Sports

Barbarians assistant coach Sam Whitelock expects Stormers lock Ruben van Heerden to make his mark against the Springboks at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday. SIMON BORCHARDT reports. Van Heerden, who is coming off a standout season in the Vodacom URC, is expected to start in the second row for the Baa Baas alongside another South […]

Lock Jacobus van Tonder has been included in a youthful France squad, captained by centre Gael Fickou, for their tour of New Zealand in July. Perpignan’s Van Tonder represented the Cheetahs at age-group level and was named in the SA Schools A side in 2016, before signing with French Top 14 side Clermont. A Grey

Barbarians prop Cian Healy plans to do his “homework” before scrumming down against Springbok debutant Asenathi Ntlabakanye at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday. SIMON BORCHARDT reports. The first match of the Springboks’ 2025 season marks the end of Healy’s decorated 18-year professional career. The 37-year-old is Ireland’s most capped player with 137 Test appearances, his

Vincent Tshituka’s “race” to make his Springbok bow against the Barbarians on Saturday represents the culmination of a long-held dream for the Sharks loose forward, reports DEVIN HERMANUS. Saturday’s historic clash represents everything Tshituka envisioned during his eligibility struggles, the DRC-born flanker set to run out in the world champions’ 2025 season opener at Cape

Rassie Erasmus has revealed the behind-the-scenes conditioning work that has earned Asenathi Ntlabakanye his Springbok debut against the Barbarians on Saturday, reports DEVIN HERMANUS. Speaking during Tuesday’s team announcement conference in the buildup to the Cape Town Stadium clash, Erasmus credited scrum guru Daan Human for helping to prepare the hulking Lions tighthead prop for

SA Rugby have paid homage to history and a national emblem in the 2025 Springbok jersey collection unveiled on Tuesday. New home and away jerseys, and a retro jersey honouring the heritage of the 1995 Rugby World Cup winners, were revealed 30 years to the day that Nelson Mandela first presented the Webb Ellis Cup

The Stormers have added to their off-season acquisitions, beefing up the pack with robust former Lions thumper Ruan Ackermann. Having already secured the services of world champion scrumhalf Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) and signing loosehead prop Ntuthuko Mchunu from the Sharks, the Stormers have now confirmed the signing of Ruan Ackermann, son of former Bok lock

Rassie Erasmus says Saturday’s match against the Barbarians is a key early-season test and the ideal platform to assess the newcomers in a Siya Kolisi-led Springbok team. The uncapped Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Vincent Tshituka have been handed starts in a lineup blending youth with World Cup-winning pedigree, while Marnus van der Merwe and Neethling Fouche

Four uncapped players will feature in a Springbok matchday 23 led by Siya Kolisi for Saturday’s clash against the Barbarians at Cape Town Stadium. Scrum anchor Asenathi Ntlabakanye and flanker Vincent Tshituka start in a seasoned Bok pack, with hooker Marnus van der Merwe and tighthead prop Neethling Fouche among the replacements for a 2025

The Barbarians squad set to tackle the Springboks on Saturday is laden with Test players, but it will however have some South African flavour. As reported this week, Stormers hard man Ruben van Heerden has been included in Robbie Deans’ squad to take on the Springboks in Saturday’s non-cap match at the Cape Town Stadium.