Bok-laden pack power Sharks to victory in Bordeaux
The Cell C Sharks recovered from a shaky first half to power to a tense 19-16 win over Union Bordeaux-Bègles in their Heineken Champions Cup clash on a freezing Friday night at Stade Chaban-Delmas.

Lions defeat Stade Francais for maiden Euro win
The Emirates Lions recorded their first win of the European Challenge Cup when they outplayed Stade Francais 30-12 in Johannesburg on Friday evening, the home side scoring four tries to two for a convincing victory to continue with their good form after the international break.

Boks lead SA Rugby Awards nominations for 2022
Three experienced Springboks – Lukhanyo Am, Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi – were nominated for the coveted SA Rugby Player of the Year Award for 2022 for a second year running and will be up against Kurt-Lee Arendse and Frans Malherbe after the quintet of Boks earned the most votes in the nomination process.

Bok star Roos to join Japanese club
Springbok Women and Springbok Women’s Sevens star Nadine Roos will join Nagato Blue Angels in Japan on a six month contract in January 2023.

Manie becomes SAREO’s first woman chairperson
Veda Manie, the General Manager of the South Western Districts Eagles, was elected as the first female chairperson of the South African Rugby Employers’ Organisation (SAREO) at its annual meeting in Cape Town on 7 December 2022.

Border Rugby Union exits SA Rugby administration
Border has been restored to full membership of the South African Rugby Union following an extended period of administrative control by the mother body.

Plenty to ponder after first foray into Europe
With one exception, it was all new for the South African teams making their debuts in the Heineken Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup this past weekend, but it may have been the games featuring the overseas teams that told us more about what to expect.

Sink or swim: A journey of hard justice
Catastrophe on the rugby field meant Alwyn Nel had to overcome extreme trials and tribulations to earn his place in the justice system as a Candidate Legal Practitioner.

Ngcobo happy to remain top of the standings
Springbok Sevens coach Sandile Ngcobo expressed his satisfaction with the Blitzboks still topping the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series standings with three tournaments done in the 2023 season, despite a fourth-place finish at the HSBC Cape Town Sevens on the weekend.

Positive start for SA’s sides in European debut
The five South African teams that made their debuts in the Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup on Saturday got a pass mark on the opening weekend of the two European competitions, with the Cell C Sharks, Vodacom Bulls, and Toyota Cheetahs kicking their campaigns off on winning notes, while the Emirates Lions played to a draw and the DHL Stormers suffered a disappointing away defeat.