Rugby

Seven players without any HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series experience have been named in the Springbok Women’s Sevens squad for their first World Series event since December 2019, when they travel to France this weekend.Springbok Women’s Sevens coach, Paul Delport, had the luxury though of selecting Liske Lategan, Nadine Roos, Mathrin Simmers, Sizophila Solontsi and Eloise Webb for the trip to Toulouse, all of whom played in the HSBC Cape Town Sevens two and a half years ago. Solontsi will wear … [Read more...] about Seven debutants included for Springbok Women’s Sevens’ trip to France

The Springbok Women’s Sevens squad’s return to international rugby ended in triumph in Tunisia on Saturday when they claimed the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens title by beating Madagascar 15-14 in a pulsating final in Monastir.The South Africans, who last competed in an international tournament in December 2019, had to dig deep for this win – which also saw them qualify for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in July – and only scored the winning try in injury time when Eloise Webb scored her … [Read more...] about Springbok Women’s Sevens triumphant in Tunisia

Mr Mark Alexander, president of the South African Rugby Union (SARU), re-focused the organisation on game-changing off-field initiatives following his re-election to the role in Cape Town on Friday.He was confirmed in the position he has held since predecessor, Mr Oregan Hoskins, stepped down in October 2016. He was opposed by Mr Mbulelo Gidane, the vice president of the Eastern Province Rugby Union. Mr Alexander thanked the members of SARU for their vote of confidence and said his focus … [Read more...] about SARU President focuses on game-changing initiatives

There will be emotions aplenty when the Springbok Women’s Sevens enter the Mustapha Ben Jannet Stadium in Monastir on Friday to take on Senegal in their opening match of the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens.Anticipation, determination, pride and honour will be amongst those emotions when the team play in an international match for the first time since December 2019, and while the squad’s re-introduction to the Rugby Sevens fraternity will be one of new beginnings, for 22-year-old flyhalf Anacadia … [Read more...] about New beginnings and second chances in Tunisia

The South African franchises will be desperate for one last big shove as they wrap up their home run in the league phase of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship this weekend, with three of the four sides looking to give themselves the best possible chance to secure favourable quarter-final spots.The DHL Stormers (second place), Cell C Sharks (fourth place) and Vodacom Bulls (eighth place) are all in playoff contention and depending on the results in the next two rounds – which include away … [Read more...] about Victories key as SA sides complete home run in Vodacom URC

The Springboks’ return to the playing field in 2021 ensured the South African Rugby Union (SARU) was able to report a small surplus for the year (R8,9m), as the sport began to emerge from the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic.The annual financial statements were approved at the SARU Annual General Meeting in Cape Town on Friday (29 April), at which incumbent Union president, Mr Mark Alexander, was re-elected for a further four-year term. The meeting was notable for the presence of 12 women … [Read more...] about Return-to-play ensures SA Rugby stays afloat

Feghon-Leigh Snyders talks about his successful run with FNB CPUT, his hunger for yet another title, and his admiration for England flyhalf Marcus SmithTell us a bit about your junior career. My love for rugby started when I was in Grade 3. I’m originally from Saldanha Bay, but we moved to Wellington as I got older and I ended up going to New Orleans Secondary in Paarl. I played for the Western Province U19 side. How did you end up at Western Province and FNB CPUT?I got spotted at the Tony … [Read more...] about FNB CPUT flyhalf: Marcus Smith is my inspiration

Scrumhalf Bernard van der Linde scored a try at the death as FNB UP-Tuks edged FNB Maties 29-23 in a dramatic final staged in Stellenbosch.FNB Maties went into this decider determined to channel the energy and aura of the Danie Craven Stadium. Meanwhile, FNB UP-Tuks spoke about silencing the home crowd in their quest to win a second consecutive title. While the home fans made their presence felt in the first half, they were more subdued in the second. The decision to award Van der Linde a late … [Read more...] about Tuks fight back to claim fifth FNB Varsity Cup title

The 2022 FNB Varsity Cup Player of the Tournament will drive away in a Toyota Urban Cruiser 1.5 XS AT courtesy of preferred supplier Hertz Car Rental.Three player awards – the Overall Player That Rocks, Forward That Rocks and Back That Rocks – will be presented after the FNB Varsity Cup final at the Danie Craven Stadium on Monday, 25 April. The Overall Player That Rocks is a prestigious award comparable to the Heisman Memorial Trophy, which is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in … [Read more...] about Overall Player That Rocks to win a car for life!

FNB UP-Tuks No 8 Orateng Koikanyang on how he started playing rugby, his season so far, and Monday night’s massive FNB Varsity Cup final at the Danie Craven Stadium.When did your love for rugby begin?I was born in Cape Town and moved to Pretoria at a very young age. I attended Hatfield Christian School in Pretoria, which didn’t offer rugby. I only got exposed to the game in Grade 6 when I moved to Waterkloof House Preparatory School. They told me to play lock. I knew nothing about the sport and … [Read more...] about FNB UP-Tuks out to silence FNB Maties crowd

The team lineups for Thursday’s FNB Varsity Shield decider in Alice.FNB UFH BLUES vs FNB CPUT (Thursday, 19:00, Davidson Rugby Field, SuperSport channel 207) FNB UFH Blues – 15 Apiwe Sidloyi, 14 Mziyabulela Bathu, 13 Ryan Maree, 12 Migcobo Bovu, 11 Lilitha Mdladlana, 10 Keith Chiwara, 9 Lwazi Madiba, 8 Yamkela Mzozoyana, 7 Rodney Chikamhi, 6 Langalethu Susela, 5 Walter Moyo, 4 Ayabulel Xhosana, 3 Mnkani  Sibabalo, 2 Kamvelihle Fatyela (c), 1 Edwin Nxumalo.Subs: 16 Bulela … [Read more...] about 2022 FNB Varsity Shield teams (Final)

SA Rugby Women’s Premier Division champions, Border Women, will start the defence of their title against the Blue Bulls Women at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday in the first of three matches as the 2022 rendition of the top-flight provincial women’s competition kicks off.The 2022 opener will start at 11h40, followed by the EP Queens hosting the Mastercard Golden Lions Women at 12h00 in Nelson Mandela Bay, with the Cell C Sharks Women taking on last season’s runners up, DHL Western … [Read more...] about Border ready to defend Women’s Premier Division title

Dr Dawie de Villiers, a former Springbok captain who passed away at the age of 81 on Saturday night after a long battle with cancer, was honoured for his role in South African rugby, but also in the wider society as a politician later in his life, by Mr Mark Alexander, president of the South African Rugby Union.“Dawie de Villiers captained the Springboks as the winds of change were beginning to blow through the political climate of sport and his final tour was the 1969-70 ‘demo tour’ of the UK,” … [Read more...] about RIP Dawie de Villiers

The team lineups for Monday’s much-anticipated FNB Varsity Cup final.FNB MATIES vs FNB UP-TUKS (Monday, 19:00, Danie Craven Stadium, SuperSport channel 211) FNB Maties – 15 Adriaan van der Bank (c), 14 Mike Mavovana, 13 Waqar Solaan, 12 Taigh Schoor, 11 Anton du Toit, 10 Nevaldo Fleurs, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Simon Miller, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Gift Dlamini, 5 Matt Gray, 4 Juan Beukes, 3 Matimu Manganyi, 2 Sean Swart, 1 Vernon Matongo.Subs: 16 Chris Rossouw, 17 Rhynhardt Rijnsburger, 18 … [Read more...] about 2022 FNB Varsity Cup teams (Final)

The Springboks have selected Toulon as their base for the pool stages of the Rugby World Cup in 2023 in France, with the team set to be based in Paris for their third pool match against Ireland in at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.The tournament kicks off on Friday 8 September and runs until Saturday, 28 October 2023. The defending RWC champions and current top-ranked team on the World Rugby rankings had a selection of three potential bases in the south of France. Following a thorough … [Read more...] about Springboks to be based in Toulon for opening stages of RWC 2023