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SPOTLIGHT: Australia Rugby is facing a new religious row, as more Pacific Islanders come out proclaiming their Christianity.

OPINION: Here it is, your chance to vote for your South African Team of the Week, after Super Rugby's Round 14.

OPINION: You asked for it and here it is: You chance to vote for the South African Team of the Week!

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Brumbies outmuscled and outthought the Bulls to record a bonus-point 22-10 win in Canberra on Friday.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: @rugby365com law guru Paul Dobson gets his teeth into the controversies at Newlands last week and claims the 'We wuz robbed'.

OPINION: Here is a XV composed entirely of players making the shift from Super Rugby to either the Premiership in England, Top 14 in France, Pro14 in Europe, or Top League in Japan.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Brumbies captain Christian Lealiifano is surprised and delighted to be a step closer to a dream Wallabies recall, less than three years after being diagnosed with cancer.

WATCH as Ali Williams gets into referee bashing with Scotty Stevenson.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Chiefs produced a remarkable defensive effort to hold out the Reds, winning 19-13 in an arm-wrestle in Hamilton on Friday.

WATCH as we bring you another blast from the past. Wast the England and B&I Lions legend Martin Johnson a truly hard man or one of the game's biggest thugs?

LEGAL OR LAWLESS: With the World Cup just under four months away, the yammering over refereeing contretemps have become alarmingly more frequent.

WORLD SERIES ROUND NINE: Olympic qualification will be at the heart of the motivation for some teams, while the United States and Fiji are locked in a two-horse race for overall honours.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Never before has one position been required to do so much, or at least be capable of doing so much.

PREMIERSHIP SEMIFINALS: Twelve months on and the wounds have still not healed for some of the Exeter Chiefs players as they head into their semifinal showdown with Northampton Saints on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Waratahs believe they are all but playing the Pumas as they strive to keep their play-off hopes alive against Argentina's in-form Jaguares.

PREMIERSHIP SEMIFINAL: Gloucester have the odds firmly stacked against them when they head to Allianz Park to take on the defending champions Saracens on Saturday.

PRO14 FINAL: After 152 games the most crucial game of the Pro14 season is upon us.

In a Premier Interschools match in Paarl on Saturday, Paul Roos play Paarl Boys' High.

TOP 14, WEEK 26: Billionaire-backed Montpellier head to Clermont without veteran forwards Louis Picamoles and Fulgence Ouedraogo as they look to clinch a French Top 14 play-off spot.

NEWS: Attack coach Duncan Hodge and defence coach Calum MacRae have today extended their contracts with Edinburgh for a further two seasons.

WATCH as Crusaders coach Scott Robertson speaks about the feedback he got from SANZAAR over the contentious TMO decision which denied the Crusaders victory over the Stormers in Cape Town last week.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Danny Cipriani’s stellar debut campaign in Gloucester Rugby colours saw him named Premiership Rugby Player of the Season at the star-studded awards ceremony.

OPINION: Here are the results of your votes for the South African Team of the Week for Super Rugby's Round 14.

St Andrew's College rugby and hockey teams will be driving the 160km from Grahamstown to East London to face Selborne College.

SQUAD UPDATE: Hooker Maile Ngauamo and prop Angus Wagner have joined the Brumbies squad as injury replacements for the rest of the 2019 Super Rugby season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck has named his team to take on the Highlanders on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger has named his team to face the Stormers at Newlands.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Albertus Smith will lead the Lions against the Sharks on Saturday.

It's not far from Paarl to Durbanville, and the difference between the two teams in ability is also not great.

LISTEN as @king365ed unpacks the real difference between @Springboks and @AllBlacks #rugby.

SCHOOLS SPOTLIGHT: Comparative peace has descended on our houses, after the upheavals of the first two weeks. There are changes but nothing like what has gone before.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks coach Robert du Preez has been forced to make changes to his team to play the Lions at Kings Park on Saturday.

The Pro14 Dream Team for the 2018/19 season was revealed on Thursday, with two South Africans making the cut.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Jaguares have shuffled their team to face the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday.

The 2019 Super Rugby season is heading to the business end, but the conference standings are tight. Here are the predictions for Round 15's fixtures.

NEWS: The Australian Sevens team has announced a major signing in Australian speedster Trae Williams, who has committed to the program until 2021.

PREMIERSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Rob Baxter’s machine keeps on moving forward, finishing as the competition's top side after the regular season with a record of 17 wins and five defeats.

AUSSIE SWEEP: The Bulls will look to turn back the clock when they face the Brumbies in Canberra on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has named his team to face the Blues in a Super Rugby Round 15 encounter in Christchurch on Saturday.

The South African Rugby Union's seven Youth Weeks start non Monday 20 June this year. Some 3 000 players will take part in the weeks, hosted by Jeppe Boys High in Johannesburg, Hoërskool Rob Ferreira down in White River in the Lowveld, and Bloemfontein.

TRANSFER NEWS: Wasps confirmed their ninth signing ahead of the 2019/20 season with the addition of promising young lock Theo Vukasinovic.

SQUAD UPDATE: Joe Marler will join the Barbarians squad that will face an England XV in a match on June 2.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The competition has reached its final month of regular season competition.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson has resisted resting key Wallabies, naming his first unchanged starting line-up of the season for Saturday’s crucial Super Rugby showdown with the Jaguares in Sydney.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Hooker Jordan Uelese is in line to play his first Super Rugby match since Round 16, 2018.

NEWS: Harlequins announced that scrumhalf Dave Lewis will retire from professional rugby.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sunwolves have been bolstered ahead of their Super Rugby Round 15 clash against the Melbourne Rebels in Tokyo on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: It will be the toughest of tasks for the Blues this weekend when they travel to Christchurch to take on the Crusaders in a must-win clash.

LISTEN as Lions centre Harold Vorster chats about the challenge of playing against in-form Springbok centres Lukhanyo Am and Andre Esterhuizen.

SPOTLIGHT: World Rugby launched a global campaign to boost women's rugby, with chairman Bill Beaumont saying it was the biggest growth area in the game.

INJURY UPDATE: Dylan Hartley's chances of a place in England's World Cup squad were further hurt when he was ruled out of this weekend's Premiership semi-final meaning he has missed most of the European season.

REACTION: Playmaker Kurtley Beale insists Israel Folau's sacking hasn't caused any discontentment within the Wallabies ranks just months out from the World Cup.

Rondebosch again were first with the results, which we give in the order in which we received them with the source first in the heading for each match.

World Rugby has announced the appointment of referees to Women's Test matches between June and August this year.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Former Stormers scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage and Cheetahs star Maxwane are two of the few South African stars that have been nominated for the Pro14 dream team.

NEWS: Racing 92's French Top 14 play-off will have to be moved to their old stadium due to a concert by pop artist Mylene Farmer at their new La Defense Arena, the club's coach Laurent Travers.

NEWS: Ospreys Rugby announced Luke Price as the seventh player to sign a new deal to stay at the Liberty Stadium.

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Leicester Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy will appear before an Independent Disciplinary Panel after he allegedly verbally abused match officials.

NEWS: The Irish Rugby Football Union have extended the contract of Performance Director David Nucifora for a further three years to the end of the 2021/22 season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Chiefs will return to Hamilton for their final regular season home game, when they face the Reds on Friday.

OPINION: The Jaguares have continued their strong push to finish on top of the South African Conference.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The perennial problem of how to fund the Fiji Rugby Union appears to have forced head coach John McKee to cut one of his support staff in the build-up to the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls have forced into making a change to their team to take on the Brumbies in a Super Rugby Round 15 encounter in Canberra on Friday.

INJURY UPDATE: The Sharks have suffered a massive setback in the build-up to their crucial all-South African derby encounter with the Lions.

NEWS: Experienced France hooker Benjamin Kayser, who won both the Top 14 and the English Premiership, said he will retire at the end of the season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Reds have made three changes to their starting XV for Friday's clash against the Chiefs in Hamilton.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Stormers' upcoming match against the Highlanders is the perfect opportunity for Herschel Jantjies to 'Test' himself against a World-class scrumhalf.  

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand Super Rugby teams' penalty count is far from a concern for All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen.

NEWS: Pat Lam has been appointed Bristol Bears’ director of rugby, signing a new long-term contract at Ashton Gate.

NEWS UPDATE: New Zealand Rugby launched a formal inquiry Tuesday into allegations Crusaders players engaged in homophobic abuse and groped a woman during their recent trip to South Africa.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Waratahs and Wallabies hooker Tolu Latu has been stood down by his Super Rugby franchise until a court appearance for alleged drink driving.

TRANSFER NEWS: New Zealander Glenn Delaney, the former London Irish player and assistant coach, will be back working in the United Kingdom by the end of the year.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: With the likes of Springboks lock RG Snyman in the Bulls' second-row, the Brumbies brought in their own tall timber for Friday's clash at GIO Stadium.

As spring races towards summer, lots of northern hemisphere rugby is concerned with the great divide of knock-out matches.

REACTION: South African match officials are back in the spotlight - for all the wrong reasons.

REACTION: Seasoned Springbok scrumhalf Francois de Klerk will take his World Cup selection for granted.

THE AFTERMATH: The rugby players' union (RUPA) is to set up a committee to review how players can express their faith and beliefs after the Israel Folau sacking saga.

It must surely be the most unsurprising referees' appointment of all time -0 Nigel Owens to referee the PRO14 Final, as he has done five times before.

NEWS: A member of French rugby club Castres' youth academy is under investigation for attempted murder.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Sharks have lost another player to an English club.

WEEKEND AT A GLANCE: We bring all the results from around South Africa - up to May 18!

CONTRACT NEWS: With the central contracts for Cian Healy, Robbie Henshaw and Johnny Sexton already announced, Leinster coach Leo Cullen confirmed that an additional 18 singings..

TRANSFER NEWS: Newcastle Falcons hooker Santiago Socino is returning to his native Argentina to join Super Rugby side, Jaguares.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: The Stormers may still sit at the bottom of the South African conference and 12th overall, but they have the ability to go all the way.

INJURY UPDATE: The Stormers will be keeping a close eye on two of their Springboks ahead of their Super Rugby Round 15 clash against the Highlanders in Cape Town on Saturday.

WATCH as Rugby Australia Chief Executive Raelene Castle explains the mistakes her organisation made with how they handled the Israel Folau saga.

NEWS: The Crusaders have denied allegations that some of their players displayed "homophobic behaviour" during an altercation in Cape Town over the weekend.

NEWS: Israel Folau lashed out at Rugby Australia Monday for damaging his reputation and signalled an intention to fight on after his contract was torn up

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wallabies great George Smith announced his retirement Tuesday after a stint with Bristol in the England Premiership, calling time on nearly 20 years playing rugby.

REACTION: World Cup-winning former Springbok coach Jake White must have been linked to every vacant job in the world in the last few years.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: The Lions may have dominated the South African landscape for the last three years, but they are now seen as little more than a speed bump.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Winning on the road and scoring more tries. Those are key aspects South African teams have to improve on if they want to be serious title contenders.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: The Waratahs may soon begin the hum the words of that famous World War I song: 'Pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag and smile, smile, smile.'

Although the 1st XV game was not the result the thousands of Kearsney College Old Boys who had gathered from around the world would have wanted on their Founders Weekend, it was an enjoyable spectacle to watch the One-Strip take up the challenge against Glenwood, arguably the top KZN school side.

TOP 14 WRAP: Montpellier can continue to dream of making the play-offs, as they moved into sixth spot.

NEWS: Wallabies and Waratahs hooker Tolu Latu has been interviewed by Rugby Australia's integrity unit over an alleged drink driving offence, but no outcome has been announced.

Michaelhouse travelled to Northwood this past weekend to contest a packed programme of winter sports fixtures.

On Saturday, a 77-year rivalry continued when the Green Machine took on the One Stripes of Kearsney College, on their prestigious Founders Day. The crowd turned out in numbers as the teams took to the field.

In Bloemfontein on Saturday Grey College had a comfortable 50-28 win over Affies from Pretoria in an FNB Classic Clash.

REACTION: It may be a subtle statement, but a prayer circle at the end of the Rebels versus Bulls game in Melbourne this past Friday was a powerful reminder to Rugby Australia that they are on dangerous grounds.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Exeter rounded off the regular season in style thumping Northampton 40-21 to ensure a top of the table finish.

TOP 14 WRAP: Lyon sealed a Top 14 playoff berth when they beat La Rochelle 29-19 at the weekend.

INJURY UPDATE: The Highlanders have lost the services of one of their players after their Super Rugby Round 14 match against the Lions.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Stormers settled for a draw, rather than go for a win, in their Round 14 encounter with the Crusaders at a packed on Saturday.

SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT: Israel Folau's termination of his multi-million contract certainly highlighted the relations between the professional player and social media.

OPINION: Ben Smith explains why Handre Pollard's departure from South Africa will see him realise his true potential.

PRO14 REPORT: Leinster shrugged off the disappointment of losing their European crown last weekend to beat Irish rivals Munster 24-9 and reach the Final on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Every World Cup is always followed by a mass exodus of high profile signings.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Lions stayed in the race for the play-offs with a hard-earned 38-29 win over the Highlanders at Ellis Park on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: The NSW Waratahs have skirted an off-field scandal to extend the Super Rugby Club’s interstate dominance over the Queensland Reds to 11 matches.

MATCH REPORT: Blues ended Chiefs'  dominance over them with a hard-fought 23-8 win on Saturday at Eden Park. 

REACTION: Rugby Australia acted swiftly in the wake of revelations that Waratahs and Wallaby hooker Tolu Latu was arrested for drink driving.

WATCH all the highlights from Round 14 of the Super Rugby competition.

After their defeat at the hands of Grey Bloem last week, Paarl Gim are back in charge, beating Paul Roos 42-15 on the Markötter Field in Stellenbosch.

Before the World Cup starts on September 20, there are 63 Test matches involving World Cup teams to be played. World Rugby has announced the match officials for those 63 Tests.

PRO14 SEMIFINAL REPORT: Glasgow Warriors scored seven tries and delivered a statement of intent in beating Ulster 50-20 in their Pro14 semifinal.

As should be the case in classic derby encounters, the results on the day were tied at seven wins a piece when the 1st XV’s ran out in front of a good crowd was that was gathered around the Tinkie Heyns Field in Rondebosch. SACS gave all they had in what was a tight contest but Rondebosch eventually won 27-8 after leading 10-8 at half-time.

REACTION: Rugby Australia has been hit by another bombshell, with the fall-out of the Israel Folau saga still gathering momentum.

NEWS: Tim Visser is to hang up his boots at the end of the season, the Scotland wing announced on Friday.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Bulls ended a three-year drought in Australasia when they beat the Rebels 32-17 in Melbourne on Friday.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Jaguares took a giant leap towards winning the South African conference when they upstaged the Hurricanes 28-20 in Wellington on Friday.

INJURY UPDATE: England sit with a massive injury concern as the World Cup approaches at a rapid pace.

LISTEN as @king365ed chats to Hans Scriba, SA Rugby Manager, Academies about how they tackle the abstruse task of preparing players for life after rugby.

REACTION: Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle are standing firm in the face of growing resentment in the wake of Israel Folau's axing.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: They are known, colloquially, as the Cape Crusaders. On Saturday their loyalty will be repaid.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers are ready to put their try-scoring struggles behind them when they face the Crusaders in their Super Rugby Round 14 encounter at Newlands on Saturday.

HAPPY HUNTING GROUNDS: The last time the Crusaders lost to a South African team, Scott Robertson was not yet coaching them.

REACTION: Wallabies superstar Israel Folau is weighing up his options after Rugby Australia opted to terminate his contract on Friday.

REACTION: In the wake of Israel Folau's sacking many Wallabies stars have openly display their allegiance to the fullback.

PRO14 SEMIFINAL: It seems not so long ago that Glasgow Warriors were ripping all asunder on route to their first title win back in 2015.

NEWS: France international fullback Scott Spedding announced that he will retire at the end of the season.

There are knock-out rounds in PRO14, France, Italy and Spain, a time when the rugby guillotine falls with a thud. It is a time to bring out the best in the best referees, when concentration needs to be at its sharpest.

WATCH as Crusaders vice-captain Ryan Crotty fronts up to the media ahead of their Super Rugby Round 14 encounter with the Stormers at Newlands.

PRO14 SEMIFINAL: If last season’s epic encounter between these teams in the semifinal was not enough, we get to enjoy round two this weekend.

BREAKING NEWS: Wallabies superstar Israel Folau has had his four-year AU$4 million contract with Rugby Australia terminated because of his controversial social media posts.

TRANSFER NEWS: Four more players have confirmed their future is with the Hurricanes.

THE FINAL SHOT: With just one round of Premiership Rugby action to go first place, the last semi-final berth and Champions Cup places are all still up for grabs.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck revealed his team for the Round 14 clash against Crusaders on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Just weeks after their highly rated nomination by the Rugby Players Association (RPA, Springbok scrumhalves Faf de Klerk and Cobus Reinach are again up for another top award in England.

On Saturday, two similar schools in similar neighborhoods meet as they have done for years and years - Rondebosch Boys' High and SACS of Newlands.

TRANSFER NEWS: Len Ikitau and Noah Lolesio have signed new contracts to extend their stay with the Brumbies.

OPINION: We thought that, after the upheaval of Wildeklawer, we should be on an even keel this week.

Here it is, the results of the readers' votes for the South African Super Rugby Team for Round 13.

It's a pleasant trip up from the coast to Botha's Hill - and in KZN the Both part of Botha rhymes with growth and sloth. It is a leafy part of the world, borderline rural, a lovely place to be in autumn.

The 2019 Super Rugby season is heading to the business end, but the conference standigns are tight. Here are the predictions for Round 14's fixtures.

CRUNCH TIME: With just five rounds of league action remaining, any defeat could see a team drop out of the play-off race and into the also-rans zone.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Melbourne have been doing their homework and are bracing for a Bulls midfield charge when they meet in a crucial Super Rugby battle at AAMI Park on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger has named his team to take on the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday. 

UPDATE: Rugby Australia is holding its collective breath, as the protracted Israel Folau saga continues to drag on.

The most obvious result is that of the match between Grey Bloem and Paarl Boys' High in Bloemfontein. Grey have yet another great team that can strike from anywhere on the field.

On Saturday, the Kwaggas of George host Oakdale of Riversdale, the most powerful rugby schools in the South Western Districts, always a province that does well at Craven week.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springboks and Lions wing Aphiwe Dyantyi has become a marked man during the Super Rugby 2019 season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Waratahs have named their side that will travel across the border to take on rivals the Queensland Reds in Round 14 of Super Rugby.

PODCAST: This week on The Short Ball, Scotty Stevenson & Ali Williams review Alex Goode’s European Cup post-championship bender.

Here's everything you need to know about Australia's 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign. From kick off times to history and the squad when it is announced.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions will take on Highlanders without regular captain Warren Whiteley.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has named his side for their Round 14 fixture against the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.

OPINION: The Crusaders sent a strong message to the pretenders: 'You want the title? You will have to be extraordinarily good!'

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Queensland Reds have made two changes to their starting XV for Saturday’s clash against the Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium.

OPINION: The names are in for the 2018/2019 Champions Cup Team of the Tournament.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls head coach Pote Human has named his team to take on the Rebels in Melbourne.

TRANSFER NEWS: Another star player will leave the Bulls at the end of the season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Melbourne Rebels playmaker Quade Cooper has been cleared to face the Bulls on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Hurricanes head coach John Plumtree has made just two changes to the starting XV to face the Jaguares in the Round 14 Super Rugby match at Westpac Stadium on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Head coach Colin Cooper and his Chiefs team will welcome the return of co-captain Sam Cane.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Jaguares head coach Gonzalo Quesada has made six changes to his team to face the Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: A determined Blues side will be looking to even the ledger when they take on the Chiefs at home at Eden Park this Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers don't have the firepower to match the Crusaders on the field so they will be going with the old South African approach against Kiwi teams - tackle and hope.

TRANSFER NEWS: Exeter Chiefs lock Toby Salmon will join Newcastle Falcons on a two-year deal.

REACTION: A humiliating defeat to the Crusaders, did not deteriorate Bulls head coach Pote Human's determination to target the Blues and Highlanders on tour.

In June, the Nations Cup will be played in Montevideo with four teams taking part, in which the match officials are appointed by World  Rugby.

TRANSFER NEWS: Wing Yaw Penxe, loose-forward CJ Velleman, hooker Tango Balekile and centre Sibusiso Sithole have all committed their future to the Southern Kings.

PREMIERSHIP AWARDS: Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann has had an impressive season in charge of Gloucester in the Premiership.

These are in essence match practices. The World Cup is then imminent and the teams will want to sally forth as well prepared as possible.

TRANSFER NEWS: According to South African reports, lock RG Snyman has signed a contract with Japanese club Honda Heat.

There are six countries taking part in the 2019 Pacific Nations Cup in July and August 2019 and all six will later be playing in the Rugby World Cup which starts in September.

World Rugby has announced the names of the 23 match officials appointed to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, starting on 20 September 2019 when Japan play Russia.

England have announced the match officials for their team's warm-up matches prior to the 2019 Rugby World Cup which starts on 20 September 2019 when Japan play Russia. England's first match is against Tonga on 22 September 2019.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Although there may be teams that can buck the tend from time to time, it’s safe to suggest that it’s more difficult to win a game if your kickers aren’t on form.

TRANSFER NEWS: After numerous media speculations, Cheetahs finally revealed that Franco Smith will leave his posts as head coach.

NEWS: The Southern Kings confirmed that they are in talks with head coach Deon Davids about his future.

Here it is - your chance to vote for your South African Team of the Week, after Super Rugby's Round 13.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Branco du Preez will become the most-capped Springbok Sevens player of all time at the London Sevens next weekend when he runs out for his 70th tournament for the BlitzBoks at Twickenham.

TRANSFER NEWS: Sale Sharks have confirmed the signings of two more Springboks on Tuesday.

INJURY UPDATE: A big name in New Zealand rugby could be back on the playing field this weekend.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Waratahs head coach Daryl Gibson refused to dwell on his side's questionable defeat to Lions.

TRANSFER NEWS: Ulster Rugby announced that experienced Super Rugby star Matt Faddes will move to Kingspan Stadium next season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wallabies hooker Jordan Uelese will take a step closer to a return to Super Rugby action when he lines up for the Rebels' second team against Japan's Wolfpack.

NEWS: The pride of the Maori All Blacks haka will face the fierce Fijian cibi when the two sides play in a home and away two-match series this year, New Zealand Rugby announced on Tuesday.

INJURY UPDATE: Lions captain Warren Whiteley is doubtful for his team's Super Rugby Round 14 clash against the Highlanders at Ellis Park.

TRANSFER NEWS: Montpellier owner Mohed Altrad has snagged himself another Springbok.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Rebels could have an England-based Wallaby star in their squad when they host Bulls in Melbourne on Friday.

CHAMPIONS CUP REACTION: Saracens star Billy Vunipola has been hailed as the world’s best No.8, following his Heineken Champions Cup final destruction of Leinster.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Lions coach Zacharia de Bruin labelled the unpredictable and closely contested South African conference a dogfight.

TRANSFER NEWS: Steve Diamond continues to bolster his Sale Sharks team with Springboks ahead of the 2019/2020 Premiership season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Fijian-born wing Alivereti Raka was named in France's preliminary squad for this year's World Cup.

REACTION: The jostling for a guaranteed Super Rugby finals berth will go down to the wire after the Brumbies seized top spot in the Australian conference for the first time all season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Israel Folau has revealed how he resisted the "temptation" of a peace offering from Rugby Australia.

REACTION: Every Crusaders' visit to Newlands could arguably be branded as just an extra home game for the New Zealand side.

CHAMPIONS CUP REACTION: Saracens coach Mark McCall praised controversial England star Billy Vunipola for "doing his talking on the pitch" after scoring the try that cinched a hat-trick of European Champions Cup titles for the London club.

It is true that the 1st XV match counts most. We beat so-and-so if our 1st XV won, even though they may have won all the other matches.

PRO14 have announced the referees appointed to the two semifinals and to the play-off to see who will play in European Professional Club Rugby's Champions Cup in 2020.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The WP Rugby Board confirmed that they have met with head coach Robbie Fleck during the team's bye week to discuss the way forward after a poor season so far.

SOCIAL MEDIA REACTION: Australian legend David Campese has sent an interesting message to Saracens captain Brad Barritt, after his side won their third Champions Cup at the weekend.

REACTION: Leinster Rugby head coach Leo Cullen couldn’t hide his disappointment after his side were beaten 10-20 by Saracens in the Champions Cup final at St James’ Park on Saturday.

Wonderful playing conditions greeted the 1st XV’s from St Andrew’s College and Graeme College as they came together for their latest FNB Classic Clash on Somerset Field this past Saturday.

NEWS: An outstanding European season for Saracens has been capped off with Alex Goode being named EPCR European Player of the Year 2019.

LISTEN as Lions coach Swys de Bruin sits down for a one-on-one chat with @rugby365com reporter Josh Isaacson, following his return to duty this week.

Glenwood travelled up to Pietermaritzburg to play St Charles College for the first time in 42 years. It was a beautiful day as the friendly Saints staff welcomed us to their picturesque campus. The rugby on offer did also not disappoint as the crowd geared up for the First XV clash.

INJURY UPDATE: Melbourne's Mr Fixit Reece Hodge's next job could be at flyhalf with Quade Cooper in doubt for the Rebels' Super Rugby match against the Bulls on Friday.

SQUAD UPDATE: Munster received a boost ahead of their Pro14 semifinal showdown against Leinster in Dublin on Saturday.

Michaelhouse hosted Kearsney on their Founders’ weekend in ideal Midlands playing conditions.

The Midlands dished up ideal autumn weather for the backdrop to hundreds of Michaelhouse Old Boys from around the globe gathering to share war stories and to enjoy the sights and sounds of the fifth Michaelhouse Festival of Music and a full programme of hockey and rugby fixtures against visitors, Kearsney College.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Australia's director of rugby Scott Johnson admits the drawn-out Israel Folau saga is hurting the game and revealed he has spoken to Polynesian players concerned their religious beliefs are under attack.

Graeme College, St Andrew's Prep and St Andrew's College enjoyed another great derby weekend. St Andrew's started off winning three hockey matches earlier in the week and the rugby followed on Saturday. It is one of the oldest fixtures in the country with the two schools showing great respect and comradery.

Two players in the 1st XV of Selborne College in East London have rejected attempts to lure them to France with attractive contracts.

MATCH REPORT: The Brumbies have gone to the top of the Australian Super Rugby conference with a 33-0 win against the Sunwolves in Canberra on Sunday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: There has been a lot of talk about Egon Seconds' performance during the match between the Lions and the Waratahs in Johannesburg.

SQUAD NEWS: All Blacks loose forward Liam Squire will miss the Highlanders’ upcoming tour of South Africa to deal with personal issues.

CHAMPIONS CUP FINAL REPORT: A 67th minute try by England's controversial No.8 Billy Vunipola earned Saracens a third European Champions Cup title in four years with a 20-10 win over Leinster on Saturday.

Grey College of Bloemfontein beat the No.2-ranked team , Paarl Gim, 47-33 on 4 May 2019. Now it has beaten No.4, Paarl Boys' High 43-24. Grey is clearly No.1

INJURY UPDATE: Veteran French scrumhalf Morgan Parra was Saturday facing a World Cup fitness battle.

Eyes this weekend will be on St James’ Park, Newcastle United's ground since 1892. This weekend it will be a rugby ground with the Challenge Cup final on Friday and the Heineken Cup Final on Saturday.

OPINION: Not in 20 years of doing the Top 20 have we had a seismic shock of the proportions caused by the 2019 Schools tournament in Kimberley this past weekend.

REACTION: Australian Super Rugby players from the Rebels and the Reds have huddled for a post-match prayer on Friday.

WATCH all the highlights from Super Rugby's dramatic Round 13!

If you need some help with your Super Rugby predictions for the weekend ahead, we've got you covered.

CHALLENGE CUP REPORT: Clermont has won a third title in Europe with a ruthless attacking display, beating La Rochelle 36-16 in Newcastle on Friday.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: A late Shaun Reynolds penalty helped the Lions edge the Waratahs 29-28 at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Hilton College played host to Pretoria Boys' High on their magnificent estate in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands, the 1st XV match a Classic clash. The home side were in fine form and won 42-27.

Here it is! The results of the readers' votes for the South African Team of the Week.

CRUEL END: All Black fullback Ben Smith may already have played his last game for the Highlanders.

MATCH REPORT: Hurricanes kept the pressure on New Zealand conference leaders Crusaders with  a hard-fought 22-12 win over the Blues in Auckland.

MATCH REPORT: The Chiefs bounced back with a hard-fought 29-23 win over the Sharks on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Melbourne have cracked a confidence-boosting win over Queensland to reaffirm their position at the top of the Australian Super Rugby conference.

MATCH REPORT: The Highlander kept their play-off hopes alive with a narrow 32-27 win over the Jaguares on Saturday.

CHAMPIONS CUP FINAL: Leinster head coach Leo Cullen says his team is not focusing on setting a record with a fifth European title.

NEWS: Warren Gatland will be heading to South Africa.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Crusaders once again stamped their authority on the competition and cemented their place at the top of the standings.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: The Rebels have taken a giant leap towards reaching the play-offs for the first time.

DOMESTIC SPOTLIGHT: Ruan Combrinck is not the first Springbok to get the axe and he won't be the last. Josh Isaacson looks at a dramatic call that could salvage his career.

TRANSFER NEWS: Munster Rugby and the IRFU have confirmed that Tadhg Beirne has signed a two-year contract extension that will see him remain with the province until June 2022.

LEINSTER V SARACENS: Holders Leinster believe they will need a special display to beat Saracens and win an historic fifth European title in a clash of the continent's heavyweights on Saturday in Newcastle.

In the land of the samba, beaches and football, there us also rugby, and in July one of World Rugby's tournaments will be hosted there - the World Under-20 Trophy.

Grey College of Bloemfontein will not leave you guessing. Year after year they take on the best. Last week it was Paarl Gim, ranked No.2; this week its Paarl Boys' High, ranked No.4, and always a formidable opponent, no matter where in the world the opposing team is.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Crusaders captain and flank Matt Todd is expecting a big battle with the Bulls' pack of forwards when the two teams meet in a Super Rugby Round 13 match in Pretoria on Friday.

NEWS: England exile Danny Cipriani was named the Rugby Players' Association player of the year for 2019 on Wednesday following an excellent debut season at Gloucester.

It's about 60 km up the R346 to get to Dale College in King William's Town from Selborne College in East London. They first did this trip for a rugby match in 1892 and have done so in friendly rivalry many, many times. Since 2012 they have been doing it home and away each year.

NEWS: Matt Smith announced that he will retire from the game at the conclusion of the 2018/19 season after 14 years of professional rugby with Leicester Tigers.

NEWS: The new home of Tottenham Hotspur in London will be the destination for European club rugby’s blue-riband event in 2021.

TRANSFER NEWS: Days after Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu signed a deal with London Irish, the Premiership managed to lure another Australian stalwart to England.

It could be seen as a sort of religious war - Anglican against Methodist - but neither is given to fisticuffs and so it will be on the rugby field when Kearsney leave Botha's Hill and climb up to Balgowan, to gracious Michaelhouse.

DERBY TIME: The Crusaders may be on a road trip to South Africa, but Friday is earmarked for two crucial derby matches.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks have had far greater success on the road than at home this year, but it is not a record that concerns coach Robert du Preez much.

LISTEN as @LoffieEloff tells @King365ed who he feels would be the perfect inside centre for @Springboks flyhalf Handre Pollard.

St Andrew's go up across the road to play Graeme College on Saturday, something they have been doing for years - since 1878, it seems, when Graeme College was then the Public School.

CHALLENGE CUP SPOTLIGHT:  ASM Clermont Auvergne reached their fourth final – and now have the opportunity to lift the title for a third time when they take on first-time finalist La Rochelle on Friday. 

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sunwolves have revealed their team to face the Brumbies in Canberra on Sunday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach Robert du Preez has made three changes to his team's starting line-up to face the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Brumbies are aiming for a fifth home win in succession when the Sunwolves arrive at GIO Stadium for their Round 13 Super Rugby clash on Sunday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Jaguares head coach Gonzalo Quesada named his starting XV to face Highlanders on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: You could not have asked for a more dulcet match - South Africa's leading franchise against New Zealand's top team.

NEWS: Australian billionaire Andrew Forrest could offer Israel Folau a career lifeline in Asia.

World Rugby has named the nine referees appointed to World Rugby's Under-20 Championship which starts in Argentina on 4 June 2-19.

It's the big schools mat chg in Kimberley this Saturday, Hoërskool Noord-Kaap vs Hoërskool Diamantveld, a Classic Clash.

CHAMPIONS CUP FINAL SPOTLIGHT: Saracens flank Michael Rhodes knows that his team will need a few tricks up their sleeves when they face Leinster in their Champions Cup Final on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Swys de Bruin has named his team to face the Waratahs in a Super Rugby Round 13 encounter at Ellis Park on Saturday.

OPINION: The Hurricanes continue to produce performances that suggest they are the Crusaders' biggest threat.

Tomas Lavanini has been branded by many as one of the most aggressive and thuggish players in the sport.

NEWS: The Queensland Rugby Union’s (QRU) iconic Ballymore Park will be transformed into a world-class sports precinct and community facility.

NEWS: Brumbies flank Tom Cusack has signed a new contract that will keep the flank at the Canberra-based side until the end of 2021.

WATCH as veteran Springbok hooker Schalk Brits talks about the inconsistencies that blight SANZAAR disciplinary hearings.

TRANSFER NEWS: Newly-promoted London Irish have signed an All Black star.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Head coach Colin Cooper has had to reshuffle his forward pack for their Super Rugby Round 13 clash against the Sharks in Hamilton.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: All Black scrumhalf Aaron Smith seems to be warming up the right time.

REACTION: Israel Folau convinced former Wallaby captain Nick Farr-Jones to change his mind on apologising over religiously-motivated social media posts.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The NSW Waratahs have named their team to take on the Lions in Johannesburg for round 13 of the Super Rugby.

INJURY UPDATE: Saracens have received a big boost ahead of their Champions Cup Final against Leinster.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Zacharia de Bruin was welcomed back by the Lions with open arms on Monday.

REACTION: The true cost the Israel Folau saga will be felt in not just monetary value, but also the emotional scars it is going to leave on rugby.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has named his team to take on the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger has made a few changes to his team to face the Jaguares in Dunedin on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Melbourne Rebels lock Ross Haylett-Petty and centre Billy Meakes have been included in the side's starting XV to face the Reds at AAMI Park.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Queensland Reds have made two changes to their starting XV for Friday’s match against the Rebels at AAMI Park in Melbourne.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Blues head coach Leon McDonald has named his team to face the Hurricanes in a Super Rugby Round 13 encounter at Eden Park on Friday.

REACTION: After announcing his retirement from professional rugby at the end of the season, many players have taken to social media to pay tribute to James Haskell's career.

NEWS: Munster have lost half of their coaching team.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The squads and match officials have been confirmed for the World Rugby Under-20 Championship.

This week on The Short Ball Scotty Stevenson is joined once more by Ali Williams!

WATCH as James Haskell speaks, at length, about his decision to retire from rugby.

UPDATE: Israel Folau's epic code of conduct hearing is finally over,

NEWS: France are trying to boost a demoralised squad ahead of the World Cup starting in September.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls have rushed back a couple of Springboks for their Super Rugby crunch match against the Crusaders on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Scrumhalf TJ Perenara will return to lead the Hurricanes in Friday's Super Rugby match against the Blues at Auckland's Eden Park.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend named a 42-man training squad in preparation for Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan this September.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Phendulani Buthelezi will lead the Junior Springbok World Rugby Under-20 Championship squad for the global showpiece in Argentina in June.

NEWS: Bath have confirmed the appointment of Stuart Hooper as Director of Rugby, to replace the departing Todd Blackadder.

INJURY UPDATE: The Highlanders' quest for Super Rugby play-off place season has just gotten harder.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Melbourne playmaker Quade Cooper admits the return to Super Rugby has taken a toll early in the season.

WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN: When hosting an international rugby tournament and welcoming thirsty fans from around the world, the last thing you want to do is run out of beer.

TRANSFER NEWS: Paddy Jackson will be playing in the English Premiership next season.

CHAMPIONS CUP FINAL: The eyes of the world will be firmly fixed on St James' Park in Newcastle on Saturday, when European heavyweights Leinster and Saracens clash in the Champions Cup Final.

NEWS: James Haskell has announced his intention to retire from professional rugby at the end of the 2018/19 season.

The big results this week came from the Schools Rugby Tournament at Hoërskool Diamantveld in Kimberley, most notably the match between Grey College of Bloemfontein and Paarl Gimnasium.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: World Rugby has confirmed that a record number of unions have formally expressed their interest in hosting Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Crusaders' 21-all draw with the Sharks has certainly dented their superiority status and amplified a problematic area.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Brumbies assistant coach Laurie Fisher has taken to social media to slam those criticising their style of play following a gritty Super Rugby win against the Blues.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Aside from Edinburgh dominating the Pro14 awards, two Cheetahs players were also among the winners.

NEWS: All Black Carl Hayman was handed a four-month suspended prison sentence for domestic violence.

REACTION: Waratahs chairman Roger Davis Tuesday called for a "quick" and "common-sense" settlement to the Israel Folau saga.

WATCH as injured Springbok centre Jesse Kriel posts an update about his recovery from surgery.

TRANSFER NEWS: Leicester Tigers confirmed the signing of Argentina international forward Tomás Lavanini for next season.

TRANSFER NEWS: Australia prop Sekope Kepu will bring his vast experience to London Irish as they return to the Premiership next season, the club has announced.

NEWS: Wales attack coach Rob Howley’s future could lie in Ireland – according to reports.

DEVELOPING NEWS: Israel Folau's code of conduct hearing isn't expected to produce a result when it goes into a third day.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Scrumhalf seems to be the one position Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has little to worry about. Leezil Hendricks shines the spotlight on the candidates!

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Queensland Reds Harry Hockings has been suspended for three weeks after being found guilty of stomping on the head of a Sunwolves' player.

TRANSFER NEWS: All Blacks and Chiefs scrumhalf Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi has re-signed with New Zealand Rugby until 2021.

The scene was set for another epic derby encounter as The South African College High School (SACS) hosted Diocesan College (Bishops) for another installment of this historic fixture. There was a Southerly breeze blowing on a chilly early winters morning in Newlands but this did not deter a large crowd who gathered for the first of the Southern Suburb derbies. Bishops proved too good on the day and were deserved 39-21 winners (half time: 15-7)

The season is well on the go now. Wildeklawer is over and so is Sanix which Paul Roos won.

WATCH as we bring you all the highlights from Super Rugby’s Round 12.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: The Waratahs are bracing themselves for a tense battle over the final six rounds of the Super Rugby regular season after losing ground in the race for the finals.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand referee Glen Jackson is weighing up the prospect of calling time on his career after failing to win selection on the referee panel for this year’s World Cup in Japan.

Beaten twice by Jeppe High School for Boys in 2018, King Edward VII school came to Jeppe's packed Collard Field on Saturday and turned the tables on their hosts, winning 49-31, a score which perhaps flattered Jeppe who found the big KES pack a handful.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Bath secured a vital bonus point at the Rec to keep their Premiership title aspirations alive.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Brumbies' forwards depth has come up trumps when called on this season but could face its toughest test yet with Wallabies lock Rory Arnold the latest to join the injury ward.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Bulls head coach Pote Human had a lot of praise for his front-row forwards after their 28-21 win over the Waratahs on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks grow in strength when they are on tour and this season is no different.

UPDATE: Israel Folau's future remains no clearer after his landmark code of conduct hearing was forced into a third day following a weekend stalemate at Rugby Australia headquarters in Sydney.

TOP 14, SATURDAY WRAP: Leaders Toulouse scored 13 tries as they thumped Pau 83-6 in the French Top 14 on Saturday, with Thomas Ramos scoring 26 points in a virtuoso display.

PRO14 REPORT: Marcell Coetzee’s try three minutes from time finally ended Connacht’s resistance and sent Ulster through to the Pro14 semifinals with a 21-13 win at the Kingspan Stadium.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: 'Super Rugby is all about entertainment and getting the crowd on their feet.'

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Two players have been cited after a spiteful and card-riddled clash between the Reds and Sunwolves in Brisbane on Friday.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Sunwolves wing Semisi Masirewa will miss his side's Super Rugby clash against the Brumbies.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: Newcastle Falcons will play their rugby in the Championship next season after a 28-19 bonus-point win for Gloucester at Kingston Park sealed their relegation fate.

RANKINGS: May Day is an international distress signal, which may be appropriate for those attempting to draw up Rugby356's first Top 20 of the season.

NEWS: Stade Francais owner Hans-Peter Wild said Sunday he was planning on investing 100 million euros ($112million) in the under-performing French Top 14 giants over the next half a decade.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Bulls returned to winning ways after edging the Waratahs 28-21 at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.

PRO14 REPORT: JJ Hanrahan’s monster penalty broke Benetton hearts as Munster snatched a 15-13 victory at Thomond Park to set up a Pro14 semifinal against Leinster.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: Hooker Folau Fainga'a scored a hat-trick as the Brumbies edged the Blues 26-21 in a bruising encounter in Canberra on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Stormers' chances of making the play-offs took a big blow when they went down 25-30 to the Jaguares in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Chiefs came back from the proverbial death to earn a thrilling 31-all draw with the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday.

Paul Roos Gymnasium of Stellenbosch struck gold on Sunday when they won the final of Sanix World Rugby Youth tournament with a huge score.

NEWS UPDATE: Israel Folau's code of conduct hearing will continue at Rugby Australia headquarters in Sydney, with Wallaby coach Michael Cheika one of the witnesses on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Hurricanes were forced to hang on in desperate fashion against the Rebels, but kept their campaign on track.

Toulouse ran 13 tries past Pau in their Top 14 match on Saturday and one try was particularly good.

MATCH REPORT: Faf de Klerk’s last-minute penalty came back off the post as Sale Sharks had to settle for a 20-20 draw away to Bristol Bears in a thrilling Premiership Rugby encounter.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: All Black star Samuel Whitelock will not travel with the Crusaders when they head to South Africa at the weekend.

NEWS: The Lions will have head coach Swys de Bruin back next week.

NEWS: Days after their Champions Cup semifinal exit to Saracens, Munster have finally completed their investigation into the spectator who entered the Ricoh Arena playing field to confront Billy Vunipola.

NEWS: The Bulls were forced into a late change to their team ahead of their Super Rugby crunch match with the Waratahs.

MATCH REPORT: Danny Care and Semi Kunatani scored a try in each half to snap Harlequins’ five-game losing streak and boost their Premiership Rugby semi-final hopes with a tense 23-19 victory against Leicester Tigers.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: This Sunday,  the Pro14 will paid tribute to best performers of the season.

LISTEN as former SARU CEO Johan Prinsloo chats to the @rugby365com team about the influence and role of the late Louis Luyt in South African rugby.

ALL BLACK EXODUS: The post-World Cup exodus could get a few interesting additions in the next few months.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Reds held on against the Sunwolves, to win a spiteful encounter 32-26 in Brisbane on Friday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Munster Rugby confirmed that Duncan Williams, Mike Sherry, Dave O’Callaghan and James Hart will depart the province at the end of the season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: It's the most divisive issue in Australian sport, but no one should expect Israel Folau's showdown with Rugby Australia to be won or lost any time soon.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Brumbies announced the signing of highly promising former Australian Schoolboys lock forward Nick Frost from the Crusaders Development Program.

WATCH as Reds captain Samu Kerevi clears up where he stands on religion and why he will continue to express his faith.

TOP 14, WEEK 24: With three Top 14 rounds left, the weekend gives four teams the chance to kick away the fingers of rivals clutching at their shirt tales.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Crusaders required an injury-time try and conversion to snatch a 21-all draw with the Sharks in Christchurch on Friday.

As they have been doing for years and years, the four Southern Suburbs boys' schools will be in action this weekend - SACS, Wynberg, Bishops and Rondebosch, all 19th century foundations.

DOWN TO THE WIRE: Incredibly there are nine teams still in the hunt for a place in the Premiership Rugby semi-finals with just two rounds to go.

TRANSFER NEWS: Harlequins and Wasps have both confirmed that a rash of players will departing the clubs at the end of the season.

Grey High School of Port Elizabeth will head some 250 km north to King William's Town this weekend for yet another bout of rugby between these two great schools, rivals and friends.

ROAD TO GLASGOW: After a thrilling climax to the Pro14 regular season last Saturday, the first stage of the Final Series, the quarterfinals get underway this weekend.

Placed in Pool D of four pools, Paul Roos Gymnasium of Japan have won their three matches, played in just four days of the Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament being played in Fukuoka, Japan.

Another week, another round of Super Rugby predictions.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: There are five changes to the Stormers forward pack and one in the backline for their Super Rugby encounter against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

Your votes are in and calculated. These are the South African players you, the readers, felt performed best in Round 11 of Super Rugby.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand columnist Ben Smith on why it is nine years since a South African team has won the competition.

NEWS: The Chiefs have announced that impressive outside back Shaun Stevenson has re-signed with them until 2023.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Leinster will be without one of their stars for next weekend's Champions Cup Final.

The Wildeklawer Schools Rugby Tournament started on Wednesday, 1 May 2019, with an evening match at Hoërskool Diamantveld in Kimberley. It was a thrilling encounter between hosts Diamantveld and Hoërskool Stellenberg of Durbanville.

UPDATE: Lions revealed that Joey Mongalo will resume his role as defence coach on Monday.

The @rugby365com team welcomes on board former SARU CEO Johan Prinsloo as part of their search for the truth and facts behind what is the root cause of all the problems in the game in South Africa.

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: Yes, that is what a trip to Christchurch and an encounter with the Crusaders feels like to most, if not all, teams.

NEWS: Another Springbok has announced his retirement from the game.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Conor O’Shea has chosen a squad of 44 to train for Italy’s World Cup campaign, with only 10 having previous experience at a finals.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson has been forced to reshuffle his depleted forward pack for this weekend's Super Rugby crunch match with the Bulls in Pretoria.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Beauden Barrett will captain the Hurricanes for a second time this season against the Rebels at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Brumbies coach Dan McKellar admits it's frustrating after David Pocock's injury return was delayed for at least another two weeks.

In Europe, club rugby is getting to knock-out stages and all the tension that goes with them.

OPINION: It was truly an interesting weekend, with the bookmakers having lost heavily in half the games.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: @rugby365com's law guru Paul Dobson look at Crusaders' wing Sevu Reece try against the Lions. 

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Blues are going back to the future as they begin a challenging second half of the Super Rugby season.

INJURY UPDATE: The Lions are set to be without the services of their inspirational captain, Warren Whiteley, for another couple of weeks.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger has named his team to face the Chiefs in a Super Rugby Round 12 encounter in Dunedin on Saturday.

NEWS: Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards has rejected the offer of a new contract with the Welsh Rugby Union.

Paul Roos advanced to the semifinals of the Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament. being played in Fukuoka, Japan.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: A week is a long time in rugby. Just ask Taulupe Faletau.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls were forced into making a number of changes to their backline for the Super Rugby Round 12 encounter with the Waratahs at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

REACTION: Some Wallabies are unwilling to play with the controversial fullback and others feeling their religion is under attack.

SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT: The Wildeklawer Schools Rugby and Netball Tournaments start at Hoërskool Diamantveld on the evening of Thursday, 1 May 2019, Workers Day.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok scrumhalves Faf de Klerk and Cobus Reinach's brilliance have certainly not gone unnoticed by their English peers.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Melbourne Rebels captain Dane Haylett-Petty and vice-captain Angus Cottrell have been named to make their return to the Rebels’ starting XV to face the Hurricanes in Wellington.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wales coach Warren Gatland has opened up about the ongoing rumours linking him to the England job.

NEWS: Northampton Saints revealed that wing Ken Pisi will be leaving the Club at the end of the season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Chiefs head coach Colin Cooper has named his team for their match against the Highlanders at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks were dealt a cruel blow ahead of their crucial Super Rugby Round 12 encounter with the Crusaders.

CONTRACT NEWS: New Zealand Rugby continues to lock in key players beyond the World Cup.

CONFIRMED: Five of the six teams who have qualified for the PRO14 Final Series are previous champions while Benetton’s presence marks the first time that an Italian club has qualified for the knock-out stages.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sunwolves coach Tony Brown has made wholesale changes to his team for their Super Rugby Round 12 trip to Brisbane and an encounter with the Reds.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Queensland Reds have made just the one change to their starting XV for Friday’s clash against the Sunwolves at Suncorp Stadium.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has named his team for the match against the Sharks at Christchurch Stadium on Friday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Each year new trends surface and become wildly adopted as new ideas are proven to be effective.

REPORT: South African Under-20 ended a run of defeats with a scratchy win over their Welsh counterparts.

INJURY UPDATE: The Lions suffered a cruel blow with the news that their flyhalf has been ruled out for the rest of season.

There is a good list of results for the week that ended on Freedom Day, 27 April 2019.

PRO14 SPOTLIGHT: Pierre Schoeman is hunched over the table in a Murrayfield hospitality box, eyes dancing, straggly hair quivering, an impossibly thick forearm mimicking the rearing and striking pattern of the deadly Egyptian cobra.

You asked for it and here it is: Your chance to select your South African Team of the Week - for Super Rugby Round 11.

INJURY UPDATE: Injured Chiefs lock Brodie Retallick has been ruled out of Super Rugby for a further three weeks.

INJURY UPDATE: The Bulls have been a dealt a cruel blow with the news of Springboks centre Jesse Kriel.

INJURY UPDATE: The Melbourne Rebels could be back to full strength to face the Hurricanes.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: A 25-man Stormers squad will travel to Argentina on Tuesday ahead of their Super Rugby encounter with the Jaguares in Buenos Aires this weekend.

TRANSFER NEWS: Joel Matavesi has agreed a new one-year contract with Newcastle Falcons.

INJURY UPDATE: All Blacks and Crusaders prop Owen Franks is set to be sidelined for another month.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Wales have named a 42-man training squad to prepare for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. 

WATCH as former England lock Martin Bayfield takes us back to a time when rugby was played the old-fashioned way.

PRO14 has announced the referees for the two play-offs for semifinal spots, play-offs that could be referred to as quarterfinals.

TRANSFER NEWS: Saracens have confirmed the signing of Harlequins prop Josh Ibuanokpe.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Tate McDermott isn't one for broken promises, with the halfback adamant the Reds won't repeating themselves on Friday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Saracens announced that Alex Day will join the club from Cornish Pirates.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: It’s one of the most hotly contested seasons we’ve seen in years.

INJURY UPDATE: The Bulls could be forced to field a new midfield combination in their Super Rugby Round 12 encounter with the Waratahs.

LISTEN as the Lions' interim coach Ivan van Rooyen contradicts his Chief Executive Officer Rudolf Straeuli over claims that they deliberately mislead the Chiefs last week.

NEWS: Following the announcement of John Fogarty’s departure, Leinster Rugby confirmed that Robin McBryde will join Leinster as Assistant Coach after the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

NEWS: Former captain Fabien Galthie will succeed Jacques Brunel as French coach after this year's World Cup.

NEWS: French star Mathieu Bastareaud is set to become the biggest name to play club rugby in the United States after the centre announced on Sunday he will move to New York after this year's World Cup.

TRANSFER NEWS: Racing92's Top 14-winning backs coach Laurent Labit will join the France set-up at the end of the season, the club announced. 

INJURY UPDATE: The Stormers look set to be without the services of a Springbok superstar for their trip to Argentina.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: With each passing week, Sevu Reece’s blinding form is making a mockery of the Chiefs decision to overlook him purely on rugby-related grounds.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Waratahs' campaign just got more complicated as they lose the services of lock Jed Holloway.

Kearsney hosted DHS for a great afternoon’s running rugby in which neither team disappointed.

TRANSFER NEWS: Andy Farrell has added another coach to his Ireland set-up for when he takes over after the Rugby World Cup.

All the Super Rugby highlights

VIDEO: Crusaders' wing Sevu Reece has been in tremendous form and his try against the Lions speaks volumes of his skills.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Jaguares survived a yellow card and several late Brumbies onslaughts to win 20-15 in Buenos Aires and complete a Super Rugby hat-trick.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: The New Zealand conference has a clear leader, but the picture in South Africa and Australia is a lot more clouded.

PREMIERSHIP REACTION: Gloucester coach Johan Ackermann called on his side to raise their game, after they secured a place in the title-deciding play-offs.

MATCH REPORT: The Stormers secured a narrow 24-23 win over the Bulls at Newlands on Saturday.

REACTION: All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has attempted to douse the fiery argument raging in New Zealand over a perceived flyhalf crisis ahead of the World Cup.

PRO14 REPORT: Munster missed out on top spot in Conference A of the PRO14 but will head into the Finals Series on a high after a hard-fought 27-14 win over Connacht at Thomond Park.

TOP 14 WRAP: Bankrolled by a billionaire and boasting a squad bursting with international talent, Stade Francais still require a minor miracle if they are to avoid a fourth successive season of failing to make the French Top 14 play-offs.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Francois Hougaard sent Rassie Erasmus a timely reminder of his credentials as he helped Worcester Warriors remain in the top echelon for another season.

The South African College High School (SACS) hosted old friends from the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town, DF Malan High School, on Freedom Day! It was great to have their long-time coach Bertus Enslin and his colleagues back at SACS on a beautiful morning.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: World Rugby is in full support of Fiji's Olympic sevens gold medal-winning coach Ben Ryan's five-a-side indoor concept.

PRO14 REPORT: Sam Davies slotted a late penalty as the Ospreys secured a narrow 26-23 win over Cardiff Blues in the battle for bragging rights and fourth in Conference A of the PRO14.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Maybe there isn't hope for the NSW Waratahs beyond Israel Folau after all.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Saracens returned to winning ways in Premiership Rugby as they held off spirited Wasps 31-14.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Harry Williams’ second-half score proved the difference as Exeter Chiefs kept themselves top of the Premiership Rugby table with a narrow 17-15 victory over Harlequins.

PRO14 REPORT: Cheetahs bid farewell to their Pro14 season with a comfortable 61-25 win over the struggling Southern Kings side.

PRO14 REPORT: Marcus Rea scored on his senior debut for Ulster to give them a 14-13 victory and the bragging rights over reigning champions Leinster.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Sharks ended a two-decade-long drought in Sydney when they beat an indisciplined Waratahs team 23-15 on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: In the wake of another sensational outing for the Crusaders, coach Scott Robertson has backed rookie wing Sevu Reece for a call-up to the All Blacks.

PRO14 REPORT: Glasgow Warriors ensured they will have a home Semi-Final in the PRO14 Final Series after blowing away Edinburgh in the first half to triumph 34-10 at Scotstoun Stadium.

STATS: The Cheetahs and Kings might be a long way off challening for the PRO14 title, but there have been some impressive indivudal performances this season.

Selborne College of East London and Queen's College of Queenstown met under blue skies in East London in Saturday in an FNB Classic Clash which was broadcast live on SuperSport and great support from the packed stands

PREMIERSHIP REACTION: Sale Director of Rugby Steve Diamond praised the Curry brothers’ breakdown influence after they defeated Bath 6-3 to retain hopes of finishing in the top-four.

INJURY UPDATE: All Blacks duo Liam Squire and Waisake Naholo are close to making their returns to Super Rugby after prolonged injury lay-offs.

PRO14 REPORT: Monty Ioane’s diving finish secured Benetton Rugby a place in the PRO14 Final Series for the first time, as they saw off rivals Zebre with a 25-11 win.

PRO14 REPORT: Dragons celebrated the end of their season in glorious style as Matthew Screech’s double was enough to record a 34-32 win over Scarlets on Judgement Day clash.

MATCH REPORT: Sale Sharks edged out Bath in a low scoring game at the AJ Bell Stadium as the boot of AJ MacGinty proved enough to see the home side through 6-3.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Harry Thacker returned to haunt his former club once again as Bristol Bears secured a Premiership Rugby double over Leicester Tigers for the first time in their history.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Hurricanes continue to look like the most likely challenger to the Crusaders' dominance.

Paul Roos Gymnasium of Stellenbosch is in Japan, chosen to represent South Africa for the third time at the Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament hosted by the Japan RFU in Fukuoka on the island of Kyushu in Japan.

WORLD CUP SPOTLIGHT: Any chance of the All Blacks selecting a World Cup bolter appears to be alive and well as head coach Steve Hansen has admitted that “two or three” players have caught his eye during Super Rugby this year.

MATCH REPORT: Junior Springbok coach Chean Roux described his team’s 35-8 defeat against England at the Butts Park Arena in Coventry on Friday as a tough lesson as they continued their preparations for the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Argentina in June.

MATCH REPORT: Northampton Saints moved into the Premiership Rugby semi-final spots as Tom Collins struck a first-half hat-trick to help them seal a 31-17 win over Newcastle Falcons.

Alexandria is a small town beyond Port Elizabeth in an area of chicory and pineapples, and two schools, which met on Friday afternoon in an FNB Classic Clash.

NEWS: Dave Rennie has quashed speculation in Scotland that fellow New Zealand Aaron Cruden is being lined up for a summer move to Glasgow.

NEWS: Former hooker and captain Raphael Ibanez will take over as manager of France following the 2019 World Cup, he told AFP on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Cheetahs will be looking for their this win of the season over the Southern Kings, when the two teams meet in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Highlanders handed the Sunwolves a 52-0 drubbing in an eight-try rout in Tokyo on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: New recruit Courtney Winnaar will make his debut for the Southern Kings, when they take on the Cheetahs in a Pro14 Round 21 clash in Bloemfontein on Saturday.