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EXCLUSIVE: There is no doubt that Neil Powell and his Springbok Sevens management team has a system that breeds success.

EXCLUSIVE: Sharks flyhalf Robert du Preez believes the Sharks are on the right path to return the franchise, and the province, to its glory days.

EXCLUSIVE: Sport has evolved over the past twenty years like no other, with the introduction of modern technology and the focus on nutrition paired with health, the traditionally smaller aspects of the sport have now come into focus more than ever

EXCLUSIVE: There's a storm brewing in Cape Town and it's not the kind that will bring much needed rain to the drought-stricken city.

EXCLUSIVE: It is easy to heap praise when a team is successful, but when they do not live up to expectations, the questions of doubt begin to creep in. However, this is not the BlitzBoks' case.

EXCLUSIVE: As the Springboks' June series against England draws closer, one cannot help but wonder if Rassie Erasmus will adapt his game plan to suit the current mauling trend. 

EXCLUSIVE: While most players do not take kindly to any form of homophobic slurs aimed at them, Italian loose forward Sebastian Negri chatted to the Late Tackle boys about his incident.

EXCLUSIVE: In days gone by, the primary duty of the tight five was simple - scrum! However, that has now changed.

EXCLUSIVE: Many young players are leaving their countries of birth to chase the international dream somewhere else, but what could have been had Zimbabwean-born players remained in the country. 

EXCLUSIVE: Rebels defence coach Kevin Foote has no issue with joining the Rebels' training when they are on tour.

EXCLUSIVE: Rebels head coach Dave Wessels has paid tribute to current Western Province coach John Dobson for the role he played in his coaching career.

EXCLUSIVE: It does not get any more clear than this as to what the Springbok emblem means to Rebels defence coach Kevin Foote.

EXCLUSIVE: The Rebels burst into the 2018 Super Rugby with renewed vigour and quickly established themselves as one of the front-runners to claim the Australian conference.

EXCLUSIVE: Rebels coach Dave Wessels reveals why gave up the chance to coach Pro14 giants Munster in favour of remaining Super Rugby.

EXCLUSIVE: Jaco Kriel's move to Gloucester to join former coach Johan Ackermann is the right decision for his career.

EXCLUSIVE: The greatest Springbok wing may have retired from the game but that does not mean that he needs to be lost to South African rugby.

EXCLUSIVE: Keegan Daniel may only be stepping away from the game at the end of the current Super Rugby season, and has already started planning his next step.

EXCLUSIVE: Based on current form believes Handre Pollard is leading the race for the Springbok flyhalf position.

EXCLUSIVE: Soon to be retired Sharks stalwart Keegan Daniel looks towards the upcoming series against England and names his ideal loose trio.

EXCLUSIVE: While some believe that Bryan Habana's retirement announcement came as a result of not being able to regain a spot in Toulon's matchday squad, however, he gave Late Tackle the exclusive insight. 

EXCLUSIVE: Soon to be retired Springbok legend Bryan Habana just can't get enough of Late Tackle as he joins the team to chat all things retirement and drops a Bok bolter or two with the upcoming England Series in mind.

VIDEO: Gareth Wright, Western Province's kicking coach and recruiter, joins the Late Tackle team on the couch to speak about what goes into recruiting players for the Union.

VIDEO: The Rebels coaching staff of Dave Wessels and Kevin Foote took some time out of their preparations to join the Late Tackle for a catch-up session.

VIDEO: Back in 2010 when John Dobson was the UCT-Ikeys coach, he was forced to make a decision whether to keep or 'fire' Jake White from his coaching staff.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Four changes are made to the Brumbies starting XV for the crunch match against the Melbourne Rebels at GIO Stadium on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Waratahs head coach Daryl Gibson has made two changes to his starting line-up ahead of Saturday's Round 13 clash against the Crusaders at AMI Stadium in Christchurch.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has named an all-new front row ahead of his side's Super Rugby match the Waratahs at AMI Stadium in Christchurch.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle says the performance of the country's Super Rugby teams is not good enough and the tournament needs to be more competitive to flourish.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Reds have made three personnel changes to the starting XV for their clash against the Sunwolves in Tokyo.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger has made minimal changes to his team for their Super Rugby Round 13 clash against the Lions in Dunedin on Saturday.

NEWS: New Zealand Rugby (NZR) said Thursday they will grant Hurricanes captain Brad Shields a release to play for England in South Africa next month but were unhappy with how the matter had been handled.

SOUTH AFRICAN CONUNDRUM: New Zealand officials have gone on the charm offensive, ahead of this week's fixtures.

NEWS: Former England defence coach Andy Farrell won’t be leaving Ireland anytime soon, at least not until the end of the Rugby World Cup Japan.

REVEALED: The Hurricanes have finalised their coaching team for the 2019 Super Rugby season.

The heart of this matter is losing the ball/not having control/knocking on. rugby365's law guru Paul Dobson bring clarity to decisions that puzzle us.

OPINION: Jan de Koning and Tauriq Ebrahim look at a possible replacement for the injured Malcolm Marx in the Springbok team.

INJURY UPDATE: France's June Test Series against World Cup Champions New Zealand just got more challenging.

PREMIERSHIP SPOTLIGHT: To say there has been a major clearout at Northampton Saints would be an understatement.

TRANSFER NEWS: Samoan international lock Brandon Nansen has signed for Dragons on a two-year contract.

OPINION: Hurricanes winger Ben Lam has been a revelation this season, but looks unlikely to be in the All Black’s thinking for June.

TRANSFER NEWS: Wasps director of rugby Dai Young has taken another step towards finalising his squad for next season by confirming the departure of four players, including former Chiefs Matt Symons,  when their contracts expire at the end of the current season.

TRANSFER NEWS: Reds head coach Brad Thorn revealed he wouldn't prevent Quade Cooper from heading to another Super Rugby franchise.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Fresh from victory at the Oceania Rugby U20 Championship, New Zealand Under-20 head coach Craig Philpott has named the squad that will travel to France to defend the World Rugby Championship later this month.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Saturday's Champions Cup Final promises to be a mouthwatering affair, between two giants of Europe.

There was lots of rugby action at schools this weekend after the long weekend. Here we bring you results of the matches between two schools, not just the 1st XV matches.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Vice-captain Thomas Perenara will make his comeback to the Hurricanes squad via the bench on Friday against the Blues at Eden Park.

BREAKING NEWS: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus was dealt a massive blow ahead of his first Test in charge.

RANKINGS: Surely in the history of schools rugby in South Africa there has never been a day like last Saturday in Paarl when 1 played 2 and 3 played 4 - two brilliant matches.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Crusaders just seem to do the little things better than any team, but it’s the continual innovation that keeps the side in title contention year after year.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Blues' All Blacks superstar Sonny Bill Williams returns to the starting XV for the Super Rugby match against the Hurricanes on Friday.

REACTION: Two key players for the Crusaders and All Blacks have opted for loyalty over the lure of big money in Europe.

REACTION: Junior Springbok coach Chean Roux praised his team’s commitment as they produced another solid performance on their UK tour to defeat Wales Under-20 41-5 at Cardiff Arms Park on Tuesday.

NEWS: All Blacks prop Ofa Tuungafasi will play for the Blues and New Zealand Rugby (NZR) until the end of 2021.

NEWS: Worcester Warriors confirmed that 15 first-team players will be leaving the club in the off-season.

All eyes are on Spain this weekend, Bilbao in the Basque country to be more precise, as there are three big finals taking place there.

INJURY UPDATE: The Stormers are confident that their captain will be fit to face the Chiefs at Newlands on Saturday.

NEWS: The BlitzBoks will be without key forwards Kyle Brown and Tim Agaba when they re-assemble in Stellenbosch on Monday for the final two tournaments of the 2017/18 World Rugby Sevens Series, in London (June 2-3) and Paris (June 8-10).

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Dragons lock Cory Hill and Cardiff Blues flank Ellis Jenkins were Tuesday named as co-captains for Wales's Test matches against South Africa and Argentina next month.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: A 29-man travelling Chiefs squad has touched down in South Africa ahead of the two-game South African tour against the Stormers and Sharks.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Gloucester Rugby and Cardiff Blues will go head-to-head in search of European glory in the Challenge Cup final on Friday, May 11.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Gregor Townsend named six uncapped players in a 33-man Scotland squad for the tour to Canada, USA and Argentina next month.

OPINION: After hammering the Melbourne Rebels in their own backyard, players from the Crusaders dominate our Super Rugby Round 12 Team of the Week.

WATCH as a Curwin Bosch sidestep, which fooled half of the Kings Park Stadium, helped Sharks record a convincing victory over the Highlanders on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Melbourne Rebels’ recent debutant Nathan Charles said he side will bounce back when they take on Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: After England's dismal Six Nations campaign, Eddie Jones has finally admitted that he needs some extra help for their upcoming Test Series against the Springboks in June.

NEWS: Controversial Wallabies fullback Israel Folau has reportedly spoken with Reds head coach Brad Thorn about joining the Queensland Reds in 2019 according to the Daily Telegraph.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: In a new series rugby365 offers readers a chance to air their views in a column. Roy Robertson gets the first crack.

NEWS: The Highlanders have announced the signing of two players for 2019 and 2020.

INJURY UPDATE: The Bulls received a timely boost ahead of their crucial Super Round 13 encounter with the Sharks.

Glenwood extended their unbeaten run by beating Affies 37-34 in a nine-try thriller in Pretoria on Saturday.

In part three of the Dan Carter interview, he recalls his workout with the New England Patriots and talks about the difficulties in becoming an NFL kicker.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: While the debate over who should don the Springboks No.10 jersey heats up as the June test window nears, one player has separated himself from the pack.

A powerful second half at HTS Daniël Pienaar gave Die Brandwag a 26-10 win over Daniël Pienaar who had led 10-5 at half-time.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger will hope his side minimize their error count ahead of the clash with the Lions.

The crowd was certainly entertained when Kearsney hosted one of their biggest traditional rivals at the weekend, with both teams prepared to give the ball some air. 

INJURY UPDATE: Leinster are set to have scrumhalf Luke McGrath available for their Champions Cup Final clash against Racing 92 in Bilbao, Spain on Saturday.

NEWS: SA Rugby welcomed its successful achievement of its targets in the latest report of the Eminent Persons Group on Transformation in Sport (EPG), released in Pretoria on Monday.

NEWS: The Sunwolves have lost one of their best players for the rest of the current Super Rugby season.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: It is not desperation stage yet, but the Lions are determined to bounce back after a second loss on tour.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Sharks head coach Robert du Preez was full of praise after his side's impeccable performance against the Highlanders.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Kurtley Beale's baffling decision to cross-kick to Israel Folau in the final minute of the Waratahs' 21-24 loss to the Blues was down to mistakenly believing his team had a penalty advantage.

NEWS: Highlanders have announced the re-signing of several players for 2019.

On Saturday, in an FNB Classic Clash, St Andrew's hosted and beat old neighbours Graeme College 34-14. Both schools sent in match reports.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Jaguares coach Mario Ledesma is attempting to keep a lid on hopes of a place in the finals for the first time after the Argentines upset the Chiefs 23-19 to notch four straight wins on the road.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: A hat-trick for Ben Lam against the Lions saw the Hurricanes' flyer soar ahead on the top try scorer's list with 12, three more than the next best Emiliano Boffelli from the Jaguares.

REACTION: Super Rugby's governing body SANZAAR have issued a statement amid conflicting reports of potential competition expansion or reduction – namely from South African teams – that have been 'taken out of context'.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Blues’ flyhalf stocks are set to take another hit as Bryn Gatland is set for a move to the south according to the media reports.

TOP 14 WRAP: Racing 92 booked the rights to host a semifinal with an impeccable  42-13 win over Agen.

Playing at home after a fixture switch due to construction work taking place at SACS, Diocesan College (Bishops) outlasted The South African College High School (SACS) in a tightly contested war of attrition to win by 19-7 (halftime 5-7).

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: As many as three South African sides could be on the verge of making the switch to European Rugby.

At last, after three whole seasons, Paarl Boys' High have had their record for an extended run of matches broken by a South African school, and it happened on their own Brug Street field in Paarl.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: France lock Arthur Iturria has pulled out of a training camp for a tour to New Zealand and been replaced by Clermont teammate Paul Jedrasiak, the French team announced.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Bulls head coach John Mitchell revealed that there were a few referee decisions that were challenging to accept.

Paul Roos Gymnasium beat Paarl Gimnasium 32-13 in Paarl on Saturday morning.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Stormers coach Robbie Fleck believes his side are finally hitting their straps after the impressive 29-17 win over the Bulls on Saturday.

PREMIERSHIP REACTION: South Africa's Schalk Brits could be denied the chance of one last home match in front of the Saracens' faithful after suffering a hamstring injury in the European champions' final game of the regular English Premiership season on Saturday.

INJURY UPDATE: When the Chiefs depart for Cape Town on Sunday, captain Sam Cane won’t be joining them.

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Sharks captain Ruan Botha has been issued a warning for an alleged foul play during his team's 38-12 win over the Highlanders.

Ratu Kadavulevu School in Lodoni, one of the biggest boardinbg schools in Fiji, has won the 19th annual Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament.

What happened in two matches in Paarl registered on the Richter scale of schools rugby.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: The semifinals were finalised on Saturday, as three of the qualifiers boosted wins and one advanced despite losing.

PRO14 REPORT: The Scarlets humiliated the Cheetahs in the quarterfinal at Parc Y Scarlets on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Sharks produced arguably their best performance of the year to send the Highlanders packing in Durban on Saturday.

PRO14 REPORT: Simon Zebo marked his final appearance at Thomond Park in style, creating the crucial try as Munster set up a mouth-watering semifinal showdown with Leinster by edging past Edinburgh 20-16.

INJURY UPDATE: The Lions' 19-28 loss to the to the Hurricanes had come at a cost for the Springboks.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Stormers maintained their unbeaten record at home, when they bullied the Bulls into submission on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Blues recorded only their third win of the season when they narrowly beat the Waratahs 24-21 at the Brookvale Oval on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: Wing Ben Lam scored a hat-trick of tries to help the Hurricanes record a 28-19 win over the Lions at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Saturday.

REPORT: Billionaire Western Force owner Andrew Forrest has delivered on his promise to make rugby more exciting after the inaugural World Series Rugby season kicked off on Friday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Wales No.8 Taulupe Faletau has agreed on a long-term contract extension with Bath, the English Premiership club announced.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Iconic French flyhalf Frederic Michalak says he has no regrets ahead of his last Top 14 home tie with Lyon on Saturday as the self-described "artist" prepares for retirement at the age of 35.

The South African Under-20 started their three-match tour of the UK with a convincing 41-3 victory over Scotland in Edinburgh on Friday, 4 May 2018.

INJURY UPDATE: The Wallabies could take on the Six Nations champions Ireland without experienced scrumhalf Will Genia.

It's an FNB Classic Clash in Grahamstown, a city of clergymen, legal men and teachers, once a border town, now a restful place of steady pace.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS: Cheetahs head coach Rory Duncan has made a few changes to his starting XV from last week for their Pro14 semifinal Qualifier against the Scarlets in Wales. 

Near neighbours in Uitenhage, HTS Daniël Pienaar and Hoërskool Die Brandwag meet in an FNB Classic Clash on Saturday.

NEWS: Ulster back row forward Robbie Diack has announced his intention to return to South Africa at the end of the current season.

PRO14 SEMIFINAL QUALIFIER: This is a mouth-watering pairing and a match-up that could create memories that last for many years to come as the defending champions take on the Cheetahs. 

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Crusaders scored six second-half tries in a masterclass of professionalism, as they blew the Rebels away.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: It’s 21 rounds down and just one to go in Premiership Rugby arguably the most exciting day of the season – as all 12 teams are in action at the same time.

What a day for Paarl! Over at Gim, one plays 2 and down at Brug Street 3 plays 4.

PRO14 SEMIFINAL QUALIFIER: Thomond Park will be a formidable battleground for Richard Cockerill's Edinburgh team who come into this qualifier game against Munster after a superb season. 

NEWS: Ireland and Ulster wing Andrew Trimble announced he will retire at the end of the season.

TOP 14 SPOTLIGHT: First and last have been settled, but there is plenty at stake in the last Top 14 league round, particularly for the Paris clubs, one chasing glory the other flirting with disaster.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Jaguares recording a historic sweep on their tour of Australasia - the first team to do so.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger has made only a couple of changes to his starting side for their Super Rugby clash against the Sharks at Kings Park on Saturday.

TRANS-TASMAN STREAK: The Waratahs could have done without the stag-party antics of Wallaby Nick Phipps before they try to end the drought of Australian sides against New Zealand opposition in Sydney on Saturday.

The prospect of this match is in itself exciting. It is a match to catch the imagination and enjoy wide interest.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Two key members of the Stormers team will reach milestones when they host the Bulls in a Super Rugby Round 12 encounter at Newlands on Saturday.

Former All Black Charles Piutau is to set to make his international return next month, lining up for the Barbarians when they take on England on May 27.

NEWS: Wing Tim Visser has called time on his Scotland career, announcing his retirement from international rugby.

REACTION: The Golden Lions Rugby Union will let the law 'take its course', as an alleged racial incident in a club game continues to escalate on social media.

In a move that emphasises the importance of referees in the rugby game New Zealand has added two new managers to its existing two.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS: Lions head coach Swys de Bruin has made a number of changes to his starting XV for their Super Rugby clash against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday. 

There are three European finals on the second weekend of May. The men to referee them are Wayne Barnes of England, Jérôme Garcès of France and Ben Whitehouse of Wales.

NEWS: Northampton Saints confirmed that fullback Ben Foden will be leaving the club at the end of the 2017/18 season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach Robert du Preez has made three changes to his starting XV for their clash against the Highlanders at Kings Park on Saturday.

NEWS: Melbourne Rebels prop, Jermaine Ainsley and young centre, Semisi Tupou have secured their futures in Melbourne, re-signing with the franchise for the next seasons.

The @rugby365com team welcomes a special guest, Geraint Powell, as we look forward to the Cheetahs' historic appearance in the Pro14 play-offs.

NEWS: Super Rugby chiefs are reportedly considering expanding into the United States, undeterred by their previous failed attempt to increase the Southern Hemisphere competition to 18 teams.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Hurricanes head coach Chris Boyd has made four changes to the starting side which beat the Sunwolves for their Super Rugby Round 12 clash against the Lions in Wellington.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Blues welcome back the experience of captain Augustine Pulu, Patrick Tuipulotu and Jerome Kaino to their starting line-up for the Super Rugby match against the Waratahs in Sydney.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Australia fullback Israel Folau will return from injury for the Waratahs this weekend in his first match since he caused a storm with anti-gay comments.

WINNING AND LOSING STREAKS: Cliches can be irritating, but they also hold tremendous value.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Italy captain Sergio Parisse has been rested for next month's tour of Japan, coach Conor O'Shea confirmed.

PRO14 SPOTLIGHT: When Springbok centre Francois Venter leads out the Cheetahs against the Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday, it will be a new chapter in the game.

UPDATE: English Premiership side Sale have denied reports that they planned to offer former Ireland flyhalf Paddy Jackson and centre Stuart Olding a chance to resurrect their careers.

Hoërskool Framesby of Port Elizabeth lost their second match at the Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament, being played in Fukuoka, Japan. 

Hilton hosted Kearsney for the first of a double header for 2018 season in overcast and windy conditions.  

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Sharks centre Marius Louw is full of confidence that his side have the mental capacity to outwit the Highlanders on Saturday in Durban.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks rank right up there with the best in terms of clean breaks and defenders beaten.

TRANSFER NEWS: Melbourne Rebels have boosted their hooker stocks with the signing of Nathan Charles from Premiership side Bath.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls have changed up their team for the big north-south derby, when they face the Stormers in a Super Rugby Round 12 match.

There is the final of Pro D2 in France with Cyril Lafon of Lyon, a scientist involved in medical research, to redferee it.

TRANSFER NEWS: Dean Richards' achievement in guiding Newcastle Falcons to their highest Premiership finish in two decades has earned the former England back-row great a new three-year contract.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: A new-look Wallabies jersey for the 2018 international season has been unveiled, featuring a traditional twist on a modern design.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Jaguares have opted to bench Argentinian international Agustin Creevy for their Super Rugby match against the Chiefs on Friday.

In the second edition of the RugbyPass Legends series, we sit down for a three-part sit down interview with the hero of the 2015 Rugby World Cup and All Blacks great, Dan Carter.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Melbourne Rebels welcome back experienced scrumhalf, Will Genia, as one of six changes to their starting XV against the Crusaders at AAMI Park.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Chiefs, coming off a bye after a strong win against the Reds, are gearing up to face the in-form Jaguares in Rotorua this Friday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Future Hurricanes coach John Plumtree could not contain his excitement as lock Sam Lousi has extended his contract with the franchise until the end of 2019.

RANKINGS: The panel that chooses the Top 20, would like to send out a Mayday signal, for they are all at sea after the seismic upheavals of the past long weekend.  

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Crusaders have made significant changes to their team for their Super Rugby Round 12 clash with the Rebels on Friday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: PRO14 Rugby is responsible for ranking seven teams to qualify for the European Champions Cup each season.

NEWS: World Rugby is allowing a major new shake-up of laws for matches involving Western Force, one of which is very familiar to South African teams at Varsity Cup level.

PRO14 SPOTLIGHT: Munster coach Johann van Graan is fully aware that the Pro14 giants' chance of winning the title is far from guaranteed.

OPINION: Players from New Zealand make up almost half of our selections for our Super Rugby Team of the Week for Round 11.

TRANSFER NEWS: With Wales international scrumhalf Aled Davies heading across the Loughor to join the Ospreys for the 2018-19 season the Scarlets have looked to bolster the squad with experience and exciting young talent.

TRANSFER NEWS: Waratahs openside flank Will Miller will remain playing his rugby in New South Wales.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: With the Bulls arriving in Cape Town this week, the Stormers might be tempted to bolster their front row stocks with the inclusion of Springbok prop Frans Malherbe.

The Klein Karroo Tournament, hosted by Oudtshoorn High, ended on Monday, 30 April 2018.

OPINION: England coach Eddie Jones could find themselves in an uphill battle when his side take on the Springboks in a three-Test Series in June.

REACTION: Wallabies and Waratahs scrumhalf Nick Phipps admitted he was "a bloody idiot" and apologised Tuesday after being kicked out of a pub for urinating on the bar.

INJURY UPDATE: Toulon could be without Argentine international Facundo Isa for the Top 14 play-offs as the back row forward has a sprained knee, the club said on Monday.

UPDATE: Eight players thrown off France's Six Nations squad for partying into the small hours following a defeat to Scotland will face no further action, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) said Monday.

NEWS: France lock Sebastien Vahaamahina could miss the June tour to New Zealand if National Rugby League (LNR) disciplinary officials suspend the Pacific islander in relation to incidents while playing for Top 14 club Clermont.

UPDATE: Brumbies wing Chance Peni was handed a five-week ban Tuesday after pleading guilty to making a dangerous tackle in his side's 8-21 loss to the Crusaders on Saturday.

The wind dropped on Day 2 and the play lifted.

INJURY UPDATE: There was a mixed bag on the news front as the Bulls started their preparation for the big north-south derby against the Stormers.

Day 3 of the Wildeklawer Tournament in Kimberley was an exhibition of great schools rugby, climaxing in a thrilling encounter between Paarl Boys' High and Affies of Pretoria.

INJURY UPDATE: Back row forward Louis Picamoles will miss France's tour to New Zealand in June because he needs an operation.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Lions will need to make a massive step up when they head across the Tasman Sea this week for the New Zealand leg of their tour.

TRANSFER NEWS: Ulster have finally found Jono Gibbes' successor, after months of speculations.

INJURY UPDATE: France's Fiji-born back Virimi Vakatawa will miss the June tour to New Zealand after lining up a post-season operation on his groin, his Racing 92 club said on Monday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The New South Wales Waratahs have a great chance to end Australia's trans-Tasman misery next weekend against the ailing Blues.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Junior Springboks head coach Chean Roux has handed the captain's armband to natural 'born leader' Stormers lock Salmaan Moerat.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Referee Paul Williams' decision not to award the Jaguares a penalty try on half-time in their clash with the Blues baffled the Argentines at the time but ultimately proved a catalyst for their storming second half.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Lions have lost another star player to Johan Ackermann's Gloucester side.

INJURY UPDATE: Taleni Seu has become the latest Chiefs player to sustained a season-ending injury.

UPDATE: The Welsh Rugby Union have confirmed that the June Test between Wales and South Africa  in Washington DC will go ahead despite reports the game could be scrapped over disappointing ticket sales.

TRANSFER NEWS: Australian international winger Etonia Nabuli penned a one-year deal with Bordeaux on Sunday after agreeing to leave Queensland Reds, the French Top 14 club announced.

INJURY UPDATE: Racing 92's hopes of a Top 14 and European Champions Cup double suffered a setback.

REACTION: Former All Blacks lock Brad Thorn is making his mark on the Reds, highlighted by their gritty 27-22 win over South Africa's table-topping Lions in Brisbane on Saturday.

INJURY UPDATE: George Kruis has been ruled out of England's tour of South Africa by his club boss at Saracens, Mark McCall.

TOP 14 SUNDAY WRAP: Racing 92 added gloss to their recently-acquired play-off berth status in France's Top 14 with a bonus-point 39-15 victory at Bordeaux on Sunday.

PREMIERSHIP SUNDAY WRAP: Wasps booked their place in the Premiership semifinals in thrilling fashion as Christian Wade crossed twice in a 36-29 win over Northampton Saints.

In the Super Rugby Round 11 match between the Stormers and the Rebels, a player passed the ball into the referee. rugby365 law guru Paul Dobson looks at the incident.

DAY TWO WRAP: Olympic champions Fiji stormed to victory in a dramatic final at the Singapore Sevens on Sunday, narrowly edging out a captainless Australia 28-22 to go top of the circuit table.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck is still confident about his team's chances of making this year's Super Rugby play-offs. 

REACTION: Lions head coach Swys de Bruin believe this side didn't show enough desire to win during their match against the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday.

TOP 14 SATURDAY WRAP: Montpellier booked their place in the French Top 14 semifinals on Saturday with a six-try 45-13 victory over Pau while three-time European champions Toulon wrapped up a play-off spot.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Daily Telegraph have reported that the Rugby Football Union are targeting both Warren Gatland and Joe Schmidt as potential successors to Eddie Jones at the helm of the England set-up.

INJURY UPDATE: All Black and Crusaders star Israel Dagg is set for another spell on the sidelines after getting injured in his side's 21-8 win over the Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday.

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Chance Peni of the Brumbies has been cited for alleged foul play during his team's loss to the Crusaders on Saturday.

PRO14 REPORT: Zebre won a third straight Pro14 game for the first time in their history thanks to a tight victory away at Italian rivals Benetton.

PRO14 REPORT: James Johnstone, Jordan Lay and Duhan van der Merwe went over as Edinburgh defeated Scottish rivals Glasgow Warriors to claim the 1872 Cup.

PRO14 REPORT: Rory Best’s double-try salvo proved not enough for Ulster to earn their place in the Pro14 [;ay-offs after a tense draw with Irish rivals Munster.

PRO14 REPORT: Wales flyhalf Dan Biggar kicked a dramatic late drop-goal to give Ospreys an excellent win over Cardiff Blues in the last fixture of the regular season.

These results include matches at the Wildeklawer Tournament in Kimberley, Grey High's tournament in Port Elizabeth and the Karroo Tournament in Oudtshoorn.

PRO14 REPORT: Scarlets' title defence continued apace at Principality Stadium after a bonus point victory over Dragons, courtesy of a Tadhg Beirne double, saw them book a home quarterfinal.

PRO14 REPORT: A brace for Niyi Adeolokun and Kieran Marmion saw Connacht bulldoze Leinster on an emotional day.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Reigning Premiership champions Exeter Chiefs scored two tries in either half to secure a bonus point success over Sale Sharks 34-19 at Sandy Park.

REACTION: South Africa paid a dear price for their unbeaten run on Day One in Round Eight of the World Series.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: All Black flyhalf Lima Sopoaga kicked a 82nd-minute penalty to snatch v victory for the Highlanders over the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.

Wildeklawer's Day 2 saw many of South Africa's top schoolboy teams in action at Hoërskool  Diamantveld in Kimberley.

SATURDAY WRAP: The Springbok Sevens team will face Kenya in the Singapore Sevens Cup quarterfinals on Sunday.

PRO14 REPORT: The Cheetahs, safe in the knowledge that they have already qualified for the play-offs, eased past the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY MATCH REPORT: Manasa Mataele's brace of tries helped the Crusaders edge the Brumbies, winning 21-8 in Canberra on Saturday.

Grey High Schools huge Festival kicked off early on Saturday morning in Port Elizabeth.

After an unusually wobbly start to the season, Affies got on track with a surprisingly big win over Boland Landbou on the opening day of the tenth Wildeklawer Tournament being played at Hoërskool Diamantveld in Kimberley.

SUPER RUGBY MATCH REPORT: Jaguares recorded a historic 20-13 win over the Blues at  Edin Park on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY MATCH REPORT: The Reds' impressive first-half performance made sure they walked away with a 27-22 win over the Lions on Saturday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Waratahs promising flyhalf Mack Mason has extended his stay at the franchise until the end of 2020.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Newcastle Falcons continued their march towards the Premiership play-offs with a dramatic late victory against Leicester Tigers to end a 20-year wait for a win at Welford Road.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Stormers ended their losing streak with a scrappy win over a very poor Rebels team at Newlands on Saturday.

PRO14 TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS: The Southern Kings and Cheetahs both made significant changes to their teams for their encounter in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

Scotty Stevenson takes a look at what might just be the ailing Super Rugby tournament's biggest problem.

TOP14 SPOTLIGHT: Leaders Montpellier can help themselves, and also the five teams immediately behind them, when they take on Pau on Saturday in the penultimate league round of the French Top 14.

UPDATE: Hurricanes captain Brad Shields will be picked for England in June regardless of New Zealand Rugby's stance, according to the Rugby Football Union.

TRANSFER NEWS: Rugby Australia has offered Wallabies captain Michael Hooper an unprecedented five-year contract in a bid to secure him through to the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Australian media reported.

NEWS: The Christchurch City Council have announced a fast-tracked business case for a Multi-Purpose Arena, to the delight of the Crusaders and Canterbury Rugby Union.

WORLD SEVENS SERIES ROUND EIGHT: The next round of the global circuit kicks off on Saturday,  and with the top seven teams only separated by 43 points sevens fanatics are in for a highly competitive weekend.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Sunwolves remain winless in 2018, but the Hurricanes - like so many other teams this year - were made to work hard for their victory.

In the first edition of the RugbyPass Legends series, we bring you their chat with All Blacks great Dan Carter.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Highlanders face a significant challenge in the John Mitchell-coached Bulls on Saturday.

JET LAG FACTOR: Travelling will play a major role in the Saturday matches. And the varying methods teams use to cope with it, is what makes it such an intriguing day.

The Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament, started in 2000, takes place from this Sunday, 29 April 2018, the beginning of the Golden Week of holidays in Fukuoka on Japan’s Kyushu Island. It ends on 6 May 2018.

LISTEN as Lions coach Zacharia de Bruin explains how they will deal with the traffic that is expected to test the defence of flyhalf Elton Jantjies in their Round 11 Super Rugby encounter with the Reds on Saturday.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers flyhalf Damian Willemse will join the Junior Springboks in the UK after being named in Chean Roux’s 29-man squad for their warm-up tour in preparation for the World Rugby Under-20 Championship.

LAST CHANCE SALOON: The final round in the regular season of the inaugural Pro14 approaches with plenty still to play for.

Graeme College had their first home rugby fixture of the season as they faced visitors Cambridge High School from East London. 

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions will have a new midfield pairing for their clash against the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday.

Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of the world, will host a dozen medium-sized schools for a rugby tournament.

REACTION" Wasps have dismissed claims England stars Joe Launchbury, Elliot Daly and Christian Wade are threatening to quit the Premiership outfit over a lack of financial investment.

On Saturday, 21 April 2018, Kearsney College's 1st XV lost to Glenwood 58-8 to Glenwood.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lock Jason Jenkins will start at flank for the first time when the Bulls take on the Highlanders at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

NEWS: Springbok coach and South African Rugby Union Director of Rugby Johan Erasmus described it as an opportunity to 'improve their bank balance'.

WATCH as a player attempts a penalty kick. The outcome is amazing ...

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Jaguares will be without regular captain Pablo Matera for their clash against the Blues in Auckland on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springboks star wing Bryan Habana insisted that he felt physically able to keep playing, hinting that retirement has been virtually forced upon him.

LISTEN as the @rugby365com team brings in a special guest, Piet Heymans, the Chief Executive of the trade union Sports Employers Unite, who unpacks the shocking truths about the dire financial state of the game in South Africa.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has made seven changes to his team from the side that took the field against the Sunwolves last weekend for their clash against the Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday. 

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Reds have made four personnel changes to their XV for their clash against the Lions in Brisbane.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Brumbies co-captain Sam Carter will play his 100th Brumbies Super Rugby match on Saturday as the reigning Champions the Crusaders visit GIO Stadium.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Blues hope to have some troops returning to reinforce their team for their Super Rugby clash against the Jaguares at Eden Park on Saturday.

ALL SORTS: Friday will be like opening a packet of liquorice all-sorts - an assortment of tastes and styles.

SURVIVAL MODE ACTIVATED: As we move into Round 21, five of the teams are battling for the final two places in the Premiership Rugby semi-finals.

Hoër Landbouskool Jacobsdal will be leaving the flat Free State and heading 785 km down to Clanwilliam under the Cederberg for what has become an annual interschools event, an FNB Classic Clash with Augsburg Landbougimnasium.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Sale Sharks' former Australian golden boy James O'Connor has disclosed that he injected painkillers into an injured ankle for two seasons and now needs surgery to fix the problem.

TRANSFER NEWS: Ospreys has managed to lure one of Wales' big-name stars back home.

LISTEN as Springbok coach Johan Erasmus openly talks about the captaincy and quota issues he is facing.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Stormers, desperate to end their losing streak, brought back some heavy artillery.

It's  a time for getting going for some and closing down for others.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Rebels skipper Adam Coleman will line up in the second row, as the Rebels made three changes to their starting XV to tackle the Stormers in Cape Town on Friday.

England captain Dylan Hartley has hit back at “so-called experts” who have cast doubt on his future by vowing “unfortunately for some, I’ll be back next season”.

Rasta Rasivhenge and Ben Crouse are off to San Francisco in July to referee at the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens for men and women.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The longest drought in Australian rugby, a 35-game winless streak against New Zealand opposition has led to many questions surrounding the state of the game in Australia.

LISTEN as Highlanders assistant coach Mark Hammett talks about taking on the Bulls in a Super Rugby Round 11 encounter at Loftus Versfeld.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sunwolves head coach Jamie Joseph has made two changes to the starting XV for their clash against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday.

SCHOOLS RANKINGS: This is the second of the season and let us say at the outset that all through the season we shall do our level best to reward playing performance. That is why there are changes.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Former South Africa captain Adriaan Strauss has suggested he would be open to a return to international rugby.

SUPER RUGBY TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Nehe Milner-Skudder's long-awaited return to the game will come via the bench on Friday.

This is certainly the age of high scores. Little scores ;like 7-5 and 5-0 bring a nostalgic sigh to older folk of more circumspect times.

NEWS: After having his contract revoked by the IRFU this month, former Ulster centre Stuart Olding has been looking for a new club and sources have confirmed to RugbyPass that Sale Sharks are close to finalising his signing.

The annual Wildeklawer Schools Tournament will take place from 27 to 30 April 2018. Twenty of South Africa's top 1st XVs will take part,

The Grey Rugby Festival in Port Elizabeth will have live streaming of 1st XV matches on the two playing days - Saturday 28 April and Monday 30 April 2018.

Grey's annual grand rugby festival takes place over the long weekend with matches on Saturday and Monday 30 April 2018.

SEVENS SPOTLIGHT: The South Africa Sevens team find themselves in an unfamiliar situation ahead of this weekend's Singapore Sevens tournament at the National Stadium.

NEWS: Springbok legend Bryan Habana announced his retirement from professional rugby.

TRANSFER NEWS: Leinster Rugby Head Coach Leo Cullen confirmed that Leinster Captain Isa Nacewa and hooker Richardt Strauss will be retiring at the end of the current season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Leinster Rugby and Racing 92 have been rewarded for the performances that have seen them book their places in next month’s Champions Cup final in Bilbao with the two clubs dominating the shortlist for the prestigious EPCR European Player of the Year 2018 award.

UPDATE: Bulls prop Pierre Schoeman has been suspended for six weeks for biting an opponent in his team's 28-10 win over the Melbourne Rebels on Saturday. 

OPINION: It will be a surprise to some that there are only five New Zealand players in our Super Rugby Team of the Week for Round 10.

INJURY UPDATE: Scotland centre Huw Jones will miss Glasgow Warriors' Pro14 match against the Edinburgh on Saturday.

NEWS: All Blacks will face Canterbury and Otago in what they dub the ‘game of three halves’ at Christchurch in August.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: After their latest loss, assistant coach Paul Treu wanted to make it clear that there is no division in the Stormers' management team.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Blues Chief Executive Michael Redman expressed support for embattled coach Tana Umaga, saying he wanted the All Black legend to stay with the struggling franchise.

NEWS: The French Barbarians will play the Crusaders and Highlanders in New Zealand in June at the same time as the touring French national team face the All Blacks, New Zealand Rugby said Tuesday.

INJURY UPDATE: English back row forward Steffon Armitage ruptured an Achilles tendon as his team Pau lost at Cardiff.

INJURY UPDATE: The Bulls have lost another key loose forward, as they prepare to host the Highlanders at Loftus Versfeld in a Super Rugby match this coming Saturday.

REACTION:  A key factor in Leinster and Ireland's success this season has been the contributions of young stars, according to iconic flyhalf Johnny Sexton.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: England captain Dylan Hartley will miss the remainder of the 2017/18 season as well as the tour to South Africa because of a concussion.

Paul Roos Gymnasium of Stellenbosch beat Grey High School of Port Elizabeth 43-8 in a Premier Interschools match at the Markötter Stadium in Stellenbosch on Saturday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Glasgow Warriors captain Ryan Wilson described as "uncompromising" on the pitch by head coach Dave Rennie signed a new two-year contract, the club announced.

NEWS: Two Kenyan rugby sevens players, Frank Wanyama and Alex Olaba, appeared in a Nairobi court on Monday charged with the February gang rape of a female singer.

OPINION: It wasn’t quite the classic weekend of European semi-final rugby that we all hoped for, with two one-sided results, but what it has done is create a tantalising final between two clinical and in-form teams.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Reds, determined to end a four-match losing streak, believe they have to be more physical.

INJURY UPDATE: Hurricanes have been dealt a massive blow with the news that young hooker Asafo Aumua will miss the rest of the Super Rugby season due to a wrist injury.

Once again Premier Interschools will be presenting a great array of a dozen top schools matches.

For the second time this century Hilton beat Maritzburg College 29-18 in an FNB Classic Clash in Saturday.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: New Australian Sevens Head Coach, Tim Walsh has named his first squad for the Sevens World Series in Singapore.

REACTION: Munster skipper Peter O'Mahony admitted his team lost their Champions Cup semifinal in the first 25 minutes to Racing 92 in Bordeaux on Sunday.

INJURY UPDATE: Sunwolves trio, including captain Willie Britz, will return to Japan from their intense New Zealand tour.  

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Stormers coach Robbie Fleck pointed the finger at 'key individuals', after his team dropped to the bottom of the South African conference.

REACTION: The winless Sunwolves succumbed to their eighth loss, but for a time they had a whiff of causing arguably the biggest upset in Super Rugby history against the Crusaders in Christchurch.

REACTION: The Jaguares head to New Zealand this week upbeat after back-to-back wins in Australia for the second time in two seasons.

OPINION: A panel of RugbyPass writers have pooled their thoughts and handed out some fictional awards as a way of assessing the 2018 Super Rugby season so far.

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Bulls prop Pierre Schoeman has been cited for alleged foul play during his side's 28-10 win over the Melbourne Rebels on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: The decision to persist with Thomas du Toit at tighthead prop appears to be bearing fruit.

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP CUP REPORT: Three tries in the first quarter was enough for French outfit Racing 92 to book their place in the 2018 Final.

It is being reported in the UK that Sale Sharks have tabled to a massive deal in a bid to sign controversial Wallabies star Israel Folau.

WATCH as Lions coach Swys de Bruin attempts to bring clarity to the confusion surrounding captain Warren Whiteley's injury.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: The Bulls are satisfied with their bonus-point win, but ill at ease with the tactics of the opposition.

While Hurricanes loose forward Brad Shields has grabbed headlines after putting his hand up for England selection, Gloucester coach Johan Ackermann believes his side houses another Kiwi that Eddie Jones should take a closer look at.

The case of the Blues has been investigated from every angle at this point – and we are no closer to figuring it out. Last night was the 15th straight winless venture for the side against New Zealand competition. It is a remarkable run for the country’s biggest, most-resourced franchise.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Major League Rugby, the latest attempt at launching a top-flight Rugby Union league in the United States, kicked off its inaugural season Saturday with confidence of a long-lasting impact.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Rebels coach Dave Wessels admitted his team's attempt to 'slow down the game' failed miserably against the Bulls.

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP REACTION: Johnny Sexton was all smiles as he refused to say which side he'd prefer to face in next month's Champions Cup final.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Jaguares made a clean sweep on their tour of Australia, beating the Brumbies 25-20 in Canberra on Sunday.

This week there was an FNB Classic Clash, which Hilton won, and a Premier Interschools match which Paul Roos won.

PRO14 CATCH-UP MATCH REPORT: Nick Timoney kept Ulster’s hopes of a place in the PRO14 Finals Series alive with a dramatic 36-15 bonus-point try in the dying minutes of their win against Glasgow Warriors.

PRO14 CATCH-UP MATCH REPORT: A sublime Mattia Bellini hat-trick fired Zebre to a 37-14 victory over Ospreys and back-to-back PRO14 wins for the second this season.

SUPER RUGBY MATCH REPORT: The Sharks bounced back with a hard-fought 24-17 win over the hapless Stormers side.

CHAMPIONS CUP MATCH REPORT: Leinster Rugby progressed into the European Rugby Champions Cup final in Bilbao after an emphatic 38-16 win over Scarlets at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY MATCH REPORT: Bulls marched to their third consecutive Super Rugby win with a comfortable 28-10 bonus-point victory over the Rebels on Saturday.

NEWS: Northampton Saints say they are devastated as they issue news on Saturday that Rob Horne is being forced to retire.

SCHOOLS: We continue our partnership with School Sport Live to bring you LIVE coverage of three schools matches from across South Africa.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Chiefs recorded a comfortable 36-12 win over the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Crusaders overcame a spirited Sunwolves and stormy weather to pull off a 33-11 victory with three late tries in their Super Rugby clash in Christchurch on Saturday.

CHALLENGE CUP REPORT: Gloucester secured a place in the European Challenge Cup Final for the third time in four seasons with a 33-12 win at home to English rivals Newcastle on Friday.

INSIDE THE HARLEQUINS CAMP: Joe Marler has suggested some of the Harlequins players should carry the can for their dreadful season and says they have become too comfortable with one another.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: How much will it take to keep Rieko Ioane in New Zealand?

NEWS: John Feehan has stepped down from his positions as Chief Executive of both the Six Nations Championship and the British and Irish Lions with immediate effect.

NEWS: A second South African has been suspended for a failed dope test this week.

NEWS: Rassie Erasmus, SA Rugby's Director of Rugby, welcomed World Rugby’s confirmation of the team camp venues for the Springboks and the rest of the participating teams for the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan.

NEWS: Rolling substitutions will be available to coaches for the first time in senior professional rugby in South Africa in the Provincial Rugby Challenge, which kicks off with six matches this weekend.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The two outstanding fixtures from the weather-disrupted PRO14 Round 17 take place this weekend with Ulster hosting Glasgow Warriors at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast and Ospreys travelling to Italy to take on Zebre in Parma.

CHAMPIONS CUP SPOTLIGHT: Racing 92 flyhalf Dan Carter believes the French club will have to pull "something special" out of the bag if they are to beat Munster on Sunday and reach only their second European Rugby Champions Cup Final.

History tells us that Hilton have an uphill battle as they go down from their heights into Pietermaritzburg to face Maritzburg College for the 169th recorded time.

NEWS: There is some light at the end of the tunnel for the Border Rugby Union.

SUPER RUGBY MATCH REPORT: The Lions kicked off their Australasia tour in fine style with a 29-0 win over the Waratahs at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Dragons centre Adam Hughes is set to retire from rugby due to a brain injury.

SUPER RUGBY MATCH REPORT: Flank Shannon Frizell's hat-trick helped the Highlanders cruised to a comfortable to 34-16 bonus-point win over the Blues at Eden Park on Friday.

CHAMPIONS CUP SPOTLIGHT: Leinster will attempt to set up the first half of an All-Ireland European Champions Cup Final when they face Welsh regional side Scarlets in Dublin on Saturday, with Munster taking on French club Racing 92 in Sunday's second semifinal.

NEWS: Springbok Scrumhalf Francois Hougaard has retired from international rugby with immediate effect.

NEWS: Wing Henry Speight will win his 100th Brumbies Super Rugby cap in one of four changes to the starting XV made by head coach Dan McKellar for the visit of the Jaguares on Sunday.

INJURY UPDATE: Jonathan Joseph will miss England's challenging tour of South Africa, delivering a serious blow to head coach Eddie Jones, his Premiership club Bath announced.

NEWS: Hurricanes captain Brad Shields has asked New Zealand Rugby for permission to play for England in South Africa later this year, Chief Executive Steve Tew said Friday.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks will be using all Robert du Preez's knowledge on the Stormers when they square off in a crucial Super Rugby clash in Durban on Saturday.

ALL BLACK HOMECOMING: It's shaping as a tough homecoming for Sunwolves coach Jamie Joseph, as his winless side venture to New Zealand for only the second time in their brief history.

FNB Classic Clashes will again be a feature of the schools rugby season. This year there will be 49 of them.

Grey High of Port Elizabeth and Paul Roos Gymnasium of Stellenbosch have been having great interschools meetings each year since 2005. 

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sikhumbuzo Notshe will make his first start of the season for the Stormers against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.

CHAMPIONS CUP SPOTLIGHT: Leinster great Denis Hickie believes Scarlets are the form team heading into Saturday's Champions Cup semifinal with Leinster in Dublin.

WATCH as Aidan Ross, a 22-year-old Chiefs prop, was ruled out for the season - after suffering a serious ankle injury.

TRANSFER NEWS: Newcastle Falcons have pulled off a coup with the signing of Logovi’i Mulipola from Leicester Tigers.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENTS: BlitzBoks head coach Neil Powell will be relying heavily on some of the Academy players that impressed in Hong Kong for the upcoming Singapore Sevens.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls coach John Mitchell has tweaked his loose trio combination for their Super Rugby match against the Melbourne Rebels at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: When the 18-year-old Sacred Heart College prop went viral in 2014, it was the sheer fascination of a 130kg front rower tearing a team apart returning kicks that captured everyone’s imagination.

NEWS: World Rugby will be asked to sort out a potentially damaging row between England and New Zealand.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach Robert du Preez has made three changes to his starting XV for the Super Rugby clash against the Stormers at Kings Park on Saturday. 

INJURY UPDATE: Lions and Springbok captain Warren Whiteley's injury-enforced absence from the field has been extended.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sunwolves head coach Jamie Joseph has made six changes to his team for their clash against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday.

ANALYSIS: England and Saracens performance analyst Ross Hamilton looks at what he believes is still the key statistical battleground and exactly why that is the case.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Chiefs head coach Colin Cooper has made four changes to his forward pack for their Super Rugby clash against the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Reds have made three personnel changes to the starting XV which lost to the Waratahs last week for their clash against the Chiefs in Brisbane.

LISTEN as Welsh journalist Illtud Dafydd gives the @rugby365com team his view on @SuperRugby and the ridiculous travelling schedules.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has made a number of changes to his starting team for their Super Rugby match against the Sunwolves in Christchurch on Saturday.

REACTION: All Black scrumhalf Thomas Perenara has become the highest-profile rugby player to condemn Wallaby Israel Folau's anti-gay comments, with New Zealand legend Michael Jones also saying he disagreed with the Australian player's stance.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: A return from injury for centre Reece Hodge, headlines three changes to the starting XV for the Melbourne Rebels ahead of their clash against the Bulls in Pretoria this Saturday.

NEWS: All Blacks captain Kieran Read is set to miss the upcoming Test series against France as he recovers from off-season surgery on a back injury, coach Steve Hansen said.

HITTING THE ROAD: Two desperate teams and one getting its first taste of touring this season.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Melbourne Rebels are fully focused on securing their first ever win in South Africa, when they take on the Bulls on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: It has been just shy of a decade since Dan Carter was granted a sabbatical clause in his contract, which allowed him to spend a six month period playing for French side Perpignan.

NEWS: Brandon Staples of Yorkshire Carnegie has been suspended for a period of four years from all sport.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Seems like another two Springboks could ply their trade in Europe, if Premiership fans have their way. 

NEWS: The Cheetahs have their first member of the Springbok squad for the next alignment camp.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Lions will throw a dosage of European experience into the fray when they start their four-match Australasian tour.

It's Ladies Weekend this weekend, or so it seems.

CHAMPIONS CUP SPOTLIGHT: Munster's bid to reach a first European final in 10 years when they play France's Racing 92 on Sunday has been boosted by a recent South Africa sojourn, said coach Johann van Graan.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The impact of mid-season All Blacks camps is being felt by the Highlanders, who had seven players attend a camp in Christchurch on Monday.

NEWS: After more than a decade of loyal service, the Sharks are set to lose one of their most senior players.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Waratahs Coach Daryl Gibson has made one change to his starting XV for Friday’s Super Rugby clash against South African conference leaders, the Lions at Allianz Stadium.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Blues' two talented flyhalves both get their chance to start in Friday's Super Rugby clash against the Highlanders.

SCHOOLS RANKINGS: This is the first Schools Top 20 we have done in 2018 and let us just say that we do not regard this as absolute or accurate. 

These are results that we have received of matches beyond just the 1st XV's match on the Saturday. We publish them in the order we received them.

EXCLUSIVE: The picture painted by the provisional liquidation of the Border Rugby Union is just a thumbnail of a large, dysfunctional system.

NEWS: British & Irish Lions and Ireland legend Donncha O’Callaghan has confirmed that Worcester Warriors' final home match of the 2017/18 season against Harlequins will be his last in professional rugby.

CHAMPIONS CUP SPOTLIGHT: Llanelli Scarlets coach Wayne Pivac has said his side will need to beat European rugby's "form horse" if they are to reach the Champions Cup Final at Leinster's expense.

NEWS: Toulon's veteran French wing Vincent Clerc, a three-time Six Nations winner, announced Tuesday he was retiring at the end of the season.

UPDATE: Rugby Europe banned five Spanish players, one for 43 weeks, for accosting the referee at the end of a World Cup qualifying loss to Belgium.

LISTEN as Australian-born Italian international Luke McLean explains to Jan de Koning why he moved halfway across the world to play the game and reveals which he thinks is the best global competition.

VARSITY CUP SPOTLIGHT: Maties were crowned Varsity Cup 2018 winners when they beat NWU-Pukke 40-7 at the Danie Craven Stadium on Monday.

NEWS: The Border Rugby Union has been placed under provisional sequestration after the High Court of South Africa (East London Circuit Local Division) decided in the favour of The South African Rugby Players Association (SARPA).

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Scoring tries is pretty rare for Schalk Burger which is why the South African was so pleased to cross on the weekend against Bath.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Four men have been summonsed to appear in court after England rugby coach Eddie Jones was subject to a barrage of foul-mouthed abuse following his side's Six Nations defeat to Scotland.

NEWS: The man responsible for identifying and developing emerging rugby talent for the past eight years, Mike Anthony, has been appointed New Zealand Rugby’s new Head of High Performance.

INJURY UPDATE: The Lions will be without regular captain Warren Whiteley for their opening tour match against the Waratahs in Sydney. 

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: It is the turn of some of the Sharks' players to spend some time with Springboks head coach Johan 'Rassie' Erasmus.

REACTION: Flyhalf Paddy Jackson will never play for Ireland again after he and teammate Stuart Olding were sacked despite being cleared in a rape trial, the Ulster Chief Executive said.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Exeter Chiefs Sam Simmonds’ amazing season seems to get better every week and his remarkable hat-trick against London Irish made him Premiership Rugby’s most prolific try-scorer in history.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: With half of their squad on the injury list including five for the season, the Blues continue to be on the search for replacements approaching their Super Rugby clash against the Highlanders.

OPINION: Players from the Bulls and the Jaguares dominate our Super Rugby Team of the Week for Round Nine.

INJURY UPDATE: Chiefs prop Aidan Ross has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to a seriours ankle injury.

NEWS: Rugby Australia will not sanction Israel Folau for controversial anti-gay comments posted on social media, the governing body said Tuesday, as the Wallabies superstar revealed he was willing to walk away from the sport over his religious beliefs.

INJURY UPDATE: The Bulls seem to struggle to keep their players out of surgery.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions have bolstered their squad significantly for their four-match Australasian Super Rugby tour.

INJURY UPDATE: The Stormers are welcoming back a number of players as they begin the second half of their Super Rugby campaign.

ANALYSES: It's now been 687 days since an Australian side beat a New Zealand side in Super Rugby.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: International Rugby Players Union has called on World Rugby to take more control of global tournaments, after the fallout from the recent Rugby Europe Championship.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Heyneke Meyer said his new job at Stade Francais does not mean the French club will become flooded with South African players, the way Montpellier were under his compatriot Jake White.

TRANSFER NEWS: Newcastle Falcons have signed the experienced Premiership performer Tom Arscott from next season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Following a story that broke in the Irish media on Sunday that Stuart Olding was on the brink of joining Exeter Chiefs, the reigning English champions have made the unusual decision to confirm they have no interest in the rumoured signing.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Sunwolves coach Jamie Joseph felt let down after his Japanese unit crashed in the second half against the Blues to turn a 10-5 half-time lead into a 10-24 defeat. 

TRANSFER NEWS: Reds have secured the future of their lock stocks with the re-signing of promising young forwards Lukhan Tui and Angus Blyth for a further two seasons.

INJURY UPDATE: Melbourne Rebels were knocked off the top of the Australian Conference for the first time this season and now face two tough away games in South Africa, where they have never won, without one of their star players

REACTION: Friday's bruising encounter against the Hurricanes has left Chiefs coach Colin Cooper questioning the need for so many derbies, which occupy around half the regular-season fixtures. 

TOP14 WRAP: Toulouse moved into a French Top 14 semi-final spot on Sunday with a 42-27 victory over play-off rivals Racing 92 but were left to rue a late collapse which cost them a crucial bonus point.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: The Bulls' phenomenal 40-10 win over the Sharks is evident of head coach John Mitchell's presence at the franchise.

INJURY UPDATE: England centre Jonathan Joseph could miss the tour to South Africa as he limped off during Bath's 41-6 Premiership defeat at Saracens on Sunday.

PREMIERSHIP MACTH REPORT: Saracens booked their place in the Premiership Rugby semi-finals with a handsome bonus-point 41-6 win at home to Bath Rugby, on the day of Chris Wyles’ 250th club appearance.

PREMIERSHIP MATCH REPORT: Sam Simmonds scored a hat-trick of tries as Exeter Chiefs cruised to a comfortable 45-5 win over relegation-threatened London Irish at the Madejski Stadium.

REACTION: The Springbok Sevens team missed out on a podium finish at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia and have now set their sights on the remaining two objectives they aim to achieve this season.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: The Lions are a totally different beast, Waratahs head coach Daryl Gibson admitted after his side's Super Rugby win over the Reds.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: A disappointed coach Robert du Preez labelled the Sharks' defeat to the Bulls as an embarrassment.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Brumbies head coach Dan McKellar revealed that mistakes at critical moments cost them the match against the Highlanders

REACTION: Reds coach Brad Thorn has confirmed that Quade Cooper won’t be re-joining his side anytime soon despite admitting their lack of inspiration after their defeat to the Waratahs on Saturday.

SUNDAY WRAP: New Zealand win the Commonwealth Sevens gold medal in style by keeping Fiji scoreless in the final with a 14-0 victory.

PRO14 REPORT: Benetton claimed their second-ever victory over Leinster with a Tommaso Allan-inspired triumph at the RDS Arena.

Schools are at full steam by now and there are all those urgent cries at rugby fields all over the country.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: Gloucester boosted their chances of a top six finish as they ran in four tries to down Harlequins 37-9 at the Kingsholm.

PRO14 REPORT: Carlo Canna scored a late try to break Dragons hearts as Zebre came from behind to win a pulsating contest at Stadio Fattori L’Aquila.

PRO14 REPORT: Duhan van der Merwe scored two tries as Edinburgh took a big step towards qualifying for the Pro14 Final Series by thrashing a much-changed Scarlets 52-14 at Murrayfield.

NEWS: SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux and Director of Rugby Johan 'Rassie' Erasmus have joined the Pro14 Rugby Board.

PRO14 REPORT: A classy performance from Cardiff Blues saw them romp home to a fine victory at the Southern Kings to keep their hopes of a place in the Pro14 Finals Series alive.

This was the toughest of matches, mainly because of the unrelenting defence of the Outeniqua side, but, helped by a sin-binning, Paarl Boys' High ran out 21-10 winners, three tries to one.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Bulls moved to second in the South African Conference after they pummeled the Sharks 40-10 in Durban on Saturday.

On Sunday, Day 3 of the Commonwealth Games Sevens will be played in matches that lead to the men's champions and the women's champions.

SATURDAY WRAP: The BlitzBoks will face Fiji in the semifinals of the Sevens at the Commonwealth Games.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: It was certainly one of the more surprising appointments of 2018 when Peter de Villiers was announced as  Zimbabwe’s new head coach in February.

NEWS: Ulster and the Irish Rugby Football Union have revoked Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding’s contracts with immediate effect.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: Powerful wing Taqele Naiyaravoro scored two tries as the Waratahs eased past the Reds in an Australian interstate derby.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Highlanders scored 21 points in a 10-minute blitz to set up a convincing win over the Brumbies.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Jaguares came from behind to score a dramatic 25-22 win over the Melbourne Rebels.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The top brass of the NZRU was in attendance in Wellington on Friday to see two of New Zealand’s top sides play, with one eye on the game and the other on their notebooks.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Blues ended a month-long losing streak with a 24-10 victory against the Sunwolves in Tokyo on Saturday.  

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Rob Vickers scored a last-minute try made sure  Newcastle Falcons record a 35-30 win, after they had surrendered a 25-point lead to Sale Sharks at Kingston Park.

PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Ireland's Jacob Stockdale’s last-minute try sealed a victory for Ulster Rugby as they record a narrow 8-0 win Ospreys side who were dogged in defence from the first whistle to last.

PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Glasgow Warriors displayed attacking flair and excellent finishing to secure top spot in the PRO14 Conference A and confirm a home semi-final with a 35-22 win over Connacht Rugby.

RO14 MATCH REPORT: Munster rallied from 7-17 down to steal a hard-fought 19-17 win over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Friday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Scarlets confirmed that Tom Grabham has been forced to retire from professional rugby due to injury.

NEWS: England's Rugby Football Union has banned a registered agent for 22 months, after he was found guilty of breaches of betting regulations.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Southern Kings head coach Deon Davids has made a number of changes to his team for their clash against Cardiff Blues in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

REACTION: It has been suggested that misguided 'player power' is at the heart of the departure of John Kingston’s axing at Harlequins.

NEWS: The Springbok management has made another addition to the coaching panel.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wallaby legend George Smith has spoken about his 20-day stint in a Tokyo jail, after a night out drinking on New Year’s Eve.

After hosting them in Paarl last week, Paarl Boys' High set off for George to be the guests of Hoërskool Outeniqua.

NEWS: Daily Mail have reported that the Harlequins will be using their All Blacks partnership to aid in their search for a new head coach.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Hurricanes moved back to the top of the standings on Friday.

INJURY UPDATE: Injury has forced another change to the New Zealand men's sevens team a day out from the start of their Gold Coast Commonwealth Games campaign.

TOP 14 SPOTLIGHT: Montpellier's New Zealand coach Vern Cotter insists being French Top 14 leaders is meaningless unless the club can translate their dominance into a first national league title.

NEWS: The Springboks have changed their coaching set-up, as the June internationals approach.

OBITUARY: And I said to myself: Watch out, Fergie. Here it comes.

SOCIAL MEDIA MELTDOWN: It should be about the on-field action. Unfortunately, it is an off-field storm that dominated the headlines.

FINAL COUNTDOWN: With a mere five points separating the five teams from third-place Leicester Tigers to seventh-place Gloucester Rugby the race for a semi-final and European Rugby Champions Cup spot set up a nail-biting weekend.

SEVENS SPOTLIGHT: World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont is predicting Sevens to be at its exhilarating and compelling best at a landmark Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

FINALS SERIES RACE: With only two full rounds left the focus is now fully on making the Final Series or Champions Cup play-off with 11 teams having something still to play for. 

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Cheetahs will unleash Springbok flyhalf Johan Goosen against Irish giants Munster in a Pro14 clash in Bloemfontein on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks coach Robert du Preez named a powerful team for their big all-South African Super Rugby derby against the Bulls.

WORLD CUP UNDER-20 SPOTLIGHT: Coach Chean Roux has announced his team to play a friendly against Georgia at the Markötter Stadium in Stellenbosch on Friday evening.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls head coach John Mitchell has made two changes to his starting XV for their Super Rugby clash against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Head Coach Dan McKellar has opted to keep co-captain Sam Carter on the bench for the Brumbies trip to Dunedin when they take on the Highlanders at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday.

ONE STOP SHOP: Here are all the teams for this week's matches.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Sale Sharks fullback Mike Haley has been given a two-week suspension for striking Wasps’ Josh Bassett.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Jaguares have made six changes to their team for their clash against the Melbourne Rebels in Melbourne on Saturday.

#EXCLUSIVE - The @rugby365com team chats to former Springbok World Cup-winning coach Jake White about his latest accolade and life in Japan.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sunwolves have made four changes to the team that will take on the Blues on Saturday in Tokyo.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES: SANZAAR confirmed the 12-match schedule for this year's Rugby Championship including match venues and kick-off times.

EXCLUSIVE: There is no doubt that Neil Powell and his Springbok Sevens management team has a system that breeds success, a system that takes a hands-on approach.