Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup group stage clash against Saracens at Hollywoodbets Kings Park is an opportunity for the Hollywoodbets Sharks to show their pedigree against one of Europe’s most successful sides. This week is all about taking the good from the opening game against Toulouse last week and topping it up with Springbok pedigree. “Our message to the younger guys in the squad is that despite last week’s loss, it was still a good game, they showed a lot of heart an

The Lions are in Newcastle this week as they prepare to face the Newcastle Red Bulls for Round 2 of the EPCR Challenge Cup on Saturday evening. The team from Johannesburg will be eager to put up a for a solid performance after a disappointing loss to Benetton Rugby in Round 1 at Ellis Park this past weekend. Despite the setback, Lions assistant coach Barend Pieterse remains upbeat ahead of this crucial clash against a high-flying Newcastle side who overcame Lyon in France in

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Donavan Don and Byrhandré Dolf were named as the winners of the 2025 Players’ Player of the Year Awards, a prestigious honour voted for exclusively by professional rugby players across South Africa. This annual recognition pays tribute to the players who have made an outstanding impact within their teams, over the past season. The 2025 Awards once again featured three distinct categories: Men’s Fifteens, Men’s Sevens and Women’s Rugby. Each recipien

While the DHL Stormers will have their sights set on continuing their formidable form this season when they line up against Stade Rochelais in round two of the Investec Champions Cup this weekend, the Hollywoodbets Sharks, Vodacom Bulls, Toyota Cheetahs and Lions will be desperate to bounce back from disappointing defeats in their opening Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup matches to stay in the race for the play-offs. The Stormers will host Stade Rochelais in Gqeberha on S

SA Rugby announced on Wednesday that STADIO Higher Education has joined its family of sponsors as the first official higher education partner to the governing body and South Africa’s national teams. This partnership marks a significant step in supporting the holistic development of South African rugby players by supporting their educational and development initiatives, across all SA Rugby national teams (Springboks, Springbok Women, Springbok Sevens, Springbok Women’s Sevens,

SA Rugby has confirmed the match official panels for the 2026 season, featuring the country’s most elite and promising referees in an Elite Group featuring four referees with Test experience. The group remains largely unchanged from last year, with the addition of three newcomers to the National Panel – Luvuyo Maceba (WP), Stiaan Marx (Bulls) and Thabiso Mbatha (KZN) – which is a welcome boost for the refereeing ranks and the future of officiating in South Africa. Banks Yanto

There are nine Springboks in the DHL Stormers starting line-up for the Investec Champions Cup encounter with Stade Rochelais at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday. Warrick Gelant, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cobus Reinach, Evan Roos and André-Hugo Venter all come into the starting XV for the clash with the two-time champions, which kicks off at 3pm on Saturday in Gqeberha. Gelant has recovered from the illness which saw him ruled out on matchday ahead of the 26-17 win agai

Ospreys head into Round 2 with confidence after their 24-21 comeback over Connacht Rugby in Round 1. Round 2 of the EPCR Challenge Cup is almost here, with three days of high-intensity action from Friday to Sunday. Please find below the link to the preview information including fixtures, pool tables, match officials and selected club and individual player performance data. CLICK BELOW FOR ROUND 2 PREVIEW Round 2 headlines Montpellier Hérault Rugby and Zebre Parma ignite the w

Leinster Rugby will travel to Leicester Tigers for the opening match of Round 2 on Friday night. With 12 more head-turning ties awaiting fans in Round 2 of the Investec Champions Cup from Friday to Sunday, EPCR is pleased to provide preview information including fixtures, pool tables, match officials and selected club and individual player performance data. CLICK BELOW FOR ROUND 2 PREVIEW Round 2 headlines Round 2 fires up on Friday as Leicester Tigers hunt their first points

SA Rugby has standardised the age at which tackling is permitted for young players, which will see children in the Under-5 to Under-8 age groups participate exclusively in non-contact forms of the game, such as TAG and Touch Rugby. Full contact and tackle rugby will only start in the U9 age group, following a structured and standardised “Confidence and Safety in Contact” programme, which will be introduced during the second half of the U8 season to build foundational skills s

The Super Rugby Pacific community will come together to celebrate and support the grassroots game with the competition’s inaugural Club Rugby Round confirmed for Round 4 of the 2026 season. The 11 Super Rugby Pacific clubs will use the week commencing Monday 2 March 2026 to connect with their local community clubs, shine a spotlight on the heroes of the grassroots game and help promote club registration for the upcoming season. Club rugby participants will star in pre-game an

Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) was the top points scorer in Round 1. The EPCR Challenge Cup roared back this weekend with nine action-packed Round 1 games. Please find below a comprehensive review including results, updated pools, key data and top performers. CLICK BELOW FOR ROUND 1 REVIEW STATS Round 1 – Top Performers Points: Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) 17 Carries: Alun Lawrence (Cardiff Rugby) 22 Metres: Zac Ward (Ulster Rugby) 139 Defenders beaten: Gibson Popoali’i (US Monta

Ange Capuozzo (Stade Toulousain) scored three tries in Round 1. The Investec Champions Cup returned this weekend, and Round 1 delivered all the action and surprises fans expect from club rugby’s top competition. Please find below a comprehensive review including results, updated pools, key data and top performers. CLICK BELOW FOR ROUND 1 REVIEW STATS Round 1 – Top Performers Points: Clinton Swart (DHL Stormers) 16 Carries: Grégory Alldritt (Stade Rochelais) 20 Metres: Josh M

The DHL Stormers provided the only ray of light in a bleak opening weekend of European rugby for the five South African teams, as they toppled Aviron Bayonnais in France, while the Vodacom Bulls, Hollywoodbets Sharks, Lions and Toyota Cheetahs all faltered in their Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup matches. The Stormers, who are currently the Vodacom United Rugby Championship log leaders, showed that they can replicate that dominant form in Europe in their opening

The Springbok Sevens successfully defended their HSBC SVNS Cape Town title in spectacular fashion, edging Argentina by 21-19 in a hard-fought final on Sunday afternoon. The teams finished on three tries apiece, but it was a moment of defensive brilliance with time up on the clock that had the crowd on their feet as the Blitzboks became the first team to successfully defend the Cape Town title. They had to dig deep though after Argentina took a 19-7 lead early in the second ha

The Springbok Sevens will face France in the HSBC SVNS Cape Town semi-finals at 12.22pm on Sunday after winning all three their encounters on Saturday to top Pool A, keeping alive their title defence aspirations at DHL Stadium. The Blitzboks had to work hard for a 24-21 victory over Fiji before they cruised past New Zealand by 19-14 as most of the 36 183 spectators soaked up the sunny conditions, scintillating rugby and superb entertainment. Their final pool game, against Gre

The DHL Stormers started their Investec Champions Cup campaign with a 26-17 win against Bayonne in France. A try in each half and four penalties from flyhalf Clinton Swart saw the visitors claim a crucial away victory ahead of their encounter with two-time champions Stade Rochelais at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium next week. Despite being forced into a late change with fullback Warrick Gelant ruled out through injury and being reduced to 14 men for 30 minutes in the second half,

Mark Alexander, the President of SA Rugby, expressed immense pride and gratitude at the end of what has been a very good year for South African rugby during the General Meeting held in Cape Town on Friday. Lauding the collective strength of the organisation, Alexander thanked all stakeholders for their roles in making 2025 a big success. “For the second consecutive year, SA Rugby has been honoured with the Federation of the Year Award, a recognition that reflects the excellen

It will be a homecoming of note for new Springbok Sevens back Nabo Sokoyi when the HSBC SVNS Cape Town kicks off at DHL Stadium on Saturday. The uncapped Blitzbok finally arrived home, where his roots and heart have been all along, after travelling to play rugby in the Netherlands, England, USA, Russia and France. The 24-year-old Sokoyi was born in Upington and schooled in Bloemfontein before he signed contracts to play rugby in Pretoria and Stellenbosch but his nomadic caree

Investec Champions Cup rugby returns this weekend with the first round pitting the top European and South African teams against each other in one of the sport’s most illustrious and competitive tournaments. Nick Hatton will lead the Hollywoodbets Sharks against Toulouse in this Group A, first round clash of the group stage in Sunday’s 5.15pm fixture at Stade Ernest-Wallon and given their history in the tournament and current ranking at the top of the French Top 14 competition