SPOTLIGHT: The United Rugby Championship is delicately poised for South African teams at the halfway stage - with the overall standings and Shield positions painting two contrasting pictures.
NEWS: Rugby Australia is working with the debt-ridden Melbourne Rebels to ensure they field a team in this year's Super Rugby Pacific competition but has offered no guarantees beyond that.
REACTION: Despite shooting themselves in the foot on several occasions against the Lions, Jake White believes his Bulls team were also "unlucky" not to have won more comfortably.
SPOTLIGHT: Quade Cooper might have played his last game for the Wallabies, the flyhalf admitted.
NEWS: Rugby star Kurtley Beale told a woman he allegedly raped he "misread the whole situation" and profusely apologised to her, in a secretly taped phone call.
NEWS: New Zealand loose forward Luke Jacobson will captain the Chiefs in 2024, the Super Rugby franchise announced Tuesday, with All Blacks skipper Sam Cane currently in Japan.
WATCH as former Wallaby head coach Eddie Jones is caught threatening his players with a cattle prod during last year's World Cup in France.
TOURNAMENT PREVIEW: Ireland will start their bid for a historic back-to-back Six Nations Grand Slam when they take on France in Marseille in the tournament's mouth-watering opening match on Friday.
INJURY UPDATE: Scotland has lost some of its South African beef, ahead of their Six Nations opener.
WATCH an exclusive interview with double World Cup-winning Springbok captain Siya Kolisi on the Big Jim Show.
WATCH as Lions captain Marius Louw and coach Ivan van Rooyen look forward to the next two crucial rounds of the United Rugby Championship.
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) is appealing the decision of an independent disciplinary committee to overturn the red card which was issued to the Bristol Bears player Josh Caulfield.
REACTION: The Lions have become the bonus point kings in the United Rugby Championship with the most of all the teams, despite losing five out of their nine outings.
SPOTLIGHT: Ireland's hopes of successfully defending their Six Nations title hinge on filling the "massive gap" left by Johnny Sexton's decision to retire after their World Cup quarterfinal loss to New Zealand.
REACTION: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White questioned his team's game management in their United Rugby Championship clash against the Lions in Pretoria on Saturday.
MATCH REPORT: Gloucester coach George Skivington was happy to end a 'painful' run of nine Premiership defeats with their bonus-point 32-20 win over Sale Sharks.
NEWS: South Africa's Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus is currently recovering in hospital after suffering chemical burns.
URC REPORT: The Bulls climbed to fourth in the United Rugby Championship standings with a thrilling 30-28 win over the Lions in their Round Nine clash in Pretoria on Saturday.
REACTION: The improvement shown by the South African women's Sevens team in Perth will give the coaching staff and players a confidence boost for the next two HSBC SVNS tournaments.
REACTION: South Africa finished their HSBC SVNS Perth campaign on a high note by outplaying France 24-5 to finish the tournament in fifth place.
SPOTLIGHT: Tom Lynagh is battling a back niggle but the No.10 says he's learnt to be more competitive as he fights for a spot in Les Kiss's Queensland Reds starting side.
NEWS: Over 146,000 fans have helped the United Rugby Championship to break its all-time single-round attendance record for the second time in three weeks.
SATURDAY WRAP: Scotland scrumhalf Ben White handed coach Gregor Townsend an injury scare on Saturday before next weekend's opening round in the Six Nations.
WRAP: Welcome to our coverage of the women's matches on Day Three of the Perth SVNS, Round Three of the World Series.
WRAP: Welcome to our coverage of the men's matches on Day Three of the Perth SVNS, Round Three of the World Series.
READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of all this weekend's action in the United Rugby Champion and Premiership competitions.
SATURDAY WRAP: Northampton Saints' bonus-point 38-13 victory over winless Newcastle Falcons ensured they will remain top of the Premiership standings heading into the Six Nations break.
NEWS: Bloemfontein has been confirmed as the venue when the Springboks face Portugal in the historic first Test between the nations on Saturday, July 20.
SPOTLIGHT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has weighed in on the compulsory rest period debate has he expressed some concerns on development of one of his star players.
OPINION: It's been confirmed that one of the surprise packages of World Cup 2023, Portugal will play a one off Test against the back-to-back world champion Springboks in Bloemfontein.
WRAP: There was plenty of drama in Round Six of the Japan Rugby League One.
EXCLUSIVE: Watch as @king365ed sits down for a ONE-ON-ONE with Michael Yormark, President of Roc Nation Sports International, to talk about two of the most iconic figures in South African sport.
URC ROUND NINE CATCH-UP MATCH: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White admits that the Lions' style of play could make life difficult for his team in their United Rugby Championship clash in Pretoria.
WRAP: Welcome to our coverage of the men's matches on Day Two of the Perth SVNS, Round Three of the World Series.
WRAP: Welcome to our coverage of the women's matches on Day Two of the Perth SVNS, Round Three of the World Series.
BREAKING NEWS: A career-ending medical condition has forced talented loosehead prop Rhynardt Rijnsburger to retire, Lions confirmed on Friday.
WRAP: Welcome to our coverage of the men's matches on Day One of the Perth SVNS, Round Three of the World Series.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has revealed his team for their Uniited Rugby Championship Round Nine catch-up match against the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.
WRAP: Welcome to our coverage of the women's matches on Day One of the Perth SVNS, Round Three of the World Series.
TEAM UPDATE: Steve Borthwick’s Six Nations preparations have suffered another hiccup as Nick Isiekwe has become the fourth player to drop out of the England squad this week ahead of the February 3 campaign opener away to Italy.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls have named Springbok Marco van Staden in their starting XV to face the Lions in their United Rugby Championship Round Nine match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
OPINION: A big local derby is on the cards this weekend, when the Bulls host the Lions in a United Rugby Championship catch-up match at Loftus Versfeld.
NEWS: The Melbourne Rebels insist they haven't entered voluntary administration but the move is potentially on the table for the financially-stricken Super Rugby Pacific franchise.
WATCH THE official trailer for Whistleblowers, a ground-breaking film documenting the lives and experiences of the World Rugby match officials at the World Cup - including now retired South African referee Jaco Peyper.
NEWS: One of South Africa's top loose forwards will be in a race against time to be fit for the Springboks' internationals against Ireland and Portugal in July.
PREVIEW: Racing 92's South African Tristan Tedder welcomes former club Toulouse in the French Top 14 on Sunday with Siya Kolisi offering words of wisdom for the playmaker in his eighth season in France.
NEWS: Grant Gilchrist is set to miss Scotland's Six Nations opener away to Wales on February 3 after receiving a one-week suspension while on club duty.
NEWS: England will face Japan at Twickenham in November in their fourth and final 2024 Nations Series international, the Rugby Football Union announced Thursday.
DISCIPLINARY NEWS: The Cheetahs have been dealt another blow as wing Daniel Kasende was handed a suspension following his team's 28-29 Challenge Cup defeat to Oyonnax in Round Four.
NEWS: A few more Springboks have been added to the injury list.
NEWS: Following a tense conclusion to the pool stage last weekend when eight of the nine matches counted either for qualification or ranking, EPCR announced the dates, venues and kick-off times of the Challenge Cup Round of 16 fixtures.
WATCH as Bulls captain Marcell Coetzee explains what his team is expecting when the Lions arrive at Loftus Versfeld for a URC catch-up game on Saturday.
NEWS: For the first time in history the Bulls will host a Champions Cup Round of 16 match at Loftus Versfeld.
PREVIEW: All Blacks teammates Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo'unga will go head-to-head when Toyota Verblitz take high-flying Brave Lupus in Round Six of Japan League One.
WATCH as @king365ed goes ONE-ON-ONE with Michael Yormark, President of Roc Nation Sports International, to get to the truth about the Jordan Hendrikse transfer saga.
SPOTLIGHT: Finn Russell believes his appointment as Scotland co-captain for the upcoming Six Nations is proof of how a once strained relationship with head coach Gregor Townsend has been repaired.
WATCH as Lions captain Marius Louw speaks to @king365ed about a demoralizing loss and an inadequate European performance last week, ahead of their Trans-Jukskei URC derby with the Bulls.
ROUND THREE: The 24 SVNS teams - men and women - are ready to turn up the heat in Round Three of the World Series in Perth this weekend.
TRANSFER TALK: It seems like another top rugby star might be heading the USA, as the Australia utility back Jordan Petaia is attracting interest from the National Football League (NFL).
REACTION: Retired referee Nigel Owens has questioned the decision to overturn the red card handed to Bristol lock Josh Caulfield.
DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Northampton hooker Curtis Langdon has been banned for four weeks following his red card in a European Champions Cup win away to Irish province Munster last weekend.
DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Cheetahs wing Munier Hartzenberg received a suspension for his red card in his team's 28-29 Challange Cup defeat to Oyonnax last weekend.
NEWS: The South Western Districts Eagles will have a former Springbok fullback in charge of their team.
SPOTLIGHT: James O'Connor was burning himself out trying to prove he'd shed his reputation as rugby's bad boy.
REACTION: Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell made it clear that it was his big bruisers in the pack that laid the foundation for his team's success against the Dragons.
NEWS: Japan Rugby League One chairman Genichi Tamatsuka has hailed next week’s kick-off in The Cross-Border rugby competition between Japan and New Zealand as a new era for relations between the countries at club level.
STAT ATTACK: As that hackneyed proverb goes: 'Defence is an indication of a team's attitude.'
The Cheetahs concluded the Challenge Cup pool stage on a very sour note at the weekend.
INJURY NEWS: England head coach Steve Borthwick has been forced to make three changes to his 2024 Six Nations squad.
Rugby supporters have been cautioned about purchasing fake match-day tickets from fraudulent websites.
DISCPLINARY NEWS: The Bristol Bears second row Josh Caulfield had his red card overturned following an independent Disciplinary Hearing.
REACTION: Lions captain Marius Louw says the negatives outweighed the positives in the final quarter of their Challenge Cup pool match against the Ospreys at Ellis Park on Sunday.
INTERVIEW: England coach Steve Borthwick explained how a former member of Jacques Nienaber's coaching staff silenced their dressing room.
The first time it was just a text message of ‘maybe’, but when Tristan Leyds got the confirmation that he was in the BlitzBoks team to play in this weekend's inaugural HSBC SVNS tournament in Perth, he video-called older brother Dillyn to share the good news.
REACTION: Wales coach Warren Gatland said he was ready to keep the door open for Louis Rees-Zammit's return to rugby should his American football stint prove short-lived.
REACTION: Jamie George said "pressure is a privilege" as he prepared to take over as England captain despite seeing the strain the position placed on close friend Owen Farrell.
INTERVIEW: Peter O'Mahony is glad he dismissed thoughts about retiring from the international game after Ireland's World Cup quarterfinal defeat.
NEWS: England flyhalf Owen Farrell will join Racing 92 on a two-year deal from next season.
NEWS: France's forward stocks suffered a big blow ahead of this year's Six Nations.
NEWS: The Bulls and Stormers will face familiar French opposition in the last 16 of this season's Champions Cup.
WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White explicates the troubling travel schedule they will face after booking 'home ground' advantage in Europe's Round of 16.
NEWS: The Sharks will be the only South African side with home advantage in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup.
INTERVIEW: The Queensland Reds are sticking with their leadership set-up, with Tate McDermott and Liam Wright to captain the side again in 2024.
WATCH as Reds coach Les Kiss explains why new Wallaby boss Joe Schmidt is an ideal candidate for the role.
REACTION: Jake White, the Bull’s Director of Rugby, says the Champions Cup is club rugby on steroids but navigating the challenges to compete against the best teams out there takes its toll.
CHALLENGE CUP REPORT: The Sharks ended the Dragons' Challenge Cup campaign with a 29-9 win in wet and windy conditions in Newport on Sunday.
READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of all this weekend's action in Europe's two main competitions - the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.
MATCH REPORT: In a thrilling final Champions Cup pool match, Aviron Bayonnais secured a maiden win in EPCR’s leading competition against Exeter Chiefs.
CHALLENGE CUP REPORT: The Lions ended their Challenge Cup pool phase with a 28-38 defeat to the Ospreys at Ellis Park on Sunday.
MATCH REPORT: In an enthralling game, Stade Toulousain confirmed top spot in Pool 2 with a 31-19 win over Bath.
NEWS: Flyhalf Finn Russell and flank Rory Darge have been named co-captains for Scotland ahead of the 2024 Six Nations, Scottish Rugby announced in a statement on Sunday.
MATCH REPORT: Stade Rochelais demonstrated exactly why they are the Champions Cup holders with a strong 37-24 win against Sale Sharks at the Salford Community Stadium.
CHALLENGE CUP REPORT: Flyhalf Louie Johnson kicked 22 points as Newcastle Falcons picked up their first EPCR Challenge Cup victory of the season, beating Perpignan 32-23.
READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of all this weekend's action in Europe's two main competitions - the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.
REACTION: The Stormers will not be able to rely on their World Cup-winning Springboks for the crunch derby with the Sharks next month.
MATCH REPORT: Saracens lock Maro Itoje scored a crucial brace of tries as the three-time winners of EPCR’s leading competition qualified for the knockout stage of this year’s Champions Cup.
MATCH REPORT: The Stormers not only confirmed their place in the Champions Cup Round Of 16, but they also ensure they will host the game when Europe's premier competition reaches the play-offs in April.
CHAMPIONS CUP: Northampton Saints demonstrated a never-say-die attitude as they came from behind to defeat Munster 26-23 despite playing most of the game with 14 men.
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Racing 92 qualified for the Champions Cup Round of 16 with a bonus-point 48-26 win against Cardiff.
NEWS: South Africa's top referee Jaco Peyper has decided to hang up his whistle.
MATCH REPORT: Caelan Doris was the hero for Leinster, scoring their fourth try to secure a bonus point and home advantage in the knockout stage after a 27-10 win over Leicester Tigers.
CHALLENGE CUP REPORT: The Cheetahs suffered a heartbreaking 27-28 defeat to Oyonnax in their final Challenge Cup pool match.
CHALLENGE CUP REPORT: Tomas Albornoz led Benetton to a fine victory in the EPCR Challenge Cup, beating Montpellier Herault Rugby 27-19.
CHALLENGE CUP MATCH REPORT: A missed 78th-minute conversion by Zebre Parma’s Geronimo Prisciantelli was the difference between success and defeat for the United Rugby Championship side as they fell to a 27-28 loss to Section Paloise at Stade du Hameau in the Challenge Cup on Saturday.
MATCH REPORT: The Bulls booked their place in the Champions Cup Round of 16, but not before enduring an almighty scrap with French powerhouse Bordeaux-Begles.
MATCH REPORT: Harlequins boosted their hopes of earning a home tie for the Round of 16 with a 47-19 win over Ulster in Round Four of the Champions Cup on Saturday.
CHALLENGE CUP REPORT: Clermont Auvergne secured home advantage in the Round of 16 of the Challenge Cup with a bonus-point win over Black Lion.
JAPAN LEAGUE ONE WRAP: The Robbie Deans-coached Wild Knights continued their dominance in Japan as they romped to a 70-12 win over the Heat on Saturday.
READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of all this weekend's action in Europe's two main competitions - the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.
FRIDAY WRAP: Pierre Schoeman starred as Edinburgh sealed their place in the knockout stage of the Challenge Cup with a bonus point win, beating Pool Three's bottom side Scarlets 31-19 in Wales.
SATURDAY & SUNDAY PREVIEWS: Deon Fourie will return to a city of which he has fond memories, Paris, but it is on a very different missions.
MATCH REPORT: Centre Huw Jones was the key as Glasgow Warriors defeated Toulon 29-5 to qualify for the Champions Cup Round of 16.
MATCH REPORT: It was a disappointing return to Dexcom Stadium for Pat Lam as Connacht ended their eight-match losing run with a 27-10 demolition of his Bristol Bears in the Challenge Cup.
WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White explains how they are 'grooming' rookie Jan-Hendrik Wessels to be the next Springbok great in the front row.
WATCH as Jim Hamiton chats to Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard during a small snippet of his Big Jim Show on RugbyPass TV.
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY PREVIEW: The Sharks and Cheetahs will be looking to follow in the Lions' footsteps and secure their place the Round of 16.
SPOTLIGHT: Former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt vowed to "get Australia up and running" after being named as the new Wallabies boss, replacing Eddie Jones.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks will head into their Challenge Cup Round Four match against the Dragons in Newport with a few changes to their matchday squad.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has revealed his team for their final Challenge Cup Pool match against the Ospreys at Ellis Park on Sunday.
REACTION: The Sharks are standing firm in the face of another raid on their resources.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Manie Libbok will play his 50th Stormers game in the Champions Cup clash with Stade Francais in Paris on Saturday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: After suffering a defeat against PAU in Amsterdam, the Cheetahs travelled to France this week for Round Four of the Challenge Cup.
EURO SPOTLIGHT: Eight teams have already booked their places in the Champions Cup's Round of 16. However, for the two South African entrants there is plenty to play for in the final round of league action..
WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White explains some of his more interesting selections in the team to face Bordeaux in a Champions Cup Round Four decider!
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: BlitzBoks head coach Sandile Ngcobo has made several changes to the squad that will travel to Australia on Saturday for the inaugural HSBC SVNS tournament in Perth.
NEWS: Newcastle Falcons have announced the appointment of Steve Diamond as consultant director of rugby.
SPOTLIGHT: The Cheetahs' preparations for their final Challenge Cup pool match against Oyonnax in France suffered a bit of a setback this week.
REACTION: France head coach Fabien Galthie had some explaining to do when it came to his captaincy decision for the Six Nations.
Bulls flyer Devon Williams would love to see out his career in Pretoria but his loan agreement from the Pumas are currently under negotiation.
NEWS: Springbok Elton Jantjies' rugby career has taken another hit following his suspension for a banned substance.
NEWS: Former England hooker and forwards coach Richard Cockerill has been appointed head coach of Georgia and their domestic side Black Lion.
NEWS: Former England Under-20 star Harry Mallinder will be joining Louis Rees-Zammit in the United States of America.
NEWS: World Rugby has confirmed a change to the match official appointments for the Six Nations 2024 match between Italy and Scotland on March 9.
REACTION: The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has broken its silence in the aftermath of Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies' ban.
FRIDAY PREVIEW: Kyle Steyn leads a classy Glasgow Warriors outfit in their Champions Cup Round Four fixture against Toulon on Friday with 11 internationals in the line-up.
NEWS: Australia will be unveiling their new head coach in the coming days.
SPOTLIGHT: As the Bulls target play-off spots in both the United Rugby Championship and Champions Cup, the decision by Director of Rugby Jake White at the start of this season to find a new "edge in high performance" seems to be paying off on all fronts.
FRIDAY PREVIEW: South African coach Sean Everitt has given his team a mandate when Edinburgh take on Scarlets in the Challenge Cup Round Four match on Friday.
WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White gives his take on the suggestion that South Africa should join the Six Nations.
Two visiting Super Rugby teams will interrupt the Japan Rugby League One resulting in a split round which sees only three matches being played this weekend.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ireland coach Andy Farrell has named a 34-player Ireland squad for the upcoming Six Nations.
NEWS: Bulls Director of Rugby, Jake White, has revealed the extent of seasoned Springbok Wilco Louw's shoulder injury.
NEWS: The Los Angeles leg of this season’s HSBC SVNS series has been extended to include a ‘Friday Night Lights’ experience after the great success in Dubai and Cape Town.
REACTION: Jamie George "accepted with huge gratitude and enthusiasm" the offer from head coach Steve Borthwick to captain England in the upcoming Six Nations.
NEWS: France coach Fabien Galthié has name the replacement as captain in place of Antoine Dupont.
NEWS: Scarlets centre Johnny Williams has been handed a six-week ban for a dangerous tackle during the Challenge Cup match against Clermont.
SPOTLIGHT: Seeing a coach on the sidelines is a very rare occurrence when it comes to high-profile leagues like the United Rugby Championship, Challenge Cup or Champions Cup.
NEWS: The Sharks revealed that they will be able to call on the services of a couple of World Cup-winning Springboks sooner than expected.
NEWS: Saracens confirmed that Jamie George has signed a new two-year contract at the club.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: England coach Steve Borthwick has named a 36-player training squad for the forthcoming 2024 Six Nations championship.
NEWS: Louis Rees-Zammit made the shock decision to leave Gloucester with immediate effect, as the Wales Rugby Union star "pursues his dream" of a career in American Football.
WATCH as Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie chats to @king365ed about the road ahead in Europe after a bad day at the office.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Scotland have named England prop Alec Hepburn in their squad for the forthcoming Six Nations tournament.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: New Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada named five new faces in his preliminary 34-man squad for the Six Nations, which begins next month.
NEWS: France lock Bastien Chalureau was cleared of carrying out a racially motivated attack on two men, but his six-month suspended prison sentence for the violent incident remains in place.
NEWS: Sharks centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg is set to join France outfit Bordeaux.
WATCH as Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell chats to @king365ed about the way forward in Europe for the franchise.
WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White explains why they have chosen a venue in England to play a potential Champions Cup semifinal.
WATCH as Labeeb Levy, the Stormers skills coach and performance analyst, speak about the challenging trip to Paris and a crunch encounter with Stade Français.
England flyhalf Owen Farrell received a major endorsement from double World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi.
NEWS: New Zealand will host the first ever British & Irish Lions women’s tour in 2027
REACTION: The Lions will head into their final Challenge Cup league match this coming Sunday with a European play-off spot safely tucked away.
Two No. 8’s have been cited for foul play in the Champions Cup and could face sanctions while one player in the Challenge Cup is also in hot water.
Japan's new head coach Eddie Jones has identified the big area his team need to work on to excel on the world stage.
STAT ATTACK: The fleet-footed Hacjivah Dayimani continues to build a strong case for a Springboks call-up.
All five South African franchises are on the verge of an incredible historic feat in the European Cup competitions.
NEWS: One of Ireland's top referees has opted to call it a day at the end of the season.
The Stormers head coach John Dobson was very pleased with the five log points following his team's 31-24 Champions Cup win over Sale Sharks on Saturday.
MATCH REPORT: Damian Penaud cemented his position as one of the best players in Europe.
MATCH REPORT: Two-time defending Investec Champions Cup winners Stade Rochelais showcased their title credentials with a 45-12 mauling of Leicester Tigers in Sunday's Pool Four meeting at the Stade Marcel Deflandre.
MATCH REPORT: Will Muir’s 71st minute try capped off a stunning 14-point comeback from Bath, to secure their spot in the Champions Cup Round of 16 with a 29-25 win over Racing 92 at The Rec on Sunday.
It seems like everything that could go wrong for the Sales Sharks, essentially did go wrong during the week of their Round Three Champions Cup match against the Stormers in Cape Town.
MATCH REPORT: Section Paloise kept their European dream alive by beating an uncharacteristically indisciplined Cheetahs team 33-20 in a Challenge Cup Round Three match in Amsterdam on Sunday.
READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Challenge Cup Round Three encounter between the Cheetahs and Section Paloise the NRCA Stadium in Amsterdam.
JAPAN LEAGUE ONE WRAP: Springboks and All Blacks featured heavily in Saturday’s action in Japan Rugby League One when Blue Revs faced Suntory Sungoliath in the day’s big fixture.
MATCH REPORT: Antoine Dupont was in extraordinary form as he inspired Stade Toulousain to a 48-24 victory over Ulster in Round Three of the Champions Cup in Belfast.
MATCH REPORT: It was a brilliant bonus point win for Harlequins in Pool Two of the Champions Cup as they travelled to Cardiff and ran out 54-15 winners in their Round Three match.
WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White speaks about the shoulder injury of Springbok prop Wilco Louw.
READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Challenge Cup Round Three encounter between Montpellier and the Lions at Stade Yves-du-Manoir.
MATCH REPORT: Montpellier climbed to the summit of the Challenge Cup's Pool Two, following their hard-earned 13-3 over a willing Lions team in a Round Three match at Stade Yves-du-Manoir on Saturday.
MATCH REPORT: Jack Crowley stated his case for the starting flyhalf spot in Ireland’s Six Nations team with an impressive performance at the heart of Munster’s 29-18 win over Toulon in the Champions Cup.
MATCH REPORT: Leinster confirmed their spot in the Champions Cup Round of 16 with a composed victory over Stade Francais in Round Three of the Champions Cup, wing Jordan Larmour and No. 8 Caelen Doris both getting braces.
MATCH REPORT: A brace from Thaakir Abrahams and the reliable boot of Paddy Jackson was the difference as Pool 1 high-flyers Lyon came through a tough test courtesy of Connacht, triumphing 34-20 in Round 3 of the Champions Cup.
MATCH REPORT: A brace by Leolin Zas and some magic by Man of the Match Hacjivah Dayimani helped the Stormers to a valuable 31-24 victory over the Sale Sharks in the Champions Cup in Cape Town on Saturday.
MATCH REPORT: The boot of flyhalf Adam Hastings secured a big win for Gloucester over Edinburgh, confirming their spot in the Challenge Cup Round of 16.
READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Champions Cup Round Three encounter between the Stormers and Sale Sharks in Cape Town.
MATCH REPORT: Castres Olympique secured their position in the Pool Three standings with a 28-6 win over Black Lion in the Challenge Cup.
MATCH REPORT: Exeter Chiefs centre Henry Slade kicked the winning points for his side once again in yet another comeback win for the Premiership side in the Champions Cup.
MATCH REPORT: A brace from Simone Gesi helped Zebre Parma defeat the Dragons 20-17 in their EPCR Challenge Cup Round 3 match in Italy.
MATCH REPORT: The Bulls recorded their biggest ever victory in the Champions Cup and kept their hopes of the last 16 alive after their convincing 31-17 victory over the Bristol Bears on Saturday evening.
READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Champions Cup Round Three encounter between the Bristol Bears and Bulls at Ashton Gate.
MATCH REPORT: Flyhalf Anthony Belleau and wing Alivereti Raka both scored braces as Clermont Auvergne defeated 14-man Scarlets 38-17 in a Challenge Cup Round Three match.
READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Challenge Cup Round Three encounter between the Sharks and Oyonnax at Kings Park in Durban.
MATCH REPORT: The Sharks booked their place in the Challenge Cup's Round of 16 with a 38-7 bonus-point win over French outfit Oyonnax at Kings Park on Saturday.
NEWS: Sean Everitt penned a new two-year extension with Edinburgh as the club’s head coach.
NEWS: The Six Nations confirmed that players will use mouthguard technology designed to help identify the need for head injury assessments in the upcoming tournament.
SATURDAY PREVIEW: As the last two rounds of the Champions Cup pool stage approach, the question of who will qualify for the knockout stage has grown in importance which makes this weekend’s encounters vital.
REPORT: Fullback Iestyn Hopkins scored either side of half-time as Ospreys recorded an important 25-3 win against USAP to secure their progression into the EPCR Challenge Cup knockout stage.
MATCH REPORT: Benetton scored eight as they secured passage to the EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16 with a 57-18 victory over Newcastle Falcons.
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY PREVIEWS: @king365ed looks at the Round Three action in Europe!
MATCH REPORT: Northampton Saints became the first team to qualify for the Champions Cup Round of 16 with a 61-14 mauling of Aviron Bayonnais.
SPOTLIGHT: Utility Bulls back Henry Immelman has pace to burn, a booming kicking boot and to top it off, he stands 1.89 m tall.
NEWS: England prop Mako Vunipola announced his retirement from the international game on Friday.
NEWS: Joel Jutge, World Rugby’s head of match officials, has slammed France captain Antoine Dupont for the remarks he made following his team’s exit from the World Cup.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks host Oyonnax at Kings Park in the Round Three EPCR Challenge Cup clash on Saturday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Cheetahs head coach Hawies Fourie made four changes as his side gear up for their historic match in Amsterdam.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls have made their intentions clear ahead of their Champions Cup clash with the Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate on Saturday.
WATCH as Sharks coach John Plumtree explains why he is returning to New Zealand.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions will meet their match when they come face to face with Montpellier in a clash of two unbeaten Challenge Cup records this season in France on Saturday evening.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Stormers side to host the Sale Sharks in the Third Round of the Championship Cup see the return of Courtnall Skosan and Herschel Jantjies in Cape Town on Saturday.
SPOTLIGHT: It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s no doubting just what a potent weapon the driving lineout maul is in the United Rugby Championship (URC).
PREVIEW: Northampton Saints welcome Bayonne to Franklin Gardens in the Champions Cup on Friday.
SPOTLIGHT: Two French clubs top the statistics at the halfway point of the pool phase of the Champions Cup.
UPDATE: The kick-off time for the United Rugby Championship Round Nine match between the Bulls and Lions on January 27 has been moved to an earlier time slot.
WATCH as Stormers loose forward Hacjivah Graham Dayimani explains how he will stake his claim on a Springbok jersey.
NEWS: Michael Hooper will not make his Australia rugby sevens debut in Perth as expected, with the former Wallaby's first outing delayed in a hit to his Olympic aspirations.
REACTION: Ireland boss Andy Farrell said being named the coach of the British and Irish Lions for the 2025 tour of Australia "means the world".
WATCH as seasoned utility back Werner Kok chats to @king365ed about how the Sharks can turn their season around.
FRIDAY PREVIEW: It is a battle for survival in Friday's Challenge Cup Pool Two matches.
NEWS: Andy Farrell is expected to be named British and Irish Lions head coach for the 2025 tour to Australia on Thursday.
NEWS: Andy Farrell has been appointed as the new coach of the British & Irish Lions for the 2025 Tour to Australia.
PREVIEW: The Japan Rugby League One Round Five marks the return of Springbok lock Lood de Jager this weekend.
OPINION: @leezil07 takes out her crystal ball and makes some bold predictions for 2024!
NEWS: The South African BlitzBoks have been drawn in Pool A with log leaders Argentina together with Canada and Spain for the Third Round of the HSBC SVNS that kicks off in Perth on January 26.
EURO SPOTLIGHT: South African teams are in their second season at Europe's top table - the Champions Cup. What is the price on either the Bulls or Stormers going all the way.
WATCH as young Bulls loose forward Celimpilo Gumede speaks about the crucial European Cup Round Three face-off against the Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate.
INTERVIEW: The Lions have their sights firmly set on a place in the United Rugby Championship play-offs.
NEWS: Connacht’s Byron Ralston has been suspended for three games following a citing in the United Rugby Championship for the game against Munster on New Year’s Day.
SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers forward coach Rito Hlungwani has shed light on the key factors behind his side’s scrum dominance.
NEWS: Jaco Visagie is back at the helm as captain of the Lions when they face Montpellier in Round Three of the Challenge Cup in France on Saturday.
NEWS: Fiji lock Api Ratuniyarawa was jailed for nearly three years on Tuesday for sexually assaulting three teenagers in a bar days before he was due to play for the Barbarians in Cardiff last year.
NEWS: Jake White, Director of Rugby at the Bulls, revealed their Springboks are still on leave as part of their obligatory resting period.
WATCH as Springboks stars show their support for South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis, as he prepares to challenge the USA’s Sean Strickland for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight title.
NEWS: Rugby paid tribute to one of the sport's greatest ever players after former Wales and British and Irish Lions fullback JPR Williams died at the age of 74.
INJURY UPDATE: The Springboks and Munster sustained a fresh injury blow after Jean Kleyn has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
SPOTLIGHT: New All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said Tuesday he was pressing New Zealand Rugby to change its sacrosanct rule banning overseas-based players from Test selection, saying he wanted to pick from the best available.
REACTION: Johann van Graan has told Bath to prepare for a "massive challenge" in January featuring European Champions Cup games against French giants Racing 92 and Toulouse.
TRANSFER NEWS: Munster confirmed that Joey Carbery has made the decision to depart the province for a new playing opportunity outside of Ireland at the end of the current campaign.
WATCH as Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie chats to @king365ed about the selection of forgotten Springbok Oupa Mohoje in their tour squad for a two-match trip to Europe.
REACTION: The Sharks will head into the second half of their European campaign desperate to turn around an abortive season, but acknowledging there are challenges.
INJURY NEWS: Ireland have suffered a major injury blow with wing Mack Hansen being ruled out of the Six Nations tournament.
OPINION: Rugbypass writer Finn Morton makes some bold predictions for 2024.
SPOTLIGHT: The five South African franchises return to European Cup action this weekend.
NEWS: The match official appointments have been confirmed for the return of EPCR's tournaments - with qualification for the knockout stages on the line.
MATCH REPORT: Bath claimed a 17-10 victory in the Premiership over Gloucester with a try double from Tom de Glanville at the Recreation Ground on Sunday.
REACTION: With licence to an often misquoted Aristotle phrase, first recorded some 2370-odd years ago: "The Lions' whole was greater than the sum of the Sharks' parts."
NEWS: Saracens boss Mark McCall said the Premiership champions would do everything in their power to keep Owen Farrell after the England captain was linked with a move to French club Racing 92.
WRAP: Springboks Cheslin Koble and Kwagga Smith were on the list of scorers in the Japan Rugby League One for their respective teams over the weekend, ensuring victories for the Blue Revs and Suntory Sungolaith.
NEWS: Top 14 leaders Racing 92 ran in five tries to edge Castres 34-30 on Saturday and will hope the victory will deliver a first win in the Champions Cup next weekend.
NEWS: England have yet to finalise the details of their ‘hybrid contracts’ but coach Steve Borthwick has revealed that setting players’ workload when on club duty will not be among his powers.
Sharks face tighthead crisis after another injury
NEWS: Another new record has been set by the United Rugby Championship, with the league setting an all-time high for single-round attendance.
SATURDAY WRAP: Saracens' torrid weekend that began with revelations over Owen Farrell's possible move to Racing 92 continued with a 19-10 Premiership defeat at Leicester.
READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Eight encounter between the Sharks and Lions at Kings Park in Durban.
MATCH REPORT: The Lions ended a near seven-year drought in Durban, producing a second-half comeback to snatch a crucial 20-18 United Rugby Championship win over the Sharks.
REPORT: Wallaby World Cup reject Quade Cooper's comeback in Japan has ended with a yellow card and a 27-point battering for his Kintetsu Liners.
FRIDAY WRAP: Harlequins moved to the top of the Premiership with a bonus-point 24-3 victory over bottom-of-the-table Newcastle at Kingston Park.
WATCH as Sharks coach John Plumtree explains to @king365ed the real reason behind his decision to sign Kiwi power lifter Joel Hintz.
STAT ATTACK: Kurt-Lee Arendse has become one of the most prolific players in the world.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Leicester Tigers decided to stick with their new Springboks-like tactic of a replacement split of six forwards and just two backs when they play host to Saracens on Saturday in the Premiership.
REACTION: Denials and more denials! That is what followed reports that England captain Owen Farrell has or is going to sign for French club Racing 92.
SPOTLIGHT: Former Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber believes that having South African players plying their trade overseas, helps the country in their quest to be the best in the world.
PREVIEW: @king365ed chats to the Sharks and Lions camps ahead of their URC Round Eight catch-up match in Durban on Saturday.
SPOTLIGHT: Springbok lock Lood de Jager finally makes his long-awaited return after a lengthy lay-off due to injury.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers are slowly becoming the designated franchise to rejuvenate players' careers and passion for the game.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks host the Lions in the two teams’ opening match of the year when they meet in Round Eight of the United Rugby Championship at Kings Park on Saturday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions have named their team that will face the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship Round Eight clash on Saturday at Kings Park.
ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW: The views and reports of a desolate Ellis Park is well documented, with the accompanying freak-outs.
NEWS: Steve Borthwick is confident that England will head into the Six Nations with the right "foundation" after their run to the World Cup semifinals.
NEWS: England finally revealed how double World Cup winner Felix Jones will fit in their coaching set-up.
WATCH a Springbok utility Grant Williams chats to @king365ed about the URC crunch encounter with the Lions in Durban on Saturday.
PROFILE: It was a fitting farewell to 2023 for Stormers hooker Scarra Ntubeni as he made his 100th appearance for the Cape Town team in the victory over Sharks.
Aside from a couple of games in South Africa, the United Rugby Championship will be taking a break with Round 10 coming up in mid-February.
SPOTLIGHT: France sevens coach Jerome Daret revealed he "no worries" about Antoine Dupont's ability to convert to the abbreviated game in time for this summer's Paris Olympics
NEWS: The England team have ended their 20-year relationship with their union, the Rugby Players Association.
NEWS: Saracen's Mako Vunipola received a red card for dangerous tackling, contrary to World Rugby Law 9.13, during the Premiership game against Newcastle Falcons on December 30.
NEWS: Flyhalf Jacob Umaga has signed a new deal with United Rugby Championship outfit Benetton, keeping him in Italy until 2026.
WATCH as @king365ed talks to assistant coach Ricardo Loubscher and captain Marius Louw about a monstrous month of fixtures awaiting them at the start of 2024.
REACTION: Ulster’s remarkable win against Leinster in the United Rugby Championship New Year’s match has raised eyebrows among teams in the Championship, but it isn’t surprising to hear that much of the galvanising spirit came after a serious talk from their Springbok acquisition Steven Kitshoff.
SPOTLIGHT: Ulster head coach Dan McFarland shared his insights on exploiting Leinster's rush defence led by Jacques Nienaber.
NEWS: Fijian sensation Viliame Mata will join Bristol Bears from Edinburgh ahead of the 2024/25 season, the club confirmed.
REVIEW 2023: @king365ed looks back at the year that was - the historic World Cup win by South Africa and other great events, like the European Cup, URC and Currie Cup.
NEWS: French captain and scrumhalf Antoine Dupont is expected at his first preparatory day for the Paris Olympics rugby Sevens event.
EURO SPOTLIGHT: @rugby365com continues to track the performances of South African players in the Premiership and it is not just the World Cup winners that are rocking it in England.
NEWS: England international Alex Coles has penned a new contract to remain at Northampton Saints.
REACTION: Edinburgh's win over Glasgow Warriors was not enough to claim the 1872 Cup on Sunday, leaving star-wing Duhan van der Merwe a little disappointed.
SPOTLIGHT: There is no denying that Malcolm Marx is probably the best hooker in the world and the latest statistics just published by OptaJonny confirms it yet again.
SPOTLIGHT: With all 48 matches counting towards the World Rugby Rankings and carrying double points, World Cup 2023 was always going to have the potential to shake things up, and so it proved.
MATCH REPORT: Scarlets flyhalf Sam Costelow missed two late kicks at goal to allow Dragons to move off the bottom of the United Rugby Championship table with a 13-12 win at a rain-sodden Rodney Parade.
MATCH REPORT: Ulster started 2024 with a bang by beating United Rugby Championship leaders Leinster 22-21 for their only their third win in 22 visits to the RDS Arena.
MATCH REPORT: Keelan Giles scored a pair of tries as Ospreys secured a 27-21 bonus-point victory over Cardiff in Bridgend on Monday.
MATCH REPORT: JJ Hanrahan's right boot ensured Connacht ended a run of five defeats in all competitions as injury-ravaged Munster went down 9-22 at the Sportsground.
TRANSFER NEWS: The Stormers will avert a midfield crisis in an exchange deal with the Bulls.
REACTION: Johann van Graan insisted he had no qualms about fielding a second-string team after a 22-35 loss at Leicester meant Bath missed the chance to end 2023 top of the English Premiership table.
SPECIAL DELIVERY: As the New Year dawns, South Africa’s historic double World Cup victory is still fresh in the memory. We have a special treat for fans worldwide.
MATCH REPORT: Leicester Tigers have claimed a 35-22 bonus-point win over Bath on New Year’s Eve in front of a sell-out crowd at Welford Road.
SPOTLIGHT: Sharks head coach John Plumtree admits things will become tricky over the next couple of months when his Bok players go into a compulsory rest period.
MONDAY PREVIEW: Plenty of fireworks can be expected as the new year of rugby gets underway with double derby clashes in Ireland and Wales.
SPOTLIGHT: Just when they thought that some of their midfield woes were over, the Stormers suffered another mammoth blow.
SATURDAY WRAP: Saracens Director of Rugby Mark McCall is anxiously awaiting the verdict from a tribunal against Mako Vunipola, after he was sent off in the final minute of his side's 37-19 Premiership victory over Newcastle.
MATCH REPORT: The Stormers closed in on the Bulls in the race to be South Africa's top team in the United Rugby Championship, as they edged the Sharks 16-15 in a bruising Round Nine encounter in Cape Town.
READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Nine encounter between the Stormers and Sharks in Cape Town.
MATCH REPORT: Glasgow Warriors missed the chance to end 2023 top of the United Rugby Championship after losing 14-19 to Edinburgh at Murrayfield - but did manage to retain the 1872 Cup.
INTERVIEW: Johann van Graan, the Bath coach, admitted it is pointless to target double World Cup winner Handre Pollard.
MATCH REPORT: Benetton continued their excellent start to the United Rugby Championship season by beating Italian rivals Zebre 36-14 at Stadio Monigo.
As the year ends and South Africa’s historic double World Cup victory is still fresh in the memory, fans worldwide are in for a treat.
SPOTLIGHT: Stormers head coach John Dobson has shed some light on the discussions with SA Rugby over the upcoming 'compulsory rest period' for the top Springboks.
SPOTLIGHT: Stormers head coach John Dobson has described centre Dan du Plessis as one of the most important players in his team
OPINION: The world of rugby witnessed some historic rugby events in 2023.
MATCH REPORT: Exeter powered to the top of the English Premiership with a 24-14 victory over west country rivals Bristol at Ashton Gate on Friday.
SATURDAY PREVIEW: Sharks head coach John Plumtree says the Stormers have provided his team with something to aspire to as the two teams go head-to-head in a United Rugby Championship derby in Cape Town.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers head coach John Dobson has tweaked his matchday squad for Saturday's United Rugby Championship Round Nine clash against the Sharks.
OPINION: It comes as no surprise that the World Cup winners South Africa headline the prestigious @rugby365com Team of the Year selections.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach John Plumtree has revealed his matchday squad for Saturday's United Rugby Championship Round Nine clash against the Stormers in Cape Town.
NEWS: England will be without Manu Tuilagi for the start of the Six Nations after the powerful centre suffered a groin injury in Sale's Premiership victory over Saracens last week.
NEWS: Duhan van der Merwe has described his latest decision on his playing future as a "no-brainer".
SPOTLIGHT: Sharks head coach John Plumtree says fatigue has become a big problem in his squad as they brace themselves for another big South African derby against the Stormers.
SPOTLIGHT: World Cup-winning Springbok Jasper Wiese continues to raise the bar in England's Premiership.
SPOTLIGHT: The son of a Springbok great, Andre-Hugo Venter is writing his own story in a breakthrough year for the Stormers.
OPINION: Wales coach Warren Gatland is never short of a view on the game, even though he often comes across as salty when speaking his mind.
SPOTLIGHT: After 13 years in the Western Province and Stormers structures, hooker Scarra Ntubeni admitted that he has questioned his career decisions.
WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White catches everyone by surprise with his reaction to the calls by the match officials in their 20-26 loss to the Stormers at the weekend.
SPOTLIGHT: Stormers hooker Scarra Ntubeni admitted that it will be a bit "weird" when he comes up against Eben Etzebeth in a United Rugby Championship clash in Cape Town on Saturday.
WATCH as Stormers captain Deon Fourie explains how the North-South derby has evolved in recent years, with much of the 'malice' gone from the game.
NEWS: The match official appointments of the United Rugby Championship Round nine derbies have been confirmed.
NEWS: Top 14 clubs Toulon and Toulouse have both been sanctioned over breaching the Top 14’s salary cap with Cheslin Kolbe’s transfer in 2021.
INJURY SPOTLIGHT: One of Wales' key players is set to be on the sidelines for the next few months.
MATCH REPORT: Harry Byrne kicked Leinster to a 9-3 Christmas derby win over Munster at a wet and windy Thomond Park as they returned to the top of the United Rugby Championship.
MATCH REPORT: The Ospreys completed the double over west Wales rivals Scarlets as they won their first league game at Parc Y Scarlets since 2015 with a 25-11 triumph.
MATCH REPORT: Cardiff ran in nine tries as they stormed to an emphatic 55-21 Boxing Day United Rugby Championship victory over local rivals Dragons at Arms Park.
NEWS: A record-breaking crowd of over 30,000 will roar on the decisive 1872 Cup match between Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors at Murrayfield on Saturday.
REACTION: With 2023 running to its obligatory conclusion, we revisit one of the most captivating contests of the year.
NEWS: The Cheetahs confirmed media reports that stalwart Robert Ebersohn has hung up his boots.
WATCH as Stormers coach John Dobson gives a status update ahead of the Round Nine URC face-off with the Springbok-laden Sharks.
SPOTLIGHT: David Nucifora and Peter Horne taking on key RA roles after helping Ireland to world No.1 has raised the prospect of Joe Schmidt coaching the Wallabies.
BOXING DAY PREDICTIONS: RG Snyman's decision to swap his red Munster jersey for the blue one of arch-rivals Leinster has added a lot of spice to Tuesday's big Irish derby.
WRAP: All Black loose forward Shannon Frizell was the toast of Fuchu after scoring four tries, leading Brave Lupus to a successful Christmas Eve heist at the home of Kobe Steelers.
TRANSFER NEWS: Gloucester confirmed the immediate signing of flyhalf Charlie Atkinson, who arrives from Leicester Tigers on a permanent deal.
WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White explains to @king365ed what aspects of the game his team most needs to work on as they head into their Christmas break.
SPOTLIGHT: New All Blacks coach Scott Robertson's move to have Wayne Smith on board as a performance director has been hailed a masterstroke.
WATCH as @king365ed brings you the post-match reaction of Stormers and Bulls camps after their intense and bruising URC face-off in Cape Town.
SPOTLOGHT: Just a week after claiming their first European Challenge Cup win, Black Lion continue to set the standard in the Super Cup as they are crowned 2023 champions.
TOP 14 SATURDAY WRAP: Siya Kolisi's Racing 92 hammered promoted Oyonnax 66-10 on Saturday to move three points clear at the summit of the French Top 14.
PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: Exeter maintained their superb home form as they defeated Leicester 29-10 in front of a record crowd at Sandy Park.
MATCH REPORT: The Stormers continued their winning streak over the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship with a 26-20 victory in a Round Eight match in Cape Town on Saturday.
READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Eight encounter between the Stormers and Bulls in Cape Town.
MATCH REPORT: Benetton maintained their stranglehold on the Italian derby by dispatching Zebre Parma 31-24 in the United Rugby Championship.
WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White explains to @king365ed the role of a former Stormers stalwart in the success of the Pretoria-based franchise this season.
FRIDAY WRAP: Premiership leaders Sale Sharks showed their title credentials as they edged out fellow high-fliers Saracens 22-20 in a Christmas thriller.
MATCH REPORT: Late tries from Johnny Matthews and Ally Miller saw injury-hit Glasgow Warriors beat Edinburgh 22-10 to seize the initiative in the 1872 Cup and move top of the United Rugby Championship table.
MATCH REPORT: John Cooney's kicking was the difference as Ulster edged out Connacht 20-19 in the United Rugby Championship.
WATCH as Stormers coach John Dobson reveals exactly how many players are currently on the injury list and for how long.
PREVIEW: @king365ed looks at the #BIG North-South derby - when the Stormers host the Bulls at the Cape Town stadium.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Elrigh Louw leads a determined Bulls side who travel to the Cape for the first instalment of the North-South derby in the current 2023-24 season.
NEWS: Retired Wales great Alun Wyn Jones has revealed he was diagnosed with a heart condition towards the end of his career and has called for better screening for players.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Jean-Luc du Plessis will play his 50th game for the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship North-South clash against the Bulls at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
JAPAN LEAGUE ONE, ROUND THREE PREVIEW: This weekend sees the unbeaten, Sagamihara Dynaboars visit Aichi to tackle a star-laden Toyota Verblitz.
WATCH as Cheetahs forwards coach Izak van der Westhuizen talks about the stop-start nature of their European campaign.
NEWS: Rugby Australia announced that the widely respected Peter Horne will head its revised high-performance department, in the role of Director of High-Performance.
SPOTLIGHT: If the game was not already hyped to the hilt, the battle at No.10 alone will be worth the value of an entry ticket.
FRIDAY PREVIEW: It's all about local pride and bragging rights as derbies dominate the United Rugby Championship Round Eight matches on Friday.
TEAM UPDATE: Evan Roos versus Cameron Hanekom was billed as one of the 'head acts' of the #BIG North-South derby.
STAT ATTACK: The Springboks' work at the breakdown has made sure they dominate the 2023 stats season.
REVELATION: @king365ed looks into the latest developments in the protracted Stormers equity saga and finds another legal battle looming.
TRANSFER NEWS: Experienced France centre Gael Fickou has extended his Racing 92 contract to 2027, the Parisian club announced.
NEWS: Head coach Scott Robertson completed his 2024 All Blacks management group, adding his former Crusaders assistant Tamati Ellison as contact skills coach.
NEWS: Western Province Professional Rugby and Griquas/Griqualand-West Rugby Union have signed a strategic player development agreement that harnesses the combined capabilities of WP Rugby and GWR to cultivate talent and establish progression pathways for players.
INJURY NEWS: Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has issued a positive injury update ahead of Tuesday’s United Rugby Championship match against Munster in Thomond Park.
STAT ATTACK: Double World Cup winner Albertus 'Kwagga' Smith is officially the turnover king of 2023.
WATCH as Stormers assistant coach Dawie Snyman previews the #BIG North-South derby face-off against the Bulls.
LISTEN as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White explains to @king365ed why the #BIG North-South derby is vital for the South African game.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The recruitment of two double World Cup-winning Springboks has been labelled as super signings by the United Rugby Championship.
SPOTLIGHT: It seems that RG Snyman's stay in Dublin will not be a very long one.
TRANSFER NEWS: Legendary Wallabies playmaker Matt Giteau revealed he will come out of retirement to join San Diego Legion for the 2024 Major League Rugby season.
SPOTLIGHT: All Black legend Sonny Bill Williams has blamed Eddie Jones and former Rugby Australia Chairman Hamish McLennan for Mark Nawaqanitawase's defection to Rugby League.
STAT ATTACK: Travelling to and from South Africa remains a major challenge for United Rugby Championship teams.
WATCH as Stormers assistant coach Dawie Snyman reveals details of why veteran prop Frans Malherbe has not played since the World Cup.
NEWS: Two-time World Cup winner RG Snyman has revealed his new team.
NEWS: The match officials appointments for the United Rugby Championship Round Eight Christmas derby fixtures have been confirmed.
WATCH this teaser ahead of the launch of the #BIG Dricus du Plessis interview!
SPOTLIGHT: The United Rugby Championship resumes this week - after two weeks of Champions Cup and Challenge Cup action - with the focus on the rising attendance figures.
SPOTLIGHT: Stormers head coach John Dobson said he felt like he had won another championship after he received news that the Red Disa investment was approved.
SPOTLIGHT: Jacques Nienaber has been mesmerising the Leinster squad with his coaching style since he arrived in Dublin in November.
REACTION: Michael Cheika's decision to quit his post with the Pumas has raised the inevitable question as to whether or not he will return as Wallaby coach.
SPOTLIGHT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has identified his team's mental growth as the biggest positive of 2023.
NEWS: Argentina unveiled their new head coach on Monday.
WATCH as @king365ed chats to coach John Plumtree and centre Francois Venter about the Sharks' inability to win away from home.
NEWS: Caelan Doris has committed his long-term future with Leinster by signing a new three-year contract extension until 2027.
SPOTLIGHT: France’s celebrated scrumhalf Antoine Dupont is gearing up for a remarkable year in 2024, driven by his World Cup disappointment and a hunger for new victories.
WATCH as EPCR CEO Jacques Raynaud and Chairman Dominic McKay chat to @king365ed about the shockingly poor spectator numbers at the 62,000-seater Ellis Park stadium.
JAPAN LEAGUE ONE, ROUND TWO WRAP: The Eagles recover their poise after the disastrous opening round mauling by the Wild Knights, holding off Verblitz 24-22 in a thrilling contest in Kanagawa.
SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers will have to tweak their back three for upcoming derbies against the Bulls and the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship.
SUNDAY WRAP: Outside centre Pierre-Louis Barassi scored two of Stade Toulousain's seven tries as they showed impressive form at Harlequins in their 47-19 win.
REACTION: It may sound like a fishy story, but the Bulls truly let a big one get away.
REPORT: The French hosts capitalised on Ospreys’ No.8 Morgan Morse receiving an early yellow card - recording a commanding 38-5 win.
WATCH as EPCR Chairman Dominic McKay and CEO Jacques Raynaud explain where Cape Town sit in the race to host the European Cup and Challenge Cup Finals.
READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Challenge Cup Round Two encounter between the Cheetahs and Sharks in Bloemfontein.
MATCH REPORT: The Cheetahs on Sunday sent another powerful message to the South African Rugby Union about getting more regular international competition.
REACTION: Stormers head coach John Dobson admitted the famous Champions Cup win over Stade Rochelais is a step in the right direction.
MATCH REPORT: A late brace from replacement Jaco Coetzee secured a 39-32 win for Bath over Cardiff in a ten-try thriller at the Arms Park.
MATCH REPORT: Ulster bounced back from defeat with a 31-15 victory over French Top 14 leaders Racing 92 at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday.
MATCH REPORT: The Bulls will be kicking themselves after they went down 28-29 to Lyon in a Champions Cup Round Two encounter in France on Saturday.
MATCH REPORT: Teenage fullback Theo Attissogbe scored the most vital of tries for Pau as they grabbed a last-minute 24-21 win over the Dragons in Pool 1 of the EPCR Challenge Cup.
MATCH REPORT: Josh van der Flier inspired Leinster to a bonus-point 37-27 win over a much-changed Sale Sharks in Round Two of the Champions Cup.
MATCH REPORT: The Lions showed they can score tries by doing so five times in their 35-13 victory over Newcastle Falcons in the EPCR Challenge Cup at Ellis Park on Saturday.
READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Champions Cup Round Two encounter between the Lyon and the Bulls.
MATCH REPORT: Flying Scottish wing Duhan van der Merwe contributed a pair of tries as Edinburgh ran out 34-21 winners over Castres in the EPCR Challenge Cup at Hive Stadium on Saturday.
MATCH REPORT: Fullback Rhyno Smith became Benetton’s all-time leading try scorer in EPCR competitions as his side enjoyed a thumping 29-7 win over Perpignan in Pool 2 of the Challenge Cup.
MATCH REPORT: The Stormers recorded their first Champions Cup win of the season, beating Stade Rochelais in Cape Town on Saturday.
READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Challenge Cup Round Two encounter between the Lions and Newcastle Falcons at Ellis Park.
MATCH REPORT: Bordeaux-Bègles wing Damian Penaud put in an exquisite performance as the French side ran out 36-17 winners over Bristol Bears in the Champions Cup.
MATCH REPORT: Zebre Parma flyhalf Geronimo Prisciantelli kicked two penalties and a conversion as the Italian side defeated TOP14 club Oyonnax 21-14 in the Challenge Cup.
REPORT: Inside centre Tom Hartley, making his first start in the Champions Cup, notched a brace for Saracens in a 55-36 rout of Connacht at Barnet Copthall Stadium on Saturday.
READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Champions Cup Round Two encounter between the Stormers and Stade Rochelais in Cape Town.
REPORT: Hooker Santiago Socino scored two tries in five minutes as Gloucester defeated ASM Clermont Auvergne 28-17 for their second EPCR Challenge Cup win of the season.
MATCH REPORT: Black Lion flyhalf Luka Matkava kicked 13 points as he helped the Georgian side to a 23-7 win over lacklustre Scarlets.
MATCH REPORT: Replacement Tom Lockett gave Northampton Saints a 22-19 victory over RC Toulon with a late try as the English side picked up their second Champions Cup win of the season.
WATCH as @king365ed chats with EPCR Chairman Dominic McKay about the future of the Cheetahs in Europe.
MATCH REPORT: Fullback Josh McKay scored a vital second-half try as Glasgow Warriors bounced back from an opening match defeat to take a narrow 12-11 win over Bayonnais in the Champions Cup.
PREVIEW: @king365ed looks at Saturday and Sunday's Round Two Champions Cup fixtures and makes some interesting predictions!
SATURDAY PREVIEW: The EPCR showdown this weekend takes place in Bloemfontein when the Cheetahs host the Sharks in Round two of Pool 1 on Sunday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers head coach John Dobson has revealed his team to face Stade Rochelais in their Champions Cup Round Two clash at Cape Town Stadium.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Cheetahs will welcome the Sharks to Bloemfontein on Sunday for a mouth-watering EPCR Challenge Cup local derby.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has revealed his team to face Lyon in their Champions Cup Round Two clash in France on Saturday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has named a new starting XV for their European Challenge Cup Round Two clash against Newcastle Falcons at Ellis Park on Saturday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach John Plumtree has made two changes to his starting team for Sunday's Challenge Cup Round Two clash against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
NEWS: The Red Disa consortium's equity deal in securing a controlling shareholding in WP Professional Rugby (Pty Ltd) was this week approved by the South African Competition Commission.
Two groups of 23 players have been invited to attend Under-20 alignment camps in Stellenbosch and Pretoria in January to kickstart the preparations for the SA Rugby Academy and Junior Springbok season.
NEWS: Scarlets and Wales prop Samson Lee has been forced to retire at the age of 31 after failing to recover from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
FRIDAY PREVIEW: The debutants from Georgia may not have gotten the win against Gloucester last weekend, but they pushed the English visitors close. The real challenge will be away fixtures like this one. Heading into uncharted territory, Black Lion are bound to come up short.
NEWS: Former Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber could be reunited with one of his World Cup winners.
FRIDAY PREVIEW: Glasgow Warriors centre Huw Jones believes the time has come for the Scottish side to start supporting their promising performances with victories, starting with Friday’s Champions Cup Round Two trip to Aviron Bayonnais.
NEWS: One of South Africa's top players will have a new team next season.
JAPAN LEAGUE ONE, ROUND TWO PREVIEW: There will be some interesting battles between Springbok and All Black stars in Round Two of Japan Rugby League One.
REACTION: Eddie Jones believes South Africa's World Cup-winning wing Cheslin Kolbe, now playing in Japan for Tokyo Sungoliath, could be an inspiration for his Japan players.
NEWS: Andy Farrell has signed a new long-term contract to remain as head coach of Ireland until the end of the 2027 World Cup.
NEWS: Rob Howley has been restored to Wales' coaching staff for the first time since being banned for breaching betting regulations, it was announced on Thursday.
BEYOND THE HEADLINES: @king365com explicates the menagerie of media reports around the attenuated WPRFU administrative and Newlands sale sagas.
NEWS: A month after claiming World Rugby’s biggest prize, Ardie Savea has claimed the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year at the New Zealand Rugby Awards.
NEWS: MyPlayers has revealed who are their top performers for 2023.
VIDEO: Cheetahs captain Victor Sekekete says they are hungry for something bigger and it all starts against a star-studded Springbok-laden Sharks team in Bloemfontein on Sunday.
REACTION: All Black great Sonny Bill Williams launched a stinging attack on Eddie Jones on Thursday, calling him "a disgrace" who "obviously lied" to the Australian players and fans.
NEWS: The Saracens No.8 Billy Vunipola has had his red card overturned.
WATCH as Bulls scrumhalf Izak Burger speaks about the challenging trip to France for a Round Two Champions Cup encounter with Lyon.
SPOTLIGHT: Stormers prop Neethling Fouche is relishing the prospect of seeing some familiar faces when his team comes up against Stade Rochelais on Saturday.
NEWS: Eddie Jones was named by Japan as their new head coach on Wednesday, six weeks after the Australian quit the Wallabies following their dismal showing at the World Cup.
SPOTLIGHT: Springbok star Steven Kitshoff admits that his move to Ulster has been far from plain sailing as he looks to step up his game ahead of a crunch Champions Cup tie against Racing 92.
SPOTLIGHT: Fans of the Japan Rugby League One may feel like they are watching the World Cup all over again.
NEWS: England wing Henry Arundell has signed a two-year extension to his contract at French Top 14 club Racing 92, meaning he cannot play at the Six Nations next year.
NEWS: Moana Pasifika will stage a Super Rugby match in Tonga for the first time in history next year in a bid to grow the sport on the island, the club said Wednesday.
SPOTLIGHT: Stormers stalwart Deon Fourie admitted that his team is in a bit of a transition period when it comes to leadership, but it is all part of the bigger picture.
INJURY NEWS: France scrumhalf Baptiste Serin has been ruled out of contention of next year's Six Nations with a shoulder injury, his club Toulon announced on Tuesday.
WATCH as Lions coach Ricardo Loubscher explains the three pillars that have helped the Lions up their performance this season.
DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Saracens No.8 Billy Vunipola will face a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday after he received a red card in his team's Champions Cup opener against the Bulls in Pretoria over the weekend.
REACTION: Leicester Tigers flyhalf Handre Pollard says his club got an example of the depth in South African rugby when they faced the Stormers in their Champions Cup opener over the weekend.
WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White drops some serious selection hints ahead of Round Two of the Champions Cup.
SPOTLIGHT: Stephen Moore has urged Rugby Australia to learn from a "pretty unfortunate 12 months" and not be afraid of the prospect of appointing a foreigner as the next Wallabies coach.
NEWS: SA Rugby has joined the chorus of tributes to Syd Millar, the former chairman of what is now World Rugby, who has passed away aged 89.
NEWS: Rugby Australia hopes the announcement of Eddie Jones' successor looms next after unveiling the first-ever full-time coach of the Wallaroos.
NEWS: After more than a decade in professional rugby, lock Dominic Bird has decided to call it time on his illustrious career.
NEWS: Scrumhalf TJ Perenara is targeting a return to the All Blacks in 2024 after a year spent recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon and having to watch the World Cup on the sidelines.
NEWS: The north-east city of Sunderland will stage the opening match of the 2025 Women's World Cup in England, with the final of a "generational" event to be played at Twickenham.
SPOTLIGHT: Harlequins may have beaten Racing 92 31-28 in their Champions Cup opener at La Defense Arena in Paris at the weekend, but it is the performances of two World Cup winners that headlined the encounter.
REACTION: Sometimes taking the more conservative approach does have its benefits.
WATCH as Boks Office host Hanyani Shimange and his guests - South African legends Jean de Villiers and Brian Habana, as well as two-time World Cup winner Damian Willemse - solve the BlitzBoks' problems.
SPOTLIGHT: The competition for Olympics spots will be far from easy for Michael Hooper and Antoine Dupont, World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin admitted.
WATCH as Stormers coach John Dobson reveals the best 'story' to come out of his team's 26-35 loss to Leicester Tigers in their Euro Cup opener at the weekend.
WRAP ROUND ONE: Cheslin Kolbe showed his incredible class as he kicked off his Suntory Sungoliath career with a 52-26 away win against reigning champions Kubota Spears.
SUNDAY WRAP: Andre Esterhuizen scored one of Harlequins' four tries as his team beat World Cup Springbok teammate and captain Siya Kolisi's Racing 92 in a Champions Cup outing.
Welcome to an exhilarating Day Two of the Sevens Tournament in Cape Town!
MATCH REPORT: Sam Simmonds scored a vital bonus-point try as Montpellier got their EPCR Challenge Cup campaign off to a perfect start at Newcastle Falcons.
SUNDAY WRAP: Replacement flyhalf Ciaran Frawley kicked three crucial penalties, including a stunning effort from deep in his own half, to help a determined Leinster overcome Champions Cup holders Stade Rochelais.
REACTION: The BlitzBoks are a team that are best when they have ball in hand and that showed a week ago when they triumphed in Dubai, but disappointingly for Springbok Sevens supporters, they could not do the same this weekend in Cape Town, and paid the price.
MATCH REPORT: Two-time World Cup-winning Springbok flyhalf Handré Pollard produced a match-saving performance, as his Leicester Tigers team held out against a willing and very young Stormers side.
MATCH REPORT: The Lions won a penalty riddled Challenge Cup match over Perpignan by 28-12 with flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse slotting eight kicks to secure the win for his side.
READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Challenge Cup Round One encounter between Perpignan and the Lions.
REACTION: It’s amazing what a bit of canny housekeeping can do.
REACTION: Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie says it is vital to have good start in any competition you play in, and his side managed to do that with a fairly comfortable win over Zebre in Parma on Saturday.
WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White takes aim at some unruly fans at Loftus Versfeld.
READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Champions Cup Round One encounter between Leicester Tigers and the Stormers at Welford Road.