The Toyota Cheetahs are in England for the opening round of the 2025/26 EPCR Challenge Cup, where they will face the Exeter Chiefs in the last match of the weekend on Sunday. The action at Sandy Park in Exeter kicks off at 7.30pm (SAST) and will be the Cheetahs' first against an English club in the EPCR Challenge Cup. The game will be live on SuperSport. Last season, the Toyota Cheetahs boasted the best line-out success rate in the competition at 93.2% and will look to this f

The Mayor of Bilbao, Juan Mari Aburto, EPCR Chief Executive Officer, Jacques Raynaud, Deputy General of Bizkaia, Elixabete Etxanobe and The Vicelehendakari Primera, Ibone Bengoetxea outside the San Mamés Stadium. The Road to Bilbao officially launched during a joint event at San Mamés Stadium with European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), the City of Bilbao, the Province of Bizkaia and the Basque Government. This event marks the beginning of a major collaboration between the B

A strong group of 26 players will gather in Stellenbosch on Saturday as the first South African U18 Girls squad was named for two matches against a touring side from the Netherlands later this month. The squad was chosen at the end of the U18 Elite Player Development (EPD) camp for girls, which was held in Riebeek Kasteel this week. The two matches will take place on 12 and 16 December. Former Springbok speedster Jongi Nokwe from Western Province has been appointed as the tea

The Springboks will start their 2026 season with a mouth-watering clash against England at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, when the newly established Nations Championship kicks off. SA Rugby confirmed the three venues for the July Tests on Thursday. The Test against England is on Saturday, 4 July, and will be followed by encounters against Scotland at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria (11 July) and Wales at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban (18 July). The new schedule brings old foes

Lions head coach Ivan ‘Cash’ van Rooyen has included Springboks Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Morne van den Berg in his run on XV for Round 1 of the EPCR Challenge Cup against Benetton on Saturday. The Johannesburg side are flying high after their win against the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria last week, a welcome confidence booster as they prepare to take on the Italians at Ellis Park. Returning from international duty this week, and speaking to the media earlier this week, the Ntlaba

SA Rugby announced on Friday that the contract of double Rugby World Cup-winning coach Rassie Erasmus’ had been extended for a further four years. It means Erasmus is contracted for six years until 2031. Mark Alexander, President of SA Rugby, made the announcement to SA Rugby’s general meeting of member unions, saying that the governing body was proud to reaffirm its commitment to excellence by extending the agreement with Erasmus until after the 2031 Rugby World Cup in the U

Rugby royalty descends on Loftus Versfeld this Saturday as the Vodacom Bulls host reigning Investec Champions Cup holders Union Bordeaux Bègles in a blockbuster Round 1 clash (5.15pm kick-off). This is no ordinary fixture. It is the last home game of 2025 and the Bulls have signalled their intent with a Springbok-heavy squad featuring over a dozen internationals. The clash promises fireworks as Bordeaux arrive as determined to prove their pedigree on South African soil. The B

History will be made during next year’s much-anticipated Rugby's Greatest Rivalry, with the confirmation that the Springbok Women would meet New Zealand’s Black Ferns for the first time on South African soil. This historic encounter will form part of a double-header at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on 5 September, before the Springboks and All Blacks run out in the third Test of the series. The Springbok Women and the Black Ferns have only met twice before – at the Women’s

Springbok prop Ntuthuko Mchunu will make his DHL Stormers debut in the Investec Champions Cup opener against Bayonne on Friday evening. The DHL Stormers get their campaign underway at the Stade Jean Dauger, with kick-off at 10pm (SAST) on Friday. Mchunu is joined in the front row by Neethling Fouché and JJ Kotzé, with hooker Lukhanyo Vokozela also set to make his Stormers debut from the replacements bench. Captain Salmaan Moerat makes his 50th start for the team as he partner

Uncapped utility backline player Nabo Sokoyi has been included in the Springbok Sevens squad for the HSBC SVNS Cape Town at DHL Stadium, where the Blitzboks will aim to defend their crown in the second round of the season. The 23-year-old, born in Upington and schooled at Grey College in Bloemfontein, will take the place of Mfundo Ndhlovu in the only change to the squad that finished in fifth position in Dubai a week ago. Ndhlovu has signed with a Vodacom United Rugby Champio

Reigning champions Union Bordeaux Bègles will kick off the defence of their Investec Champions Cup crown against the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria, while the DHL Stormers and Hollywoodbets Sharks both face tough away fixtures in France as the European showpiece gets underway this weekend. The Capetonians are away to Aviron Bayonnais in Bayonne on Friday evening, and the Durbanites take on six-time European champions Stade Toulousain in Toulouse on Sunday afternoon. At the same ti

HSBC SVNS arrives in Cape Town this weekend as the world’s top sevens teams continue their campaign following an action-packed opening round in Dubai. The event marks ten years since the city first hosted the tournament in 2015 adding an important milestone to the series calendar. Last year saw South Africa lift the men’s trophy after defeating France, while New Zealand topped the women’s competition. Both title holders return to Cape Town aiming to defend their titles and be

With the opening rounds of the 2025/26 Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup just days away, EPCR and DHL are pleased to announce a two-year extension of their successful partnership. The world’s leading international express logistics provider will continue as the Official Logistics Partner of both the Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup until the end of the 2026/27 season. Now entering its fifth season, the partnership reflects DHL’s long-standing comm

The Springboks have been drawn with Italy, Georgia, and Romania for the pool stages of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, where they will be aiming for for an unprecedented third consecutive title after lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in Japan in 2019 and France in 2023. The Boks have faced all three their pool opponents in Rugby World Cups before – Romania in 1995 and 1999, Georgia in 2003 and Italy in 2019. The draw was done in Australia on Wednesday morning (SA time), with

Zander Reynders’ debut for the Springbok Sevens, a year ago at the HSBC SVNS Cape Town, was a surreal experience and to return to DHL Stadium where it all started was a reminder of how blessed his rugby career has been since. The 24-year-old was a rookie draft into the wider Springbok Sevens training squad a year ago and after a solid performance at the International Invitational tournament in Dubai, Blitzbok head coach Philip Snyman trusted his instincts and included the UP-

Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 has ignited its global campaign, ‘Go All Out’, unleashing a bold celebration of rugby’s fandom, epic entertainment, global unity and the passion that will power Australia’s hosting of the world’s biggest ever rugby tournament. Designed to fuel international hype ahead of the official Draw, ‘Go All Out' delivers one simple rallying cry: give everything you’ve got and get involved. Whether you’re a player chasing glory, a coach driving destiny, or a f

With the opening EPCR Challenge Cup fixtures just days away, please find below the link to Round 1 preview information including fixtures, pools, match officials and selected club and individual player performance data. Round 1 notes 18 clubs from seven nations - Ireland, France, South Africa, Wales, England, Italy and Georgia - will compete in the 2025/26 tournament, divided into three pools over four pool stage rounds. Round 1 fixtures will take place from 5 to 7 December,

With the opening Investec Champions Cup fixtures just days away, please find below the link to Round 1 preview information including fixtures, pools, match officials and selected club and individual player performance data. Round 1 notes Round 1 will take place from 5 to 7 December, featuring the top eight clubs from the 2024/25 United Rugby Championship, TOP 14, and Gallagher PREM. All 24 clubs will play four pool stage matches, each against a different opponent, with two at

World Rugby and Gilbert announced on Monday the unveiling of the official match ball design for the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia, alongside confirmation of a landmark extension to their long-standing partnership through to 2033. Under the agreement, Gilbert will remain the Official Ball Supplier for all World Rugby 15s competitions and Rugby World Cups, ensuring that the men’s and women’s tournaments in Australia (2027 & 2029) and the USA (2031 & 2033) will all be

The EPCR Challenge Cup returns this coming weekend for what promises to be a landmark 30th season, with action kicking off from 5 to 7 December. Clubs from France, England, Wales, Georgia, South Africa, Italy and Ireland will begin their pursuit of glory as the road to the 2026 Finals in Bilbao officially begins. The season opener will set the tone in emphatic fashion. On Friday Ulster Rugby host Racing 92 at the Affidea Stadium, as two European powerhouses prepare to bring a