Sports

Coach John Plumtree expects Henry Immelman’s experience to benefit the Sharks in their rematch against the Lions at Kings Park on Saturday. With Springbok fullback Aphelele Fassi and flyhalf Siya Masuku both injured, Plumtree has been forced to move Jordan Hendrikse to 10 and give Immelman a debut at 15. Immelman joined the Sharks on-loan […]

Injuries up front have forced Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen to make two changes for the return match against the Sharks at Kings Park on Saturday. The Lions moved within one point of the top eight teams with a 38-14 bonus-point win against the Sharks at Ellis Park in the last round, and expect to

Deon Davids has his fingers crossed the Springboks can avoid a lock crisis this season, as Mzwandile Stick warns that the world champions cannot afford to “be comfortable”, reports DEVIN HERMANUS. Speaking at a Bok conference ahead of the first national alignment camp in Cape Town next week, assistant coach Davids acknowledged last year’s struggles

The Sharks have been reinforced by the return of a Springbok pack monster for the Vodacom URC derby against the Lions at Kings Park on Saturday. Having recovered from an upper arm injury, Ox Nche wears the No 1 jersey in a game the Sharks must win to lift the SA Shield for the first

Felix Jones’ return to the Springboks has sparked debate, with former players Shane Horgan and Benjamin Kayser hailing his unsung impact for the world champions. Jones, a key figure in South Africa’s 2019 and 2023 World Cup triumphs, left to join England after the last edition of the global tournament but has now returned to

Rassie Erasmus hopes that Willie le Roux becomes the eighth Springbok centurion during the 2025 Test season. The 35-year-old veteran fullback, who has been utilised at 10 by the Vodacom Bulls this season, currently has 98 Test caps. With Aphelele Fassi having started eight of the Springboks’ 13 Tests last year in the No 15

Defence coach Jaque Fourie believes the Lions have turned a corner defensively, and sees similarities with the Springboks in how the Pride play for each other. Speaking to News24 ahead of Saturday’s Vodacom URC derby against the Sharks in Durban, where the SA Shield is on the line, the World Cup-winning former Springbok credited the

Fraser Dingwall wants to be the player who holds England’s backs together as they look to beat Italy in the Six Nations at Twickenham on Sunday. The 25-year-old Northampton centre has been recalled to Test duty for the first time in a year. Dingwall won the last of his two caps during the 2024 Six

Wales may be on a record losing streak of 15 straight Test defeats ahead of their Six Nations clash away to Scotland, but the hosts are under pressure too. Saturday’s match in Edinburgh will be just Matt Sherratt’s second as interim Wales coach since the Englishman took over after the end of Warren Gatland’s unsuccessful

The SA Shield in the Vodacom URC may not capture widespread public interest but winning it holds real significance for the players and coaches, writes MARK KEOHANE. The gloves will be off when the Sharks and Lions clash in Durban on Saturday – the only URC game of the weekend – in a repeat of