Sports

Franco Smith will start at flyhalf for the Cheetahs against Georgia’s Black Lion in Bloemfontein on Sunday. The Cheetahs lost the opening match of the Challenge series 39-38 and Steyn has responded by making several changes. Smith replaces Clayton Blommetjies, who drops to the bench, while Zander du Plessis earns his first start at inside […]

Stormers coach John Dobson says Springbok scrumhalf Cobus Reinach is not just “seeing out his career” in Cape Town. Reinach is set to make his Stormers debut off the bench in Saturday’s URC match against Benetton in Treviso, after being given a short break following the Rugby Championship. The 35-year-old brings over a decade of

The Scarlets welcome back four Wales internationals for Saturday’s URC match against the Sharks in Durban. Prop Kemsley Mathias, lock Jake Ball, flank Sam Lousi and winger Tom Rogers go straight into the starting XV following last weekend’s loss to the Lions in Joburg. With Rogers back in the No 14 jersey, Blair Murray switches

South African hooker Rob Herring will captain Ulster against the Lions at Ellis Park  on Saturday. Juarno Augustus and Werner Kok are also part of the match 23. Former Stormers No 8 Augustus continues his strong run of form with another start at the back of the scrum, while ex-Sharks star Kok – who scored

Director of rugby John Dobson has made eight changes to the Stormers starting line-up for Saturday’s URC match against Benetton in Treviso. Bok lock Salmaan Moerat returns from injury and is joined in the second row by JD Schickerling, with a fit-again Sazi Sandi alongside André-Hugo Venter and Vernon Matongo up front. At halfback, the experienced

Coach Ivan van Rooyen has made three changes to the Lions’ starting XV for Saturday’s URC match against unbeaten Ulster at Ellis Park. In the forwards, Jarod Cairns fills the void left by flanker JC Pretorius, who faces a four-month spell on the sidelines with a knee injury, while lock Reinhard Nothnagel starts after impressing

A South African utility forward is set to make his Test debut off the bench for Japan against the Wallabies in Tokyo on Saturday. Tyler Paul, who can play both lock and loose forward, has been included among the replacements for Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms as they prepare to face Australia for the first time

A South African utility forward is set to make his Test debut off the bench for Japan against the Wallabies in Tokyo on Saturday. Tyler Paul, who can play both lock and loose forward, has been included among the replacements for Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms as they prepare to face Australia for the first time

Three players have one last opportunity to push their case to stand in for Antoine Dupont for France, who will face the Springboks in Paris on 8 November. La Rochelle’s Nolann Le Garrec faces Lyon in Saturday’s early Top 14 game, while Bordeaux Begles’ Maxime Lucu is set for an injury return against Bayonne and

Nick Champion de Crespigny admits he was surprised to be named Wallabies captain for Saturday’s Test against Japan in only his third international appearance. The 29-year-old will lead the side in Tokyo as Australia kick off a five-Test tour that also pits them against England, Italy, Ireland and France. Flanker Champion de Crespigny made his