Sports

Junior Boks powerhouse Batho Hlekani will make his Lions debut in Saturday’s must-win EPCR Challenge Cup clash against Lyon at Ellis Park. Hlekani only arrived in Joburg from the Sharks last week, but coach Ivan van Rooyen has wasted little time in backing the 115kg flank, who is set to provide impact off the bench […]

Vodacom Bulls coach Johan Ackermann has selected a powerful team for Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup match against the Bristol Bears at Loftus Versfeld. Ten Springboks are in the starting XV, which will again be led by Ruan Nortje. Embrose Papier, who produced a Man of the Match performance against the Stormers last week after being

Alex Mann has finally broken his silence on the eye-gouging incident in last November’s Test between Wales and the Springboks. The Wales flanker found himself at the centre of a global storm after Bok lock Eben Etzebeth was red-carded for eye gouging in the dying minutes of the match at a rain-soaked Millennium Stadium in

Arno Botha has urged his Lyon teammates not to become fixated on the Ellis Park altitude ahead of Saturday’s EPCR Challenge Cup clash against the Lions. With Lyon set to face one of the toughest road assignments in the competition, the former Bulls and Springbok loose forward believes overthinking the conditions could do more harm

Former Sharks coach Sean Everitt says his focus remains firmly on the job at hand amid speculation over his future with Edinburgh. The South African is in the final six months of his current contract, having been promoted from senior coach to head coach in January 2024 when he agreed an extension through to the

Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson believes Henry Pollock will learn to accept becoming rugby’s latest “hate figure”. Saints are getting ready to face Bordeaux Bègles in a rematch of last season’s Investec Champions Cup final. Pollock is expected to be front and centre at the Stade Chaban-Delmas after Bordeaux players mocked his trademark “pulse

Frans Steyn says the Cheetahs won’t be looking to play expansive rugby when they meet Ulster in icy conditions in Amsterdam on Sunday. The men from Bloemfontein are heavy underdogs going into this EPCR Challenge Cup clash against the high-flying Ulstermen, who have surged up the Vodacom URC table. “Ulster are currently third and are

Haashim Pead’s former schoolboy coach has explained why the scrumhalf keeps improving even when not playing regularly. The 20-year-old scrumhalf is one of South Africa’s brightest young talents, yet his opportunities have come in a crowded environment. At the Lions alone, Pead is competing with Springbok Morne van den Berg and Nico Steyn, giving head

Former Springbok prop Gurthro Steenkamp says the Investec Champions Cup is “like a World Cup”. Steenkamp has experienced the tournament from multiple angles. He played in the old European Cup during his time in France and later helped guide La Rochelle to Champions Cup glory twice as an assistant coach. For him, the meaning of

Eddie O’Sullivan says four-time Investec Champions Cup winners Leinster have gone backwards under senior coach Jacques Nienaber. Nienaber joined the Irish giants in 2023 after guiding the Springboks to World Cup glory, replacing attack-minded Stuart Lancaster. While Leinster won the Vodacom URC title in 2024-25, European success has remained elusive, with defeats in the 2023-24