Sports

Vodacom URC CEO Martin Anayi expects significant on- and off-field benefits when the Bulls, Stormers, Lions and Sharks receive full membership status by the end of June. The move grants the SA Rugby Union (Saru) and its four franchises equity in the URC and EPCR competitions (Investec Champions Cup and Challenge Cup), fundamentally altering their […]

Winger Ntokozo Makhaza is one of nine uncapped players in a 54-man Springbok squad named by Rassie Erasmus for the start of the world champions’ 2025 season. The Boks face the Barbarians at Cape Town Stadium on 28 June, followed by three Tests against Italy (in Pretoria and Gqeberha on 5 and 12 July, respectively)

Victor Matfield and John Kirwan both believe that accidental head contact does not warrant a red card, even for 20 minutes. World Rugby recently approved the global trial of the 20-minute red card in elite competitions. Under this trial, a player who commits foul play that is not deemed deliberate or intentional will receive a

Skipper Ruan Nortje says the Vodacom Bulls must be “switched on from minute one” to beat a Bok-powered Sharks outfit for a place in the URC final, reports DEVIN HERMANUS. The Bulls and Sharks clash in an all-South African semi-final at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. Jake White’s charges dispatched Edinburgh in Pretoria last week to

It may be the Vodacom URC semi-final, but every South African knows its a Springbok trial when the Vodacom Bulls host the Sharks at Loftus on Saturday. The post Keo & Zels: Loftus set for Bokbuster! appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. It may be the Vodacom URC semi-final, but every South African knows its

Seven South Africans have stormed into the 2024/25 URC Elite XV, showcasing the dominance of the nation’s unions throughout this season’s competition. Cameron Hanekom, recently crowned 2024-25 Next-Gen Player of the Season, headlines the group and is joined by fellow Bulls forwards Wilco Louw and Jan-Hendrik Wessels. It’s a second consecutive Elite XV selection for

Duane Vermeulen and Schalk Brits have watched the growth of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship with keen interest and agree that this is a competition bringing a new era of competitive depth to the game. Duane Vermeulen knows what rugby dominance looks like. At the highest level of the game he’s seen it and been

Cameron Hanekom has been named the 2024-25 URC Next-Gen Player of the Season following a standout campaign as the Bulls chase a second-consecutive final appearance. The 22-year-old met the criteria for the award, which honours players aged 23 or under with no more than five international caps at the start of the season, and who

Cian Healy and Shannon Frizell have been confirmed as the latest additions to the Barbarians squad for the match against the Springboks in Cape Town on 28 June. The fixture will mark the first time South Africa faces the Barbarians on home soil. The invitational side, coached by Robbie Deans, already includes Sam Cane, Peter

With the Bulls playing for a place in the URC final, scrum juggernaut Wilco Louw says the team is motivated by a desire to “live up” to the achievements of the union’s former champions. The Bulls secured their semi-final place after recovering from a 21-8 deficit to beat Edinburgh 42-33 at Loftus on Saturday. Now,