Sports

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,

JP Pietersen has named teenage sensation Zekhethelo Siyaya at flyhalf for the Sharks’ Vodacom URC clash against Benetton in Durban on Saturday. The 18-year-old will play in only his third match for the senior side, having started both his previous matches at fullback. He replaces Jean Smith, who drops down to the bench. SCHALK: Sharks

The Stormers have made several changes to their starting lineup to face Ulster in Belfast on Friday night. Captain Ruhan Nel misses out through a calf injury, with Willemse moving from fullback to inside centre and Dan du Plessis to 13. Warrick Gelant regains the No 15 jersey. There is also a start for Imad

Kevin Foote has backed continuity ahead of Saturday’s U20 Rugby Championship decider against New Zealand in Gqeberha. The Junior Boks coach has made just one change to the match 23 that powered past Australia last weekend, with loose forward Risima Khosa returning to the bench in place of Gert Kemp. The hosts head into the

The Cheetahs are facing increased competition for a place in the Vodacom URC, with a London club reportedly in advanced discussions with tournament organisers. The Cheetahs were axed from the competition when it rebranded from the Pro 14 to the URC in 2021 and have since had to be satisfied with playing in Europe’s second-tier

Former Junior Boks coach Dawie Theron admits Jan Serfontein’s unfulfilled international career remains a mystery. Serfontein earned 34 Test caps between his 2013 debut against Italy at Kings Park and his final appearance against the All Blacks in 2017 – a respectable tally that nonetheless fell short of expectations for a player who burst onto

SA Rugby says the four-match Greatest Rivalry Test series between the Springboks WILL have a winner if it ends in draw. But should that be the case? Speaking to SARugbymag.co.za last week, general manager of operations Yusuf Jackson said: “There will be a tiebreaker in the event the series is drawn, and there will be an

NZ Rugby has appointed Steve Lancaster as its permanent chief executive after a six-month stint in the role on an interim basis. The former Crusaders lock has been part of the NZ Rugby executive team since 2020 and led community rugby as general manager since 2016. NZ Rugby chairman David Kirk said the board had

Leinster assistant coach Tyler Bleyendaal has warned his side about the threat posed by the in-form Lions ahead of Saturday’s Vodacom URC clash at the Aviva Stadium. The Lions head to Dublin on a six-match winning run that has lifted them to third on the standings, level on points with fourth-placed Leinster. “They are extremely