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1,198 items · Springboks
Snyman backs Leinster 'all the way' despite Bulls ties ahead of Croke Park final
RG Snyman, sidelined by a third ACL injury, has thrown his full support behind Leinster ahead of Friday's URC final against the Bulls at Croke Park, despite his formative years at the Pretoria franchise. The 31-year-old is targeting a return to action midway through the 2026/27 season.
Nortjé: The Bull who's given everything
A profile of Ruan Nortjé as the quintessential Bull — his work rate, captaincy and what he represents to the franchise.
Paul de Villiers is no one-trick fetcher — he's a modern No.6 with a full toolkit
Gavin Rich argues that Paul de Villiers' 19 URC turnovers are just the entry point — his ball-carrying, tackling, and broader game make him a modern No.6 rather than a specialist fetcher, and his squad media duties hint at Barbarians involvement.
The Pollard–Le Roux axis Bulls are banking on to topple Leinster
Jan de Koning profiles the Pollard–Le Roux axis as the Bulls' critical weapon in the URC Final, arguing their decade of shared Test experience — forged through World Cup campaigns — gives the Bulls a genuine edge heading into a match where Leinster are heavy favourites.
Davids: Don't sleep on the Barbarians
Davids is warning against underestimating a Barbarians side stacked with X-factor internationals and coached by Robertson and Contepomi — the full piece outlines why Saturday's opener in Gqeberha carries more risk than the 54-7 scoreline from last year might suggest.
De Villiers eager to prove he's more than a breakdown specialist
Paul de Villiers, the former Junior Springbok captain who excelled for the Stormers this season, insists he offers more than just turnover prowess as he prepares for his senior international debut. The 23-year-old loose forward will feature either for the Springboks against the Barbarians or SA 'A' against Zimbabwe on Saturday in Gqeberha.
De Villiers eyes Bok debut with more than fetching on his mind
Paul de Villiers is set for his senior international debut this weekend, in line to play for either the Springboks against the Barbarians or SA 'A' against Zimbabwe, with the Stormers loose forward eager to show he offers more than his reputation as an elite jackaller.
Conditions and X-factor threats mean Boks can't afford Cape Town complacency in Gqeberha
Dry conditions in Gqeberha, a squad with genuine X-factor, and an historically poor Bok record against the Barbarians mean Saturday's warm-up carries more edge than last year's Cape Town rout suggests — Davids has flagged the risks while keeping the Bok focus on Nations Cup preparation.
Smith and Van Heerden additions are about managing De Jager, not just plugging gaps
The Smith and Van Heerden call-ups are primarily about protecting De Jager's return from hip surgery ahead of the England Tests — Davids has outlined clear role distinctions for both new locks, and the piece frames the resourcing decisions as deliberate load management rather than injury panic.
Le Roux: Bulls must survive the Leinster blitz to have any chance in Dublin
Le Roux flags the opening 20 minutes as make-or-break in Dublin, revisits last year's early-try meltdown, and explains why the Pollard partnership and the Bulls' hard-luck resilience story give them an outside shot — but only if they survive the Leinster blitz.
Davids and De Villiers relishing double-header build-up ahead of Gqeberha season openers
Deon Davids and Paul de Villiers spoke to media on Monday ahead of Saturday's Gqeberha double-header, with SA 'A' facing Zimbabwe at 12h00 and the Springboks meeting the Barbarians at 15h00. The squad trains in Johannesburg until Wednesday before travelling to the Eastern Cape for captains' runs.
Smith called up as Boks manage De Jager's return to full fitness
Stormers lock Adre Smith has been added to the Springbok squad primarily to allow Lood de Jager, returning from hip surgery, to build match fitness gradually ahead of the England Tests, with assistant coach Deon Davids confirming the lock depth has become a squad-planning priority following Salmaan Moerat's release through injury.
Gelant and Van der Merwe set for first reunion since Outeniqua High in Barbarians clash
Warrick Gelant and Duhan van der Merwe are set to share a field for the first time since Outeniqua High School when the Barbarians face the Springboks in Gqeberha on 20 June.
Smith's call-up is really about managing De Jager's return
Smith's Bok call-up is primarily about protecting De Jager's return from hip surgery, with the coaching staff building enough lock cover to avoid rushing him into the England series before he's ready.
Lock depth crisis or overcrowding? The Bok second row picture before England arrives
Rich maps the Springbok lock depth picture — persistent injuries, the Barbarians squad call-ups of Van Heerden and Smith, and why this week's fixtures matter for World Cup preparation — while flagging Schickerling's continued absence as an overlooked gap.
Rassie's 2031 masterplan is already in motion
Cardinelli traces the through-line from Erasmus's 2022 SA 'A' experiment to the current blooding cycle, arguing the squad-building process is now a structured long-term programme targeting 2027 and 2031 — with a compelling look at who the next generation of Bok stalwarts might be.
Family separation the final catalyst for Kolbe's Stormers return
Cheslin Kolbe says his son barely recognising him after six months apart was the moment he knew he had to return to South Africa, with the winger acknowledging he took a substantial financial cut to re-sign with the Stormers through to 2029.
Du Preez rules out retirement, targets return in pre-season
Jean-Luc du Preez has rubbished retirement speculation, saying his concussion symptoms have improved significantly and that he is targeting a return for Bordeaux-Bègles' pre-season starting end of July, with Rassie Erasmus confirming him as unavailable for 2026 but in the mix for 2027.
Le Roux on De Bruin: freedom, fresh ideas, and the Bulls' attacking turnaround
Le Roux unpacks how Neil de Bruin's arrival transformed the Bulls' attack — collaborative coaching, player freedom, and a pre-existing trust with Ackermann all feature as the Bulls prepare for the URC Final ranked No.1 on attack.
Nienaber's Leinster fallout opens door for Springbok return
A senior SA Rugby administrator believes Erasmus will engineer a return for Nienaber — either as a post-2027 assistant or in an earlier technical advisor role modelled on Eddie Jones's 2007 involvement — with the piece mapping out exactly how that fits around the existing backroom structure.