Internationals
Niggling injuries to regular stalwarts Cecil Afrika and Branco du Preez have forced the hand of Springboks Sevens coach Paul Treu.
Wallabies and Reds winger Digby Ioane says that he had “no choice” but to quit the Reds following a long-running dispute over third-party payments.
All Blacks and Crusaders winger Zac Guildford could be playing his last Super Rugby season in New Zealand.
As many as 15 percent of New Zealand’s professional players may be wrestling with stress, anxiety, substance abuse and behavioural and mental health issues.
This is the outcome of a survey, done by the New Zealand Herald, in the wake of the Julian Savea saga – the latest in a long line of All Blacks who fell foul of the law.
Springbok winger JP Pietersen will head to Japan for the next two seasons but will still be available to play for the Springbok team for a large part of the international season.
Dawie Theron, the South African Under-20 coach, has made several changes for the team’s final match on Saturday against Argentina Under-20 in Buenos Aires.
The young South Africans will be hoping to bounce back after suffering a 27-42 defeat in their second tour match on Tuesday in Corrientes.
World Cup-winning former Springbok coach has declined an offer to coach Ireland.
Cheetahs and Bok pivot Johan Goosen’s knee operation to repair damage to his knee ligament was a success, and he was present at the Cheetahs training session on Monday.
The SA Under-20 training squad to face Argentina Under-20 in their second tour match on Tuesday, 16 April 2013 shows thirteen changes from the starting team that won their tour opener 26-3 on Saturday evening in Corrientes.
Sharks scrumhalf Cobus Reinach has been called up to the Springbok training camp in Cape Town following a slight injury to Jano Vermaak.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has revealed that he will never omit Bulls captain Pierre Spies from his squad.
Blitzbokke (0) 24 / 19 (12) New Zealand (Final Score)
South Africa and New Zealand did battle in the Final of the HSBC Sevens World Series – Tokyo tournament at 09:30 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 6 on TV in SA.
Springbok and Stormers stalwart Schalk Burger’s career has been put on hold, after it was revealed on Thursday that he is suffering from a life-threatening disease.
The Burger family issued a brief media statement in which they revealed that the 29-year-old loose forward has bacterial meningitis.
Wallaby and Rebels bad boy Kurtley Beale has stopped playing rugby to deal with his off-field demons.
Current captain Jean de Villiers will join the oldest living Springbok skipper, 83-year-old Des van Jaarsveldt, and 40 others in Cape Town on Wednesday, to mark the countdown to the opening of a new rugby museum.
The International Rugby Board has named the match officials for the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia in June.
Former Wallabies and Brumbies coach Eddie Jones believes Jake White is the man to take Australia to the next Rugby World Cup.
Fiji successfully defended its Hong Kong Sevens rugby title by coming from 19-0 down at halftime to beat Wales 26-19 in the final on Sunday.
France (0) 23 / 16 (6) Scotland (Final Score)
France and Scotland did battle in Super Rugby at Stade de France, Paris at 22:00 SA Time (20:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 6 & SHD 4 on TV in SA.
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Grant Gilchrist, the 22-year-old Edinburgh Rugby lock, will win his first cap for Scotland in Saturday’s final 2013 RBS 6 Nations Championship match against France in Paris.
Gilchrist, the 6ft 8ins product of the Alloa and Stirling County clubs, replaces the injured Richie Gray. The only other change to the starting line-up sees the experienced Alasdair Strokosch preferred to Rob Harley at blindside flanker.
We take a look at Springbok participation in the Tri-Nations (now expanded and renamed The Rugby Championship).
The Springboks took part in the Southern Hemisphere’s premier international competition just five years after being readmitted to international competition in the 90’s.
Two Six Nations games are played today. Unfortunately the Saturday games overlap with two Super Rugby games.
So, we’ve decided to do one combined Six Nations Article… giving progress and scores from both Six Nations matches.
Here it is…
Bottom of the table France travel to Dublin to face fourth placed Ireland in the RBS Six Nations Championship on Saturday. This is part of the fifth round of fixtures of this year’s Championship. The match is scheduled to kick off at 19.00 South African Time.
Top of the table England host fifth placed Italy at Twickenham in the RBS Six Nations Championship on Sunday. This is part of the fifth round of fixtures of this year’s Championship. The match is scheduled to kick off at 17.00 South African Time.
Jonathan Sexton has been ruled out of Ireland’s Six Nations clash against France on Saturday while Paddy Jackson is also a fitness concern.
Wales have made three changes to the team that beat Italy with former captain Sam Warburton returning to the starting line up.
As well as Warburton returning to the starting line up Bath prop Paul James and Ospreys second rower Alun Wyn Jones are also named in the starting line up.
Duncan Weir, the 21-year-old Glasgow Warriors stand-off, will make his first start for Scotland in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship match against Wales at Murrayfield.
The Australian Rugby Union has announced that the Wallabies will have a dedicated three-week window to prepare for their once in a lifetime opportunity against the British & Irish Lions.
Here we are midweek already and looking forward to the coming weekend’s rugby. Most of the attention up north is due to be focussed on the RaboDirect Pro12 and the Aviva Premiership as there is yet another break in the RBS 6 Nations tournament. Last weekend’s rugby may now be a distant memory but felt it would be interesting to share the views of two former international players of the action between Scotland and Ireland.
Three Six Nations games were played this weekend, two Saturday afternoon and evening and one on Sunday. Unfortunately the Saturday games overlaped with two Super Rugby games.
So, we’ve decided to do one combined Six Nations Article… giving progress and scores from all three Six Nations matches.
Here it is…
Leicester prop Martin Castrogiovanni will lead Italy in the absence of banned number eight Sergio Parisse for Saturday’s Six Nations game with Wales. Stade Francais’ Parisse is out of the tournament after being suspended for 30 days for insulting a match referee.
South Africa-born flanker Antonie Claassen is on the bench for France who travel to Twickenham to tackle England in the Six Nations this Saturday. Francois Trinh-Duc returns at fly-half as another change for France who make seven personnel changes, plus one positional, to their side.
England have brought back Manu Tuilagi, Courtney Lawes and Dylan Hartley for Saturday’s crunch Six Nations clash with France at Twickenham.
Geoff Cross, the 30-year-old Edinburgh Rugby prop, returns to the Scotland starting line-up for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship meeting with Ireland at Murrayfield.