While World Rugby prioritises revenue, proud rugby nations like South Africa and New Zealand continue to be short-changed, writes Jon Cardinelli.
The Springboks touched down in Argentina in the early hours of Sunday morning following the journey from Cape Town on Saturday and will resume their on-field preparations on Monday for next week’s encounter against Los Pumas at Estadio José Amalfitani.
The SA Under-18 and SA U18 ‘A’ squads for the forthcoming U18 International Series, which will be staged in the Western Cape from 7 to 15 August, have been named.
She has played and beaten Fiji in the biggest cauldron of women's sevens and now Shiniqwa Lamprecht has her eyes on another big prize against the Pacific nation – a first Test cap for South Africa.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, and Morne van den Berg will make a welcome return from injury when national coach Rassie Erasmus and his charges travel to Argentina on Saturday for their one-off Test against Los Pumas in Buenos Aires on Saturday, 8 August.
A 30-year wait for the resumption of tours between rugby’s greatest rivals, ended this week with the arrival of the touring All Blacks in South Africa for the start of an eight-match odyssey.
The Springbok Sevens will defend their HSBC SVNS Cape Town crown on 5 and 6 December this year, when the best of rugby and entertainment combine on a weekend that has become known as the official start of summer in the Mother City.
The decision by 18-year-old Keira Snyman to leave her home in Denver, Colorado in pursuit of wearing the green and gold rugby jersey – once proudly worn by her father André – all worked out fine on a sunny Friday afternoon in Stellenbosch.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus made it crystal clear that the team’s first priority this week was to prepare as well as possible for their one-off clash against Argentina in Buenos Aires next weekend.
Aseza Hele has been included in the Springbok Women tour squad of 26 players that will travel to Fiji this week for a historic tour where they will face the Fijiana XV in two Tests, on 8 and 15 August in Suva and Lautoka.