Every story on the wire.
3,982 items
Digby Ioane: Why the Wallabies' momentum is real and Kiss is the right man
Digby Ioane argues the Wallabies' revival under Kiss is built on genuine cultural and structural foundations — not just a hot streak — with the Perth win over the Boks framed as the clearest proof yet of where this squad is heading.
Kolisi's Stormers return a quiet one as lineout meltdown sinks Cape side
Planet Rugby's Edinburgh ratings dissect a Stormers defeat built on lineout dysfunction — Venter's early HIA exit and Paulo's wayward throws are identified as the critical fault lines, leaving Kolisi's comeback and the attack starved of platform.
Stormers' lineout chaos hands Edinburgh a second straight win — but reinforcements are coming
Edinburgh's 17-13 win hinged on a shattered Stormers lineout — Venter's HIA-forced exit proved the real turning point — but the piece argues the Capetonians are far from in crisis, with a large Springbok contingent set to return for the Sharks derby and Champions Cup push.
Kolisi's Stormers return ends in narrow Edinburgh defeat at the Hive
Siya Kolisi's second debut for the Stormers ended in disappointment as Edinburgh claimed a 17-13 victory in round two of the URC on Friday night. Two second-half converted tries proved decisive for the hosts at the Hive Stadium, with the visitors' lineout struggles undermining their efforts in difficult conditions. The defeat leaves John Dobson's side searching for answers ahead of the next fixture.
Edinburgh deny Kolisi a winning return as Stormers fall at the Hive
Edinburgh scored two converted second-half tries to deny Siya Kolisi a winning return to the Stormers in a narrow URC round-two defeat at the Hive.
Kolisi's Stormers return underwhelms as lineout woes sink the Cape side
A lineout that fell apart after Venter's HIA proved decisive, with Paulo's throwing singled out as the chief culprit. Kolisi's second Stormers debut was quietly adequate rather than impactful — a reflection of a team that couldn't give their backrowers anything to work with.
Stormers fall to Edinburgh as Venter concussion adds to Bok concerns
The Stormers lost 17-13 to Edinburgh at Hive Stadium in Round Two of the URC, with a lineout shambles and a concussion to hooker André-Hugo Venter — who faces a race to be fit for next weekend against the Sharks — central to the defeat.
SWD edge Border in thriller to claim 2026 Iqhawe Week title in Worcester
Southwestern Districts claimed the 2026 Hollywood Foundation Iqhawe Week title with a 10-7 victory over Border at HTS Drostdy in Worcester, with the Griffons also going unbeaten across the U15 tournament that featured 16 provincial teams.
SWD crowned 2026 Iqhawe Week champions after tight win over Border
Southwestern Districts won the 2026 Hollywood Foundation Iqhawe Week U15 tournament, defeating Border 10-7 in the final at HTS Drostdy in Worcester on Thursday.
SWD Eagles crowned 2026 Iqhawe Week champions after edging Border
Southwestern Districts beat Border 10-7 to win the 2026 Hollywood Foundation Iqhawe Week U15 title at HTS Drostdy in Worcester, with the Griffons, Western Province and Border the other standout teams across the 16-team tournament.
Ioane: Wallabies' win over the Boks was bigger than rugby
Ioane frames the Wallabies' 42-38 win over the Boks as a cultural moment for Australian rugby — a result that landed on the same weekend as the NRL semis and AFL grand final and, in his view, proved rugby is still rising against fierce domestic competition ahead of a home World Cup.
Kolisi's long-haul detour tells the Stormers everything they need to know
Kolisi's decision to take the long way from Perth to Galway rather than sit out the week at home has made a strong impression on the Stormers squad — Dayimani and Hlungwani explain why the gesture matters as much as anything he'll do on the field.
Os du Randt on silencing the gremlins in his comeback mind
Os du Randt reflects on the internal battle that came with returning to Test rugby, and why winning over the Bok changeroom was the key to silencing his self-doubt.
Ben Smith: Brown's aerial chess game was the Springboks' series-winning edge
Ben Smith credits Tony Brown's tactical manipulation of the aerial battle as the decisive factor in South Africa's series win, arguing that Brown's ability to shift kick placement negated New Zealand's counter-adjustments and that the Boks' high-ball dominance — like their set-piece — is a systemised weapon that is brutally hard to defend under pressure.
Hansen backs Hooper's Piardi call — but is he right?
Hansen defends Hooper's call to keep Piardi away from Wallabies fixtures, framing it as subconscious-bias management rather than ref-bashing — a distinction the piece scrutinises closely and one with direct relevance given the Boks were involved in that controversial Perth loss.
Eight venues confirmed for 2027 Rugby World Cup as one-year countdown begins
Australia's 2027 Rugby World Cup spans eight stadiums from 1 October to 13 November, with the Springboks opening their title defence against Italy at Adelaide Oval. Stadium Australia hosts the final, becoming only the fourth venue to stage the men's decider twice.
Dobson hails Kolisi impact but stresses rugby contribution needed in Edinburgh
John Dobson has praised the immediate influence Siya Kolisi has brought to the Stormers since rejoining the Cape Town franchise, highlighting his leadership and presence. The director of rugby confirmed Kolisi will start at openside flank against Edinburgh on Friday, making his first appearance for the club in more than five years. Dobson emphasised that while Kolisi's off-field impact has been significant, the team's priority remains his on-field contribution.
Rest or go for glory? Rassie's November selection dilemma unpacked
Brendan Nel unpacks whether Rassie should rotate for the November Tests against Italy, France and Ireland — arguing the Nations Championship format actually creates space to test depth players without surrendering realistic trophy ambitions, while identifying back-up hooker and fullback as the positions most urgently needing answers before the World Cup.
Dobson's Springbok management plan: rest for most, but Kolisi straight in
Dobson explains why Kolisi went straight on tour while most other Stormers Boks got a week off — and what he actually expects Kolisi to contribute on the field.
Ben Smith: Tony Brown turned the aerial battle into a chess match the All Blacks couldn't win
Ben Smith pinpoints Tony Brown's tactical manipulation of the aerial battle as the decisive edge in South Africa's series win, arguing the Boks didn't just dominate under the high ball — they systematically moved the contest to spaces the All Blacks couldn't defend.