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Welcome to an exhilarating Day Two of the Sevens Tournament in Cape Town!

SATURDAY WRAP: Bath produced a second-half rout to start their Champions Cup campaign with a 37-14 win over Ulster at The Rec.

MATCH REPORT: The Sharks well and truly got back to their winning ways after demolishing Pau 45-5 in the Challenge Cup Durban on Saturday.

NEWS: Eddie Jones is set to be re-appointed as the head coach of Japan's national rugby team pending approval from the union's board, local media reported Sunday, less than two months after he walked out on the Wallabies.

REACTION: It was the performance Sharks coach John Plumtree had been waiting for and on Saturday night the Sharks, spearheaded by sterling performances by their Springboks, delivered in their Challenge Cup victory over Pau.

CHALLENGE CUP SATURDAY WRAP: A late brace of tries from Rio Dyer helped the Dragons to a 24-7 bonus-point win at Rodney Parade in the EPCR Challenge Cup against Oyonnax.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Champions Cup Round One encounter between the Bulls and Saracens at Loftus Versfeld.

MATCH REPORT: The Bulls got their European campaign off to a fine start, powering past three-time champions Saracens 27-16 at Loftus Versfeld, in Pretoria, on Saturday.

REACTION: The BlitzBoks qualified for the HSBC SVNS Cape Town quarterfinals despite going down to Ireland in their final pool game at a vibrant DHL Stadium on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the South African matches at the HSBC SVNS in Cape Town on Saturday.

WRAP: All the women's results of the HSBC SVNS Cape Town Day One.

All the men's results of HSBC SVNS Cape Town Day One.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Challenge Cup Round One encounter between the Sharks and Section Paloise at Kings Park in Durban.

MATCH REPORT: The Cheetahs kicked off their Challenge Cup campaign with a convincing 33-15 victory over Zebre in Parma on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Challenge Cup Round One encounter between Zebre and the Cheetahs in Parma.

NEWS: Two of the Springboks’ biggest rivals both head to South Africa in 2024 for mouth-watering two-Test series.

MATCH REPORT: On a difficult night in France, Edinburgh fell to an 18-31 defeat to ASM Clermont Auvergne in the opening fixture of the EPCR Challenge Cup 2023-24.

MATCH REPORT: Centre Tommy Freeman scored two first half tries for Northampton Saints as they secured an impressive 28-19 opening day Champions Cup victory at Glasgow Warriors.

MATCH REPORT: In an action-packed opener to Pool 1 of this season’s Champions Cup, braces from Union Bordeaux-Bègles fullback Romain Buros and wing Pablo Uberti caught the headlines as the French side braved a windy night at The Sportsground to smash Connacht 41-5.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY PREVIEWS: @king365ed talks to Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White and Stormers coach John Dobson about their Round One Champions Cup outings.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the South African matches at the HSBC SVNS in Cape Town on Sunday.

NEWS: The South African Rugby Union has extended the contract of Rian Oberholzer as Chief Executive Officer for a further two years, the organisation confirmed on Friday.

PREVIEW: Three South African teams are in action in the European Challenge Cup this weekend with the Sharks, Lions and Cheetahs geared to face some top quality sides.

NEWS: The Currie Cup has undergone a complete overhaul that will allow all 14 unions to play for the coveted gold trophy from 2025 onwards.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks, bolstered by the return of some vital personnel, will be hoping that a change in competition will halt their disappointing start to the season when they host Section Paloise in their Challenge Cup match in Durban on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lock forward Ruan Vermaak will make his return to action for the Bulls when the Pretoria franchise begins its 2023/24 Champions Cup campaign.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Cheetahs welcome back their loan players Marnus van der Merwe and Rewan Kruger for their first Challenge Cup game against Zebre in Parma at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi on Saturday.

FESTIVE: The stage is set for HSBC SVNS Cape Town on December 9-10 at DHL Stadium as the world’s best 12 men’s and women’s sevens teams are ready to showcase their incredible talents on the pitch.

NEWS: The SA Rugby have approved new tackle laws to make rugby safer at school and club level.

TEAMS ANNOUNCEMENT: The Stormers will face the Leicester Tigers for the first time in their Champions Cup season opener at Welford Road on Sunday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Jaco Visagie will captain the Lions in their Challenge Cup encounter with Perpignan at Stade Aime Giral on Sunday.

WATCH as Springbok Ivan van Zyl talks about his return to his old stomping ground - Loftus Versfeld!

FRIDAY PREVIEW: Connacht back row forward Paul Boyle has warned Union Bordeaux-Bègles to expect weather conditions they have never experienced before.

PREVIEW: Clermont Auvergne’s clash with Edinburgh kicks off the Challenge Cup at the Stade Marcel-Michelin in Clermont-Ferrand - a match between two clubs with realistic title aspirations.

The best rugby sevens teams in the world have been warmly welcomed to Cape Town ahead of the second round of HSBC SVNS 2024.

PREVIEW: Several Springboks and All Blacks stars who started in the World Cup Final will be in action when Japan's club rugby season kicks off this weekend.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Blitzboks head coach Sandile Ngcobo named Tiaan Pretorius as the only new player in his squad for this weekend's HSBC SVNS Cape Town tournament.

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Lions lock Ruben Schoeman has been handed a three-week suspension following his red card offence during United Rugby Championship Round Seven clash against Dragons.

NEWS: The British & Irish Lions will face Argentina in 2025 for the Lions 1888 Cup.

SPOTLIGHT: Lions forwards coach Julian Redelinghuys predicts that South African teams will approach their second season in the European Cup differently as far as rotation of players in the different campaigns are concerned.

WATCH as Stormers defence coach Norman Laker previews the Champions Cup Round One encounter with Leicester Tigers.

WATCH as the BOKS OFFICE team get the real story behind the famous nickname of World Cup winner Deon Fourie.

TRANSFER NEWS: Rising Wallabies star Mark Nawaqanitawase announced Thursday he will jump codes and join rugby league powerhouse Sydney Roosters, with beleaguered Rugby Australia voicing disappointment.

NEWS: La Rochelle's director of rugby Ronan O'Gara has been handed a one-week touchline ban for ill-discipline and will be in the stands for this weekend's Champions Cup game with Leinster, Top 14 organisers the French national league (LNR) announced on Wednesday.

WATCH as the hugely popular BOKS OFFICE, hosted by Hanyani Shimange with Springbok legend Jean de Villiers and Schalk Burger, returned for another incredible episode.

SPOTLIGHT: Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie has his sights set on the quarterfinal of the Challenge Cup and it all starts for his team in Parma against Zebre at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranch on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Jacques Nienaber wanted to make something clear to Irish media during his first official press conference as Leinster's senior coach this week.

NEWS: Japan international Shota Horie said Wednesday he will retire at the end of this season after playing in four World Cups including a 2019 quarterfinal on home soil.

NEWS: The BlitzBoks Women's Sevens assistant coach Cecil Africa revealed his team will make the most of their home-ground advantage at this weekend's HSBC SVNS Cape Town. 

SPOTLIGHT: Highly-rated prop Angus Bell has put his hand up to captain the wounded Wallabies after conceding Australia's World Cup flop still haunts the playing group.

WATCH as Bulls outside back Sebastian de Klerk talks to @king365ed about the value that World Cup-winning Springboks bring to the Bulls and reveals who is the most valuable.

SQUAD UPDATE: The BlitzBoks have added two players to their squad after an injury blow.

SPOTLIGHT: The hostilities between the 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams are already great value, but there will be so much more on offer across the weekend, that Cape Town.

SPOTLIGHT: Sanele Nohamba has been a beacon of light for the Lions in their United Rugby Championship campaign this season.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has revealed the 26 players for his sides’ first Challenge Cup outing of the 2023/24 season.

INTERVIEW: Two-time World Cup-winning flyhalf Handre Pollard speaks about goalkicking and Springbok rival Manie Libbok!

REACTION: It took him six tournaments to get there, but when Masande Mtshali finally scored his first try in a BlitzBok jersey in Dubai, the 20-year-old forward almost missed this very significant milestone in his short Sevens career.

NEWS: Fiji international Api Ratuniyarawa admitted to committing a series of sex offences before he was due to play for the Barbarians against Wales.

SQUAD UPDATE: Munster's lock stocks are starting to look a bit thin ahead of some big matches.

SPOTLIGHT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen is ready to put his squad's depth to the test over the next few weeks as they switch their attention to the Challenge Cup.

TRANSFER NEWS: Wales star George North will join French second division team Provence on a two-year contract from next year, the ProD2 club announced Monday.

NEWS: Tom Foley, who was the TMO for this year's World Cup Final, has decided to step away from international match officiating for the foreseeable future.

WATCH AS Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie talks about heading into a second European season.

WATCH AS Stormers coach John Dobson explains what his selection tactics are for the opening round of the European Cup competition.

POOL DRAW: The two South African Sevens teams will both face the USA on the opening day of the HSBC SVNS Cape Town next Saturday, with the pools announced shortly after the Springbok Sevens team claimed a fifth consecutive title in Dubai on Sunday.

TOP 14 SUNDAY WRAP: Stade Francais rebounded from a tumultuous week to record a comprehensive 27-12 victory over champions Toulouse in the Top 14 on Sunday.

NEWS: All Black head coach Scott Robertson hailed the "class" of Beauden Barrett after the playmaker committed to another World Cup cycle on Monday by signing with New Zealand Rugby until the end of 2027.

REPORT: Leicester Tigers sent a strong message to their European opposition with an emphatic 47-3 rout of the Newcastle Falcons in a Premiership encounter on Sunday.

DAY TWO WRAP: Selvyn Davids pulled the strings as defending champions South Africa beat Argentina 12-7 in a thumping encounter to claim their fifth straight Emirates Dubai Sevens title.

REACTION: The Bulls are currently flying the South African flag in Europe, sitting pretty in third place in the United Rugby Championship.

WATCH as Sharks coach John Plumtree gives a brutally honest assessment of his team's humbling loss to the Bulls in a URC Round Seven encounter.

TOP 14 SATURDAY WRAP: Siya Kolisi's Racing 92 claimed a late bonuspoint that sent them back to the summit of the French Top 14 despite Saturday's 18-23 loss at Clermont.

MATCH REPORT: Ciaran Frawley's last-gasp try saw Leinster snatch a 24-22 derby win from the jaws of defeat and end Connacht's near year-long unbeaten run at the Sportsground.

MATCH REPORT: Substitute Giacomo Da Re scored a late try as Benetton fought back for an 18-13 United Rugby Championship victory over Ospreys at Stadio di Monigo on Saturday night.

MATCH REPORT: The Stormers finally returned to winning ways in the United Rugby Championship, but it wasn't pretty.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: Northampton ended Saracens’ five-match winning streak as Phil Dowson’s men secured a gritty 18-12 Premiership win in London on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: An impressive second-half performance from Edinburgh brought them a thoroughly deserved 27-24 win over Ulster at Ravenhill Stadium – their first in Belfast since 2018.

DAY ONE WRAP: Seven of last season's top eight qualified for the men's quarterfinals after day one of the Emirates Dubai, the first event of a revamped HSBC SVNS 2024.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Seven match between the Stormers and Zebre Parma at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.

MATCH REPORT: Gareth Davies scored two of Scarlets' five tries as they edged to a 29-23 bonus-point United Rugby Championship victory over 14-man Cardiff at the Arms Park.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Seven match between the Lions and the Dragons at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

MATCH REPORT: The Lions overcame a questionable red card to record a bonus-point 49-24 win over a deficient Dragons team in their URC match at Ellis Park, in Johannesburg, on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: A rampant Bulls scored six tries as they demolished the Sharks in their 44-10 run-away victory in the United Rugby Championship at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Seven match between the Bulls and the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria

MATCH REPORT: Marcus Smith won the duel between England’s flyhalves in waiting at The Stoop but it was the contribution of Harlequins’ pack that underpinned a 36-3 victory over Sale.

NEWS: World Rugby has finally released a statement on the pending court case over neurological injuries.

NEWS: Lyon second row Romain Taofifenua will be available for France's Six Nations campaign after changing his mind over his decision to retire from international rugby after the World Cup, he said Friday.

MATCH REPORT: Munster turned in an electric attacking performance to beat United Rugby Championship leaders Glasgow Warriors 40-29 at Musgrave Park.

WATCH a World Cup-winning Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber gives his first interview since his move to Irish province Leinster

SEASON PREVIEW: Forty-four days after the World Cup concluded, 14 of the players who featured during South Africa's thrilling one-point victory over New Zealand in the Final will suit up for club duty in Japan.

SATURDAY PREVIEW: There will be a big spotlight on the Springboks in action at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday when the Bulls host the Sharks in a United Rugby Championship Round Seven match.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has named a powerful team for their United Rugby Championship Round Seven clash against the Sharks in Pretoria on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers head coach John Dobson has revealed his team to face Zebre Parma in a United Rugby Championship Round Seven clash in Stellenbosch on Saturday.

South Africa's BlitzBoks are looking to equal Fiji’s record of the most consecutive Cup titles in one country after winning five-straight in Hong Kong between 2015 and 2019.

LISTEN as celebrated former Springbok captain Jean de Villiers previews the URC Round Seven face-off between the Bulls and Sharks at Loftus Versfeld.

NEWS: It doesn’t happen too often that a rugby coach is satisfied with the amount of preparation done before a major tournament, but that’s not the case for Springbok Women's Sevens coach Renfred Dazel on match day minus one of the Dubai Sevens 2023, the first of eight tournaments in the new SVNS.

NEWS: French Top 14 club Stade Francais announced they had disciplined players and coaches after a member of Pau's coaching staff was reportedly hit in the face after last weekend's game between the teams.

WATCH as Ox Nche talks about taking on fellow Springbok Wilco Louw in the big Loftus face-off on Saturday.

INTERVIEW: Newly crowned World Rugby Player of the Year Ardie Savea said Friday that he wanted to "try something new" and test himself after moving to Japan's big-spending league.

SPOTLIGHT: Few would argue the impact Rights Mkhari has had on teams she has been involved with – whether it was in fifteens for the Springbok Women or the Bulls Daisies, or in the abbreviated game with the Springbok Women's Sevens, the soft-spoken Limpopo-raised player has gained the respect of all.

TOP 14 SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand second row forward Sam Whitelock said he hopes to find a positive side to last month's World Cup Final loss, after arriving at French Top 14 club Pau on a two-year deal.

NEWS: Rugby Australia will implement a new two-year trial that will see the legal height of tackles lowered in the community game, as they look to minimise head injuries.

REACTION: Saracens Director of Rugby Mark McCall has criticised the "shameful" treatment of Owen Farrell.

ROUND ONE PREVIEW: An exciting new era for Sevens will begin in Dubai on Saturday and Sunday (December 2 and 3), as the highly anticipated HSBC SVNS 2024 kicks off.

SPOTLIGHT: As the United Rugby Championship heads into its seventh round, it is the sixth team on the log that is currently rated as the top defensive team in the competition.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions coaching staff has named an unchanged line-up to face the Dragons in the United Rugby Championship at Ellis Park on Saturday.

URC ROUND SEVENS, PREVIEW: United Rugby Championship Round Seven kicks off with a blockbusting showdown between Munster and Glasgow Warriors at Musgrave Park.

NEWS: Italy’s Andrea Piardi will referee the Pool One meeting between the Bulls and reigning Premiership champions Saracens at Loftus Versfeld following the announcement of the referees for Rounds One and Two of the 2023/24 Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup

NEWS: England captain Owen Farrell will not be available for the 2024 Six Nations campaign.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach John Plumtree has revealed his team to face the Bulls in a United Rugby Championship Round Seven clash in Pretoria on Saturday.

REACTION: Springbok star Damian Willemse says his Stormers teammates should not be too hard on themselves after their recent United Rugby Championship tour.

SPOTLIGHT: Sharks prop Ox Nche is under no illusions about the challenge his team will face when they come up against the Bulls in their United Rugby Championship Round Seven encounter in Pretoria on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Sam Cane has suggested that the All Blacks eligibility rules should be reviewed following his move to Sungoliath in Japan.

WATCH Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White reveals the true value of two-time World Cup-winning Springbok utility back Willie le Roux.

TRANSFER NEWS: New Zealand tighthead prop Owen Franks, who had a stint with Toulouse in the Top 14 during the World Cup, has signed a contract with the Crusaders for the 2024 Super Rugby season, the Christchurch-based franchise announced on Wednesday.

SPOTLIGHT: No.8 Nizaam Carr is relishing the prospect of going up against the 'best in the world' when the Bulls host the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

STAT ATTACK: The Bulls will host the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday in the first of the #BIG South African derbies in the United Rugby Championship.

SPOTLIGHT: Experienced BlitzBok forward Impi Visser believes this weekend's Dubai Sevens tournament will give his team the perfect opportunity to put some respect back into the jersey.

SPOTLIGHT: Stormers head coach John Dobson admits that a lot of "strategic calls" will have to be made over the next few weeks as the Champions Cup takes centre stage.

REACTION: The level of abuse hurled at match officials in the wake of last month's World Cup Final, has reached unprecedented levels.

SPOTLIGHT: The Lions are fully aware of the work they have to put in to build a winning culture. 

NEWS: Former Fiji head coach Simon Raiwalui has landed a new job.

SPOTLIGHT: After a winless four-match United Rugby Championship tour the Stormers got a number of important players back this week and it is not just their World Cup winners.

NEWS: Munster head coach Graham Rowntree is expecting Springbok lock RG Snyman to return to the playing field in March next year in a "worst-case scenario".

NEWS: The match officials appointments of the United Rugby Championship Round Seven fixtures have been confirmed.

UPDATE: The Lions confirmed that Sanela Nohamba has joined the list of players extending their stay with the Lions. 

SPOTLIGHT: Just a month after contesting for the World Cup title in the final, Springbok star-wing Cheslin Kolbe and All Blacks captain Sam Cane have reunited at Tokyo Sungoliath in Japan.

NEWS: Five members of the World Cup-winning Springbok squad in France were nominated for the SA Rugby Player of the Year Award for 2023.

SPOTLIGHT: Scott Robertson is a man who embraces pressure and he knows it will reach new heights in his tenure as head coach of the All Blacks.

NEWS: Former Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika is reportedly eager to prolong his role as Los Pumas head coach until the end of the next World Cup.

SPOTLIGHT: The Bulls' Jaco van der Walt is one of a handful of very talented flyhalves in Pretoria and says the competition amongst them helps him grow as a player.

NEWS: World Cup winning Springbok RG Snyman will not renew his contract with Munster after it expires at the end of the season. 

SPOTLIGHT: World Cup-winning Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has officially started his new job at Leinster on Monday.

SPOTLIGHT: The All Blacks had to overcome doubt, scepticism and scrutiny as they marched into the 2023 World Cup Final on October 28.

BREAKING: The hugely popular Boks Office hit show is set to debut at the HSBC SVNS CPT.

NEWS: South Africa's two-time World Cup winning captain Siya Kolisi said he had been nervous before tasting victory on his Racing 92 debut as they beat La Rochelle 32-10 in Paris to take over the number one spot in the French Top 14 table.

MATCH REPORT: Glasgow made it five wins from six to go top of the United Rugby Championship table after recovering from a 0-14 deficit to inflict a second defeat of the season on Ulster.

REACTION: Jake White, the Bulls Director of Rugby, reiterated the intricate difficulties of travelling after visiting Connacht coach Pete Wilkin rued the fact that his side could not to come away with a losing bonus point.

MATCH REPORT: Exeter earned their first Premiership away win in over a year with a 20-14 victory over Newcastle in a topsy-turvy game at Kingston Park.

SATURDAY WRAP: Handre Pollard had another sterling performance for Leicester in their 38-20 victory over Gloucester in the Premiership on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Ospreys centre Keiran Williams scored two tries to earn his side a 31-9 derby victory and condemn Scarlets to another defeat in Swansea in the United Rugby Championship on Sunday.

REACTION: The next four-year cycle leading up to the World Cup in Australia has started and Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen believes he has players that can play a big role.

REACTION: Sharks head coach John Plumtree admitted that the returning Springboks was the catalyst his team needed and it was there for all to see against the Dragons on Saturday.

TOP 14 SATURDAY WRAP: Uncapped English flyhalf Joe Simmonds slotted 15 points as surprise packages Pau beat Stade Francais 30-6 on Saturday to take the lead in the French Top 14.

REPORT: A classy 65th-minute finish from Jordan Larmour gave Leinster a decisive third try in their 21-16 United Rugby Championship win over Munster at the Lansdowne Road Stadium.

REPORT: The Sharks recorded their first win over the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship season, beating Dragons 69-14 at Kings Park on Saturday.

WATCH as Springbok Willem Alberts stole the show during the Lions' 61-19 win over Zebre on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Six match between the Sharks and Dragons at Kings Park in Durban.

MATCH REPORT: The Bulls stamped their authority in their first United Rugby Championship game back at Loftus Versfeld when they disposed of Connacht in searing heat by 53-27 on Saturday.

SATURDAY PREVIEW: As Round Six of the United Rugby Championship gets underway this weekend all the South African teams are looking at getting back to winning ways.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Six match between the Bulls and Connacht at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

MATCH REPORT: The Lions recorded their second win of the 2023/2024 United Rugby Championship season when they thumped Zebre 61-19 in their Round Six encounter at Ellis Park on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Six match between the Lions and Zebre at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

Music is going next level at HSBC SVNS as over 40 artists join the party across the weekend at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium!

MATCH REPORT: The Stormers ended their four-week European tour with a devastating 24-31 defeat to Cardiff at Arms Park on Friday. 

NEWS: Cash strapped Rugby Australia has secured access to an AU$80 million line of credit over the next five years in its bid to pump more money into developing the floundering code.

REACTION: Stormers head coach John Dobson was questioning his team's decision-making with ball in hand again after they suffered their fourth defeat in a row in this season's United Rugby Championship.

PREMIERSHIP FRIDAY WRAP: George Ford kicked a late penalty as Sale beat Bath 11-9 on Friday to extend their lead at the top of the English Premiership to five points.

MATCH REPORT: Marco Zanon scored a pair of tries to lead Benetton to a come-from-behind 24-22 United Rugby Championship victory over Edinburgh in Scotland.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Six match between Cardiff and the Stormers in the Welsh capital.

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Dragons head of performance, Dan Baugh has been handed a four-week ban by the United Rugby Championship following his altercation with referee Ben Whitehouse.

TOP 14 SPOTLIGHT: South Africa's two-time World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi is set to make his Top 14 debut for Racing 92, head coach Stuart Lancaster said on Friday.

PREVIEW: @king365ed looks at the Friday matches in Round Six of the United Rugby Championship.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks have wasted no time in pressing on the buttons of their World Cup winning Springboks for the United Rugby Championship clash with the Dragons at Kings Park on Saturday.

PROFILE: Listen as Stormers loose forward Evan Roos talks of the valuable advice he received from Springbok Eben Etzebeth. 

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok Willie le Roux will make his debut for the Bulls at fullback when they host Connacht at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

NEWS: Experienced playmaker Selvyn Davids will lead the Springbok Sevens team for the 2024 SVNS series, starting in Dubai next weekend, where he will be joined by two uncapped players in the first of the eight tournaments of the revamped season.

NEWS: The Waikato Chiefs and Auckland Blues will travel to Japan in February for games against top local teams in preparation for the Super Rugby Pacific season, officials said Friday.

NEWS: The Stormers will take on Northampton Saints in an exhibition match at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens in March.

NEWS: The Bulls' Marcell Coetzee has been suspended for three United Rugby Championship matches following his red card in the Round 5 game against Edinburgh.

NEWS: The stellar line-up for the Cup competition at this year’s World Schools Festival is gathering pace.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions host Zebre at home at Ellis Park this weekend and will be out to keep their record intact having not lost a game against the Italians.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Prop Brok Harris will captain the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship match against Cardiff on Friday, which will see him bring up 400 senior professional caps.

NEWS: The Free State Rugby Union revealed the newly elected leadership, following the Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday, November 22.

WATCH as Stormers assistant coach Dawie Snyman and centre Ruhan Nel chat to @king365ed about their URC Round Six encounter with Cardiff.

INTERVIEW: The return of the World Cup-winning Springboks has elevated the Bulls' training.

TRANSFER TALK: Former Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt is reportedly one of the leading candidates to take over the role as head coach of the Wallabies.

NEWS: Munster confirmed that Peter O’Mahony has made the decision to step down as squad captain after over 10 years leading the province.

WATCH as the Sharks' full collection of World Cup winners start training with the team.

Details of the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024 have been announced.

SPOTLIGHT: The dust is slowly settling on the Springboks' latest World Cup victory and the magnitude of their success still hasn’t fully sunk in for some of their stars.

SPOTLIGHT: It has been nearly a month since the World Cup Final in Paris and seems the All Blacks are still picking up the pieces after their defeat to the Springboks.

PROFILE: Richard Kriel is eager to take his career to the next level at the Lions.

SEVENS SPOTLIGHT: A decade ago, a number of 20-year-olds joined the SA Rugby Sevens Academy – as it was known at the time – and not too long after joining the set-up in Stellenbosch, engrained their names in the history books of the BlitzBoks.

LISTEN as Bulls utility back Devon Williams chats to @king365ed about facing Connacht at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

NEWS: Former England assistant Richard Cockerill has been sacked by Montpellier just seven games into the Top 14 season.

INJURY UPDATE: The Stormers, desperate to end their losing streak on their month-long European venture, has had their second row resources further depleted.

NEWS: England star Tom Curry has been ruled out of the Six Nations tournament after the flank's club Sale revealed he needs surgery on a hip injury.

SPOTLIGHT: Lukhanyo Am says the Sharks are "growing and learning" and that it won't be long before they are "very dangerous" as a few of their World Cup-winning Boks returned to training this week.

The long overseas tours for the South African team in the United Rugby Championship have recently come under scrutiny. 

NEWS: The match officials appointments of the United Rugby Championship Round Six fixtures have been confirmed.

SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand playmaker Richie Mo'unga said that he can imagine playing in Japan "until I retire" and is not thinking about a future return to the All Blacks.

REACTION: New Rugby Australia Chairman Dan Herbert says all stakeholders and fans will be listened to as part of the ailing code's concerted effort to revive the game in Australia.

NEWS: About 30 minutes after the Wallabies’ record 6-40 World Cup defeat to Wales in Lyon a couple of months ago, then-Australia coach Eddie Jones was asked about an alleged meeting with Japan.

WATCH as two-time World Cup-winning Springbok Steven Kitshoff gets put through his paces for the first time at Ravenhill Stadium.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Former Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper is set to make his Sevens debut in Perth in January after being officially confirmed in the Australian men's squad.

SPOTLIGHT: France captain Antoine Dupont said he will have to make "sacrifices" if he is to feature for his country at next year's Olympic Games in Paris.

WATCH as Director of Rugby Neil Powell and coach John Plumtree explain to @king365ed what it will take to get the Sharks out of their current slump.

NEWS: The Stormers revealed that one of the true legends of Cape Town has hung up his boots.

INJURY UPDATE: Leinster loosehead Ed Byrne has returned to full training this week ahead of their clash with United Rugby Championship winners Munster in Dublin.

SPOTLIGHT: The Springboks have a "secret sauce" that sets them apart from other international teams.

NEWS: The fifth member of the 1995 World Cup winning Springboks has died.

NEWS: Exeter apologised to former England wing Ugo Monye after he reported being subjected to racist abuse following the Chiefs' 25-24 win over Gloucester on Sunday.

TOP 14 WRAP: La Rochelle prepared for Siya Kolisi's Racing 92 debut this coming weekend with a 25-21 win over Bordeaux-Begles on Sunday in the French Top 14.

SPOTLIGHT: Hamish McLennan intends to finally uncover the truth about Eddie Jones's links to coaching Japan while still the Wallabies' mentor even after being overthrown as Rugby Australia chairman.

REACTION: Claiming to be the victim of a power grab, Hamish McLennan believes his axing as Rugby Australia chairman will only create further division in a code already badly fractured.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White explains why the URC runs the risk of producing the same nightmares that forced South African teams out of Super Rugby.

REPORT: Henry Slade landed a 45-metre penalty with the last kick of the match to secure a 25-24 victory and maintain Gloucester’s miserable record at Sandy Park.

NEWS: Dragons recorded their first home win in more than a year, beating Ospreys 20-5 in United Rugby Championship’s Round Five match at Rodney Parade.

REACTION: Stormers captain Neethling Fouche said it is heartbreaking knowing you delivered your best performance but still suffered a defeat at the hands of Munster.

NEWS: The defiant Hamish McLennan has finally resigned as Rugby Australia Chairman following an intense board meeting.

NEWS: Controversial former French Rugby Federation (FFR) president Bernard Laporte has been appointed director of rugby of struggling Montpellier, the Top 14 club's billionaire owner Mohed Altrad said on Saturday.

REACTION: Sharks coach John Plumtree is brutally honest about the run of bad luck his side is currently going through. He confirms that he has never lost so many matches in a row in his time as a coach.

REACTION: The Lions' No. 8 Francke Horn feels the silver lining from their 17-24 loss to Ulster was the one point they managed to get out of the game. 

TOP 14 SATURDAY WRAP: South Africa's two-time World Cup winning captain Siya Kolisi watched from the stands as his new club Racing 92 beat Stade Francais 13-9 on Saturday in the French Top 14 but their local rivals remained in the number one spot.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White addresses the rash of cards - including a red to captain Marcell Coetzee - and the way forward, after a disappointing finish to their URC tour.

SATURDAY WRAP: World Cup winning Springbok Handre Pollard contributed 16 points with the boot to help Leicester Tigers overcome a stubborn Northampton Saints for their first Premiership home win of the season.

MATCH REPORT: Glasgow Warriors ran in four tries to earn a 26-12 bonus-point victory over Benetton.

MATCH REPORT: Leinster's international-laden team moved to the top of the United Rugby Championship after beating a young Scarlets side 54-5 at the RDS.

MATCH REPORT: The Dragons recorded their first home win in the United Rugby Championship for more than a year after seeing off 14-man Ospreys 20-5 at Rodney Parade.

MATCH REPORT: The Stormers' winless run away from home continued when they went down 3-10 to Munster in tough conditions in Limerick on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Five match between Munster and the Stormers at Thomond Park in Limerick.

MATCH REPORT: So near yet so far as the Sharks slumped to their fifth loss in the United Rugby Championship which saw them lose their first home game against Connacht by 12-13 in Durban on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Five match between the Sharks and Connacht at Kings Park in Durban.

MATCH REPORT: The Bulls concluded their European tour with a 23-31 defeat to Edinburgh in Round Five of the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship.

WATCH as Springbok star Steven Kitshoff lands in Ireland to embark on his new journey at Ulster.

Hamish McLennan has vowed to stay on as Rugby Australia Chairman, despite been given an ultimatum to step down by six state unions.

NEWS: Wales legend Alun Wyn Jones will bring to an end his illustrious career when he leads out Toulon on Saturday against ASM Clermont Auvergne.

FRIDAY WRAP: Bath Head of Rugby Johann Van Graan admitted he breathed a sigh of relief at his side's narrow 20-19 Premiership victory over neighbours Bristol.

MATCH REPORT: Zebre claimed a converted try five minutes into stoppage time to salvage a 22-22 draw against United Rugby Championship opponents Cardiff in northern Italy.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Five match between Edinburgh and the Bulls in Edinburgh.

MATCH REPORT: The Lions ended their four-match United Rugby Championship tour with a 17-24 defeat to Ulster in Belfast on Friday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Five match between Ulster and the Lions at Ravenhill Stadium in Belfast.

PREVIEW: @king365ed looks at Saturday's Round Five URC matches - check out his predictions!

NEWS: South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed that two men have been taken in for questioning following the break-in at the South African Rugby Union's headquarters in Cape Town.

NEWS: In the wake of a thrilling 2023 World Cup victory, MyPlayers has announced the nominees for the Players' Player of the Year Awards.

NEWS: Six member unions, including Queensland, the ACT and Western Australia, have called on Rugby Australia Chairman Hamish McLennan to quit.

SPOTLIGHT: Cheslin Kolbe is a man with unwavering faith and it certainly came in handy during those agonising minutes in the closing stages of the World Cup Final at Stade de France in Paris.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wing Leolin Zas will play his 50th match for the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship encounter with Munster on Saturday.

NEWS: The United Rugby Championship disciplinary process has come down hard on two Sharks players - banning both for four weeks.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks coach John Plumtree wasted no time in drafting in a World Cup Springbok, as they look to end their winless start to the United Rugby Championship season.

FRIDAY PREVIEW: Lions and Bulls will be hoping to conclude their European tour on a high in Round Five of the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship.

PREVIEW: Two in-form French sides meet in the Top 14 on Saturday as leaders Stade Francais host Racing 92, although South Africa's two-time World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi is not expected to make his debut for another week.

WATCH as retired former Springbok captain Jean de Villiers shares his insights on how the Stormers can solve some of their problems.

WATCH as Sharks coach John Plumtree unpacks the reasons behind his team's winless start to the URC season.

SPOTLIGHT: Two familiar faces could be seen during the Sharks' training sessions ahead of their United Rugby Championship Round Five clash against Connacht in Durban on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls are eyeing the scalp of their Round Five host Edinburgh as the South Africans look to complete their European travels with another successful showing in the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship.

NEWS: Springbok wing Dillyn Leyds has signed on the dotted line for his French club.

NEWS: The British & Irish Lions have announced the formation of a historic partnership with the Premiership and the United Rugby Championship for the 2025 Lions Tour to Australia.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions coaches have made two changes for their United Rugby Championship clash with Ulster at Ravenhill Stadium in Belfast on Friday.

SPOTLIGHT: A second successive Springbok success at the World Cup has an obvious positive spin-off for rugby in the nation the team represents but it could also benefit other countries.

It was scenes of jubilation and joy as the World Cup stars returned to their hometowns.

NEWS: England wing Jonny May has been banned for three games after his first game back for Gloucester after the World Cup.

SPOTLIGHT: One of Australia's greats is open to coaching the Wallabies but says he's had no discussions with Rugby Australia about replacing Eddie Jones.

NEWS: Michael Hooper has joined Australia's Sevens squad in a bid to cap his glittering career with an Olympic gold medal.

NEWS: France captain Antoine Dupont will sit out this season's Six Nations to prepare for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris less than a year after the disappointment of an early World Cup exit.

WATCH as Sharks coach John Plumtree gives an injury update on his returning World Cup Springboks.

SPOTLIGHT: Former Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber is set to start his new job with Leinster's coaching team next week and his first task will be a big one.

NEWS: SA Rugby has sent their condolences to the family of the student who lost her life a week after the Springbok Trophy Tour in East London.

SPOTLIGHT: In 2017 Shona-Leah Westons' rugby career with the Springbok Women took a tumble, literally and figuratively.

WATCH as forwards coach Rito Hlungwani chats to @king365ed about the cubage and caliber of forwards the Stormers have lost in recent years and how they are dealing with it

SPOTLIGHT: Duhan van der Merwe is not like "every other wing” and that is why the Bulls will be keeping a close eye on him when they face Edinburgh

NEWS: The South African Rugby Union confirmed that there was a break-in at the Plattekloof headquarters in Cape Town.

REACTION: The Welsh Rugby Union has apologised after an independent review found the organisation an "unforgiving, even vindictive" place to work for some employees.

OPINION: @king365ed, having returned from South Africa's successful campaign in France, sat down and named an all-time Springbok World Cup XV.

TEAM UPDATE: While the remainder of the World Cup stars are returning this week, Leinster has a few injury issues to deal with ahead of back-to-back domestic derbies.

SPOTLIGHT: The Lions' 12th position on the log, despite three out of four losses on tour in the United Rugby Championship, is due to the four bonus points they managed to get in their first three games.

SPOTLIGHT: The match officials appointments of the United Rugby Championship Round Five fixtures have been confirmed

NEWS: Ulster will be without the services of fullback Ethan McIlroy for their United Rugby Championship match against the Lions at Ravenhill Stadium in Belfast on Friday.

SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers will not be making drastic changes to their game ahead of their big United Rugby Championship Round Five match against Munster in Limerick on Saturday.

INJURY UPDATE: Munster are set to be without a key player for their crunch United Rugby Championship clash with the Stormers in Limerick on Saturday.

NEWS: Insisting it's no takeover, Phil Waugh is confident of getting the powerhouse Brumbies on side after announcing NSW as the first state union to agree to the strategic reset of Australian rugby.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Connacht management team have named a 29-man travelling squad to South Africa for the United Rugby Championship fixtures against the Sharks and Bulls.

WATCH as Bulls' new recruit Mpilo Gumede revealed he has found his happy place at the Pretoria-based franchise. 

WRAP: Olympic qualifying was in the headlines, but it was New Zealand who sounded a warning to other teams ahead of the start of the 2023-24 HSBC SVNS season.

WATCH as departing coach Jacques Nienaber drops a hint that he might return to the Springbok fold in the not-too-distant future.

WEEKEND WRAP: England wing Henry Arundell marked his Top 14 debut with a hat-trick of tries but it was not enough to prevent Racing 92 from slipping to a 31-26 defeat at Toulon on Sunday.

Zebre Parma ended their 22-match losing run in the United Rugby Championship with a 12-10 win over the Sharks on a night of tears and high emotion at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.

NEWS: Former Wallaby boss Eddie Jones expects to be working again by January.

SUNDAY WRAP: Saracens produced a wonderful display to dismiss Newcastle Falcons and gain a bonus point in a 50-12 Premiership rout at Kingston Park.

MATCH REPORT: Leinster scored five tries in a 33-10 bonus-point win over Dragons in the United Rugby Championship.

TRANSFER NEWS: The market value of South African players have skyrocketed since last month's World Cup victory, with at least two Ireland-based Springboks being courting by teams from France and South Africa.

REACTION: Stormers head coach John Dobson admitted that frustration levels reached a new high during his team's United Rugby Championship Round Four clash in Treviso on Saturday.

REACTION: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has plenty of praise for Sanele Nohamba after the player produced a man-of-the-match performance against Scarlets in Llanelli on Saturday.

TOP 14 SATURDAY WRAP: Toulouse welcomed back more of their World Cup stars and raced to a huge lead but were made to sweat by last-place Perpignan before winning 43-34 in the Top 14 on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: A Ben Healy drop-goal with the last kick of the match earned Edinburgh a dramatic 25-22 win over Connacht just as the Irish side appeared to have snatched a late draw.

SATURDAY WRAP: Handre Pollard and Jasper Wiese's return to the Premiership has not gone as planned as their club Leicester Tigers suffers a 25-29 defeat to Harlequins.

MATCH REPORT: An impressive comeback from Glasgow Warriors saw them overturn a 0-10 deficit to win a hard-fought United Rugby Championship encounter 31-23 with Ospreys in Swansea.

MATCH REPORT: The Lions claim their first win of the United Rugby Championship season with a nail-biting 24-23 victory over Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets Llanelli.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Four match between the Scarlets and the Lions at Parc y Scarlets Llanelli.

MATCH REPORT: The Stormers suffered their second defeat in a row on tour when they went down 17-20 to Benetton in the United Rugby Championship Round Four match in Treviso.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Four match between Benetton and the Stormers at Stadio Monigo in Treviso.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White reveals the real value of his team's hard-earned URC win over Cardiff at Arms Park at the weekend.

REACTION: The Sharks will return home from their four-match European tour still winless and with a solitary bonus-point to show for their month-long venture at the start of the United Rugby Championship.

REACTION: England flank Tom Curry has doubled down on the claim of racism he levelled against South Africa, just days after Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi labelled England as 'unprofessional'.

MATCH REPORT: Bath produced a stunning second-half performance to win a pulsating West Country derby against Gloucester 45-27 at a sold-out Kingsholm.

MATCH REPORT: Tries in either half from Jacob Stockdale and Nick Timoney allowed Ulster to battle back from 14-3 down to beat Munster 21-14 in the United Rugby Championship.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Four match between Zebre Parma and the Sharks at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Four match between Cardiff and the Bulls at Cardiff Arms Park.

REPORT: The Bulls held on in the face of a late rally to edge Cardiff 18-12 in a thrilling United Rugby Championship encounter at Arm Park on Friday.

MATCH REPORT: Italian outfit Zebre won their first match in 18 months when they edged a shockingly poor Sharks team 12-10 in their United Rugby Championship encounter at Stadio Lanfranchi, in Parma, on Friday.

SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers have added another big name to their long-term injury list as they prepare to face Benetton in their United Rugby Championship Round Four clash on Saturday.

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY PREVIEW: The Stormers will be looking to get their United Rugby Championship campaign back on track in Italy this weekend.

NEWS: Two of South Africa's World Cup-winning Springboks will return to domestic action less than a week after completing a victory tour of their home country.

SPOTLIGHT: Head coach John Dobson says Duane Vermeulen is keen on joining the Stormers as a coach.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: There are four changes to the Stormers' starting line-up for their United Rugby Championship clash with Benetton Treviso on Saturday.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White talks to @king365ed about the return of his World Cup-winning Springboks.

INTERVIEW: He is not the most vocal player in the Springbok Sevens squad, nor does he prefer to be in the limelight, but Ryan Oosthuizen has embraced his role as senior player.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan Rooyen has made a few big changes to his matchday squad for their United Rugby Championship Round four clash against the Scarlets in Llanelli on Saturday.

REACTION: Rugby Australia Chairman Hamish McLennan has defended the decision to appoint Eddie Jones as Wallabies coach, and argued why he should remain at the helm.

INTERVIEW: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White believes South Africa's involvement in the United Rugby Championship will help lure World Cup-winning Springboks back home.

INTERVIEW: South Africa's double World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi made his first public appearance as a Racing 92 player on Thursday and admitted that it felt like "the first day back at school".

FRIDAY PREVIEW: There is a changing of the guard in the Welsh game, which adds an element of uncertainty to their United Rugby Championship teams.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has stepped outside his usual selection box, with a surprise bench for their United Rugby Championship Round Four encounter with Cardiff at Arms Park on Friday.

While rugby has been an effective method to unite the world, especially in the last month, there is also an ugly problem that has made its way to the sports - social media abuse.

TRANSFER NEWS: Edinburgh confirmed that British & Irish Lion and Scotland scrumhalf Ali Price will join the club on a season-long loan from Glasgow Warriors.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks, looking to end their losing start to the United Rugby Championship, revealed a long list of injuries - including two World Cup-winning Springboks.

WATCH as double World Cup-winning Springbok captain Siya Kolisi joins his new club Racing 92.

INTERVIEW: Over three weeks since their quarterfinal exit at the hands of South Africa, France coach Fabien Galthié finally opened up about the "scar that will stay with us for life".

Though South Africa had their share of tough matches on their way to winning the World Cup, winning all three knockout contests by a solitary point, they looked to be in the most perilous position against England in the semifinal.

Speedster Courtnall Skosan seems to have found his home as he is ready to fly out of the blocks for his new team the Stormers.

Springbok supporters could not contain their emotions as one of rugby's most decorated stars called time on his career.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENTS: All Black hooker Codie Taylor will only play the tail end of the 2024 Super Rugby season, because of an extended post-World Cup break.

NEWS: Rugby could hold a Club World Cup starting from 2028, Dominic McKay, chairman of the EPCR, the organising body for the European cups, suggested on Wednesday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Cheetahs and Ospreys have committed to a ground-breaking new player development partnership deal.

PROFILE: Bulls and Springbok prop Gerhard Steenekamp admits travelling and playing away from home is not easy while the weather in the Northern Hemisphere is something South Africans can struggle with while playing in the United Rugby Championship.

NEWS: Following his heartbreak of captaining the All Blacks in the 11-12 loss to South Africa in the World Cup final in Paris and the red card he received, Sam Cane has penned a heartfelt message to All Blacks fans.

SPOTLIGHT: Duane Vermeulen was lauded by Mark Alexander, President of the South African Rugby Union, as a “Springbok great” following the decision to retire by the double World Cup-winning No.8 and a former captain of the national team.

SPOTLIGHT: Forward dominance will be vital for the Lions when they take on Scarlets in Round Four of the United Rugby Championship.

WALES coach Warren Gatland may soon be shopping at Loftus Versfeld to replenish his resources in Cardiff.

NEWS: Eddie Jones would "definitely be interested" in coaching Japan but has yet to receive an offer, Japanese media quoted the former England and Australia boss as saying.

NEWS: Bongi Mbonambi has labelled England as "unprofessional" after the South Africa hooker was cleared of allegations he racially abused Tom Curry during the World Cup semifinals.

NEWS: Former France international lock forward Alain Esteve has died at the age of 77 "following a long illness", his old club Beziers announced on Tuesday.

SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers will continue their United Rugby Championship tour without one of their Boks.

NEWS: Springboks' open-top tour bus has been involved in an accident.

NEWS: The match officials appointments of the United Rugby Championship Round Four fixtures have been confirmed.

SQUAD UPDATE: The Lions have called up JP Smith and Ruhan Straeuli to join the travelling squad in Europe.

POOL DRAW: World Rugby has revealed the pools and schedule for the opening round of the new Sevens season.

NEWS: Former New Zealand coach Ian Foster revealed Tuesday that his wife and daughter were threatened by a man wielding a knife in Paris during the World Cup.

RECAP: The Bulls scored the first win in Europe by a South African franchise in the United Rugby Championship last weekend, moving them up to third spot on the log.

SPOTLIGHT: After three rounds of the United Rugby Championship campaign, the South African franchises will be eagerly awaiting the return of the World Cup-winning Springboks stars.

FITNESS SPOTLIGHT: Calling all fitness fans. Take part in the Turf Games City Series and get FREE entry to the Cape Town leg of the HSBC SVNS series!

PROFILE: Sergeal Petersen was just 18 and fresh out of high school when he mesmerised the rugby fraternity playing for the Southern Kings in the newly formed Super Rugby in 2013, scoring two tries and walking away with the man of the match award.

NEWS: All Black centre Braydon Ennor will only return to the rugby field in the second half of 2024.

SPOTLIGHT: France coach Fabien Galthie remains the "man for the job" despite the hosts' elimination in the World Cup quarterfinals, flyhalf Romain Ntamack insisted on Monday.

TRANSFER TALK: Springboks duo Jasper Wiese and Jean Kleyn are reportedly set to ply their trade in the Top 14. 

INJURY UPDATE: One of South Africa's star players is set for another stint on the sidelines.

With the Springboks' World Cup tour fully behind us, one could not forget the magnitude of their historic achievement.

NEWS: New Zealand's Sam Cane has been suspended for three matches (reduced to two matches subject to completion of the Coaching Intervention Programme) following an independent Disciplinary Committee hearing on November 6.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok captain Siya Kolisi says his squad witnessed a “united nation” in the last few days during their trophy tour.

Eddie Jones has promised he'll be back in a rugby job "very shortly" as he left the scene of his latest losing coaching role in Cardiff.

MATCH REPORT: Italian outfit Benetton moved to within striking distance of the top eight with a desperately dour 15-10 win over a very poor Lions side in Treviso on Sunday.

REACTION: The Lions will hold thumbs that loosehead prop Morgan Naude, who injured his AC joint in his shoulder against Benetton on Sunday, will not have to undergo surgery.

SPOTLIGHT: Welsh star Leigh Halfpenny said he relished the chance to play for the Crusaders as the defending Super Rugby champions confirmed that he has signed a one-year deal.

MATCH REPORT: Exeter moved to the top of the Premiership table with a bonus-point 29-20 win over Bristol.

REACTION: Speculation on the future of South Africa's Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus on Sunday spread like wildfire - despite no formal confirmation or denial.

WATCH as we bring you five minutes of mayhem by the Malmesbury Missile - Pieter-Steph du Toit.

REACTION: Jake White, director of rugby at the Bulls, underlined the big ask for teams to win away from home in the United Rugby Championship after his side was the only away team that managed to pull off a victory after defeating Zebre 54-29.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Three match match between Benetton and the Lions at Stadio Monigo in Treviso.

Tyrone Green produced one of the most incredible finishes you will ever see in a rugby match.

MATCH REPORT: The Bulls scored the first win in Europe by a South African franchise in the 2023-24 United Rugby Championship season.

TOP 14 SATURDAY WRAP: Racing 92 grabbed top spot in the Top 14 table after a hard-fought 22-20 win over Lyon on Saturday, dislodging Stade Francais.

SPOTLIGHT: Duane Vermeulen has once again confirmed his status as one of the best loose forwards in the history of the game.

MATCH REPORT: Cool-headed Connacht came from 17 points down to beat Ulster 22-20 and avoid their first defeat at the Sportsground since last December.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: Saracens' collection of England stars shone on their return to club action in a 32-17 win over Leicester on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Munster returned to winning ways in the United Rugby Championship with a 45-14 win over the Dragons at Musgrave Park.

MATCH REPORT: Scarlets claimed their first victory of the United Rugby Championship season with a nail-biting 31-25 win over Cardiff.

MATCH REPORT: Eddie Jones and his Wallabies have ridden again in the guise of the Barbarians - but, alas, the result was just the same for rugby's favourite pantomime villain.

REPORT: Leinster held on to secure an entertaining 36-27 United Rugby Championship victory over Edinburgh at the RDS Arena on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Three match match between Zebre Parma and the Bulls at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.

NEWS: The Barbarians have been forced to make a change to their line-up for Saturday’s match in Cardiff versus Wales after Api Ratuniyarawa appeared at the local magistrates court charged with sexual assault.

TRANSFER NEWS: Bath have bolstered their backline stocks with a South African.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Three match match between Glasgow Warriors and the Stormers at Scotstoun Stadium.

REACTION: John Dobson says his team is much better than what they dished up against Glasgow in their 9-20 loss in the United Rugby Championship at Scotstoun on Friday evening.

REACTION: The frustration in Sharks coach John Plumtree's voice was evident when he spoke about yet another loss on tour as the Sharks came unstuck against Ospreys on Friday evening. 

PODCAST: Listen as @king365ed visits the @CapeTalk studios for a chat with mid-morning host @clarenceford1 about all things @rugbyworldcup.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY PREVIEWS: It may be early in the season still, but two South African teams go on an Italian mission with the sole purpose of not losing any more ground on the pace-setting pack.

MATCH REPORT: The Stormers handed their first defeat of the United Rugby Championship season on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ospreys managed a comfortable 19-5 win over the Sharks at the Twickenham Stoop for the first ever London fixture of the United Rugby Championship on Friday evening.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Three match match between the Ospreys and the Sharks at Twickenham Stoop in London.

WATCH as @rugby365com brings you updates from Day Two of the four-time @rugbyworldcup champion @Springboks' victory pare around South Africa.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sergeal Petersen has been handed his official Bulls debut in round three of the United Rugby Championship when they face Zebre Parma at Stadio Lanfranchi on Friday.

REACTION: South Africa's Director of Rugby Erasmus has gotten into a public spat with a media entity over negative comments aimed at the four-time World Cup-winning Springboks.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Former Griqua Harnu Sirgel will step into the boots of Lions flank Ruan Venter when the Jozi team faces Benetton at the Stadio Minigo in Trevis on Sunday.

NEWS: All Blacks captain Sam Cane will join Japanese club Suntory for the 2024 season, New Zealand Rugby said Friday, but will still be available to play international rugby next year.

WATCH as Springbok captain Siya Kolisi delivers some sage advice the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during the team's victory parade around the country.

PREVIEW: Wales and the Barbarians have named their teams for the post-World Cup 'international' and there will not be a lack of star power in Cardiff on Saturday.

WATCH some incredible scenes as the Springboks get their World Cup 2023 tour underway in Pretoria and Johannesburg. 

FRIDAY PREVIEW: History will be made on Friday as the Twickenham Stoop will become the first venue in England to host a United Rugby Championship match.

NEWS: Wayne Barnes, the referee in the World Cup Final between South Africa and New Zeakand has hung up his whictle.

WATCH as Springbok captain Siya Kolisi bursts into song, while other members of the victorious World Cup squad explain what the support of the country means to them.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Aphiwe Dyantyi will get his first start for the Sharks when they face Ospreys in an historic first that sees the United Rugby Championship fixture take place at Twickenham in London.

INTERVIEW: If Munster is about revenge for the Stormers in a fortnight, then Friday's showdown with the Warriors in Glasgow is only about a victory for John Dobson's Capetonians.

TRANSFER NEWS: Welsh back Leigh Halfpenny is set to join defending Super Rugby Pacific champion Crusaders for the 2024 season.

SPOTLIGHT: The World Cup often signifies the end of an era, where distinguished players who have left an indelible mark on the sport retire at the end of long and illustrious careers.

NEWS: Former Australia captain Andrew Slack will lead an external review dissecting the Wallabies' dismal year and early World Cup exit as former coach Eddie Jones said he had no regrets.

WATCH as Ospreys coach Toby Booth and Sharks counterpart John Plumtree explain to @king365ed why the URC has a duty to entertain on a World Cup level.

WATCH as retired Ireland international CJ Stander speaks about the value World Cup-winning Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber will add to Leinster.

REACTION: Quade Cooper took to social media to respond to respond to some criticism from Eddie Jones.

SPOTLIGHT: The IRFU is pleased to announce that former Ireland international David Humphreys has been appointed to the role of Performance Director, succeeding David Nucifora who has made the decision to depart at the end of this season.

SPOTLIGHT: Captain Siya Kolisi wants to continue playing for the Springboks for as long as he can.

SPOTLIGHT: Having had a wet, windy and winning first taste of a Welsh derby in the URC, new Cardiff flyhalf Tinus de Beer is hoping for different conditions this weekend - but with another triumph against local rivals.

SQUAD UPDATE: The Lions confirmed that veteran prop Ruan Smith will join the squad in Europe.

SPOTLIGHT: All Blacks captain Sam Cane said Wednesday that he has been "pleasantly surprised" by support from New Zealand rugby fans following his red card at the World Cup.

SPOTLIGHT: Rugby Australia faces the daunting task of finding a new coach for the Wallabies, after their disastrous experiment with Eddie Jones ended abruptly this week.

NEWS: All Black centre Ryan Crotty on Wednesday rejoined Super Rugby champions the Crusaders for the 2024 season, after four years playing in Japan.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Former England Under-20 international Ben Loader is all too happy to learn Afrikaans and win trophies at the Stormers.

NEWS: England wing Jonny May announced his retirement from Test rugby on Tuesday, just days after winning a bronze medal at the World Cup.

REACTION: Springbok captain Siya Kolisi wants the whole world to know that Jordie Barrett did shake President Cyril Ramaphosa's hand after Saturday's World Cup Final in Saint-Denis.

SPOTLIGHT: Thousands of South Africans braved cold, wet weather to greet the World Cup-winning Springboks when they arrived in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

NEWS: The match officials appointments of the United Rugby Championship Round Three fixtures have been confirmed.

REACTION: Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth will take the World Cup trophy over any individual accolade after being snubbed for the World Rugby Player of the Year award.

SPOTLIGHT: Leinster head coach Leo Cullen is eagerly awaiting the arrival of Jacques Nienaber as the Irish Province are hoping he might be the missing link.

REACTION: South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a public holiday to celebrate the national team's World Cup victory - but not before students will have completed their final exams.

SPOTLIGHT: Australian rugby vowed to rebuild on Tuesday after the "bitterly disappointing" reign of Eddie Jones, who has quit as Wallabies coach following their calamitous World Cup campaign.

WATCH as two-time World Cup-winning Springbok captain Siya Kolisi gives an emotional farewell speech to departing coach Jacques Nienaber.

NEWS: New Zealand’s 11-12 defeat in the final of the World Cup will cost the All Blacks second place in the World Rankings.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: A 29-man Stormers touring squad has left Cape Town for a tough four-match United Rugby Championship tour up north.

MATCH REPORT: The Bulls’ discipline left them down while the accurate boot of Nathan Doak secured Ulster a 26-19 victory in their United Rugby Championship clash in Belfast on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: New Zealanders are confronting a new era for their beloved All Blacks after their defeat in the World Cup final.

SPOTLIGHT: Outgoing All Blacks boss Ian Foster is being floated as a potential replacement after Eddie Jones' sensational walkout left Rugby Australia scrambling for a new Wallaby coach.

NEWS: South Africa hooker Malcolm Marx will miss the upcoming Japanese club rugby season because of an injury that ruled him out of the World Cup, his team Kubota Spears said Monday.

REACTION: The trusty boot of a flyhalf and resolute defence again won the day for South Africa in a World Cup Final against All Blacks. 

SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand No.8 Ardie Savea has been named the 2023 World Rugby Player of the Year.

WATCH as we bring you the World Rugby 2023 awards at the Opéra Garnier in Paris on Sunday, October 29.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Two match between Ulster and the Bulls at Ravenhill Stadium in Belfast.

WATCH as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber and captain Siya Kolisi speak about the Malmesbury Missile and his Man of the Match performance in the World Cup Final.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Leicester flyhalf Jamie Shillcock returned to haunt former side Bath as he scored the winning penalty with the last kick of the game as the Tigers edged a 25-24 Premiership win to move off the bottom of the table.

MATCH REPORT: Tom Ahern’s last-gasp try rescued a draw for Munster as they fought back from 13-3 down to earn a 13-13 draw in their United Rugby Championship clash at Benetton.

MATCH REPORT: Cardiff won the first Welsh derby of the season with a hard-fought 16-9 United Rugby Championship victory over Dragons at Rodney Parade.

NEWS: Eddie Jones has reportedly resigned as Wallabies coach following a very controversial second stint.

SPOTLIGHT: Distraught New Zealand captain Sam Cane said he "would have to live forever" with the red card he received in the 12-11 defeat to South Africa in Saturday's World Cup final.

NEWS: The Lions arrived in Treviso, Italy in the early hours of Sunday morning after travelling through the night following their 15-16 loss to Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday.

NEWS: The world champion Springbok rugby team will embark on a four-day Trophy Tour to major regional population centres from Thursday, SA Rugby announced on Sunday.

SPOTLIGHT: Ian Foster ended his turbulent four-year reign as New Zealand head coach with a heartbreaking defeat in the World Cup final but while he departs without the Webb Ellis trophy he at least will have "flowers" from his devoted players.

WATCH as the Springboks celebrate their 2023 World Cup title.

SPOTLIGHT: Michael Hooper has avoided being drawn into a war of words with Wallabies coach Eddie Jones, who says he didn't select the long-time former captain for the World Cup as he wasn't a "good role model".

REACTION: South Africa faces many challenges - including loadshedding and a decaying infrastructure.

OPINION: It was another nerve-wracking 80 minutes for the Springboks as they claimed the World Cup 2023 title with a narrow 12-11 win over 14-man All Blacks on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: The Springboks became the first team to win four World Cup titles after they beat the All Blacks 12-11 in an enthralling Final in Stade de Denis on Saturday.

OPINION: Despite plenty of industry and effort, the All Blacks have fallen to a gut-wrenching 11-12 defeat at the hands of the Springboks in the 2023 World Cup final.

SPOTLIGHT: South Africa won a record fourth World Cup title on Saturday, beating three-time winners New Zealand 12-11 in a thrilling and gritty encounter at the Stade de France.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the World Cup Final between New Zealand and South Africa at Stade de France in Saint-Denis.

MATCH REPORT: The Lions started their United Rugby Championship tour with a 16-17 defeat to Edinburgh in Scotland on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Two match between Edinburgh and the Lions in Edinburgh.

MATCH REPORT: The Sharks continued their challenging Europe tour with another United Rugby Championship defeat in Ireland.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship Round Two match between Leinster and the Sharks at the RDS Arena in Dublin.

REPORT: Connacht made it two wins from two in the  United Rugby Championship with a 34-26 win over Glasgow Warriors at The Sportsground.

MATCH REPORT: The Stormers made it two wins from two matches in this season's United Rugby Championship after they thumped Scarlets 52-7 in Stellenbosch on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship match between the Stormers and Scarlets at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.

MATCH REPORT: Ospreys rallied from 0-12 down to fight back for a 34-31 United Rugby Championship victory over Zebre Parma in Swansea.

INTERVIEW: Maligned Australia coach Eddie Jones has defended his shock decision to axe Michael Hooper from the Wallabies disastrous World Cup campaign, saying the veteran flank was "not the right role model".

REACTION: England celebrated a win, but Argentina coach Michael Cheika did not have many kind words for Australian referee Nic Berry.

EXCLUSIVE: Record-break prop Tendai Mtawarira has put his money on a Springbok win in the World Cup Final.

OPINION: Forty-eight days after a 14-man England comprehensively defeated Argentina 27-10 in the Pool D opener in Marseille, Steve Borthwick’s squad brought the curtain down on their World Cup campaign with a 26-23 bronze final win against the Pumas in front of a 77 674 in Paris.

OPINION: Argentina finished their World Cup how they started - losing to England, this time by a slender margin of three points.

WATCH as injured players Malcolm Marx and Makazola Mapimpi rejoin their Springbok teammates at their World Cup base at the Le Domaine des Vanneaux Hôtel and golf spa near the quaint commune of Presles north of Paris.

MATCH REPORT: England recorded a narrow 26-23 win over Argentina and claimed third place at the World Cup on Friday. 

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the World Cup Bronze Final between Argentina and England at Stade de France in Saint-Denis.

NEWS: Bundee Aki, whose performances for Ireland in achieving the Six Nations Grand Slam and at the World Cup have earned him a nomination for World Player of the Year, extended his contract with the IRFU to 2025 on Friday.

WATCH as veteran scrumhalf Faf de Klerk reveals who has really been training as the team's back-up scrumhalf.

PREVIEW: The Stormers will be looking to build on their strong start to the third season of the United Rugby Championship when they host Scarlets on Saturday – the only game in South Africa with the Sharks, Lions and Bulls playing abroad.

SPOTLIGHT: Stormers captain Salmaan Moerat will be out of action for up to five months, head coach John Dobson confirmed on Friday.

FROM THE SIDELINES: South Africa's Minister of Sport Zizi Kodwa has made a very bold request on Rassie Erasmus.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls have made a few changes to their matchday squad that will do duty in Round Two of the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Stormers have named their team for the United Rugby Championship Round Two match against Scarlets.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach John Plumtree has revealed his matchday squad for their United Rugby Championship Round Two match against Leinster in Dublin on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: England lock Maro Itoje said he believed Argentina would be motivated by revenge at the World Cup's third-place playoff on Friday.

PREVIEW: @king365ed looks at the esoteric similarities between the last (and only) time South Africa and New Zealand met in a World Cup Final and Saturday's face-off in Paris.

WATCH as All Blacks coach Ian Foster talks about the Springboks' seven-one split on the bench and the impact it may have on the World Cup Final face-off between the two teams.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: All Blacks head coach Ian Foster has named the team to face the Springboks in the final of the World Cup in Paris.

REACTION: SA Rugby has issued a response following World Rugby's investigation into allegations made by England’s Tom Curry in relation to the use of discriminatory language by Bongi Mbonambi.

BRONZE FINAL PREVIEW: Argentina and England will be out to finish their tournament on a high note when they take on each other in the World Cup bronze final on Friday.

REACTION: It was a high-powered legal team, hired by the Springboks, that helped end the Bongi Mbonambi saga - which turned into a trial-by-media circus.

WATCH as Springbok captain Siya Kolisi speaks about facing the All Blacks in the World Cup Final at Stade de France in Paris on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has revealed his matchday squad for their first tour match against Edinburgh in Scotland on Saturday.

NEWS: World Rugby has revealed the shortlists for the prestigious World Rugby Awards 2023.

NEWS: World Rugby have released a statement following their investigation into allegations made by England’s Tom Curry in relation to the use of discriminatory language by South Africa’s Mbongeni Mbonambi.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber has revealed his matchday squad for Saturday's World Cup Final against New Zealand in Saint-Denis.