Warwick Purchase. Tyrone Winfield/Sunshine Tour Sunshine Tour rookie Warwick Purchase turned up the heat on a cold day at Glendower Golf Club with a third round of 10-under par 62 that earned him a three-stroke lead in the Fortress Invitational. Purchase heads the field on 17-under par following a round which included a front nine of 28 and featured a total of nine birdies, an eagle and one bogey. His nearest challenger is Kyle Barker on 14-under par following his third round

Jari Turunen The global governing body of flag football - a new addition to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles - is marking 1 000 days to the Opening Ceremony on Saturday by unveiling new measures to improve gender equity on and off the field. A headline commitment by the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) will see women make up at least 50% of all the International Technical Officials (ITO) appointed for the flag football tournament in Los Angeles, where the

Can Man Utd cause a shock at Anfield? The headline fixture of the weekend is arguably the single biggest match of the 2025/26 Premier League season so far. This is a north-west derby loaded with meaning, the fallout almost certain to dominate the news for the week after. Liverpool have spent the international break stewing on a run of three consecutive defeats in all competitions that culminated with a defeat at Stamford Bridge that knocked them off top spot. Losing on Sunday

South Africa openers Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits powered the team to a flawless chase in their ICC Women's World Cup 2025 clash against Sri Lanka, sealing a 10-wicket win in a rain-curtailed clash at the R Premadasa International Stadium in Colombo on Friday. The result was South Africa’s fourth consecutive win in the tournament, all coming through successful chases, as they delivered another fine performance to move to second on the points table with eight points from f

Daniel van Tonder. Tyrone Winfield/Sunshine Tour Daniel van Tonder overcame a bee sting on the first tee to claim a share of the lead going into the weekend of the Sunshine Tour’s Fortress Invitational at Glendower Golf Club. Van Tonder signed for a second round of 69 on Friday to share a one-stroke lead with Christiaan Burke (67) on nine-under par overall. “On the first tee box, just before we teed off, a bee stung me on my right hand, causing a bit of swelling. My hand was

The United Rugby Championship has advanced its player-welfare collaboration with med-tech company PolarCool into a fully ratified academic research project led by Leeds Beckett University. The new COOLHEAD study, published in BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, will independently examine whether the PolarCap® - a head-and-neck cooling device - can improve recovery outcomes for players following a diagnosed concussion. Following an initial feasibility phase across five URC tea

Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen’s charges are back at Ellis Park this Saturday for Round 4 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship where they will lock on horns with the Scarlets from Wales. Returning from a challenging three-week tour where they faced Cardiff Rugby, Zebre and Benetton in the opening three rounds, the men from Johannesburg are backing themselves to register their first win of the international season against their opponents from Llanelli. Lions assistant co

Springbok fullback Warrick Gelant will make his first appearance of the season for the DHL Stormers in their United Rugby Championship encounter with Zebre Parma on Saturday. There are four changes to the starting line-up for the clash with the Italian outfit, which kicks off at 8.45pm on Saturday at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma. With Gelant at fullback, Damian Willemse shifts to inside centre to join captain Ruhan Nel in midfield. In the forward pack, Adré Smith joi

Ross Moriarty. www.inpho.ie It’s taken some 15 years but Ross Moriarty has finally made it back to his home region as his career comes full circle. He grew up in Swansea and was part of the Ospreys Academy age-grade set up as a teenager. However, a move across the border to Hartpury College saw him link up with Gloucester, where he made his name, ahead of spells with the Dragons and French club Brive. But now, at 31, the 54-cap Welsh international back rower has returned home

Four will become two on Saturday when the semi-finals of Pick n Pay Gold Cup – the ‘FA Cup of South African rugby’ – will be contested at two iconic club grounds situated more than 1 500 km apart in the Western Cape and Limpopo. This year’s tournament, which signals a bold new era for community rugby on the back of significant post-pandemic and RWC 2023-inspired growth in the club game, is also supported by Northam Platinum, whose commitment to community aligns with the grass

Cecilia Molokwane. Netball South Africa has noted the press conference held by suspended President Cecilia Molokwane on Thursday and the federation would like to categorically state that this press conference was not sanctioned by Netball South Africa. “To our knowledge, Cecilia Molokwane remains suspended under the directives of World Netball. We have not received any communication indicating otherwise. We are aware of the utterances regarding her resuming her role as Presid

Benjamin Follett-Smith. Tyrone Winfield/Sunshine Tour Multiple Sunshine Tour champion, Benjamin Follett-Smith from Zimbabwe and his namesake from South Africa, Benjamin van Wyk, both opened with 65s during Thursday’s first round of the Fortress Invitational at Glendower Golf Club to share the lead on seven-under par. Follett-Smith’s round included two eagles and four birdies, with one unfortunate drop on the par-four 18th hole. Van Wyk’s round was highlighted by eight birdies

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, an alternating quadrennial tour between South Africa and New Zealand, was confirmed on Thursday, marking a defining new chapter for the intense rivalry between the sport’s most successful and storied nations. In the tour’s maiden year, South Africa will host New Zealand in August and September 2026. The All Blacks kick off the tour against the DHL Stormers in Cape Town on Friday, 7 August and take on the Hollywoodbets Sharks, Vodacom Bulls and Lions,

Nonkululeko Mlaba has highlighted the importance of the Proteas Women’s recent experience of playing in Colombo ahead of their fifth league-phase match of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 against Sri Lanka in the capital city on Friday. South Africa’s clash with the home side will get underway at 3pm local time (11.30am SAST) and will be broadcast live on SuperSport Grandstand (Channel 201). The Proteas have enjoyed a thrilling run in the tournament so far. After suffer

Ruhan Nel. www.inpho.ie For Ruhan Nel, captaining the DHL Stormers is not only an honour and a privilege but also a big boost to his game. The 34-year-old centre has been at the helm of the Cape Town-based team as they have won their first three United Rugby Championship matches to sit on top of the table. He’s now looking to lead them to further victories as they take on the Italian job with back-to-back games away to Zebre Parma and Benetton Rugby. The Port Elizabeth-born N

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced the South Africa 'A' (SA 'A') squads for their upcoming multi-format tour to India later this month. The four-day squad will take on the hosts in two matches at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru from 30 October-9 November, while the one-day side will contest a three-match series at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot from 13-19 November. Marques Ackerman will lead both sides, with Test captain Temba Bavuma inc

The inaugural Under-16 Elite Player Development (EPD) camp for girls, which ran concurrently with the traditional U16 boys’ camp in Paarl last week, marked a significant milestone in SA Rugby’s national pathway for young talent. While the boys’ squad delivered their customary top-class camp activities, it was the new girls’ contingent that proved particularly impressive, demonstrating high levels of commitment and skill throughout the week-long programme, during the school ho

Mark Alexander, the President of SA Rugby, extended his heartfelt congratulations to SA Wheelchair Rugby (SAWCR) on their recent performance at a tournament in Norway. SAWCR, an associate member of SA Rugby, were crowned European Division C champions at a tournament in Skien, Norway, held from 9-12 October, where they beat Ireland by 62-29 in the final to claim the gold media. As a result, SAWCR – who was rezoned from the Asia-Oceania Conference to Europe Division C earlier t

Synchronised skating in South Africa is set for a timely boost with the upcoming visit of Eeva Sunnari, who will be in the country in her capacity as a Visiting ISU Coach. With development work in 14 countries, she says her goal is to help South African skaters, coaches and stakeholders build practical momentum. “Having worked around the world within the development of Synchronised Skating, I am very much looking forward to contributing to the future of this intriguing sport

The wait is over for eager rugby fans in Cape Town and surrounds, following the opening of a second Springboks retail store at the popular Canal Walk shopping centre, featuring the new range of off-field team branded clothing. National team stars Babalwa Latsha, Cobus Reinach, Cheslin Kolbe, Frans Malherbe, Lood de Jager, and Selvyn Davids, as well as the Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde, were on hand for the official opening on Wednesday evening, performed by SA Rugby

The fifth annual Toyota Challenge kicks off on Friday at Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein, when the Toyota Cheetahs face Black Lion. The Black Lion from Georgia is the other invitee in the ECPR Challenge Cup, which takes place in December 2025 and January 2026. This encounter will provide good preparation for both teams, as the competition kicks off on the weekend of 6 December in Europe. Gates open at 12pm with a pub lunch at the Castle Deck in Toyota Stadium, with the main game

The big guns have been brought out for the first home game of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship as the Hollywoodbets Sharks look to unleash powerfully and emphatically against Ulster at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday. Back from their heroics in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship and a break to revitalise energy levels are forwards Ox Nche, Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi who join fellow Boks Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Koch after the pair played off the bench last wee

The 2025 season was hailed as a watershed year for women’s rugby in South Africa by Mark Alexander, President of SA Rugby, on Thursday. The performance of the Springbok Women’s team at the Rugby World Cup – at which they reached the quarter-finals for the first time – was a major highlight but Alexander was especially proud of the broadening and deepening of the female playing base. Other notable firsts achieved during the year were: The first U16 Elite Player Development (EP

Aaron Wainwright. www.inpho.ie Having just ended one long losing run, Aaron Wainwright is now looking to do the double. Back in July, he starred at No 8 as Wales beat Japan 31-22 in Kobe to halt a barren 18-match streak. Now he’s aiming to break an even longer hoodoo when he takes the field for Dragons RFC against Cardiff Rugby at Rodney Parade on Friday evening. The Dragons have lost their last 20 league matches against their east Wales rivals - a sequence stretching back to

The DHL Stormers will not only try to retain their spot at the top of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship log this weekend but also continue winning streak against Zebre Parma, the Vodacom Bulls will be looking to bounce back in tough Galway, while the Hollywoodbets Sharks and Lions will aim for their first victories of season as they are back on home soil. Last weekend, the Stormers were the only South African side to win and the other three teams will be keen to change th

As part of its commitment to investing in local communities and building a lasting legacy, the Presidents Cup proudly announced a $250 000 donation to First Tee – Greater Chicago. Golf’s premier global team event, featuring the sport’s top US and International players, will be contested at Medinah Country Club, September 22-27, 2026. “In its 30-year history, the Presidents Cup has always been about more than world-class golf — it’s about creating a meaningful legacy in the co

SANZAAR has confirmed an exciting new era of southern hemisphere rugby through the release of its international rugby calendar for the next five years. The action-packed calendar reflects the evolving requirements of its Member Unions (Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa) as well as broadcasters and fans. This latest iteration of international matches follows three decades of the SANZAAR joint venture delivering some of the best rugby action in the world and a

The noise generated by the HSBC SVNS Cape Town crowd last year, where the Springbok Sevens secured a first home tournament victory since 2015, was the loudest Donavan Don has ever encountered and the Blitzbok speedster said on Wednesday he cannot wait for an opportunity to experience that again. Don and his teammates are hard at work with only a couple of weeks remaining before the new HSBC SVNS kicks off, with the DHL Stadium showpiece on 6 and 7 December the second tourname

Five members of the victorious Junior Springbok team who won the World Rugby Under-20 Championship earlier this year in Italy were included in the SA Rugby U19 Academy training squad, that will go leave a three-game tour of Europe at the end of October. The triumphant Junior Boks who are part of the training squad are SA U20 captain Riley Norton (lock), Oliver Reid and Phiwayinkosi “Rambo” Kubheka (props), Siphosethu Mnebelele (hooker) and Vusi Moyo (flyhalf), The 36-man squa

Altin van der Merwe. Sunshine Tour Altin van der Merwe is back where it all began for him in this week’s Fortress Invitational and at a time in his life which represents a new beginning as well. Van Der Merwe tees it up in Thursday’s first round of this Sunshine Tour event at Glendower Golf Club with fond memories of this being the first professional tournament he played in while still an amateur in 2023. And this week he tees it up with another first in his mind, namely his

Vodacom Bulls coach Johan Ackermann has shaken things up ahead of Friday evening’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship fixture against Connacht in Galway. This follows last weekend’s defeat to Ulster, the first of the season. In all, there are 11 changes in the starting line-up, including captaincy and key positions like front row, locks and backs. There are also six new inclusions on the bench, reflecting a strong rotation. Leadership changes, too, with Reinhardt Ludwig now ca

The United Rugby Championship (URC) is proud to announce Engen, part of the Vivo Energy Group, as the Official Fuel Partner of the URC in South Africa. The collaboration marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for rugby across the region, bringing together two brands united by passion, performance and community. This partnership sees Engen align with one of the world’s most competitive and culturally diverse rugby leagues - a competition that brings together 16 elite t

Golf for people with disabilities takes centre stage this October when The Wanderers Golf Club hosts the South African G4D Open, a three-day championship supported by Nomads Golf Club of South Africa, Hollywoodbets and the National Lotteries Commission. The event, part of the All Abilities Golf Tour (AAGT), will feature a refreshed logo that highlights the support of Nomads Golf Club of South Africa and Hollywoodbets for this year’s tournament. It is a visible symbol of their

Josh van der Flier. www.inpho.ie It’s a fixture and a rivalry which has resonated with Josh van der Flier ever since he was a youngster. So the significance of the Leinster-Munster derby is certainly not lost on him now as a player. The Ireland flanker is anticipating a titanic tussle when the two arch enemies lock horns in front of a bumper Croke Park crowd on Saturday evening. It’s all the more mouth-watering given Munster Rugby have started the season with a bang, winning

After an exciting weekend of the United Rugby Championship, URC StatMaster has identified the top players from Round 3 along with the overall top team and player performances from the league so far. Top Players From Round 3 Carries: 24 Alun Lawrence (Cardiff Rugby) Defenders Beaten: 11 Ignacio Mendy (Benetton) Line-outs Won: 10 Alex Soroka (Leinster Rugby) Metres: 170 Ignacio Mendy (Benetton) Passes: 85 George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) Tackles: 26 Alun Lawrence (Cardiff Rugby)

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced a new multi-platform streaming offering and the reimagined NBA TV, which will offer nonstop basketball content and original programming starting on Wednesday. Accessible through the NBA App, the streaming platform and NBA TV will deliver a robust mix of live games, programming, highlights and original content, together serving as the home of global basketball. The Association, a new weeknight primetime “basketball-cast”

Callum Sheedy. www.inpho.ie Callum Sheedy is the happiest he’s been in years and relishing his role as “the assist king”. That’s the title he’s been handed by his Cardiff Rugby teammate Tom Bowen, and it’s easy to see why. Flyhalf Sheedy has set up a succession of tries already this season - three of them for winger Bowen - with his pinpoint cross-kicks and deft handling. He’s playing some of the best rugby of his career and must be in with a chance of fulfilling his dream of

Betway Catch R- million returns for the highly anticipated fourth season of Betway SA20, which is set to deliver incredible cricket and entertainment from 26 December to 25 January. ​ Season 4 will see fans once again sharpening their skills with an eye on taking a clean, one-handed catch to claim their share of the R2-million on offer. The fans who take a clean, one-handed catch in the stadium AND play the exclusive Betway Catch Game online, will TRIPLE their winnings. ​ Her

SA Rugby President, Mark Alexander, has lauded the South African Rugby Legends Association (SARLA) for hosting yet another highly successful Under-15 Iqhawe Week, held in the South Western Districts (SWD) town of Oudtshoorn. The prestigious youth tournament, which ran from 5-9 October at Langenhoven Gymnasium, brought together promising talent from across the country. All 15 provincial unions were represented, alongside a SWD XV-side, in a celebration of grassroots rugby deve

Nadine de Klerk played a heroic cameo to guide South Africa to a thrilling three-wicket win over Bangladesh in their ICC Cricket World Cup 2025 clash at Visakhapatnam on Monday. After Bangladesh opted to bat and posted 232/6, South Africa were left needing eight runs off the final over to complete the chase. De Klerk, who was dropped in the penultimate over, made the most of her reprieve, sealing the victory in style with a six to finish the chase with three balls to spare. T

Uefa Women's Champions League action continues on Wednesday and Thursday with the second set of league phase games. This is the second of the six matchdays, following the openers last Tuesday and Wednesday, with the top four teams progressing directly to the quarter-finals and the sides finishing between fifth and 12th advancing to February's knockout phase play-offs, where they will compete to complete the last-eight line-up. Here we preview the action, with former winners B

The four semi-finalists in the ‘FA Cup’ of South African rugby, the Pick n Pay Gold Cup, have been confirmed after an extraordinary quarter-final weekend that saw 43 tries scored across the four matches. Two of the four quarter-finals were decided by a single score, while a last-gasp touchdown in a third, lightning-affected game may yet have a critical bearing on who lifts the Gold Cup on 25 October. This year’s tournament, which signals a bold new era for club rugby on the b

The Garden Route Badgers Women made a strong start to their 2025/26 Hollywoodbets Pro Series campaign with a convincing victory in the Hollywoodbets Pro50 against WSB Western Province Women on Saturday. Badgers delivered a solid performance with a 75-run win to set the tone for their season. After electing to bat first, the hosts posted 237/9 in 50 overs, thanks to half-centuries from Izel Cilliers (65) and Julia Hoal (50), supported by a steady 36 from skipper, Zintle Kula.

Border defeated the Pumas by 41-38 in a nail-biting final to clinch the SA Rugby Under-21 Shield title at the White River Rugby Club north of Nelspruit on Saturday afternoon, while the finalists for the U20 and U19 Cup competitions were confirmed following the semi-finals which took place over the past weekend. In the U21 Shield final, the Pumas held a 24-21 lead at the halfway stage but the team from East London came back with a strong second half performance to grab the tit

The Blitzboks’ willingness outwork their opponents is one of the traits of their team culture that Grant de Jager admires most, as it is also something he aspires to on the rugby field, with the new signing hoping to make enough of an impression to play in Cape Town in December. The Springbok Sevens are in full swing in their training schedule with 2026 world series looming large, with their defence of their HSBC SVNS Cape Town crown high on the agenda. The only local HSBC SV

World Rugby has confirmed the match officials for a full programme of end-of-year internationals starting later this month, with the Springboks playing five Tests on their traditional Castle Lager Outgoing Tour. All five of South Africa's Tests – against Japan, France, Italy, Ireland and Wales – will be broadcast live on SuperSport as the Boks aim to continue with the momentum from their successful Castle Lager Rugby Championship campaign. Eoghan Cross of Ireland (against Jap

Pieter Moolman (right) and his caddie, Albert Mciteka, who received a Sunshine Tour medallion for the winning caddie. Carl...

Seamer Tumi Sekhukhune has emphasised the Proteas Women’s focus ahead of their fourth ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 encounter...

Damian Willemse. www.inpho.ie Only three sides remain undefeated in the United Rugby Championship after the weekend’s action, with the...

The DHL Stormers provided the only ray of light on a gloomy weekend for three of the four South African sides in a challenging third...