The Toyota Cheetahs return to Europe on Tuesday for Rounds 3 and 4 of the EPCR Challenge Cup against Ulster Rugby and Racing 92. After a short festive break back in South Africa, the Toyota Cheetahs return to Amsterdam, where they face Ulster Rugby at the NRCA Stadium on Sunday, 11 January. The action gets underway at 4.15pm (5.15pm SAST) and will be live on SuperSport. Tickets for the Amsterdam fixtures on 11 January are available online at https://rugby.nl/ticketshop/ As pa

The Vodacom Bulls have confirmed their matchday squad for the highly anticipated New Year’s derby against the DHL Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday. Head coach Johan Ackermann has made several adjustments from the side that faced the Sharks two weeks ago, with a mix of tactical changes and fresh energy injected into the lineup. Ruan Nortje returns to lead the side, taking over the armband from Elrigh Louw, who captained against the Sharks. In the back row, Marco van Staden co

The DHL Stormers have been boosted by the return from injury of Springbok stars Damian Willemse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu for the Vodacom United Rugby Championship encounter with the Vodacom Bulls at DHL Stadium on Saturday. A capacity crowd will pack the stands at DHL Stadium as Willemse makes his 100th start in a DHL Stormers jersey in the first match of 2026. He will be joined in midfield by Wandisile Simelane, outside Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who links up with fellow Spri

The Lions kick-off 2026 with a trip to Durban where they will meet the Hollywoodbets Sharks on Saturday for their Round 9 fixture of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship. Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen’s men will be hoping to halt the high-flying Sharks who are enjoying a new lease on life after a change in coaching personnel. After a gutsy performance against the Stormers a fortnight ago, the Joburg franchise will take a few positives from that showing into yet another ph

Director of Rugby John Dobson has signed a contract extension with Stormers Rugby that will see him at the helm right through to the culmination of Project 2029. The four-year extension will see Dobson continue to build on what he has achieved since taking over as head coach in 2020, by following through on the ambitious plans in place as part of Project 2029. A proud product of Cape Town, Dobson has been part of the Stormers Rugby system since 2010, steering his squad to Cur

Rugby fans will ring in the New Year with full round United Rugby Championship fixtures. Welsh derby action will kick off on New Years Day, as Dragons RFC host Scarlets and Cardiff travel to Ospreys. Friday night lights will see Munster make the trip to Ulster. While on Saturday, South African derbies return as Hollywoodbets Sharks welcome the Lions and Vodacom Bulls face undefeated league leaders DHL Stormers. Defending BKT URC champions Leinster host Connacht, Edinburgh wil

SA Rugby will establish a national coaching forum to deepen and expand communication between national team coaches and franchise and provincial union coaching staffs, announced Mark Alexander, President of SA Rugby, on Wednesday. Currently, coaching staffs liaise over the schedules of Players of National Interest (PONI), for whom SA Rugby already makes a salary contribution. Alexander said the new forum would provide a formal structure to further enhance these relationships.

Vodacom United Rugby Championship rugby resumes after the brief Christmas break with the Hollywoodbets Sharks hosting the Lions at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday afternoon. Head coach JP Pietersen has the good fortune of welcoming back some of his stalwarts with Springboks OX Nche and Aphelele Fassi over their respective ailments and both getting starts. Corne Rahl and Siya Masuku also make welcome returns to the matchday 23, both named on a bench filled with exciting y

The Vodacom Bulls’ new attack coach, Neil de Bruin, is no stranger to Loftus Versfeld. In fact, he’s already calling the hotel next to the stadium his new home, even though his roots remain in Paarl, Western Cape. Turning 40 in March, De Bruin’s rugby journey has been shaped by family, mentors and resilience. His father, Swys de Bruin, now head coach of the South African women’s team, remains a guiding influence. “My dad has always been a great mentor,” he says. “He taught me

Leinster Rugby's Ciarán Frawley against Munster Rugby in Thomond Park. Inpho Photography Leinster Rugby gained sweet revenge for their Croke Park defeat to Munster Rugby in Round 3 of the United Rugby Championship by winning 13-8 at a sold out Thomond Park on a weekend of Christmas derbies. It was one try apiece in Limerick, with Player of the Match Josh van der Flier crossing early to open the scoring for the visitors, while replacement wing Dan Kelly went over with 10 minut

Springbok assistant coaches Felix Jones and Jerry Flannery, SA Rugby Mobi-Unit coach Duane Vermeulen and Head of Athletic Performance Andy Edwards will provide short-term support to the Vodacom Bulls following a request from the franchise for assistance in specific technical areas. The request was approved by SA Rugby and the Springbok management as part of the organisation’s ongoing collaboration with its member unions. The Bok coaches will engage with the Bulls on a limited

The teams for this weekends festive derby fixtures of the United Rugby Championship have been named with all details of match officials and broadcast information below. TEAM NEWS HEADLINES #CARvDRA Rhys Barratt, Rory Thornton, Alex Mann and Taulupe Faletau named in a refreshed pack for Cardiff Rugby Hooker George Roberts makes first start for Dragons RFC as Aaron Wainwright returns to line-up #SCAvOSP Scarlets hooker Ryan Elias takes over captaincy Dewi Lake is set to captain

Edinburgh Rugby's Duhan van der Merwe. Inpho Photography A Murrayfield crowd of more than 30 000 will watch Edinburgh Rugby attempt to exact revenge in the second leg of the 1872 Cup. Glasgow Warriors won the first leg 24-12 in front of 21 093 at Hampden Park last Saturday, with replacement hooker Seb Stephen sealing the win and a bonus point with their fourth try three minutes from time. Now the two arch rivals will meet again in Saturday’s United Rugby Championship Christma

Cardiff Rugby's Alun Lawrence. Inpho Photography Chart topper Alun Lawrence is a man who is setting himself further targets for both club and country. The ultra-consistent Cardiff Rugby No 8 has been an absolute machine when it comes to his stats so far this season. He has made more carries (116) and tackles (101) than any other player in the United Rugby Championship, while he is also top for carries (39) and third for tackles (37) in the EPCR Challenge Cup. Yet again, he wa

Cape Town and Stormers Rugby will welcome back two-time World Cup-winning Springbok captain Siya Kolisi at the conclusion of the season. Kolisi will make his return in July 2026 from the Hollywoodbets Sharks and fulfill an important role mentoring the next generation as the club continues to build the squad’s depth and maturity as part of Project 2029. The move will allow Kolisi to be closer to his family and also make a meaningful contribution to the team where it all starte

Munster Rugby head coach Clayton McMillan (right) and Leinster Rugby head coach Leo Cullen. Inpho Photography It will be a very different Christmas this year for Munster Rugby coach Clayton McMillan. Back home in his native New Zealand, it’s off season and a time for relaxation. But having made the move from the Waikato-based Chiefs to take charge of Munster, he now finds himself in the middle of a hectic sequence of festive fixtures. Last weekend, he took his team to Wales f

Scarlets' Jake Ball. Inpho Photography Jake Ball rejoined the Scarlets wanting to say thank you to the club that gave him everything - and he is certainly doing just that. He was a virtual unknown when he first arrived from Australia in 2012 but over the next nine years he was to become one of the most recognisable figures in Welsh rugby. The big man with the big beard established himself as a key figure in the Scarlets’ second row, helping them win the league title in 2017 a

Rio Dyer celebrates scoring Dragons RFC's fourth try of their match against Connacht Rugby with Jared Rosser. Inpho Photography On a weekend of derbies, one all-South African affair saw the DHL Stormers extend their lead at the top of the table while the other drew a landmark full house. The Stormers claimed a 34-27 bonus point victory over the Lions in Cape Town to make it seven out of seven in the United Rugby Championship and nine out of nine in all competitions. They were

With big crowds enjoying the South African summer weather at the two local Vodacom United Rugby Championship derbies in Cape Town and Durban, the DHL Stormers and Hollywoodbets Sharks were too good for their Gauteng visitors on Saturday. The Stormers retained top spot on the Vodacom URC log with a full house of points in their 34-27 victory over the Lions at the DHL Stadium, where the visitors gained a valuable losing bonus point in a highly entertaining clash. The Sharks sco

The DHL Stormers ended 2025 with a 34-27 Vodacom United Rugby Championship win against the Lions at DHL Stadium on Saturday. The South African derby win was the ninth consecutive victory this season and sees them end the year on top of the standings. The visitors made a fast start as a dropped kick-off saw flank Ruan Venter score early. They added a penalty before the Stormers got a try of their own, with wing Dylan Maart flying over following a well-weighted pass from Warric