Sports

A 12-Test All Black who has been overlooked by new coach Dave Rennie will be continuing his career in Japan. Samipeni Finau’s hopes of reviving his All Blacks career appear to be over after the Chiefs announced that the powerful loose forward has signed with the Yokohama Canon Eagles, becoming the latest New Zealand international to […]

Super Rugby Pacific has unveiled a revamped 10-team competition format for the 2027 season, with a new playoffs structure that places a premium on finishing in the top two. The biggest change sees the end of the ‘lucky loser’ system, with every playoff match becoming a straight knockout. The top six teams will continue to

England turned to high-altitude simulation technology in a bid to prepare for Saturday’s Nations Championship clash against the Springboks at Ellis Park. With Johannesburg sitting 1,753m above sea level, England trained with portable hypoxic generators – altitude masks that restrict oxygen intake – to replicate the physical demands they expect to face on the Highveld.

Victor Matfield has admitted he is feeling uneasy ahead of the Springboks’ Nations Championship opener against England at Ellis Park on Saturday. Despite the Boks sitting atop the world rankings and England arriving in Johannesburg on the back of a poor run of results, Matfield believes there are several reasons not to underestimate Steve Borthwick’s

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says he had hoped to select now England centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg for the Springboks or South Africa A. SIMON BORCHARDT reports. The 29-year-old, who previously represented the Junior Springboks and played for the Leopards, Sharks, Kings and Cheetahs, has been included in England’s squad for their Nations Championship Tests

Rassie Erasmus struck a measured but quietly intense tone on Tuesday ahead of the Springboks’ clash with England. CLINTON VAN DER BERG reports. Addressing the media, the Bok coach grounded his message in pragmatism, squad depth and a deep awareness of the challenges that lie ahead. Erasmus made it clear that recent injury concerns at

English Premiership club Exeter have been sold to Black Knight Rugby, whose US-based parent company are owners of Premier League football side Bournemouth. Following a vote by Exeter’s members to permit the sale, the new subsidiary of Cannae Holdings has purchased 100% of the shares in the southwest club, who lost 26-17 to Northampton in

Go behind the scenes as the Sharks return for pre-season, with Bronco tests, fitness assessments and skills work laying the foundation for the new campaign. The post Watch: Inside Sharks’ brutal pre-season appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Go behind the scenes as the Sharks return for pre-season, with Bronco tests, fitness assessments and skills

Wales have suffered a blow after a former skipper was ruled out of their upcoming Nations Championship Tests. Lock Dafydd Jenkins injured a shoulder during Exeter’s English Premiership final loss to Northampton on 20 June and is now set for surgery instead of facing Fiji, Argentina and the Springboks over the next three weekends. “Daf

Nick Mallett has recalled a remarkable moment from his time coaching Rassie Erasmus with the Springboks that hinted at the coach he would become. Erasmus played 25 of his 36 Tests under Mallett between 1997 and 2000. Speaking to Planet Rugby, Mallett reflected on the buildup to a 2000 Tri-Nations Test in Durban, when Erasmus