Sports

Former Springboks Jean de Villiers, Schalk Burger and Hanyani Shimange react to Junior Boks prop Kai Pratt testing positive for an anabolic steroid. MORE: Junior Bok faces doping ban The post Watch: ‘Doping is unacceptable, stupid!’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Former Springboks Jean de Villiers, Schalk Burger and Hanyani Shimange react to Junior […]

Eddie Jones has made six changes to his Japan side, including handing flanker Esei Haangana a Test debut, for Saturday’s Nations Championship clash with France in Tokyo. The 27-year-old earns his first cap, while Izi Sword and Shunsuke Uenobo are in line to make their debuts off the bench. Jones has also opted for an

Joe Schmidt has backed rookie flyhalf Declan Meredith for a second successive start, but made the surprise decision to bench one of his star players for his final Test in charge of the Wallabies. Australia host Italy in Perth on Saturday knowing they desperately need a victory after losing six Tests in a row and

A former All Blacks faces a long stint on the sidelines after rupturing his Achilles tendon. French Top 14 side Castres confirmed on Wednesday that loose forward Dalton Papali’i won’t be able to play any rugby for at least six months. The 28-year-old only joined the French Top 14 outfit from the Blues earlier this

Ireland have made two changes to the team that beat the Wallabies two weeks ago for Saturday’s Nations Championship Test against the All Blacks at Eden Park. Robert Baloucoune comes onto the right wing, with Jimmy O’Brien shifting to the left wing and Jamie Osborne omitted. Tadhg Beirne is restored to the blindside flank in

Dave Rennie has again overlooked veteran flyhalf Beauden Barrett after naming his All Blacks team to face Ireland in Auckland on Saturday. The 144-Test playmaker has now been omitted from New Zealand’s match 23 for all three Tests under Rennie, with the All Blacks coach continuing to back Ruben Love in the No 10 jersey.

Lock Ruben van Heerden has credited his move to Cape Town for transforming his career. The 28-year-old makes his Springbok debut in the Nations Championship Test against Wales in Durban on Saturday. Van Heerden is one of four uncapped players named by Rassie Erasmus for the clash, alongside prop Carlü Sadie, flyhalf Vusi Moyo and

Aimee Barrett-Theron has stood down from officiating with immediate effect to concentrate on treatment for breast cancer. The 39-year-old South African referee officiated most recently in June when she took charge of the match between South Africa A and Zimbabwe at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium but has advised SA Rugby and World Rugby that

Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett believes tighthead prop Wilco Louw’s impact up front has been reduced by the way the scrum is now being officiated. Louw earned a reputation last year for coming off the Bok bench and almost immediately winning scrum penalties. The 31-year-old was not selected for the Boks’ opening Test of the

Westville lock Lwandile Mlaba will captain SA Schools against SA Schools A at Grey High on Thursday. The second-stringers will be led by Paarl Gimnasium flank Hendré van Zyl. Mlaba and his vice-captain, Jacobus de Villiers, are two of 11 players in the  teams who already had a taste of playing in the green and gold.