The incredible depth in South African rugby at Test level is the envy of the rugby world, and Emirates Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen believes the Vodacom United Rugby Championship is helping to develop this.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus played down South Africa’s fourth successive victory over New Zealand in Cape Town on Saturday, paying respect to the All Blacks after the Boks won back the Freedom Cup for the first time since 2009.
The Sharks are delighted to confirm that Springbok captain Siya Kolisi will return home to join the Hollywoodbets Sharks upon completion of his current national duties.
Canan Moodie and Jaden Hendrikse make their first appearances in the Springbok jersey since the 2023 Rugby World Cup on Saturday while double RWC winners Willie le Roux and Lukhanyo Am also return to the match-23 face New Zealand in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship in Cape Town.
Nolusindiso Booi will lead a Springbok Women team laden with Test experience against the Barbarians Women in Cape Town on Saturday, while Swys de Bruin and his coaching staff added a named a number of new players to the match-23.
There is a definite sense of unfinished business in the Vodacom Bulls camp as they prepare for Season 4 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, which kicks off in September.
The Springbok Women are keen to start their first appearance front of a home crowd in South Africa on the best possible note and as such, had no problems to focus on what needs to be done in the match week leading up to their Barbarians clash on Saturday.
SA Rugby has confirmed key changes to the coaching line-up of its national teams in a bid to emulate the success enjoyed by the Springboks.
In a pleasing display of the country’s depth at age-group level, South Africa’s two teams that participated in the recent Under-18 International Series, the SA U18 and the SA U18 ‘A’ sides, delivered impressive performances to finish the annual series unbeaten.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has included three Rugby World Cup winners in the national squad for the first time this year as he welcomes back Steven Kitshoff, Jaden Hendrikse and Canan Moodie from injury for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship Tests against New Zealand.