IN THE SPOTLIGHT: With flyhalf Robert du Preez laying low after his recent stint in England, Curwin Bosch has been given a rare opportunity to show his worth in the No.10 jersey for the Sharks.
SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2019 - TEAM BY TEAM: In the ninth instalment of our 15-part build-up to the season we look at the Blues.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: All Black legend Richie McCaw said New Zealand have to accept the damaging player drain is an inevitable fact of life.
WATCH as seasoned Springbok Pieter-Steph du Toit talks about his award as Player of the Year and his country's prospects at the World Cup.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: For some rugby players being partially blind would be enough to hang up your boots, however not for Italian international Ian McKinley.
TRANSFER NEWS: Wasps have revealed that South Africa centre Juan de Jongh has penned a new contract to remain at the club.
SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2019 – TEAM BY TEAM: In the eighth instalment of our 15-part build-up to the season we look at the Chiefs.
TRANSFER NEWS: Crusaders will lose one of their stalwarts at the end of the 2019 Super Rugby season.
SIX NATIONS ROUND TWO: Conor O'Shea's Italy are desperate to pick up where they left off against Scotland last weekend when they take on Wales for their second Six Nations game of the campaign.
SIX NATIONS ROUND TWO: The encounter at Murrayfield now has added significance, following Ireland's loss in Round One.
LAW DISCUSSION: @rugby365com law guru Paul Dobson answers a reader's query about an incident in the pre-season Super Rugby match between the Stormers and Bulls.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: England head coach Eddie Jones has named his team to face France in their second Six Nations match on Sunday at Twickenham Stadium.
WATCH as Reds coach Brad Thorn reacts to his team's narrow 19-21 loss to the Chiefs in a Super Rugby pre-season outing on Friday.
NEWS: The Melbourne Rebels have unveiled their captain for the 2019 Super Rugby season.
Three matches in Round 1, three winners, and two of those winners meet in Round 2, each huge winners.
SUPER RUGBY PRE-SEASON: A pre-season win for the Brumbies over the Waratahs at Goulburn on Thursday has come at a cost for both sides, with numerous players walking away from the clash with injuries.
In Round 2, the three round-one winners will play the three round-one losers, and they could all be interesting matches. The Under-20 championship is still wide open.
REACTION: Scotland coach Gregor Townsend said dropping hat-trick scorer Blair Kinghorn to the bench had been a painful decision as he named his side to face Ireland in Saturday's Six Nations match at Murrayfield.
NEWS: Charl Crous has been appointed as Head of Operations for Pro14 and will begin work in his new role in June 2019, after spending eight years with the Southern Kings in South Africa.
SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2019 - TEAM BY TEAM: In the seventh instalment of our 15-part build-up to the season we look at the Highlanders.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has stayed true to his word with the latest visit to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: France has added significant 'bulk' to their team for their Six Nations encounter with England on Sunday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Scotland have made four changes to the starting line-up for this Saturday’s second-round Six Nations clash with Ireland at Murrayfield Stadium.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Jason Jenkins will start at lock with Lood de Jager on Saturday when the Bulls take on the Sharks in Ballito.
TRANSFER NEWS: London Irish have not been afraid to throw the cash around this season, with the Championship leaders already having secured the signings of three players for the 2019/20 season.
SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2019 - TEAM BY TEAM: In the sixth instalment of our 15-part build-up to the season, Alex McLeod looks at the Crusaders.
PRE-SEASON REPORT: The Crusaders edged the Highlanders 43-38 in a thrilling Super Rugby pre-season encounter in Southbridge on Friday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Warren Gatland has unveiled his Wales team to face Italy in Rome on Saturday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Conor O’Shea has made two changes for Italy as Edoardo Padovani comes into the backline and Nicola Quaglio into the front row for their Six Nations clash with Wales on Saturday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has made a few changes to his team for Saturday's crucial match against Scotland in Round Two of Six Nations 2019.
LISTEN as the @rugby365com team chats to renowned medical practitioner and concussion expert @jonpatricios about one of the biggest quagmires in the game.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach Robert du Preez has selected his strongest available squad to take on the Bulls in Saturday’s warm-up match at Ashton College in Ballito.
TRANSFER RUMOURS: As claims of Sale Sharks signing Brodie Retallick on a world record deal are being swiftly shut down, fresh rumours have arisen of a new frontrunner leading the chase for the All Black lock.
SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Dan Cole's good attitude to a lengthy spell in the England wilderness is likely to end with a recall for Sunday's Six Nations international against France at Twickenham.
BREAKING NEWS: Pieter-Steph du Toit has been named South Africa's Player of the Year for 2018.
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: South African-born Namibian international Renaldo Bothma has been suspended for four weeks.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: There is another Proctor teams should be worried about this year.
NEWS: The Melbourne Rebels have high hopes with this man in charge.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Josh Strauss has urged Scotland to take the fight to Ireland in this weekend's Six Nations clash after England showed the way by overpowering the 2018 Grand Slam winners.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Boland Cavaliers head coach Randall Modiba has announced his side that will take on the Stormers in a Super Rugby warm-up match at the Boland Stadium in Wellington on Friday.
LISTEN as Sharks coach Robert du Preez talks about his team's final pre-season outing and their start to the Super Rugby season.
SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Stormers' 33-28 win over the Bulls have managed to momentarily eclipse the off-field drama surrounding the franchise. By Leezil Hendricks.
OPINION: England made a big statement when they bullied Ireland in Dublin on Saturday to record a famous 32-20 win.
SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2019 - TEAM BY TEAM: In the fifth instalment of our 15-part build-up to the season we look at the Jaguares. It will be followed by the New Zealand and Australian conferences.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Queensland Reds will be bolstered by the inclusion of four Wallabies tourists from last year’s end-of-year Tour squad for Friday’s pre-season match against the Chiefs at Ballymore.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: On Thursday the South African Rugby fraternity will find who is regarded as the best SA Rugby player of the year 2018. Leezil Hendricks looks at all the candidates.
NEWS: Ulster has been boosted by the news that Springbok Marcell Coetzee has put pen to paper on a three-year contract extension.
REACTION: David Pocock needs to be protected from illegal neck rolls that have already forced him to miss key games for the Wallabies and is turning parents off the sport, according to his Brumbies coach Dan McKellar.
NEWS: Severe ongoing concussions have forced another international star to hang up his boots.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Chiefs head coach Colin Cooper unveiled a 27-man travelling squad for his team's pre-season encounter against the Reds at Ballymore Stadium on Friday.
Joy Neville of Ireland again makes refereeing history.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders coach Robertson has been forced to play a juggling act with his All Blacks ahead of their final pre-season outing.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger has named a 24-man squad for a pre-season match against the Crusaders at the Southbridge Rugby Club on Friday.
TRANSFER NEWS: At least one All Black has bucked the trend to follow the well-trodden path to Europe.
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: England coach Eddie Jones has trimmed down his squad to just 25 players ahead of their Six Nations match against France on Sunday.
TRANSFER NEWS: Wasps have had a busy transfer window and their later contract negotiations see England international scrumhalf Joe Simpson join Gloucester in the 2019/20 season.
INJURY UPDATE: Ireland's hopes of bouncing back from a demoralising loss to England suffered a triple blow.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: 'Stormers coach Robbie Fleck rushed back most of his big-name stars for final Super Rugby pre-season outing.
REACTION: The Bulls' 28-33 preseason defeat to the Stormers is not much of a concern for head coach Pote Human.
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Maro Itoje will miss Six Nations matches against France and Wales due to a knee injury, but could return for the final rounds of England's title quest.
NEWS: Harlequins have landed themselves in hot water, after they overran their salary cap.
SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Liam Heagney looks at the real dangers awaiting Ireland when they face Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
TRANSFER RUMOURS: The All Blacks’ imminent post-World Cup exodus is one step closer to coming to fruition.
TRANSFER NEWS: Saracens have announced that British & Irish Lion and England international Elliot Daly will join the club in the off-season.
NEWS: This year injuries have already forced the likes of Springbok duo Pat Lambie and Peter Grant called time on their career.
NEWS: The All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams, who has been hampered by injuries in recent years, hinted Wednesday this could be his last year with Super Rugby and possibly New Zealand rugby.
INJURY UPDATE: Racing 92 hooker Camille Chat has replaced injured Julien Marchand in the French squad to face England in the Six Nations on Sunday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Newly appointed captain Christian Lealiifano will lead the Brumbies into action against the Waratahs in their final trial match at Goulburn Workers Arena on Thursday.
INJURY UPDATE: Tito Tebaldi will miss Italy’s Six Nations clash with Wales on Saturday, courtesy of the back problem that forced him to miss last weekend’s defeat to Scotland.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Jack Dempsey will return to the Waratahs starting XV when the team heads to Goulburn on Thursday to take on the Brumbies in their second and final trial ahead of the Super Rugby season.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: While South Africa's Super Rugby franchises are being inspired by Marvel, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen seems to believe that Micheal Cheika has similar characteristics as Mickey Mouse.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: There is a change in the top three in World Rugby's Rankings after the first round of Six Nations 2019.
TRANSFER NEWS: Scotland centre Chris Harris has signed a two-year contract extension with Newcastle Falcons, the English Premiership side announced.
NEWS: The bosses of England's 12 Premiership clubs are seeking talks with the Rugby Football Union over ending promotion and relegation to and from the top flight.
INJURY UPDATE: Not only does Ireland have to deal with the aftermath of a defeat to England, but the No.2 side also sit with a few injury concerns.
Front row forward Michael Aliifaalogo has been making huge impacts across the board in Australia.
ANALYSIS: As George Ford carried the ball into touch and brought an end to the game in Dublin at the weekend, you could be forgiven for having not predicted this particular outcome.
OPINION: Ireland’s lavish dream of winning a second Grand Slam in succession was shattered at the first time of asking in the 2019 Six Nations Championship, England serving up a sobering 32-20 defeat. Liam Heagney rates the Ireland players!
OPINION: The was a huge upset in Dublin on Saturday, as England defeated reigning Grand Slam champions Ireland, 32-20.
SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2019 - TEAM BY TEAM: In the fourth instalment of our 15-part build-up to the season Jan de Koning looks at the Stormers. It will be followed by the final team in the South African conference, the Jaguares - then the other conferences.
TRANSFER NEWS: The Southern Kings will be thin on forwards in the future.
On Monday, 4 February 2019, SANZAAR announced the 15-man panel of referees who will officiate in the 2019 Super Rugby season.
INJURY UPDATE: England’s outstanding victory over Ireland in Dublin is forcing head coach Eddie Jones to reshuffle his pack to face France at Twickenham on Sunday.
OPINION: Wales produced a stunning comeback to kick-off the 2019 Six Nations with a 24-19 defeat of France in Paris. Martyn Thomas rates the Welsh players.
REACTION: Ireland coach Joe Schmidt warned his team to heed the World Cup “reality check” of the weekend’s comprehensive 20-32 Six Nations defeat to England.
TRANSFER NEWS: Bath star to leave the club at the end of the current season.
REACTION: South African coach Neil Powell's patience is wearing thin with his under-performing team.
PRE-SEASON SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Stormers managed to put the ongoing stand-off involving their coaching staff behind them for an impressive win.
NEWS: England fullback will leave his club at the end of the season,
PRE-SEASON SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Lions still believe the game should be played only one way - attack, attack, ATTACK!
SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: The mastermind behind "the white wall that nullified" Ireland’s attack over the weekend.
NEWS: Things are not looking pretty for the Wallabies ahead of this year's World Cup in Japan.
SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2019 - TEAM BY TEAM: In the third instalment of our 15-part build-up to the season we look at the Bulls. It will be followed by the rest of the teams in the South African conference - then the other conferences.
REACTION: George North says Wales plan to build on their 10-match winning streak.
SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: One of Ireland's worst performances under Joe Schmidt.
PRO14 REACTION: Despite the Cheetahs' win over the Southern Kings, captain Shaun Venter is adamant there is something amiss within the side.
INJURY UPDATE: Scotland Head Coach Gregor Townsend has been forced to add front-row pair Fraser Brown and Murray McCallum to Scotland's 2019 Six Nations squad.
SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2019 - TEAM BY TEAM: In the second instalment of our 15-part build-up to the season we look at the Sharks. It will be followed by the rest of the teams in the South African conference - then the other conferences.
AMERICAS CHAMPIONSHIP: AJ MacGinty's hat-trick led 11 tries for the United States and the defending champion Eagles routed host Chile 71-8 on Saturday to start their 2019 campaign.
WATCH as veteran Springbok loose forward Duane Vermeulen explained the role former Stormers boss Thelo Wakefield played in his decision to move to the Bulls.
On the cold opening night of the first round of the Under-20 Six Nations in 2019, Ireland beat England and Italy beat Scotland.
In Dublin's cold weather, England continued their domination over Ireland with an even bigger victory than November's at Twickenham.
SIX NATIONS MATCH REPORT: Blair Kinghorn scored a hat-trick of tries as Scotland launched their 2019 Six Nations Championship campaign with a 33-20 victory at home to Italy on Saturday.
SIX NATIONS MATCH REPORT: England ended Ireland's hopes of back-to-back Six Nations Grand Slams with a deserved 32-20 victory at Lansdowne Road on Saturday in an absorbing Test match.
INJURY UPDATE: England’s stunning start to their Guinness Six Nations title quest has come at the cost of a potentially serious injury sustained by Maro Itoje.
PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Cheetahs pulled off a bonus point derby victory over South African rivals Southern Kings as Reinach Venter secured the hosts a fourth successive victory for the first time in the PRO14.
REACTION: England coach Eddie Jones says they will not be resting on their laurels, despite their demolition of Ireland at the weekend.
REACTION: Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw has warned his side they will need to cut out the poor defending that cost them three late tries in their 33-20 opening day home win against Italy.
INJURY UPDATE: French hooker Julien Marchand tore knee ligaments after coming on in the second half of the Six Nations loss to Wales and will miss the rest of the season, coach Jacques Brunel revealed.
AWARDS: Springboks Elton Jantjies and Malcolm Marx were the big winners at the Lions' 2018 awards ceremony.
DAY TWO WRAP: New Zealand won the Final with a clinical performance against the United States on Sunday.
WATCH as Australian Nick Malouf executes a massive tackle on South African Stedman-Ghee Gans in the fifth-place play-off match in Sydney on Sunday.
DAY ONE WRAP: Hosts Australia required an extra-time try to book their place in the quarterfinals of their home tournament - Round Four of the World Series.
PRE-SEASON ACTION: The Blues made a strong statement when the ran riot against the Chiefs, winning 43-10 in Kaikohe on Saturday.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Organisers of the Six Nations have all but ruled out the possibility of a promotion/relegation system being implemented despite ongoing conversations of an international rugby restructure.
SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2019 - TEAM BY TEAM: In the first instalment of our 15-part build-up to the season Jan de Koning looks at the Lions.
REACTION: Warren Gatland hailed his Wales team as one that has "forgotten to lose".
ROUND 12 CATCH-UP MATCH: The second of three South African derby matches take place this week as the Southern Kings and the Cheetahs catch up on their Pro14 schedule.
SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Ireland captain Rory Best is confident he knows what England's approach will be in their Six Nations opener in Dublin on Saturday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions coach Swys de Bruin has opted for experience for his team's second Super Rugby pre-season outing.
PRE-SEASON ACTION: The Crusaders gave an early indication that they are again the team to beat in Super Rugby, despite missing a rash of the All Black stars.
SYDNEY SEVENS DAY ONE: Australia needed to beat South Africa by six points or more in their final match of the day, to keep their Cup hopes alive.
TRANSFER NEWS: The first batch of Wallabies set to depart after the World Cup has been confirmed.
SIX NATIONS REPORT: A George North try double helped Wales overcome a 16-point first-half deficit to seal a dramatic 24-19 victory over France in the 2019 Six Nations opener.
SIX NATIONS ROUND ONE: This is the match that has attracted the most and the most fervid attention.
SIX NATIONS ROUND ONE: Scotland head into a Six Nations opener at home to Italy on Saturday with high spirits.
SIX NATIONS ROUND ONE: Wales will bid to equal their longest winning sequence since 1999 when they take on France in Friday's opening game of the tournament, Warren Gatland's last campaign as Welsh coach.
NEWS: Heavy snow has caused some travel problems ahead of Friday's Six Nations opener.
SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Six players who could have an impact on this season's edition of Europe's leading international rugby union competition.
SUPER RUGBY NEWS: The Chiefs have bolstered their coaching ranks with the addition of Roger Randle.
SUPER RUGBY PRESEASON REPORT: Quade Cooper steer the Melbourne Rebels to a hard-fought 29-26 win over his former side the Queensland Reds.
NEWS: Edinburgh continues to hold onto their talent.
N THE SPOTLIGHT: Ireland's rise to number two in world rugby on the back of a Six Nations Grand Slam, and a historic home win over world champions New Zealand, is no accident but the fruit of a perfect storm of factors coming together, starting in the nation's schools.
The 2019 Women's Six Nations Championship starts on Friday when Ireland play England.
The Six Nations bursts into life this weekend with Wayne Barnes to whistle the men's start and Aimee Barrett-Theron the women's start.
SUPER RUGBY PRESEASON REPORT: The Highlanders' first preseason match kicked off as planned as they secure a 59-38 win over the Waratahs.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach Robert du Preez has unveiled his team for Sunday's pre-season match against the Lions at Cape Town Stadium.
SUPER RUGBY NEWS: Christian Lealiifano has been named as the Brumbies Captain for the 2019 Super Rugby campaign.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Glasgow Warriors centre Sam Johnson will make his Scotland debut in this Saturday’s Six Nations opener against Italy at BT Murrayfield Stadium
REACTION: England head coach Eddie Jones has added to the war of words in the lead-up to his side’s Six Nations opener against Ireland this weekend.
SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Two continents, three clubs and a new language. South African-born Paul Willemse has taken the long route to potentially making his debut for France in Friday's Six Nations opener against Wales.
The @rugby365com team is joined by former @Springboks flyhalf @APetoors10, as they look at how players can prepare for 'Life after rugby' and what the pitfalls are.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders coach Scott Robertson named a squad of 30 players for their first pre-season hit-out.
TOURNAMENT PREVIEW: This year's Six Nations could be one of the most high-calibre yet.
The 20th edition of the Six Nations Championship starts on Friday night when Wayne Barnes blows the starting whistle. There will be 13 other referees to blow whistles at six venues in a compact 15-match competition over some six weeks.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Highlanders will take on the Waratahs in their first pre-season fixture at the Central Otago with a few new faces.
WORLD SERIES ROUND FOUR: Fiji will be seeking a third title in a row in this year's series', having won in Cape Town (Round Two) and Hamilton (Round Three).
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ireland is ready to unleash their big guns on England in the opening round of the Six Nations.
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Hurricanes head coach John Plumtree has named a squad of 38 players to travel to Levin on Saturday for the side's opening pre-season match against the Crusaders.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Reds head coach Brad Thorn will hope the absence of Quade Cooper and Karmichael Hunt will have no effect during the side's opening trial against the Rebels.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Former England Under-20 back row forward David Sisi will earn his first cap for Italy in their Six Nations opener against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
The 1014 Rugby takes a look at the draw for the Six nations 2019.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: England head coach Eddie Jones has named his matchday squad to face Ireland in their opening Six Nations match in Dublin on Saturday.
NEWS: New "rapid rugby" competition will not happen this year
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lock Chris van Zyl will captain a 26-man Stormers squad in their pre-season outing against the Bulls at the Cape Town Stadium on Sunday.
SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Ireland will look to get under the skin of 'hothead' England captain Owen Farrell when the teams meet in their Six Nations clash in Dublin revealed Peter Stringer.
OPINION: Selecting is a passport to arguments, and agreeing with selectors a rare occurrence, but we are going to set out to choose a Six Nations XV.
SPOTLIGHT: 2019 is going to be an exciting year for Rugby fans. Of course, the World Cup is going to take place in Japan starting September. And then there is the Super Rugby 2019 season as well which is going to be played from February 15th.
TRANSFER NEWS: Brumbies lock and former captain Sam Carter will sign for Ulster Rugby at the end of the 2019 Super Rugby season concluding an almost 10-year association with the club.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls supporters will finally see new recruits Schalk Brits and Duane Vermeulen in action for the franchise.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wales kick off the 2019 Six Nations in Paris against France on Friday captained by Alun Wyn Jones, making his 49th appearance in the tournament.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: France coach Jacques Brunel has made a huge selection decision for his team's opening Six Nations match against Wales.
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Cheetahs player Justin Basson has been banned for three weeks.
WORLD CUP SPOTLIGHT: Jaque Fourie's exploits as a player is the stuff of legend. As a coach, he is a neophyte, who has barely dipped his toe into the pool.
SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: A knee problem forced him to miss Leinster's Champions Cup pool matches this month against Wasps and Toulouse.
NEWS: There will be one less big name player at this year's World Cup in Japan.
NEWS: Australian flyhalf Jake McIntyre will leave Agen for Clermont on a two-year contract from July, the Top 14 leaders announced Wednesday.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Rugby officials grapple with the thorny question of how best to stage Test matches.
IN THE NEWS: The SuperHero fixture between the Stormers and the Bulls will be an ideal opportunity for JD Schickerling to show his worth.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Waratahs head coach Daryl Gibson made a bold move ahead of his side's pre-season match Highlanders on Friday.
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: England have retained 25 players to continue their preparations for their Six Nations match again Ireland in Dublin on February 2.
UPDATE: Monday's meeting took place to address concerns following reports that Western Province Football Union President Zelt Marais wants Paul Treu to replace Gert Smal as Director of Rugby.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Blues assistant coach Tom Coventry sent an ominous warning to opponents when he described Ma’a Nonu’s fitness levels heading into Super Rugby.
SPOTLIGHT: Kiwi wing Zac Guildford, who was part of the All Blacks World Cup-winning squad in 2011, has left French division two leaders Nevers.
NEWS: The Sharks have bolstered their coaching team ahead of the start of the 2019 Super Rugby season.
INJURY UPDATE: Injured All Blacks star will miss more than half the Super Rugby season as he continues a long recovery from a broken neck, his team said Tuesday.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Just weeks after Springbok flyhalf Pat Lambie was forced to retire, another Springbok pivot has to hang up his boots following doctors commands.
Six Nations is coming and for most people around the world that means being glued to a television set with television voices describing play and evaluating it.
REACTION: Stormers officials on Monday scrambled as the rumour mill went into overdrive with reports of sponsors threatening to pull out and players set to go on strike.
SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: If there was a player who summed up the saying “you don’t know what you have until it’s gone” better than any other, it is almost certainly England fullback Mike Brown.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The only way to beat England is to produce a brutal performance says Ireland wing Keith Earls ahead of the sides' Six Nations opener on Saturday.
TRANSFER NEWS: Glasgow and Scotland centre Alex Dunbar has joined Newcastle in their bid to avoid relegation from the English Premiership, the northeast club announced.
NEWS: Ulster confirmed that Roddy Grant will join their coaching team as forwards coach at the end of the current season.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers are set to be without one of their stalwarts when their Super Rugby campaign kicks off against the Bulls on February 16.
WATCH as The 1014 explore the form guide for the Six Nations teams.
NEWS: Scotland international James Lang has re-signed for Harlequins.
INJURY UPDATE: The Bulls were dealt a cruel blow just weeks out from the start of the Super Rugby season.
TRANSFER NEWS: Kyle Cooper has become the latest Newcastle Falcons player to pledge his future to the club, signing a new three-year contract.
SQUAD UPDATE: Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend added three players to his 2019 Six Nations squad.
PRE-SEASON SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers may be wearing the Thor jersey in Sunday's superhero outing at the Cape Town stadium, but the real 'Thor' will be in the opposing team.
NEWS: Harlequins scrumhalf Danny Care makes a decision about his future.
SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Stuart Hogg believes Scotland are on the verge of an "incredibly special" achievement and insists they are right to talk up their chances of winning the Six Nations ahead of Saturday's opener at home to Italy.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand's franchises are content with missing their All Blacks for the entirety of the preseason.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Lions are famed for their attack, which has made them universally popular and took them to three consecutive finals.
Part of the greatness of the Six Nations championship is its compactness - six teams each playing five matches in seven weeks, at six venues which are not too far apart.
TRANSFER NEWS: Adam Ashley-Cooper is back in Super Rugby to fight for his place in Michael Cheika's World Cup squad.
TRANSFER NEWS: Andrew Davidson will join Glasgow Warriors from Newcastle Falcons ahead of the 2019/20 season, subject to medical.
SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Joe Schmidt is allegedly poised to throw an opening weekend curveball.
INJURY UPDATE: One of England's key players is in a race against time to be fit for his team's Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Warren Gatland cut a relaxed, confident figure this week as he prepared for his final Six Nations as Wales head coach.
TRANSFER NEWS: Saracens announced that England forward Maro Itoje has committed his future to the club.
EXCLUSIVE: Listen as Jake White chats to Jan de Koning about life in Japan and what the future holds for the former World Cup-winning Springbok coach.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: New Bulls signing Cornal Hendricks cannot wait to show what he is capable of when he returns to playing Super Rugby for the first time since 2015.
SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Head coach Joe Schmidt says Ireland have been victims of spying.
REACTION: Day Two's results at the New Zealand Sevens in Hamilton did not sit well with BlitzBoks head coach Neil Powell.
NEWS: Rob Baxter’s forward-planning is gathering pace after the Exeter Chiefs Director of Rugby confirmed three more of his current squad have agreed new deals with the Premiership club.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Lions head coach Zacharia de Bruin believes that his team need to adjust quickly to the new laws heading into their Super Rugby opener against the Jaguares on February 16.
NEWS: Harlequins confirmed that Jack Clifford has signed a new three-year contract with the club.
DAY TWO WRAP: Fiji defeated the USA 38-0 in the Cup Final of the New Zealand Sevens in Hamilton on Sunday.
PRO14 REPORT: The Southern Kings scored two tries in two minutes to record a sensational come-from-behind win over Edinburgh in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
The Six Nations is great for the rugby played and also for the ceremonies around the matches. These ceremonies include those moments of proud emotion when the anthems are sung.
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Bulls started their 2019 campaign on a victorious note, beating the Lions 21-17 at the Loftus Versfeld B field in Pretoria on Saturday.
PRO14 REPORT: The Cheetahs extended their unbeaten streak to five matches with a high-scoring (61-28) victory over Zebre in Bloemfontein.
NEWS: South African Tristan Blewett scored a 73rd-minute try to lift the New Orleans Gold over visiting Toronto 36-31 in the 2019 Major League Rugby season opener.
RugbyPass, the global rugby channel and home of live rugby in Asia, will kick off 2019 as the exclusive rights-holder of the Guinness Six Nations rugby across its 23 Asian territories
The 15 Super Rugby referees, selected in 2018 for the 2019 season which starts in February, were at a week's camp at the Clearwater resort in Christchurch on New Zealand's South Island.
SUPER RUGBY PRE-SEASON REPORT: The Stormers ran in 14 tries in their first warm-up of the season in sweltering conditions at False Bay on Saturday.
TOP 14, SUNDAY WRAP: France international Sofiane Guitoune scored twice as Toulouse moved to the summit of the French Top 14 on Sunday with a 29-16 win over struggling Grenoble.
INJURY UPDATE: The Chiefs are facing the prospect of a season without All Blacks flank Sam Cane while he continues his recovery from a neck fracture.
PRO14 REPORT: Jean Kleyn's second half score helped Munster reclaim top spot in Conference A of the Guinness PRO14 after edging out Dragons with a 7-8 win at Rodney Parade.
DAY ONE WRAP: The main protagonists in the World Series eased through the pool play without a hiccup.
PRO14 REPORT: Owen Lane produced a spectacular acrobatic try to help Cardiff Blues to an 8-7 win over Connacht, despite being down to 13 men at the time.
TOP 14 WRAP: French champions Castres ended league leaders Clermont's 13-game unbeaten run with a gritty 24-16 victory on Saturday.
It's a good weekend for club rugby, this last weekend in January. One down and 11 to go but before that the glorious Six Nations will start.
A rival English club could be set to beat Wasps to the signature of All Black winger Waisake Naholo.
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Brumbies put down a pre-season marked when they beat the Rebels 52-38 in Canberra on Saturday.
PRO14 REPORT: James Lowe was at it again against Scarlets as his second-half try helped Leinster to an invaluable 22-17 win.
PRO14 REPORT: Nine points from the boot of Brandon Thomson were enough for Glasgow Warriors as they battled to a 9-3 victory over Ospreys.
PRO14 REPORT: A last-gasp penalty try denied Benetton a sixth successive victory in all competitions as Ulster struck in overtime to share the points with the match ending with a 17-17 score.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The number of candidates to replace Steve Hansen, when he steps down as All Black coach after the World Cup, are getting fewer.
SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Scotland coach Gregor Townsend says he’s worried about the ongoing row between Premiership Rugby Limited and World Rugby over the release of players because of insurance issues.
NEWS: How to reduce the number of head injuries suffered by Rugby Union players has become a major concern for the game's authorities.
SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: England coach Eddie Jones was at his caustic best in London on Wednesday, at the launch of the 2019 tournament.
REACTION: English club Wasps have responded to rumours that their captain Joe Launchbury will leave the club.
NEWS: The USA Eagles has named former Springbok Jaque Fourie centre as the new defence coach
SPOTLIGHT: The efforts of months of proactive planning culminated in a very productive one-day concussion workshop in Cape Town on Thursday.
PREVIEW: Major League Rugby kicks off its second season on Saturday, with an expanded competition and increasing numbers of overseas players poised to accelerate the fledgeling competition's growth.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: After a fortnight of European action, the Pro14 returns for Round 14 and on the eve of the Six Nations, there is plenty to prove as the race hots up for the Final Series.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Treviso captain Dean Budd has been included in Italy's squad for their Six Nations opener against Scotland.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS: The Cheetahs are planning for all-out attack when they face Zebre in Round 14 of the Pro14 on Saturday.
NEWS: England centre Jonathan Joseph received another boost after returning from nine months out with an ankle injury by extending his contract with Premiership side Bath on Thursday.
LISTEN as new Sharks captain Louis Schreuder speaks about his ambitions and goals for the 2019 Super Rugby season.
NEWS: The death of former Samoa Under-20 flank Faiva Tagatauli on Thursday after a suspected head injury has rocked the country's rugby fraternity.
ROUND THREE: The Sevens World Series has delivered scintillating action in the opening two rounds - in Dubai and Cape Town - and it looks set to continue.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS: Southern Kings coach Deon Davids has made a number of changes to the team that will take on Edinburgh in Round 14 of the Pro14 on Saturday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers coach Robbie Fleck will hope to find some answers when they step up their preparations for the 2019 Super Rugby season on Saturday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok Cornal Hendricks will make his first appearance in a first-class match since 2015 when he runs out for the Bulls against the Lions on Saturday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions will have a new captain when they face the Bulls in a Super Rugby pre-season fixture at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
ROUND 15: French Top 14 leaders Clermont take a weakened squad to reigning champions Castres in the pick of the Top 14 matches in the final weekend before the start of the Six Nations.
NEWS: One of France's most talented players will retire from international rugby after the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
LISTEN as the @rugby365com team chats to @LionsRugbyCo benefactor and deputy-president Altmann Allers about why the financial model in South Africa is in a drastic need of a revamp.
NEWS: At least one star player in New Zealand "never played rugby to chase money".
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wales coach Warren Gatland piled the pressure on Ireland ahead of the Six Nations Championship.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt admits he has a love-hate relationship with the Six Nations despite engineering three titles and a Grand Slam last season.
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: After a week of training in Hamilton, All Blacks Sevens Coach Clark Laidlaw has finalised the 12 players that will don the black jersey in this weekend’s New Zealand Sevens in Hamilton.
Capped 86 times for South Africa, back row forward Schalk Burger shares the story of World Cup triumph in 2007 and what life is like as a Saracen in 2019.
INJURY UPDATE: Joe Schmidt had a mixed bag of news on Wednesday, when he spoke to the media at the launch of the Six Nations in London.
INJURY UPDATE: England captain Owen Farrell is optimistic he will be fit in time to face Ireland in the teams' Six Nations opener at Dublin's Lansdowne Road on February 2.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Reds coach Brad Thorn's plans to win the Super Rugby title has taken a new direction clearly evident in the side's new captain.
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Japan included three South African-born players in their World Cup training squad.
SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Conor O'Shea says the future of Italian rugby matters more than whether he remains the head coach of the Azzurri.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: All Black flyhalf Aaron Cruden has failed to make a big impact with Montpellier and the French club's boss is a disappointed man.
TRANSFER FOCUS: France centre Mathieu Bastareaud could ply his trade in South Africa for the Sharks come 2020.
SQUAD UPDATE: England get a midfield boost ahead of Six Nations opener against Ireland.
SPOTLIGHT: @rugby365com's acclaimed writer Paul Dobson looks at how Six Nations winners fared in the World Cup the years that they won their titles.
TRANSFER FOCUS: Wallaby halfback Nick Phipps could be set to make the switch to the Premiership.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: All four Super Rugby teams will have to produce noteworthy success in aid of Springboks' World Cup campaign says Lions head coach Zacharia 'Swys' de Bruin.
TRANSFER NEWS: Dave Heffernan and Niyi Adeolokun are the latest two Connacht players to sign contract extensions with the province.
NEWS: Wales coach Warren Gatland isn't short of offers.
WATCH host Will Greenwood and the captains launch the 2019 Six Nations tournament.
NEWS: Ulster have banned a fan for life after allegations of racist abuse directed at Ireland star Simon Zebo.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Any team targeting the Lions forward pack will be in for a surprise according to Lions loosehead prop Dylan Smith.
TRANSFER NEWS: The Southern Kings have acquired the services of a former South African schools flyhalf.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers will play three warm-up games in preparation for the 2019 Super Rugby season.
SPOTLIGHT: French club Clermont were "responsible" for the harm former player Jamie Cudmore suffered after sustaining a concussion, a neurologist has told a court.
REACTION: Springbok flyhalf Pat Lambie's sudden retirement has shock not only South Africa but the world.
NEWS: The Bulls will be getting some help from Bloemfontein during the Super Rugby season.
The magnificent South African Rugby Annual 2019 is now available. It is the 48th edition and, if anything, better than the 47 that went before it.
INJURY UPDATE: Ireland have lost a versatile forward to injury ahead of their Six Nations opener against England.
OPINION: The pool stage of the Champions Cup was wrapped up this weekend, as the competition heads into a Six Nations break, before returning with the knockout rounds of club rugby’s grandest prize at the end of March.
NEWS: Zimbabwe international tighthead prop Farai Mudariki is the latest Warriors player to commit his future to the club by signing a new one-year contract.
NEWS: France have brought in a replacement for the injured Bernard le Roux.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: England coach Eddie Jones believes Jonathan Sexton receives preferential treatment from match officials.
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Just days out from the first Sevens World Series event of the year, the All Blacks Sevens have confirmed the final places in their 2019 squad.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: According to the bare statistics, Wales are the world's third-best Rugby Union team, behind only the mighty All Blacks and Ireland, but their clubs are failing to match the dizzy heights of the national side.
INJURY UPDATE: The Bulls suffered two cruel blows before they even played in a pre-season friendly.
REACTION: Following the Pro14 South African derby between Cheetahs and Southern Kings it seems like both sides walked away with only positive notes.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok attack coach and Lions head coach Zacharia Francois de Bruin believes that the All Blacks are still the best team in the world leading up to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Competition among the Springbok starting team is heating up as preparations for the Rugby World Cup in Japan fast approaches.
INJURY UPDATE: Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has lost another forward to injury ahead of his team's Six Nations opener against England in Dublin on February 2.
SQUAD UPDATE: Head coach Gregor Townsend added four players to the Scotland squad for the 2019 Six Nations.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: South Africa's decision to scrap the 30-Test cap policy has played a vital role in the team's recent success.
LISTEN as Lions coach Zacharia de Bruin explains how they will be dealing with the rash of departures ahead of the 2019 Super Rugby season.
SEVENS SPOTLIGHT: BlitzBok flyer Siviwe Soyizwapi debut visit to the New Zealand Sevens in Wellington was an emotional one, as the team were crowned the tournament champions.
NEWS: Disgraced fullback Karmichael Hunt was Monday given a chance to revive a rugby career overshadowed by a drug scandal.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: After the compelling pool stage, the European Champions Cup quarter-final fixtures have been confirmed.
TRANSFER FOCUS: With Wales international Rhys Priestland heading for the exit door, Premiership club Bath have set their sights in All Black flyhalf.
INJURY UPDATE: England boss Eddie Jones suffered further pre-Six Nations injury scares as Wasps’ Champions Cup campaign ended with a 37-19 defeat against Leinster.
NEWS: Bath confirmed the signing of Josh McNally, who will join the club ahead of the 2019/20 campaign.
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Defending champions Leinster Rugby will have a home Champions Cup quarter-final after defeating Wasps 37-19 at the Ricoh Arena on Sunday.
Italy got their Six Nations preparations underway at their Giulio Onesti base in Rome on Sunday amid media reports in France that Racing 92 pair Laurent Labit and Laurent Travers have been approached about replacing Conor O'Shea as boss at the end of this year's World Cup in Japan.
LISTEN as Sharks coach Robert du Preez talks about the 2019 season and why they must finally end their Super Rugby drought.
TRANSFER NEWS: Exeter Chiefs have announced that England internationals Jack Nowell, Henry Slade and Luke Cowan-Dickie have all signed new two-year deals at Sandy Park.
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Flyhalf Joey Carbery kicked all nine points in Munster’s compelling victory over Exeter Chiefs to send the Limerick-based club into the Champions Cup quarterfinals for the 18th time.
WATCH: South African derbies are not faint of heart, as this rabid brawl between the Southern Kings and the Cheetahs in a Pro14 encounter at the weekend proves.
NEWS: England coach Eddie Jones is “cautiously optimistic” of Owen Farrell's chance of being fit for the Six Nations opener against Ireland.
NEWS: Springbok flyhalf Pat Lambie is retiring from rugby with immediate effect.
NEWS: England star in a race against time to be fit for England's clash against Ireland.
Taking part is the most important aspect of Italian participation in the Six Nations.
WATCH as Rosko Shane Specman speaks about the next chapter in his illustrious career, which has seen him win back-to-back Sevens World Series titles.
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Toulouse will play domestic rivals Racing 92 in the quarter-finals after edging past Bath Rugby in a hard-fought encounter, defeating the English side 20-17 at the Stade Ernest-Wallon.
NEWS: Wallabies star Kurtley Beale has avoided sanction from Rugby Australia for his presence in two leaked videos appearing to involve drugs.
CHAMPIONS CUP MATCH REPORT: Toulon ended their campaign on a high with a 27-24 success at Newcastle Falcons in an entertaining Pool Five encounter at Kingston Park.
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Saracens will have a Champions Cup home quarterfinal after a 38-19 win over Glasgow Warriors at Allianz Park on Saturday.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Eddie Jones has admitted spying on the opposition still happens in rugby union.
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Castres Olympique rounded off their Champions Cup campaign with a 24-22 comeback victory over Gloucester after a late Ma’ama Vaipulu try.
CRUNCH TIME: Stars of the global game head into an intense final weekend of the pool stages with seven coveted quarter-final places, as well as home venue advantage, still up for grabs.
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Racing 92 have secured a home quarterfinal after last season’s finalists topped Pool Four with an entertaining victory over Scarlets, defeating the Welsh region 46-33 at Paris La Defense Arena.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: New Hurricanes assistant coach Carlos Spencer could not think of a better venue for his first game with his new franchise than his old home town of Levin.
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Ulster battled from 13 points behind to earn a 14-13 win against Leicester Tigers on Saturday and earn a Champions Cup quarterfinal spot in the process.
REACTION: England coach Eddie Jones believes captain Owen Farrell is "maturing at a good rate" heading into the Six Nations.
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Cardiff Blues secured a superb home and away double over Lyon in the Champions Cup after their 33-14 triumph at Cardiff Arms Park in Pool Three.
NEWS: Tom Banks has committed his future to the Brumbies and Australian rugby by signing a contract extension through to the end of 2022.
NEWS: Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend will be a worried man ahead of this year's Six Nations tournament.
This is the last round of pool matches for European Professional Club Rugby's Champions Cup, the Challenge Cup and the Continental Shield There is then an abeyance to March when the knock-out matches start - after the Six Nations has been completed.
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: England head coach Eddie Jones has named a 35-man squad to begin preparations to play Ireland in their opening Six Nations match in Dublin on February 2.
PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Replacement prop Luan de Bruin went from villain to her, as he scored the winning try in a 24-17 win for the Cheetahs over the Southern Kings.
NEWS: Seasoned Springbok flyhalf Pat Lambie looks set to call it a day, as he continues to struggle with concussion symptoms.
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Some much-needed experience returns to the BlitzBoks squad
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Edinburgh ended a seven-year drought in Europe, when they secured a home quarterfinal.
Of the Six Nations countries, Scotland has the smallest number of players to choose from, but you will never hear that as any excuse from them as the flower of Scotland's rugby does battle in Europe.
South Africa's top players - wearing their new Marvel-inspired jerseys - will be on display at the Cape Town Stadium on February 3.
TRANSFER NEWS: English club Wasps have signed another All Black.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Micheal Cheika is the perfect mentor to guide Australia's World Cup campaign as far as Will Genia is concerned.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ireland coach Joe Schmidt on Wednesday showed his hand in what will be his last Six Nations championship.
The exciting Six Nations is just weeks away, and all of France will be hoping for something better.
THE RUGBY POD: Watch as Andy Goode & Jim Hamilton get stuck into the non-selection of Alex Goode.
WATCH as Munster coach Johann van Graan plays down his role in Munster's improved European form.
ROUND 11 CATCH-UP MATCH: The first of three South African derby matches takes place this week as the Southern Kings and the Cheetahs catch up on their Pro14 schedule.
In the first edition for 2019, @King365ed & @LoffieEloff debate the merits of resting players during @SuperRugby in a World Cup year.
NEWS: Former club player and forwards coach Fabrice Landreau was on Thursday name sporting director of Stade Francais, the Top 14 side announced.
NEWS: Sharks coach Robert du Preez has revealed the team's new captain for the 2019 Super Rugby season
REACTION: Coach Gregor Townsend believes Scotland can challenge for the Six Nations crown, despite an extensive injury list containing 19 internationals.
OPINION: The penultimate round of the Champions Cup pool stage didn’t bring too many shocks, but it did bring plenty of absorbing and compelling rugby.
TRANSFER NEWS: Wasps have confirmed that talented New Zealand centre Malakai Fekitoa will join the Premiership side from French giants Toulon.
TRANSFER NEWS: Munster Rugby confirmed that flyhalf Ian Keatley will depart the province for Italian PRO14 side Benetton Rugby at the end of the season.
CHAMPIONS CUP SPOTLIGHT: The sixth and final round of pool matches in the 2018/2019 European Champions Cup will take place this weekend.
WORLD CUP 2019 SPOTLIGHT: With the final countdown to this year's Rugby World Cup in Japan well underway, organisers are focusing their efforts on contingency planning in the notorious earthquake and typhoon-prone country.
PRO14 SPOTLIGHT: Two talented scrumhalves, for many years on the periphery of national selection, will take centre stage in Port Elizabeth on Friday.
INJURY UPDATE: Ireland will have to readjust their halfback options for the Six Nations.
WATCH as veteran hooker Schalk Brits talks about the administrative blunder that saw the Stormers lose out on his services.
TRANSFER NEWS: Wasps have confirmed that two of their key players will be leaving the club at the end of the season
When you think of free-flowing, 'French Flair', it’s fair to say that most people associate this with the Top 14, rather than the second tier ProD2 competition.
TRANSFER FOCUS: Former All Black centre Malakai Fekitoa is rumoured to be heading to the Premiership side Wasps.
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Head Coach Gregor Townsend named seven uncapped players in a 39-man Scotland squad for the 2019 Six Nations.
TRANSFER NEWS: Connacht Rugby have announced the signing of prop Paddy McAllister from English Premiership side Gloucester.
OPINION: Jan de Koning looks at one of the key reasons for Munster's demolition of Gloucester in the battle of the South African coaches.
The extraordinary life of Wilf Rosenberg was ended by a stroke on Monday, 14 January 2019. He was 84.
TRANSFER NEWS: The next wave of an exodus from the Southern Kings is about to get underway.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Australia are working relentlessly to rewrite their dismal 2018 season ahead of the World Cup 2019.
SPOTLIGHT: Geoff Parling - a member of the last England team to beat the All Blacks - believes that opponents need to stop treating the New Zealand national side as if they are different, despite their history.
SPOTLIGHT: @rugby365com's acclaimed writer Paul Dobson looks at the Welsh prospects ahead of the 2019 Six Nations - a World Cup year.
REACTION: Ireland international Simon Zebo was the target of "racist insults" during Racing 92's European Cup match against Ulster in Belfast.
INJURY UPDATE: The Bulls will start their 2019 Super Rugby campaign with a number of players on the long-term injury list.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The All Blacks coaching options are shrinking day by day.
INJURY UPDATE: Wales' Six Nations preparation has been overshadowed with constant injuries worries.
TRANSFER NEWS: Sinoti Sinoti will be thrilling Newcastle Falcons fans next season - the hot-stepping wing agreeing on a contract extension to remain with the Kingston Park club.
INJURY UPDATE: The Southern Kings received some timely good news, ahead of their derby match with the Cheetahs.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Former Bulls centre Dewey Swartbooi has been appointed head coach of the University of Johannesburg Varsity Cup team.
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Reds will need to show a lot more resolve in 2019, if they are to shed their also-rans tag.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: England second-tier clubs are exploring the prospect to join PRo14, according to reports.
REACTION: Wallabies utility back Kurtley Beale has apologised to Rugby Australia following his involvement in a leaked video which features an older man snorting an unknown white substance.
NEWS: Samoa have suffered a massive setback following the High-Performance General Manager Zane Hilton's resignation.
MATCH REPORT: Saracens guaranteed a spot in the quarter-finals after comfortably dispatching Lyon 28-10 to remain the only side in the Champions Cup with an unbeaten record this season.
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Premiership front-runners Exeter Chiefs kept their Champions Cup hopes alive after a 34-12 bonus point win over Castres Olympique at Sandy Park on Sunday.
NEWS: Experienced Georgian prop Zurabi Zhvania extended his present contract with English Premiership side Wasps for another season.
MATCH REPORT: Glasgow Warriors took a giant leap towards the Champions Cup quarter-finals with a 33-24 bonus-point win over Cardiff Blues at Scotstoun on Sunday.
WATCH a collection of the best tries from Round Five of the Champions Cup at the weekend!
SPOTLIGHT: What is it about Gerbrandt Grobler and whispers? A UK newspaper interview last August resulted in him branding Ireland as 'unfortunately a small place and a lot of people talk’.
CHAMPIONS CUP REACTION: Gloucester coach Johan Ackermann is looking to 'freshen up' his team, following their embarrassing 15-41 loss to a fired-up Munster on Friday.
TRANSFER NEWS: London Irish’s rebuild ahead of their potential re-entry into the Premiership took a step forward this week as they secured the services of yet another international forward.
INJURY UPDATE: Wales head coach Warren Gatland faces a massive selection problem ahead of their Six Nations campaign.
WATCH as veteran hooker Schalk Brits opens up on his expectations for the 2019 season, which includes the World Cup in Japan later this year.
NEWS: Former Wales prop Ceri Jones has been appointed Dragons Head Coach until the end of the current 2018/19 season.
SPOTLIGHT: rugby365's law guru Paul Dobson looks at the job of a referee, who must 'apply' the game's laws.
NEWS: Fiji, the reigning Olympic sevens champions, have been rocked by off-the-field problems in the build-up to the Hamilton and Sydney legs of the World Sevens Series.
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Montpellier claimed a try-scoring bonus-point victory (45-8) against Newcastle Falcons on Saturday.
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Defending champions Leinster put down a big marker with a bonus-point 29-13 win over Toulouse on Saturday.
TRANSFER SPOTLIGHT: Wasps have confirmed that Matt Mullan has left the club with immediate effect and by mutual consent.
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Scarlets put on a wonderful display of attacking rugby to dispatch Leicester Tigers 33-10 at the Parc y Scarlets and claim their first win this season.
INJURY UPDATE: England have been forced to undergo their Six Nations campaign without Bath flank Sam Underhill.
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Edinburgh regained top spot in Pool Five as they beat RC Toulon 28-17 at Stade Felix-Mayol on Saturday.
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Ulster made it a three-peat for Irish provinces in the crucial Round Five.
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Bath edged out their English rivals Wasps in a back-and-forth encounter at The Recreation Ground, triumphing 18-16 in Pool One, courtesy of a late Rhys Priestland penalty.
REACTION: Officials reacted with shock at the announcement that one of the most respected members of the Hurricanes squad and a one-time all black has joined the European exodus.
CONTRACT NEWS: The Hurricanes today announced contract extensions for a pair of promising youngsters, who have committed their immediate playing futures to the Wellington-based franchise.
CHALLENGE CUP WRAP: La Rochelle stunned Zebre with an exceptional second-half showing to book their place in the quarterfinals.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Ireland scrumhalf Conor Murray revealed he was deeply ‘hurt’ by rumours that he’d failed a drugs test.
TRANSFER NEWS: Another promising South African lock has decided to take up residency abroad.
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Ireland flyhalf Joey Carbery's impressive performance guided Munster to a comfortable 41-15 bonus-point win over Gloucester at the Kingsholm Stadium.
REACTION: The ugly side of social media came to fore this week in the wake of Springbok captain Siyamthanda Kolisi's comments on transformation.
OPINION: There will be much fanfare when the Southern Kings' new owners are confirmed later this month.
HEAVYWEIGHT CLASHES: The two most successful clubs in European history go head-to-head, with Pool One supremacy and eventual qualification for the knockout stage on the line.
WATCH as the Bulls speak out about their new captain, Springbok lock Lodewyk de Jager, as the 2019 Super Rugby season looms.
TRANSFER NEWS: Northampton Saints have confirmed that All Blacks centre Matt Proctor will join the Club from Super Rugby franchise Hurricanes.
PRO14 SPOTLIGHT: While the focus shifts to the Champions Cup in Europe for the next fortnight, the two South African franchises head into a crucial period that includes two domestic derbies.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Of course, England's chances are excellent.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Not only will All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen depart from the national side, but most of his senior players have revealed their post-World Cup aspirations.
TRANSFER NEWS: The Lions, losing finalists for the past three years, have started the process of replacing the rash of departed Springboks.
TRANSFER NEWS: Any teams in the market for a seasoned prop? There is a 28-year-old front row forward, with 80-odd first-class games to his credit, looking for a job.
CHAMPIONS CUP SPOTLIGHT: Alex Shaw looks at the renaissance of French giants Toulouse, ahead of the final rounds of league action.
CHAMPIONS CUP SPOTLIGHT: Leinster's senior coach Stuart Lancaster has labelled Toulouse the 'best counter-attacking team' they've played against, delivering high-praise to the first team to beat Leinster in Europe since April 2017.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The South African contingent in the Frech team increased with the announcement of their Six Nations squad.
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: The hapless Southern Kings will head into a crucial three-week period without the services of a key player.
Eddie Jones’s controversially tough England training sessions meant players were five times more likely to sustain injuries on international duty than with their clubs last season.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: England star Billy Vunipola has revealed that he was scared when returning to action for Saracens following a three-month hiatus after breaking his arm for the third time.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Like father, like son. Romain Ntamack is following in the footsteps of his dad, Emile, a 46-time international, by being called up to the France squad for the Six Nations.
TRANSFER NEWS: Ireland international lock Ultan Dillane has committed his future to Connacht by signing a two-year contract extension that will keep him at the Sportsground up to the end of the 2020/21 season.
TRANSFER NEWS: Griquas' 2019 campaign got off to a bumpy start. They have lost the services of a Springbok before he even joined their backroom staff.
SCHOOLS SPOTLIGHT: One of South Africa's top school Paarl Boys' High have been accused of unethical recruitment practices.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Northampton Saints scrumhalf Cobus Reinach's brilliant performance has made sure he was named the English Premiership Player of the Month for December 2018.
TRANSFER NEWS: South African-born Shane Gates has become the latest player to fulfil his ambition of playing Super Rugby.
SQAUD ANNOUNCEMENT: Former England Under-20 back-row David Sisi could earn his first cap for Italy after being called up in coach Conor O'Shea's 31-man preliminary training squad for the Six Nations.
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Bath will be without one of their key players when they resume their European campaign against Wasps in Pool One match at the Recreation Ground on Saturday.
TRANSFER NEWS: Wales flyhalf Rhys Priestland will leave Bath at the end of the season, the English Premiership club announced.
INJURY UPDATE: Wales's fullback Leigh Halfpenny is likely to miss the start of the Six Nations due to an ongoing battle with concussion, his Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac confirmed.
European action is back in the Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup. It is the penultimate round of pool play.
RugbyPass columnist Ben Smith looks into the reasons behind Sale Sharks' meteoric rise in the past month.
TRANSFER NEWS: Worcester Warriors fullback Chris Pennell has extended his Sixways career by two more years having become the 12th member of the current squad to sign a new contract.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Ben Smith takes a look at the combined threat of the Vunipola brothers, Mako and Billy.
NEWS: Kenya's participation in the next few legs of the Sevens World Series is in doubt over a player strike.
TRANSFER NEWS: A Leicester Tigers back row forward has been spotted at Harlequins’ training ground, adding to speculation that he is set to join the London club next season.
After a sensational season in 2018, for both the Springboks and the Lions, wing Aphiwe Dyantyi won Breakthrough Player of the Year at the World Rugby Awards in Monaco.
TRANSFER NEWS: Samoan international Alapati Leiua signed a two-year contract extension with Premiership side Bristol Bears.
TRANSFER NEWS: Ireland utility back Ian Keatley has become the latest player on his way out of Munster.
CHAMPIONS CUP ROUND FIVE: Two candidates for the Springbok coaching job, when Rassie Erasmus steps down in 2020, will go head-to-head in a crunch match this week.
OPINION: The headline result of Round 12 in the Premiership saw Sale Sharks force their way into playoff contention with a 24-18 win over Saracens at the AJ Bell, with the reigning champions well-beaten in the north-west.
A huge tree in South African Rugby rugby has fallen. Johan Claassen died in Pretoria on Sunday at the age of 89. There is scarcely an aspect of rugby in South Africa that he did not contribute greatly to.
NEWS: Leicester head coach Geordan Murphy has his sights set on bringing a few new faces to his club in the near future.
INJURY UPDATE: Sharks loose forward Jean-Luc du Preez will return to South Africa after sustaining an injury during his short stint at English club Sale Sharks.
WATCH as Siyamthanda Kolisi, the first black player to captain the Springboks, expresses some strong views on 'quotas' and transformation.
TRANSFER NEWS: Sale Sharks have announced the signing of Jake Cooper-Woolley from fellow Premiership Rugby club Wasps.
TRANSFER NEWS: Los Pumas wing Santiago Cordero is set to move to French side Bordeaux Begles.
NEWS: Following the announcement of Pote Human as Bulls head coach a few weeks ago, the Blue Bulls Company have unveiled their new captain and coaching team for the 2019 season.
NEWS: With Steve Hansen's departure as New Zealand head coach following the World Cup 2019 many names have been linked with the role.
PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Joe Launchbury lead his side to a much-needed 27-16 victory on his return from injury against Northampton Saints at the Ricoh Arena.
INJURY UPDATE: A knee injury will sideline New Zealand centre Malakai Fekitoa for six weeks, struggling Top 14 outfit Toulon said on Monday.
PRO14 REPORT: The Cheetahs scored five tries on their way to a 27-12 win against Zebre in Italy.
NEWS: French rugby was left mourning the death of a 23-year-old student on Monday.
TOP 14 REPORT: Scottish scrumhalf Greg Laidlaw claimed 18 points as French Top 14 leaders Clermont ended La Rochelle's run of seven straight wins with a five-try, 44-19 victory on Sunday.
NEWS: Cardiff Blues confirmed that Welsh legend Gareth Edwards has stood down as a Director of the company following 22 years of service.
Francois de Klerk is only 172cm and weighs 87kg, which tells it’s own story.
OPINION: Andy Goode has gone on record about how much he doesn’t like Dave Ward.
Siya Kolisi may be the first black player to captain the Springboks, but he has some strong views on 'quotas' and transformation.
MATCH REPORT: Joey Carbery guided Munster to a 31-24 victory over Connacht and top spot in Conference A of the PRO14 after a pulsating encounter at the Sportsground.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Northampton Saints coach Chris Boyd is eyeing a few big names to bolster his squad.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Ireland legend Paul O'Connell is finding his feet as a coach in France
INJURY UPDATE: Wales second row Adam Beard is a Six Nations doubt after leaving today’s Ospreys Cardiff Blues derby on a stretcher.
PREMIERSHIP MATCH REPORT: Robert Du Preez kicked 14 points to help power Sale Sharks into the Premiership Rugby top four with a victory over Saracens.
MATCH REPORT: A Sam Hidalgo-Clyne try ensured Scarlets secured their first win in five matches in all competitions as their stunning run of form against Welsh rivals Dragons continued.
MATCH REPORT: Mike Brown enjoyed a day to remember as Harlequins claimed a 38-17 bonus-point win on the road at Newcastle Falcons and the fullback broke the club’s all-time appearance record.
TOP 14, SATURDAY WRAP: Pau secured their first league win since October despite forwards coach Carl Hayman's suspension after an altercation with members of his squad at the start of the week.
PREMIERSHIP MATCH REPORT: Jonny May scored twice against his former club as Leicester Tigers reignited their Premiership Rugby top-four push with a resounding bonus-point 34-16 win against Gloucester Rugby.
TRANSFER NEWS: Glasgow Warriors head coach Dave Rennie has agreed on a one-year contract extension at the club.
MATCH REPORT: Southern Kings' dismal Pro14 campaign has been amplified with a 0-38 defeat to Edinburgh at Murrayfield.
PREMIERSHIP MATCH REPORT: Sean Lonsdale’s first Premiership Rugby sent Exeter Chiefs back to the top of the table as they edged past Bristol Bears with a 14-9 win at Sandy Park.
INJURY UPDATE: Wales star Leigh Halfpenny has been sidelined for almost two months.
MATCH REPORT: First-half tries from Scott Williams and George North handed the Ospreys a 20-11 victory over Cardiff Blues in the PRO14 at the Liberty Stadium.
MATCH REPORT: Four first-half tries, including two for Sean Cronin, and a staunch second-half defensive display ensured Leinster took maximum points with a 40-7 PRO14 win over Ulster.
MATCH REPORT: Dean Budd’s first-half double inspired Benetton to a 20-17 victory over Glasgow Warriors to back up their form with a fourth win on the trot.
MATCH REPORT: Bryce Heem crossed for a dramatic double after 18 minutes of added in time in one of the most sensational games in the history of Premiership Rugby
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: South African teams back in action after Pro14 break.
NEWS: Cardiff Blues have confirmed that back rower Samu Manoa has left the region with immediate effect on compassionate grounds.
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Gloucester lock Tom Savage has picked up a suspension following an RFU Disciplinary hearing.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Cheetahs will be facing Zebre in Round 13 of the Pro14 Championship in their first match of the New Year on Sunday.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Southern Kings head coach Deon Davids named his matchday squad of 23 on Friday for the side’s opening Pro14 match for 2019.
NEWS: Clermont have snapped up English lock George Merrick from Harlequins for next season, the Top 14 leaders announced Friday.
John Thornett, a great leader of men and a great rugby gentleman, has died at a nursing home in Batemans Bay, some 300km south of Sydney, at the age of 83. He had long been ill.
PREVIEW: Third-placed La Rochelle head to leaders Clermont on Sunday looking for their first ever win at Stade Marcel Michelin in more than 60 years of matches in the pick of this weekend's Top 14 action.