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A year of promise and possibility

It may seem a little tardy to only be previewing 2026 and drawing up my rugby wish list now, what with the first month of the year almost in our rearview mirrors already. But let’s be honest, January is kind of like a free trial month anyway, when we’re all just feeling the new year out and deciding whether it’s worth the subscription. That’s my excuse anyway (and possibly why I haven’t taken my Christmas decorations down yet either…). It’s also possible that I should spend m

4 days ago6 min read

Stormers Fans Won’t Like This, But That Loss Could Win Them the URC

The Stormers suffered their first defeat of the URC season at home this weekend, going down 30–19. On the surface, it’s a result that dents momentum and bruises pride, particularly in Cape Town where home dominance has long been a cornerstone of Stormers success. But scratch a little deeper and this may turn out to be one of the most valuable results of their campaign. Tune into this weeks episode of the Podcast as we chat about this season defining moment. In recent URC seas

7 days ago3 min read

Varsity Cup’s Latest Law Innovation: Entertaining? Yes. Necessary? Maybe Not.

If there’s one competition in world rugby that has never been afraid to experiment, it’s the Varsity Cup. Over the years it has been a genuine testing ground for law variations, quicker play, and ideas that later filtered into the professional game. Some have worked. Others… not so much. For 2026, the tournament has unveiled its boldest innovation yet: a new post-try scoring option that allows teams to either kick a standard two-point conversion or tap and chase an additional

Jan 233 min read

Don’t Do It, Boks: Not This Test, Not This Place.

Why the Springboks Should Think Twice Before Taking a Test to the USA Reports have been suggesting that the Springboks and All Blacks are “close to an agreement” to play the final match of the Greatest Rugby Rivalry series in the United States later this year. On the surface, staging such a fixture in a new market might seem exciting, but for a team that stands for inclusion, unity, and being a symbol of pride for all South Africans, doing so in the current geopolitical envir

Jan 223 min read

Rugby Wrapped: The 2025 Edition

As I write this, we’re in that weird no man’s land week between Christmas and New Year. A time when no one really knows what day it is, and people are primarily subsisting on left over roast potatoes, cheese, and Quality Streets (if you can find them in SA – those things have become as rare as a French TV camera angle showing the home side’s wrongdoing…). None of the South African sides were in action in the URC over the weekend, so we really are in the lull. It seems like a

Dec 30, 202514 min read

Boks vs Ireland: A Decade of Dublin Hurt

The Springboks are back in Dublin this weekend, chasing a victory at the Aviva Stadium that has somehow managed to dodge them for more than a decade. The last time South Africa walked out of Dublin with a win, Heyneke Meyer was new in the job, Pat Lambie was slotting them over from 50, and Siya Kolisi was still a fresh-faced kid on the rise. It's been 13 long years, and every trip since has come with its own sting. You don’t have to remind Cheslin Kolbe. He still remembers th

Nov 19, 20253 min read

The Sharks’ Broken Machine Needs a South African Mechanic

When the Sharks confirmed that head coach John Plumtree will step down at the end of the season, moving into a more advisory capacity, it didn’t come as much of a shock to anyone paying attention. For months now, something has felt off in Durban. The body language, the results, the lack of spark, all have pointed to a franchise slowly losing its pulse. Neil Powell’s shift to focus on other areas within the franchise only adds to the feeling that the Sharks are at a crossroads

Nov 5, 20254 min read

Who Runs the Show in Paris? The Boks’ Fly-Half Dilemma

The Springboks and France meet again this Saturday in Paris in what promises to be another classic. It’s being billed as the rematch of the greatest game ever played, that unforgettable 2023 Rugby World Cup quarterfinal where the Boks edged Les Bleus by a single point and sent the hosts crashing out of their own tournament. Two years later, the stakes feel just as high. Both sides are brimming with confidence and power, and if history is anything to go by, we’re in for anothe

Nov 3, 20254 min read

COMPETITION TIME: PUNT-IT BINGO

Think you’ve got what it takes to call BINGO before your Tjoms? The Punt-It Bingo Challenge runs during the Autumn Nations Series , from 31 October to 30 November 2025 .Each block on the board challenges you to show your Bok pride, banter, or game-day passion — and the first six legends to shout Bingo! will go into the draw for our main prizes. 🎯 HOW TO PLAY 1️⃣ Follow @Rugby_Punt_It on Instagram, that’s where all the action happens. 2️⃣ We’ll be revealing new Bingo blo

Oct 30, 20252 min read

Boks name side for tour opener.

Rassie and his coaching staff have named the 1st Springbok team for their Autumn Nations Series opener against Japan at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. Kick off is set for 18:10 (SA time) and promises to be an excellent game as the Bokke look to test their depth whilst also ensuring the players are battle hardened, focused and ready for their showdown with Les Bleus in Paris in a weeks time. There were noticeable World Cup winning absentees from the squad when it was named. This

Oct 29, 20253 min read

Boks name squad for November

Rassie and his coaching team have named their squad for the end of year tour as they look to retain their number 1 ranking ahead of the World Cup draw in December, whilst also ensuring they grow their squad depth. A notable World Cup winner has missed out, whilst a new prop has entered the fray. Springbok squad for the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour: Forwards : Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers) Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) Thomas du Toit (Bath)

Oct 20, 20251 min read