Sports

Spain will join Portugal, Romania and Georgia at the 2027 Rugby World Cup as Europe’s four direct qualifiers after reaching the Rugby Europe Championship semi-finals. Spain’s return to the World Cup is historic, marking their first appearance since 1999. Georgia, meanwhile, continues its remarkable streak, securing a seventh consecutive World Cup berth since debuting in […]

Unbeaten Ireland stayed on course for an unprecedented third successive Six Nations title with a resounding win over Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday. Ireland’s 11th straight victory over Scotland means they are the only team left in this year’s Six Nations with a chance of completing the coveted Grand Slam. But the 32-18 win was

France flanker Francois Cros pinpointed a sloppy ending to each half, and England’s efficiency in the Les Bleus 22, for a disappointing reverse at Twickenham on Saturday. France, fresh from a 43-0 rout of Wales, saw their 2025 Six Nations title hopes suffer a setback after they squandered several try-scoring opportunities, captain Antoine Dupont among

Rassie Erasmus believes Saturday’s clash between England and France at Twickenham was “one of the more exciting games” the Six Nations has produced in recent times. Elliot Daly’s last-minute try in London helped England clinch a thrilling 26-25 win, ending the team’s run of seven straight defeats by Tier 1 nations as well as easing

A key player at the vanguard for the Stormers and influential presence in the pack has reportedly put pen to paper on a contract extension with the Cape outfit. According to Rapport, skipper Salmaan Moerat has signed a new long-term deal with the Stormers, keeping the 10-Test Springbok in Cape Town until after the 2027

Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard is reportedly set to further his club rugby career in Japan. The double World Cup winner will leave the Leicester Tigers at the end of the 2024-25 season when his contract expires. According to RugbyPass, while there is interest from several Japanese clubs, Tokyo Sungoliath is leading the race for Pollard’s

Siya Kolisi is focused on earning his Springbok spot rather than retaining the captaincy, as former skippers Jean de Villiers and Corne Krige back him to continue leading. Kolisi, who has captained the Boks 61 times, could become only the third South African to feature in four World Cups in 2027. At 33, the 92-Test

Former Springbok boss Jacques Nienaber has praised RG Snyman’s rare ability to offload in contact, highlighting the lock’s natural athleticism as the key to his standout play. Speaking in a wide-ranging interview with Rapport, Nienaber likened the two-time World Cup-winning Springbok’s skill set to that of former All Black centre Sonny Bill Williams. “He does

Dawid Louw says he was left “shocked” and “numb” after being told of the severity of his son Elrigh’s leg injury. Louw suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury early in the second half of the Vodacom Bulls’ match against the Lions at Ellis Park on 25 January. The loose forward left the

The Stormers were just a successful conversion away from denying the Bulls a long-awaited Vodacom URC victory in Cape Town on Saturday, writes MARK KEOHANE.  The hosts outscored the Bulls five tries to four, but four missed kicks proved costly, with Clayton Blommetjies’ miss in the 78th minute sealing a 33-32 result in favour of