‘The year that rugby chose me’
Just eight months ago, Siba Mahashe took his first steps onto the URC stage, but already, this 22-year-old loose forward is being hailed as one of South African rugby’s most promising talents. His ascent to prominence was crystallised with his selection for a Springboks alignment camp in May, setting the stage for his debut for […]
URC derby round preview and predictions
In what promises to be an electrifying weekend of South African rugby, the Sharks, sitting atop the United Rugby Championship log, and the third-placed Lions are both eyeing to maintain their unbeaten streak as they travel to confront the Stormers and Bulls. These derbies could prove pivotal in shaping the early standings of the season. […]
It’s Bok v Bok and brother v brother in the URC derby round
Round Three is set to feature the first South African derby double-header of the season, as the unbeaten Sharks head to Cape Town to clash with the formidable Stormers, while the Lions prepare to take on the Bulls in Pretoria. In a thrilling rematch of last season’s quarterfinal, the Glasgow Warriors will welcome Connacht to […]
Technology ‘failed’ the Bulls
Bulls coach Johan Ackermann expressed a mixture of pride, frustration, and disappointment after his team’s narrow 22-26 loss to Munster at Thomond Park at the weekend. While he lauded his team’s defensive resilience and fighting spirit, he lamented poor tactical execution, costly unforced errors, and frustrating officiating calls. Ackermann admitted that his team did not […]
Dobson’s Bok SOS after Edinburgh nightmare
Stormers coach John Dobson expressed deep frustration and disappointment, following his team’s 13- 17 United Rugby Championship loss to Edinburgh this past Friday. He pinned the blame squarely on a “nightmare” line-out performance, where his team lost a staggering 11, including seven before half-time. “From our side, we don’t have to look too much beyond […]
Decoding the URC’s North-South paradox
The United Rugby Championship has emerged as the definitive arena for testing survival, adaptability, and the depth of team rosters in professional rugby. Spanning two hemispheres and involving five formidable nations, this competition has significantly transformed franchise rugby, particularly since the inclusion of South African teams. Over five thrilling seasons, it’s clear that no matter […]
URC, Round Two
PREVIEW & PREDICTIONS: The United Rugby Championship enters Round Two of the 2026/27 season with high-stakes encounters, historic rivalries, and teams desperate to build early-season momentum. Following a dramatic opening weekend that flipped expectations on their head, heavyweights from Ireland, South Africa, Scotland, and Wales collide in a blockbuster slate of fixtures. The Headliner: Sharks […]
Form book torn up: Are opening weekend’s results a pointer to the season?
The opening round of the new URC season was nothing short of a statement. South Africa and Scotland dominated the weekend, while Ireland encountered an unusually disappointing start, marking a rare winless outing for all four Irish sides. In fact, it’s quite astonishing that this is the first time since 2009 that such a sweep […]
Cam Roigard’s schemozzle behaviour tarnishing the All Black reputation
Talented All Black scrumhalf Cam Roigard is in the news for all the wrong reasons for a second time this year – ‘simulation’. In short, he fakes an injury to get an opponent punished. This past weekend, in the Springboks’ 29-24 Greatest Rivalry win over the All Blacks in Soweto, the No.9 dove after jumping […]
URC Round One – all you need top know
PREVIEW: The wait is finally over – the 2026/27 United Rugby Championship season kicks off this weekend, and I can hardly contain my excitement! With 16 teams from Ireland, South Africa, Wales, Scotland, and Italy embarking on an intense 18-round journey, all eyes are on the ultimate prize: the Grand Final on June 19. This […]