Image Copyright - Steve Haag Sports The Hollywoodbets Sharks will be out to make history when they host Clermont Auvergne in Saturday’s first Challenge Cup semi-final at The Stoop in London before Gloucester entertain Benetton at the Kingsholm in the second. Saturday 4 May Hollywoodbets Sharks 78/100 | Draw 18/1 | Clermont 11/10 (13:30) Despite having to play their ‘home’ semi-final on neutral ground, John Plumtree’s brigade have what it takes to outdo Clermont and reach their first-ever European rugby final. Their miserable start to the URC season has been well documented, but the Durbanite ..read more

Image Copyright - Steve Haag Sports Hollywoodbets Sharks captain Lukhanyo Am thinks beating Clermont Auvergne in Saturday’s blockbuster Challenge Cup semi-final will come down to a team effort. The French outfit have won the competition three times, the last of which coming in 2019. They have struggled domestically this season though and currently lie 10th on the Top 14 log standings but their experience will give them a big boost this weekend. Speaking ahead of the all-important matchup at The Stoop in London, Am says the hard graft in the Sharks’ camp has already started. “In games like t ..read more

Image Copyright - Steve Haag Sports Hollywoodbets Sharks winger Werner Kok has his sights firmly set on finishing his career at the Durban franchise on a high ahead of their Challenge Cup semi-final clash with Clermont Auvergne. Saturday’s game at the Twickenham Stoop will be one of the biggest of the 31-year-old’s career but he remains confident that his team has what it takes to reach the Grand Final. “[My] biggest one in the 15-man game was a Currie Cup game, but this is massive. I love play-off games; this is very important. Not just for me but for every single player in the team. “And ..read more

Image Copyright - Steve Haag Sports We’re well and truly into the business end of Super Rugby’s round-robin stage with the mad scramble for play-off places heating up. This weekend’s main attraction? A tie between an improving Crusaders and an inconsistent Reds outfit. Darry Worthington previews round 11. Like the Crusaders, my poor run of form came to an abrupt end last weekend with all my ante-post tips arriving. I must admit, however, my suggestion of a high-scoring clash between the Drua and Moana Pasifika fell flat despite the Drua going in for a try less than five minutes into the fix ..read more

Image Copyright - Steve Haag Sports All the latest from the past weekend’s URC and Gallagher Premiership action on a weekend which saw a Werner Kok hattrick for the Hollywoodbets Sharks and Bears come back from the dead against Tigers at Welford Road. URC R15: Warriors summit log as SA teams bounce back Glasgow Warriors’ 40-9 pasting of Zebre at the Sergio Lanfranchi, followed by the Stormers’ 42-12 thumping of a weakened Leinster outfit in the Cape, saw the Scottish club go top of the log with just three rounds of play remaining. That said, Franco Smith’s men face tough challenges in the fo ..read more

Bath take on Saracens at The Rec while Saints visit Harlequins at The Stoop in the pick of round 16 Gallagher Premiership action. Friday 26 April Bath 11/10 | Draw 20/1 | Saracens 78/100 (20:45) Handicap Bath (+2.5) 17/20 | Saracens (-2.5) 17/20 Bath may be second, but their position on the log remains a precarious one. Five points off leaders Saints and just two better off their opponents this week, Johann van Graan’s men head into Friday’s clash with all still to play for. The continued absence of Finn Russell, who’s possibly out for the rest of the season, is a hammer blow but one which ..read more

Image Copyright - Steve Haag Sports The Hollywoodbets Sharks, Stormers and Bulls will be looking to make amends in round 15 of the URC this weekend while the Lions will be out to back up their trouncing of Leinster last time out with a similar showing against defending champions Munster. Friday 26 April Ulster 1/6 | Draw 28/1 | Benetton 44/10 (20:35) Handicap Ulster (-12.5) 9/10 | Benetton (+12.5) 8/10 Following their 19-17 win over Cardiff, Ulster next welcome Benetton to the Kingspan looking to leapfrog the Italian outfit on the log. The hosts are 10th and locked on 39 points, with another ..read more

Image: Team Photo South Africa Hoerskool Menlo Park's teenage sensation Dylan Stumke has stunned the rugby world with his remarkable long-range kicking and has been left star-struck at the praise received from several sporting greats such as Beauden Barrett and Kevin Pietersen. Stumke has become an overnight sensation after an unbelievable video capturing him successfully converting a penalty kick from deep inside his own half has gone viral across social media. The grade 10 learner showed excellent temperament as he pulled off the magnificent feat during a high-stakes North-West University ..read more

Image: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix Bulls flyhalf Johan Goosen has been banned for three United Rugby Championship (URC) fixtures following his red card against Munster. Referee Adam Jones gave Goosen his marching orders in the 53rd minute of the crunch URC clash in Pretoria on Saturday. His sending-off occurred shortly after the Bulls went into a 22-17 lead after trailing 17-10 at half-time. The playmaker had gone in to tackle replacement Munster scrum-half Craig Casey near a breakdown in an attempt to cut off his passing options but instead clattered into the Irish international with the ..read more

Image Copyright - Steve Haag Sports Hollywoodbets Sharks eighthman Phepsi Buthelezi insists his side are fully focused on their URC matchup against Scarlets in Llanelli on Friday ahead of next week’s massive Challenge Cup semi-final. The 24-year-old DHS old boy has made it clear that, despite much of the media and fans’ attention having already turned to that almighty showdown with Clermont Auvergne at The Stoop, all eyes are on this week’s battle. “For us this week, the challenge is our URC game against the Scarlets. The last time we played Scarlets here we didn’t get a result against them ..read more