Former Springbok scrumhalf and Cheetahs captain Ruan Pienaar will take the first steps in his coaching career after being appointed Free State U21 backline and attack coach. Pienaar will still play for the Cheetahs in the SA Cup, but will hang up his boots after the tournament. “Ruan brings a wealth of experience, and the Cheetahs are fortunate to have him in our camp,” said Free State Cheetahs COO MJ Smith. “He will also be involved with all the professional teams, and his job will be to further improve the skill set needed in the way the Cheetahs want to play.” Pienaar will effectively be th ..read more

The Junior Springboks wrapped up their preparations for the upcoming U20 Rugby Championship and will fly out to Australia on an early evening flight on Wednesday. The inaugural U20 Rugby Championship takes place from 2 May to 12 May and will be staged at the Sunshine Coast Stadium in Queensland, where the up-and-coming stars of Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa will compete against each other. The SA U20 squad was named last week and their holding camp in Johannesburg ended the local preparations for the campaign in Australia, which is the first of two international even ..read more

Corne Krige has named a surprising candidate to take over from Siya Kolisi as the next Springbok captain. DYLAN JACK reports. Kolisi has held the Bok captaincy throughout the Rassie Erasmus-era, leading the country to historic back-to-back World Cup titles in 2019 and 2023 after being appointed in 2018. However, the talismanic flanker’s move to France after the 2023 World Cup has made it difficult – but not impossible – for him to continue in his role as Bok captain. Erasmus revealed in March that, while Kolisi does not have a clause in his club contract that prevents him from playing for ..read more

The Blitzboks recalled veteran duo Siviwe Soyizwapi and Dylan Sage for next weekend’s penultimate Sevens Series tournament in Singapore. Sage will return to the Springbok Sevens team for the first time in four years and fit-again Soyizwapi for the first time this seaon. The inclusion of the two stalwarts amongst five changes made to the squad that finished sixth in Hong Kong earlier this month. Interim head coach Philip Snyman also recalled Tiaan Pretorius, Tristan Leyds and Rosko Specman for the trip to Singapore, where South Africa will face France, Spain and Samoa in Pool B of the tournamen ..read more

Zak Burger says the Vodacom Bulls have recovered from the disappointment of a home loss to Munster and are determined to apply pressure on the URC’s top three when they host Ospreys on Saturday. The Vodacom Bulls lost ground on the URC’s leaders after suffering a defeat to Munster at Loftus Versfeld last Saturday. Going into half time trailing, after conceding a try to RG Snyman just before the break, the Bulls flew out of the blocks in the second half, but lost control of the game after flyhalf Johan Goosen was sent off. “It was a disappointing result,” Burger said. “We had a hard look at our ..read more

Lions centre Henco van Wyk will have to wait to make his Springbok debut as his season has come to a premature end due to a knee injury. Van Wyk suffered the injury after coming off the bench for the Lions in the bonus-point victory over Leinster at Ellis Park on Saturday. The 22-year-old was making his return from a knee injury suffered against the Sharks in the first weekend of March, which kept him out of action for six weeks. Van Wyk has undergone an operation and is expected to be sidelined for five months, ending his participation in the current Vodacom URC campaign. The injury will also ..read more

There will be a very special father and son reunion in the Vodacom URC this weekend as John and Taine Plumtree find themselves in opposing camps. If things had worked out differently, they could have been together at the Hollywoodbets Sharks as coach John was keen to bring his boy over to Durban from New Zealand. But Taine, who was born in Swansea while his dad was coaching there, opted to go down the Wales route, joining the Scarlets from the Blues Super Rugby side. Now it’s all set for a memorable family battle with the Sharks heading for Llanelli on Friday night. Flanker Taine revealed: “Th ..read more

A viral video of an incredible long-range kick from a Grade 10 schoolboy rugby player has caught the attention of All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett. The video shows the player, reported to be a student at Menlopark High, slotting a penalty on the angle from well behind the halfway line. WATCH: Schoolboy slots long-range penalty Tagged on social media for his opinion on the kick by former cricketer Kevin Pietersen, Barrett said that it was “incredible”. “Someone should use a range finder to get the number,” Barrett said on Twitter. “Probably a full lob wedge.” Incredible kick @KP24 – whethe ..read more

The final episode of Chasing the Sun 2 highlights Jacques Nienaber’s inspiring speech to the Springboks before the epic World Cup final against the All Blacks in Paris. “We can’t let them script our movie boys.” Goosebumps stuff from Jacques Nienaber’s speech before the World Cup final.. Stream all five episodes of #ChasingTheSun2 on Catch Up. pic.twitter.com/W0rNISS2zi — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) April 24, 2024 Photo: ROMAIN PERROCHEAU / AFP The post Nienaber: We can’t let them script our movie! appeared first on SA Rugby magazine ..read more

Sanele Nohamba must make his Test debut at flyhalf for the Springboks in the season-opener against Wales at Twickenham, according to SARugbymag.co.za readers. Nohamba, who has scored 106 points in 13 games for the Lions this season, came out as the overwhelming favourite in a poll of candidates to don the No 10 jersey against Wales, receiving nearly 50% of the vote. The Springboks are set to be without a host of players for their first Test of the year on 22 June, as it falls on the same day as the Vodacom URC final. The DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls are fighting for a place in the URC playof ..read more