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SCHOOLS RANKINGS: It is the final version of our weekly Schools Top 20 before we sit down and look back at the entire season to determine our famous Top 20 of 2017.

SCHOOLS RANKINGS: This the second last of the weekly Schools Top 20s. There are fewer matches but some big ones indeed. There will be one more weekly Top 20 next week and then one that examines the whole season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Flank Sias Koen has been handed the captain's armband for Griquas crucial clash against Western Province at Newlands on Friday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Exeter Chiefs top the standings are three rounds of the Premiership, but is their early lead reflected in the tournaments statistics.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Last year’s Pumas Player of the Year, hooker Frankie Herne, gets a well-deserved opportunity to start against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Friday.

OPINION: Danny Care steps in to fill the void left by Jim Hamilton and discusses touring, Vegas and one-on-one scrummaging with Adam Jones in the hotel bar. The lads are also joined by the King of Bath, Freddie Burns, who calls in mid-road rage!

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok captain Eben Etzebeth has called out the vile abuse that has been directed at Springbok players and their families following their defeat in New Zealand.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Blue Bulls director of rugby John Mitchell has opted not make use of Springboks Rudy Paige and Handré Pollard when they face the Sharks on Saturday in Durban.

OPNINION: Scotty Stevenson and Mils Muliaina give an honest review of South Africa’s shocking performance over the weekend.

TRANSFER NEWS: Warriors have signed scrumhalf Jono Kitto on a short-term loan deal from Leicester Tigers, who joins the club with immediate effect.

REACTION: The liquidated company Western Province Rugby (Pty) Ltd has denied it has committed fraud by not filing a Statement of Affairs. Jan de Koning reports.

No Tests this week as Rugby Championship has a weekend off, but PRO14 steams ahead and there are starts to the competition season in Italy and Hong Kong.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Loose forward Francois Louw said he feels "torn' between his club Bath and the Springboks.

NEWS: French clubs wishing to recruit a player or coach from rival Top 14 outfits will have to wait until the final year of their contract or face sanctions, the national rugby league (LNR) announced Tuesday.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Sharks have announced the signing of lock Gideon Koegelenberg on a two-year contract.

OBITUARY: Lionel Wilson, A Springbok and Western Province fullback, in the 1960s died peacefully in Napier, New Zealand, on Sunday 17 September 2017. He was 84 years of age.  

CURRIE CUP ROUND 10: The table-topping Sharks are beginning to put daylight between themselves and the rest and it also shows in rugby365's famous weekly selection.

TRANSFER NEWS: Openside flank Olly Robinson has joined Cardiff Blues from Bristol on a short-term loan deal.

NEWS: Ireland believes they will deliver a victorious 2023 World Cup bid to the World Rugby Council next week.

NEWS: Leinster prop Cian Healy has been forced off the squad flight travelling from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town after a laptop incident.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Johan Ackermann factor made it easy for Australian international hooker James Hanson to join Gloucester on a short-term deal prior to the start of next year's Super Rugby competition.

INJURY UPDATE: The Springboks will be without flank Jaco Kriel for the remainder of the season, the Lions Rugby Company confirmed on Tuesday.

SEVENS SPOTLIGHT: BlitzBoks duo Dylan Sage and Siviwe Soyizwapi have added heaps of experience to the SA Rugby Sevens Academy squad for the Oktoberfest Sevens in Munich, Germany on September 29 and 30.

NPC SPOTLIGHT: After five rounds, Rugby365 columnist Richard Neal separates the contenders from the pretenders in the National Provincial Championship.

NEWS: In an intriguing twist in the protracted Aerios versus Western Province saga, criminal charges have been filed.

REACTION: Western Province head coach John Dobson described his side's 12-22 loss to the Pumas in Nelspruit last weekend as a "freakish event".

INJURY UPDATE: The Blue Bulls have two new injury concerns after their narrow 33-36 loss to the Golden Lions last weekend.

INJURY UPDATE: Ireland captain Rory Best will miss his province Ulster's first two European Champions Cup matches because of a hamstring injury the club announced on Monday.

NEWS: New Zealand's Victor Vito of La Rochelle was voted French Top 14 Player of the Year for 2016-2017 on Monday for his part in the club's run for the title.

TRANSFER NEWS: Fijian loose forward Isi Naisarani became one of the first players to leave the Western Force Tuesday following their axing from Super Rugby, signing a one-year deal with the Brumbies.

WATCH: After the hiding the All Blacks gave the Springboks on the weekend, Radio Sport NZ's Martin Devlin and RugbyPass's Jamie Wall couldn’t wait till later in the week to talk about it.

AUDIO: All Black coach Steve Hansen and captain Kieran read were, as always, courteous in their responses. However, what does the Kiwis really think of the Springboks? Listen to what was said on New Zealand Talkback Radio!

INJURY UPDATE: The Kings have escaped unscathed from their brutal 10-31 loss to Leinster in Port Elizabeth at the weekend.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: There has been no positional changes in World Rugby's rankings after last weekend's Rugby Championship matches.

REACTION: The Cheetahs will be looking to build on their 54-39 victory against Zebre over the next few weeks in Bloemfontein.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wasps coach Dai Young has questioned the nature of flank James Haskell’s yellow card during the Premiership match on Sunday.

NEWS: Handré Pollard and Damian de Allende are amongst seven Springbok players released to play in the Currie Cup this coming weekend, it was confirmed on Monday.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Players from New Zealand continue to dominate our selections for Team of the Week after they humiliated the Springboks once again.

NEWS: Cardiff Blues are considering imposing a lifetime ban on a supporter who threw beer in the direction of Irish referee George Clancy during Saturday's clash with Glasgow.

REACTION: The Springboks are 'too prescriptive' and they should start chancing their arm.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The All Blacks will not take six first-choice players on their Rugby Championship trip to Argentina as they rest them in the midst of a gruelling international season, coach Steve Hansen said Monday.

Wasps have called for rugby’s authorities to take further action following Sunday's angry flare-up between the B&I Lions and England teammates James Haskell and Joe Marler. Haskell was sent to the sin-bin for grabbing Marler by the throat with both hands, but Wasps’ Director of Rugby, Dai Young, believes the sport needs to crack down on the players who spark such incidents.

LISTEN: It was a defiant Allister Coetzee who arrived back home on Sunday, saying he will NOT veer off the path he has chosen.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Highly-regarded flyhalf Marcus Smith showed the qualities which have earned rave reviews with 14 points as Harlequins ended Wasps' record 20-win streak at home with a 24-21 victory on Sunday.

TOP 14 WRAP: Dan Carter's Racing 92 held off a spirited Oyonnax to win 25-13 on Sunday and move level on points with Montpellier at the Top 14 summit.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand flyhalf Aaron Cruden says the hunger for success exuded by Montpellier owner Mohed Altrad and coach Vern Cotter persuaded him to end his international career and move to the Top 14 side.

NPC SPOTLIGHT: rugby365 columnist Richard Neal looks at Round Five of New Zealand's National Provincial Championship.

OPINION: From 'clubbing baby seals, to a 'B-plus' for the All Blacks. But who were Rugby Championship Round Four's best performers?

REACTION: The Wallabies are preparing for a Springbok backlash in their next Rugby Championship Test.

FIRST DIVISION WRAP: The Border Bulldogs earned their first victory this weekend.

NEWS: Japanese organisers were warned Sunday to accelerate their preparations for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, with training venues a key area of concern.

REACTION: The All Blacks may be riding the crest of the wave, but coach Steve Hansen feels the team can improve significantly.

REACTION: Springbok coach Allister Coetzee was desperately searching for 'positives' from his team's humiliating 0-57 loss to the All Blacks.

TOP 14 SATURDAY WRAP:French Top 14 champions Clermont hit back from their 20-51 mauling by La Rochelle to crush rock-bottom Brive 62-6 on Saturday in an eight-try rout.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: American star Chris Wyles fittingly opened the scoring in Philadephia, but it was the boot of the returning Owen Farrell that proved the difference as Saracens edged out Newcastle Falcons 29-7.

PRO14 REPORT: Finn Russell scored the winning penalty as Glasgow Warriors overcame a 10-point deficit to beat Cardiff Blues and preserve their unbeaten start to the season.

REACTION: The wounded Springboks prepared to return to South Africa on Sunday after their record hiding by New Zealand, warning that Australia will feel the backlash in two weeks. 

REACTION: The All Blacks paid tribute to defence coach Wayne Smith as they celebrated their record-breaking 57-0 demolition of arch-rivals South Africa in a Rugby Championship clash in Auckland on Saturday.

PRO14 REPORT: First-half tries from Jean Kleyn and Darren Sweetnam was enough for Munster as they battled past a gutsy Ospreys 21-16 to stay top of Conference A and make it three Pro14 wins in a row.

PRO14 REPORT: The Cheetahs bagged their first win in the Pro14 competition when they beat Zebre 54-39 in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: The Golden Lions continued their resurgence in this year's Currie Cup when they edged the Blue Bulls 36-33 at Ellis Park on Saturday.

OPINION: Argentina went down 20-45,however the visitors led the Wallabies at half-time before stuttering to defeat in the second half.

OPINION: The Wallabies defeated Argentina 45-20 in a hard-fought match which saw the home team struggle in the first half but fight back in the second half .

MATCH REPORT: Leinster made it three wins from three matches in the Pro14 when they recorded a 31-10 bonus-point win over the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

OPINION: Reality set in for South African as they ran into a brutally clinical New Zealand at the North Harbour stadium in Albany on Saturday.

OPINION: The scoreline says it all. New Zealand are the No.1 team in the world for good reason and they are that much better than South Africa.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP REPORT: Australia recorded their first Rugby Championship win of the season, as their down Argentina 45-20 in Canberra on Saturday.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP REPORT: The All Blacks continue to cement their dominance in world rugby, as they delivered a 57-0 rugby lesson to South Africa in Albany on Saturday.

PREMIERSHIP FRIDAY WRAP: Northampton Saints ended Bath's victorious start to the season, while Exeter Chiefs and Sale Sharks also produced impressive Premiership[ victories.

PRO14 REPORT: Benetton came from 0-14 down to record one of their greatest comeback wins in the Pro14 - defeating Edinburgh 20-17 at Myreside.

PRO14 REPORT: John Andrew's dramatic late try sealed an enthralling victory for Ulster as they inflicted a 27-20 defeat on defending champions Scarlets at the Kingspan Stadium.

PRO14 REPORT: The Newport Gwent Dragons earned their first win of the Pro14 season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: South Africa legend Bryan Habana concedes his time with the Springboks may be coming to an end.

CURRIE CUP MATCH REPORT: The Pumas stirred up the play-off race with a 22-12 win over Western Province in Nelspruit on Friday.

CURRIE CUP MATCH REPORT: The Sharks cemented their place at the top of the standings with an impressive 40-22 demolition of Griquas in Kimberley on Friday.

Some eyebrows have lifted slightly at the venue for the Rugby Championship Test between New Zealand and South Africa on Saturday - North Harbour Stadium in Albany, a suburb of Auckland.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: World Champions All Blacks head into this fixture as favourites, however, captain Kieran Read is expecting a much more different Springbok side than the 2016 version.

NEWS: England's Billy Vunipola has warned that players could go on strike if rugby bosses fail to reduce the number of matches played over the gruelling season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Flyhalf Ernest Stapelberg will be making his Pro14 debut for the Cheetahs this weekend a week after he made his Currie Cup debut.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP BUILD-UP: Springbok captain Eben Etzebeth says the captaincy role has made him even more hungry for success on the rugby field. 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Argentina Pumas are working with experts on how to combat their gruelling travelling schedule as they face the Wallabies in their last away Test of the Rugby Championship season on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Kurtley Beale is shaping as a key man with the Wallabies chasing a morale-boosting first win in the Rugby Championship against Argentina, assistant coach Stephen Larkham said ahead of Saturday's Test in Canberra.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND FOUR: The Wallabies are looking to secure a first Rugby Championship win by making sure they close out the Test against Argentina on Saturday after some frustrating close shaves.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Indo-Pacific Rugby Championship (IPRC),  instigated by billionaire Andrew Forrest has been making mammoth strides after Australian Rugby Union (ARU) established a working group to assist with its development.

TOP14, ROUND FOUR: Clermont coach Franck Azema has called on his battered and bruised Top 14 champions to show their true colours as flyhalf Morgan Parra returns for Saturday's derby clash with Brive.

REACTION: Wallabies coach Michael Cheika says Andrew Forrest's mooted Indo-Pacific league can help improve rugby in Australia, but only if the mining billionaire works with the Australian Rugby Union.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND FOUR: rugby365's acclaimed writer Paul Dobson gives us his unique view on one of the biggest matches of the year.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The scramble for places in the top four on the Currie Cup log will heat up even more this weekend as the countdown to the end of the pool stages intensifies with only five rounds of matches remaining, including this weekend.

NEWS: Scrumhalf Ross Cronje has been withdrawn from the Springbok team to face the All Back on Saturday in Albany because of illness and is replaced by Francois Hougaard, who was initially named on the bench.

SPOTLIGHT ON SOUTH AFRICA: History will be made once again this weekend when South Africa hosts its first-ever Pro14 matches.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: New All Black prop Kane Hames took exception to an article written about him and he wasn’t shy about raising the issue during a press conference.

European Professional Club Rugby has announced the referees for the first round of matches in Champions Cup and Challenge Cup, starting on Friday, 12 October 2017.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: It is invariably described as 'war' when New Zealand and South Africa play.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Southern Kings head coach Deon Davids has made a few changes to his matchday 23 to face up to Leinster in a historic Pro14 clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. 

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: The Golden Lions have managed to get themselves back into the play-off race, but they are very much in survival mode.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Sharks head coach Robert du Preez believes it is time for his players to show what they are truly made of as the Currie Cup play-offs draw nearer.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Golden Lions received a timely boost, with the return to fitness of one of their frontline front row forwards.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Blue Bulls Flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff will make his first appearance at Ellis Park since he left the Golden Lions in 2016.

UPDATE: Irish side Leinster admitted that they were in the wrong after two of their players were denied entry into South Africa.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Western Province are wary of the threat the Pumas pose at the breakdown ahead of the crucial Currie Cup clash in Nelspruit.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Argentina head coach Daniel Hourcade has made four changes to his starting XV for the Rugby Championship clash against the Wallabies in Canberra on Saturday.

Three rounds in, the Top 14 is emerging as one of rugby’s most competitive and exciting leagues. This week’s action continued to serve up great rugby from top to bottom of the table, and provide plenty of talking points.

Scotty Stevenson and Mils Muliaina get back into the groove by gushing over the latest star to come out of New Zealand, Vaea Fifita.

Strike Issue of the Week is Beauden Barrett. The All Blacks win against Los Pumas but is Barrett still the one? The Wallabies and Springboks draw, but offer few clues on their progress.

SHOWDOWN IN AMERICA: Newcastle Falcons and Saracens set sail to the United Stated as the Premiership Rugby takes their second ever match overseas and Philadelphia becomes the 36th venue to host a Premiership Rugby match.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The world champion All Blacks admitted Thursday to being uncomfortable with their patchy performances so far this year, but rejected talk of panic in the ranks.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Experienced lock Rob Simmons was the only change to the Wallabies starting team for this weekend's Rugby Championship Test against Argentina, with wing Marika Koroibete set to make his debut.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Springbok pack has been revamped for the crucial Rugby Championship encounter with the All Blacks in Albany on Saturday.

NEWS: South Africa's controversial new visa regulations have resulted in two of Leinster's players being denied entry into the country.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: New Zealand has undergone their second shake-up in as many weeks, with seven changes for Saturday's Rugby Championship Test against South Africa.

There is a 'new' guest in the rugby365 studio as Jan de Koning and Tauriq Ebrahim look at all the contentious issues!

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: rugby365's acclaimed law guru Paul Dobson looks at the vexed issue of cards at school level.

TRANSFER NEWS: After five seasons in Japan, Springboks flank Heinrich Brüssow is eager for a new challenge as he joins the Premiership side the Northampton Saints.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Pumas have 'groomed' a few Springboks in recent years. Now they have managed to lure a seasoned Bok to Nelspruit.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Griquas team to host the table-topping Sharks in a Currie Cup Round 10 match in Kimberley on Friday shows a number of changes.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Western Province coach John Dobson has added fit-again Seabelo Senatla to his starting XV for their Currie Cup match against the Pumas in Nelspruit on Friday.

CONFIRMED: The England will play world champions New Zealand for the first time since 2014 as one of the four Test matches in next season’s series at Twickenham Stadium.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand may have the superstars, but South Africa will rely on a team effort to triumph.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks coach Robert Du Preez has made modifications to the starting XV after injuries hit the Sharks camp ahead of the crucial clash against Griquas in Kimberley on Friday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Australian and Indo-Pacific rugby chiefs are working to collaborate on a new league initiated by mining magnate Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest that will allow Super Rugby stars to feature, it was announced Wednesday.

REACTION: Wallabies superstar Israel Folau has been caught up in a social media riot after expressing his opposition to same-sex marriages.

TRANSFER NEWS: Melbourne Rebels have started to raid Western Force as they have signed experienced prop Ben Daley until the end of the 2019 Super Rugby season.

TRANSFER NEWS: Wallabies centre Tevita Kuridrani has re-signed with Australian Rugby, committing to a two-year deal with the ARU and the Brumbies until the end of 2019.

The Rugby Championship moves into its fourth round this week, with a match near Auckland and another in Canberra.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Leinster will travel to South Africa without a number of key players.

INJURY UPDATE: Connacht will be hoping Sean O'Brien's shoulder injury is not too serious as they prepare to take on the Dragons in the Pro14 on Friday. 

INJURY UPDATE: British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton is set to miss the first four months of the European season following the recurrence of a neck injury, it was announced Tuesday.

NEWS: Edinburgh have signed Academy graduate Cameron Fenton on a one-year deal following a successful trial with the club.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: After the inlcusion of two South African sides the Souther Kinds and Cheethas the Pro14 next move it to include a team from the east coast of the United States, according to the league’s chief executive Martin Anayi.

NEWS: Western Force head coach Dave Wessels is contemplating his future after he being head hunted by the Rebels.

CURRIE CUP ROUND EIGHT: Western Province is not the most consistent team, but when on form they are a sight to behold.

NEWS: Springbok flyhalf Patrick Lambie was granted an early release from his contract held jointly between SA Rugby and the Sharks and is free to relocate to French club side Racing 92, it was announced on Tuesday.

INJURY UPDATE: Springbok flank Jaco Kriel will return home to South Africa after a shoulder injury has ruled him out of Saturday’s vital Rugby Championship Test against the All Blacks in Auckland.

TRANSFER NEWS: Crusaders have signed utility back Braydon Ennor on a two-year deal, which sees him join the 2017 Super Rugby Champions for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Centre Ryan Crotty says their is no bigger Test for the All Blacks than the against Springboks in New Zealand.

INJURY UPDATE: Agen hooker Loick Jammes is facing up to six months on the sidelines after suffering a double leg fracture at the weekend.

INJURY UPDATE: France loose forward Damien Chouly will miss the November internationals after being ruled out for three months with a hernia, his club side Clermont announced Monday.

INJURY UPDATE: The Blue Bulls have returned from their Currie Cup bye week and there are a few injury concerns.

NEWS: A draw with Australia proved enough to keep South Africa in the third spot in the World Rugby Rankings.

A mini montage dedicated to the All Blacks starting debutant Vaea Fifita and his outstanding performance against Argentina.

NEWS: Japan's hosting of the 2019 Rugby World Cup has created "nervousness" about whether big crowds will turn up but national pride will carry the day for the Japanese, World Rugby's Chief Executive said Monday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: All Blacks scrumhalf Aaron Smith will return to the side ahead of the contest with South Africa on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Springboks have not beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand for eight years. They will need something special if they are to break that drought.

INJURY UPDATE: The Southern Kings will need reinforcements for the front row for their Pro14 clash against Leinster in Port Elizabeth on Saturday. 

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: There was certainly a few eye-catching performances during Round Three of this year's Rugby Championship.

PRO14 SPOTLIGHT: After a 41-10 victory in Parma over Zebre, defending champions Scarlets will face a tough assignment away from home against Ulster.

REPORT: The final day of World Rugby's Under-20 Trophy brought out the worst in Montevideo weather - not a Katrina or an Irma but perhaps a side-effect.

Last year Vaea Fifita hurdled clean over a player in a provincial game. This past Saturday he shook the world with a barnstorming 40-metre run in for a try. Jamie Wall was there to see both.

INJURY UPDATE: The Harlequins flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis was unable to breathe after he sustained a fracture during his side's victory over Gloucester on Saturday.

CONFIRMED: Bay of Plenty’s Clayton McMillan has been appointed Head Coach of the Maori All Blacks, New Zealand Rugby announced on Monday.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Reds lock Lukhan Tui has joined the Wallabies in Canberra after two impressive performances for Brisbane City in the National Rugby Championship.

NPC SPOTLIGHT: rugby365 columnist Richard Neal looks at Round Four of New Zealand's National Provincial Championship.

TOP 14, SUNDAY WRAP: Toulon breathed a sigh of relief as they edged Toulouse 20-16 in the Top 14 on Sunday to leave the visitors feeling short-changed.

In World Rugby's Under-20 Trophy, Japan and Portugal will meet in the final.

MATCH REPORT: Wasps were pushed hard but late tries from Willie le Roux and Josh Bassett helped them make it two wins from two with a 24-10 win over Worcester Warriors at Sixways.

REACTION: Western Province head coach John Dobson believes his side ticked the right boxes in their 57-14 win over an under-strength Free State Cheetahs team at Newlands on Saturday.

REACTION: Golden Lions head coach Swys de Bruin believes his side are finally hitting their straps after their 34-17 bonus-point win over Griquas in Kimberley on Friday.

FIRST DIVISION WRAP: Defending First Division champions, the Griffons, continued to set the pace in the competition as they registered their third bonus-point win a row in a weekend of big victories.

REACTION: Allister Coetzee says he knows what South Africa must do to master their biggest challenge of the year against the All Blacks in the battle of the two unbeaten Rugby Championship teams.

REACTION: Coach Michael Cheika says the Wallabies must find a killer instinct after again squandering a winning position to remain winless in the Rugby Championship ahead of their next match against Argentina.

REACTION: The All Blacks may have made a perfect start to the Rugby Championship but they have only briefly looked like world champions leaving coach Steve Hansen unimpressed as they prepare to face arch-rivals South Africa next weekend.

PRO14 REPORT: Steff Evans and Johnny McNicholl were at the heart of a dynamic Scarlets attack as the defending champions made it two from two with a 41-10 victory over Zebre.

TOP14 WRAP: Fijian flank Levani Botia led La Rochelle to a stunning display of off-loading brilliance that crushed defending Top 14 champions Clermont 51-20 on Saturday.

REACTION: New Zealand have lost another of their frontline props for the rest of the year.

PRO14 REPORT: Andrew Trimble scored a brace as Ulster were forced to grind out a gritty 21-14 victory over a stubborn Benetton side at Stadio Monigo.

INJURY UPDATE: South Africa called for a replacement prop, after Springbok front row forward Coenie Oosthuizen fractured his arm.

PRO14 REPORT: Ireland side Connacht got their Pro14 campaign back on track with a 32-10 win over the struggling South African side the SOuthern Kings.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Semesa Rokoduguni’s last-gasp double stunned Saracens to give Bath Rugby a 31-21 win at the Rec on Saturday.

PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Finn Russell returned to the Glasgow Warriors sparked a 31-10 four-try victory over the Ospreys, and secure Dave Rennie a win in his first home game in charge.

PRO14 REPORT: Left wing Alex Wootton scored four tries to helped Munster produced a 51-18 win over Cheetahs at Thomond Park.

OPINION: South Africa came back from 10 points down and pushed hard for the win, but Australia managed to hold on for a 23-all Rugby Championship draw.

OPINION: Australia failed to hold onto a 10-point lead and will be disappointing that they let South Africa come back to secure a 23-all draw.

CURRIE CUP REPORT: The Western Province sublime first-half performance helped them secure a comfortable 57-14 win over the Free State Cheetahs in Cape Town on Saturday.

OPINION: Argentina looked to be in to the contest for the first hour, when they were level-pegging at 22-all with New Zealand.

OPINION: New Zealand again showed their ability to put teams away in the final quarter of matches, but there is a new star - already shining brightly.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP REPORT: Australia held on in the face of a late South African surge as the two teams played to a disappointing 23-all draw.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH REPORT: New Zealand showed their class as they surged back to the top of the standings with a comfortable 39-22 won over Argentina in New Plymouth on Saturday.

IN THE SHORT BALL SPOTLIGHT: Perth mining billionaire Andrew Forrest surprised many with his seemingly out of the blue idea for an independent competition, based out of Western Australia.

MATCH REPORT: Newcastle Falcons underlined their status as dark horses in the Premiership this season as they came from behind to win 13-12 away against Sale Sharks at the AJ Bell Stadium.

MATCH REPORT: Sean Cronin made an early bid for the try of the weekend as the hooker put in a 50-metre sprint to dot down in Leinster's 37-9 defeat of Cardiff Blues.

MATCH REPORT: Richard Cockerill marked his first home Pro14 match in triumphant style as his Edinburgh side delivered a 35-18 bonus-point win over the Dragons at Myreside.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Wallabies Australia are looking to match the Springboks' dynamic back row to claim their first win of this year's Rugby Championship.

MATCH REPORT: The Golden Lions picked up a valuable 34-17 bonus-point win against Griquas in Kimberley on Friday.

The French government has  instigated an investigation into the president of the French Rugby Federation, Bernard Laporte.

MATCH REPORT: The Sharks extended their winning run to seven matches when they edged the Pumas 27-25 in an exciting match in Nelspruit on Friday.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: England Sevens coach Simon Amor has included several senior players to the side for the 2017/2018 season.

REACTION: According to Australia legend John Eales the Australian Rugby Union have been very transparent in the axing of the Western Force.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Cheetahs have called up discarded Springbok Francois Venter for their Pro14 Round Two encounter with Munster at Thomond Park in Limerick on Saturday.

TOP 14, ROUND THREE: Reigning Top 14 champions Clermont will look to back up their win over Toulon when they make the trip to last season's regular-season table-toppers La Rochelle on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: All Black legend Dan Carter is expected to pledge his support for France's bid to host the 2023 World Cup.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Southern Kings have made only a single change ahead of their Pro14 clash against Connacht in Ireland.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND THREE: Argentina will put their credibility on the line in New Plymouth on Saturtday, against an All Black team experimenting with the line-up.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Australia coach Michael Cheika said his Australia forward pack will face a physical challenge against the Springboks, who are on a five-match winning run.

TRANSFER NEWS: Australia Under-20 player of the year and son of John Lomax, Tyrel returned to New Zealand after signing a contract with Highlanders.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND THREE: Improving. Both teams are said to be improving, Australia recently in contest with the mighty All Blacks and South Africa on what happened last year.

SECOND CHANCES: The Pro14 is under way after Round One saw the championship kick off in flying style across Ireland and Wales.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks will hunt their seventh successive Currie Cup victory – a feat they last achieved in 2010 – when they travel to Nelspruit to take on the Pumas on Friday as the competition enters the ninth round.

INJURY UPDATE: Scarlets confirmed that flank James Davies will undergo surgery on his shoulder on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Loosehead prop Alistair Vermaak will earn his 50th cap for Western Province in the Currie Cup match against Free State Cheetahs at Newlands on Saturday.

REACTION: The French Rugby Federation has apologised for posting a tweet that suggested it was the frontrunner to host the 2023 World Cup.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: An 18-year-old Australian rugby player has been banned for 10 years for attacking a referee.

Never shy with his use of the shoulder, Ma'a Nonu has once again been shown a yellow card for a late charge, this time in Toulon's loss to Clermont.

CRAVEN WEEK SPOTLIGHT: Next year is a massive year for Paarl Boys' High as it's their 150th birthday and they intend celebrating it with great gusto. 

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Free State Cheetahs have called up recently recruited flyhalf Ernst Stapelberg for their Currie Cup Round Nine encounter with Western Province at Newlands on Saturday.

REACTION: The embattled Australian Rugby Union hit back at the suggestion that they will be subject to a "highly unusual" parliamentary inquiry.

INJURY UPDATE: England's Manu Tuilagi has suffered another injury blow that looks certain to sideline him from the November internationals just after he returned to action following a long lay-off, his club Leicester said Thursday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ross Cronjé has shrugged off his ankle injury and comes back at scrumhalf in the Springbok team for Saturday's important Rugby Championship Test in Perth against Australia.

NEWS: New Zealand Rugby committed Thursday to clamping down on antisocial behaviour by players, but admitted it will not be easy to meet recommendations made in a "Respect and Responsibility" review.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Australia suffered a big blow on the injury front ahead of their Rugby Championship clash against the Springboks in Perth on Saturday.

OLD FOES MEET: Slot in between Round Two fixtures are one of rugby’s most famous derby matches - the East Midland Derby between Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Argentina have dropped veteran forward Juan Manuel Leguizamón among sweeping changes to their line-up for Saturday's Rugby Championship clash with the All Blacks in New Plymouth.

There is a new voice - actually a previous contributor returning - to join Tauriq Ebrahim and Jan de Koning behind the mic.

REACTION: Western Force's controversial axing from Super Rugby could be the subject of an inquiry from the Australian Senate.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: All Black coach Steve Hansen made a number of changes to the matchday 23 for the Rugby Championship Test against Argentina on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Griquas coach Peter Engledow has made four changes to his starting XV, ahead of the Golden Lions' arrival in Kimberley.

VIDEO: David Flatman picks his XV from the first round of the 2017-18 Premiership season.

PODCAST: After last week’s drama, The Rugby Pod is a full house with Goodey out on bail.

PODCAST: It's congratulations on The Short Ball as Mils is a new father and Scotty wins an oyster dinner in a bet.

TRANSFER NEWS: Wales international Dan Biggar has agreed to join Northampton Saints after he penned a deal with the club for the 2018 season.

POWER PLAY DOWN UNDER: Have you wondered why veteran Springbok prop Tendai Mtawarira's form has taken such a massive upwards curve this year? Look no further than the man on his inside.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Former Sharks scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer has not been included in the Pumas teams for their Currie Cup match against the Sharks at the Mbombela Stadium on Friday.

Super Rugby is over, and there Super Rugby coaches in New Zealand who are free of coaching responsibility. The New Zealand RFU is harnessing their abilities in preparing their schools teams for international competition.

IN THE PRO14 SPOTLIGHT: Rory Duncan, having previously played under Johan Erasmus, will go head-to-head with him on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: New Leicester Tigers head coach Matt O'Connor's opening loss poses a huge challenge for his first massive East Midlands derby at Franklin’s Gardens.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks coach Robert du Preez has no problem rushing back axed Springbok Curwin Bosch to the starting XV for Friday's Currie Cup fixture against the Pumas.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: England rugby coach Eddie Jones revealed that Mavericks like James Haskell and Dylan Hartley are special because "you don't want everyone to be off the same cookie cutter".

SUPER CULL UPDATE: Western Force players are facing a tough decision on whether to abandon the former Super Rugby team or remain and join a breakaway rebel league, as repercussions from the side's axing continued.

NRC UPDATE: Fijian Drua hooker Samu Suguturaga received a 20-week suspension after pleading guilty to biting the ear of the opposition.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: DJ Forbes, the most capped player in world sevens history, has announced his retirement from the game.

PRO14 REFEREES: Refereeing around the world is busy, and getting busier. 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Manu Tuilagi and Denny Solomona can return to the England rugby squad despite being sent home reportedly for being drunk from a training camp in August, said head coach Eddie Jones on Tuesday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: BlitzBok star Albertus Smith will start in the Golden Lions' back row when they take on Griquas in Kimberley.

NEWS: Bath Rugby has confirmed that Tabai Matson is leaving his position as head coach to return to New Zealand due to family reasons.

PRO14 SPOTLIGHT: After their triumph last Friday, Munster head coach Rassie Erasmus has warned his side to be vigilant against the wounded South African Cheetahs.

SCHOOLS RANKINGS: Here it is - the final Schools Top 20 for 2017. The year has flown by and another rugby season has died away.

REACTION: The Australian Rugby Union revealed that they would be unable to continue trading after 2019 if they continued with five Super Rugby teams in the future.

CURRIE CUP ROUND EIGHT: Two paraphrase that famous quote by Aristotle: "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts."

WOMENS SPOTLIGHT: While countries like England, Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada and Spain competed in the Women's Rugby World Rugby 2017, there was no sight of South Africa.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Australia utility back Dane Haylett-Petty has warned his side to be wary of the Springboks' smother tactics.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Israel Dagg is excited about the prospect of re-joining his All Black teammates on the field when they take on Argentina in a Rugby Championship clash in New Plymouth on Saturday.

NEWS: Fiji wing Josaia Raisuqe, sacked from Top 14's Stade Francais after a drunken rampage in July, has been handed a lifeline by newly promoted second flight outfit Nevers, the club said on Monday.

INJURY UPDATE: Stade Francais' French international wing Djibril Camara will miss at least ten weeks of the Top 14 season after seriously injuring his right knee seven minutes into the second game of the season this weekend.

REACTION: Mining magnate Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest announced plans Tuesday for a rebel Indo-Pacific rugby competition after the Western Force lost a legal appeal against their axing from Super Rugby.

NEWS: Western Force suffered a significant blow to their hopes for reinstatement into the Super Rugby competition by losing a court appeal Tuesday against their axing.

INJURY UPDATE: Blue Bulls coach John Mitchell will breathe a sigh of relief that his team has a bye this week.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH BUILD-UP: South Africa have an admirable record against Australia in Perth and the Springboks don't hide the liking for the place.

INJURY UPDATE: There is set to be a new face in the No.15 jersey for Western Province when they take on the Free State Cheetahs in a Currie Cup clash at Newlands on Saturday.

WIN WITH RUGBY365: You can win FREE tickets to watch Western Province taking on the Free State in a Currie Cup crunch match at Newlands on Saturday.

INJURY UPDATE: The Golden Lions depth in the front row will be seriously tested over the next few weeks with the news that they lost another prop to injury. 

PREMIERSHIP STATS ROUND ONE: The cynics who suggested successful South African coach Johan Ackermann could not convert his Super Rugby form into Premiership success were left with egg on their faces.

Bishops, the most frequent winners, beat Paarl Gim, the most recent winners, to win the Villager Sevens Trophy on Friday evening.

REACTION: Worcester Warriors Chairman Bill Bolsover confirmed that his club is looking for the "right investor" after a report surfaced last weekend that the club will be put up for sale.

TRANSFER NEWS: British & Irish Lions and England international Elliot Daly has extended his contract with the Permiership side Wasps.

NPC SPOTLIGHT: rugby365 columnist Richard Neal looks at Round Three of New Zealand's National Provincial Championship.

FIRST DIVISION WRAP: Welwitschias earned their maiden Currie Cup First Division, while a hat-trick by Leopards No 8 Jeandre Rudolph help his side bag a victory.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok coach Allister Coetzee dismissed the notion that his team has been 'successful' - despite sitting at the top of the Rugby Championship standings.

NEWS: Australia will extend the use of blue cards issued to players suffering from signs of concussion to senior competitions after a successful trial, officials said on Monday.

While the Cheetahs were treated to a baptism of fire of sorts against Ulster in their Pro14 debut, they did play some properly good rugby.

NEWS: Former Melbourne Rebels coach Tony McGahan has joined the Reds as a senior assistant coach for the next two seasons.

INJURY UPDATE: New Zealand prop Owen Franks has been ruled out for the rest of the year with Achilles problems, but three other injured All Blacks have been cleared to face Argentina in New Plymouth on Saturday.

CURRIE CUP REACTION: The Sharks' comfortable win against the Free State Cheetahs made sure the visitors top the Currie Cup standings, however coach Robert du Preez still not truly at ease with the performance.

The World Rugby Under-12 Trophy tournament is being played in Uruguay at the present, the first two rounds in Montevideo.

TOP 14 REPORT: Reigning Top 14 champions Clermont downed Toulon 21-16 on Sunday in a repeat of last year's final to secure their first win of the new campaign.

PREMIERSHIP MATCH REPORT: A first-half Bath Rugby blitz saw the visitors over the line at Welford Road as they resisted a late Leicester Tigers surge to secure a 27-23 win in a pulsating encounter.

PREMIERSHIP REACTION: Despite Scottish international Sean Maitland's hat-trick, Saracens coach Mark McCall could not suppress his profound admiration for South African Schalk Brits.

PREMIERSHIP NEWS: Financially troubled Premiership side Worcester Warriors are poised to put up for sale, according to media reports.

REACTION: Despite breaking a five-match losing streak, Blue Bulls coach John Mitchell is not impressed with his wings’ dismal defensive display.

PRO14 REACTION: Dave Rennie has praised the defensive effort and character that his side displayed on their way to winning their maiden PRO14 match against Connacht.

REACTION: Golden Lions coach Zacharia de Bruin can breathe a little easier after his side's narrow 29-28 Currie Cup win over the Pumas at the weekend.

REACTION: Pumas coach Brent Janse van Rensburg revealed that he has not given up on his Currie Cup semifinal goal despite discipline roadblocks.

NRC NEWS: Fijian Drua hooker Samu Suguturaga will face a National Rugby Championship (NRC) judicial hearing after being cited for an alleged bite on Saturday.

TOP 14 WRAP: Newly-promoted Agen recorded their first victory of the Top 14 season when they pulled off a shock 23-19 win over a Racing 92 team reduced to 14 men for the second half.

PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Keelan Giles grabbed a double to get the Ospreys off to a winning start to the Pro14 season, but they were pushed all the way by Zebre before running out 22-13 winners.

PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Leinster cruised to a bonus point victory in their opening Pro14 game of the season to inflict a heavy defeat on Bernard Jackman’s Dragons at Rodney Parade.

PRO14 MATH REPORT: Dave Rennie got his reign as Glasgow Warriors boss off to an impressive start, with a hard-fought victory over 2016 title winners Connacht on the west coast of Ireland.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: A hat-trick from Scotland wing Sean Maitland helped Saracens to an astonishing 55-24 humiliation of fellow English giants Northampton Saints.

PRO14 MATCH REPORT: The defending champion Scarlets taught the Southern Kings a very big lesson - with a 57-10 victory in their Round One match in Llanelli on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Australia may have suffered back-to-back defeats to New Zealand, but South Africa will underestimate them at their own peril.

NEWS: Flying wing Henry Speight was crowned Brett Robinson Player's Player of the Year at the traditional Brumby Ball on Saturday as the Brumbies celebrated the 2017 Super Rugby season.

CURRIE CUP REPORT: The Sharks cruised past a willing Free State Cheetahs team, winning 45-15 in Durban on Saturday, to overtake the visitors at the top of the standings.

CURRIE CUP MATCH REPORT: The Golden Lions ended a four-match losing streak, beating the Pumas 29-28 in a thrilling match at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Paarl Gim will be holding its three-legged Sevens tournament on 8-9 September 2017.

REACTION: New Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann says that he and his players will not get carried away after their dramatic 28-21 victory over defending Premiership champions Exeter Chiefs on Friday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: England flyhalf George Ford insisted he had been "nothing but impressed" with Manu Tuilagi as the powerhouse Leicester centre prepares for his return to Premiership action.

PREMIERSHIP ROUND ONE WRAP: Exeter Chiefs were given a taste of what to expect as defending Premiership Rugby champions as they went down to an inspired Gloucester Rugby side 28-21 in a pulsating opener at Kingsholm.

PRO14 REPORT: Munster produced a first-half attacking masterclass as they ran in five tries to effectively kill the game at the break and secure a 34-3 win  PRO14 win against Benetton Rugby.

PRO14 REPORT: Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill was left beaming on the final whistle after marking his first PRO14 game in charge of Edinburgh with an away-day 20-10 win at Cardiff Blues.

PRO14 REPORT: South African Pro14 newcomers Cheetahs were welcomed with a shocking 19-42 defeat to Ulster in an historic Pro14 fixture on Friday at the Kingspan Stadium.

CURRIE CUP REPORT: Blue Bulls fullback Manie Libbok's three tries helped the host secured a narrow 44-42 win over Griquas at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.

Location, location, location. 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: We'd be surprised if you knew about all of these players already.

NEWS: The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has appointed Steve Brown as Chief Executive Officer. 

PODCAST: Scotty Stevenson and Mils Muliaina try and get to the bottom of the Auckland crisis on this week’s episode of The Short Ball.

NEWS: Long serving Sale Sharks front row forward Eifion Lewis Roberts has announced his retirement from the professional game.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The arrival of a new baby has robbed Australia of the services of one of their most seasoned players, ahead of their Rugby Championship encounter with the Springboks.

PREMIERSHIP BY THE NUMBERS: Everything you need to know about the start of the 2017/18 season - fast starts, slow finishes and all the transfers!

NEWS: Canterbury Rugby Chairman Trevor McIntyre has resigned from the position he has held since April 2015 and from the CRFU Board, for personal reasons.

TOP 14, ROUND TWO: Lyon's English No.8 Carl Fearns said a discussion with England head coach Eddie Jones played a role in his decision not to move back to England.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks and Free State Cheetahs will go head-to-head for the top spot on the log in the Currie Cup in a match that could give the winning side a vital nudge as the second half of the competition kicks off.

MOMENTOUS OCCASION: A truly historic chapter will be written this weekend, when the first-ever Pro14 season kicks off after the addition of the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings from South Africa.

NEW CHALLENGES: As the Premiership season kick-off in full-steam, one man who can't wait to take charge of his first Premiership match is the ever-ready Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann.

NEWS: Twelve months ago his life was turned upside down by the news that he had leukaemia. On Friday he starts a new chapter.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Inny-Christian Radebe is hoping he can get more opportunities in the No.10 jersey for the Sharks in the near future. 

TRANSFER NEWS: London Irish have completed the signing of South African lock Franco van der Merwe as boss Nick Kennedy assembles his squad for the 2017/18 Premiership season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: South African Sevens star Chris Dry will be leading the new-look Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Flyhalf Kurt Coleman will start in the Southern Kings' first-ever Pro14 match against champions Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli on Saturday.

INJURY UPDATE: Italy centre Michele Campagnaro will be out for at least six months after rupturing a cruciate ligament playing for his Premiership club Exeter Chiefs, Gazzetta dello Sport reported Thursday.  

NEWS: Glasgow Warriors revealed that Fiji international scrumhalf Niko Matawalu has rejoined the region.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Clayton Blommetjies will wear the No.10 jersey when the Cheetahs start their Pro14 adventure against Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium on Friday.

It's the first Friday in September. That means its the Villager Sevens, one of the most popular rugby events in the Western Province.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Branco du Preez, who on loan from SA Sevens, has been included on the Golden Lions' bench for their Currie Cup clash against the Pumas at Ellis Park on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The groundswell of resentment against the Australian Rugby Union may cause a backlash against the Wallabies.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Utility back Garth April has been included on the Sharks bench for the Currie Cup clash against the Free State Cheetahs in Durban on Saturday.

OPINION: The Wallabies pushed the All Blacks to the brink restoring pride in the gold jersey, but in the end the Wallabies have lost another Bledisloe series.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Two Pumas stalwarts flyhalf Justin van Staden and loose forward Francois Kleinhans have been ruled out of Saturday’s Currie Cup clash at Ellis Park against the Golden Lions.

OPINION: We are just a day away from the official start of the new Pro14 tournament, but the kick-off may just be a damp squib. Jan de Koning takes a look behind the scenes.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Argentina head coach Daniel Hourcade has dropped lock Tomas Lavanini from his squad for their upcoming Australasian tour.

TRANSFER NEWS: Australian international lock Rob Simmons has signed for the Waratahs from their fierce Super Rugby rivals Queensland Reds for the next two seasons, the team said Thursday.

The curtains comes down with a bang for some schools, for the last weekend of the season is often reserved for matches which count most.

INJURY UPDATE: The Springboks received a timely boost with confirmation that seasoned prop Coenraad Oosthuizen can tour with the team to Australasia.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: All Blacks centurion Mils Muliaina has torn into Nigel Owen for his performance in the second Bledisloe match in Dunedin over the weekend.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: We take a stab at predicting the prospects of each of the teams in the new Pro14 competition!

INTERVIEW: Former Springboks defence coach Les Kiss' inside knowledge of South Africa give Ulster a rare indication of what to expect for the Pro14 opener against the Cheetahs.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Former Golden Lions wing Koch Marx has been included in the  Griquas starting XV when they take on the Blue Bulls on Friday.

Michael CheeHe’s not had the best of times being the Wallaby coach since the World Cup, but you have to say he gives his all. CREDIT: Raw Rugby

Heard the one about the Irishman and the good doctor? Yes, we bring in an Irish voice in Ian Cameron and doctor Brendan Venter as we preview the opening Round of the Pro14. There is the usual babble by Tauriq Ebrahim and Jan de Koning and even a bit about Sosban Fach.

NEWS: Former Bath captain Guy Mercer has joined Ospreys on loan until the end of the 2017/18 season.

NEWS: England International and Harlequins centre George Lowe has been forced to retire from the game on medical advice.

CURRIE CUP TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: After a horrendous 15-51 defeat to the Pumas, Blue Bulls Executive of Rugby John Mitchell has introduced plan B for their match against the Griquas at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.

IN THE CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: The struggling Golden Lions have been bolstered by the return of Springbok prop Ruan Dryer, but the focus remains firmly on beaucoup of young players in the squad.

INTERVIEW: South Africa scrumhalf Francois de Klerk can't wait to make his Premiership debut for Sale Sharks, but admits he just needs to master his muddy puddle skills before jumping into action.

NEWS: The Rugby Football Union, along with the Premiership and the Rugby Players' Association have agreed to develop a ground-breaking pitch-side test to diagnose concussion and brain injury.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Motor Neuron Disease became synonymous with rugby after the Springbok legend Joost van der Westhuizen lost his six-year battle to the disease in February.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Mining magnate Andrew Twiggy Forrest calls for Australian Rugby Union Chairman Cameron Clyne to resign after the Western Force were axed from the Super Rugby competition.

NEWS: The Western Province Rugby Football Union will look into violent conduct at club match between Villager FC and Violets RFC.  

NEWS: England star Owen Farrell signed a new five-year contract with European champions Saracens on Tuesday.

NEWS: Director of Rugby Les Kiss has announced that Rory Best will lead Ulster during the 2017/18 season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wales fullback Leigh Halfpenny has revealed it was a "huge surprise" to learn he was no longer part of Toulon's plans earlier this year.

The Women's World Cup has ended, the rugby Championshiup is resting but Europe's competitions are springing into life.

TOP 14 NEWS: Lyon's England No.8 Carl Fearns has made the shortlist released Tuesday for the French Top 14's Best Player of the 2016/2017 season award.

INJURY UPDATE: As the new Pro14 tournament approaches, Ospreys scrumhalf Brendon Leonard is set to miss four to six weeks due to injury.

REACTION: Springboks head coach Allister Coetzee defended Handre Pollard's inclusion in his squad for their upcoming away matches against Australia and the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship. Warren Fortune reports.

NEWS: Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill has handed the captain's armband to 22-year-old Magnus Bradbury.

TRANSFER NEWS: Connacht Rugby have signed former Ireland Under-20 prop Denis Coulson from French side Grenoble.

PRO14 REFEREES: PRO14 has announced the appointment of match officials for the first four rounds of its 2017-18 tournament.

NEWS: Australia centre Samu Kerevi has been released for Brisbane City National Rugby Championship opening match against Fijian Drua.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: As the Scarlets prepare for their opening match against South Africa side the Southern Kings on Saturday 2, centre Hadleigh Parkes remains adamant the side can't rest on their laurels.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Experienced flyhalf Handré Pollard, scrumhalf Ross Cronje and utility back Dillyn Leyds have been included in the Springbok touring squad for the Australasian leg of the Rugby Championship.

TRANSFER NEWS: Exciting young back row Rob Valetini has extended his deal with the Brumbies for a further two years as he continues his progression at the elite level of the game.

REACTION: Australian Rugby Union boss Bill Pulver revealed why the ARU rejected Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest's offer to save the Western Force from being cut from Super Rugby.

INJURY UPDATE: The Blue Bulls have two new injury concerns following their 15-51 Currie Cup loss to the Pumas last weekend.

CURRIE CUP ROUNDS SEVEN: The Pumas issued a stern warning to the other teams in the competition with their 51-15 demolition of the Blue Bulls.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Southern Kings hooker Michael Willemse has been named captain of the Port Elizabeth side for their maiden Pro14 tour.

PRO14 SPOTLIGHT: The Cheetahs, the defending Currie Cup champions and current tournament pace-setters, will face an entirely new challenge this week. Jan de Koning reports.

NEWS: Edoardo Padovani was finally unveiled as a Toulon player on Monday after the fullback received authorisation from the Italian Federation to leave Zebre.

REFEREE APPOINTMENTS: The PRO14 rugby competition has been expanded to include two South African teams. It will also induce three South African match officials.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Former Stormers prop Oli Kebble admits that Super Rugby-winning coach Dave Rennie was the clinching factor in his move to Glasgow Warriors.

Glenwood went up to Vryheid and won the Pionier Sevens Tournament there.

Kearsney entered two u18 sides to take part in Maritzburg College’s Skonk Nicholson 7s tournament at the weekend, both teams consisting of only Grade 10 and 11 players as the Matrics were unavailable. Kearsney’s A team were eventual tournament winners. 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Ireland and Leinster legend William Patrick Duggan has passed away at age 67 on Monday.

NEWS: A fifth straight win for South Africa has taken them above Ireland and up to third in the World Rugby Rankings.

UPDATE: Pumas lock Tomas Lavanini escaped further sanction after he received two yellow cards in his side's loss to South Africa in Salta.

REACTION: New Zealander John Mitchell would have hoped for an easier start to his tenure as the Blue Bulls' on-field coach.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: After a valuable bonus-point away victory over Argentina in Salta, players from South Africa dominate rugby365's Rugby Championship Team of the Week for Round Two.

INJURY UPDATE: New Zealand and Canterbury loose forward Matt Todd has been ruled out for four weeks due to an injury.

NEWS: The All Blacks have released nine players from their squad for this weekend's upcoming National Provincial Championship matches.

REACTION: Thousands of mourners, including a who's who of past All Blacks, gathered Monday to remember the legendary Colin Meads, hailed as one of New Zealand's greatest ever rugby players.

INJURY UPDATE: For the second successive year Western Province and Stormers hooker Siyabonga Ntubeni had his season cruelly cut short by injury.

TOP 14 REPORT: England wing Chris Ashton got his Toulon career off to a flying two-try start.

INJURY UPDATE: South Africa will be sweating over the fitness of star prop Coenraad Oosthuizen, as they take a short break before an arduous trip to Australasia.

REACTION: Errant lock Tomas Lavanini is going to have to answer for his lack of discipline, following Argentina's back-to-back defeats against South Africa.

FIRST DIVISION WRAP: Bonus-point victories were the flavour of the day in the opening round of the First Division.

NPC SPOTLIGHT: rugby365 columnist Richard Neal looks at Round Two of New Zealand's National Provincial Championship.

The Black Ferns of New Zealand are the women's champions of the world, after dethroning England in the Belfast final on Saturday.

SCHOOLS SPOTLIGHT: The end of August signals the end of the 15-a-side schools season, it seems.

REACTION: Springbok coach Allister Coetzee praised the 'leadership' in the team after their 41-23 win over Los Pumas in Salta at the weekend.

TOP 14 WRAP: Reigning champions Clermont slumped to a shock 25-32 defeat at Bordeaux-Begles in the opening round of the French Top 14 at the weekend.

REACTION: All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has defended Brodie Retallick for an apparent tip tackle in Saturday's tense Test against Australia.

OPINION: Springbok coach Allister Coetzee will be a happy man after he enjoyed his first victory on the road, thanks to a 41-23 win over Argentina.

OPINION: Argentina was certainly up for the fight and took the game to the Springboks, however, that spark failed to ignite a flame as they succumbed to a 23-41 defeat in Salta.

MATCH REPORT: The Springboks made it two wins from two matches in this year's Rugby Championship when they beat Argentina 41-23 in Salta on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Sergeal Petersen produced a moment of magic after the full-time hooter to help the Free State Cheetahs beat the Golden Lions 30-24 in a Currie Cup match in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: A late try from fullback Inny-Christian Radebe helped the Sharks edge Western Province 21-20 in a Currie Cup encounter at Newlands on Saturday.

REACTION: Australia head coach Micheal Cheika believes referee Nigel Owens should have dealt with New Zealand lock Brodie Retallick more severely.

OPINION: The Wallabies will be absolutely livid after letting themselves down in the second half to suffer a heartbreaking 29-35 defeat to the All Blacks but progress has certainly been made as they took the game to their more-fancied opposition.

OPINION: The All Blacks' defensive frailties were exposed by a determined Wallabies outfit and were forced to fight back to secure a nervy 35-29 victory to retain the Bledisloe Cup, as they survived a massive scare.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP REPORT: New Zealand bagged the Bledisloe Cup title for the 15th consecutive year after a hard-fought 35-29 over a resilient Australia team on Saturday at Dunedin.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: South Africa will wear 'red' for the first time in their 126-year existence when they play Argentina in Salta on Saturday.

CURRIE CUP MATCH REPORT: John Mitchell's tenure as the head on-field coach of the Blue Bulls got off to a disastrous start.

NEWS: All Black prop Carl Hayman, considered one of the most devastating scrummagers in the game in his prime, is to lace up his boots again.

NEWS: Heath Harvey has left his position as Saracens Chief Executive to pursue other opportunities, the club confirmed on Friday.

This Saturday is Kwaggadag when Hoërskool Oudtshoorn leave their ostriches and caves and come over the coil Outeniqua Pass and down to the green lushness of George, there or play Hoërskool Outeniqua. The Struisies go to the Kwaggas. 

NEWS: Saracens flank Will Fraser has confirmed his retirement from rugby with immediate effect

REACTION: Talented Sharks utility back Garth April will remain 'suspended' until he alters his behaviour.

NEWS: London Irish have appointed Brian Facer as the  new chief executive of the Premiership side.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND TWO: rugby365 looks at Bledisloe Cup Two - as New Zealand look to repeat last week's demolition of Australia.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The All Blacks insisted they were under "massive" pressure for Saturday's Test against Australia, despite thrashing them last week - and said they rate the trans-Tasman Bledisloe Cup second only to the World Cup.  

TRANSFER NEWS: Blues second-generation star Caleb Clarke, along with Dalton Papalii have signed with the Super Rugby franchise the Blues.

INTERVIEW: Rob Baxter prays the remarkable fairytale which has seen his Exeter Chiefs progress from the second tier to being crowned English champions will continue in the fast approaching 2017/18 campaign.

TOP 14 PREVIEW: Star signing Louis Picamoles was remaining prudent ahead of the Top 14 kick-off this weekend amidst hope Montpellier will finally win the domestic title.

NEWS: The New Zealand Rugby Union have announced the venues for All Blacks Test matches, however, there is no Christchurch fixture.

INTERVIEW: James O'Connor knows the pitfalls of stardom only too well having gone from being the Wallaby golden boy to bad boy in a few years and now he hopes England provides him with a road to redemption.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks will look to stretch their Currie Cup winning streak to five matches on Saturday when they meet Western Province in Cape Town in one of the main Round Seven Premier Division match-ups.

INJURY UPDATE: The Wallabies hopes of closing the gap on the world champion All Blacks suffered "a huge blow" on the eve of Saturday's Rugby Championship clash in Dunedin with senior lock Adam Coleman ruled out.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND TWO: rugby365's acclaimed writer Paul Dobson looks at the return match between Argentina and South Africa.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Argentinean coach Daniel Hourcade made a host of changes to his team for their Rugby Championship Round Two encounter.

The end of the season is nigh and as tradition dictates it ends with an inter-schools derby, Wynberg Boys’ High School versus The South African College High School (SACS). 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Lubabalo Mtyanda, a part-time musician and a full-time rugby player, is looking forward to the more abrasive type of game he will experience in the newly formed Pro14 competition.

Rondebosch and Bishops lower the curtain on the 2017 season with a match against each other, this time at Rondebosch Boys' High. 

It has been cold in mountainous Queenstown of late and they will possibly find their annual trek down to King William's town a relief.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Free State coach Rory Duncan has made mammoth modification for their macth against Golden Lions on Saturday.

Joy Neville of Munster has been appointed to referee the Women's Rugby World Cup Final in Belfast on Saturday when England and New Zealand battle it out for the trophy.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Western Province have had to make two changes to the backline for the Currie Cup encounter with the Sharks at Newlands on Saturday.

SEVENS NEWS: South Africa Sevens strength and conditioning coach Allan Temple-Jones part ways with the Union after 10 years of service.

SEVENS SPOTLIGHT: The International Sevens tournament held at the Markotter Stadium in Stellenbosch will be ideal preparation for the World Rugby Sevens series says coach Neil Powell. 

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Five changes were made to the Golden Lions starting XV that will travel to Bloemfontein for the Currie Cup clash with the Free State Cheetahs on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Experienced scrumhalf Francois Hougaard will make his 44th Test appearance for the Springboks when South Africa face Argentina in the high altitude of Salta on Saturday.

CLASSIC CLASH PREVIEW: Hoërskool Brackenfell take a short trip to Parow to take on the struggling Hoërskool Tygerberg in their annual Classic Clash on Saturday.

EXCLUSIVE: Jan de Koning sat down with legendary former All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick to find out on why New Zealand is so far ahead of the rest of the world!

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks stalwart Keegan Daniel will miss his side's clash with Western Province at Newlands on Saturday.

SCHOOLS PREVIEW: Boland Landbou from Paarl travel to Riversdale to take on Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale on Saturday.

World Rugby has sent out an instruction on the minimum time to be taken in the case of a head injury assessment (HIA).

NEWS: Scrumhalf Bryn Hall is sticking with the Crusaders, having re-signed for 2018.

UPDATE: A SANZAAR inquiry found that All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams should have been removed from the Bledisloe Cup encounter against Australia last week because he showed loss of full control of bodily movements after a head knock.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: All Blacks prop Owen Franks has been ruled out of this weekend's Rugby Championship Test against Australia with an Achilles problem, team management said Thursday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Wallabies on Thursday made three changes after their Rugby Championship trouncing for the return match against the All Blacks in Dunedin this weekend.

On Saturday, the Pumas and the Springboks meet in Salta, a city tucked in the mountainous northwest corner of Argentina with Bolivia to its north and Chile to its west.

NEWS: Ireland's second choice flyhalf Paddy Jackson denied a charge of rape through his lawyer at a court hearing in Belfast on Wednesday.

NEWS: New Zealand international Jason Eaton has been accused of assault following a night-club brawl in France that was captured on video.

Frenchman Pascal Gaüzère has been appointed to referee the Test between Argentina and South Africa in the second round of the Rugby Championship.

INJURY UPDATE: Scotland lock Richie Gray underwent a back operation on Wednesday, as injuries mount for his French club Toulouse days before the Top 14 kicks off.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: All Black hooker Dane Coles has been cleared to play his first Test of the year in the Rugby Championship clash with Australia on Saturday.

This week the rugby365 team looks at John Mitchell's decision to move his Loftus Versfeld clean-out forward by a couple of months, while they also analyse the Sonny Bill Williams concussion saga.

CURRIE CUP NEWS: Blue Bulls head coach John Mitchell has expressed his goal of getting the Union back to its former glory, the start of which came to fruition with a full coaching personnel restructure.

On the fourth day of the Women's World Cup, the finalists for Saturday were decided - New Zealand and England.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: The Springboks will not get sidetracked by talk of 'jet lag' or the undersized pitch in Salta.

CURRIE CUP TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Thembelani Bholi has been drafted into the Pumas' starting XV when they host the Blue Bulls in Nelspruit on Friday.

CURRIE CUP TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Marnitz Boshoff, who joined the Blue Bulls from Connacht, has been named on the Bulls' bench for the trip to take on the Pumas in Nelspruit on Friday.

PRO14 NEWS: Glasgow head coach Dave Rennie has handed Scottish international Ryan Wilson the club captaincy role for Glasgow Warriors' 2017/18 season.

SUPER RUGBY 2018 FORMAT: The Western Force has won the right to appeal their axing from the competition, as the culling saga drags on.

The match between Grey High and Selborne in Port Elizabeth was much, much closer than the score - 57-22 - suggests.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Rugby Union's handling of big collisions and head knocks that lead to concussion is back in the spotlight.

This week there is second round of the Rugby Championship, this time in New Zealand and Argentina.

NEWS: Champions Cup holders Saracens will be looking to become only the second club in history to secure a European three-in-a-row when they kick off their 2017/18 campaign against long-time rivals Northampton Saints on October 15.

NEWS: Outgoing Munster head coach Rassie Erasmus explained that he will head to South Africa 'tomorrow' if the province find a replacement.

INJURY UPDATE: John Mitchell will start his stint as the main on-field coach of the Blue Bulls with a few selection posers to solve.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Australian Rugby Union (ARU) have stick to their decision to axe Western Force from the Super rugby 2018 tournament despite Andre 'Twiggy' Forrest's lucrative financial offer.

INJURY UPDATE: New Zealand hooker Dane Coles is set to make his return to Test rugby when the All Blacks take on the Wallabies in Dunedin on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Three years ago the South African Rugby Union played an April fools joke. It caused a massive public outcry, until they realised it was not true.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: After dispatching the Blue Bulls and Golden Lions, Western Province now have their sights set on a third big win in a row when they take on the Sharks at Newlands on Saturday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Tighthead prop Anthony Perenise will be re-joining the Premiership side Bath in time for the start of the 2017/18 season.

NEWS: The exciting Blues back trio of Michael Collins, Matt Duffie and Melani Nanai have all signed extended contracts with the franchise in Super Rugby.

NEWS: England's 2003 World Cup-winning scrumhalf Matt Dawson revealed Monday he has undergone heart surgery due to being bitten by a tick in a park in London last year.

NEWS: French Top 14 side Stade Francais signed South Africa international Gurthro Steenkamp as a medical joker ahead of the first weekend of the new season.

It was a lovely day in a lovely town with a rugby match worthy of the environment.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok flank Jaco Kriel says Argentina will be determined to reverse the result in Port Elizabeth when the two teams meet again in Salta on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: South Africa replaced Australia in the top four in World Rugby's rankings after the opening round of the Rugby Championship.

Again we publish the results of all matches between schools - first come, first published.

NEWS: Free State Rugby unveiled two coaching teams as the Currie Cup tournament begins to collide with the Pro14.

CURRIE CUP ROUNDS SIX: It is not a major surprise that the high-flying Western Province dominate our famous weekly selection.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Days after the Western Force's Super Rugby axing, thousands of Western Force fans have gathered to rally against Australian Rugby Union's decision.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Chumani Booi and Louis Koen have joined Eastern Cape side the Kings' coaching staff ahead of their Pro14 campaign.

NEWS: England flyhalf Toby Flood is thinking about switching allegiances to play for Germany, he revealed in an interview with The Times published on Monday.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: After a masterful display of attacking rugby, players from the All Blacks dominate our first Team of the Week for this year's Rugby Championship.

REACTION: South Africa can expect a far sterner scrum test from Argentina when the two teams meet in a Rugby Championship Round Two encounter in Salta this week.

TRANSFER NEWS: Brumbies star Christian Lealiifano will continue his return to rugby with a loan spell at Irish Province Ulster in the newly reformed PRO14 competition.

SCHOOLS REPORT: Rondebosch Boys’ High School kept their 2017 unbeaten run in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town intact with a crushing defeat of the South African College High School (SACS).

SCHOOLS SEVENS: Durban High School splendid performance made sure the school pick up the Sevens Under-18 Cup Final at Glenwood on August 19.

Irish legend Conor O'Shea - currently the head coach of the Italian national team - spoke about Springbok assistant Brendan Venter and what role he will play with the Azzurri.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wallabies defence coach Nathan Grey will have his work cut out for him this week as he looks to rectify Australia's defensive frailties ahead of this year's second Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks on Saturday.

SQUAD UPDATE: The All Blacks have added five players to their squad for this weekend's upcoming Test against the Wallabies in Dunedin on Saturday.

NEWS: As part of the next step in their turnaround strategy, the Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd confirmed that coach Nollis Marais has been granted leave for the remainder of the 2017 season.

REACTION: Nizaam Carr may not be everybody's cup of tea, but he is certainly putting his hand up for a Springbok recall.

INJURY UPDATE: Stormers scrumhalf Jano Vermaak will be on the Springboks' flight to Argentina after being called up to replace the injured Ross Cronjé.

CURRIE CUP REPORT: The Pumas were forced to dig deep in the second half to keep Griquas at bay to record a gruelling 27-21 victory in Kimberley on Sunday.

NEWS: Pierre Spies has announced his retirement from all forms of rugby following a professional career that lasted 13 years.

NPC SPOTLIGHT: rugby365 columnist Richard Neal looks back on the return of New Zealand's National Provincial Championship, with repeats of the two 2016 finals. 

It's play-off time in the Women's Rugby World Cup which has now moved from Dublin to Belfast.

CURRIE CUP REACTION: Blue Bulls head coach Nollis Marais believes his side is in a do-or-die predicament after their 40-41 defeat at the hands of the Free State Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld.

SCHOOLS SPOTLIGHT: As August flutters by, schools rugby in large parts gets left behind, though there are many that are of the greatest importance to a season.