Sports

Coach Sylvester Booysen has revealed the reasons for Garsfontein’s giant-killing schools rugby success this season. After opening their campaign with a 29-26 defeat to Jeppe, the Pretoria side beat Stellenberg 21-20 and Paarl Boys’ High 31-28 at the North-South Tournament before edging rivals Affies 38-34 in a thriller last weekend. Booysen believes continuity has been […]

Todd Blackadder believes New Zealand Rugby will struggle to stop its biggest stars from taking lucrative overseas deals between World Cups. The former Crusaders coach says the trend is only growing, with elite All Blacks increasingly heading to Japan before returning home in time to push for World Cup selection. That pattern has already played

JJ van der Mescht is emerging as a serious Springbok option for 2026, with former Bok stars urging Rassie Erasmus to utilise the giant lock. The call comes as the world champions battle mounting concerns in the second row following injuries to key veterans Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman. Snyman is facing a lengthy spell

A top-of-the log Vodacom URC clash between the Stormers and Glasgow has been undermined by baffling broadcast scheduling, writes MARK KEOHANE. Writing for TimesLIVE, Keohane says Saturday’s 1:45pm kick-off at Cape Town Stadium shows a failure to understand South African rugby audiences, particularly in the Mother City, the country’s strongest spectator base. This should have

Sharks coach JP Pietersen has thrown his support behind the stream of young talent who have stepped forward amid a deepening injury crisis. Teenagers like Luan Giliomee and Zekhethelo Siyaya have been thrust into the spotlight in recent weeks, and Pietersen has been impressed by how they have taken to the big stage. “On Saturday,

The Junior Springboks will compete in a new U20 International Series in May as part of their final preparation for the defence of their Junior World Championship title. The series will feature Georgia, Fiji and Chile and include three double-header match days at Cape Town’s famous City Park venue near Athlone. The series will be

Sharks coach JP Pietersen says a short turnaround is behind minimal changes for Friday night’s Vodacom URC clash with Edinburgh. LINDIZ VAN ZILLA reports. Pietersen made just two tweaks – both injury-enforced – to the starting side that did duty against the Ospreys last week. Veteran wing Makazole Mapimpi replaces the injured Ethan Hooker, while captain

The Cheetahs could be set for a sensational return to top-level international rugby. According to Rapport, discussions are underway that could open the door for the Free State side to join the Vodacom URC, with clarity potentially arriving as early as Friday. “Positive noises are being made,” a source said. Another senior rugby administrator confirmed

Sharks coach JP Pietersen has confirmed that Springbok star Ethan Hooker will have surgery on his dislocated shoulder. Speaking ahead of the Sharks’ Vodacom URC encounter against Edinburgh in the Scottish capital on Friday night, Pietersen said it was unclear how long Hooker would be sidelined for. “He’s seen the surgeon, but I can’t give

Edinburgh coach Sean Everitt has included three South Africans in his match 23 for Friday night’s clash against the Sharks at Hive Stadium. Pierre Schoeman starts at loosehead prop, with former Sharks hooker/flank Dylan Richardson and prop Boan Venter on the bench. Schoeman and Richardson have both represented Scotland, while Venter made his Bok debut