Sports

The Sharks are excited by the attacking weapon they have in Jurenzo Julius. The ‘Boogieman’ was impressive in a losing cause against the Lions last week from inside centre – a position usually reserved for Sharks captain and Springbok André Esterhuizen. Julius normally finds himself at 13 but his bustling runs from 12 caught the […]

New Zealand Herald rugby writer Gregor Paul has cast doubt over the long-term future of the newly launched Nations Championship. The 12-team competition will pit the Sanzaar nations – South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina – alongside invitational sides Japan and Fiji, against the Six Nations teams across the July and November Test windows.

Australia and New Zealand are reportedly pushing for radical changes to rugby’s laws, including proposals that could see scrums replaced by mauls. That is the claim made by former Test referee Mathieu Raynal following heated discussions at World Rugby’s Shape of the Game summit in London. Administrators and officials have gathered to debate potential law

A Springbok wing has signed with French third-division side Narbonne until the end of the season. The club confirmed the move this week, describing Aphiwe Dyantyi as a “powerful and hard-running” back capable of playing at centre or on the wing. Dyantyi, who burst onto the international scene in 2018 and won the World Rugby

Springbok great Schalk Burger has hit back at claims that Super Rugby is not missing South Africa. SA’s four major clubs left Super Rugby in 2020 to join the Vodacom URC, but debate continues over whether the southern hemisphere competition has lost something in their absence. Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley recently suggested the

Former England prop Joe Marler has crowned Bakkies Botha the most feared rugby player of the professional era. But he’s controversially labelled Springbok enforcer Eben Etzebeth a “fake tough guy”. Marler was asked on the Hits Different show to pick the game’s ultimate hardman in a knockout bracket featuring rugby’s biggest hitters from 2008 onwards.

South Africa’s derby double-header this Saturday highlights the brutal demands of the Vodacom URC, writes MARK KEOHANE. Writing for TimesLIVE, Keohane argues that while France’s Top 14 may be the best domestic competition, it cannot match the URC for cross-border travel, seasonal disruption and scheduling complexity across five countries and two hemispheres. “It is often

The Stormers and Bulls will emerge triumphant on the Highveld this Saturday, according to the SA Rugby magazine team. Cardiff vs Leinster (Friday, 9pm) Simon Borchardt: Leinster by 12 Juandre Joubert: Leinster by 8 Morne Esben: Leinster by 8 Dylan Johnson: Leinster by 15 Lindiz van Zilla: Leinster by 13 Edinburgh vs Scarlets (Friday, 9:45pm) Juandre

Ireland were dealt a blow on Thursday when one of their star players was ruled out of the remainder of the Six Nations due to injury. Livewire wing James Lowe will play no further part owing to the groin injury he suffered early on in last weekend’s 42-21 thrashing of England. The 33-year-old New Zealander

Former All Blacks scrumhalf Justin Marshall believes there is no sterner examination in world rugby than a full tour of South Africa. Marshall was part of the All Blacks team in 1996 that became the first side from New Zealand to win a Test series in South Africa. Three decades later, he insists nothing compares