Sports

The No 1-ranked Springboks are the early favourites to win a third straight World Cup in 2027. Rassie Erasmus’ men were on Wednesday drawn in Pool B with Italy, Georgia and Romania. Betfair has installed the Boks as 9/4 favourites to win the 2027 tournament, with the All Blacks – who could meet South Africa […]

Hong Kong coach Logan Asplin says being pitted against the All Blacks and Wallabies at the 2027 World Cup is “a dream come true”. Asplin and Hong Kong captain Josh Hrstich were born in New Zealand and their eyes lit up as they watched the draw in Sydney on a live stream in Hong Kong

Captain Harry Wilson says a potential 2027 quarter-final with the Springboks is exactly the challenge the Wallabies must seek at their own World Cup. Australia were drawn in Pool A alongside the All Blacks, Chile and Hong Kong, setting up a potential knockout clash with the reigning world champions if both teams finish top of

Former referee Owen Doyle says Eben Etzebeth’s eye-gouge leaves “no mitigation” while James Ryan’s reduced ban exposes major flaws in rugby’s disciplinary system. Writing in The Irish Times, Doyle said the footage of the Bok lock pressing his thumb toward Wales flank Alex Mann’s eye left no room for interpretation. “Whichever way you look at it,

Zander Reynders says the Blitzboks will need to dominate up front against Fiji and New Zealand on Saturday. Reynders returns to Cape Town Stadium a very different player to the wide-eyed rookie who made his Blitzboks debut in the Mother City a year ago. Now an established member of the squad – and a world

MyPlayers has announced the nominees for the 2025 Players’ Player of the Year Awards. Among the nominees for the Men’s Fifteens Players’ Player of the Year are Pieter-Steph du Toit, Ox Nche and Malcolm Marx, all of whom were also honoured as nominees for the World Rugby Player of the Year, with Marx taking the

The Springboks have been drawn in Pool B for the 2027 World Cup in Australia. The four-time winners, targeting an unprecedented hat-trick of titles, will face Italy, Georgia and Romania in the pool stage of the expanded 24-team global showpiece. The Boks have faced all three pool opponents in World Cups before – Romania in

The world’s top two teams – the Springboks and All Blacks – are likely to meet at the quarter-final stage of the 2027 World Cup in Australia. On Wednesday, New Zealand were drawn in Pool A with Australia, Chile and Hong Kong, while the Boks were placed in Pool B with Italy, Georgia and Romania.

Bayonne will welcome back Les Bleus flanker Alexandre Fischer for Friday night’s Investec Champions Cup opener against the Stormers. Fischer had been sidelined for a month after suffering an injury against Montauban in early November, but the former Clermont forward has resumed full training and looks set to bolster a Bayonne back row already stretched

Toulouse have received a timely boost ahead of Sunday’s Investec Champions Cup opener against the Sharks, with several key players returning to training. English flanker Jack Willis has recovered from the rib injury that kept him out of last weekend’s Top 14 victory over Racing 92 and is now available for selection. Willis picked up