Sports

Playmakers Fin Smith and Marcus Smith are both in England’s backline for Saturday’s Six Nations clash against France at Twickenham. England coach Steve Borthwick, whose side were beaten 27-22 by champions Ireland last week, has moved Marcus Smith to fullback in order to accommodate 22-year-old Fin Smith at flyhalf – his first Test start in […]

On the eighth anniversary of Joost van der Westhuizen’s death, relive nine of the best moments from the legendary Springbok scrumhalf’s career. Impression introduction In November 1993, Joost made his Test debut for the Springboks against Argentina in Buenos Aires at the age of 22, scoring a crucial try that helped the visitors claim a

Head coach Gonzalo Quesada makes one tweak to the Italy lineup for Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Wales, which may well decide who ends up with the wooden spoon. The Italians host the Welsh in Rome and Quesada has, aside from replacing Dino Lamb with fellow lock Niccolo Cannone, kept faith with the XV which

Sti Sithole is relishing the opportunity to lock horns with Springbok scrum anchor Wilco Louw on Saturday when the Stormers and Vodacom Bulls clash in Cape Town. With Louw set to lead a fired-up Bulls pack to the Mother City this week for the rescheduled round-one North-South derby in the Vodacom URC, the stage is

Top 14 club Perpignan have officially announced the signing of a key member of the Scotland national team from next season. Scotland flanker Jamie Ritchie is to leave Edinburgh at the end of the 2024-25 campaign to join Perpignan on a two-year deal. The 28-year-old, who started for Scotland against Italy last week, has 55

Bath boss Johann van Graan has completed another shrewd bit of business by securing the services of one of English rugby’s blockbuster backline exports. England back Henry Arundell will return to the English Premiership next season after agreeing a three-year deal with Bath, meaning he will be eligible for national team selection again. The 22-year-old

Taulupe Faletau will play his first Test in more than a year as Wales look to end their record 13-match losing streak against Italy in Saturday’s Six Nations clash in Rome. No 8 Faletau, 34, has been sidelined by injury since breaking his arm during Wales’ 43-19 victory over Georgia at the 2023 World Cup

Flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert starts in one of two changes by head coach Fabien Galthie for France’s Six Nations Test against England at Twickenham on Saturday. Jalibert replaces the suspended playmaker Romain Ntamack in a pair of changes to the team that started last week’s tournament-opening win over Wales in Paris – Jalibert’s Bordeaux-Begles teammate Damian

SA Rugby will undertake a review of its commercial and financial affairs, the union’s membership decided at a general council meeting on Thursday. Members mandated the executive council and management to initiate a new process following the failure to reach the required 75% majority of a private equity investment proposal by the Ackerley Sports Group

Stormers boss John Dobson is reportedly set to make a bold call at No 9 for Saturday’s North-South derby against the Vodacom Bulls in Cape Town. According to Netwerk24, scrumhalf Paul de Wet, who is expected to join the Bulls next season, may not feature in the match-day 23. Instead, Stefan Ungerer is tipped to