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RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: James O'Connor and David Pocock are to join the Wallabies in South Africa.

WATCH all the highlights from weekend's Super Rugby quarterfinal action.

WATCH as we bring you all the highlights from the weekend's main events!

Eyes will be on Wellington this weekend when the two teams that won in Round 1 of the Rugby Championship. New Zealand and South Africa, meet down in windy Wellington with Nic Berry to see fair play.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: As the All Blacks chase a third straight World Cup in Japan, the schoolboy rugby competitions that forged many of New Zealand's stars face an "alarming" fall in player numbers amid concerns about elite schools poaching top talent.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Rugby365's infamous Schools Top 20 turned 20 this year, and it's doing something it has not done before.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Springboks and the All Blacks have met 14 times in Wellington, notorious for its wind. Paul Dobson looks at six of the most sensational; games in the New Zealand capital!

WATCH: Rugby was very different back in 1981.

REACTION: All Blacks coach Steve Hansen admits starting his two world-class flyhalves Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo'unga against South Africa is a gamble.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Christian Lealiifano will start his first Test in three years.

SQUAD UPDATE: England have been forced to bring in an uncapped flank following Brad Shield's injury.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus wants more consistency out of his team, who he says aren't yet good enough to win three knockout games at a World Cup.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand and South Africa have a long and rich history of encounters on the rugby field.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Blue Bulls have opted to bring a new flyhalf as they make two changes for the Currie Cup clash against Pumas on Friday.

It is one of the game's biggest rivalries, which is why @King365ed and @LoffieEloff dedicate so much time to analysing the @SanzarTRC Round Two encounter between the @AllBlacks and @Springboks.

ANALYSIS: Michael Cheika’s Wallabies are continuing in the same direction as they were last year, after an opening 35-17 blowout loss at Ellis Park to what was described as a Springboks ‘B’ side, Rugbypass writer Ben Smith explains.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Pumas have made a number of changes, as they look to record their first win of the season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Veteran hooker Agustin Creevy has been left out due to injury as Argentina coach Mario Ledesma made five changes to his side to face Australia in the Rugby Championship on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: All Black coach Steve Hansen named a team with a wealth of experience, to play South Africa in a crucial Rugby Championship Test in Wellington on Saturday.

LISTEN as Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus chats about the importance of the Rugby Championship encounter between New Zealand and South Africa on Saturday.

NEWS: Argentina skipper Pablo Matera is keen on a move to Australia.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: It took some convincing, but veteran Wallabies hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau is keen to test his level now he's back and chasing a potential third World Cup berth.

TRANSFER NEWS: London Irish has secured the services of Tonga international Steve Mafi, who will join the club early in the 2019/20 season.

OPINION: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus named his much-changed team to line up against the All Blacks in Wellington this weekend. Here is what readers thought of it ...

WATCH: Who remembers this one-point thriller between the All Blacks and Springboks from 2017?

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Experienced No.8 Duane Vermeulen will lead the Springboks against the All Blacks on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Former Stormers utility back EW Viljoen opens up about his new club Leicester Tigers teammates and linking up with old ones Jaco Taute and Hanro Liebenberg.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Former Springbok captain Warren Whiteley says he is "on track" to make a last-ditch bid for a place in the World Cup squad.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Not only is New Zealand's schoolboy rugby participation in a downward spiral, but they are also pulling out all the stops to reignite the countries Sevens passion and unearth new talent.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: A leading Premiership club chairman is predicting that a 24-team British League could be “up and running in two years” according to reports.

OPINION: There were a number of standout performers in Round One of Rugby Championship 2019.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: The second row battle looms as key in the crucial showdown between New Zealand and South Africa.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: The second row battle looms as key in the crucial showdown between New Zealand and South Africa.

NEWS: Mike Ford’s role at Leicester Tigers has been revised ahead of the new season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: South Africa close in on fourth place in the World Rugby Rankings with victory over Australia, while New Zealand survive a scare to keep their unbeaten record against Los Pumas intact.

OPINION: The loose forward mix has been an area of huge debate for the All Blacks in 2019.

NEWS: Toulouse's veteran Samoa forward Joe Tekori announced his immediate retirement from international rugby, less than two months from the start of the World Cup.

OPINION: The Free State Cheetahs started their Currie Cup campaign with a bang in Pretoria.

NEWS: Stade Francais' South African back row forward Hendre Stassen faces a possible four-year doping suspension.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Eddie Jones has referred to his side’s game as a ‘modern’ version of English rugby, an attempt at refreshing an old way of playing, Rugbypass writer Ben Smith make sense of it all.

Grey College of Bloemfontein still reign supreme, this time in a huge victory over their namesakes of Port Elizabeth while Paarl Boys' High had a strong win over their neighbours Boland Landbou.

WATCH as Sibusio Nkosi round of a spectacular Springboks' try during the 35-17 win over the Wallabies on Saturday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Cheetahs continue to boost their backline stocks as they managed to sign a highly-rated 22-year-old Cape Town wing.

NEWS: Injury-ravaged All Blacks midfielder Sonny Bill Williams looks set to make his first international appearance of the year this weekend after reportedly overcoming a hamstring niggle.

SQUAD UPDATE: A few Springboks returned to training for Western Province on Monday.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Cynics abound, but the players believe in the direction Rassie Erasmus is taking the Springboks.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: The clash with the Los Pumas is Australia's last before back-to-back Bledisloe Cup Tests against New Zealand.

INJURY UPDATE: The Bulls have suffered a big blow ahead of their crucial Currie Cup match against the Pumas in Nelspruit on Friday.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: England head coach Eddie Jones has called up 38 players for the third Rugby World Cup training camp in Treviso, Italy.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The passionate emotions of the curtailed Currie Cup have hardly subsided and already there is another desperate plea not to further devalue the competition.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: South African coach Rassie Erasmus hopes his gamble to send an advance party to New Zealand will bear fruit this week.

South Africa's Herschel Jantjies had a blinder in his Test debut, his second try a piece of individual brilliance that will be remembered for a long time!

REACTION: Poor body language and a horrendous kicking game are the causes for Western Province's defeat to the Sharks says head coach John Dobson.

INJURY UPDATE: Flying Fijians coach John McKee is set to unleash two of his most potent attacking weapons during the Pacific Nations Cup.

REACTION: Scrumhalf Nic White says the Wallabies don't need to change too much to beat Argentina in Brisbane, but need to take their opportunities.

REACTION: Less than a year ago, South Africa's scrumhalf stocks looked rather adulterated.

REACTION: New Zealand coach Steve Hansen admitted his team was fortunate to escape with the four-point win over Argentina.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus confirmed the touring squad of 36 players for their Rugby Championship matches against New Zealand and Argentina in the next three weeks.

OPINION: The Wallabies open their Rugby Championship campaign with a 17-35 defeat to the Springboks. 

OPINION: Debutant scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies scored two tries as South Africa beat Australia 35-17 Saturday in the opening match of the Rugby Championship season in Johannesburg.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Fiji head coach John McKee on Sunday named a strong 27-man squad, dominated by Europe-based players.

OPINION: The All Blacks put in a solid defensive display in the second half to beat Argentina 20-16 in Buenos Aires. 

OPINION: Argentina has come within four points of securing a famous maiden win over New Zealand in their opening Rugby Championship clash of the year in Buenos Aires.

MATCH REPORT: Depleted New Zealand survived a second-half onslaught from Argentina to win a Rugby Championship first-round match 20-16 in Buenos Aires Saturday.

INJURY UPDATE: Argentina will look to continue on from their spirited performance against the All Blacks in Buenos Aires when they take on the Wallabies in Brisbane this Saturday.

REACTION: Despite South Africa's 35-17 win over Australia, head coach Rssied Erasmus knows his side is far from where they need to be.

OPINION: Below is the jerseys of some of the main teams at the World Cup in Japan.

In the final of World Rugby's Under-20 Trophy tournament played in Brazil, Japan won 35-34 against Portugal.

The Annual Winter Day weekend, the South African College High School (SACS) against Paul Roos Gimnasium, culminated as usual with the 1st XV Rugby match. After a bitterly cold and wet week the sun came out to greet the players and the match was played in perfect conditions. SACS gave a good account of themselves in an entertaining match but the power of the Paul Roos pack eventually told, and the visitors ran out comfortable 42-14 winners (halftime: 14-6).

World Rugby has announced the names of match officials appointed to the pool matches of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The man who will blow the whistle to start the first match of the World Cup is Nigel Owens of Wales.

REPORT: Fiji's World Cup preparations suffered a setback Saturday when they were beaten 26-17 by a re-energised Maori team in Rotorua.

CONTRACT NEWS: All Blacks utility back Jordie Barrett is set to announce his playing future with regard to which Super Rugby franchise he will play for as early as next week.

On their field burnt brown by frost, Grey College beat the visiting Grey High from Port Elizabeth 58-0 on Saturday afternoon, completing a hat-trick of big wins after 73-10 in 2017 and 63-8 in Port Elizabeth last year.

NEWS: World Rugby has announced the match official appointments for the 40 matches that comprise the Rugby World Cup 2019 pool stage.

REACTION: Australia head coach Michael Chieka lamented Taniela Tupou's yellow card as the 'wrong call'.

All of the current schools in the Top 20 were in action this past weekend. Five of them lost but all to fellow Top 20 teams.

CURRIE CUP REPORT: The Free State Cheetahs are got their 2019 Currie Cup campaign off to the perfect start with a 43-27 win over the Blue Bulls in Pretoria on Friday.

NEWS: Two weeks after reports emerged suggesting that former All Blacks loose forward Adam Thomson was set to sign a deal with North Harbour ahead of the upcoming NPC campaign, Otago have voiced their interest in pursuing the 37-year-old, three weeks out from the new season.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Frans Steyn has played in every position, bar scrumhalf, for the Springboks.

CURRIE CUP REPORT: The Sharks put their campaign back on track with a hard-earned 32-27 win over Western Province in Durban on Saturday.

Some of the biggest legends of the game arrived at the Wanderers Rugby Club in Johannesburg on Thursday to pay their last respects to an ex-teammate.

REACTION: There has been widespread approval from players and former players after World Rugby recently outlawed ‘pre-loading’ in scrums.

MATCH REPORT:  Herschel Jantjies showed his tremendous class during the Springboks 35-17 win over the Wallabies at Ellis Park on Saturday. 

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand has been the top-ranked team since November 16, 2009 - undoubtedly the best and most consistent team.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to @rugby365's live coverage of the opening Rugby Championship Test between Argentina and New Zealand in Buenos Aires.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to @rugby365's live coverage of the opening Rugby Championship Test between South Africa and Australia at Ellis Park.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: The fairytale rise of South African scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies continues at Ellis Park on Saturday.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to the Currie Cup Round Two encounter between the Sharks and Western Province in Durban.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: SA Rugby will officially launch a campaign against racism and all forms of discrimination during the Rugby Championship Test against Australia at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Australia's depleted front row could be their 'soft underbelly' in their encounter with South Africa at Ellis Park on Saturday.

The pool matches in World Rugby's Under-20 Trophy tournament, taking place in Brazil, are over, and the play-offs take place on Sunday, 21 July 2019.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Australia have the potential to cause yet another Rugby World Cup surprise later this year in Japan, according to former New Zealand captain Richie McCaw.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Coach Jamie Joseph has whittled down his 42-man World Cup training squad to 31 for the upcoming Pacific Nations Cup.

WATCH as Andrew Forde is back on the good stuff, helping himself crack out another brilliant video.

WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN: With just over two months until Samoa’s World Cup campaign gets underway, preparations for rugby’s showpiece event in Japan are going better than ever for the 16th-ranked side in the world.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has been quick to quash any suggestions his side are showing the Wallabies disrespect by rolling out what appears to be a second-string team for the Rugby Championship clash.

CURRIE CUP REPORT: Griquas made it two wins from two matches when they beat the Pumas 37-29 in a thrilling Currie Cup encounter in Kimberley on Friday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The cut-throat nature of the Currie Cup this year means there is no place for slip-ups and the Blue Bulls and Sharks will be acutely aware of that.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND ONE: This year the teams have eyes, minds and hearts fixed on the World Cup, which kicks off in Japan in September.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND ONE: Argentina is looking to maintain the momentum from the Jaguares' remarkable Super Rugby season as they bid for a first-ever victory over New Zealand on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: With the Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus set to vacate his role after the World Cup, the daunting task of finding a replacement has the rumour mill spinning.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to the Currie Cup Round Two encounter between the Blue Bulls and Free State Cheetahs in Pretoria.

SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT: Like all thing social, a new trend has hit the social media platforms namely the #40yearchallenge.

REACTION: There was plenty of fighting talk from Wallaby coach Michael Cheika in the build-up to their opening Test of the year.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to the Currie Cup Round Two encounter between Griquas and the Pumas in Kimberley.

OPINION: South Africa's premier domestic competition got underway with the ultimate jaw-dropper.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Two European-based players will start for Argentina when they host New Zealand in the opening round of the Rugby Championship.

REACTION: Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has pin-pointed different reasons why he selected this specific team to face Australia in the Rugby Championship opener in Johannesburg on Saturday.

There are three Paarl Schools that have earned rugby respect throughout South Africa - Paarl Boys' High, Paarl Gim and Boland Landbou. Two of those schools meet when Boys' High play host to Landbou.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Free State Cheetahs have revealed the side that will face the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.

This Saturday 20 rugby teams of Grey High School will leave the sea and go up over the mountains to play Bloemfontein's Grey College in a Premier Interschools fixture.

NEWS: The Cape Town Sevens will undergo a major makeover this year.

REACTION: Wallaby coach Michael Cheika has reaffirmed that he will walk away from the top job if they don't win this year's World Cup in Japan.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Pumas team to face Griquas in a Currie Cup Round Two encounter in Kimberley on Friday shows a couple of changes.

The southern part of Cape Peninsula is blessed with many great schools and two of them meet on the rugby fields of Rondebosch Boys' High on Saturday when Wynberg Boys' High comes to play.

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

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The All Blacks team has been named to play Argentina in the Rugby Championship Round One Test at the Jose Amalfitani Stadium (Estadio Velez Sarsfield) in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks side named to take on Western Province in Saturday’s round two Currie Cup clash has just one change as the coaching staff look to grow and develop the team without disruption.

OPINION: It’s been 34 years since the All Blacks first faced off against the Pumas in Buenos Aires on October 26, 1985.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Wallabies have named a mixed squad to face South Africa in their Rugby Championship Test in Johannesburg.

WATCH as Stormers scrumhalf Herschel Janjties shows why he could be a vital component for the Springboks at the World Cup.

LISTEN as @King365ed and @LoffieEloff unpack the week's most arresting and riveting news of the past week.

ROUND TWO: Fiji Rugby Head Coach John McKee has named a formidable Fiji side for their final Pacific Series Test match against the Maori All Blacks in Rotorua on Saturday.

When kikuyu grass came to the barren fields of Johannesburg, the schools were eager to change from soccer to rugby. Two of those who changed early were Jeppe High School for Boys and King Edward VII school, and then they started playing each other.

NEWS: The wheels are in motion to find a successor for coach Michael Cheika if the Wallabies do not win the Rugby World Cup later this year.

NEWS: After five seasons with the Sharks, initially as an assistant coach and thereafter as Head Coach, Robert du Preez is heading for the exit door.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Experienced lock Eben Etzebeth was on Wednesday named as Springbok captain for Saturday’s first Rugby Championship match against Australia in Johannesburg

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Christian Lealiifano won’t be there to see it but he’s backing his Brumbies teammate Tom Banks to handle the Springboks at the Ellis Park cauldron in the Rugby Championship Test on Saturday.

South Africa host Australia in Round One of the 2019 Rugby Championship. Let’s recap what happened when these two met last year.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Former Bulls and Springbok wing Bjorn Basson has been named in the Griquas team that will take on Pumas on Friday in Kimberley.

NEWS: In 72 days South Africa will raise the curtain on the new Pro14 campaign when the Cheetahs host 2015 champions Glasgow Warriors in Bloemfontein on September 27.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: SA Rugby announced the names of two squads of players chosen after the Craven Week in Bloemfontein earlier this month.

INJURY UPDATE: Sonny Bill Williams is unlikely to recover from a hamstring injury in time to play for New Zealand against Argentina.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: James O'Connor was actually the one who pushed for unprecedented behavioural clauses to be inserted in his Rugby Australia (RA) and Queensland contract to prove he's put his bad-boy days behind him.

TRANSFER NEWS: Another Sharks player will be making the move to England.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP COUNTDOWN: The Wallabies will not have history on their side when they face the Springboks at Eilis Park on Saturday.

NEWS: World Rugby has announced details of a minor amendment to the scrum law, reducing the ‘axial’ or rotational load on front row players on engagement.

TRANSFER NEWS: France discard Mathieu Bastareaud will join Lyon in the French Top14 until the end of the World Cup, the club said on Wednesday.

SQUAD UPDATE: Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has trimmed his squad ahead of their Rugby Championship opener against South Africa at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: The Rugby Championship trophy is once again pushed further into the shadows of irrelevance in a World Cup year.

Dale College travel 120 km from their King William's Town home on a wintry day to play St Andrew's College, a match first played in 1923.

Watch as Juandre Kruger confirms that he will return to the Bulls.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks have certainly been busy spring cleaning following the Super Rugby 2019 season.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Springbok backs coach Mzwandile Stick is excited at the prospect of Elton Jantjies and Herschel Jantjies teaming up as the halfback combination.

WATCH as England Rugby give the public unprecedented access to their World Cup training camps.

TRANSFER NEWS: Aside from their coaching exodus and shocking Currie Cup defeat to Griquas, the Sharks have now lost the services of one of their star utility backs.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Despite the ever-present temptation of overseas cash, there’s still unquestionable depth within New Zealand right now.

NEWS: The Sharks have revealed their new Chief Executive Officer.

TRANSFER NEWS: James O'Connor's Wallabies' career may get a reboot as soon as this weekend.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks are busy picking up the pieces after their embarrassing 13-37 defeat to Griquas in the opening round of this year's Currie Cup.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Lodewyk de Jager required just 55 minutes to show his true value to South Africa.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: An Australian team in need of new attacking weapons without Israel Folau won't rule out introducing a Brumbies-style rolling maul to their World Cup arsenal

INJURY UPDATE: The Blue Bulls' front row woes have been compounded ahead of their Currie Cup Round Two encounter with the Free State Cheetahs.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wiehahn Herbst will start at prop and flank Marco van Staden will play off the bench when the Blue Bulls take on the Free State Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.

There were many really big wins to kick off the third term, notably for Grey Bloem, Affies, Menlopark, Paarl Boys' High, Oos-Moot, Burgersdorp and Garsfontein in their 108-point match.

REACTION: The Wallabies won't let Johannesburg's criminals deter them from enjoying their tour of South Africa.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Springboks and Sharks prop Tendai 'Beast' Mtawarira believes that winning the World Cup would eclipse everything he has achieved in his glittering career so far.

The rugby championship starts in this crowded year with the World Cup just around the corner.

BREAKING NEWS: The Springboks have lost one of their speedsters to injury.

REACTION: Despite being depleted by national Springbok call-ups and departures after a disappointing Super Rugby season, the Golden Lions showed tremendous fighting spirit during their win over Pumas.

SCHOOLS REPORT: In what is always one of the more festive and enjoyable fixtures of the season, it was the St Andrew’s College 1st XV that came away with the victory against a gutsy and determined Marlow side in a hot and dry Cradock on Saturday.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Bulls have bolstered their back-row stocks with a familiar face.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: All Blacks star Dane Coles is determined not to be part of the first All Blacks team to lose to Argentina.

As usual, Rondebosch were first in with the results of all their matches with powerful Paarl Gim. Next in were Oakdale with their results against powerful Paarl Boys' High.

INTERVIEW: To understand Cornal Hendricks’ insatiable desire to succeed you have to go back to a little house on the cruel streets of South Africa’s Western Cape.

OPINION: On Saturday, Fiji played their first match of the year and unequivocally announced that their World Cup opposition will need to be at the top of their game to knock over the island nation later in the season.

REACTION: It might not be the 'most progressive tactic' but it deserves credit for the Western Province's win over Blue Bulls says head coach John Dobson.

SEVENS NEWS: Both Britain's Sevens teams qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games after England's men and women won their tournaments on Sunday.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Despite being without eight frontline players, New Zealand is unperturbed by the challenge of facing a much-improved Argentinean team in Buenos Aires.

REACTION: The Pumas head coach Jimmy Stonehouse revealed that his team financial state could have horrendous ramifications.

PRO14 SPOTLIGHT: Worcester Warriors coach Rory Duncan and former Springbok coach Peter de Villiers have emerged as two of the leading candidates to fill the Southern Kings vacant coaching job.

NEWS: Australia prop Taniela Tupou has been attacked and robbed outside the team's hotel in South Africa on Saturday.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Eddie Jones has named a 40-man England squad for their second week of training.

The farmers came to town on Saturday 13 July. Boland Landbou travelled to the South African College High School (SACS) where they had not won since 2011. Leading 20-3 within fifteen minutes it looked as if Boland would comfortably break their duck but a determined fightback by SACS meant it was ultimately a nail-biting finish.

LISTEN as @King365ed and @LoffieEloff shine the spotlight on the @SanzarTRC - which gets underway when the @Springboks host the @qantaswallabies at Ellis Park this coming Saturday, July 20.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok wing Aphiwe Dyantyi says he and his teammates cannot contain his excitement at the prospect of playing for South Africa at the World Cup later this year.

TRANSFER NEWS: The NSW Waratahs have secured the signature of former Australian Schoolboy, Tepai Moeroa.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Star lock Lodewyk de Jager will resume his Springbok career against Australia in South Africa's Rugby Championship opener in Johannesburg next Saturday, July 20.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Argentina included five European-based players in their squad for next weekend's Rugby Championship match against New Zealand, the Argentinian Rugby Union announced.

RIP: We pay tributes to the late Springbok wing James Small.

Two South African Schools rugby teams are due to be announced soon, naming the players who are to play against Argentina, England, France and Wales next month. It is not the first time that selectors have chosen two teams after Craven Week.

NEWS: All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has revealed his captain ahead of a tough challenge in Buenos Aires.

SCHOOL REPORT: In a Premier Interschools match in Pretoria on Saturday, a lovely Highveld winter's day, Affies beat visiting Maritzburg College 78-16, by far the highest score and biggest victory in matches between the two schools since 1996.

MATCH REPORT: Golden Lions wing Madosh Tambwe scored four tries to help his side kick off their Currie Cup campaign with a narrow 38-37 win over Pumas at Ellis Park.

MATCH REPORT: The Western Province got their Currie Cup campaign off to a stellar start with a 20-5 win over the Blue Bulls at Newlands on Saturday.

The Currie Cup was, from the start, a sponsor's trophy. The sponsor was a ship owner and mining magnate, Donald Currie, and the cup was from its very start named after him. That is surprising considering the aggressive amateurism of the 1890s, at a time when rugby league was being born of men who wanted a little bit of monetary compensation for taking time off work to play rugby.

REACTION: Waratahs and Wallabies flyhalf Bernard Foley continues to be a divisive figure even after his confirmed move to Japan’s Kubota Spears after the World Cup.

JERSEY LAUNCH: Ireland's 2019 World Cup jerseys have been revealed.

CURRIE CUP MATCH REPORT: Griquas got the 2019 season underway with an upset 37-13 win over the defending-champion Sharks at a wet Durban on Friday.

OPINION: News of Beauden Barrett’s move to the Blues has come as a surprise to many, given the obvious factors that were keeping him in Wellington.

REACTION: Springbok legend James Small died of natural causes and not under 'suspicious circumstances'.

REACTION: The family of the late Springbok legend James Small have requested that the media respect their privacy and allow them to grieve in private.

REACTION: Western Province Rugby Football Union President Zelt Marais is adamant he is acting in the best interest of the union and franchise.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to the live blogging of the first round Currie Cup between Western Province and the Blue Bulls at Newlands, Cape Town.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to the live blogging of the first round Currie Cup between the Golden Lions and Pumas at Ellis Park, Johannesburg.

REACTION: After Ruan Pienaar signed for the Cheetahs on Wednesday, he became the second Springbok to make the move back to South Africa after JP Pietersen joined the Sharks earlier this week.

REPORT: Fiji launched their World Cup build-up with a crushing 27-10 win over the Maori All Blacks in Suva on Saturday.

NEWS: Jordie Barrett could be joining his brother, Beauden, at the Blues next season.

NEWS: Wallabies vice-captain Will Genia will retire from international rugby at the end of Australia's World Cup campaign this year.

SQUAD UPDATE: Ulster back Will Addison has made a has linked up with Ireland's World Cup training squad.

REACTION: Blues fans are hoping that this deal for Beauden will lure his brothers Jordie and Scott to Auckland as well.

NEWS: Six Nations have announced that John Jeffrey has been elected Chairman of the Six Nations Council for a three-year term.

REACTION: Former Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer has insisted he is not a dictator despite a series of high profile departures from Stade Francais since he took over in Paris.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Aside from the high-profile player exodus and disastrous Top14 season, now Heyneke Meyer's club Stade Francais have to deal with a doping scandal.

NEWS: It was first whispered, then talked about and now confirmed. Beauden Barrett has signed with the Blues.

In South Africa, the great Currie Cup starts. The competition goes back to 1890 and has had the Currie Cup as its naming trophy since 1892. It has lost shine since the start of Super Rugby and the increasing multitude of tests but it is still far and away South Africa's most important domestic competition.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to the live blogging of the first Currie Cup match of the 2019 season - where the Sharks host Griquas in Durban.

NEWS: The Waratahs revealed that Bernard Foley will depart the franchise to pursue opportunities overseas.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The 2019 Currie Cup kicks off this weekend as six of the seven participating teams take to the field in the first of nine weekends of rugby.

Paarl Boys' High is a proud rugby school. Being proud means it does not take losing easily, and last year, on 21 July, Oakdale came to Paarl and on Paarl Boys' High's home ground beat the proud school 47-29, and travelled home happy.

NEWS: Three former players of French ProD2 side Grenoble will appear in a Bordeaux court accused of gang rape.

LAWS SPOTLIGHT: After World Rugby announced the outlawing of axial loading in scrums, much of the rugby world has been left confused.

TRANSFER NEWS: Heyneke Meyer is going back to his native South Africa to bolster Stade Francais ahead of the 2019/20 Top 14 season.

OPINION: We have arrived at that time of the year, where we entertain you with @rugby365com's famous selection.

It's a massive trek from Pietermaritzburg over the Drakensberg and on to Pretoria. The journey is long enough but the numbers are huge - 28 rugby teams, 15 hockey teams, teams for golf, cross country, table tennis, cycling and a cultural gathering. And with it come staff and parents. It is a big affair between the two great schools.

TRANSFER NEWS: Veteran Wallabies playmaking duo Will Genia and Quade Cooper will join Japan's Kintetsu Liners following this year's Rugby World Cup.

WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN: One of the best things about the World Cup is that Tier Two nations get a chance to truly show how competitive they are against some of rugby’s powerhouses.

This week the Currie Cup starts. For years and years it was the acme of the rugby season in South Africa. Winning the Currie Cup crowned a season as successful.

WATCH: Not only will @WP_RUGBY and @BlueBullsRugby compete for valuable Currie Cup points at Newlands on Saturday, but they will also face off to see who has the worst comedian!

TRANSFER NEWS: Former Springbok flyhalf Braam van Straaten has left the Sharks and joined Southern Kings as their as defence and kicking coach.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Western Province did not hesitate to name Carlu Sadie in their team to face the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup opener on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Young lock Le Roux Roets will look to revive his stalled career when he plays for the Pumas against the Lions on Saturday.

HTS Middelburg will go down over the Drakensberg to Durban to meet Glenwood High School when Durban's climate is at its best. The weather forecast for this Saturday is sunshine with a high of 23°C and a comfortable low of 12°C.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Golden Lions will field a very young, but exciting, team when they host the Pumas in the opening round of the Currie Cup.

LAW CHANGE: In London at the end of June 2018, World Rugby held a two-day conference at the end of which they issued an immediately effective law change to the front row of the scrum to avoid potential catastrophic injury.

LISTEN as @King365ed sits down for an #EXCLUSIVE one-on-one with @WP_RUGBY coach John Dobson to find some answers to the intriguing posers faced by @TheCurrieCup competition.

NEWS: The Hurricanes have paid tribute to the work of assistant coach Richard Watt, who left the franchise at the end of the 2019 Super Rugby season.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: All Blacks veteran fullback Ben Smith is ready to take his game to another level ahead of this year's World Cup.

NEWS: The Free State Cheetahs received a timely boost, on the eve of their Currie Cup campaign.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Maori All Blacks Head Coach Clayton McMillan has named a hugely experienced side to kick off their 2019 fixtures calendar.

INJURY UPDATE: Ireland's World Cup preparations are not been going according to plan.

INJURY UPDATE: It must is heartbreaking to have your World Cup hopes dashed because of injury.

REACTION: Tributes continued to pour in for the late Springbok wing James Small.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Blue Bulls head coach Pote Human has named a powerful team to face Western Province in a Currie Cup Round One clash at Newlands on Saturday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Another player will be leaving South Africa for greener pastures.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Griquas team to face the Sharks in the opening round of the Currie Cup shows just one change from that which won the Challenge Cup.

WATCH as veteran Springboks loose forward Francois Louw speaks about THAT clash with Japan and how his country bounced back at #RWC2015.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: The prospect of a 'rematch' with their line-out menace, Lodewyk de Jager, is giving Western Province some sleepless nights.

REACTION: All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has clarified his recent comments about domestic violence after he was accused of trying to minimise the impact it had on women in New Zealand.

REACTION: Tributes have poured in for James Small.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: There is a World Cup thundering down the tracks and rugby has never been more box-office, yet seldom has the life of the rugby agent been so brutal.

NEWS: The legends of 1995 have lost another member of their famous club.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Blue Bulls have opted for a tried and trusted recipe for their Currie Cup campaign.

South African rugby fans were left bemused when the Bulls left an obscure video on social media showing someone wearing one of their shirts with the name ‘Bosch’ on it.

JERSEY LAUNCH: The new Wales kit to be worn by both the senior men’s and women’s international sides until the end of 2020, has been revealed by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks coach Sean Everitt has named his team to face Griquas in their opening 2019 Currie Cup game at Kings Park on Friday

SQUAD UPDATE: Fullback Clayton Blommetjies will be playing Currie Cup rugby for the Free State Cheetahs.

OPINION: Here it is, the results of the readers' nominations for a Springbok starting XV.

NEWS: Mathieu Bastareaud has confirmed he won’t play for Toulon again in 2019.

NEWS: Steve Hansen's right-hand man has officially joined the race to become the All Blacks' next head coach

WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN: England head coach Eddie Jones is not too concerned about facing Argentina at the World Cup, despite the Jaguares' form in this year's Super Rugby tournament.

NEWS: Alun Wyn Jones has made a decision about his playing future.

INJURY UPDATE: The Bulls received some mixed news on the injury front ahead of their 2019 Currie Cup opener against Western Province in Cape Town on Saturday.

INJURY UPDATE: Injuries to key players could seriously hamper Western Province's Currie Cup campaign.

OPINION: Eddie Jones announced his 38-man World Cup training squad on Thursday, with some unexpected inclusions and exclusions.

CRAVEN WEEK REPORT: It was a good day for Western Province as their top team beat the Blue Bulls 56-31 in the final match of the 2019 Craven Week.

CURRIE CUP NEWS: New coach Sean Everitt has revealed that the Sharks will have co-captains this season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Rugby aims to open up new frontiers this year when Japan host the first World Cup held in Asia, but the talent-rich Pacific island nations feel they are still being neglected by the game's powerbrokers.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Scott Robertson steered the Crusaders to their third successive Super Rugby crown on Saturday thanks to their 19-3 grand final win over the Jaguares in Christchurch.

Schools have mostly had a rugby hiatus during the midwinter break but these results are from Hoërskool Swartland's winter tournament, which had two rugby days.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: French international prop Jefferson Poirot signed a contract extension to 2021 with Bordeaux-Begles, the club announced.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Exeter Chairman Tony Rowe has predicted that Eddie Jones and his England team will fail at the Rugby World Cup.

NEWS: The Free State Cheetahs have named Tian Meyer as their captain for the  Currie Cup competition.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: New Sharks coach Sean Everitt says scoring tries will have a premium at the Durban-based franchise.

SPOTLIGHT: Discover the Charms of One of Japan’s Most Underrated World Cup cities.

WATCH as Leon Schuster pulls the ultimate prank on former Springbok coach Peter de Villiers!

There will be two South African Schools team chosen from the Under-18 Craven Week which ends in Bloemfontein on 6 July 2019.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Returning cancer survivor Nasi Manu headlines Tonga’s 31-man squad for the upcoming Pacific Nations Cup.

WATCH as Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus reveals his goals for South Africa's Rugby Championship campaign.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Scott Robertson, fast becoming hailed as a master coach, summed up the secret to his success as a "wacky" approach.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Underdogs Jaguares were devastated to lose the Super Rugby Final to the defending champions Crusaders on Saturday, but said their breakout season has set Argentina up nicely for the World Cup.

REACTION: New Zealand rugby coach Steve Hansen is under fire for attempting to justify the selection in his Rugby Championship squad of a player charged over domestic violence.

SUPER RUGBY FINAL REACTION: Captain Sam Whitelock said the team used adversity to help them gel and ultimately lift them to victory.

NEWS: The Waratahs have well and truly opened the door to the public as they continue their search for a new head coach.

SUPER RUGBY FINAL REPORT: The Crusaders won their 10th Super Rugby title on Saturday with a 19-3 victory over the Jaguares in Christchurch.

WATCH as Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus reveals the 'lifeline' he will be throwing those players on the fringe of the national team.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: The Wallabies squad of 34 players flew to South Africa on Sunday ahead of their Rugby Championship clash against the Springboks on July 20.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Steve Hansen has issued not just the Crusaders, but his own All Blacks, with a warning about the ominously strong state of Argentina rugby.

SPRINGBOK SPOTLIGHT: The first two rounds of the Rugby Championship will be crucial as South Africa build towards the World Cup.

TRANSFER NEWS: Harlequins have revealed that Charlie Mulchrone has signed a playing contract extension, which will keep him at the Club until the end of the Rugby World Cup in Japan, providing cover for Martin Landajo.

INJURY UPDATE: All Blacks midfielder Sonny Bill Williams has reportedly pulled up with a tight hamstring at All Blacks training.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wallabies coach Michael Cheika remains bullish about one of his injury-plagued stars being fit for the World Cup.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Dragons have signed experienced scrumhalf Luke Baldwin on a year-long loan deal.

ACADEMY WEEK WRAP: Western Province showed their class in the Academy Week to emerge as the top side in the tournament for the second year in a row as they defeated Border 45-17 in the final match.

Griffin Colby of the Free State Referees' Society has been appointed to referee the final match of the 2019 Craven Week at Grey College in Bloemfontein on Saturday, 6 July 2019, the most prestigious match at Craven Week.

WRAP: It was a little warmer in Bloemfontein on Day Four of the Craven Week and the Academy Week and there was less wind.

Craven Week is saved. The Blue Bulls beat Western Province XV 36-34 in a match of such brilliant quality that it has pulled Craven Week up out of the bitter ash of the main match the day before and told the world that schools rugby is alive and healthy in South Africa.

CRAVEN WEEK WRAP: Western Province finished the 2019 Under-18 Craven Week as the only unbeaten team to ensure their top team status for the second consecutive year.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: England coach Eddie Jones has named 35 players that will assemble at Lensbury on Sunday for their first official World Cup training camp.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: Departing Stormers coach Robbie Fleck will not walk off into the sunset, as expected.

ROUND ONE: The First Division will feature added beef in the form of Argentinean outfit, the Jaguares XV when it kicks off this weekend with a full round of matches.

VIDEO: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson was in a breakdancing mood once again after his team beat the Jaguares in Saturday's Super Rugby Final.

SPOTLIGHT:  This week's squad announcement marked the second year in a row that a supersized All Blacks squad has been announced.

It was mercifully warmer in Bloemfontein on Day 3 and the wind less obtrusive for the Under-18 Craven Week matches and the Under-18 Academy Week matches.

SUPER RUGBY FINAL: Providing a distraction for the people of terror-hit Christchurch remains a driving point for the Crusaders.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to @rugby365com's live coverage of the @SuperRugby #Final between the @crusadersrugby and @JaguaresARG in Christchurch.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springboks Head coach Rassie Erasmus is spoilt for choice when it comes to suitable captain candidates for the Rugby Championship.

NEWS: The Scarlets have released South African fullback Clayton Blommetjies from his contract.

The teams in this year's prestigious last match of the 2019 Craven Week will be between Western Province and the Blue Bulls, the third time they have met in this match.

NEWS: The Lions have secured the services of a key front-row member for the next few seasons.

SUPER RUGBY FINAL: Helping to heal a devastated city has become a motivating factor for the Crusaders, as the competition's most successful side prepare for a showdown with the Jaguares, the season's success story.

REACTION: New Zealand Rugby was accused of "deplorable" judgment Thursday over the All Black selection of Sevu Reece, a player who less than 12 months ago pleaded guilty to assaulting his girlfriend.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Cancer survivor Christian Lealiifano was recalled to the Wallabies for the first time in three years.

TRANSFER NEWS: Stormers JJ Engelbrecht and Cheetahs Rudy Paige have signed deals with Clermont.

LISTEN as the @rugby365com puts the 2019 @SuperRugby #Final between the @crusadersrugby and @JaguaresARG under the spotlight.

CRAVEN WEEK MATCH REPORT: The Golden Lions’ campaign had certainly not gone as planned.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Jaguares head coach Gonzalo Quesada has made a few changes to his matchday 23 for Saturday's Super Rugby Final against the Crusaders in Christchurch.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has revealed his team to face the Jaguares in Saturday's Super Rugby Final against the Jaguares in Christchurch.

The Griffons in royal blue beat the Blue Bulls in sky blue 50-22 in a Craven Week match at Grey College in Bloemfontein on Thursday, Day 4 of the week - this despite a comeback by the Blue Bulls XV that took the score from 33-5 to 33-22.

CRAVEN WEEK MATCH REPORT: The Eastern Province Elephants kept their campaign flawless with a 43-12 win over the Griquas.

SELECTION TIME: The truncated version of the Rugby Championship brings its own unique challenges. However, it remains critical in the build-up to the World Cup.

SUPER RUGBY FINAL: The Jaguares don't believe they are rank outsiders. They see themselves as the Crusaders' equals.

CRAVEN WEEK REPORT: It was certainly a sensational second-half performance from the Limpopo Blue Bulls on the Day 4 of the Cravenweek.

CRAVEN WEEK REPORT: What a disgrace! This "match" between Free State and Western Province on 3 July 2019 must be far and away the worst match ever played in Craven Week. Go back to 1964 and you will not find anything like it.

NEWS UPDATE: Political firebrand and Eastern Province Rugby Union deputy president Bantwini Matika succeeded in eliminating Nick Mallett from the decision-making process at the Southern Kings.

TRANSFER NEWS: Harlequins announced that Fiji back Vereniki Gonevawill join the London Club from the 2019/20 season.

WATCH as Limpopo Blue Bulls flank Renzo du Plessis starts a counter inside his own in-goal area and ends with a try, 103 metres.

OPINION: And then there were two.

CONTRACT NEWS: Wallabies and Waratahs lock Rob Simmons has opted to remain in Australia after he signed a new two-year deal.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: TJ Perenara and Ardie Savea have been named joint winners of the Hurricanes Player of the Year award.

SPOTLIGHT: With little time to rest, Australia will name their first Wallabies squad for the 2019 Rugby Championship this week.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Māori All Blacks Head Coach Clayton McMillan has included six All Blacks stars in his 26-man squad for upcoming Series against Fiji.

NEWS: South African will start their Rugby Championship campaign without the services of captain Siyamthanda Kolisi.

CRAVEN WEEK REPORT: The SWD Eagles recorded their second victory of the 2019 Craven Week as they were made to work hard on defence in the second half to claim a 39-31 victory over the Sharks.

CRAVEN WEEK REPORT: The Pumas were in an unforgiving mood on Day Three of the 2019 Craven Week when they ran riot against the Leopards to claim a comprehensive 54-17 victory.

CRAVEN WEEK REPORT: It looked as if Boland, leading 36-12, were on the way to comfortable victory when the Valke came flying back with 19 unanswered points, the last coming with time already up. It made for a dramatic finish.

TRANSFER NEWS: Bulls duo Hanro Liebenberg and Travis Ismaiel have become the latest stars to head abroad.

REACTION: Waisake Naholo has posted a farewell message on Instagram just a day after missing out on the All Blacks squad for the opening two games of the Rugby Championship.

This was a Match! It was not spectacular, it was not glamorous, but it was a match every inch of the way - two teams which gave of their determined best for the whole 70 minutes.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: All Blacks Coach Steve Hansen has named the squad for the first two matches of the Rugby Championship against Argentina and South Africa.

NEWS: Former France hooker Marc dal Maso was named as forwards coach of newly-promoted Top 14 side Brive.

NEWS: The Lions revealed that there will be 10 players heading for the exit door as the franchise look to rebuild.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Former Wallaby Matt Giteau believes the one-time bad boy of Australian rugby James O'Connor deserves his shot at redemption.

TRANSFER NEWS: Leicester Tigers have secured the signature of EW Viljoen from the Stormers in Super Rugby.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Aside from dominating the South African conference in the Super Rugby competition, the Jaguares will now try to dominate South Africa's domestic competition as well.  

The big match this weekend is in Christchurch on New Zealand's South Island - the 2019 Super Rugby final between the habitual finalist Crusaders and the new finalist Jaguares from Argentina, and the man to referee the final is Jaco Peyper of South Africa, his third Super Rugby Finals.

Christopher Allison of the Blue Bulls Referees' Society has been appointed to the main match of the third day of the Under-18 Craven Week being played at Grey College in Bloemfontein.

It was another day of classy rugby action at Grey College in Bloemfontein on Tuesday as the Under-18 Craven Week and Academy Week saw the teams that watched from the sidelines on Monday taking to the field in their first round of matches.

INJURY UPDATE: The Crusaders have suffered a double blow ahead of Saturday's Super Rugby Final against Argentina's Jaguares.

SANZAAR has announced that Jaco Peyper will referee the final of Super Rugby 2019 between the Crusaders and the Jaguares in Christchurch on Saturday.

WORLD CUP SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand Rugby has paid homage to both Maori and Japanese cultures, with the unveiling of a stunning new All Blacks jersey for World Cup 2019.

OPINION: Here is your chance to have your say. Vote now for your Springbok starting team!

REACTION: The Southern Kings’ majority shareholders, the Greatest Rugby Company in the Whole Wide World, wants Bantwini Matika removed from the board.

CRAVEN WEEK REPORT: The Blue Bulls overturned a seven-point half-time deficit to claim a 35-24 victory over Border on Day 2 of the 2019 Craven Week.

CRAVEN WEEK REPORT: The Blue Bulls XV dominated important periods of the match to score five tries on their way to a 32-21 victory over the Golden Lions XV on Day 2 of Craven Week in Bloemfontein.

CRAVEN WEEK REPORT: In the first 20 minutes the Griffons scored 13 points. In the last 10 minutes, they scored 15 points. In the intervening 40 minutes, they scored no points but still had enough at the final whistle to win 28-24 against an Eastern Province team which dominated 40 of the 70 minutes of the match.

The Under-18 Craven Week this year is being hosted at Grey College in Bloemfontein in the first week of July - 1-6 July 2019.

UPDATE: Crusaders stars Richie Mo'unga and George Bridge have learned their fate after a misconduct investigation for offensive behaviour during the Crusaders' Super Rugby tour of South Africa.

WATCH as we bring you all the highlights from the semifinal round of Super Rugby 2019.

CRAVEN WEEK REPORT: Griquas got their 2019 Craven Week off to a good start when they edged the Limpopo Blue Bulls 35-24 in a match riddled with errors and poor discipline.

NEWS: A grassroots Scottish rugby player has been banned from the sport for two years following an in-competition test at a match between Gala and Edinburgh Academicals in October 2017.

Bloemfontein in June is a rarely a chosen destination, and the Day 1 of the Youth Weeks was particularly unpleasant with rare patches of sunshine, the odd drizzle, a mean wind and temperature which reached just 11°C before dropping down below freezing.

CRAVEN WEEK REPORT: After a good start by the Sharks, Free State took over and eventually won 46-24 in yet-another high-scoring Craven Week match.

TRANSFER NEWS: Italy captain Sergio Parisse has signed a one-year contract with Toulon, the Top 14 outfit announced Monday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Scott Robertson will spend the early part of Super Rugby grand final week ensuring his Crusaders players aren't emotionally affected by the high of All Blacks selection or the low of rejection.

SEVENS SPOTLIGHT: Los Pumas Sevens will join Fiji, USA, New Zealand and South Africa, the four teams to book their places through the World Rugby Sevens Series 2019, and host nation Japan in the 12-team field in Tokyo.

CRAVEN WEEK REPORT: Western Province flyhalf Sacha Mgomezulu pulled all the strings in a dominant performance as his side made their intentions clear with a 50-24 victory over Boland on Day One of the 2019 Craven Week.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Time is running out for David Pocock and James O'Connor prior to the Wallabies' first Test of a World Cup year.

South Western Districts went into this match as firm favourites which seemed a silly idea in the early part of the match when, after 13 minutes, they found the Pumas leading 12-0, and in fact the first half ended with Pumas leading.

CRAVEN WEEK REPORT: The opening match of the 2019 Craven Week got the week off to a flying start as the Falcons manage to edge the Leopards 43-24 in a 10-try thriller.

On Monday, 1 July 2019, the two senior Youth Weeks start at Grey College in Bloemfontein - the Under-18 Craven Week and the Academy Week, and SA Referees have made known the match officials appointed to the first two days of the weeks.

WORLD CUP SPOTLIGHT: The Wallabies want access to up to AU$6.2 million worth of prize bonuses should they claim the Webb Ellis Cup in Japan later this year.

SQUAD UPDATE: The Springboks have added another loose forward to their squad on Monday.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Brumbies coach Dan McKellar says he won't replace departing veteran Christian Lealiifano and instead look to his rookie playmakers for next Super Rugby season.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Jaguares will start their trip to Christchurch on Monday ahead of their Super Rugby Final against the Crusaders on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: France's second consecutive World Rugby Under-20 Championship should be a valuable commodity for the French Rugby Union.

Time is running out quickly as the Crusaders lead the Hurricanes 30-26 with a place in the Super Rugby final at stake and the Hurricanes are attacking well inside the Crusaders' 22.

The most prestigious week of South African rugby's seven Youth Weeks, the Craven Week, kicks off in Bloemfontein on Monday.

REACTION: The Hurricanes suffered a heartbreaking defeat to the Crusaders in a thrilling Super Rugby semi-final that was made even worse with a controversial call during the dying stages of the game.

Craven Week, the greatest schoolboy rugby tournament in the world, seems to have been around forever. But like all things, it had a birth. It was a healthy birth but not universally welcomed. There were those who thought it a bad idea.

NEWS: The Sharks have opted to replace head coach Robert Du Preez as the team's Currie Cup coach.

SPOTLIGHT ON NEWLANDS: Despite the obvious financial predicaments, a combination of some skilful give-and-take haggling and loyalty appears to have solved the Western Province Rugby Football Union's contractual issues.

With Craven Week drawing ever closer, we take a look at the teams that could cause an upset or two during the week, or better yet, emerge unbeaten come Saturday, 6 July.

CONTRACT NEWS: The Lions took the first significant step in the quest to regain their lost glory, following a rather unrespectable Super Rugby season.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand's Crusaders and Argentina's Jaguares are preparing for a showdown that will be a clash of Test-match proportions in Christchurch on Saturday.

NEWS: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has added another 13 players to his training group in Pretoria

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Unapologetic Rugby Australia chairman Cameron Clyne defended the firing of Israel Folau Saturday, saying sponsors would have deserted the sport if a hard line had not been taken over his religious stance.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Jaguares reached their first-ever Super Rugby Final after they destroyed the Brumbies 39-7 in their semifinal in Buenos Aires on Friday.

MATCH REPORT: Crusaders kept their impressive home record intact with a hard-fought 30-26 win over the Hurricanes at Christchurch.

OPINION: Is there anybody in the whole wide world who has not had disappointments?

REACTION: The Southern Kings have started an internal disciplinary process, following a racist rant by board member Bantwini Matika.

Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby semi-final between the Crusaders and the Hurricanes at Christchurch Stadium.

INJURY UPDATE: The Crusaders will be sweating over the fitness of some key players ahead of their Super Rugby Final showdown with the Jaguares next Saturday.

Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby semi-final between the Jaguares and the Brumbies in Buenos Aires.

REACTION: Brumbies coach Dan McKellar said his men wanted to play positive rugby to get people talking about the game instead of off-field sagas.

REACTION: Eddie Jones has named a new England training squad on Friday, which sees players from Gloucester and Northampton Saints enter the fray.

NEWS: England coach Eddie Jones has announced a squad of 31 players to attend a second training camp from Sunday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Wales coach Warren Gatland will return to join his home team the Chiefs next year, New Zealand Rugby said Friday.

LISTEN as newly appointed Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie explains how he will meet the challenges in Bloemfontein head on.

UPDATE: Israel Folau says he is disappointed a settlement wasn't reached with Rugby Australia at a conciliation meeting before the Fair Work Commission on Friday.

In rugby some referees are better than others. That's true, too, of players - some are better than others. In fact it is true of all walks of life. It's not just what they do but they way they do it that makes the difference between good, better and best.

SUPER RUGBY SEMIFINAL: Hurricanes playmaker Beauden Barrett is under pressure to outshine his All Black rival Richie Mo'unga on Saturday.

NEWS: World Cup hosts Japan have been hit by a second drugs scandal involving  Toyota Verblitz.

WATCH as the Jaguares book their first ever Super Rugby final with a tremendous win over the Brumbies

INJURY UPDATE: Blues flank Tom Robinson has been denied a meteoric call-up to the All Blacks by a knee injury.

Western Province are the unofficial champions of the Grant Khomo Week while the Sharks, by a small margin, dethroned Western Province in the Under-13 Craven Week. This happened in the final match of the final day of each tournament.

TRANSFER NEWS: Melbourne Rebels will have a new face at scrumhalf for next season.

BREAKING NEWS: The Cheetahs took a long-term view when they named Franco Smith's replacement as head coach.

CONTRACT NEWS: Italy captain Sergio Parisse is to leave Stade Francais after 15 seasons with the Parisian club.

TRANSFER NEWS: Edinburgh have continued to strengthen their squad ahead of next season.

TRANSFER NEWS: Samoan international scrumhalf Kahn Fotuali'i has quit Bath to join Top 14 club Montpellier on a one-year deal, replacing South African Ruan Pienaar.

@rugby365com PROBE: Western Province Rugby Football Union President Zelt Marais is confident they have averted a mass exodus of senior players.

In the beginning, back in 1993 when it was Super 10, there were no semifinals. There was no need for a semifinal, as, having two pools, the finalists came naturally - each the winner of his pool.

CRAVEN WEEK SPOTLIGHT: Grey College in Bloemfontein has been a hotbed of South African rugby talent for generations and will, in July 2019, play host to the most prestigious schools rugby week - the Craven Week.

SUPER RUGBY SEMIFINAL: The Jaguares and twice former champions the Brumbies boast long winning streaks ahead of their clash in Buenos Aires on Friday.

NEWS: Eddie Jones will have a new coaching job after this year's World Cup.

WATCH scenes from a horrible mass brawl between two French Reserve League sides Mougeurre and Elne in the South-Western region of Saint-Girons.

NEWS: Ross Ford confirmed his decision to retire from playing the sport

OPINION: It is an often repeated question: 'Who can stop the Crusaders juggernaut?'

JERSEY NEWS: It seems an Australian sports store has jumped the gun by revealing the All Blacks' 2019 World Cup jersey.

NEWS: Warren Gatland will coach in New Zealand sooner than expected.

FAIR WORK SPOTLIGHT: Israel Folau has his fingers crossed that Rugby Australia will admit it was wrong to terminate his contract over a social media post.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: @rugby365com can now reveal some of the more intimate details of the salary caps in the newly released South African player contracting model.

The pinnacle of schoolboy rugby gets underway in Bloemfontein from 1-7 July when Grey College plays hosts to 18 provincial teams. We look at a few teams worth keeping your eye on during the festival.

NEWS: Colin Cooper quit the Chiefs Thursday with a year still on his coaching contract.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has unveiled his team to face the Hurricanes in a Super Rugby semifinal in Christchurch on Saturday.

LISTEN as @King365ed and @LoffieEloff select their @Springboks teams for the @SanzarTRC and give #Bok coach Rassie Erasmus some 'advice' as the @SanzarTRC looms large.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Jaguares received a big boost ahead of the Super Rugby semifinal against the Brumbies in Buenos Aires on Friday.

The 2019 edition of the Under-13 Craven Week and Under-16 Grant Khomo Week will conclude in dramatic fashion on Friday with Western Province and the Sharks meeting each other in the final match of both tournaments.

WATCH as Jim Harbaugh and the University of Michigan Wolverines swapped a pigskin for a rugby ball, when they trained with the Springboks in South Africa.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Brumbies playmaker Christian Lealiifano will bring up his 150th Super Rugby appearance for the team.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Hurricanes head coach John Plumtree has revealed his team to face the Crusaders in a Super Rugby semifinal in Christchurch.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Crusaders and Hurricanes will capture the full attention of All Blacks coach Steven Hansen after a plethora of All Blacks candidates were unveiled for their Super Rugby semi-final.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: England rugby coach Eddie Jones has revealed the mind games he plays with his players, opponents and the media.

TRANSFER NEWS: Stade Francais head coach Heyneke Meyer has found the perfect replacement for Piet van Zyl

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Sale boss Steve Diamond believes Australia will get a "little pearl" for this year's World Cup in Japan.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Brumbies prop Allan Alaalatoa says the career-best form of his teammates is driving the club towards a drought-breaking Super Rugby title.

INJURY UPDATE: The Jaguares are playing a waiting game with one of their star players ahead of their Super Rugby semifinal against the Brumbies in Buenos Aires on Friday.

NEWS: Former All Black wing Julian Savea has agreed to a pay cut in order to remain at Toulon.

Here it is. Your last chance to vote for the South African Team of the Week, after both the Bulls and Sharks were knocked out in the quarterfinal stage of Super Rugby.

TRANSFER NEWS: Glasgow Warriors have signed hooker Mesu Dolokoto on a two-year contract, subject to visa and medical.

A number of close encounters, a draw and impressive wins for the Golden Lions and Western Province highlighted Day Two of the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week at HS Rob Ferreira in White River on Wednesday.

NEWS: World Rugby will take the first steps towards potential player welfare-based law amendments when its Law Review Group (LRG) meets in London on Thursday and Friday.

NEWS: Leicester Tigers are reinforcing the team off the field.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Going to Christchurch to face the Crusaders is a daunting task for any team, but the Hurricanes believe they can expose their opponents' weaknesses this weekend.

TRANSFER NEWS: French Top 14 club Montpellier have bolstered their pack ahead of the 2019/2020 European season.

WATCH as Francois Steyn shows why he still have the match fitness and skills to don a Springbok jersey.

NEWS: Premiership rugby club Leicester Tigers has put itself up for sale.

NEWS: A Christian group launched a crowdfunding campaign Tuesday for sacked Australian rugby star Israel Folau.

TRANSFER NEWS: Exeter Chiefs are losing one of their star players.

REACTION: The news that Italy attack coach Mike Catt will join Andy Farrell’s Ireland coaching team after the World Cup has not gone down too well with all fans on social media.

WATCH as Joel Stransky slots one of the most famous drop-goals of all time - on this day, 24 June 1995.

CONTRACT NEWS: Former All Black centre Casey Laulala will join Toulon from Top 14 rivals Racing 92 next season as skills coach on a one-year deal with an option for a second.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT:  It will be a case of the understudy versus the star when Brumbies take on the Jaguares at the Jose Amalfitani Stadium in Buenos Aires this weekend. 

The Sharks, Pumas, Western Province and Golden Lions showed great intent on Day Two of the Under-13 SA Rugby Craven Week at Hoërskool Rob Ferreira in White River on Tuesday, earning impressive wins.

NEWS: All Blacks and Hurricanes flyhalf Beauden Barrett will be leaving Wellington after this year's World Cup.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Brumbies lock Rory Arnold says they can extend their winning streak to nine games and end a 15-year Super Rugby title drought over the next fortnight.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Crusaders are confident they can limit Beauden Barrett's influence once again when they face the Hurricanes in Saturday's Super Rugby semifinal in Christchurch.

SUPER RUGBY SEMIFINALS: Matt Proctor could return boost the Hurricanes for their crucial Super Rugby semifinal clash against the Crusaders on Saturday.

REACTION: Rugby star Israel Folau said his resolve to fight his sacking for controversial comments had "only been hardened" by criticism as a crowdfunding campaign for his legal fees was shut down on Monday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Edinburgh is set to sign Lions and South Africa flank Albertus Smith as Rugby World Cup cover.

VIDEO: Bulls fans believe the Hurricanes should have been reduced to 14 men during their Super Rugby quarterfinal against the Bulls in Wellington on Saturday.

There will be a lot of interest centred on Christchurch and Buenos Aires as Super Rugby charges into the semifinals with Nic Berry and Mike Fraser to referee them.

LISTEN as the @rugby365com team brings you the views of @LionsRugbyCo coach Swys de Bruin, who was asked if his team had regressed.

TRANSFERS NEWS: The Southern Kings have been boosted in their pre-season Pro14 preparations by the arrival of highly experienced Kiwi strength and conditioning coach Wayne Taylor.

NEWS: The Cheetahs will unveil their new Currie Cup and Pro14 coach on Thursday.

Scintillating action and the best provincial schoolboy rugby talent highlighted the opening day of the Under-13 Craven Week and Under-16 Khomo Week at Hoërskool Rob Ferreira in White River on Monday, 24 June 2019.

WATCH as the French forwards take a South African opponent on a trip around the world in their World Rugby Under-20 encounter.

NEWS: Springbok wing JP Pietersen confirmed his departure from French giants Toulon.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has named a strong 26-man squad for the Springboks alignment camp.

TRANSFER NEWS: ​Edinburgh have secured the signing of Fijian Sevens star Mesulame Kunavula on a long-term deal.

NEWS: A crowdfunding campaign by controversial Australian rugby star Israel Folau, who was sacked last month for controversial comments, was shut down Monday

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: There was the good, the bad and the Sharks.

REACTION: South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus has taken his first step towards building a squad for the World Cup later this year by naming a 26-man alignment squad.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Following the completion of the four quarterfinals the semifinalists for the 2019 Super Rugby tournament have been confirmed.

FINALS WRAP: It's the final day of the World Rugby Under-20 Championship with Australia against France in the Final.

SQUAD UPDATE: Sale Sharks wing Chris Ashton has withdrawn from England’s training squad for family reasons.

REACTION: Bulls' quarterfinal exit was accompanied with a massive reality check for head coach Pote Human.

TRANSFER NEWS: Italy assistant coach Mike Catt will join the Ireland coaching team following the completion of this year’s Rugby World Cup and ahead of the 2020 Six Nations Championship.

Two more Youth Weeks - the Under-13 Craven Week and the Grant Khomo Week for Under-16 teams - kick off on Monday, 24 June 2019, at Hoërskool Rob Ferreira at White River in the Lowveld.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: All roads are expected to lead through Christchurch to claim the Super Rugby crown.

INJURY UPDATE: Wallabies loose forward Pete Samu has been ruled out of the Brumbies' Super Rugby semi-final due to a strained hamstring.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Brumbies coach Dan McKellar says his men can overcome their taxing trip to Buenos Aires and book their spot in the Super Rugby Final.

MATCH REPORT: The Brumbies were just too clinical for the Sharks during their quarterfinal clash in Canberra on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: All Black star and Chiefs captain Sam Cane issued a warning to the Jaguares' future opponents.

Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby quarter-final between the Hurricanes and the Bulls in Wellington.

MATCH REPORT: The Hurricanes book their spot in the semifinals with a hard-fought 35-28 win over the Bulls on Saturday in Wellington.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Jaguares made history by reaching the semifinals for the first time.

Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby quarter-final between the Brumbies and the Sharks in Canberra.

WATCH as the defending champion Crusaders end the Highlanders' dreams in the first match of the 2019 quarterfinals.