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Head coach Rassie Erasmus has praised Junior Boks Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste and Haashim Pead, who made the most of their opportunity in the Springboks camp. The trio were invited to train with the back-to-back Rugby World Cup champions for two weeks in the build-up to the Rugby championship. Rassie’s verdict Rassie added the players to the two-week training camp in order to continue building squad depth and nurturing the young talent for the future. “It was fantastic to have Bathobele, Cheswill and Haashim with us, and it was impressive to see their enthusiasm and the way they grabbed the…
Following the July Tests and the British and Irish Lions series in Australia, attention turns to the Rugby Championship where the Springboks will be looking to defend their title, Ahead of what is bound to be another thrilling competition, we look at potentially unlikely scenarios that could well come to pass as the tournament develops. Springboks to win at Eden Park After 50 unbeaten matches and 31 years, we think the All Blacks’ run at the famous old ground will come to an end when the back-to-back world champions visit in September. It has become an impregnable fortress for opposition teams but…
All the 2025 Rugby Championship squads have been confirmed ahead of the competition’s opening two rounds. Defending champions, the Springboks, host the Wallabies in the first game of the tournament before the All blacks head to Argentina to tackle Los Pumas After the first two rounds of action in Argentina and South Africa, the action moves to New Zealand and Australia, with the All Blacks hosting the Springboks while Los Pumas head Down Under. The Boks will face Los Pumas in Argentina and London, while New Zealand host the Wallabies in the last two rounds. Rassie Erasmus has named…
Four high-profile Springboks have reportedly committed to the new R360 global franchise league, a breakaway competition set to shake up the rugby calendar from 2026. Four Springboks sign for rebel league The 12-franchise tournament – backed by England World Cup winner Mike Tindall, former Bath director of rugby Stuart Hooper and the lawyer behind IPL cricket and LIV Golf – aims to recruit the top 300 male and female players in the world, and launch in September 2026. According to reports , R360 has already secured around 160 men on legally binding pre-contracts, most of whom have played Test rugby in the past…
Western Province coach Labeeb Levy says South African rugby needs a unified strategy to keep players on the fringes of URC squads, actively involved in the game throughout the season. Levy and his youthful WP side are in Kimberley preparing to face a well-drilled Griquas outfit, still searching for a first Currie Cup win after back-to-back defeats against the Vodacom Bulls and Lions. But beyond the immediate challenges of selection and form, Levy has highlighted a broader concern – the limited game time available for players outside the main professional squads. “There’s probably a small void in the greater SA…
Coach JP Pietersen is banking on a new halfback combination to give the Sharks more bite against the Cheetahs at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on Saturday. The Sharks head into their first home fixture at the bottom of the Currie Cup log after big defeats to the Lions (46-3) and Vodacom Bulls (64-0). Pietersen has responded by rejigging his starting XV, while continuing to back youth in the absence of their URC stars and injecting some experience into the backline. Hooker Jacques Marais, lock Gideon Koegelenberg and Junior Boks flank Matt Romao come into the pack, with hooker Willem van…
Dumke steps away from rugby due to health concerns The 28-year-old loose forward, who earned 33 test caps and captained the Springbok Women on three occasions, led the Isuzu Bulls Daisies to their third consecutive Women’s Premier Division title in 2025. Springbok Women performance coach Swys de Bruin acknowledged Dumke’s importance to the national setup and expressed full support for her decision. “Lusanda has been pivotal for us, but we now wish her the best as she battles her medical condition,” said De Bruin. “Her absence will have an impact, but at the same time, the players going to…
Western Province flyhalf Jurie Mathee has cleared concussion protocols to make his season debut against Griquas in Kimberley on Friday Mathee brings much-needed experience in the No 10 jersey to a youthful WP side that has struggled to keep pace in the 2025 Currie Cup to date. His recovery comes just in time to solve coach Labeeb Levy’s search for someone to replace Junior Springbok flyhalf Kyle Smith, who injured his shoulder in the 40-19 loss to the Lions in Johannesburg. Behind him, there’s a fresh look to the backline with Sevens speedster Tristan Leyds earning his first start of…
Loose forward Louw Nel wants to convert his part-time status into a more full-time role when the Stormers get their Vodacom United Rugby Championship campaign under way in September. Nel has been impressive in a losing cause for Western Province in the Currie Cup so far, scoring a brace of tries for his team in their 40-19 loss to the Lions at Ellis Park. The 22-year-old, former Paarl Gim loosie will be one of the more experienced players who’ll take the field for WP against Griquas on Friday afternoon. He says he’s just happy to get consistent game time. “For…
John Dobson has confirmed that Springbok prop Wilco Louw will be going back to Cape Town to join the Stormers. claimed the Stormers were looking to lure Louw away from the Vodacom Bulls as a long-term replacement for Frans Malherbe, who’s currently receiving treatment for a serious back injury. Dobson confirmed the report to The Lekker Rugby Pod following his meeting with the player in Port Elizabeth, where the transfer was agreed to. “Hy’s ‘n Kaapse kind,” said the Stormers director of rugby. “We’re certainly done for this season coming up [2025-26]. There’ll be no new players for this season – that’s…