Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth has been handed a 12-match ban after being found guilty of an eye-gouging incident on Wales back-row Alex Mann.
History will be made during next year’s much-anticipated Rugby's Greatest Rivalry, with the confirmation that the Springbok Women would meet New Zealand’s Black Ferns for the first time on South African soil.
Uncapped utility backline player Nabo Sokoyi has been included in the Springbok Sevens squad for the HSBC SVNS Cape Town at DHL Stadium, where the Blitzboks will aim to defend their crown in the second round of the season.
Reigning champions Union Bordeaux Bègles will kick off the defence of their Investec Champions Cup crown against the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria, while the DHL Stormers and Hollywoodbets Sharks both face tough away fixtures in France as the European showpiece gets underway this weekend.
The Springboks have been drawn with Italy, Georgia, and Romania for the pool stages of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, where they will be aiming for for an unprecedented third consecutive title after lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in Japan in 2019, and France in 2023.
Zander Reynders’ debut for the Springbok Sevens, a year ago at the HSBC SVNS Cape Town, was a surreal experience and to return to DHL Stadium where it all started was a reminder of how blessed his rugby career has been since.
The overnight flight from Dubai to Cape Town was more than enough time for the Blitzboks to reflect on their fifth place finish at the Emirates Dubai 7s tournament and upon arrival in the Mother City this morning, Springbok Sevens sweeper Ricardo Duarttee was ready for another bite at the cherry.
The Springboks were congratulated by Mr Mark Alexander, the President of SA Rugby, for an outstanding 2025 season, which included the successful defence of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship title, as well as a second successive unbeaten Castle Lager Outgoing Tour to Europe.
The Springbok Sevens will face Dubai champions New Zealand, as well as Fiji and Great Britain on the opening day of the HSBC SVNS Cape Town on Saturday as the pool draw was confirmed following last weekend’s action in the desert.
The Springbok Women's Sevens ‘A’ side will return from Dubai on Monday more mature, more experienced and with their coach Cecil Afrika, a happy man.