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.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom for Springbok Sevens head coach Philip Snyman after the Blitzboks’ fifth-place finish at the Emirates Dubai 7s on Sunday, but he admitted that they did not perform to their own expectations.
The DHL Stormers consolidated their spot at the top of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship log after they pulled off a stunning comeback win over Munster in Limerick, the Lions beat the Vodacom Bulls in a Jukskei Derby in Pretoria, and the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ struggled continue as they fell to Connacht in Galway.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus lauded his team for a “clinical performance”, paving the way for an emphatic victory against Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday, which saw the Boks complete the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour with a clean sweep of victories for the second year in a row.