Super Rugby
The Sharks announced on Friday that Pieter-Steph du Toit has reaffirmed his commitment to the team by re-signing for a further two years.
The announcement brings to an end weeks of speculation about the 20-year-old’s future – with both the Bulls and Stormers having shown interest in his services.
The Southern Kings suffered a crippling blow ahead of their Super Rugby promotion-relegation series against the Lions.
Here are the Super Rugby team sheets for teams 3 to 6 on the Combined Super Rugby Log, who have to compete in the Play Off weekend of Super Rugby 2013, as they were announded.
Rumours doing the rounds that the Cheetahs are set to lose some of their stars have been correct. Star centre, Robert Ebersohn has signed with French Club Montpellier. He will reportedly still play in this year’s Currie Cup, before furthering his career overseas.
The DHL Stormers continue to be trend-setters under the now three-year-old conference system for economy in try-concession in Super Rugby.
Stormers flank Don Armand has become the latest player to leave the Cape side after he confirmed a move to English Premiership club Exeter Chiefs.
Loftus Versveld and Waikato Stadium in Hamilton will be the venues for the two Super Rugby semifinals after details were confirmed by SANZAR.
The Stormers plan to lodge a complaint with Super Rugby organisers SANZAR about the provisional 2014 Super Rugby draw.
A provisional list of Super Rugby fixtures have been released to the Stormers for 2014 and revealed a a tour from hell for the Stormers.
The Vodacom Bulls will be able to use Jan Serfontein, Francois Hougaard and Flip van der Merwe for their Vodacom Super Rugby semi-final in two weeks’ time.
Toyota Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has a firm message for all of those writing off his team’s hopes in this year’s Vodacom Super Rugby finals series – we are not done.
Drotske and his team arrived in their plush Coogee Beach base in Sydney, where they will be until Friday before heading south to Canberra by bus as they prepare to take on Jake White’s Brumbies side in their playoff match.
SANZAR have warned coaches that taking unnecessary pot-shots at referees could land them in hot water.
New Zealand referee Chris Pollock has been axed from the Super Rugby play-offs, because of poor form.
Richie McCaw’s likely return to Super Rugby via the Crusaders bench adds spice to Saturday’s playoffs opener with the Reds, a match offering a sneak preview of Australia’s looming Rugby Championship date with New Zealand.
The World Cup-winning captain made a low-key return to rugby on Saturday after a long sabbatical, playing a full match for Christchurch in a regional club competition.
The Vodacom Bulls were officially crowned South African Conference winners in Cape Town on Saturday evening, but The Sharks and the DHL Stormers took the spoils in the final round of Vodacom Super Rugby league action for 2013.
Although these two coastal sides, semi-finalists in 2012, missed out on the Finals Series this year, they recorded solid final round victories to end a disappointing season on a high note.
Following the completion of the regular season in Super Rugby the top 6 teams have been determined and the 4 teams that will play in the qualifiers next weekend.
By finishing the season as the competition’s two highest-ranked conference winners, the Chiefs (66 points, 12 wins) and the Bulls (63 points, 12 wins) have earned the week off and progress straight to the Super Rugby Semi Finals where they await the winners of the qualifying matches.
The match officials for the 2 games have also been decided.
Stormers (23) 30 / 13 (13) Bulls (Final Score)
The DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls did battle in Super Rugby at Newlands, Cape Town at 19:10 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Sharks (26) 58 / 13 (13) Kings (Final Score)
The Sharks and Southern Kings did battle in Super Rugby at Kings Park, Durban at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Force (14) 21 / 15 (3) Brumbies (Final Score)
The Western Force and Brumbies did battle in Super Rugby at NIB Stadium, Perth at 13:45 SA Time (19:45 WAST, 11:45 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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Waratahs (12) 12 / 14 (8) Reds (Final Score)
The Waratahs and Reds did battle in Super Rugby at ANZ Stadium, Sydney at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 Sydney Time, 09:40 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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Blues (13) 16 / 26 (13) Chiefs (Final Score)
The Blues and Chiefs did battle in Super Rugby at Eden Park, Auckland at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Springbok fullback Jaco Taute has made his stay in Cape Town a permanent one.
Rebels (7) 38 / 37 (31) Highlanders (Final Score)
The Melbourne Rebels and Highlanders did battle in Super Rugby at AAMI Park, Melbourne at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 Melbourne Time, 09:40 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Crusaders (13) 25 / 17 (5) Hurricanes (Final Score)
The Crusaders and Hurricanes did battle in Super Rugby at AMI Stadium, Christchurch at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Here are the Super Rugby team sheets as they were announded for Round 20 of Super Rugby 2013.
Springbok captain Jean de Villiers has recovered from his sternum injury and will lead the DHL Stormers against the Bulls in Saturday’s final Vodacom Super Rugby clash of the season at DHL Newlands.
Die Vodacom Bulls-afrigter Frans Ludeke het Francois Venter gekies om die beseerde Jan Serfontein te vervang in die span wat Saterdag op Nuweland teen die DHL Stormers speel. Serfontein het ‘n kniebesering.
Ludeke moes ook Francois Hougaard (enkelbesering) op skrumskakel vervang.
SANZAR has announced the names of the match officials for Round 20 of Super Rugby 2013. Glen Jackson starts off the weekend on Friday in the match between the Crusaders and Hurricanes.
Vodacom Bulls lock Wilhelm Steenkamp’s two-week ban has opened the door for Junior Bok star Jacques du Plessis to possibly make his debut for the Pretoria side this weekend against the DHL Stormers at Newlands.
Pat Lambie is the Sharks’ only injury concern heading into their clash with the Kings in Durban this week after he picked up an injury in the clash with the Bulls.
The versitile back picked up a back injury in their one-point loss against the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday and Sharks coach Grant Bashford is worried that he will not be available for the clash with the Kings.
Bulls lock Wilhelm Steenkamp has been suspended for two weeks after he was found guilty of foul play.
Die Vodacom Bulls gaan die volgende twee weke van die Vodacom Super Rugby-toernooi sonder Jan Serfontein moet klaarkom. Die senter het ‘n kniebesering in die Bulls se 20-19 sege oor die Sharks opgedoen en volgens spandokter Org Strauss gaan hy minstens twee weke buite aksie wees.
The Cheetahs have been boosted by the announcement that Springbok Willie le Roux extended his contract at the franchise for a further two years.
The mass exodus at the Rebels franchise extended to the coaching staff on Monday, with news that Damien Hill has followed Test star James O’Connor and scrumhalf Nick Phipps out the door.
The Melbourne-based Super Rugby franchise has appointed Wallabies coaching co-ordinator Tony McGahan as the new head coach.
Defending Super Rugby champions, the Chiefs, have signed Crusaders utility back Tom Marshall for two years.
The Vodacom Bulls moved to the top of the log and the Toyota Cheetahs made Vodacom Super Rugby history during a weekend where the top six for 2013 was finalised with one round of action left to play.
The Melbourne Rebels have confirmed that they will not be offering Wallaby flyhalf James O’Connor a further contract beyond the 2013 season.