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Borthwick may rest Itoje and other senior players for July Tests against Springboks
Steve Borthwick may rest Maro Itoje and other senior England players for the Nations Championship, with Ollie Chessum expected to lead the side in at least one July Test — including the Johannesburg fixture against the Springboks on 4 July.
Alexander backtracks on Champions Cup comments as Sharks owner issues funding warning
SA Rugby president Mark Alexander has retreated from comments that suggested a Champions Cup exit was under consideration, calling them speculation, after Sharks owner Marco Masotti threatened to pull funding if the franchises were removed from the competition. Alexander maintains the core issue is calendar congestion and continues to push for a global calendar aligning the Rugby Championship with the Six Nations — a proposal New Zealand Rugby opposes.
Erasmus honoured with National Order of Ikhamanga in Gold
Rassie Erasmus has been awarded the National Order of Ikhamanga in Gold by the Presidency, with SA Rugby president Mark Alexander offering his congratulations on behalf of the union.
Leinster forwards coach singles out Sadie as Bordeaux's biggest threat ahead of Champions Cup final
Robin McBryde has named Carlü Sadie among the standout individual threats Bordeaux Bègles bring to Saturday's Investec Champions Cup final.
Former Junior Bok Janse van Rensburg called into England training squad
Former Junior Springbok centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg has been called into England's 42-man training squad, with residency eligibility kicking in on 8 July — ruling him out of the Springbok Test but freeing him for the Fiji match the following weekend.
Mahashe cleared as Lions manage injury concerns ahead of Leinster quarterfinal
Siba Mahashe has been cleared after a spitting allegation during the Lions' loss to Munster at Thomond Park was found to be unsubstantiated, with the URC citing commissioner ruling no action was feasible after video evidence proved inconclusive. The Lions remain in Dublin ahead of their quarterfinal against Leinster, with injury scans pending on Henco van Wyk, Francke Horn and Ruan Venter.
Rudolph outshines Springbok-laden Bulls squad again as Nortje leads dominant Benetton demolition
The Bulls beat Benetton 45-19 at Loftus, with Jeandre Rudolph rated nine out of ten after winning four turnovers and making a game-high 12 tackles, again outshining his Springbok teammates. Ruan Nortje was close behind with a dominant all-round display, while Sergeal Peterson scored twice and Embrose Papier impressed on the back of his alignment camp call-up.
Kolisi bids Kings Park farewell with a brace as youth-laden Sharks demolish Zebre
A youth-heavy Sharks side beat Zebre 54-19 in their URC season finale at Kings Park, with Siya Kolisi scoring twice in his farewell appearance before returning to the Stormers, while debutant flyhalf Vusi Moyo and fullback Zekhethelu Siyaya further pressed their cases.
Kolisi bows out with a brace as Sharks thrash Zebre 54-19 in URC finale
Siya Kolisi scored twice in his final Sharks appearance as the franchise ended their URC season with a commanding 54-19 win over Zebre Parma in Durban, with André Esterhuizen dominant in the carry and teenage debutant fly-half Simphiwe Vusi Moyo contributing 15 points.
SA Rugby to hold strategic planning session on player welfare amid Champions Cup exit rumours
SA Rugby will convene a strategic planning session before the end of July to address player welfare concerns stemming from the year-round schedule conflict between the URC/Champions Cup calendar and the Rugby Championship, amid rumours of a potential Champions Cup withdrawal.
Ntlabakanye handed 18-month ban ruling him out of 2027 World Cup
Lions tighthead Asenathi Ntlabakanye has been suspended for 18 months following an anti-doping rule violation, a sanction that will keep him out of the 2027 Rugby World Cup. The ban, effective from 13 May 2026, stems from a positive test for Anastrozole and the self-declared use of DHEA. Ntlabakanye has 21 days to lodge an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Julius hat-trick headlines Sharks rout as Siyaya experiment pays dividends
Jurenzo Julius announced his credentials with a hat-trick as the Sharks demolished Benetton 46-7 at Kings Park on Saturday. The 18-year-old Zekhethelo Siyaya impressed on his first start at fly-half, while Edwill van der Merwe's brace and a Siya Kolisi try underlined the hosts' dominance. Makazole Mapimpi departed with concussion after a dangerous tackle that saw Jacob Umaga receive a 20-minute red card.
Junior Boks on brink of historic U20 title after Australia rout
The Junior Springboks demolished Australia Under-20 56–17 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Sunday, moving to the cusp of a maiden U20 Rugby Championship crown. Kevin Foote's side need just one bonus point from their final fixture against New Zealand to secure the title, though initial confusion over the tournament's scoring system saw premature celebrations before the mathematics were clarified.
SA Rugby weighs Champions Cup exit as Alexander warns of tough calls ahead
SA Rugby is weighing a withdrawal from the Champions Cup to ease player workload, with president Mark Alexander confirming a July workshop will determine which competitions the organisation retains, as 14 years of global calendar talks continue to stall over New Zealand Rugby's resistance to shifting Super Rugby Pacific.
Bulls face Benetton without Coetzee and Arendse as Pollard, Le Roux return
The Bulls face Benetton on Saturday without flu-stricken Marcell Coetzee and Kurt-Lee Arendse, with Pollard, Le Roux and Louw returning to a reshuffled side. A bonus-point win could move them into the top four and earn a home quarterfinal. Willie le Roux plays his 400th first-class match; Stravino Jacobs earns his 100th Bulls cap.
Springboks open inaugural Nations Championship against England at Ellis Park
The Springboks face England at Ellis Park in 50 days to open the inaugural Nations Championship.
Ntlabakanye handed 18-month ban that rules him out of 2027 Rugby World Cup
Lions prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye has been suspended for 18 months following doping violations involving Anastrozole and DHEA, with the ban running until 13 November 2027 — the day of the Rugby World Cup final — ruling him out of the tournament.
Rassie Erasmus to receive Order of Ikhamanga — South Africa's highest national honour
Rassie Erasmus will receive the Order of Ikhamanga — South Africa's highest national honour — from President Cyril Ramaphosa at an investiture ceremony on 19 May, recognising his role in the Springboks' back-to-back World Cup titles and his contribution to national unity.
Ntlabakanye handed 18-month ban that rules him out of 2027 Rugby World Cup
Lions tighthead Asenathi Ntlabakanye has been suspended for 18 months from 13 May 2026, with the ban expiring on the day of the 2027 Rugby World Cup final after he tested positive for Anastrozole and self-declared use of the anabolic steroid DHEA.
Ntlabakanye handed 18-month ban, set to miss 2027 Rugby World Cup
Asenathi Ntlabakanye has been banned for 18 months by the IDHP after testing positive for Anastrozole and self-declaring DHEA use, ruling him out until November 2027 and ending his hopes of featuring at the Rugby World Cup. The Lions say they will stand by him as he weighs an appeal.