Blitzboks overcome Kenya

The Blitzboks advanced to the Cup semi-finals of the Sydney Sevens after securing a hard-fought 17-0 win over Kenya on day three.

Sharks double-up to outmuscle Bulls

Wing Makazole Mapimpi scored a brace as the Sharks beat the Bulls 31-14 in their pre-season warm-up in Polokwane on Saturday. While the Bulls split their squad into two groups for this game and the clash against the Lions earlier in the day, the Sharks utilised their entire playing squad in this encounter. Coach Robert du Preez fielded a strong XV… Read more →

Lions batter Bulls in warm-up

The Lions scored 10 tries in their 66-22 pre-season win against the Bulls at Ellis Park on Saturday. Not too much should be read into this result. Both teams used the match to test fringe players in their Super Rugby squads, with another Bulls squad playing the Sharks in Polokwane later in the day. The Bulls led 10-5 after 26… Read more →

Allister’s explosive letter leaked

Allister Coetzee says he was offered a ‘ceremonial’ role as Springbok coach in 2018, which would have meant the ‘indignity’ of reporting to Rassie Erasmus. This is revealed in a letter sent from Coetzee to SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux via his legal representatives. SA Rugby has confirmed the authenticity of the letter to TimesLIVE, which is in possession of it…. Read more →

Blitzboks lash England to reach quarters

Seabelo Senatla and Justin Geduld scored two tries each as the Blitzboks beat England 33-12 on day two of the Sydney Sevens on Saturday. In a straight shootout for pool honours and a quarter-final match against the Pool B runners-up, who turned out to be Kenya, South Africa produced their most complete performance to overcome the stern challenge England posed…. Read more →

Coetzee fights back

There is apparently a complete ‘breach of trust’ between Allister Coetzee and members of the SA Rugby executive following a sequence of fiery emails. According to Die Burger rugby writer Stephen Nell, Coetzee presented a stern response this past week as he continues to defend his position as Bok coach after a two-year spell that has yielded just 11 wins from… Read more →

Blitzboks blank Spain

The Blitzboks recorded a comprehensive 38-0 victory over Spain on day two of the Sydney Sevens on Saturday. South Africa, who thrashed Papua New Guinea 50-0 on Friday, weren’t at their clinical best in the first half, as they conceded several penalties at the breakdown, which allowed Spain a fair share of possession. But the South Africans’ accuracy in defence kept… Read more →

Sharks roll out two teams

Sharks coach Robert du Preez has named two separate teams to play in their Super Rugby warm-up match against the Bulls in Polokwane on Saturday. Du Preez selected a first-half team (captained by Ruan Botha) and a second-half team (captained by Franco Marais) in order to test the various combinations in the squad. The side which will play first sees… Read more →

Grey College to put SA before France

Grey College 1st XV coach Wessel du Plessis says the school’s partnership with French club Montpellier will not result in a player drain. A benefactor, thought to be Montpellier owner Mohed Altrad, initiated the Badawi Legacy Scholarship Programme last year. Grey College announced on its website that the programme had committed to making the following changes in three areas over… Read more →

SA Rugby negotiates Blitzboks’ release

Rassie Erasmus is negotiating the release of the Blitzboks’ Super Rugby players for the Commonwealth Games in April. The SA Rugby director of rugby has been touring the country to ensure that the sevens players who have Super Rugby contracts will be available for the Games. Seabelo Senatla (Stormers), Kwagga Smith (Lions) and Tim Agaba (Bulls) will key to coach… Read more →