There were some familiar faces at the tournament hotel and the flight to Harare was almost like travelling to Johannesburg, but the Springbok Sevens team's journey to Zimbabwe – for the Rugby Africa Olympic Games qualifiers on Saturday and Sunday – is one they have not yet travelled before and where they will expect the unexpected.
Former Springbok Breyton Paulse has likened flyhalf Manie Libbok to Tiger Woods in the x factor that he brings to rugby and his ability to put his mistakes behind him.
Springbok Women interim head coach Louis Koen handed Unathi Mali a first start for the national team at wing and recalled outside backs Veroeshka Grain and Piwokuhle Nyanda to the side to face Kenya at UWC Rugby Club in Cape Town on Saturday.
Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx has been ruled out of the remainder of the Rugby World Cup in France with a long-term knee injury.
New Zealand coach Ian Foster has made nine changes to his starting lineup to face Namibia in their second Pool A match of the Rugby World Cup on Friday.
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber named all four scrumhalves in the Springbok squad in the match-23 to face Romania in Bordeaux as he spread the playing load for the team’s second Pool B Rugby World Cup clash on Sunday, when Bongi Mbonambi will lead the team in Bordeaux.
Northam Rhinos and Sasol Secunda romped to big victories in the North section of the African Rainbow Community Gold Cup last weekend, while former champions False Bay, Progress and Crusaders were among the most prolific teams in the South in the Round of 32.
Former All Blacks winger Julian Savea has joined Super Rugby Pacific outfit Moana Pasifika for the 2024 season.
The Springbok Women have been hard at work over the last couple of weeks and cannot wait to have their efforts tested in a match, so they are keenly anticipating Saturday's Test against Kenya in Cape Town.
Former Springbok wings Rosko Specman and Travis Ismaiel were both named in an experienced and multi-skilled Springbok Sevens squad that will travel to Harare on Thursday for the Rugby Africa Olympic Games qualifiers.