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With the international season approaching its final stretch, the race for World Rugby Player of the Year is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing in recent memory. From the relentless physicality of the Boks to the attacking brilliance of the revived All Blacks and the finishing prowess of the French, there has been no shortage of individual brilliance in 2026. While several players could make a compelling case for the game's highest individual honour, five in particula

The Springbok Women are closing out their WXV campaign and wrapping up an absolutely massive season with two games against Ireland at Athlone Stadium on 24 and 31 October. It’s been two decades since the one and only previous game these teams played against each other, so I think it’s safe to say we’ve been looking forward to this one. That previous game took place at the 2006 Rugby World Cup, with Ireland taking a comfortable 37-0 victory. Of course, given when the last fixt

With the Boks preparing to head North for the final leg of the Nations Championship, all eyes will soon turn to Rassie and the squad he selects for the November tour. With fixtures against Italy, France and Ireland, followed by a final match at Twickenham, there is plenty at stake. But with the 2027 Rugby World Cup now less than a year away, November could also present an opportunity to introduce some fresh faces into the Springbok environment. Rassie has never been afraid to

With the Springboks preparing for their final four Tests of 2026, Rassie faces an interesting dilemma. Does he send his strongest possible squad North in pursuit of the Nations Championship title, or does he take the opportunity to give some of his most important players a much-needed break? It's a question that will undoubtedly divide supporters, particularly with France and Ireland waiting, but with the 2027 Rugby World Cup now less than a year away, perhaps it's time to st

The Springboks are heading North for the second half of the Nations Championship, and while South African supporters will undoubtedly have their sights set on another trophy, there is a very real possibility that the Boks won't feature in the final. Not because they aren't good enough, but because the road to Twickenham is arguably a much tougher one for Rassie and his men than it is for their greatest rivals, the All Blacks. The Boks face Italy in Turin on 7 November, France

Once upon a time, we were lucky if we saw the Springbok Women play more than a couple of games a year. Now, just two weeks after we watched them take on the Black Ferns in Soweto, they’re in action once again, this time against Wales in Cardiff, as they kick off their WXV Global Series campaign. We dreamed of times like these. World Rugby has rejigged the format of the WXV competitions, moving away from the three-tiered approach that previously saw the Springbok Women playing

When Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry was first announced, there was always the danger that the hype might outweigh the reality. Instead, it delivered. Four Test matches between the Springboks and All Blacks, packed stadiums, thousands of travelling Kiwis and a genuine sense that we were watching something a little different to the usual international rugby window. It felt like an occasion from beginning to end and, perhaps most importantly, it reminded everyone why South Africa agai

After an incredible tour of Fiji, the Springbok Women are preparing for yet another historic Test this weekend, as they get ready to play the Black Ferns for the first time on South African soil. The teams have only met on two previous occasions, both of which took place on neutral ground at Rugby World Cups. In 2010, the Black Ferns cantered to a 55-3 win, but in 2025, while the final score of 46-17 may have suggested otherwise, the South African women were far fiercer conte

I’ve watched the Springboks play the All Blacks live ten times – more than I’ve watched us face any other opponent. I’ve seen five wins, and five losses. I was there for the utter heartbreak in Durban when we lost 15-57 in 2016. And I was also there for the pure joy and exhilaration in Paris when we won the 2023 Rugby World Cup final 12-11. The games we play against the All Blacks are the ones I look forward to most every year, the ones that feel like they have the most at st

When you start looking at the most important players on a tour involving the Boks and the All Blacks, the obvious names tend to come to mind first. For the Bokke, there is a very strong argument for Pieter-Steph du Toit, Malcolm Marx or Cheslin Kolbe, three players who have become hugely influential to the way the Boks play. New Zealand have their own list of world-class players who could justifiably be described as indispensable, with the likes of Will Jordan and Ardie Savea

Libbie Janse van Rensburg will captain the Springbok Women for the first time against Fiji. Photo: Springbok Women One thing fans of women’s rugby have always cried out for is more meaningful game time for teams. Well, the Springbok Women are certainly getting that this year, and it’s wonderful to see. After drawing the historic two-match series against the USA at home last month, the Bok Women are continuing to blaze new trails for South African women’s rugby as they prepare

The Springboks head into week two of the Nations Championship full of confidence after their emphatic 45-21 victory over England last weekend, but Rassie has wasted little time in turning his attention to the bigger picture. True to his word, the Springbok coach has named a vastly different side for Saturday's Test against Scotland at Loftus Versfeld, making 10 changes to the starting XV as he continues building squad depth ahead of a demanding international campaign that sti

After dominating the competition and retaining their title in the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in May, the Springbok Women return to action this Saturday with an exciting clash against the USA at Ellis Park. The game is the first of two against the Women’s Eagles, and a real opportunity for the Bok Women to build on the momentum they built during last year’s Rugby World Cup. While South Africans may not generally think of the USA when compiling a list of formidable rugby nations,

Junior Springboks prepare to defend their title as Junior World Championship kicks off in Georgia on 27 June. Image: Junior Springboks As if we weren’t spoiled enough with the young talent on display in the two games against the Sables and Barbarians last weekend, this Saturday (27 June) sees the World Rugby Junior World Championship kick off in Georgia. The Junior Boks are the reigning champions, and will be seeing this year’s contest as an exciting challenge, and the opport

Rassie has unveiled a 46-man Springbok squad for the upcoming Nations Championship, and while the core of the group remains familiar, there are six uncapped players who have been handed an opportunity to force their way into the Test arena. After two weeks of training camps, a dominant victory over the Barbarians and a convincing SA 'A' win over Zimbabwe, Erasmus has rewarded a number of standout performers with places in the squad that will begin preparations for the opening

The Springbok team to face the BaaBaas. Image credit: Springboks When Rassie Erasmus and Mzwandile Stick announced their Springbok and SA ‘A’ teams for this weekend’s games against the Barbarians and Zimbabwe, my first thought was “what a time to be a South African rugby fan!” Not just because we’re being spoiled with two games on Saturday (although I did postpone shoulder surgery, so little did I want anything to detract from my day of rugby), but because if ever there was a

For years, Leinster have carried the burden of a reputation they desperately want to shake. Despite their immense resources, international stars, and consistent dominance throughout regular seasons, they have often been labelled rugby's "bridesmaids". Good enough to reach finals, but not always able to finish the job when the pressure is at its greatest. Yet as the Bulls prepare to face Leinster in Friday's United Rugby Championship final at Croke Park, it may be worth asking

I had the privilege yesterday of attending my first ever Springbok press conference to kick start the 2026 international season. Rassie and Faf were in attendance and entertained a number of questions regarding the Boks injury list, preparation for the Nations Championship, the teams to face the Barbarians and Zimbabwe next weekend as well as questions around the squad selections once the Bulls wrap up with the URC. I wanted to find out from Rassie what we should be looking o

Photo credit: Rugby Afrique After what was arguably a transformational year in women’s rugby in 2025, we’ve been missing the special brand of gees our Springbok Women bring to the game. Happily, they were back in action in May, and have once again been crowned champions of Africa, after winning their fifth Rugby Africa Women’s Cup title. They remain the only team to have ever won the tournament, which this year took place in Nairobi, Kenya from 23-31 May. They opened the tour

As of the 1st of June, referees around the world are operating under a new Law Application Guideline from World Rugby targeting players found on the wrong side of the maul. The guideline, which is not a new law but a tighter enforcement of existing rules, goes after the players who position themselves illegally during a maul and then block, drag, or disrupt defenders who are trying to compete. Officials have been instructed to penalise this behaviour earlier and more aggressi