All News

INJURY UPDATE: The All Blacks suffered a late injury blow to their front row cover ahead of Saturday's opening Rugby Championship game against the Wallabies in Sydney on Saturday.

NEWS: Wales flank Justin Tipuric will lead the Ospreys this season after he was confirmed as the Region’s new skipper.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach Robert du Preez has revealed his team to face French side Union Bordeaux Bègles in the inaugural Durban Challenge match on Friday at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has named Reece Hodge to start at outside centre for Saturday's Bledisloe Cup opener against New Zealand at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Jack Goodhue will wear the No.13 jersey for the All Blacks when they face Australia in Sydney on Saturday

The Currie Cup starts. The great competition which dates back to 1890 has been kicked about and devalued of late but still is the Holy Grail of provincial rugby in South Africa.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: Rolling substitutions will be used in this year's Currie Cup tournament and Blue Bulls head coach Pote Human is not a happy man.

NEWS: Another six players have signed new contracts with the Lions.

PART THREE: Johan Erasmus is renowned as one of the most astute analysers of the game, which makes him a good fit to be the Springbok coach.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: The return of Francois 'Flo' Louw has added an additional mentoring facet to the Springboks camp.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Beauden Barrett's speed on attack is something that the Wallabies will have to deal with if they are to pull off an upset and beat the All Blacks in their opening Rugby Championship game.

NEWS: England rugby player Danny Cipriani has been charged with assaulting police during an incident at a nightclub on the island of Jersey early Wednesday, police and Gloucester Rugby Club said.

PODCAST: Scotty Stevenson & Mils Muliaina are back and joined on the phone by former Wallaby captain and rugby great George Gregan to talk all things Bledisloe Cup.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS: Dillyn Leyds will start at flyhalf and take over the captaincy for Western Province in their pre-season encounter with Montpellier in Millau on Thursday.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Seems like the All Blacks are doing everything in their might to prepare for the unpredictable behaviour of the officials.

PART TWO: Michael Cheika’s Wallaby coaching record has taken a beating since the World Cup final, with slim takings across the Rugby Championship and inbound and outbound touring visits.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Loose forward Marnus Schoeman has returned to the Pumas Currie Cup fold after his stint with the Lions.

NEWS: The Blues have added another member to their coaching team ahead of the 2019 Super Rugby season.

EXCLUSIVE: All things Rugby Championship takes centre stage as the Late Tackle team returns with a bang, breaking down each squad and getting involved in some fantasy league.

NEWS: The Lions have confirmed that six more senior players have re-signed with the franchise.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Scrumhalf Rudy Paige and flyhalf Tian Schoeman will both make their Currie Cup debuts for the Free State Cheetahs against their former team the Blue Bulls in Bloemfontein.

NEWS: The Cheetahs will wear a newly designed playing strip in the 2018/19 Pro14 season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Just how influential legendary All Black openside Richie McCaw was as a player is widely known, but the extent to which teams tried to nullify him is not.

NEWS: The Lions have managed to secure the services of six Springboks, but two of those are for just one year.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Kenya hope to round off their Rugby Africa Gold Cup campaign with victory over holders Namibia in Windhoek on Saturday to qualify for next year's World Cup in Japan.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Blue Bulls coach, Pote Human, named an experienced team for Friday's opening match of the Currie Cup against the Free State in Bloemfontein.

NEWS: The Cheetahs and Bulls will get the 2018 season underway without a few key players.

The @rugby365com team chats about the latest dispatches and surprises from Loftus Versfeld and Newlands about their coaching staff for 2019.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Australia are beginning to reach their true potential, star fullback Israel Folau said Tuesday, vowing to unleash his aerial prowess against the world champion All Blacks.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Free State Cheetahs will open their 2018 Currie Cup campaign by playing against the four strongest teams in the first four weeks of the competition.

New Zealand has no intention of limiting the performances of their famous haka and Australia’s Will Genia is delighted.

PART ONE: After a dominant June series win against France, the All Blacks will be hoping to keep the Rugby Championship trophy and Bledisloe Cup locked up for another year as the 2019 World Cup edges closer.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus revealed that Handre Pollard's switch to inside centre is an 'option' better left unutilised.

NEWS: Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards has agreed to work with the Ospreys in a consultancy role.

NEWS: Former rugby365 analyst Ethienne Reynecke is fighting for his life in hospital due to a blot clot on the brain.

Edinburgh centurion and Scotland international prop, Alasdair Dickinson, has today announced his retirement from rugby to take up a coaching position with the Fosroc Scottish Rugby Academy.

VIDEO: The 1014 Rugby team examine what squad depth actually means and what it might look like.

A former NFL hopeful who turned his hand to professional rugby union has been banned after failing an anti-doping test.

The First Team made themselves, our school, and every single Union supporter immensely proud on Saturday.

There were few matches but still there were which schools allowed their boys to play and we give their results, source first.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP: Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has revealed some positive news in regards to Eben Etzebeth.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Winning the Bledisloe Cup has become more important than winning the World Cup reckons Wallabies scrumhalf, Will Genia.

NEWS: An England club rugby player has been handed a four-year ban after he tested positive for anabolic steroids.

NEWS: The Canterbury National Provincial Championship team will be led by co-captains this year, with loose forward Whetu Douglas and scrumhalf Mitchell Drummond taking the reigns in 2018.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: The sight of David Pocock in the Wallabies Bledisloe Cup team have the All Blacks on 'high alert'

NEWS: With the regular captain, Ruan Botha set to join Japanese club Kubota Spears, the Sharks were forced to name a new captain for this year's Currie Cup Season.

UPDATE: The Golden Lions have revealed their findings of the alleged racism incident between Roodepoort and Wanderers Rugby Clubs.

OPINION: It was a season of changes at Ellis Park - departures resulted in a new coaching set-up.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: With a tough travelling schedule to contend with, Bok coach Rassie Erasmus entertained the idea of splitting his squad into two teams for this year's Rugby Championship

TRANSFER NEWS: While a lot of the Lions' senior players have sought greener pasture abroad, two Springboks players have opted to stay in Johanessburg.

In Round 2 of the Under-18 International Series, played this time at Stellenberg High School, Wales established a healthy lead in the first half when, at one stage, it was 19-3, and in the end won 26-20 as England fought back.

Each side scored three tries but the French penalties in the first part of the match gave them a 28-21 win as the South Africans fought back in the second half.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Vaea Fifita was left confused after his omission from the All Blacks' Rugby Championship squad.

NEWS: Former Harlequins defence coach Nick Easter is set to join the Sharks in South Africa for the upcoming Currie Cup season.

NEWS: New Zealand legend Dan Carter has ruled out a sensational return to Super Rugby with the Highlanders next season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: It is better to travel well than to arrive, it has been said.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has rejected suggestions from former players that the team's famous pre-match haka has been devalued by overuse.

NEWS: French rugby was in mourning on Saturday after the death of a young player during a second division friendly match on Friday.

SQUAD UPDATE: All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has also trimmed his squad ahead of next weekend's opening Bledisloe Cup clash against the Wallabies in Sydney

MATCH REPORT: Western Province kicked of their France tour with an impressive 59-14 win over Narbonne in a pre-season friendly in Millau on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Kenya ran in eleven tries to crush Tunisia 67-0 in their penultimate game of the 2019 World Cup qualifying tournament on Saturday - setting up a winner-takes-all showdown against Namibia next weekend.

TRANSFER NEWS: Brumbies Academy structure, which was re-introduced in 2018, has already started to produce the next generation of Super Rugby talent.

TRANSFER NEWS: USA international Paul Mullen has joined Newcastle Falcons for the first four months of the Premiership season as the club bolsters its propping stocks.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP: "The most important player in a rugby team is the scrumhalf" according to Springbok great Stephen Fry.

On Thursday, 9th of August 2018, Waterkloof made their way down to Durban to take on the mighty Green Machine. The majority of the team would play their last game in the green jersey for Glenwood.

Women's Day turned the weekend into a long weekend, it seems, and few matches happened.

VIDEO: Clermont's Fijian contingent have been impressive during the pre-season.

SPOTLIGHT: Former All Blacks lock Chris Jack has shed light on an infamous pitch invasion which occurred in South Africa 16 years ago.

SQUAD UPDATE: Wallabies captain Michael Hooper was Sunday included in a trimmed-down squad for the opening Bledisloe Cup clash against the All Blacks after being cleared to play following a hamstring injury.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: With a number of talented and versatile flanks in the Springboks' Rugby Championship squad, captain Siyamthanda Kolisi is set to move to the blindside flank.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus revealed this week that their is still some uncertainty surrounding Schalk Brits' playing future.

TRANSFER NEWS: While Reds are getting their backline in order, it seems like their frontrow stocks might be looking for greener pastures.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: It seems the Beauden Barrett v Richie Mo’unga debate will not end anytime soon.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Mako Vunipola used to dream about rampaging around in an All Black jersey causing the kind of mayhem that made Jonah Lomu his hero.

OPINION: It is a moniker that will stay with the Sharks until they eventually win a Super Rugby title. However, they are the most successful team never to have won the competition.

TRANSFER NEWS: Brumbies have signed former Waratahs centre Irae Simone for the 2019 Super Rugby season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Five legends will be inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2018.

April in Paris, October in Vermont and August in Paarl - they are special times of the year, when the seasons bring out their best. Spring season in Paris, Autumn season in Vermont and Rugby Season in Paarl.

Helpmekaar and Transvalia played an agonisingly thrilling semifinal on Helpmekaar Kollege's ground in Parktown, Johannesburg.

OPINION: A promise of new beginning ended up in a very public divorce for the Bulls

SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT: In the last match of the season for both schools, Selborne, who have had an excellent season, beat Grey High of Port Elizabeth 31-26 with a try two minutes from time.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Wallabies loose forward Pete Samu has a lot of knowledge to share ahead of this year's opening Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup match in Sydney next weekend.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Jaguares have confirmed the appointment of Gonzalo Quesada as their new head coach.

NEWS: Wallabies captain Michael Hooper is on the verge of signing a new record deal which will keep him away from the clutches of Europe’s big-paying clubs.

NEWS: Bulls' coaching candidate Jimmy Stonehouse has been named Pumas Currie Cup coach for the 2018 season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: There has been a lot of debate in New Zealand about whether Richie Mo'unga should usurp Beauden Barrett for the All Blacks No.10 jersey.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: The mere mention of the name Elton Thomas Jantjies will elicit capricious emotional outbursts.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP: Despite being overwhelming favourites, All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster is adamant the Wallabies' ability can 'hurt' them again.

RANKINGS: There were some interesting results which caused much debate about the Top 20.

NEWS: Springboks legend Jaque Fourie days of playing rugby have officially come to an end.

In the first match of the Under-18 tournament, taking place in the Western Cape, France proved too big and too strong for England, winning 41-21, after leading 31-0 at half-time.

TRANSFER NEWS: Newcastle Falcons have completed the signing of outside centre Pedro Bettencourt from French club Carcassonne.

REPORT: The SA Schools team left it till the final play of their opening match in the Under-18 International Series against Wales at Boland Landbou on Friday to clinch a hard-fought 43-40 win over Wales.

NEWS: Wales Rugby Union defence coach Shaun Edwards is to take over as head coach of the league club where he is still regarded as a legend, Super League giants Wigan Warriors after next year's World Cup.

SUPER RUGBY AFTERMATH: The Lions most feared weapon heading into the final was their lineout maul, which they had deployed with devastating effect throughout this Super Rugby season.

Johnny Sexton has been confirmed as Leinster’s captain for the upcoming campaign, with fellow Ireland international Rhys Ruddock his vice-captain.

NEWS: Brumbies loose forward Ben Hyne has signed a new one-year contract to remain with the franchise for the duration of the 2019 Super Rugby season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sergeal Petersen will make his first appearance for Western Province in their pre-season match against Narbonne in Millau on Saturday.

NEWS: Kenyan Sevens player Willy Ambaka will make his test debut against Tunisia on Saturday after being named in the team for the Rugby World Cup qualifier in Nairobi.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Willie le Roux's involvement in this year's Rugby Championship will be cut short.

122 years after St Andrew's first came to play Bishops, they brought five teams to Rondebosch to keep the ancient rivalry going.

The @rugby365com takes a look at the latest drama at Newlands and comes to the conclusion that Western Province officials believe in the Tooth Fairy and Santa Clause.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Sharks will have to name a new captain for this year's Currie Cup season.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: The All Blacks rate their Trans-Tasman rivalry above long-term goals such as winning the four-nation SANZAAR championship.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Transformation remains a profanity to many in South Africa, but it is a priority to the Springboks.

Interestingly, the two matches involving New Zealand national teams, the All Blacks and the Black Ferns, each have two referees.

TRANSFER NEWS: Chiefs' wing Toni Pulu Tuesday joined the Brumbies on a two-year deal, while Wallaby Henry Speight is heading to Irish club Ulster on a short-term contract.

The Bulls and head coach John Mitchell are heading for an unceremonious and bitter divorce, with reports of a move to be England's defence coach a 'done deal' - despite Mitchell's current contract running until the end of 2019.

TRANSFER NEWS: Cheetahs have invested in former Bulls players as they prepare for the Currie Cup and Pro14 season.

CURRIE CUP CHAOS: Newlands, home of Western Province and the Stormers, has not been a happy place for a long time.

OPINION: Super Rugby 2018 has ended, and it is time to reveal our Team of the Tournament.

WATCH as Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus talks about the rookies in his Rugby Championship team.

It's a wonderful match - the Diocesan College of Rondebosch against St Andrew's College of Grahamstown - both private schools, both Anglican foundations - the same sort of people vs the same sort of people, and it has a long tradition.

TRANSFER NEWS: Fiji prop Campese Ma’afu and Tonga prop David Feao have joined Leicester Tigers ahead of the 2018/19 season.

TRANSFER NEWS: Super Rugby's three-times losing Finalists, the Lions, have confirmed the departure of another senior player.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Argentina head coach Mario Ledesma has included six uncapped players in his extended squad ahead of Rugby Championship.

NEWS: Australia outlined their plans for the 2021 women's World Cup, with the tournament hosted in the Hunter Valley region north of Sydney should their bid be successful.

LATEST: Former All Black coach John Mitchell WILL return to the England fold by next month. Mitchell's departure from the Bulls is a 'done deal'.

SQUAD UPDATE: Two players in the SA Schools side for this month's international tournament have had to withdraw because of injuries and they have been replaced.

A very determined Queen's College rugby club arrived in Grahamstown to avenge last year's losses. They were rewarded for this determination with wins over our Under-14s, Under-15As and a narrow 2 point victory over our Under-16As.

Carlos Spencer and Quade Cooper, much like Springbok Elton Jantjies, could mesmerise the opposition and just as easily flop.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Canterbury Head Coach Joe Maddock has today announced his team for the 2018 National Provincial Cup season, including eight new names from the 2017 Premiership-winning squad.

TRANSFER NEWS: Emiliano Boffelli and Marcos Kremer are among a group of four Argentina players to commit their long-term future to Jaguares.

INJURY UPDATE: Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper says he is confident of being fit to play the opening Bledisloe Cup clash against the All Blacks after coming through his full first training session since tearing a hamstring.

A cursory glance at Bordeaux Begles top signings ahead of the 2018/19 suggests a strong argument can be made that it’s the most impressive spending spree of any Top14 club in 2018.

LISTEN as Warren Whiteley admits the highly controversial Super Rugby format helped the Lions reach the finals.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: South African Under-20 flyhalf Damian Willemse is one of three uncapped players included in the Springbok squad.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Schalk Brits has ended his self-imposed retirement from rugby in pursuit of a place in the Springboks squad for the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: There were no surprises in the All Black squad named Monday for the Rugby Championship.

REACTION: Leicester Tigers will force both Tatafu Polota-Nau and Matt Toomua to fly back to the UK during the Rugby Championship the Premiership club have revealed.

POLL: rugby365com compiled a list of the best forwards for the Super Rugby 2018.

Diocesan College (Bishops) maintained their unbeaten run in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town by defeating The South African College High School (SACS) by 22 points to twenty.

No wonder there were over 10 000 spectators crammed around Dixons Field at Glenwood to see two of South Africa's very best schoolboy teams play one of South Africa's very best rugby matches of the year.

Raise your hat to Glenwood.

The @rugby365com team welcomes aboard a passionate voice from Christchurch as try to find somebody that is willing to back the Lions against the Crusaders.

NEWS: Richard Tombs, a former Wallaby centre, suffered a spinal injury playing in a social soccer match in Sydney last weekend and remains in Royal North Shore Hospital.

OPINION: The Stormers are a team in disarray, both on and off the field.

SPOTLIGHT: Crusaders coach Scott "Razor" Robertson has become the leading candidate to coach the All Blacks.

A RUGBY365 INVESTIGATION: It appears major financial changes are on the cards, as more South African teams look to move to Europe.

Again there some great schools matches - a swan song to the season. In fact all if the teams ranked on the Schools Top 20 were in action.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Western Province head coach John Dobson trimmed down his wider training squad to 27 players for the two-match pre-season trip to France.

NEWS: Former Ireland captain Paul O'Connell was named as forwards coach at French Top 14 giants Stade Francais to work alongside head coach and former Springboks boss Heyneke Meyer.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Blue Bulls coach Pote Human named an exciting squad for his 2018 Currie Cup campaign.

SARU has announced that, as expected, Adrian Alberts will captain the SA Schools team in its tournament with England, France and Wales, which starts this week.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Wallabies boss Michael Cheika named Test veteran Tatafu Polota-Nau and six uncapped players in his extended squad ahead of the opening Bledisloe Cup clash against the All Blacks.

REACTION: The victory celebrations for back-to-back Super Rugby titles had hardly started when the Crusaders put the spotlight on completing a triple crown next year.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: 'Gutted' Lions captain Warren Whiteley admitted his team were beaten by the better team in the Final.

MATCH REPORT: The Crusaders claimed their ninth Super Rugby title with an impressive 37-18 win over the Lions on Saturday in Christchurch.

REPORT AND HIGHLIGHTS: The Wallabies trial match at Leichhardt Oval ended up in a convincing win for the Australia XV selection over an assembled Super Rugby XV.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: For most onlookers, the Highlanders’ quarter-final defeat to the Waratahs in Sydney was simply a season-ending loss for the Dunedin-based franchise.

NEWS: Another high-ranking official has walked away from Newlands in a cloud of controversy.

TRANSFER NEWS: New Zealand-born Paul Lasike, who starred for the USA when they beat Scotland in June, has signed for Harlequins.

Blues captain Augustine Pulu is bound for Japan, joining the newly promoted Hino Red Dolphins in the Top Challenge League.

SUPER RUGBY FINAL HIGHLIGHTS: Crusaders coach Scott Robertson did his trademark celebratory breakdance. However, it is the team that gets all the accolades.

NEWS: Seems like the Bulls' dismal Super Rugby season has not diminished the demand for coach John Mitchell's services.

NEWS: Western Province will travel to France next week for a two-match tour, as part of the preparations for their Currie Cup title defence.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: England head coach Eddie Jones has included Chris Ashton in the 44-man training squad.

NEWS: Western Province Rugby Football Union have dispelled rumours circulating on social media that Newlands has been sold.

Richie Mo'unga pulled the strings as the Crusaders beat the Lions 37-18 to claim a ninth title and second in a row against the Lions. #WATCH the highlights!

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Despite the Crusaders' impressive record, none other than All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has warned the Lions have "every chance" of pulling off an upset.

SUPER RUGBY FINAL: Lions coach Swys de Bruin laid down the challenge. The Crusaders have accepted.

SUPER RUGBY NEWS: The Waratahs wasted no time in unveiling their coaching panel for 2019 -0 just a week after being knocked out of the 2018 competition.

SUPER RUGBY FINAL: Apart from the Lions themselves, and their die-hard supporters, few are giving the Lions any chance of beating the Crusaders.

SUPER RUGBY FINAL: The Crusaders are overwhelming favourites. They should cancel the match and award the trophy to the Crusaders right now.

In the beginning, there were ten, and then TV-fuelled inflation set in - 12, 14, 15 and now 18 with conferences.

Glenwood High School of Durban meet Grey College of Bloemfontein in a top rugby match on Saturday. Both are unbeaten teams.

The four "big" schools of the Cape Peninsula, who have been playing rugby with each other for over a century, are sometimes, lightheartedly, said to be playing for the Triple Crown. When Rondebosch go down to Wynberg this Saturday it is a "Triple Crown" match.

This is the day.  This is the big day. This is the day every new boy at Paarl Boys' High and Paarl Gim dreams about - running onto to Faure Street Stadium amidst cheering and singing and scoring the winning try in Interschools.

The match between the South African College and the Diocesan College may date back to 1862, and it will be played again this Saturday, 4 August 2018.

NEWS: Midfield maestro Ngani Laumape has been named Hurricanes Player of the Year for the second season in a row.

RANKINGS: As August starts, we have few changes to the Top 20, but none of them has affected the Top Five positions.

CURRIE CUP SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Western Province head coach John Dobson has named a wider training squad in preparation for their upcoming Currie Cup title defence.

There is just a road between Afrikaanse Hoer Seunskool and Pretoria Boys High. They are possibly the closest - physically - of any rival schools in South Africa, which, of course, adds to the rivalry between the two, a rivalry which will express itself on the sports fields of Pretoria Boys High on Saturday.

On Saturday, 4 August 20918, all the finals of the Griffons League will be played at Northwest Stadium, the union's ground in Welkom with one of the best playing surfaces in the land.

Garsfontein go down to Vanderbijlpark on the Vaal River with its boats and big houses with lawns going down to the river, not looking anything like the heavy industries away from the banks. there the Pretorians will play against Transvalia, the surprise package of 2018.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Crusaders will have almost their entire team from last year's victorious Super Rugby Final back for the 2018 episode.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions coach Swys de Bruin has made a couple of changes to his team for the Super Rugby Final.

NEWS: England internationals Mako and Billy Vunipola have signed new four-year contracts with Premiership champions Saracens.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Rugged former hooker Mario Ledesma admitted his surprise on Wednesday at his rapid elevation to coach of the Argentina national team.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Michael Cheika has confirmed his matchday squad ahead of Friday’s Bledisloe Cup trial in Sydney.

PODCAST: Scotty Stevenson & Mils Muliaina look back on the Super Rugby season as it draws to a close and discuss the matchups for this weekend’s final in Christchurch.

ALL BLACK SPOTLIGHT: Prior to the June Tests between New Zealand and France, there was considerable discussion surrounding who should back up Beauden Barrett in the matchday squad.

NEWS: Siya Kolisi's inspirational rise from a childhood in the Zwide Township in Port Elizabeth - to become the first black Springbok Test captain - has won the July Laureus Sporting Moment of the Month competition.

WATCH as Crusaders assistant coach Brad Mooar explains how the are dealing with the social and other media 'pundits' writing the Lions off as no-hopers.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Bryan Habana emphasized the importance overseas-based players can have as South Africa bid to restore themselves as one of the dominant forces in rugby union.

The year rushes by and Super Rugby comes to an end with a final in Christchurch between the two teams that played in the 2017 final in Johannesburg.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: What distinguishes good teams from great ones is multiple championships, especially in consecutive seasons.

NEWS: Head coach Gregor Townsend has extended his contract with the Scotland national team until 2021, together with extensions for his coaching staff of Matt Taylor and Mike Blair.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson says he is close to signing a new contract and is confident that star fullback Israel Folau will do the same

NEWS: The worst-kept secret in Argentina has been confirmed, when they unveiled the new coach of the national team.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Hooker Dane Coles has been included in an All Blacks wider training camp this week ahead of this year's Rugby Championship.

WATCH as Lions coach Swys de Bruin commits what appears to be the ultimate faux pas. Or is it indeed a masterstroke?

EXCLUSIVE: Super Rugby referee Egon Seconds provides us with unique insight into what happens behind the scenes after each match he and his fellow referees are involved in.

EXCLUSIVE: Egon Seconds took to refereeing in 2014 but struggled with the transition from player to referee as he found himself joining the players in some of the on-field antics.

EXCLUSIVE: Much has been said around the recently trailed height of the tackle, with many suggesting that it will take away from a key component of the game.

EXCLUSIVE: The rumour mill continues to grow stronger each day that Newlands Rugby Stadium will be no more and it seems to be a decision that will be welcomed by former players.

EXCLUSIVE: The current Super Rugby conference system may have been around for a few years but the format remains confusing to some former players.

EXCLUSIVE: The BlitzBoks have never won the Sevens World Cup and this year's edition of the competition brings a unique format.

EXCLUSIVE: The debate around whether or not Super Rugby remains relevant and interesting rages on, as it would seem that the final round robin matches did nothing to enhance the tournament's image.

EXCLUSIVE: The conveyor belt of South African-born players representing another country may soon have another name added the list.

EXCLUSIVE: A loyal Late Tackle viewer, Vincent Nortier posed an interesting question around the All Blacks' approach to the 10/12 interchangeability and whether or not that could work for the Springboks.

EXCLUSIVE: Heading to a foreign country to ply your trade will always be a tough task when you are not accustomed to playing most of your matches in wet weather, especially when joining a new club in the middle of the season.

READER'S OPINION: Dan Jardine responds to a fellow viewer's question regarding the All Blacks approach to interchangeable 10/12, which was posed on Late Tackle's Bulling Around with a Scarlet episode.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wallabies prop James Slipper will make his return from a two-month drug ban this week after being picked Tuesday in a Super Rugby selection side to play a trial game against Australia.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Richie Mo'unga and Elton Jantjies will both wear No.10 in the Final on Saturday. However, one is called a first five-eighth and the other a flyhalf.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Former HTS Drostdy pupil, Hanro Liebenberg, will return to Worcester on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Crusaders know that the Lions will give them a tougher challenge up front in this weekend's Super Rugby Final in Christchurch.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: England coach Eddie Jones must produce success during the challenging November Test series which includes fixtures against All Blacks, Springboks and Wallabies.

OPINION: The Crusaders and the Lions share the spoils in our Super Rugby Team of the Week for the semifinals.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Renowned New Zealand pundit Scotty Stevenson believes this year's Super Rugby Final will not have the atmosphere it deserves.

TRANSFER NEWS: Leicester Tigers have reunited one of the Premiership's most effective combinations by signing Kyle Eastmond.

NEWS: Bulls head coach John Mitchell has reportedly requested R90-million from the Bulls board of directors in order to compete in the recruitment market for high-end talent

NEWS: Matt Toomua has signed a two and a half year deal with Rugby Australia and the Melbourne Rebels, to return to Super Rugby next season.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Argentina will name their new coach on Wednesday, with a clear favourite having emerged.

NEWS: Calls for player wage deflation in the Premiership grow louder as the RFU warned clubs that the current salary inflation is unsustainable

NEWS: The Lions received a double boost ahead of their Super Rugby Final against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday.

THROWBACK TUESDAY: Watch as Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus along with former Blitzbok Kabamba Floors take a look back at Free State Cheetahs' drought-breaking title win in 2005.

EXCLUSIVE: Soon-to-be Welsh qualified David Bulbring of the Scarlets lets us in on what it is like for a South African-born player trying to make a name for himself in a different country.

Super Rugby referee Egon Seconds jumps onto the couch and brings some unique insight into all things refereeing while bringing some humour to the panel.

SEVENS ASSAULT UPDATE: A Samoan rugby union player has denied assaulting three members of the Wales team at the Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament in San Francisco.

WATCH as the Lions' Springbok flank Albertus Stephanus Smith talks about getting a chance to redeem himself.

The schools rugby season is certainly not petering out. In fact it is building to a climax as serious rivals meet more and more.

Grey College went down from Bloemfontein to play their namesakes Grey High in a series of matches.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Lions coach Swys de Bruin labelled the Crusaders the best team in the world, but felt that he must have a chance during "the 80 minutes between four white lines".

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: The team's leadership is what helped the Lions dig themselves out of a deep hole in the semifinal this past weekend.

INJURY UPDATE: The Springboks will be without one of their fullbacks heading into this year's Rugby Championship.

As the season heads to a finish, there are more and more big matches to form a climax to the season.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Another coach has spoken out about Super Rugby's unpopular format.

NEWS: The All Blacks will play a Test in Perth for the first time next year, with their traditional Bledisloe Cup clash with the Wallabies set for August 10.

VIDEO: How often do you get two real legends - like the World Rugby Player of the Century and the South African Player of the Century - on the same stage?

TRANSFER NEWS: Brumbies have handed a two-year deal to Junior Wallabies captain Ryan Lonergan.

WATCH when Springbok flank Jaco Kriel got an emotional sendoff - at a private players function - by his Bok roommate and Lions captain Warren Whiteley this past Saturday.

WATCH as Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson and captain Bernard Foley explain what the Lions need to do to beat the Crusaders in the Super Rugby Final.

NEWS UPDATE WITH SEMIFINAL HIGHLIGHTS: The Crusaders, hosting their first Super Rugby Final in Christchurch since 2008, are struggling with increasing injury woes.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: New South Wales Rugby CEO Andrew Hore has asked SANZAAR countries to "keep it simple" in regards to the future of the competition.

NEWS: SA Rugby President Mark Alexander sent his condolences to the families, friends and teammates of three members of the Swallows Rugby Football Club, who died in a motor vehicle accident in the Eastern Cape over the weekend.

In an old Border rivalry, Queen's College came down from Queenstown to Selborne College in East London and went down to them 76-13.

The St Andrew’s College vs Dale College fixture in King William’s Town is never an easy fixture and this proved to be the case yet again for the College 1st XV, as Dale ran out 45-26 winners in a physical encounter on Saturday.

NEWS: Celtic Park will host the 2019 Pro14 Final on May 25 next year.

FAREWELL: Playing their last game for the Waratahs on Saturday were Paddy Ryan and Taqele Naiyaravoro, while the team also farewelled squad members Andrew Kellaway and Irae Simone.

REACTION: Super Rugby history will be created when the Lions and Crusaders contest the 2018 final next weekend, the first time the same sides have contested successive title deciders.

REPORT: Taranaki have held onto the Ranfurly Shield in their first defence of the year, but more important - they unearthed another Naholo that torments defences.

NEWS: Utility back Garth April is heading over to Japan

Now that we’re approaching the business end of the Super Rugby finals, the question we ask ourselves is how do players and coaches prepare their weekly plan and deal with expectations.

The South African College High School (SACS) played host to Paarl Boys' High on a lovely winter's morning in Newlands.

SUPER RUGBY NEWS: SANZAAR has announced that Angus Gardener of Australia will referee the Super Rugby final on Saturday, 4 August 2018.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Richie Mo'unga won the battle of the All Black flyhalves, as the Crusaders marched into yet another Final.

SUPER RUGBY MATCH REPORT: The Lions advanced to their third straight Super Rugby Final when they beat the Waratahs 44-26 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY MATCH REPORT: The Crusaders put one hand on the trophy with an emphatic 30-12 demolition of the Hurricanes in Christchurch on Saturday.

INJURY UPDATE: The Crusaders have a shortage of hookers heading into next weekend's Super Rugby Final against the Lions in Christchurch.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Every year uncovers new exceptional attacking talent, and it's the sidesteps that end up on most highlight reels.

NEWS: 'Mistakenly' taking a weight loss product used by his wife, a Springbok has been banned for six months.

Leaving East London and the sea, Selborne College climb up into the cold mountains to play Queen's College in Queenstown.

NEWS: Teboho Mohoje will be leading the Cheetahs in the 2018/19 Pro14 championships.

SUPER RUGBY SEMIFINAL: Lions coach Swys de Bruin has given New Zealanders a taste of their own medicine.

SUPER RUGBY SEMIFINAL: The Hurricanes will have to do what no other team before has achieved - win a play-off match in Christchurch.

SUPER RUGBY SEMIFINAL: The Lions continue to deny that their 2016 and 2017 failures in those finals are a driving force.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Crusaders will use their All Black-laden forward pack to limit the Hurricanes' opportunities out wide on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Over the years, the Crusaders and Hurricanes have provided Super Rugby with one of its greatest rivalries, showering fans with big hits, blockbusting runs and spectacular tries.

NEWS: The Cardiff Blues confirmed Ellis Jenkins as their new club captain ahead of the 2018-19 season.

World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper has called for USA Rugby to make a “magnificent bid” to host a future Rugby World Cup following the success of the World Cup Sevens held in San Francisco.

Jeppe vs KES is always a special occasion, popular, intense and exciting. This time they meet at Jeppe in the return match of the season.

Playing rugby for Grahamstown schools usually involves travelling but this time it is not far to go as Kingswood College go across the Road to Graeme College as they have done for years and years. The ages of players range for nine to nineteen.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Waratahs will do everything in their power to avoid line-outs or scrums during the semifinal says Lions captain Warren Whiteley.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: They are commonly known as flyhalves, No.10s and in New Zealand first five-eighths. But more importantly, they are the playmakers of the team - the most pivotal players.

NEWS: The Wallabies squad will take on a Australian Super Rugby Selection next Friday at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney, as preparations ramp up ahead of the Bledisloe Cup opener.

SQUAD UPDATE: Lwazi Mvovo is one of eight players from the Sharks who have been added to the Springbok training squad.

Marlow leave their sheep farming in the valley of the Great Fish River and head southwest to the mixed farming of lovely Riversdale in the valley of the Sleeping Beauty.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions have 'supersized' their team for the Super Rugby semifinal showdown with the Waratahs on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson has made just one change to his team for the Super Rugby semifinal encounter with the Lions.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has made just one change to his starting XV for their Super Rugby semifinal against the Hurricanes in Christchurch.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Hurricanes have named an unchanged starting XV to head south for Saturday's Super Rugby semifinal against the Crusaders at Christchurch's AMI Stadium.

Grey College empty Bloemfontein and head down to the see for its meeting with Grey High School in PE. This year it's a Premier Interschools match and so televised.

NEWS: Powerhouse New Zealand prop Karl Tu'inufuake on Thursday capped his breakthrough season by signing a contract to stay with the All Blacks until 2021.

The @rugby365com team welcomes retired Welsh international Haldane Naude Luscombe on board, as they look at early retirements and @SuperRugby #semifinals.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Being labelled the "best hooker in the world" is not something Malcolm Marx pays attention to.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Waratahs know they are facing an almighty challenge up front when they face the Lions in a Super Rugby semifinal on Saturday

SPOTLIGHT: Former All Blacks and Crusaders captain Richie McCaw gave coach Scott Robertson his thoughts on what the Crusaders must do to win their Super Rugby semi-final against the Hurricanes.

THE SHORT BALL: Do the Hurricanes have a chance? And should the Lions & Waratahs abandon their kicking boots this weekend?

NEWS: The legal height of a rugby tackle will be lowered next season during a trial aimed at cutting down on concussion and other injuries, rugby bosses announced on Wednesday.

NEWS: The Highlanders have responded to rumours thatWallaby flyhalf Quade Cooper heading to Dunedin to join the franchise.

UPDATE: Samoan rugby player Gordon Langkilde has been charged with assault following an off-the-field bust-up at the World Cup Sevens that left three Welsh players with injuries, police said Tuesday.

RANKINGS: As we resume after the midwinter break with the excitement of Craven Week and the announcement of the SA Schools side, the resumption of the rugby season sees two changes at the top of the Top 20.

James Starke, tough flank who played for Stellenbosch, Maties and the Springboks, died in frail care in Stellenbosch on Wednesday morning. He was 87. He had been in ill health for quite some time.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Securing a win over the Crusaders at Christchurch is a daunting nearly impossible task.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: A move from SANZAAR to Europe could be a good thing for South African Super Rugby franchises revealed Springboks legend Schalk Burger.

OPINION: The opening round of play-offs produced a number of eye-catching performances in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

NEWS: Schalk Brits, who recently retired from professional rugby, may be in line for a quick return to the game, with Netwerk24 reporting that he could be set to join the Bulls next season.

On Saturday Oakdale of Riversdale went to Paarl and beat Paarl Boys' High for the first time since 2002. It was a great occasion for coach Malan du Plessis and his players.

It's semifinal time as Super Rugby rushes toward's the season's end.

We have published the results of school vs school in all teams in the order in which we received them with the source of the results first in the heading.

On Saturday the rugby club hosted Marlow from Cradock.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Former All Black wing Jeff Wilson was not impressed with what he saw from the Waratahs in their 30-23 Super Rugby quarterfinal win against the Highlanders.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Crusaders may be red-hot favourites to win their ninth title, but the Hurricanes won't be overawed in Christchurch on Saturday.

NEWS: An investigation initiated by MedSafe into the operation of the website Clenbuterol New Zealand has meant that three more New Zealand rugby players have been banned for doping.

REACTION: The Melbourne Rebels have confirmed that Hunter Paisami has been charged following an incident outside a Melbourne nightclub early on Sunday morning

INJURY UPDATE: The Lions received a timely boost, ahead of their Super Rugby semifinal encounter with the Waratahs.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: It is one-all this year between the Crusaders and Hurricanes. On Saturday they get to 'settle the matter' in a Super Rugby play-off match.

SPOTLIGHT: The fixtures for the PRO14 Conferences will remain unchanged for the upcoming season to ensure a balance of fixtures for all teams across the initial two seasons following expansion.

NEWS: The Blue Bulls have turned to a former coach to take charge of their Currie Cup team.

WATCH as Waratahs assistant coach Simon Cron explains how they will defy the odds when they meet the Lions in a Super Rugby semifinal encounter at Ellis Park on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Renowned New Zealand pundit Scotty Stevenson has made his call on who will be in the Final this year.

When Framesby went to Grey for their annual fixture, the first half was a competition, the second was not as Grey scored 29 points before Framesby got any.

TRANSFER NEWS: Johan Ackermann has managed to lure another South African player to the Premiership side Gloucester.

NEWS: The Super Rugby franchise the Melbourne Rebels made the headlines again as two of their young players have been accused of attacking a man from behind in the early hours of Sunday.

REACTION: World Rugby chiefs have declared the "brutal" knockout format of the World Cup Sevens a success but coaches have urged officials to think twice before using the same system more widely.

Schools are back from winter holidays and many schools are allowed to play some more rugby. In fact there are many significant matches on the go.

REACTION: Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx produced another outstanding performance in the Lions' 40-23 Super Rugby quarterfinal win over the Jaguares on Saturday.

POST-TOURNAMENT REACTION: World Rugby and Californian police are investigating a tunnel altercation that left a Wales Sevens player unable to play in the rest of the World Cup.

Grown men don't cry, but there must have been strong men who felt tears well at the news that Cliffie Etzebeth had died in a motor accident on Sunday afternoon.

REACTION: Jaguares head coach Mario Ledesma said his team made life very easy for the Lions in the first half of their Super Rugby quarterfinal in Johannesburg.

TRANSFER NEWS: Romania star Mihaita Lazar will join Top 14 side Grenoble from Castres.

FINAL DAY WRAP: New Zealand became the first team in history to win back-to-back World Cup Sevens crowns. And they did it twice.

REACTION: The Crusaders are set to get another All Black back for their Super Rugby semifinal against the Hurricanes in Christchurch next weekend.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: World rugby chiefs have warned that Sam Warburton's premature retirement from the sport is a "red flag" and say that players may need to adjust gruelling training regimes to protect their careers in future.

REACTION: The Waratahs have plenty of things to fix ahead of their Super Rugby semifinal against the Lions in Johannesburg next weekend.

Graeme College of Grahamstown had a tough rugby day against Pearson High in Port Elizabeth, where the honours were shared across the board.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The line-up for the 2018 quarterfinals have been confirmed. We also bring you the video highlights for all the quarterfinal matches.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Lions booked their semi-final spot with a comfortable 40-23 win over the Jaguares at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Hoërskool Waterkloof hosted Jeppe High School for Boys in Pretoria on Saturday. Jeppe won 41-26.

After a successful tour to Zimbabwe, the South African College High School (SACS), travelled up the N1 to Wellington with renewed hope after a disappointing second term.

Hoërskool Outeniqua went from George to Paarl to play Paarl Gim in a Premier Interschools match, and a tough time they had of it.

SAN FRANCISCO, DAY TWO WRAP: Fiji stormed into the semifinals of the World Cup Sevens on Saturday with a scintillating display as holders New Zealand survived a scare to stumble into the last four.

REVIEW: Colin Cooper’s first season in charge of the Chiefs was a real test of character.

SUPER RUGBY MATCH REPORT: Waratahs advanced to the semifinals with a sensational 30-23 win over the Highlanders in Sydney on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Crusaders advanced to the Super Rugby semifinals after they beat the Sharks 40-10 in their quarterfinal in Christchurch on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: The toxic environment in the boardroom, that is sullying the Stormers brand, has been overtaken by the coaching spat that erupted this week.

Lopeti Timani has opened up about his alleged attack by Melbourne Rebels teammate Amanaki Mafi in Dunedin.

NEWS: Two English players who died on tour in Sri Lanka had been sold heroin according evidence given at a magistrates’ court in Colombo.

SUPER RUGBY MATCH REPORT: Hurricanes advance to the semi-finals with a hard-fought 32-31 win over the Chiefs on Friday.

SAN FRANCISCO, DAY ONE WRAP: The BlitzBoks advanced to the last eight of the main draw at Rugby World Cup Sevens after they beat Ireland 45-7 in the Round of 16.

SUPER RUGBY QUARTERFINAL: History will be made at Ellis Park on Saturday afternoon.

SPOTLIGHT: Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson has admitted he may not have signed up to lead the side three years ago if he knew what he was getting himself into.

SUPER RUGBY QUARTERFINAL: The Highlanders are playing for more than just a place in the semifinals.

SUPER RUGBY QUARTERFINAL: The bookmakers have given the Sharks a 20-point start. It is a reflection of the expectations for the match.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks can't afford to sit back and rely on defence in their Super Rugby quarterfinal clash against the Crusaders

SAN FRANCISCO: South Africa captain Philip Snyman said his team will need to hit the ground running as they launch their quest to claim a first World Cup Sevens crown in San Francisco on Friday.

Proud Jeppe go to Pretoria to meet proud Waterkloof on Saturday. It is always a tough match.

They are two of the top teams in the land - Paarl Boys' High and Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale of Riversdale - and they meet in Paarl on Saturday. It could just be the match of the day.

NEWS: All is not well in the Stormers camp.

A New Zealand man has been banned from all forms of rugby for five years after he was charged with assault following a sideline incident at a senior club match in Oamaru last weekend.

INJURY UPDATE: The Wallabies will be short on quality centres heading into this year's Rugby Championship.

Rugby in the Eastern Province has many rivalries of all sorts based on differences.

The 30 players have been announced to represent SA Schools in an international series with England, Wales and France next month.

Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool, Affies to everybody,  will bring 25 rugby teams over the Drakensberg and down to Pietermaritzburg to play Maritzburg College.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions have made two changes to the side that will face the Jaguares in a Super Rugby quarterfinal at Ellis Park on Saturday.

KES - King Edward XII School - go up to Pretoria to play Pretoria Boys High, a regular fixture.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Jaguares have made wholesale changes to the side for their first-ever quarterfinal match against the Lions on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has revealed his team to face the Sharks in their Super Rugby quarterfinal in Christchurch on Saturday.

WATCH as Lions sensation Aphiwe Odwa Dyantyi talks about his team's Super Rugby quarterfinal showdown with the Jaguares at Ellis Park on Saturday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Chiefs coach Colin Cooper refused to deny or confirm a potential reunion with former All Blacks midfielder Ma’a Nonu.

SUPER RUGBY QUARTERFINAL: Last Friday they showed us just how entertaining the competition can be - producing an eight-try thriller. On Friday we get another chance to see two of the most exciting teams in the competition going head-to-head.

SACS leave their genteel leafy suburb and head for Boland Landbou's farm between Paarl and Wellington. It is a tough journey.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach Robert du Preez has revealed his team to face the Crusaders in their Super Rugby quarterfinal in Christchurch on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The next generation of schoolboys are ready to don the green and gold and add their names to a long list, many of whom went on to represent the senior side.

The Rugby World Cup Sevens starts in San Francisco, California, on Friday, 20 July 2018.

This year it's Hoërskool Outeniqua's turn to travel the 370 km west to Paarl Gimnasium for their annual rugby match, a Premier Interschools Match, a meeting of two great schools.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Waratahs have made one change to their starting XV for their Super Rugby quarterfinal clash against the Highlanders in Sydney on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger has named his strongest side to take on the Waratahs in Sydney in their quarterfinal clash on Saturday.

SEVENS SPOTLIGHT: Fijian Sevens legend Waisele Serevi is confident his nation will take home Sevens Rugby World Cup in San Francisco.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Reds centre Samu Kerevi and Rebels hooker Anaru Rangi have claimed the top prize at their respective franchises.

REACTION: Real Madrid star Gareth Bale joined the tributes to Wales great Sam Warburton, who called time on his career.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Chiefs are ready to fire again this Friday, when they take the field against the Hurricanes the Super Rugby quarterfinal.

NEWS: Cardiff Blues, Wales and British & Irish Lion flank Sam Warburton has called timed on his illustrious career.

LISTEN as the @rugby365com team - @LoffieEloff & @King365ed - welcomes former Baby Bok and Irish international Richard Strauss to this week's discussion.

TRANSFER NEWS: Rebels seem to have found the perfect replacement to fill the void left by Amanaki Mafi.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Highlanders' decision to rest key players ahead of the quarterfinal could have dire consequences says Waratahs forward coach Simon Cron.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: The Jaguares can breathe a sigh of relief after captain Pablo Matera has been cleared to feature in the side's quarter-final clash against the Lions this weekend.

SEVENS SPOTLIGHT: Werner Kok admits BlitzBoks still need to 'tweak' their defence ahead of the World Cup in San Francisco.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd has named a largely settled squad for Friday's highly anticipated Super Rugby quarterfinal against the Chiefs.

INJURY UPDATE: England and Leicester Tigers prop Ellis Genge will miss the November Test series and start of the Premiership due to a knee injury.

NEWS UPDATE: Gruesome photos have revealed the extent of Melbourne Rebels player Lopeti Timani’s injuries after being involved in an altercation with teammate Amanaki Mafi in Dunedin.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus continues to invest heavily in the young talent of the country.

The Hoërskool Swartland's Winter Festival for 1st XVs in Malmesbury, was played on Thursday, 12 July 2018 and Saturday 14 July 2018. There was a festival at Hoërskool Brackenfell for Under-16, Under- 15 and Under-14 teams.

It seems like last year an endless supply of cross-field kicks fuelled the Hurricanes attack, led by Beauden Barrett.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Early this year - late January and early February - the @#rugby365 team took a punt and predicted what the tournament standings would look like.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wallabies and Waratahs fullback Israel Folau sidestepped any discussion concerning his future at the Sydney Super Rugby franchise.

OPINION: The Crusaders ended the regular season of Super Rugby with another masterful display of rugby against the Blues in Christchurch.

INJURY UPDATE: The Lions' pursuit of claiming the Super Rugby title have taken a huge blow.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: It has increasingly become an odd competition.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Crusaders have been preparing to face the Sharks even before this year's Super Rugby's quarterfinalists were finalised.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: The Rebels have handed out some unwanted parting gifts to two brawling players - Amanaki Mafi and Lopeti Timani.

The influx of playing personnel from the west saw the Rebels instantly become one of the favourites in the Australian conference this season. Along with rising coach Dave Wessels, this new Force-Rebels outfit immediately looked better on paper.

There are three big international events this weekend - the two Sevens World Cups in sunny San Francisco and the quarter-finals of Super Rugby in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa as teams seek to knock opponents out.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Lions, having won the South African conference for the third year running, but they know the real work starts now.

WRAP: Western Province XV and Border secured their unbeaten status on the final day of the 2018 Craven Week with comfortable victories over the Blue Bulls and Free State, respectively.

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Toulon's controversial president Mourad Boudjellal has been fined for his public outburst related to Toulon skipper Mathieu Bastareaud's ban for a homophobic slur.

World Rugby has released a feature-length documentary on Waisale Serevi.

@rugby365com law guru Paul Dobson gives us his view on SANZAAR's general report of officiating in Super Rugby.

NEWS: SANZAAR Chief Executive Officer Andy Marinos admits that current Television Match Official system is not working.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Melbourne Rebels will have been furious when the Jaguares fielded a virtual reserve side in a 10-20 defeat to the Sharks in Durban.

REACTION: The Blue Bulls Company are gearing up for a massive court case, after it came to light that they are being sued for ZAR45-million by a former player.

TRANSFER NEWS: Chiefs centre Johnny Fa’auli seem to have bid farewell to New Zealand on a very unpleasant note.

UPDATE: Melbourne Rebels forward Amanaki Mafi was granted bail after being charged with assaulting teammate Lopeti Timani, reports said Monday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Former Hurricanes utility back James Marshall is returning to the franchise for the 2019 Super Rugby season.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Chiefs were told to improve their focus heading into the play-offs after developing a worrying habit of tailing off in games.

REACTION: John Mitchell eager to reassess the Bulls 'recruitment process' ahead of next year season.

REACTION: The Sharks are certainly not heading to Christchurch to lose says captain Ruan Botha.

In the main match on the last Day of the Academy Week played at Paarl Gim on 14 July, Western Province raced to its biggest score of the week in beating Free State 73-0, Free State who till then had been unbeaten.

INJURY UPDATE: The Crusaders may have to take on the Sharks without Kieran Read and Ryan Crotty.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Cheetahs have bolstered their centre stocks ahead of the new Pro14 season.

NEWS: The All Blacks retained two of their top talents Monday when Ardie Savea and Jordie Barrett agreed to stay with the world champions for their Rugby World Cup defence in Japan next year.

NEWS: The Blues moved to provide under-fire head coach Tana Umaga with more support Monday after another disappointing Super Rugby season, appointing the experienced Tom Coventry as his assistant.

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Sunwolves forward Ed Quirk and Reds forward Caleb Timu were both suspended for two weeks by Super Rugby's governing body over separate incidents during a controversial Brisbane match last week.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Chiefs centre Johnathan Fa’auli has been handed a six-week suspension following his side's 28-24 win over the Hurricanes.

REACTION: Waratahs head coach Daryl Gibson has urged his side to complete one mission at a time after their defeat to the Brumbies on Saturday.

In the last match of the 2018 Craven Week, played at Paarl Boys' High on 14 July 2018, Western Province beat the Kwa-Zulu Natal's Sharks 47-8.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: All Blacks and Hurricanes flyhalf Beauden Barrett weighed in after another pair of q questionable red cards were dished out.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The line-up for the 2018 quarterfinals have been confirmed. We also bring you the video highlights for all the Round 19 matches.

TRANSFER NEWS: All Black Israel Dagg has agreed to join Japanese side Canon Eagle.

NEWS: Rebels' already heartbreaking Super Rugby season received an extra blow following the incident between teammates Amanaki Mafi and Lopeti Timani.

Samoa has qualified for the Rugby World Cup after leaving it late to beat Germany 33-42 in the second leg of their World Cup qualifier in Fritz-Grunebaum-Sportpark in Heidelberg this afternoon.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: PRO14 champions Leinster have seen some key men depart over the summer, while there has been plenty of rebuilding at the Ospreys, Dragons and Ulster, as they look to bounce back from disappointing seasons.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Lions demolished the Bulls in clinical fashion to ensure they will finish second on the tournament standings.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Sharks managed to sneak into the play-offs and will head to Christchurch next week, where they will play the table-topping Crusaders in Christchurch in the quarterfinals.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Waratahs' second-place finish is under huge threat after their defeat to the Brumbies on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: Crusaders wing George Bridge scored a hat-trick of tries as his side record a comfortable 54-17 win over the struggling Blues.

SUPER RUGBY MATCH REPORT: The Highlanders' 43-37 win over the Rebels just enhance the Sharks' chances of reaching the quarter-finals.

REACTION: Hurricanes head coach Chris Boyd slammed Chiefs centre Johnny Fa'auli's sickening act of foul play during their encounter in Hamilton Friday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Lions flank Albertus 'Kwagga' Smith has agreed to join the Japanese club Yamaha Júbilo.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Reds beat the Sunwolves 48-27 in Brisbane on Friday, a game marred by questionable calls and controversial refereeing incidents.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Chiefs will have to travel to Wellington next week, despite an impressive win over the Hurricanes on Friday.

The last day of the 2018 Craven Week was a good day for Western Province Schools.

NEWS: Ulster seem to have identified a perfect replacement for All Black Charles Piutau.

SPOTLIGHT: Reds head coach Brad Thorn's past has shaped his tough anti-drug stance.

NOWHERE TO HIDE: Call it a last-chance saloon, but some team's in Saturday's matches face near impossible tasks to realise their slim play-off hopes.

In the first four matches of the 2018 Currie Cup, played at Paarl Boys' High's Brug Street ground, five teams have won both of their matches - Boland, Border, Sharks, Western Province and Western Province XV.

Jaco Kotze of the Free State Referees' Society will referee the final (= last) match of the 2018 Craven Week when Western Province play the Sharks at Paarl Boys' High ground in Brug Street on Saturday, 14 July 2018.

One apt analogy for the hapless Blues franchise could be that of a very frustrating puzzle.

In 1971, for the first time, two Craven Week teams, chosen as the best performers on the first four days of the week, were chosen to play in the final match of the Craven Week. On Saturday 14 July 2018, that match will be played between Kwa-Zulu Natal and Western Province.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks received some bad news ahead of their clash with the Jaguares on Saturday.

The coming Premiership season looks set to be a competitive one, with almost all the teams in the division bringing in a wealth of talent who will hope to make an instant impact.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Outgoing Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd added his voice to criticism of Super Rugby's unloved conference system as his side face a play-off showdown with Chiefs.

NEWS: Christian Lealiifano might be uncertain about his future plans, however, Brumbies head coach Dan McKellar is confident the flyhalf will remain at the Super Rugby franchise in 2019.

TRANSFER NEWS: Australian Sevens captain Lewis Holland has committed to the Sevens program, despite numerous interest from Super Rugby franchises.

WRAP: The well-used field was soggy and heavy, and yet the two teams played as if it were a dry, firm field with tries the only objective, as Kwa-Zulu Natal's Sharks beat the Grey College's Free State 29-20.

The final day of the Academy Week will be Saturday, 14 July 2018. All 28 teams will be in action on that day when the matches will be played at Paarl Gimnasium.

LAST HOORAH: Two teams are playing in their last game of the season, with nothing but pride on. Two teams are playing with plenty of the line as the head into the play-offs after the regular season.

LISTEN as @King365ed & @LoffieEloff look at the final round of @SuperRugby league action, before the play-offs.

The 2018 Rugby Championship starts in Sydney on 18 August and ends in Japan on 27 October. The referee to blow the whistle to start the championship is Jaco Peyper.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok wing Courtnall Skosan will start in his first Super Rugby match of the season when the Lions host the Bulls at Ellis Park on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Jaguares have revealed a much-changed team from the team that lost to the Bulls for their final league phase match against the Sharks in Durban.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Highlanders will be without a number of their star players for Saturday's Super Rugby clash against the Melbourne Rebels on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls coach John Micthell is forced to field a new halfback partnership following Handre Pollard's injury.

SEVENS SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Kenya Sevens head coach Innocent Simiyu has named the squad that will take part in the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens from July 20-22 in San Francisco.

The reigning champions are showing no signs of slowing down, after blowing away the Highlanders, one of only two teams to beat them this year, 45-22 in the second Southern Derby last weekend.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Brumbies head coach Dan McKellar has made two changes to the starting XV for the trip to Sydney to tackle the Waratahs this weekend.

WATCH as the Lions' Springbok scrumhalf Ross Cronje explains why he has decided to stay at 'home' in Johannesburg for at least another two years.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Australian Sevens coach Tim Walsh has named a settled squad with Lewis Holland set to lead the side at AT&T Park in San Francisco.

A late-season surge has the Brumbies in 10th spot and 3rd in the Australian conference heading into the final round, but it is a case of too little too late for Dan McKellar's men.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Sharks fullback Curwin Bosch believes his team is well-suited to handle the pressure in their final Super Rugby round-robin game against the Jaguares in Durban.

WRAP: There are more ways than one of playing a rugby match. Here we had an enthralling match and a 13-5 victory for Western Province over the Golden Lions.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Melbourne Rebels have made four changes to their starting XV as they aim to secure the franchise’s first-ever Super Rugby finals when they face the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok Sevens coach Neil Powell has revealed his squad for the Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco next weekend.

Despite interest from other rugby clubs, Retshegofaditswe Nche last week decided to extend his contract with the Toyota Cheetahs.

We go back to the Junior World Championship of 2011 to see the talent that was on display and ask if this is perhaps the greatest age-grade team ever?

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Waratahs head coach Daryl Gibson has named an unchanged line-up to face the Brumbies in the final regular Super Rugby match at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Blues will aim to give long-serving star Jerome Kaino a fitting send-off in his final game for the franchise when they take on the champion Crusaders in his last Super Rugby clash.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has named a side to face the Blues featuring six changes to the starting line-up, from the team that took the field against the Highlanders on Friday.

Former South African wing Ashwin Willemse, who stormed off a live TV show alleging he was a victim of racism from fellow pundits, said he was taking his complaint to the country's human rights commission.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Chiefs head coach Colin Cooper has revealed his team for their final round robin match of the 2018 Super Rugby season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Hurricanes have made minimal changes to their starting XV for their last Super Rugby round-robin match against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday.

On Day 4, Thursday 12 July 2018, there will be five Craven Week matches and seven Academy Week matches. The appointments of match officials to the 12 matches have been made known.

The first group of four Craven Week teams has now played two matches each - on Days 1 and 3.

Of the teams that have played on Days 1 and 3 of the Academy Week, Namibia, Valke, Zimbabwe and Western Province are unbeaten.

TRANSFER NEWS: Samu Manoa is the latest star player to put pen to paper at Cardiff Blues as John Mulvihill adds further international quality to his squad.

TRANSFER NEWS: Connacht announced the signing of back row Colby Fainga’a from Australian Super Rugby side the Melbourne Rebels.

NEWS: Harlequins skills coach Colin Osbourne has left the club after over 20 years at the club.

This is the last round of Super Rugby league system. It will decide who is heading for knock-outs. There are still some crucial encounters to decide who goes on to the quarterfinals. Some have already booked their places and some have resigned themselves to ending their Sup Rugby involvement.

The Crusaders has unveiled their best player for 2018, at an awards ceremony in Christchurch.

London Irish have made promotion intentions clear with the signing of Springbok prop Pat Cilliers.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Reds have made two changes to the starting team which defeated the Melbourne Rebels last week, as they prepare for their last match of the 2018 Super Rugby season against the Sunwolves.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sunwolves have made seven changes to their team for their clash against the Reds on Friday.

The Academy Week, for teams not quite of Craven Week standard, is being played at Paarl Boys' High's ground in Brug Street, the same venue as for the Craven Week.

The match officials have been appointed to Day 3 of both Craven Week and the Academy Week, both being play on the grounds of Paarl Boys' High in Brug Street, part of Boys' High's 150th birthday celebrations.

The Craven Week reached Day 2 on Tuesday, 10 July 2018, which means that all 18 teams have now been in action.