Sports

Although the Sharks cannot make the Vodacom URC playoffs, coach JP Pietersen’s selections for Saturday’s home match against Benetton make it a worthwhile viewing experience, writes MARK KEOHANE. The next two matches are a chance to bid farewell to Siya Kolisi, who will return to Cape Town and the Stormers for the 2026-27 season, but for […]

Talismanic Springbok Ruan Venter shifts back to his more familiar loose forward role as the Lions look to continue their impressive charge in the Vodacom URC. Lions assistant coach Jaque Fourie believes the Johannesburg side have finally found their identity ahead of Saturday’s blockbuster showdown against Leinster in Dublin. The third-placed Lions are also still

Lewis Moody has opened up on his ongoing battle with motor neurone disease. The former England captain, who revealed his diagnosis last year, admitted the reality of the disease hit hard during a recent charity bike ride. “It was really hard,” Moody told Sky Sports. “For the first time ever, I had to get off.

NZ Rugby says it will not scale back overseas travel for its national teams despite rising global travel costs. It reported a net loss of NZ$7.5-million (R73-million) for 2025, although it still generated record revenue of NZ$304-million (R2.9-billion). New chief executive Steve Lancaster admitted the organisation is “feeling that pain” as travel costs continue to

Coach John Dobson says the Stormers will look to grind down Ulster in Belfast on Friday night. Dobson’s side arrive in Northern Ireland fresh off a commanding win over the Glasgow Warriors in Cape Town that took them back to the top of the Vodacom URC log. However, both Dobson and captain Deon Fourie warned that

Stormers coach John Dobson says the selection of Deon Fourie as a flank who can also cover hooker gives the team game-changing options to deploy against Ulster. LINDIZ VAN ZILLA reports. Dobson has opted for a 6-2 split on the bench for Friday night’s match against the Ulstermen at their Belfast base. With no specialist

JP Pietersen says Zekhethelo Siyaya’s selection at flyhalf is with an eye firmly on the future. MORNÉ ESBEN reports. The fleet-footed teenager burst on the scene at fullback on tour against the Ospreys last month, and backed-up his eye-catching performance with another assured showing against Edinburgh a week later. TEAM: Siyaya at 10 for Sharks

Four teams, including the Cheetahs, are still in the running for the final two semi-final spots heading into the last round of the SA Cup. Griquas have secured top spot on the log, while the Pumas can’t drop out of the top four. The top four teams on the log will contest next weekend’s semi-finals

Winger Werner Kok returns to Ulster’s starting lineup for Friday night’s Vodacom URC clash against the Stormers in Belfast. The former Blitzbok has been one of Ulster’s standout performers this season, scoring seven tries in the competition, but missed last week’s EPCR Challenge Cup semi-final win against the Exeter Chiefs. With Kok back in the

Check out the match 23s for this weekend’s Vodacom URC matches involving South African sides. ULSTER vs STORMERS (Friday, 8:45pm SA time) ULSTER – TBC STORMERS – 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Wandisile Simelane, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon,