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SCHOOLS RANKINGS: The days of the 2017 rugby season are dwindling down but there are still precious matches happening, enough to bring changes to our famous Schools Top 20.

SCHOOLS RANKINGS: It is the final version of our weekly Schools Top 20 before we sit down and look back at the entire season to determine our famous Top 20 of 2017.

SCHOOLS RANKINGS: This the second last of the weekly Schools Top 20s. There are fewer matches but some big ones indeed. There will be one more weekly Top 20 next week and then one that examines the whole season.

SCHOOLS RANKINGS: There is little change to be made for the first Top 20 of this term. The results make that obvious.

CURRIE CUP REPORT: Blue Bulls fullback Manie Libbok's three tries helped the host secured a narrow 44-42 win over Griquas at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.

Location, location, location. 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: We'd be surprised if you knew about all of these players already.

NEWS: The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has appointed Steve Brown as Chief Executive Officer. 

PODCAST: Scotty Stevenson and Mils Muliaina try and get to the bottom of the Auckland crisis on this week’s episode of The Short Ball.

NEWS: Long serving Sale Sharks front row forward Eifion Lewis Roberts has announced his retirement from the professional game.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The arrival of a new baby has robbed Australia of the services of one of their most seasoned players, ahead of their Rugby Championship encounter with the Springboks.

PREMIERSHIP BY THE NUMBERS: Everything you need to know about the start of the 2017/18 season - fast starts, slow finishes and all the transfers!

NEWS: Canterbury Rugby Chairman Trevor McIntyre has resigned from the position he has held since April 2015 and from the CRFU Board, for personal reasons.

TOP 14, ROUND TWO: Lyon's English No.8 Carl Fearns said a discussion with England head coach Eddie Jones played a role in his decision not to move back to England.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks and Free State Cheetahs will go head-to-head for the top spot on the log in the Currie Cup in a match that could give the winning side a vital nudge as the second half of the competition kicks off.

MOMENTOUS OCCASION: A truly historic chapter will be written this weekend, when the first-ever Pro14 season kicks off after the addition of the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings from South Africa.

NEW CHALLENGES: As the Premiership season kick-off in full-steam, one man who can't wait to take charge of his first Premiership match is the ever-ready Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann.

NEWS: Twelve months ago his life was turned upside down by the news that he had leukaemia. On Friday he starts a new chapter.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Inny-Christian Radebe is hoping he can get more opportunities in the No.10 jersey for the Sharks in the near future. 

TRANSFER NEWS: London Irish have completed the signing of South African lock Franco van der Merwe as boss Nick Kennedy assembles his squad for the 2017/18 Premiership season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: South African Sevens star Chris Dry will be leading the new-look Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Flyhalf Kurt Coleman will start in the Southern Kings' first-ever Pro14 match against champions Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli on Saturday.

INJURY UPDATE: Italy centre Michele Campagnaro will be out for at least six months after rupturing a cruciate ligament playing for his Premiership club Exeter Chiefs, Gazzetta dello Sport reported Thursday.  

NEWS: Glasgow Warriors revealed that Fiji international scrumhalf Niko Matawalu has rejoined the region.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Clayton Blommetjies will wear the No.10 jersey when the Cheetahs start their Pro14 adventure against Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium on Friday.

It's the first Friday in September. That means its the Villager Sevens, one of the most popular rugby events in the Western Province.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Branco du Preez, who on loan from SA Sevens, has been included on the Golden Lions' bench for their Currie Cup clash against the Pumas at Ellis Park on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The groundswell of resentment against the Australian Rugby Union may cause a backlash against the Wallabies.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Utility back Garth April has been included on the Sharks bench for the Currie Cup clash against the Free State Cheetahs in Durban on Saturday.

OPINION: The Wallabies pushed the All Blacks to the brink restoring pride in the gold jersey, but in the end the Wallabies have lost another Bledisloe series.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Two Pumas stalwarts flyhalf Justin van Staden and loose forward Francois Kleinhans have been ruled out of Saturday’s Currie Cup clash at Ellis Park against the Golden Lions.

OPINION: We are just a day away from the official start of the new Pro14 tournament, but the kick-off may just be a damp squib. Jan de Koning takes a look behind the scenes.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Argentina head coach Daniel Hourcade has dropped lock Tomas Lavanini from his squad for their upcoming Australasian tour.

TRANSFER NEWS: Australian international lock Rob Simmons has signed for the Waratahs from their fierce Super Rugby rivals Queensland Reds for the next two seasons, the team said Thursday.

The curtains comes down with a bang for some schools, for the last weekend of the season is often reserved for matches which count most.

INJURY UPDATE: The Springboks received a timely boost with confirmation that seasoned prop Coenraad Oosthuizen can tour with the team to Australasia.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: All Blacks centurion Mils Muliaina has torn into Nigel Owen for his performance in the second Bledisloe match in Dunedin over the weekend.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: We take a stab at predicting the prospects of each of the teams in the new Pro14 competition!

INTERVIEW: Former Springboks defence coach Les Kiss' inside knowledge of South Africa give Ulster a rare indication of what to expect for the Pro14 opener against the Cheetahs.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Former Golden Lions wing Koch Marx has been included in the  Griquas starting XV when they take on the Blue Bulls on Friday.

Michael CheeHe’s not had the best of times being the Wallaby coach since the World Cup, but you have to say he gives his all. CREDIT: Raw Rugby

Heard the one about the Irishman and the good doctor? Yes, we bring in an Irish voice in Ian Cameron and doctor Brendan Venter as we preview the opening Round of the Pro14. There is the usual babble by Tauriq Ebrahim and Jan de Koning and even a bit about Sosban Fach.

NEWS: Former Bath captain Guy Mercer has joined Ospreys on loan until the end of the 2017/18 season.

NEWS: England International and Harlequins centre George Lowe has been forced to retire from the game on medical advice.

CURRIE CUP TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: After a horrendous 15-51 defeat to the Pumas, Blue Bulls Executive of Rugby John Mitchell has introduced plan B for their match against the Griquas at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.

IN THE CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: The struggling Golden Lions have been bolstered by the return of Springbok prop Ruan Dryer, but the focus remains firmly on beaucoup of young players in the squad.

INTERVIEW: South Africa scrumhalf Francois de Klerk can't wait to make his Premiership debut for Sale Sharks, but admits he just needs to master his muddy puddle skills before jumping into action.

NEWS: The Rugby Football Union, along with the Premiership and the Rugby Players' Association have agreed to develop a ground-breaking pitch-side test to diagnose concussion and brain injury.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Motor Neuron Disease became synonymous with rugby after the Springbok legend Joost van der Westhuizen lost his six-year battle to the disease in February.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Mining magnate Andrew Twiggy Forrest calls for Australian Rugby Union Chairman Cameron Clyne to resign after the Western Force were axed from the Super Rugby competition.

NEWS: The Western Province Rugby Football Union will look into violent conduct at club match between Villager FC and Violets RFC.  

NEWS: England star Owen Farrell signed a new five-year contract with European champions Saracens on Tuesday.

NEWS: Director of Rugby Les Kiss has announced that Rory Best will lead Ulster during the 2017/18 season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wales fullback Leigh Halfpenny has revealed it was a "huge surprise" to learn he was no longer part of Toulon's plans earlier this year.

The Women's World Cup has ended, the rugby Championshiup is resting but Europe's competitions are springing into life.

TOP 14 NEWS: Lyon's England No.8 Carl Fearns has made the shortlist released Tuesday for the French Top 14's Best Player of the 2016/2017 season award.

INJURY UPDATE: As the new Pro14 tournament approaches, Ospreys scrumhalf Brendon Leonard is set to miss four to six weeks due to injury.

REACTION: Springboks head coach Allister Coetzee defended Handre Pollard's inclusion in his squad for their upcoming away matches against Australia and the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship. Warren Fortune reports.

NEWS: Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill has handed the captain's armband to 22-year-old Magnus Bradbury.

TRANSFER NEWS: Connacht Rugby have signed former Ireland Under-20 prop Denis Coulson from French side Grenoble.

PRO14 REFEREES: PRO14 has announced the appointment of match officials for the first four rounds of its 2017-18 tournament.

NEWS: Australia centre Samu Kerevi has been released for Brisbane City National Rugby Championship opening match against Fijian Drua.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: As the Scarlets prepare for their opening match against South Africa side the Southern Kings on Saturday 2, centre Hadleigh Parkes remains adamant the side can't rest on their laurels.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Experienced flyhalf Handré Pollard, scrumhalf Ross Cronje and utility back Dillyn Leyds have been included in the Springbok touring squad for the Australasian leg of the Rugby Championship.

TRANSFER NEWS: Exciting young back row Rob Valetini has extended his deal with the Brumbies for a further two years as he continues his progression at the elite level of the game.

REACTION: Australian Rugby Union boss Bill Pulver revealed why the ARU rejected Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest's offer to save the Western Force from being cut from Super Rugby.

INJURY UPDATE: The Blue Bulls have two new injury concerns following their 15-51 Currie Cup loss to the Pumas last weekend.

CURRIE CUP ROUNDS SEVEN: The Pumas issued a stern warning to the other teams in the competition with their 51-15 demolition of the Blue Bulls.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Southern Kings hooker Michael Willemse has been named captain of the Port Elizabeth side for their maiden Pro14 tour.

PRO14 SPOTLIGHT: The Cheetahs, the defending Currie Cup champions and current tournament pace-setters, will face an entirely new challenge this week. Jan de Koning reports.

NEWS: Edoardo Padovani was finally unveiled as a Toulon player on Monday after the fullback received authorisation from the Italian Federation to leave Zebre.

REFEREE APPOINTMENTS: The PRO14 rugby competition has been expanded to include two South African teams. It will also induce three South African match officials.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Former Stormers prop Oli Kebble admits that Super Rugby-winning coach Dave Rennie was the clinching factor in his move to Glasgow Warriors.

Glenwood went up to Vryheid and won the Pionier Sevens Tournament there.

Kearsney entered two u18 sides to take part in Maritzburg College’s Skonk Nicholson 7s tournament at the weekend, both teams consisting of only Grade 10 and 11 players as the Matrics were unavailable. Kearsney’s A team were eventual tournament winners. 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Ireland and Leinster legend William Patrick Duggan has passed away at age 67 on Monday.

NEWS: A fifth straight win for South Africa has taken them above Ireland and up to third in the World Rugby Rankings.

UPDATE: Pumas lock Tomas Lavanini escaped further sanction after he received two yellow cards in his side's loss to South Africa in Salta.

REACTION: New Zealander John Mitchell would have hoped for an easier start to his tenure as the Blue Bulls' on-field coach.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: After a valuable bonus-point away victory over Argentina in Salta, players from South Africa dominate rugby365's Rugby Championship Team of the Week for Round Two.

INJURY UPDATE: New Zealand and Canterbury loose forward Matt Todd has been ruled out for four weeks due to an injury.

NEWS: The All Blacks have released nine players from their squad for this weekend's upcoming National Provincial Championship matches.

REACTION: Thousands of mourners, including a who's who of past All Blacks, gathered Monday to remember the legendary Colin Meads, hailed as one of New Zealand's greatest ever rugby players.

INJURY UPDATE: For the second successive year Western Province and Stormers hooker Siyabonga Ntubeni had his season cruelly cut short by injury.

TOP 14 REPORT: England wing Chris Ashton got his Toulon career off to a flying two-try start.

INJURY UPDATE: South Africa will be sweating over the fitness of star prop Coenraad Oosthuizen, as they take a short break before an arduous trip to Australasia.

REACTION: Errant lock Tomas Lavanini is going to have to answer for his lack of discipline, following Argentina's back-to-back defeats against South Africa.

FIRST DIVISION WRAP: Bonus-point victories were the flavour of the day in the opening round of the First Division.

NPC SPOTLIGHT: rugby365 columnist Richard Neal looks at Round Two of New Zealand's National Provincial Championship.

The Black Ferns of New Zealand are the women's champions of the world, after dethroning England in the Belfast final on Saturday.

SCHOOLS SPOTLIGHT: The end of August signals the end of the 15-a-side schools season, it seems.

REACTION: Springbok coach Allister Coetzee praised the 'leadership' in the team after their 41-23 win over Los Pumas in Salta at the weekend.

TOP 14 WRAP: Reigning champions Clermont slumped to a shock 25-32 defeat at Bordeaux-Begles in the opening round of the French Top 14 at the weekend.

REACTION: All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has defended Brodie Retallick for an apparent tip tackle in Saturday's tense Test against Australia.

OPINION: Springbok coach Allister Coetzee will be a happy man after he enjoyed his first victory on the road, thanks to a 41-23 win over Argentina.

OPINION: Argentina was certainly up for the fight and took the game to the Springboks, however, that spark failed to ignite a flame as they succumbed to a 23-41 defeat in Salta.

MATCH REPORT: The Springboks made it two wins from two matches in this year's Rugby Championship when they beat Argentina 41-23 in Salta on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Sergeal Petersen produced a moment of magic after the full-time hooter to help the Free State Cheetahs beat the Golden Lions 30-24 in a Currie Cup match in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: A late try from fullback Inny-Christian Radebe helped the Sharks edge Western Province 21-20 in a Currie Cup encounter at Newlands on Saturday.

REACTION: Australia head coach Micheal Cheika believes referee Nigel Owens should have dealt with New Zealand lock Brodie Retallick more severely.

OPINION: The Wallabies will be absolutely livid after letting themselves down in the second half to suffer a heartbreaking 29-35 defeat to the All Blacks but progress has certainly been made as they took the game to their more-fancied opposition.

OPINION: The All Blacks' defensive frailties were exposed by a determined Wallabies outfit and were forced to fight back to secure a nervy 35-29 victory to retain the Bledisloe Cup, as they survived a massive scare.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP REPORT: New Zealand bagged the Bledisloe Cup title for the 15th consecutive year after a hard-fought 35-29 over a resilient Australia team on Saturday at Dunedin.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: South Africa will wear 'red' for the first time in their 126-year existence when they play Argentina in Salta on Saturday.

CURRIE CUP MATCH REPORT: John Mitchell's tenure as the head on-field coach of the Blue Bulls got off to a disastrous start.

NEWS: All Black prop Carl Hayman, considered one of the most devastating scrummagers in the game in his prime, is to lace up his boots again.

NEWS: Heath Harvey has left his position as Saracens Chief Executive to pursue other opportunities, the club confirmed on Friday.

This Saturday is Kwaggadag when Hoërskool Oudtshoorn leave their ostriches and caves and come over the coil Outeniqua Pass and down to the green lushness of George, there or play Hoërskool Outeniqua. The Struisies go to the Kwaggas. 

NEWS: Saracens flank Will Fraser has confirmed his retirement from rugby with immediate effect

REACTION: Talented Sharks utility back Garth April will remain 'suspended' until he alters his behaviour.

NEWS: London Irish have appointed Brian Facer as the  new chief executive of the Premiership side.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND TWO: rugby365 looks at Bledisloe Cup Two - as New Zealand look to repeat last week's demolition of Australia.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The All Blacks insisted they were under "massive" pressure for Saturday's Test against Australia, despite thrashing them last week - and said they rate the trans-Tasman Bledisloe Cup second only to the World Cup.  

TRANSFER NEWS: Blues second-generation star Caleb Clarke, along with Dalton Papalii have signed with the Super Rugby franchise the Blues.

INTERVIEW: Rob Baxter prays the remarkable fairytale which has seen his Exeter Chiefs progress from the second tier to being crowned English champions will continue in the fast approaching 2017/18 campaign.

TOP 14 PREVIEW: Star signing Louis Picamoles was remaining prudent ahead of the Top 14 kick-off this weekend amidst hope Montpellier will finally win the domestic title.

NEWS: The New Zealand Rugby Union have announced the venues for All Blacks Test matches, however, there is no Christchurch fixture.

INTERVIEW: James O'Connor knows the pitfalls of stardom only too well having gone from being the Wallaby golden boy to bad boy in a few years and now he hopes England provides him with a road to redemption.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks will look to stretch their Currie Cup winning streak to five matches on Saturday when they meet Western Province in Cape Town in one of the main Round Seven Premier Division match-ups.

INJURY UPDATE: The Wallabies hopes of closing the gap on the world champion All Blacks suffered "a huge blow" on the eve of Saturday's Rugby Championship clash in Dunedin with senior lock Adam Coleman ruled out.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND TWO: rugby365's acclaimed writer Paul Dobson looks at the return match between Argentina and South Africa.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Argentinean coach Daniel Hourcade made a host of changes to his team for their Rugby Championship Round Two encounter.

The end of the season is nigh and as tradition dictates it ends with an inter-schools derby, Wynberg Boys’ High School versus The South African College High School (SACS). 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Lubabalo Mtyanda, a part-time musician and a full-time rugby player, is looking forward to the more abrasive type of game he will experience in the newly formed Pro14 competition.

Rondebosch and Bishops lower the curtain on the 2017 season with a match against each other, this time at Rondebosch Boys' High. 

It has been cold in mountainous Queenstown of late and they will possibly find their annual trek down to King William's town a relief.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Free State coach Rory Duncan has made mammoth modification for their macth against Golden Lions on Saturday.

Joy Neville of Munster has been appointed to referee the Women's Rugby World Cup Final in Belfast on Saturday when England and New Zealand battle it out for the trophy.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Western Province have had to make two changes to the backline for the Currie Cup encounter with the Sharks at Newlands on Saturday.

SEVENS NEWS: South Africa Sevens strength and conditioning coach Allan Temple-Jones part ways with the Union after 10 years of service.

SEVENS SPOTLIGHT: The International Sevens tournament held at the Markotter Stadium in Stellenbosch will be ideal preparation for the World Rugby Sevens series says coach Neil Powell. 

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Five changes were made to the Golden Lions starting XV that will travel to Bloemfontein for the Currie Cup clash with the Free State Cheetahs on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Experienced scrumhalf Francois Hougaard will make his 44th Test appearance for the Springboks when South Africa face Argentina in the high altitude of Salta on Saturday.

CLASSIC CLASH PREVIEW: Hoërskool Brackenfell take a short trip to Parow to take on the struggling Hoërskool Tygerberg in their annual Classic Clash on Saturday.

EXCLUSIVE: Jan de Koning sat down with legendary former All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick to find out on why New Zealand is so far ahead of the rest of the world!

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks stalwart Keegan Daniel will miss his side's clash with Western Province at Newlands on Saturday.

SCHOOLS PREVIEW: Boland Landbou from Paarl travel to Riversdale to take on Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale on Saturday.

World Rugby has sent out an instruction on the minimum time to be taken in the case of a head injury assessment (HIA).

NEWS: Scrumhalf Bryn Hall is sticking with the Crusaders, having re-signed for 2018.

UPDATE: A SANZAAR inquiry found that All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams should have been removed from the Bledisloe Cup encounter against Australia last week because he showed loss of full control of bodily movements after a head knock.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: All Blacks prop Owen Franks has been ruled out of this weekend's Rugby Championship Test against Australia with an Achilles problem, team management said Thursday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Wallabies on Thursday made three changes after their Rugby Championship trouncing for the return match against the All Blacks in Dunedin this weekend.

On Saturday, the Pumas and the Springboks meet in Salta, a city tucked in the mountainous northwest corner of Argentina with Bolivia to its north and Chile to its west.

NEWS: Ireland's second choice flyhalf Paddy Jackson denied a charge of rape through his lawyer at a court hearing in Belfast on Wednesday.

NEWS: New Zealand international Jason Eaton has been accused of assault following a night-club brawl in France that was captured on video.

Frenchman Pascal Gaüzère has been appointed to referee the Test between Argentina and South Africa in the second round of the Rugby Championship.

INJURY UPDATE: Scotland lock Richie Gray underwent a back operation on Wednesday, as injuries mount for his French club Toulouse days before the Top 14 kicks off.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: All Black hooker Dane Coles has been cleared to play his first Test of the year in the Rugby Championship clash with Australia on Saturday.

This week the rugby365 team looks at John Mitchell's decision to move his Loftus Versfeld clean-out forward by a couple of months, while they also analyse the Sonny Bill Williams concussion saga.

CURRIE CUP NEWS: Blue Bulls head coach John Mitchell has expressed his goal of getting the Union back to its former glory, the start of which came to fruition with a full coaching personnel restructure.

On the fourth day of the Women's World Cup, the finalists for Saturday were decided - New Zealand and England.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: The Springboks will not get sidetracked by talk of 'jet lag' or the undersized pitch in Salta.

CURRIE CUP TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Thembelani Bholi has been drafted into the Pumas' starting XV when they host the Blue Bulls in Nelspruit on Friday.

CURRIE CUP TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Marnitz Boshoff, who joined the Blue Bulls from Connacht, has been named on the Bulls' bench for the trip to take on the Pumas in Nelspruit on Friday.

PRO14 NEWS: Glasgow head coach Dave Rennie has handed Scottish international Ryan Wilson the club captaincy role for Glasgow Warriors' 2017/18 season.

SUPER RUGBY 2018 FORMAT: The Western Force has won the right to appeal their axing from the competition, as the culling saga drags on.

The match between Grey High and Selborne in Port Elizabeth was much, much closer than the score - 57-22 - suggests.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Rugby Union's handling of big collisions and head knocks that lead to concussion is back in the spotlight.

This week there is second round of the Rugby Championship, this time in New Zealand and Argentina.

NEWS: Champions Cup holders Saracens will be looking to become only the second club in history to secure a European three-in-a-row when they kick off their 2017/18 campaign against long-time rivals Northampton Saints on October 15.

NEWS: Outgoing Munster head coach Rassie Erasmus explained that he will head to South Africa 'tomorrow' if the province find a replacement.

INJURY UPDATE: John Mitchell will start his stint as the main on-field coach of the Blue Bulls with a few selection posers to solve.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Australian Rugby Union (ARU) have stick to their decision to axe Western Force from the Super rugby 2018 tournament despite Andre 'Twiggy' Forrest's lucrative financial offer.

INJURY UPDATE: New Zealand hooker Dane Coles is set to make his return to Test rugby when the All Blacks take on the Wallabies in Dunedin on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Three years ago the South African Rugby Union played an April fools joke. It caused a massive public outcry, until they realised it was not true.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: After dispatching the Blue Bulls and Golden Lions, Western Province now have their sights set on a third big win in a row when they take on the Sharks at Newlands on Saturday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Tighthead prop Anthony Perenise will be re-joining the Premiership side Bath in time for the start of the 2017/18 season.

NEWS: The exciting Blues back trio of Michael Collins, Matt Duffie and Melani Nanai have all signed extended contracts with the franchise in Super Rugby.

NEWS: England's 2003 World Cup-winning scrumhalf Matt Dawson revealed Monday he has undergone heart surgery due to being bitten by a tick in a park in London last year.

NEWS: French Top 14 side Stade Francais signed South Africa international Gurthro Steenkamp as a medical joker ahead of the first weekend of the new season.

It was a lovely day in a lovely town with a rugby match worthy of the environment.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok flank Jaco Kriel says Argentina will be determined to reverse the result in Port Elizabeth when the two teams meet again in Salta on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: South Africa replaced Australia in the top four in World Rugby's rankings after the opening round of the Rugby Championship.

Again we publish the results of all matches between schools - first come, first published.

NEWS: Free State Rugby unveiled two coaching teams as the Currie Cup tournament begins to collide with the Pro14.

CURRIE CUP ROUNDS SIX: It is not a major surprise that the high-flying Western Province dominate our famous weekly selection.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Days after the Western Force's Super Rugby axing, thousands of Western Force fans have gathered to rally against Australian Rugby Union's decision.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Chumani Booi and Louis Koen have joined Eastern Cape side the Kings' coaching staff ahead of their Pro14 campaign.

NEWS: England flyhalf Toby Flood is thinking about switching allegiances to play for Germany, he revealed in an interview with The Times published on Monday.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: After a masterful display of attacking rugby, players from the All Blacks dominate our first Team of the Week for this year's Rugby Championship.

REACTION: South Africa can expect a far sterner scrum test from Argentina when the two teams meet in a Rugby Championship Round Two encounter in Salta this week.

TRANSFER NEWS: Brumbies star Christian Lealiifano will continue his return to rugby with a loan spell at Irish Province Ulster in the newly reformed PRO14 competition.

SCHOOLS REPORT: Rondebosch Boys’ High School kept their 2017 unbeaten run in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town intact with a crushing defeat of the South African College High School (SACS).

SCHOOLS SEVENS: Durban High School splendid performance made sure the school pick up the Sevens Under-18 Cup Final at Glenwood on August 19.

Irish legend Conor O'Shea - currently the head coach of the Italian national team - spoke about Springbok assistant Brendan Venter and what role he will play with the Azzurri.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wallabies defence coach Nathan Grey will have his work cut out for him this week as he looks to rectify Australia's defensive frailties ahead of this year's second Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks on Saturday.

SQUAD UPDATE: The All Blacks have added five players to their squad for this weekend's upcoming Test against the Wallabies in Dunedin on Saturday.

NEWS: As part of the next step in their turnaround strategy, the Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd confirmed that coach Nollis Marais has been granted leave for the remainder of the 2017 season.

REACTION: Nizaam Carr may not be everybody's cup of tea, but he is certainly putting his hand up for a Springbok recall.

INJURY UPDATE: Stormers scrumhalf Jano Vermaak will be on the Springboks' flight to Argentina after being called up to replace the injured Ross Cronjé.

CURRIE CUP REPORT: The Pumas were forced to dig deep in the second half to keep Griquas at bay to record a gruelling 27-21 victory in Kimberley on Sunday.

NEWS: Pierre Spies has announced his retirement from all forms of rugby following a professional career that lasted 13 years.

NPC SPOTLIGHT: rugby365 columnist Richard Neal looks back on the return of New Zealand's National Provincial Championship, with repeats of the two 2016 finals. 

It's play-off time in the Women's Rugby World Cup which has now moved from Dublin to Belfast.

CURRIE CUP REACTION: Blue Bulls head coach Nollis Marais believes his side is in a do-or-die predicament after their 40-41 defeat at the hands of the Free State Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld.

SCHOOLS SPOTLIGHT: As August flutters by, schools rugby in large parts gets left behind, though there are many that are of the greatest importance to a season.

REACTION: SA Rugby president, Mark Alexander, paid tribute to Sir Colin Meads, New Zealand's player of the 20th century - and one of the greatest of any nation of all time - who passed away on Sunday, aged 81.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP REACTION: Springbok coach Allister Coetzee had mixed feelings after a 37-15 Rugby Championship first round triumph over Argentina in chilly Port Elizabeth Saturday. 

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP REACTION: All Blacks captain Kieran Read expressed his satisfaction at the All Blacks' onslaught in the first 50 minutes of the Sydney Test.

REACTION: The Golden Lions may be going through a bad run, but coach Zacharia de Bruin is backing his young 'cubs' to come good in the Currie Cup.

OBITUARY: All Black great Sir Colin "Pinetree" Meads, a legendary hardman who helped give New Zealand rugby its edge, died on Sunday aged 81 after battling cancer.

U19 INTERNATIONAL SERIES REPORT: South African Schools ended a disappointing international tournament when they lost 52-22 to England at City Park in Cape Town.

REACTION: South African coach Allister Coetzee sounded a cautionary note, while Argentinean captain Agustín Creevy spoke of revenge.

REACTION: Wallaby coach Michael Cheika has vowed to address the defensive frailties that saw his team cough up eight tries in a demoralising 34-54 loss to the All Blacks.

REACTION: New Zealand maybe have started their Rugby Championship campaign with a bonus-point win, but there is much room for improvement.

OPINION: Argentina were certainly not at the best when they took on the Springboks in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

OPINION: The Springboks got their Rugby Championship off to a winning start with a 37-15 win over Argentina on Saturday.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP REPORT: South Africa got their campaign off to an impressive start with a 37-15 win over Argentina in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

OPINION: The Wallabies were completely blown away in the first half of the 34-54 defeat to the All Blacks on Saturday.

OPINION: An incredible first-half performance laid the platform for the All Blacks' 54-34 victory over the Wallabies in Sydney on Saturday.

CURRIE CUP MATCH REPORT: Flying wing Makazole Mapimpi scored a try five minutes into extra time to steal a one-point (41-40) win for the Free State Cheetahs over the Blue Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.

NEWS: Australia legend David Campese has returned to Australia and is eager to salvage his beloved country' rugby.

NPC SPOTLIGHT: It was a grandstand finish in the ‘Battle of the Bovine’ with Taranaki clinging on for a nail-biting 34-29 win over Waikato at Yarrow Stadium.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: All Blacks flank Jerome Kaino has returned to New Zealand ahead of the Rugby Championship Test against Australia in Sydney on Saturday to deal with a "personal matter".

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP REPORT: New Zealand open their Rugby Championship in fine style as the visitors produced a 54-34 win over Australian in Sydney.

CURRIE CUP REPORT: The Golden Lions dominated possession for the entire encounter but were thwarted by an impenetrable Western Province defence as the home side kept their visitors try-less while scoring six of their own to claim a 39-3 victory at Newlands on Friday.

NEWS: Fijian wing Josaia Raisuqe has been fired by Stade Francais while compatriot Waisea Nayacalevu has been warned over an alleged sexual assault and drunken violence, the French club said on Friday.

PRO14 have appointed Greg Garner of England to manager its elite referees in the championship which has been expanded, from PRO12 to PRO14.

Paarl Gim are about to leave Paarl and travel sedately over to beautiful George at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains. It is a beautiful journey.

REACTION: Seasoned Springbok Handré Pollard is another two weeks away from full fitness and will not feature in any of the matches against Argentina.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP: The All Blacks identified their line-out as a weak point against the British and Irish Lions and plan a big fix against the Wallabies, lock Brodie Retallick said Friday.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP: Skipper Michael Hooper urged his Wallabies team Friday to stick with the All Blacks in the hope of pulling off a morale-restoring win in the Rugby Championship series opener this weekend.

TRANSFER NEWS: England and British& Irish Lions prop Joe Marler has committed his future to the Premiership side Harlequins.

After the drama of Day 3 at the Women's Rugby World cup, the four semifinalists have been decided, the four teams who still have a chance of winning the trophy.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Griquas have made six changes to their starting XV, including five in the forward pack for their match against the Pumas.

As the rugby season in the Western Cape reaches its penultimate week, the four big Peninsula schools settle down to playing amongst themselves, traditional matches with strong traditions and rugby played with excitement and in a good spirit.

UPDATE: A security consultant employed by the All Blacks was Friday cleared by an Australian court of a charge of false representation over a bizarre bugging scandal ahead of last year's Bledisloe Cup.

SCHOOLS PREVIEW: Bragging rights for the Northern Suburbs is up for grabs when high-flying Hoërskool Stellenberg head down to the enemy's camp to take on Hoërskool Tygerberg on Saturday.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND ONE: The All Blacks will be out to reassert their dominance as the wounded Wallabies look to the return of Kurtley Beale to trigger an upset.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND ONE: rugby365's acclaimed writer Paul Dobson gives us his view on the second match of the four-nation tournament.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Four of the five Springbok squad members released for Currie Cup duty this weekend will take to the field for their respective provinces in a timely boost as the sides look to build momentum in the competition.

EXCLUSIVE: Aerios Chief Executive Officer Costas Constantinou sat down with rugby365 editor Jan de Koning to chat about the Newlands saga and the section 417 inquiry.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS: Argentina have made three changes to the team that defeated Georgia in June, for a Rugby Championship first round clash with South Africa in Port Elizabeth Saturday.

In the last match of the season Selborne College leave East London and go round to Grey High in Port Elizabeth.

All Black legend Sean Fitzpatrick - in discussion with Jan de Koning - gives his view on what could transpire in the upcoming Rugby Champ[ionship.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Gregor Townsend has named seven uncapped players in his 41-man squad for Scotland's pre-season training camp in St Andrews.

NEWS: Championship-winning coach Eugene Eloff will return to South Africa after just one year in America.

SEVENS SPOTLIGHT: As the Schools Rugby season heads to a conclusion, coaches and students gear up for the High School Sevens series.

SCHOOLS PREVIEW: Saturday 19 August sees the second round of the Southern Suburb derbies that traditionally end the season for the “Souties” in the south of Cape Town.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: SA 'A' flank Chris Cloete will start his first match for the Pumas when they travel to fortress Kimberley to face the high-riding Griquas in an all-important Currie Cup match.

SCHOOLS PREVIEW: Hoërskool Porterville will host their neighbours Piketberg in the schools annual interschools fixture on August 19.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Free State Cheetahs head coach Rory Duncan has made a number of changes to his side for their Currie Cup clash against the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Uzair Cassiem will start at No.8 for the Springboks in the opening round of the Rugby Championship.

In great numbers Grey College charge down from Bloemfontein to lovely Stellenbosch for their annual interschools meeting.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: It may be coincidence, but two 'ghosts' from the past have come back to take centre stage ahead of the opening Bledisloe Cup match between the Wallabies and All Blacks.

NEWS: The Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd confirmed that they have extended a player loan agreement with the Southern Kings which will see four current Blue Bulls players joining the Eastern Cape side to compete in the Pro14 tournament.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Blue Bulls coach Nollis Marais named Warrick Gelant at fullback for his side's Currie Cup match against the Free State Cheetahs in Pretoria on Saturday and also named new signing Jano Venter on the bench

It's a golden jubilee when you get to 50, a milestone. Stuart Berry, referee, reached that on Saturday when he refereed at Newlands.

CLASSIC CLASH PREVIEW: Hoërskool Strand head to Somerset West to take on Hottentots-Holland High School in their annual Classic Clash on Saturday.

NEWS: Brumbies have signed scrumhalf Matt Lucas on a two-year deal that will see him join the team for the 2018 Super Rugby season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Curtis Rona will make his debut and Kurtley Beale returns for the Wallabies in the team named Thursday to face the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship opener in Sydney this weekend.

Tauriq Ebrahim and Jan de Koning have a guest in studio this week as they look at rugby365's new Fantasy League, touch on the Cape of Storms, analyse the Springboks' prospects in the Rugby Championship and also touch on the Currie Cup matches.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: The Golden Lions have just one win from four matches in the Currie Cup, but coach Swys de Bruin is not about to throw the baby out with bath water.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sonny Bill Williams has been rushed back into the All Black squad for their Rugby Championship opener.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: The Lions contingent in Springbok squad have lifted their heads and moved on from the disappointment of a second successive Super Rugby Final loss.

NEWS: England captain Dylan Hartley has told Manu Tuilagi and Denny Solomona to prove they are worthy of a recall after being sent home early from a pre-season training camp.

Round three of the Women's World Cup on Thursday decides who will be in the semifinals in Belfast.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Irish great Conor O'Shea - currently the head coach of the Italian national team - spoke to Jan de Koning about the benefits of the newly launched Pro14.

NEWS: The Blue Bulls have acquired the services of Springbok Marnitz Boshoff on a two-year deal, while also managing to secure the signatures of Jano Venter and Blitzbok Tim Agaba.

SUPER RUGBY NEWS: The Crusaders have brought back loose forward Tom Sanders from the Chiefs and re-signed Pete Samu for the 2018 season.

BLEDISLOE CUP ROUND ONE: The All Blacks will be looking to land a 'knock-out punch' against the Wallabies when the two sides meet in Sydney on Saturday.

PRO14 NEWS: Welsh defence coach Shaun Edwards has already started working with the Cardiff Blues squad after being confirmed as a consultant for Danny Wilson's side.

REACTION: Troubled centre Manu Tuilagi is aware he messed up at the recent England squad get-together but will be the better man for it, said his Leicester Tigers club coach Matt O'Connor on Tuesday.

U19 INTERNATIONAL REPORT: In the second round of the international Under-19 tournament, played at Paarl Gimnasium, France beat South African Schools 13-8, and deserved to do so.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springboks assistant coach Franco Smith says talented youngster Curwin Bosch still has a lot of development ahead of him at senior level.

U19 INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL REPORTS: Wales' clinical first-half performance proved to be enough to secure a narrow 14-12 victory over England at Paarl Gymnasium on Tuesday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Golden Lions travel will travel to Cape Town with a new captain in Jacques van Rooyen to face Western Province at Newlands.

NEWS: Deon Davids will lead the Southern Kings into unchartered territory as the Port Elizabeth-based side prepares to get their Pro14 campaign off to a start on September 2.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Western Province head coach John Dobson has made two changes to his starting line-up that did duty in the victory against the Blue Bulls last week for the clash against the Golden Lions on Friday.

NEWS: The Springboks have released five players to their provincial teams ahead of the start of this year's Rugby Championship.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Australia Christian Lealiifano has stated that he is excited about his future at the Brumbies next season after his battle with cancer.

SCHOOLS RANKINGS: There are two results which shake the building of the Schools Top 20 - unranked Bishops' win over third-placed SACS and Grey College's massive win over Glenwood - 10 hammering 12.

It was a sunny day in East London when Dale came to play Selborne. Sunny, but windy. Selborne probably enjoyed the sun more than Dale did, for they reversed their defeat last term by beating Dale 33-25 in a splendid match of running rugby, which schools seem best at.

UPDATE: Blue Bulls fullback Duncan Matthews will miss his team's Currie Cup clash against the Free State Cheetahs on Saturday after receiving a one-week suspension for a dangerous tackle.

CURRIE CUP ROUNDS FOUR AND FIVE: It was a difficult week, with two full rounds - which included a few upsets and an amazing comeback.

TRANSFER NEWS: Former Australia Under-20 loose forward Lachlan McCaffrey has re-signed with the Brumbies for the 2018 Super Rugby season.

SCHOOLS REPORT: Fittingly Muir College and Graeme College met for the last game of every season, which marks the last game for many school boys with regards to their winter sports.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: It has been a long road to recovery from injury for Siyabonga 'Scarra' Ntubeni and the Western Province hooker has gained a new perspective on his rugby career while on the sidelines.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Australia's once-mighty rugby scene has reached a low ebb after a year of problems on the pitch and off it - and things look unlikely to improve this week when New Zealand come to town.

NEWS: Wallabies vice-captain Will Genia will return to play his rugby in Australia with Super Rugby's Melbourne Rebels, the Australian Rugby Union said Tuesday.

We are always so glad to receive the full results of matches between schools, but  less so this week.

INJURY UPDATE: The Blue Bulls were left with several injuries after playing three Currie Cup matches in eight days.

There are serious matches this weekend as the Rugby Championship starts in Sydney and Port Elizabeth with Wayne Barnes at one and Romain Poite at another.

INJURY UPDATE: Lions prop Ruan Dreyer has joined the Springboks in Port Elizabeth, ahead of the start of the Rugby Championship.

INJURY UPDATE: Western Province assistant coach Dawie Snyman confirmed that wing Bjorn Basson injured his shoulder in his team's win over the Blue Bulls last weekend.

The Rugby Championship is upon us and in true rugby365 style we have teamed up with RugbyPass to bring our readers a league of their own.

NEWS: World Cup winner Aaron Cruden was officially unveiled as a Montpellier player on Monday having signed a three-year contract.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: SA Schools coach Lance Sendin reshuffled his pack for their second clash in the U19 International Series against France at Paarl Gymnasium on Tuesday, which will see a new front row and flank combination take to the field.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: England Under-18 have made a number of changes to the side that face Wales on Tuesday in South Africa.

NEWS: Golden Lions hooker Robbie Coetzee and centre Rohan Janse Van Rensburg have both been cleared at disciplinary hearings on Monday.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW - PART TWO: All Black legend Sean Fitzpatrick, in discussion with Jan de Koning, gives his thoughts on the upcoming Rugby Championship.

On Day 2 of the Women's Rugby World Cup, there was something of a surprise when Japan gave Ireland a fright in the closest of the six matches.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wallabies Lock Adam Coleman says there is no shortage of belief in the Australian camp ahead of their Rugby Championship opener and Bledisloe Cup tie against the All Blacks on in Sydney on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: All Blacks flyhalf Beauden Barrett said he and his teammates will be ready if the Wallabies adopt a rush defence against them in Saturday's Bledisloe Cup match in Sydney.

NEWS: The Brumbies announced that former Waratahs fullback Peter Hewat has signed on to become backs coach commencing with the 2018 Super Rugby season.

NEWS: Western Force opened their legal fight to remain a Super Rugby team on Monday as they requested an appeal against the decision to axe them and won an injunction against the Australian Rugby Union.

PRO14 IN THE SPOTLIGHT: At a time when Australian pundits suggest South Africa is no longer attractive, European officials produced compelling evidence of just how attractive a move north is for teams from the Republic.

SCHOOLS REPORT: On a cold winter’s morning in Newlands, Diocesan College (Bishops) rained on the parade of their hosts The South Africa College High School (SACS). 

REACTION: Western Province head coach John Dobson and captain Chris van Zyl believes their second-half slump against the Blue Bulls at Newlands was down to their being reduced to 14 men just before half-time.

SCHOOLS SPOTLIGHT: The saddest result of the day was the cancellation of matches between Maritzburg College and KES in Pietermaritzburg, because a city rubbish dump caught fire and sent potentially toxic gases into the air.

REACTION: Blue Bulls head coach Nollis Marais believes that his team could have beaten Western Province at Newlands if they had taken all their opportunities.

INJURY UPDATE: New Zealand hooker Dane Coles has been ruled out of Saturday's Test against Australia, with coach Steve Hansen confirming he is again suffering a possible head injury.

INJURY UPDATE: The Free State Cheetahs' depth will be seriously tested over the next few months, especially in the flyhalf position.

REACTION: Lions head coach Zacharia Francois de Bruin praised his team for playing their "best" rugby despite losing their third match of the 2017 Currie Cup season. Josh Isaacson reports.

REACTION: The Sharks' victory over the Golden Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday was their first since 2014 over the Johannesburg-based team. Josh Isaacson reports

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Coach Michael Cheika says he intends to follow the British and Irish Lions' lead and put the All Blacks under pressure to conjure a huge upset in next weekend's Rugby Championship opener.

REACTION: The Australian Rugby Union are facing a drawn-out and costly legal battle over their decision to axe the Western Force from Super Rugby.

CURRIE CUP MATCH REPORT: The Sharks came back from being 5-31 down, to score a 47-31 victory over the Golden Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.

CURRIE CUP MATCH REPORT: Western Province scored six first-half tries to set up a bonus-point 45-34 win over the Blue Bulls at Newlands on Saturday.

CURRIE CUP MATCH REPORT: Griquas from behind, twice, to record a dramatic 30-25 win over the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

SCHOOLS REPORT: Paul Roos Gymnasium ended a 12-year wait to beat Boland Landbou in their own backyard by claiming a 33-24 victory in Paarl on Saturday. 

REACTION: ARU director Geoffrey Stooke has joined Pulver in stepping down from his position in the Australian Rugby Union Board after penning a letter where he detailed his reasons for stepping down.

Aimee Barrett-Theron of South Africa has been appointed to the last (main?) game on Day 2 of the eighth Women's Rugby World Cup taking place in Ireland.

REACTION: The Southern Kings may not have a complete squad or any sponsors yet, but they will have the financial backing to compete in the newly launched Pro14.

SCHOOLS PREVIEW: Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) will host their English counterparts Pretoria Boys' High in an all Blue Bulls battle on Saturday.

REPORT: There was only a two points' difference at the end, South Africa had scored three tries to two, but Wales deserved this win.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Springboks know that Argentina will have a lot more tricks up their sleeves than just a strong and talented forward pack.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Experienced scrumhalf Piet van Zyl is back for the Blue Bulls to play Western Province in a Currie Cup match at Newlands on Saturday.

UNDER-19 SERIES REPORT: A Caden Murley brace helped England Under-19secure a 24-8 victory over France U19 in their opening match of the U19 International Series played at Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch.

NEWS: The entry of the Cheetahs and Southern Kings into the Pro14 would break the mould for world rugby, the South African launch was told in Cape Town on Friday.

SCHOOLS PREVIEW: Boland Landbou are two evenly balanced teams, making for a great contest between two of the top teams in the country.

SCHOOLS PREVIEW: The first recorded match between the South African College and Bishops dates back to 1873, making it the oldest match in South Africa, and it is on again up at SACS on Saturday.

SCHOOLS PREVIEW: With the battle for a spot in the  SA Top 20 schools heating up the fixture in between Stellenberg and Brackenfell is really significant.

REACTION: The fall-out of the decision to axe the Western Force from Super Rugby has claimed its first victim.

NEWS: Canada will welcome the Maori All Blacks to Vancouver in November to a once-off international on November 3, 2017, which will serve as preparation for their respective international matches in Europe later that month.

SCHOOLS PREVIEW: Two of the oldest rivals on the Border, meet again on Saturday, as they have done since 1892, 125 years ago. And of late, even though teams spread their wings wider than before, they meet twice a year.

NEWS: The Blues have added former New Zealand Under-20 captain and Maori All Black hooker Leni Apisai to their roster until the 2019 Super Rugby competition.

SCHOOLS PREVIEW: Up Glenwood will go from the warm days at the coast to shivering nights of the Free State.

SCHOOLS PREVIEW: The stadium in Faure Street, Paarl was packed last weekend and will be again this weekend.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Round Five of Currie Cup 2017 will be the culmination of a busy schedule for teams this week.

NEWS: The Australian Rugby Union has discontinued the Western Force's Super Rugby licence, prompting an immediate threat of legal action by the franchise.

TEAM ANNOUNCEEMNT: Golden Lions No.8 will lead the SA Schools team when they kick off their Under-19 International Series campaign on Friday against Wales at Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch.

REACTION: Back in 1999 they were just two nondescript figures at lowly Griquas. Almost 20 years later Victor Matfield and Zacharia Francois de Bruin reunited at Ellis Park - both very successful and high profile figures.

SCHOOL PREVIEW: An inform King Edward VII side from Johannesburg travel to Pietermaritzburg to take on Maritzburg College at Goldstones on Saturday.

SCHOOLS PREVIEW: Two of the oldest rivals on the Border, meet again on Saturday, as they have done since 1892, 125 years ago. And of late, even though teams spread their wings wider than before, they meet twice a year.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Free State Cheetahs head coach Rory Duncan has made four changes to his starting XV for their clash against Griquas on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: After their dreadful defeat to the Griquas, Western Province coach John Dobson said his side should be more physical in defence against the Blue Bulls.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach Robert du Preez has largely stuck with the same team that did duty in the win against the Blue Bulls for their clash against the Golden Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.

REACTION: Blue Bulls coach Nollis Marais bemoaned his team's defensive frailties as they head to Newlands for the big north-south derby.

NEWS: Former England captain Chris Robshaw has agreed a new long-term contract with Harlequins, the English Premiership club announced Thursday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Golden Lions received a rush of Super Rugby reinforcements ahead of their Currie Cup Round Five encounter with the Sharks.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: There are five changes to the Western Province team for the Currie Cup clash with the Blue Bulls at Newlands on Saturday.

NEWS: England coach Eddie Jones said Thursday he wanted his players "close to normal life" during the 2019 World Cup in Japan after taking his backroom staff on a reconnaissance mission to the country.

NEWS: Legendary World Cup-winning Springbok lock Victor Matfield is the Golden Lions' new forward coach.

REACTION: The Sharks have lost three times to the Lions this year, including a Super Rugby quarterfinal defeat. On Saturday they get another shot at the back-to-back Super Rugby runners-up.

WIN WITH RUGBY365: You can win FREE tickets to watch the BIG north-south derby - Western Province taking on the Blue Bulls in a Currie Cup crunch match at Newlands on Saturday.

NEWS: Wallaby prop Tetera Faulkner will return home after he signed with the Melbourne Rebels for the 2018 and 2019 Super Rugby seasons.

NEWS: Wing James Dargaville has extended his Brumbies journey by agreeing to a new one-year extension to his contract that will tie him to the franchise for the 2018 Super Rugby Season.

INJURY UPDATE: All Blacks fullback Jordie Barrett has been ruled out of this year's Rugby Championship with a shoulder injury.

Round 1 of the Women's World Cup was played on Wednesday at University College Dublin.

NEWS: Gloucester confirmed that South African A back row forward Ruan Ackermann will join the club.

NEWS: Experienced lock Eben Etzebeth will captain the Springboks in the injury absence of Warren Whiteley.

CURRIE CUP MATCH REPORT: The Sharks scored a bonus-point 28-20 win over the previously unbeaten Blue Bulls in Pretoria on Wednesday.

CURRIE CUP MATCH REPORT: The Free State Cheetahs outplayed the Pumas to win 45-34 in an entertaining match in Nelspruit on Wednesday.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: South African scrumhalf Francois de Klerk has joined the Sale Sharks at their training base in France.

NEWS: All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams is set to make a return to the rugby field a week earlier than expected.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW - PART ONE: Legendary former All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick, in a one-on-one interview with Jan de Koning, explains what he believes the best remedy for the ailing Super Rugby tournament is.

CURRIE CUP MATCH REPORT: Griquas recorded their first win of the season when they beat Western Province 44-34 in Kimberley on Wednesday.

NEWS: Veteran France international wing Vincent Clerc will play an extra season with Toulon.

NEWS: Highly-rated Japanese international Amanaki Mafi has opted to stay with the Melbourne Rebels for next season.

Tauriq Ebrahim and Jan de Koning dissect the Springbok team for the Rugby Championship and take one last look back at the Super Rugby season. There is also some inside information on Remgro's decision to walk out on Western Province.

WOMENS WORLD CUP: When Aimee Barrett-Theron of South Africa blows her whistle to start a match between England in Spain in Dublin, the eighth Women's World Cup will start.

NEWS: With the start of the Pro14 season just around the corner, the first fixture list for the newly expanded Championship has been announced.

INJURY UPDATE: Scrumhalf Ross Cronje sat out the Springboks' training session on Tuesday because of a shoulder injury he sustained in Saturday's Super Rugby Final between the Lions and the Crusaders.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Western Province will be looking to lift their game to new heights when they face Griquas in Kimberley on Wednesday.

NEWS: Newcastle Falcons' England lock Mouritz Botha has been forced to call time on his rugby career at the age of 35.

NEWS: The Springboks will wear a alternate jersey in the red of the South African flag in their match against the Pumas in Salta on August 26, SA Rugby announced on Tuesday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Griquas coach Peter Engledow has made sevem chages to the starting XV for their macth against the Western Province in Kimberley.

TRANSFER NEWS: Scotland flyhalf Ruaridh Jackson will leave the PRemiership club Harlequins with immediate effect to return to Scotland's Pro14 side Glasgow Warriors.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Round Four of the 2017 Currie Cup sees three intriguing matches being played on Wednesday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Luke Cowan-Dickie believes Exeter Chiefs will ‘thrive’ on the challenge of trying to defend their Premiership crown this season.

CURRIE CUP ROUND THREE: The focus may not have been on the domestic competition, but there was plenty of action for rugby365's famous weekly selection.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach Robert du Preez hasn't tinkered much with the team that defeated Griquas for their next match against the Blue Bulls on Wednesday.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Six new players and one returning player have been named in the Canterbury squad for the 2017 season.

NPC SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand's National Provincial Cup gets underway with replays of the 2016 play-offs.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Pumas will field a brand-new pack and halfback combinations with their short turn-around time for Wednesday's Currie Cup fixture against the Cheetahs at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

NEWS: Brumbies and Robbie Abel have struck a new two-year deal that will keep the hooker in the nation's capital until the end of 2019.

NEWS: Toulouse wing Arthur Bonneval faces nine months on the sidelines after rupturing his cruciate knee ligament, a club source said on Monday.

SCHOOLS SEVENS: In Kearsney’s opening group match of the Clifton 7s tournament they drew 14-14 with St Charles and in the second match against an Invitation side they comfortably won 43-0. 

The results of all matches between schools are published on a "first come, first served" basis and we can always add to those here.

REACTION: Denny Solomona's exit from the England Training Camp has disappointed his Premiership club the Sale Sharks.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The 2017 edition of Super Rugby is done and dusted with the Crusaders being crowned champions after their 25-17 win over the Lions in the Final.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Fullback Manie Libbok will make his Currie Cup debut for the Blue Bulls when they take on the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Springboks are full of confidence heading into the Rugby Championship after their Test-series victory over France during the June international window. Josh Isaacson reports.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Hooker Siyabonga Ntubeni will earn his 50th cap for Western Province, if he comes off the replacement bench against Griquas in Kimberley on Wednesday.

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Lions loose forward and Springbok Sevens star Albertus Smith has been slapped with a four-week ban.

It is strange - no Super Rugby, suddenly ended with that wonderful final at Ellis Park.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Niell Jordaan will be leading the Free State Cheetahs when they take on the Pumas in a Currie Cup Round Four match in Nelspruit on Wednesday.

NEWS: Manu Tuilagi's return to the England set-up was cut short on Monday due to disciplinary reasons.

SCHOOLS REPORT: The St Andrew's College first XV finished off their dominance against Eastern Cape opposition with a solid 40-17 victory over Dale College in Grahamstown on Saturday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Gloucester have signed lock Ed Slater from Leicester Tigers as Johny May opted to head to Welford road

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT:  Saracens have named their 44-man squad  that will travel to Bermuda for the for the club’s Atlantic Rugby Cup pre-season tour.

REACTION: Coach Steve Hansen insisted Julian 'The Bus' Savea has a future with the All Blacks despite dumping the blockbusting wing from his Rugby Championship squad on Monday.

CLASSIC CLASH REPORT: Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale of Riverdale travelled to Cradock and secured a 47-31 victory over Hoër Landbouskool Marlow in their annual Classic Clash on Saturday.

NEWS: Lions hooker Armand 'Akker' van der Merwe has signed a two-year deal with the Sharks.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Blockbusting wing Julian Savea has been dropped from the All Blacks with a fit-again Nehe Milner-Skudder back in the frame in a 33-man squad named Monday for the Rugby Championship.

SCHOOLS REPORT: On Saturday afternoon South African rugby eyes were on Ellis Park, but not all...

SCHOOLS REPORT: The South African College High School (SACS) travelled up the N2 to play Strand High for the first time since 2013. 

NEWS: Samoa head coach Namulauulu Alama Ieremia has handed in his resignations after a dismal performance at the Pacific Nations Cup. 

NEWS: The Melbourne Rebels are adamant their future in the Super Rugby competition is secured after owner Andrew Cox transferred shares to the Victorian Rugby Union. 

REACTION: Sharks head coach Robert du Preez has hinted that there could be rotation at pivot ahead of their match against the Blue Bulls on Wednesday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Lions captain and flank Jaco Kriel believes that former Lions coach Johan Ackermann is amongst the greatest coaches in the world.

The result that evoked the most interest was the result of the Interschools in Paarl. For the third year in a row, Boys' High triumphed, but again it was close.

REACTION: Western Province head coach John Dobson wants his players to start settling and find their rhythm after their 34-19 win over the Pumas.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Crusaders were feted Sunday as "one of the most successful sporting franchises" as New Zealanders put aside provincial loyalties to praise the eight-time Super Rugby champions.

NEWS: After a heartbreaking Super Rugby defeat, Lions flank Albertus Smith still has a date with SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee on Monday.

REACTION: History-making Crusaders coach Scott Robertson praised his team's defence for winning them the Super Rugby Final against the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.

REACTION: Lions coach Johan Ackermann criticised the red card his loose forward Albertus Smith was given in the first half of a Super Rugby Final defeat to the  Crusaders in Johannesburg Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: The Blue Bulls ran in eight tries to beat the Golden Lions 54-22 in their Currie Cup Round Three clash at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Springboks captain Warren Whiteley was not included in head coach Allister Coetzee's squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship.

OPINION: The Lions were unable to give coach Johan Ackermann the perfect send-off as they fell short in the 2017 Super Rugby Final, going down 17-25 to the Crusaders at Ellis Park on Saturday.

OPINION: The Crusaders' defence and breakdown management was something to behold in their 25-17 victory over the Lions in the 2017 Super Rugby Final on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY MATCH REPORT: The Crusaders won their eighth title when they beat a 14-man Lions team 25-17 at Ellis Park on Saturday.

CURRIE CUP MATCH REPORT: Western Province overcame a shocking first-half performance to beat the Pumas 34-19 at Newlands on Saturday.

SCHOOL STREAMING: Grahamstown will be buzzing as St Andrew's College hosts Dale College, brought to you LIVE by rugby365's partnership with School Sport Live.

REACTION: Western Province Rugby Union President Thelo Wakefield said there is "no need to panic", despite having lost another benefactor.

NEWS: The cash-strapped Western Province Rugby Union has lost another benefactor, which will have far-reaching financial implications.

SUPER RUGBY FINAL: No team from New Zealand has ever won a Final in South Africa. The Crusaders are determined to buck the trend.

SUPER RUGBY FINAL: A four-year journey will reach its climax in front of a record crowd on 62,500 at Ellis Park on Saturday.

CURRIE CUP REPORT: The Sharks made sure they secure a second consecutive victory with a comfortable 41-3 bonus point win over Griquas in Durban.

SCHOOLS PREVIEW: For the second week in a row Pretoria Boys' High will hit the road. This time, they make their journey to KwaZulu-Natal to take on Maritzburg College.

REACTION: England head coach Eddie Jones suggested that New Zealand's lack of depth makes them "more vulnerable".

SUPER RUGBY FINAL: The Lions have a mountain to climb, but they will smash at least one Super Rugby record on Saturday.

NEWS: Ownership of the Melbourne Rebels has changed hands with the Australian Rugby Union being kept in the dark during the process.

Super 12 worked, Super 14 was uncomfortable but on it went to Super 15 and then Super 18.

CLASSIC CLASH PREVIEW: Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale of Riverdale travel to Cradock to take on Hoër Landbouskool Marlow in their annual Classic Clash.

CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: The Blue Bulls are hoping that some 'reinforcements' - returning from injury - will help bolster the team in the next week.

NEWS: The SA Schools team's preparations for the Under-19 International Series is set to get underway on Sunday with the 28-member squad assembling at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport before the opening game on August 11.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Openside flank Stephan de Wit is ready to make his mark for Western Province in this year's Currie Cup campaign.

NEWS: Two talented young rugby players with immensely promising futures have signed with the Chiefs. 

INTERSCHOOLS PREVIEW: This is the big day in quiet Paarl's year - Interschools, the Interschools of all interschools - Boys' High against Gim, Galpil against Bloedwors.

Two of Governor George Grey's schools meet in Bloemfontein on Saturday - hosts Grey College and visitors Grey High.

REACTION: The All Blacks on Friday said it was "common sense" to let Sonny Bill Williams play the Rugby Championship opener against Australia after World Rugby expressed surprise that his ban over a red card had been lifted on appeal.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Golden Lions have made six changes to their team to face the Blue Bulls in a Currie Cup Round Three clash in Pretoria on Saturday.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Experienced backs Will Genia and Bernard Foley were Friday appointed as vice-captains to support new Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper in the opening two Rugby Championship matches against the All Blacks.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Four of the six teams taking to the field in the Currie Cup Premier Division will kick off a challenging stretch in the competition in which they will play three matches within eight days.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: It is not about the destination, but rather the journey. And for the Lions the last four years have been an extraordinary passage.

SUPER RUGBY FINAL: There are shades of the 1995 World Cup Final - the fancied and in-form New Zealand outfit against a resilient South African team.

For the second week in row Bishops leave their suburban home and head out into the country. Last week it was Stellenbosch; this week it's Agter-Paarl.

NEWS: Wales fullback Leigh Halfpenny has committed his future to his country by signing a three-year national dual contract with the Welsh Rugby Union and Scarlets.

NEWS: Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi was recalled to the England fold, after being named in a 37-man squad for a three-day training camp.

NEWS: Talented young New Zealand, Crusaders and Canterbury hooker Codie Taylor has become the first All Black to sign a long-term contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union.

NEWS: Centre Sonny Bill Williams has been cleared to play for New Zealand against Australian in the opening match of the Rugby Championship.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks have set themselves a goal of going undefeated during their next three games, which all takes place within a space of eight days.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders coach Scott Robertson named an unchanged team to take on the Lions in the Super Rugby Final in Johannesburg at weekend.

NEWS: South African Rugby UNION have promised the South African government that their R2.7 billion investment in the World Cup 2023 bid would reap rewards.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Flyhalf Damian Willemse will make his Western Province debut in the Currie Cup encounter against the Pumas at Newlands on Saturday.

NEWS: Australian Andrew Deegan has joined Pro14 side Connacht from the Super Rugby franchise the Waratahs.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Johan Ackermann has named an unchanged matchday 23 for his side's Super Rugby Final against the Crusaders at Ellis Park on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: In the third instalment of his feature on past finals, rugby365's acclaimed writer Paul Dobson looks at the 14-team era.

SUPER RUGBY FINAL: The New Zealand media may be having a painful nappy rash over his appointment, but the Crusaders are happy to have Jaco Peyper as a referee.

NEWS: Midfielder Ngani Laumape has scooped the top award at an emotional Hurricanes 2017 Awards ceremony that saw the side farewell some of its favourite sons.

NEWS: Gloucester will be aiming to take more pride in their work than ever before when the Johan Ackermann era gets underway in earnest.

SUPER RUGBY FINAL: The Crusaders have the players and a plan to beat the much-vaunted high altitude of Ellis Park.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Blue Bulls head coach Nollis Marais has made five changes to his side for the home Currie Cup clash against the Golden Lions in Pretoria on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Flank Brian Shabangu will lead a Pumas side featuring some new combinations for their Currie Cup fixture against Western Province at Newlands on Saturday

NEWS: The Chiefs have secured the services of three quailty scrumhalves for the 2018 Super Rugby season.

NEWS: Former All Blacks captain John Graham, perhaps best known for his strong opposition to apartheid, has died at the age of 82, officials said Thursday.

There have been 13 referees appointed to referee Super Rugby Finals. This year the referee appointed is Jaco Peyper. 

NEWS: The South African Rugby Union has applied for leave to appeal against the Labour Court's order for them to reinstate former referees manager André Watson.

It is Super Rugby Final time, but Jan de Koning and Tauriq Ebrahim first get stuck into the whinging Kiwis and their inability to accept defeat graciously. They also look at the new Pro14, which includes the Cheetahs and South Kings, closing off the chat with some Currie Cup banter.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: In Part Two of his review of past finals, rugby365's esteemed writer Paul Dobson looks at a time when money ruled the roost.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Griquas coach Peter Engledow has changed up his team for the first of three Currie Cup matches in the next eight days.

LAW NEWS: World Rugby is in the process of introducing changes to the laws as a trail. It made five amendments and now another six, all after trials and as a part of ongoing testing. 

NEWS: Marnitz Boshoff has been released on compassionate grounds by Pro14 side Connacht after the sudden and tragic passing of his father earlier this year.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The All Blacks may be without their Crusaders starts at a two-day training camp in Christchurch, but they are happy with the new faces in the squad.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks coach Robert du Preez said they will 'rotate' players as they cram three Currie Cup matches into the next eight days.

SA Rugby’s various Youth Training Centres (YTCs) for Under-18 and Under-16 girls will be in action at tournaments this weekend.

It's the Final of Super Rugby 2017. That is one of the greatest matches in the rugby world each year and Jaco Peyper has appointed to referee it.

NEWS: Michael Hooper has been named as the new Wallaby captain, replacing the soon-to-retire Stephen Moore.

Here is a description of how the new Pro14 competition will work.

First in this weekend was Oakdale after its runaway victories over Langenhoven Gimnasium in Oudtshoorn.

UPDATE: All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams will have to wait a little bit longer to find out if he can play in his side's Bledisloe Cup clash against Australia on August 19.  

Hudson Park’s rise as the leading rugby coeducational of the Border region gained further momentum on Saturday with a thrilling 28-27 over East London rivals Selborne College. 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Hurricanes hooker Dane Coles, who recently returned to the playing field after being sidelined with concussion since March, is eyeing a return to the All Blacks starting team. 

REACTION: Cheetahs Chief Executive Officer Harold Verster believes that his team and the Southern Kings will be viewed as "trail blazers" as they make their preparations to compete in the Pro14.

NEWS: Celtic Rugby and the South African Rugby Union have confirmed that the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings will join an expanded Pro14 tournament in time for the upcoming 2017/18 season.

NEWS: Michael Bradley has been named the head coach of the new restructured Zebre Rugby Club based in Parma.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Crusaders’ journey to South Africa could put the New Zealanders on the backfoot when their take to the field come Saturday. 

NEWS: Brumbies duo Tomas Cubelli and Chris Alcock have announced that they will depart the franchise having completed the 2017 Super Rugby season.