Sports

There’s plenty on the line for South Africa’s Vodacom URC contenders heading into the final round of the regular season, writes LINDIZ VAN ZILLA. The big winners this past weekend were the Vodacom Bulls, who jumped from seventh to fourth on the URC standings after a 54-19 win over Zebre at Loftus, and teams around […]

Henry Pollock and Hanro Liebenberg clashed during an English Premiership match on Saturday. Liebenberg’s Leicester Tigers beat Pollock’s Northampton Saints 41-17 at Welford Road. Liebenberg will return to the Bulls at the end of the season, while Pollock is set to travel with England to face the Springboks at Ellis Park on 4 July. Tensions

Grey College weathered a late Paarl Boys’ fightback in Bloemfontein on Saturday, while Stellenberg and Affies also claimed notable victories. Grey opened the scoring when lock Preston Bennett went over from a lineout maul, with Paarl Boys’ responding through No 8 Chris Nel. Centre Eddie Mabena crossed for Grey, before a blistering run from flyhalf

Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga says the club’s uncertain future is affecting on-field performances after another heavy defeat in Super Rugby Pacific. The team, set up as a professional pathway for Tongan, Samoan and Cook Islands players, are hoping for a positive update from NZ Rugby over the possible purchase of their licence. Moana’s current

Cheetahs coach Frans Steyn was a relieved man after a missed Griquas conversion enabled his team to qualify for the Currie Cup Premier Division. The Free Staters edged Griquas 32-31 in Bloemfontein on Friday night, with an 84th-minute miss from replacement flyhalf Liam Koen proving decisive in a SA Cup result that carried massive financial

Junior Boks coach Kevin Foote praised his side after a 29-29 draw with New Zealand in the U20 Rugby Championship on Saturday. South Africa fought back from 15-8 down to hold a 22-15 lead at half-time at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. The reigning U20 world champions then scored a bonus-point try early in the

Heyneke Meyer’s SWD Eagles missed out on Currie Cup qualification as the Boland Cavaliers snatched the final SA Cup semi-final spot on points difference. SWD hammered the Leopards 69-19 in George on Saturday, but Boland’s ruthless 85-29 dismantling of Eastern Province in Wellington secured their place in both the SA Cup semi-finals and this year’s

A tentative timeline has been set for Ethan Hooker’s return to the Springboks following surgery to his injured shoulder. According to Rapport, Hooker will definitely miss the Nations Championship Tests against England, Scotland and Wales in July, but is targeting the opening Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks at Ellis Park

Former Wallabies scrumhalf Will Genia believes Manie Libbok’s stint in Japan’s second division has honed the flyhalf’s attacking game. Genia works as skills coach with Libbok at the Hanazono Kintetsu Liners, where former Wallabies flyhalf Quade Cooper serves as attack coach. The 28-year-old Libbok joined the Liners from the Stormers at the end of last

The Stormers’ thrilling draw against Ulster delivered three log points but exposed costly flaws at a crucial stage of the Vodacom URC season, writes MARK KEOHANE. Writing for the Sunday Times, Keohane says the 38-38 result in Ulster strengthened the Stormers’ top-two push, but the failure to secure a bonus-point win leaves them vulnerable heading