Sports

Scott Robertson’s tenure as All Blacks head coach unravelled because of a pattern of leadership shortcomings that became impossible to ignore. In an insightful article for The New Zealand Herald, rugby writer Gregor Paul said the warning signs appeared early – long before record defeats and late-game collapses turned concern into crisis. Paul stresses that […]

Haashim Pead will make his first start for the Lions in Saturday’s EPCR Challenge Cup  match against Perpignan at the Stade Aime Giral. The former Junior Boks scrumhalf scored a match-winning try in the Vodacom URC clash against the Sharks in Durban and also came off the bench in the Challenge Cup victory against Lyon

Flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu takes over the Stormers captaincy for Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup clash with the Leicester Tigers in Cape Town. With regular skipper Salmaan Moerat unavailable due to a family engagement and both Warrick Gelant and Damian Willemse ruled out by concussion protocols, Feinberg-Mngomezulu will lead the team for the first time. Wandisile Simelane

SA Rugby has unveiled its 2025 awards nominees, with five Springboks vying for the top prize. World Rugby Player of the Year Malcolm Marx will go head-to-head with four of his Springbok team-mates for the honour. Marx, who claimed the global accolade last year, headlines a heavyweight Men’s Player of the Year shortlist that also

Former backline coach Chris Rossouw says it was a “privilege to have a front-row seat” when Jake White was in charge of the Vodacom Bulls. Rossouw and forwards coach Andries Bekker were recently sacked by the Pretoria-based union after a string of defeats under head coach Johan Ackermann, White’s replacement. In an emotional farewell letter,

Springbok lock Lood de Jager is facing a race against time to be fit for the start of what is shaping up to be a blockbuster international season. De Jager’s Japanese club, the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights, confirmed on Friday that the towering lock will miss the remainder of their domestic campaign after undergoing hip

Amid the fallout from Scott Robertson’s sacking as All Blacks coach, there are now calls for Ardie Savea to follow him out the door. Outspoken pundit Mark Watson believes the star loose forward should also exit New Zealand rugby, accusing the All Blacks centurion of effectively “blackmailing” the union during its recent high-performance review. NZ

Frans Steyn admits the Cheetahs head into their final EPCR Challenge Cup pool match against Racing 92 in Paris surrounded by uncertainty, but will give it their all. The Cheetahs have endured a bitterly disappointing campaign which saw them lose their opening two games against the Exeter Chiefs and Stade Français, before last Sunday’s match

Jeff Wilson says NZ Rugby wants Jamie Joseph in charge of the All Blacks and is already eyeing a move for Springbok attack coach Tony Brown. Joseph has emerged as the clear frontrunner to succeed Scott Robertson following his abrupt exit, but panel discussion on The Breakdown quickly shifted to Brown’s future. The former All

Edinburgh head to The Rec on Friday night without four South African players as they chase a crucial Investec Champions Cup result against pool leaders Bath. Duhan van der Merwe, Wes Goosen, Pierre Schoeman and Boan Venter have not made the trip. Van der Merwe is ruled out after failing to recover from the calf