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Duane Vermeulen and Schalk Brits have watched the growth of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship with keen interest and agree that this is a competition bringing a new era of competitive depth to the game. Duane Vermeulen knows what rugby dominance looks like. At the highest level of the game he’s seen it and been […]

Cameron Hanekom has been named the 2024-25 URC Next-Gen Player of the Season following a standout campaign as the Bulls chase a second-consecutive final appearance. The 22-year-old met the criteria for the award, which honours players aged 23 or under with no more than five international caps at the start of the season, and who

Cian Healy and Shannon Frizell have been confirmed as the latest additions to the Barbarians squad for the match against the Springboks in Cape Town on 28 June. The fixture will mark the first time South Africa faces the Barbarians on home soil. The invitational side, coached by Robbie Deans, already includes Sam Cane, Peter

With the Bulls playing for a place in the URC final, scrum juggernaut Wilco Louw says the team is motivated by a desire to “live up” to the achievements of the union’s former champions. The Bulls secured their semi-final place after recovering from a 21-8 deficit to beat Edinburgh 42-33 at Loftus on Saturday. Now,

The Sharks have a 23% chance of beating the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday and qualifying for their first URC final, according to readers. Although the Sharks have won five of nine URC matches against the Bulls, that advantage disappears at Loftus, where respondents to an SARugbymag poll rated the Herd as heavy favourites. Pick

Keagan Johannes is relishing the responsibility to call the shots at flyhalf while honing his goal-kicking for the Vodacom Bulls in high-pressure matches.  Johannes was all smiles during a Bulls conference as the versatile playmaker gears up for Saturday’s URC semi-final against the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld. The 25-year-old scored 14 points, including a stunning

Siya Kolisi says those criticising Jaden Hendrikse for winking at Jack Crowley during last Saturday’s penalty shootout at Kings Park must “get over it”. SIMON BORCHARDT reports. The Sharks were accused of “shameless gamesmanship” when scrumhalf Hendrikse went down with cramp after slotting his second attempt of the shootout and received treatment from the hosts’

Former England and Racing 92 boss Stuart Lancaster has been appointed head coach of Vodacom URC outfit Connacht. The 55-year-old links up with Connacht for pre-season training in July, after signing a two-year deal that brings one of Europe’s most experienced tacticians to the Irish province. He previously spent seven years as senior coach at

Ruben van Heerden has been crowned the Vodacom URC’s Tackle Machine for 2024-25, highlighting his superb defensive impact for the Stormers this season. The award celebrates the best defender among players who made at least 150 tackles this season, marking Van Heerden as one of South Africa’s top performers heading into the URC semi-finals. The

Relive the vintage performance of veteran Springbok and Sharks wing Makazole Mapimpi against Munster in a thrilling Vodacom URC playoff clash at Kings Park. 34 years 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐆 Makazole Mapimpi was at his brilliant best as the Sharks secured their spot in the semi-finals. He carried 183 metres and beat 6 Munster defenders #VURC | @Vodacom