Manie Libbok’s last moment missed conversion in the Champions Cup may have just won the Stormers the United Rugby Championship, writes Mark Keohane. This is painful right now for Stormers supporters, in the context of the Champions Cup, but when you reflect on the URC, the Stormers could make it three finals in a row. The Stormers were outstanding in... Read more → The post Stand tall Stormers: Your loss is your season victory appeared first on KEO.co.za ..read more

The Stormers are the best supported club in the rugby world – and their South African rivals the Bulls are the biggest opposition attraction in Cape Town, writes Mark Keohane.  The Stormers, into their third season of the United Rugby Championship, are unmatched for consistency over the past two and a half league seasons when it comes to crowd attendance.... Read more → The post Supreme Stormers the window to the rugby world appeared first on KEO.co.za ..read more

This was rugby history – and it was special to be at the University of Ghana in Accra for the first ever African Games rugby gold medal presentation, writes MARK KEOHANE. Rugby was first played in the African Games in 1987 as an exhibition/demonstration sport but this week, 37 years later, the history belonged to the 13th edition of the African... Read more → The post Africa’s Rugby Gold Rush in Accra appeared first on KEO.co.za ..read more

South Africa’s move north for the four elite professional club teams in the United Rugby Championship was the right move, but a solution must be found for the stop-start nature of the season, writes MARK KEOHANE The URC, like the knockout Champions Cup, is based on the northern hemisphere traditional rugby season, which factors in the recently completed Six Nations.... Read more → The post URC ready for hot restart after frustrating pause for SA teams  appeared first on KEO.co.za ..read more

Jake White’s Bulls are properly positioned to finish top two in the United Rugby Championship , but don’t dismiss the Stormers top four prospects. They are too good a side not to go on a home surge in the back end of the league season, writes Mark Keohane. The Bulls, with their most important league win of the season, ensured... Read more → The post Bulls lead the charge, but Stormers will strike back appeared first on KEO.co.za ..read more

The Sharks were very good, but this is a Stormers side that, in the history of the club, will set the standard of excellence, writes Mark Keohane. Forget, for a moment, the Sharks’ United Rugby Championship league position. Reflect on the match 23, and particularly the substitutes’ bench. It is some squad, coached by John Plumtree, who has led the... Read more → The post Dobbo’s Super Stormers are a class act in SA Rugby appeared first on KEO.co.za ..read more

The point of the Stormers one point win against the Sharks was about humility, not just for Stormers supporters but for all South Africans, writes Mark Keohane. It was the most appropriate ending to the rugby year in South Africa. The Stormers won 16-15 against the Sharks at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town to conclude competitive rugby in South... Read more → The post Stormers win by a point as rugby gods make a point to South Africans appeared first on KEO.co.za ..read more

The Stormers won, for the seventh successive time in the United Rugby Championship against the Bulls. The biggest victory was for South African rugby and the URC. The losers once again were the match officials, writes Mark Keohane. I’ll get to the Stormers and Bulls in a moment, but to the rugby public in Western Province, locals, tourists and foreigners,... Read more → The post South African rugby wins on night soulful Stormers bash belligerent Bulls appeared first on KEO.co.za ..read more

The French just hate a game that is determined by one point – and one point only. South Africans must love it. First the Springboks at the World Cup and now the DHL Stormers in the Investec Champions Cup, writes Mark Keohane. This was just simply nasty towards the French after the Boks had done them 29-28 in the World... Read more → The post Stormers win POINTS to the changing of the guard. appeared first on KEO.co.za ..read more

The league standings don’t reflect it but South Africa’s challenge for the United Rugby Championship play-offs will be strong because of home ground advantage in the next few months, writes Mark Keohane. Jake White’s Bulls have been the best of South Africa’s quartet in the opening two months of the league, having won five of their seven matches. Two of... Read more → The post URC state of play favours South Africa appeared first on KEO.co.za ..read more