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Springboks host Barbarians in Nelson Mandela Bay with five uncapped players in squad
South Africa face the Barbarians at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, with Junior Bok captain Riley Norton and prop Carlu Sadie among five uncapped players in the matchday squad.
Pollard and Le Roux endure nightmare as Bulls suffer fourth URC Final defeat
The Bulls' 36-7 capitulation to Leinster at Croke Park marked their fourth consecutive URC Final defeat, with World Cup winners Handré Pollard and Willie le Roux delivering performances well below their usual standards. Two yellow cards for deliberate knock-ons and a series of uncharacteristic handling errors left the Pretoria side chasing shadows as Leinster secured back-to-back titles. The margin of defeat was established within the opening half-hour, raising questions about whether the Bulls had left their best performance at Murrayfield a fortnight earlier.
Erasmus warns Springboks of 'intense' Barbarians challenge in Gqeberha opener
Rassie Erasmus has cautioned his Springboks side ahead of Saturday's season-opening clash with the Barbarians at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha. The head coach, who led the BaaBaas himself in 2018, expects a fiercely competitive encounter despite the fixture's non-Test status, with Scott Robertson and Felipe Contepomi guiding the invitational side.
Kolisi insists Barbarians clash is no festival as Boks open 2026 season
Siya Kolisi has dismissed any notion of Saturday's encounter with the Barbarians being a festival occasion, declaring the Springboks will treat the Gqeberha fixture as a full international. The match at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium kicks off a double-header that also features SA 'A' against Zimbabwe, with Rassie Erasmus handing debuts to Riley Norton and Carlu Sadie whilst experimenting with Quan Horn at fly-half.
Leinster dismantle Bulls 36-7 to retain URC title in Dublin
Leinster retained the URC title with a 36-7 dismantling of the Bulls at Croke Park, the Pretoria side's fourth Grand Final defeat in five seasons after a dismal first-half display yielded a 22-0 deficit.
Tshituka calls on forwards to unlock SA 'A' backline against Zimbabwe
SA 'A' captain Vincent Tshituka says the forwards must secure front-foot ball to unleash a backline of largely uncapped talent when the team hosts Zimbabwe at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday, with Lukhanyo Am providing the experienced anchor in a squad that includes 21 uncapped players.
Kolisi treats Barbarians clash as a full Test match ahead of Gqeberha opener
Siya Kolisi insists the Springboks are treating Saturday's Barbarians clash in Gqeberha as a full Test match, with internal competition, positional battles and the season opener's importance all cited as the camp's driving forces.
Kolisi dismisses exhibition label ahead of Barbarians clash in Gqeberha
Siya Kolisi insists the Springboks are treating Saturday's Barbarians match in Gqeberha as a full Test match, with squad positions at stake and a difficult pre-season camp behind them.
Kolisi and Tshituka ready for serious business in Gqeberha double-header
Kolisi insists the Barbarians match is no festival occasion as the Springboks open their international season in Gqeberha, while SA 'A' captain Vincent Tshituka warns against underestimating a Zimbabwe side motivated by their 2027 Rugby World Cup qualification.
World Rugby scraps home weighting from rankings calculations ahead of Nations Championship
World Rugby removes home weighting from rankings calculations from July 1, responding to the growing number of international matches played at neutral or out-of-country venues. South Africa remain top of the men's rankings on 93.94 points.
George North to end career in Barbarians jersey against Wales at Twickenham
George North will make his final professional appearance for the Barbarians against Wales at Twickenham on 27 June, joining a squad that also features Duhan van der Merwe, TJ Perenara and Tomás Albornoz.
George North to bow out in Barbarians jersey against Wales at Twickenham
George North will play his final professional match for the Barbarians against Wales at Twickenham on 27 June, capping a career of 121 Wales caps, four Six Nations titles, two Grand Slams and two Lions tours.
Fainga'anuku fibula fracture rules him out of Nations Championship and clouds Greatest Rivalry availability
Leicester Fainga'anuku's fibula fracture rules him out of the All Blacks' Nations Championship Tests and puts his availability for the opening Greatest Rivalry matches against the Springboks in serious doubt, shelving the hybrid back-row experiment the Crusaders had been building across the second half of the Super Rugby season.
World Rugby scraps home weighting in first rankings overhaul since 2003
World Rugby will eliminate home weighting from its rankings points calculation from July 1, 2026 — the first major change to the system since its 2003 introduction — citing the surge in Tests played at neutral venues, including the Springboks vs All Blacks Baltimore clash.
Fainga'anuku's broken leg rules him out of Nations Championship and clouds Springbok series availability
Leicester Fainga'anuku faces 10 to 12 weeks out after fracturing his fibula in the Crusaders' semi-final defeat to the Chiefs, ruling him out of the Nations Championship and casting doubt over his availability for the opening Tests against the Springboks.
Bulls handed Stormers blueprint as Rassie and Mallett chart path to URC glory
The Vodacom Bulls head into Friday's United Rugby Championship final at Croke Park armed with a template laid out by their Cape Town rivals. Rassie Erasmus and Nick Mallett both point to the DHL Stormers' physical semi-final display against Leinster as proof the Irish province can be rattled—provided the Bulls avoid the discipline lapses that cost their countrymen. With eight consecutive wins and Handré Pollard steering the ship, Johan Ackermann's side arrive in Dublin with momentum and belief.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu confirms successful surgery after ankle injury
Feinberg-Mngomezulu has undergone successful ankle surgery following the injury suffered against Cardiff, with a lengthy absence ahead that could affect his Springbok availability for the Rugby Championship.
Nortjé eyes URC glory in Bulls farewell after decade at Loftus
Ruan Nortjé will bring down the curtain on a ten-year Bulls career when he faces Leinster in Friday's United Rugby Championship Grand Final at Croke Park. The Springbok lock, who is bound for Japan, hopes to sign off his Loftus Versfeld tenure by lifting silverware in Dublin.
Nortjé bids farewell to Bulls in Croke Park Grand Final
Ruan Nortjé ends a decade with the Bulls in Friday's URC Grand Final against Leinster at Croke Park before departing for Japan, reflecting on a journey that began with a WhatsApp message during his matric year.
Manu Tshituka relishing SA 'A' chance as citizenship journey reaches new milestone
Manu Tshituka makes his SA 'A' debut against Zimbabwe in Gqeberha on Saturday, joining brother Vincent in the national team environment after both were granted South African citizenship last year following a two-decade wait.