotting up, just 12 points separating the sides from third to eighth.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: With rugby in South Africa earmarked to start in October, sides have been working relentlessly to get up to competition standards.

TRANSFER NEWS: Saracens have secured the loan signing of Robin Hislop until the end of the 2019/20 season.

SPOTLIGHT: England coach Eddie Jones has been busy scouting players in person by attending multiple Premiership matches in recent weeks. 

SINK OR SWIM: The business end of the 2019/20 PRO14 season has arrived as four teams remain in contention to lift the title following the conclusion of a truncated regular campaign.

ROUND ONE: The new Top 14 season begins this weekend as Japan's "phenomenal" Kotaro Matsushima makes his competitive Clermont debut by hosting World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe's Toulouse.

NEWS: Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger was effectively sacked Thursday.

NEWS: England Rugby Football Union (RFU) has banned two club players from sport for anti-doping rule violations.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Wellington Lions will test their reserve strength in their first pre-season outing.

NEWS: There will be a more distinct Springbok flavour when the new European Cup season kicks off.

The referees for the Guinness Pro14 Semifinals have been announced while Angus Gardner and Nic Berry are the men in charge of the crucial Super Rugby Australia Round 10 matches.

OPINION: New Zealand's players have reacted to reports that South Africa may pack their collective bags and head north to European competitions.

SPOTLIGHT: The 2021 Women's Rugby World Cup will be the ninth edition of the prestigious event.

NEWS: The Queensland Reds have made two changes to their starting XV for Saturday’s Super Rugby AU clash against the Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium.

SPOTLIGHT: The Springboks' Rugby World Cup-winning flyhalf Handre Pollard has said he would welcome further South African sides joining the Pro14 in Europe.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Brumbies bolster their team with Wallabies.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS: Veteran All Black flyhalf Beauden Barrett will go head-to-head with rival Richie Mo'unga in the North v South Island match on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Dane Haylett-Petty has been cleared to return for the Melbourne Rebels ahead of their final regular-season match against the Western Force in Newcastle on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Western Force has made six changes to their squad to face the Melbourne Rebels in their final 2020 Super Rugby AU match at McDonald Jones Stadium in NSW on Saturday.

NEWS: Two trophies of different eras and origins will be up for grabs during the North versus South match.

NEWS: Officials aim to welcome up to 20,000 supporters to Twickenham for England's match against the Barbarians next month.

WATCH: World Cup-winning coach Rassie Erasmus owes a lot of his success to former Springbok coach Peter de Villiers when the latter asked him to join the Springboks at the 2011 World Cup.

NEWS: Plans for a Club World Cup have been confirmed this week by the Chief Executive of the organisers of the European Champions Cup.

NEWS: Five teams from the Pro14 are celebrating the achievements of their leading stars after the first lot of 2019/20 season awards were announced.

NEWS: Montpellier announced on Wednesday an unnamed player and a member of their coaching staff had tested positive for coronavirus, just two days from opening the new French Top 14 campaign.

SPOTLIGHT: Schalk Brits has named the player he thinks should replace RG Snyman in the Springboks squad.

NEWS: The Crusaders will be saying goodbye to one of their own.

REACTION: Billy Vunipola has again courted controversy when he revealed how his religion prevents him, as a non-white player, from supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.

SPOTLIGHT: The Western Force may be out of the running, but they can still have a massive say in the final make-up of the Super Rugby AU play-offs.

NEWS: USA Rugby's chapter 11 reorganization plan has received court approval, allowing the national governing body to emerge from bankruptcy.

NEWS: The Blues have been given a big boost.

SPOTLIGHT: The Springboks' World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe has revealed why he turned down an opportunity to join the national Sevens team at the Olympic next year.

NEWS: The European Professional Club Rugby board has revealed the new Champions Cup and Challenge Cup tournament formats for the 2020/21 season.

NEWS: Sir Donald Currie's donation to South African rugby will not be up for grabs this year.

OPINION: RugbyPass scribe Hamish Bidwell takes a look at the north versus south match and explains why it might be as good as it gets for New Zealand this year.

SPOTLIGHT: Western Province Rugby Union President Zelt Marais has backtracked and apologised for statements in an earlier media release.

NEWS: This weekend's opening match of French rugby's Top 14 season featuring Stade Francais against Bordeaux-Begles has been postponed.

SPOTLIGHT: South African rugby fans can expect some rugby matches soon.

REACTION: Japan fullback Kotaro Matsushima said the Brave Blossoms pulling out of a reported Eight Nations competition is a "disappointment".

SPOTLIGHT: Leinster may start as overwhelming favourites in their semifinal against Munster at the Aviva Stadium on Friday, but the danger of complacency could be their biggest foe.

NEWS: More tournaments have fallen victim to COVID-19.

SPOTLIGHT: Queensland's Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has described their final round Super Rugby AU game as a "massive grudge match" after being pipped in their clash last month.

REACTION: Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard has responded to reports linking him with a move from Montpellier to Bath at the end of the season.

SPOTLIGHT: Reece Hodge says the chance to make their first Super Rugby finals in 10 years is motivating the Rebels, but they don't expect the Western Force to make it easy.

SPOTLIGHT: SANZAAR chief executive Andy Marinos admitted Monday that Super Rugby sowed the seeds of its own demise

SPOTLIGHT: Scott Robertson has a specific role in mind to help the British and Irish Lions beat the Boks.

NEWS: SANZAAR CEO Andy Marinos has responded to claims that South Africa are set to shun the Rugby Championship this year and play in the north instead.

WATCH: World Cup-winning coach Rassie Erasmus is seen being extremely emotional about the Springboks' 2019 World Cup victory in the final teaser of the 'Chasing the Sun' documentary.

WATCH: Faf de Klerk was once again in sublime form for his club and by the look of it, the Springbok scrumhalf is getting better every time he steps onto the field.

OPINION: You would struggle to find too many individual campaigns that top that of the one turned in by Pieter-Steph du Toit last year, as the gifted blindside flank set new standards at his position.

NEWS: Scotland rugby union players agreed to pay cuts on Monday in a bid to ease the financial fall-out from the coronavirus pandemic.

WRAP: Saracens continue to show their superiority as they crushed London Irish 40-12 at Twickenham Stoop on Monday.

NEWS: England players have agreed to take a 25 percent salary cut in their new one-year deal with the Rugby Football Union to make amends for the financial crisis created by the pandemic coronavirus.

SPOTLIGHT: Munster will have a huge challenge on their hands when they face Leinster in their Pro14 semifinal on Friday.

NEWS: Brumbies confirmed that wing Andy Muirhead has re-signed with the club until the end of the 2022 season.

SPOTLIGHT: Munster's World Cup-winning Springbok Rudolph Snyman will continue to make a massive contribution to the Irish province, despite being sidelined with a knee injury.

PRO14 REPORT: Munster soared into the Pro14 semifinals with a 49-12 victory against 13-man Connacht to set-up a last-four encounter against fierce rivals Leinster.

In a completely senseless action a Fijian teenger punches the ref and breaks his nose. This could well have cost him his career as he now faces a lifetime ban from the game

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Forwards Jonny Hill and Sam Simmonds both scored hat-tricks as Exeter Chiefs extended their lead at the top of the standings.

NO HOLDS BARRED: Doubt about South Africa's participation in the Rugby Championship has raised the possibility that the Currie Cup could receive an even bigger Springbok injection.

SPOTLIGHT: Amy Perrett made history Friday by becoming the first woman to referee a men's Super Rugby game, a move she hopes will open the door to other females.

After Bryn Hall found he wasn't a part of the Auckland Blues future plans he re-invented himself and his game with the Crusaders

CONTRACT NEWS: Some of South Africa's rising stars have made a decision on their future in the game.

PRO14 REPORT: Jason Harries and Josh Adams scored a try each as Cardiff Blues condemned the Ospreys to bottom place in Conference A with a comfortable 29-20 win.

With the upcoming New Zealand North vs South game sandwiched between the last round clashes of the Rebels v Force and the Brumbies v Reds Aussies will be treated to a "super" Saturday of rugby this upcoming weekend.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Sale Sharks climbed to second in the Premiership standings after they thumped Bristol Bears 40-7 at the AJ Bell Stadium on Saturday.

With Japan having now officially pulled out of the autumn tournament to be held in France this November - Bernard Laporte is looking to South Africa to fill their place.

PRO14 REPORT: Monty Ioane's two tries helped Benetton get revenge on Italian rivals Zebre for last week's defeat as they edged a low-scoring contest 16-9 in Parma to finish fifth in Conference B.

REACTION: World Cup-winning Springboks captain Siyamthanda Kolisi has been dragged into a racial spat.

PRO14 REPORT: Leinster’s mammoth unbeaten run continued as they laid down a marker ahead of the Pro14 semifinals by beating Ulster 28-10 at the Aviva Stadium.

PRO14 REPORT: Scarlets ensured they did all they could in the battle to qualify for the Pro14 semifinals as they won their Welsh derby with Dragons at Rodney Parade in an entertaining encounter.

SUPER RUGBY AU REPORT: The Waratahs stayed alive in the play-off race with a thrilling 38-32 win over the Melbourne Rebels in Sydney on Saturday.

TOP FOUR BATTLE: Karl Dickson is the referee for the first Premiership Rugby game of Round 17, in a contest that could also go a long way to helping shed more light on the race for the top four.

NEWS: The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) have dropped its sevens programme as it tries to cope with the financial impact of COVID-19.

JACO KRIEL IN THE SPOTLIGHT: After nearly six months away from the field, the Lions' players are champing at the bit.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The Springbok-laden Sale Sharks team is desperate to get out of their slump and improve their play-off hopes.

NEWS: Two Springbok backs will make history when they battle it out in an MMA octagon.

MATCH REPORT: Danny Wilson toasted his first win as Glasgow Warriors head coach as Fraser Brown and Ratu Tagive tries beat Edinburgh in front of 700 supporters at BT Murrayfield.

NEWS: It seems like the drama in the Western Province boardroom is still far from dwindling down. 

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby AU Round Nine encounter between the Melbourne Rebels and Waratahs in Sydney.

SUPER RUGBY AU REPORT: The Brumbies advanced directly to the Final with a comprehensive 31-14 win over the Western Force in Canberra on Friday.

REACTION: South Africa's World Cup-winning replacements were nicknamed the 'bomb squad' because of the impact they made. Now the Brumbies have an equally efficient bench.

NEWS: Highlanders prop Daniel Lienert-Brown has been called into the South Island squad a week out from the highly-anticipated North v South clash.

MATCH REPORT: Canterbury have retained the Ranfurly Shield in emphatic fashion as they thumped North Otago 71-7 in their first pre-season outing in Christchurch.

NEWS: SA Rugby CEO has provided an update on South Africa's return to the rugby field.

BIG DASH FOR FINAL SPOT: Almost a year after the season began, the curtain is set to come down on the league campaign this weekend.

BREAKING NEWS: South Africa Rugby has revealed the cost of a ticket to watch the world champion Springboks take on the British and Irish Lions next year.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Blues have bolstered their squad with an All Black.

WATCH: The Pro14 has started their podcast with a bang as they bring in world-renowned referee Nigel Owens to share some funny stories of his experiences.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby AU Round Nine encounter between the Brumbies and Western Force in Canberra.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Bulls have signed an exciting and dynamic player.

NEWS: Japan have chosen against taking part in the year-end 'Eight Nations' tournament due to the coronavirus pandemic, sources told AFP on Thursday.

SPOTLIGHT: Crusaders coach Scott Robertson is more than capable of assisting British and Irish Lions and coaching Super Rugby champions Crusaders says CEO Colin Mansbridge.

NEWS: French professional clubs could lose between 30 and 35 million euros during the first two months of the season.

NEWS: South Africa's rugby players' organisation, MyPlayers, has released a statement regarding movements that have dominated the headlines recently.

SPOTLIGHT: Warren Whiteley has not given up hope of playing again and he is set to undergo surgery to give himself one last shot.

Watch: The Crusaders released an amazing highlights package of their victorious Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign where they focus on key moments that contributed to the victory.

WATCH: England's rising star Josh Hodge turned heads in his Exeter Chiefs debut and his performance has thrust him straight into the limelight for higher honours.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Canterbury is set to unleash a new crop of the region's talent.

SPOTLIGHT: Waratahs coach Rob Penney has given his side a licence to thrill in Saturday's must-win Super Rugby AU clash with the Melbourne Rebels.

The Gallagher Premiership and Guinness Pro14 are in full swing as they look to get through their respective competitions while Super Rugby Australia is edging ever closer to their business end.

TRANSFER TALK: Either Dane Haylett-Petty or Matt To’omua could join Michael Hooper on a Japan sabbatical, but not both, in a deal worked out with Rugby Australia and the Melbourne Rebels.

CONTRACT NEWS: The Sharks are continuing to secure their future with another player putting pen to paper.

PREMIERSHIP WEDNESDAY WRAP: Springbok scrumhalf Francois Hougaard was one of Worcester's four try-scorers in their 29-14 win over Harlequins at Sixways on Wednesday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Cheetahs and Southern Kings have shown the value South African teams can add to the Pro14 competition believes Edinburgh coach Richard Cockerill.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Waratahs will play out their final home fixture of Super Rugby AU this weekend, as they take on the Melbourne Rebels at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday.

INTERVIEW: Southern Kings interim coach Robbie Kempson chats to Jan de Koning about the best way forward for South African rugby.

SPOTLIGHT: Courtney Lawes sheds light on Dylan Hartley's relationship with England head coach Eddie Jones.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Melbourne Rebels head coach Dave Wessels has named just two changes to his starting lineup to face the Waratahs.

ROAD MAP TO SUCCESS: Melbourne feel the Brumbies may have revealed a road-map to Super Rugby AU success over the Waratahs that they can follow in Saturday's crunch match.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Centre Henry Taefu and utility back Marcel Brache will make their return to the starting line-up when the Western Force takes on the table-topping Brumbies.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Experienced scrumhalf Joe Powell has been recalled to the starting side for the Brumbies Round Nine Super Rugby AU showdown with the Western Force

NEWS: Rugby Australia and the New South Wales Rugby Union have confirmed that Michael Hooper will be leaving Australia.

NEWS: Argentina's preparations for the 2020 Rugby Championship have been thrown into disarray by six players testing positive for coronavirus in recent days.

SPOTLIGHT: Just a month after Crusaders tarnished the inaugural Super Rugby Aotearao trophy, Eden Park revealed one of its oldest secrets in regards to the North and South match.

NEWS: All Black wing Julian Savea has finally found a team.

NEWS: Wayne Pivac’s Wales have been dealt a blow ahead of the planned return of Test rugby.

NEWS: New Zealand's coronavirus-delayed North v South Island rugby showdown will now take place in Wellington without spectators.

NEWS: Munster coach Johann van Graan received the news he was dreading on Tuesday.

REACTION: PRO14 officials have insisted their tournament hasn’t become the PRO13 following the announcement on Tuesday morning that Southern Kings were shutting up shop.

SPOTLIGHT: Melbourne playmaker Andrew Deegan says he hasn't done the maths on the Super Rugby AU finals machinations but does know he wants to play four more games this season.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Sale Sharks got their season back on track with a 20-11 win over Wasps on Tuesday. 

REACTION: Sale Sharks wing Marland Yarde has condemned death threats received by some of his teammates, after a row erupted over their support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

TOP BILLING: Wayne Barnes is back in the middle for the first time since Premiership's restart, when he presides over the top-of-the-table clash between Bristol Bears and Exeter Chiefs on Tuesday.

NEWS: Ospreys and Wales wing George North has been banned for four games.

NEWS: New Zealand's Test schedule for the next July window has been revealed.

SPOTLIGHT: A month after being named New Zealand’s grubbiest player, All Blacks and Hurricanes hooker Dane Coles has opened up about some of the most notable on-field altercations he’s had with players from around the world.

CONTRACT NEWS: The Sharks continued locking in their high-profile internationals - including two Springboks.

NEWS: Waratahs have secured the signature of Tom Horton, with the talented young hooker putting pen-to-paper on a two-year deal.

BREAKING NEWS: The board of the Southern Kings has voluntarily withdrawn the team from participation in any planned domestic rugby competitions in 2020.

NEWS: Brumbies revealed that towering lock Cadeyrn Neville has re-signed with the club and Rugby Australia until at least the end of 2022.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Julian Savea returned to New Zealand earlier this year following a two-season stint in France and was promptly drafted into the Hurricanes Super Rugby Aotearoa squad.

NEWS: New Zealand's planned North-South match has stumbled into a new hurdle.

SPOTLIGHT: Former All Blacks captain Kieran Read has confirmed he will return to the Mitre 10 Cup this year after re-joining Counties Manukau.

SPOTLIGHT: While Springbok duo RG Snyman and Damian De Allende's Munster debut hogged all the headlines prior to the Pro14 restart, it was Edinburgh South African contingent that stole the show.

VIDEO: We're more accustomed to seeing George North on the receiving end of vicious tackles but he dealt one of his own when the Pro14 resumed.

VIDEO: BlitzBok stalwart Werner Kok and his Sharks teammates put on their dancing shoes to join in the craze of the Jerusalema Challenge.

OPINION: RugbyPass reporter By Finn Morton takes a look at Round Eight of Super Rugby AU and highlights the five stand-out players.

POST-MATCH REACTION: Munster paid a dear price for their 25-27 loss to Irish rivals Leinster in Dublin at the weekend.

WATCH as match officials make a questionable call when two players touch down simultaneously.

NEWS: French Top 14 club Lyon announced a positive coronavirus case in its squad less than two weeks before the start of the season.

SPOTLIGHT: The 2019-2020 Premiership season got back underway over the weekend and there were plenty of South Africans in action on the field.

NEWS: Argentina has suffered a blow to their preparations for the Rugby Championship.

REACTION: Sale Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond has urged South Africa's Minister for Sports, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa to focus on 'his own job'.

Wayne Barnes is back in the middle for the first time since Gallagher Premiership Rugby's restart when he presides over the top-of-the-table clash between Bristol Bears and Exeter Chiefs.

SPOTLIGHT: The question has to be asked: Have scrums become a 'boring' waste of time?

PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Semifinalists Ulster were pegged back in their pursuit of a first title since 2005/06.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Brumbies have all but locked in a home Super Rugby AU final.

PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Ashton Hewitt's last-gasp try broke 14-man Ospreys' hearts as Dragons snatched a dramatic 20-20 draw after George North saw red at the Liberty Stadium.

All Black Head Coach Ian Foster believes that with the improvement he's seen during Super Rugby AU Australian teams must be included in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition next year.

While the stocks of contracted players are looking healthy for New Zealand there are still some All Blacks without one.

With their whopping 38 - 11 win over the Waratahs the Brumbies have all but secured a home final for Super Rugby AU......or have they?

PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Leinster stretched their winning run to 22 matches with a thrilling 27-25 victory against rivals Munster in a game that went down to the wire.

SPOTLIGHT: Wellington is in the box seat to host the North versus South match after the Government denied exemptions for Auckland-based players and staff to travel next week.

NEWS: Clermont Auvergne have confirmed that a member of staff has tested positive for coronavirus with less than two weeks to go until the Top 14’s scheduled return.

PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Duhan van der Merwe’s moment of magic helped Edinburgh overcome Scottish rivals Glasgow Warriors to book their place in the PRO14 Final Series and seal the 1872 Cup for a third straight season with a 30-15 victory at BT Murrayfield.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP:  Following their shock win against Sale Sharks, Harlequins suffered a 24-38 defeat to Saracens on Saturday. 

PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Steff Evans sparkled as Scarlets ran in five tries to beat Cardiff Blues 32-12 as the PRO14 resumed in Wales.

SPOTLIGHT: He is a World Cup winner, but readily admits that he is nowhere near the player he wants to be.

SUPER RUGBY AU MATCH REPORT: The Brumbies booked their place in the play-offs with a 38-11 demolition of the Waratahs in Canberra on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok and Saracens prop Vincent Koch is relishing the challenge of facing his old team, the Stormers, in London.

NEWS: Just a week after the 'Rugby against Racism' slogan took centre stage of the Premiership competition, Pro14 has revealed how they will tackle the campaign.

PRO14 REPORT: Tommaso Boni and Jimmy Tuivaiti scored a try each as Zebre shocked rivals Benetton 17-13 in the first Pro14 match since March.

NEWS: Edinburgh's Pro14 game with Glasgow Warriors on August 28 will be the first rugby match in the United Kingdom since March to welcome spectators after the Scottish Government gave the green light.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Sharks have managed to retain the services of another key trio.

SUPER RUGBY AU MATCH REPORT: The Reds put their campaign firmly back on track with a bonus-point win over the hapless Western Force on the Gold Coast on Friday.

SPOTLIGHT: World Cup-winning Springbok Francois de Klerk has spoken out about those who doubted his abilities.

INTERVIEW: Former Blues and Scotland international Grayson Hart sheds light on the destructive phenomenon rugby players deal with.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby AU Round Eight encounter between the Brumbies and Waratahs in Canberra.

NEWS: New Zealand's much-anticipated North v South Island rugby match has been postponed.

NEWS: Crusaders coach Scott Robertson revealed Friday that he wants to join next year's British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, after being overlooked for the All Blacks job.

SPOTLIGHT: While all the talk has focussed on a Pacific Island team-based joining Super Rugby’s replacement next year, it appears that a sixth New Zealand franchise is also a very real possibility.

PREMIERSHIP FRIDAY WRAP: Premiership leaders Exeter Chiefs proved to be too strong for a Springbok-laden Sale Sharks team at the AJ Bell Stadium on Friday.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby and coach Jake White answers some pressing questions on team selection.

SOUTH AFRICAN FLAVOUR: Even without either of the South African teams in action, the competition's resumption will leave fans in the Republic with plenty to salivate over.

RACE TO THE PLAY-OFFS: A Springbok-laden Sale Sharks team will host Premiership leaders Exeter Chiefs.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby AU Round Eight encounter between the Western Force and the Reds on the Gold Coast.

INTERVIEW: Robbie Kempson is ready to 'step aside' and allow a new young coach to take over at the Southern Kings.

MIND GAMES: The trap was set but NSW coach Rob Penney refused to take the bait ahead of the Waratahs' Super Rugby AU grudge match against the Brumbies on Saturday.

VIDEO: With the Britsh and Irish Lions tour in less than a year, former Springboks coach Peter De Villiers shared a 'heartful' post-match speech following his team's win 11-year-ago.

TEAM UPDATE: Waratahs are on the road again in Round 8 of Super Rugby AU, as they travel to the nation's capital to take on the Brumbies.

TRANSFER NEWS: Chiefs lock Michael Allardice and utility back Tiaan Falcon have become the latest New Zealand players to head to Japan.

VIDEO: Josh Flook will make his Queensland Reds starting debut and after watching this highlights package, the future is most certainly bright for the former Australia Schools captain.

VIDEO: Harlequins loose forward Jack Clifford has been forced to retire from the game at the tender age of 27 following a shoulder injury and has opened up about it in a video posted by his club.

SPOTLIGHT: Quarantined Wayne Barnes hasn’t been the only high profile referee absent from duty for the opening two restart rounds of the Premiership – JP Doyle has also been nowhere to be seen.

CONTRACT NEWS: The Hurricanes have managed to retain the services of one of New Zealand's most creative backline players.

TRANSFER NEWS: Malcolm Marx's new home has been confirmed.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Waratahs are on the road again in Round Eight of Super Rugby AU, as they travel to the nation's capital to take on the Brumbies.

SPOTLIGHT: Warren Gatland's reputation has taken a battering after the Chiefs' horror show in Super Rugby Aotearoa.

REACTION: It was always going to be hot-blooded and predictably the first reaction from within the players' ranks was a charged response.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Brumbies coach Dan McKellar has made nine changes to the starting XV for Saturday's Round Eight Super Rugby AU blockbuster against arch-rivals the Waratahs at GIO Stadium.

SPOTLIGHT: Efforts by Stade Francais to pick up their stalled preparations for the new 2020/21 Top 14 season have been further delayed due to the severity of the positive coronavirus cases.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Queensland Reds have made one change to their starting XV for Friday's Super Rugby AU clash against the Force on the Gold Coast.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Head coach Tim Sampson has made two changes to the starting line-up as the Western Force prepare to take on the Queensland Reds at Cbus Super Stadium on Friday.

SPOTLIGHT: A Waratahs star has responded to a former SANZAAR boss' suggestion that the Brumbies should be one of two Australian teams cut from future competitions.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Worcester Warriors fullback Melani Nanai appeared before a virtual independent disciplinary panel following his red-card against Gloucester.

In the latest RugbyPass podcast, the Blues' James Parsons and Brad Weber of the Chiefs give their thoughts on a New Zealand XV picked purely based on form.

INTERVIEW: Playing for Glasgow Warriors meant more to Rory Hughes than just a job. 

NEWS: Harlequins and England loose forward Jack Clifford has confirmed that he has been forced to retire through injury.

SPOTLIGHT: With a trophy haul that includes NRL titles, a Super Rugby championship and a Rugby World Cup, Brad Thorn knows the recipe for success.

NEWS: The final round of Super Rugby AU has been dubbed “Super Saturday” with back-to-back matches now set to decide which teams will advance to the finals.

REACTION: South Africa Rugby will not rush into any irrational or emotional response in the wake of the fall-out over the Black Lives Matter events in the Premiership at the weekend.

SPOTLIGHT: When the Pro14 restarts this week, there will be a distinct focus on the South African players in the competition.

UPDATE: The Premiership South African players' refusal to take a knee in support of Black Lives Matter before the opening round of matches, could have tremendous consequences in South Africa.

NEWS: A limit in the amount of non-European players in a squad has been lifted as part of a host of changes for the postponed knock-out stages of this season's European club competitions.

SPOTLIGHT: Evens after New Zealand's inaugural Super Rugby Aotearoa it is still unclear who will don the All Blacks No.10 jersey.

Commentators make the viewing experience that much better and when they're "in the zone" they can make any game better.

The rugby world continues to come alive as the Guinness PRO14 returns and joins the Premiership and Super Rugby AU in the spotlight.

TRANSFER NEWS: Wasps' French loose forward Thibaud Flament said he was not able to refuse the offer of joining Toulouse with the likes of double World Cup winner Jerome Kaino on their books.

NEWS: Another key player has extended his stay with the Sharks.

NEWS: Munster and Ireland’s Joey Carbery will remain in the wars for another indefinite period of time following the latest update from the Irish province on his ongoing injury lay-off.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENTS: The squads for the eagerly-awaited North v South match scheduled for Saturday, August 29 in New Zealand have been named.

SPOTLIGHT: The clock is ticking ever louder as powerbrokers squabble over ways to save Super Rugby, after the coronavirus pushed the once admired Southern Hemisphere competition to the verge of collapse.

NEWS: The Brumbies announced that livewire wing Tom Wright has re-signed with the franchise and Rugby Australia for the 2021 season.

TRANSFER NEWS: London Irish have announced that Dan Norton, the leading try-scorer of all time in the sevens format, has agreed to link up with the club on a short-term contract.

NEWS: New Zealand Rugby has announced it is working on contingency plans for the highly-anticipated North vs South clash that is scheduled to be held in Auckland next week.

Stephen Hoiles former Wallaby loose forward has thrown his cap in the ring with regard to retaining Michael Hooper as national captain.

RESTART SPOTLIGHT: The Premiership is back on Friday, after the COVID-19-enforced lockdown.

SUPER RUGBY AU REACTION: Western Force flyhalf Jono Lance says he's still annoyed at himself for the penalty miss that cost his side victory against the Melbourne Rebels late last month

STAT ATTACK: It is only a matter of time before Crusaders' young star Will Jordan puts on an All Black jersey.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Rainbow Nation of South Africa will not be witnessing a World Cup on home soil in the near future.

SPOTLIGHT: The Waratahs are looking to end their losing streak against the Brumbies on Saturday when they take them on at GIO Stadium.

SPOTLIGHT: The Premiership is back and has already caused a major controversy as a few players opted against taking a knee in support of Black Lives Matter before the opening round of matches.

After their defeat at the hands of Exeter Chiefs this last weekend new head coach of Leicester Tigers, Steve Borthwick, wants them to learn from every game.

NEWS: The RFU have confirmed that Worcester Warriors’ Melani Nanai will face a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday following his red card against Gloucester.

MATCH REPORT: Wasps restarted their Premiership campaign with a dramatic 34-21 win over Northampton Saints at the Franklin’s Gardens.

SPOTLIGHT: All Blacks Lima Sopoaga and Owen Franks have found the English conditions a struggle to adapt to since moving from New Zealand

REACTION: Few people expected the Highlanders to enjoy much success in Super Rugby Aotearoa.

All Black prop Ben Franks believes he can make Welshman Samson Lee strong again and a great addition to the Welsh pack.

SPOTLIGHT: Has Jordie Barrett's phenomenal season in Super Rugby Aotearoa propelled him into the lead in the race to fill the no.15 jumper for the All Blacks?

INJURY UPDATE: Scans have cleared Melbourne Rebels playmaker Matt Toomua of a neck injury after his side's costly 19-3 loss to Queensland Reds.

South Africa's Cabous Eloff got hearts racing in Australia compliments of a wardrobe malfunction while Samoa's Melani Nanai's return to the playing field lasted less than 20 minutes.

TRANSFER NEWS: Sharks have announced that several first-team players have committed their futures to the franchise by signing contract extensions.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: A penalty try four minutes from time saw the Bears snatch a dramatic 16-12 victory over Saracens, as the Premiership returned to a rain-soaked Ashton Gate for the first time since March.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Exeter Chiefs extended their lead at the top of the Premiership standings with a 26-13 win against Leicester Tigers at Sandy Park on Saturday.

WATCH as we take a look at all the highlights from the Super Rugby Aotearoa Round 10 and Super Rugby Australia Round Seven.

MATCH REPORTS: The Reds have taken a huge step towards the finals with a 19-3 bonus-point win over the Melbourne Rebels on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby AU Round Seven encounter between the Reds and Melbourne Rebels in Brisbane.

The return of the Premiership will see Twickenham have a special artwork on the field as World Cup winner Francois de Klerk is one of three players to have their faces painted on the field.

SPOTLIGHT: Dylan Hartley compared coach Eddie Jones's regime to "brutal dance marathons in the Great Depression of the 1920s."

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Melani Nanai’s sending off proved decisive and costly for Worcester Warriors as they went down 15-44 to Gloucester at home on Saturday.

The Reds are starting to believe they could go all the way in Super Rugby AU according the scrumhalf Tate McDermott.

NEWS: Former Scotland captain John Barclay announced his retirement as a player on Saturday saying he is "eternally proud" to have skippered both his country and Welsh region the Scarlets.

Young Waratahs star Will Harrisons continues to put in exemplary performances at flyhalf and seems to have caught the attention of Wallabies head coach Dave Rennie

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Harlequins marked the return of the English Premiership after the coronavirus lockdown with a shock 16-10 win over a Springbok-laden Sale on Friday.

TRANSFER TALK: Bath reportedly are making a concerted bid to woo World Cup winner Handre Pollard into their fold!

REACTION: Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has offered an emotional apology to renowned Otaki carver Bill Doyle after his side's 'inappropriate' abuse of the Super Rugby Aotearoa trophy.

MATCH REPORT: The Highlanders bid farewell to the Super Rugby Aotearoa season in fine style.

MATCH REPORT: The NSW Waratahs have made a statement about their Super Rugby AU title intentions, taking down the Western Force 28-8 on Friday. 

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Bath beat London Irish 34-17 on a soggy field at the Rec on Saturday.

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

NEWS: The final match of Super Rugby Aotearoa has been cancelled, and now it looks like New Zealand’s highly anticipated North Island v South Island clash will also be impacted by the resurgence of COVID-19 in Auckland.

NEWS: The Super Rugby Aotearoa match between the Blues and Crusaders which was due to be played at Auckland's Eden Park on Sunday is officially off, confirmed New Zealand Rugby. 

NEWS: The latest results from the Premiership's COVID-19 screening programme makes for worrying reading.

NEWS: On the eve of the Premiership’s resumption, Bristol Bears announced that 33 first-team players have committed their futures to the club by signing contract extensions.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Hurricanes wing Kobus van Wyk was suspended for three weeks on Friday, ruling him out of the final round of Super Rugby Aotearoa.

SPOTLIGHT: While most South African professional rugby players are eager to return to the pitch in September, Springbok wing Aphiwe Dyantyi faces a career-defining battle.

BACK ON THE PITCH: The coronavirus pandemic has posed enormous challenges for clubs and leagues worldwide but for high-flying Bristol Bears it has been a "wonderful opportunity".

UNCERTAIN TIMES: The New Zealand rugby community is waiting with bated breath for the speech of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Friday.

NEWS: PRO14 side Munster have issued a medical update after one of their academy players tested positive for coronavirus.

HOST WITH THE MOST: Australia has received another boost in their bid to host the 2027 World Cup, with World Rugby set to announce the next two men’s and women’s tournament hosts at the same time.

England utility back Jack Nowell goes against the clock to put his skills and physical conditioning to the test in a brutal obstacle course, designed to test every facet of his game.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: France head coach Fabien Galthie' has selected sevens star Virimi Vakatawa as his no.13 in the midfield for France's upcoming clash with England.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby AU Round Seven encounter between the Western Force and the Waratahs on the Gold Coast.

NEWS: The Premiership returns to action this week, with the #BLM slogan front and centre of the competition's first round of action since March.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Highlanders co-captains will bring up special milestones against the Hurricanes on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Jordan Petaia will return to the wing while Tate McDermott and Fraser McReight are back in the Queensland Reds’ starting side.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Melbourne Rebels head coach Dave Wessels has rewarded his chargers for their victory over the table-topping Brumbies.

NEWS: There is only one thing on the players' minds.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Captain Ian Prior will make his return from injury when the Western Force take on the Waratahs on the Gold Coast this Friday.

BULLSEYE: They may be winless but there's no chance of the Western Force ambushing the Waratahs in Friday's Super Rugby AU clash on the Gold Coast.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: NSW Waratahs will head to the Gold Coast this Friday to take on the Western Force in Round 7 of Super Rugby AU.

SPOTLIGHT: South Africa's World Cup-winning scrumhalf Cobus Reinach hopes playing alongside Test flyhalf Handre Pollard at Montpellier will help him claim a starting Springboks place.

NEWS: Premiership Rugby on Wednesday revealed the results of their latest weekly round of COVID-19 testing.

NEWS: New Zealand Rugby is hopeful that one of their two scheduled Super Rugby Aotearoa final round matches can be played after the NZ government's latest COVID-19 announcement.

NEWS: Bath has hired a former England assistant as their new head coach on Thursday.

NEWS: There could be a bright future for Australian rugby after all.

BREAKING NEWS: Director of Rugby Jake White has revealed his captain for the Currie Cup competition.

The Blues' James Parsons and Crusaders' Bryn Hall would love to see the likes of Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje turn out in Super Rugby, the pair revealed on RugbyPass' podcast when host Ross Karl posed the question.

NEWS: The 2019/2020 Premiership season will get back underway this weekend and Harlequins will have to get back into action without their new Springbok signings.

INTERVIEW: The unfancied Melbourne Rebels say they are eyeing the Super Rugby AU title after upsetting the previously unbeaten Brumbies.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP NEWS: Argentina have named a 46-man squad in preparation of this year's Rugby Championship as training restarts following a five-month hiatus.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Hurricanes have revealed their team to face the Highlanders in Dunedin.

NEWS: Saracens confirmed that long-serving club man Alex Goode has extended his contract until 2023.

NEWS: A former midfielder has been unveiled as the new head coach of Manu Samoa.

NEWS: The brand-new Super Rugby Aotearoa trophy needs urgent repairs after it was dropped and damaged during the Crusaders' title celebrations.

INTERVIEW: Leinster coach Stuart Lancaster has spoken out for the first time about reports linking him to the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa.

NEWS: Hopes that French rugby could quickly ramp up and begin to accommodate large crowds were dealt a blow on Tuesday.

REACTION: Wallaby hooker Jordan Uelese says he hopes the 2021 Super Rugby format is decided upon sooner rather than later so players can secure their future.

SPOTLIGHT: Highlanders assistant coach Tony Brown believes Super Rugby Aotearoa is the way forward for New Zealand Rugby.

NEWS: Ireland could be without a big name when the 2020 Six Nations resumes in October.

Kaplan and Pollack selected to lead MLR in the USA in it's bid to produce top quality referees.

The Crusaders are Super Rugby Aotearoa champions, the Brumbies have been beaten and Premiership Rugby is back!

TRANSFER NEWS: World Cup-winning Springboks centre Lukhanyo Am has signed a contract extension with Super Rugby side Sharks.

TRANSFER NEWS: London Irish has managed to secure the signature of one of the game's most capped internationals.

Before the British and Irish Lions' Tour of New Zealand, coach Warren Gatland brought in a musical director to teach his players various lyrics of songs chosen by the players themselves.

SPOTLIGHT: Former Bulls prop Pierre Schoeman will be able to represent Scotland much sooner than expected.

NEWS: The annual Highlanders awards were held on Monday, at the start of the final week of the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition.

BREAKING NEWS: The conclusion of New Zealand's successful Super Rugby has been cast in doubt because of a surge in COVID-19 cases.

REACTION: The Crusaders' win over the Highlanders at the weekend has reignited the debate around the quality of major competitions in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere.

NEWS: The Hurricanes' South African wing Kobus van Wyk will have a few sleepless nights this week.

NEWS: A player has been sacked after being under the influence of alcohol in a car crash.

TRANSFER NEWS: Springbok Albertus 'Kwagga' Smith has agreed to a new deal with Japan-based club Yamaha Jubilo.

SPOTLIGHT: Even the most stable clubs in the Premiership are beginning to feel the cash crunch and running into the red.

SPOTLIGHT: Former Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt is being lined up for a high profile position with World Rugby. 

SPOTLIGHT: RugbyPass reporter Jamie Lyall speaks to a Scottish-qualified, 203-centimetre Nigerian teenager lumbering around the paddocks of South Africa.

REACTION: The Crusaders claimed New Zealand's Super Rugby title with a game to spare, but coach Scott Robertson did not produce his customary post-title breakdance routine.

NEWS: Duane Vermeulen gets caught out by cyber hackers and threatened with blackmail.

SPOTLIGHT: Having clinched the Super Rugby Aotearoa title with a round to spare, don’t expect the Crusaders to front up against the Blues with a full-strength team in the final round of action this Sunday.

REACTION: Stade Francais have been forced to cancel their next friendly with Brive due to a significant proportion of their club testing positive for COVID-19.

OPINION: Alex McLeod looks at the top five performers from Round nine of Super Rugby Aotearoa.

OPINION: Finn Morton looks at the top five performers from Round six of the Super Rugby Australia.

INTERVIEW: Reds skipper Liam Wright says his team will quickly move past their disappointing Super Rugby AU loss to the Waratahs and look to take down Melbourne.

NEWS: Rugby Australia will go to market with a new broadcast package that includes new competitions and has given New Zealand a deadline for a trans-Tasman deal.

SPOTLIGHT: England coach Eddie Jones has spoken about his plans for players from relegated club Saracens.

NEWS: Sam Cane, floored by a collision with Jordie Barrett's knee, has revealed the extent of his injuury.

Kobus van Wyk cited by commission for foul play - to appear before Foul Play Review Committee before leaving for his new club Leicester Tigers.

SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA MATCH REPORT: The Crusaders were crowned champions of New Zealand's domestic competition after a second-half blitz took the wind out of the Highlanders' proverbial sails.

All Black Sevu Reece and Blues winger Mark Telea have been snaffled by Tasman to play for them in this years Mitre 10 Cup

WATCH as we bring you all the highlights form the weekend's Super Rugby action in New Zealand and Australia.

REACTION: After a woeful start to the year, the Waratahs are suddenly back in the mix for the Super Rugby AU play-offs.