Blitzboks bounce back in Toulouse downpour
The Springbok Sevens bounced back in stunning fashion to beat Fiji by 24-7 in their second pool game at the HSBC France Sevens in Toulouse after a disappointing 31-7 defeat to France in their opening match at the Stade Ernest-Wallon on Friday.

Springbok Women assemble for Rugby Africa Cup
Springbok Women interim coach Louis Koen invited a group of 35 players to assemble in Pretoria on Sunday, with a travelling squad of 28 to leave for Madagascar on Thursday, 18 May to compete in the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup 2023.

Women’s Premier Division goes off the beaten path
The second round of SA Rugby’s Women’s Premier Division kicks off on Saturday with the Boland Dames making their season debut, following a bye in last weekend’s opening round, while there will a now customary return to the platteland, taking the game to community venues in Hawston and Despatch.

Lower tackle height law trials for community rugby confirmed
The World Rugby Council has unanimously approved a recommendation on Thursday that unions participate in trials of a lower tackle height in community rugby.

Teams named for Cape Town semi-final
The teams for Saturday's first Vodacom United Rugby Championship sem-final, between the DHL Stormers and Irish side Connacht at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town, have been named.

All on the line for the Blitzboks in Toulouse
The gold medal for Rugby Sevens at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris cannot be won in Toulouse in 2023, but don't tell the Springbok Sevens team that. In fact, according to Blitzbok coach Sandile Ngcobo, their approach is to use this weekend’s HSBC France Sevens at Stade Ernst-Wallon as an Olympic trial.

DHL Stormers set sights on final berth
The DHL Stormers will have one goal in mind when they meet Connacht in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship semi-final in Cape Town on Saturday – to deliver a top-class performance that will secure them a place in the Grand Final in two weeks’ time and a shot at defending the title they won last season.

The 2023 Currie Cup Bulletin #19
The race for Currie Cup Premier Division semi-final places will intensify this weekend, with teams outside the top four anxious to get back to winning ways, while the First Division and Mzansi Challenge continues with matches in Despatch, Windhoek and Strand.

Four SA players named in Vodacom URC Elite XV
Four South Africans count amongst players from a total of 11 teams – and seven of the top eight sides – that were included in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship’s combined Elite XV for the 2022/23 season, with table-topping Leinster leading the way with three.

SA Rugby Academy squad to sharpen up on tour
The SA Rugby Academy squad will go on tour to Johannesburg and Durban in the next week for two friendly matches to increase the players’ match sharpness and fitness in preparation for the World Rugby Under-20 Championship which South Africa is hosting from next month.