The Junior Springboks will contest a second consecutive Junior World Championship final after overcoming a spirited England side in a hard-fought semi-final in Tbilisi on Tuesday evening, with SA U20 head coach Kevin Foote praising the maturity, resilience and depth of his squad. The Junior Boks were tested throughout this thrilling encounter in the Georgian capital and England led 20-12 at the break but once again found a way to lift their intensity when it mattered most, pr

The Junior Springboks will defend their Junior World Championship crown on Saturday evening after they beat England by 53-37 (half-time 12-20) with a ferocious second-half performance seeing the South Africans through after a lukewarm first 40 minutes in Tbilisi on Tuesday evening. Khuthadzo Rasivhaga scored three tries and Yaqeen Ahmed contributed 23 points to the Junior Boks' cause as they showed what they are capable of on attack in the second half, although it was still n

SA Rugby said on Monday that its ticketing strategy would be thoroughly reviewed at the end of the 2026 season, while thanking fans for their continued support during the inaugural Nations Championship. Mark Alexander, president of the South African Rugby Union, said SA Rugby had noted concerns about ticket pricing and recognised that some categories needed careful review and revision: “We take full ownership of this matter and are committed to ensuring that our ticketing str

South Africa under-19 Women captain Mieke van Voorst expressed her team’s excitement ahead of their first-ever Youth T20 International (T20I) tour to Pakistan, where they will take on the hosts in a five-match series from 14-24 July. The first Youth T20I will get underway on Tuesday at 8pm local time (5pm SAST) at the National Stadium in Karachi. When asked what this maiden tour to Pakistan means for the SA U19 Women squad, skipper Mieke van Voorst pinpointed the opportunity

Jude Bellingham has been so influential in England’s run to the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals that he is beginning to resemble Zinedine Zidane – according to Three Lions legend John Terry. Bellingham scored both goals in England’s quarter-final triumph over Norway, building on his double in the epic 3-2 victory over co-hosts Mexico City in the Round of 16. And former England captain Terry has likened Bellingham's heroic performances to Zidane's impact during France’s path t

Major tournaments are often underpinned by players who rarely grab the headlines but there are also moments when the biggest names take centre stage. That has certainly been the case in North America this summer at a tournament which has been widely dubbed as the “World Cup of superstars”. With the semi-finals set to feature four nations that have previously lifted the trophy and happen to occupy the top four berths in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking – the FIFA World C

In the quiet Cordoba town of Calchin, Argentina forward Julian Alvarez’s footballing journey began – an obsession that would shape his life. When training ended, Alvarez’s work often did not. While many of his teammates hurried off to private English lessons, tennis practice or simply back home to rest, Alvarez had only one thing on his mind. He would ask his coach, Rafael, for a few balls and begin his routine: crosses from the left, finishes with his left foot; crosses from

Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation (https://Sifiratikvakfi.org) and COP31 High-Level Climate Champion, held a series of meetings in Addis Ababa on 16 June, as part of efforts to strengthen climate cooperation between Türkiye, Ethiopia and African institutions. The discussions focused on Türkiye’s preparations for COP31, the global reach of the Zero Waste Movement, circular economy-based climate action and Africa’s sustainable development priorities. The vis

CSA Executive for Domestic Cricket, David Mokopanele presenting at the KFC Mini Cricket National Seminar 2026. Cricket South Africa (CSA), in partnership with KFC, has concluded another successful KFC Mini Cricket National Seminar, bringing together coaches, coordinators, administrators and stakeholders from across the country to strengthen one of South Africa's most impactful grassroots sport development programmes. The seminar highlighted how the enduring legacy of KFC Mini

Two players with Test experience, Abigail Smit and Zethu Gcaza, were included in the Junior Springbok Women squad named by head coach Hayden Groepes for a two match against their U20 counterparts from the USA in Stellenbosch later this month. Both matches are scheduled to kick-off at 3pm at the Markötter Stadium on 17 and 24 July. The encounters – the first time since 2024 that the Junior Bok Women are in action, with Smit the only remaining member from that squad – will be b

Jaco Williams (wing), Vusi Moyo (flyhalf), Ruben van Heerden (lock), and Carlu Sadie (prop) will all make their Test debuts in the Springboks’ third Nations Championship fixture against Wales in Durban on Saturday in a quality team named by national coach Rassie Erasmus. Erasmus struck a fine balance between naming a strong team, while staying true to his word to give every player in his expanded squad a chance to prove what they could do at the highest level of the game in h

There are plenty of reasons to look forward to the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final between France and Spain, not least of which is seeing two of the world’s best talents – Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal – on opposing sides. This will be the first time the two have met at the World Cup but it is far from their first encounter overall. This article looks at 10 matches in which the Barcelona winger has lined up against the Real Madrid striker. France v Spain: Advantage Yamal The

So it comes down to France, Spain, England or Argentina. With the quarter-finals settled, we now know for certain that the 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup will not see a first-time winner. The trophy could go to England or Spain, both of whom are looking to add a second star to their crest; France, who seek to become three-time champions; or Argentina who could be the first team since 1962 to retain the trophy and claim their fourth triumph overall. Each of them has a majo

France 1938 Italy edged Brazil 2-1 to reach the decider, with Giuseppe Meazza scoring the winner from the spot. His nerve was not the only thing ‘Il Balilla’ (The Little Boy) had to hold. As Meazza prepared to take the penalty, the elastic in his shorts, which had been ripped earlier in the game, snapped. The Inter Milan man duly held them up with one hand as he stroked the ball past penalty-saving specialist Walter. Chile 1962 Garrincha should have been public enemy No 1 in

With the opening two legs of their season done, Springbok Women head coach Swys de Bruin has named a group of 49 players that will form part of the next cycle of matches for the squad. After the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup and the two-Test series against the USA Women's Eagles, the focus shifts to an away series against Fiji, the one-off Test match against the Black Ferns in Soweto, the Global WXV Tests in Europe against Wales, Italy and Spain and the final two matches of the ye

Was it ever in doubt? MotoGP win number 10 at the Sachsenring. Career win 102. And from 102 points back after the Italian GP, Marc Marquez and the Ducati Lenovo Team are right back in the title race game. It’s a victory that lifts the reigning World Champion up to P3 in the overall standings, one place behind second place finisher Ai Ogura (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team), as the Japanese sophomore notches up a third Sunday podium on the spin to get within 20 points of cham

The Hollywood Foundation Pumas Women and Leopards Women continued with their impressive starts to the Pick n Pay Women's Super League 2, securing second consecutive victories on the road on Saturday, while the Valke Women scraped home against the Limpopo Blue Bulls Women in Polokwane. The defending champion Pumas outplayed the Griffons by 65-13 at the Down Touch Investments Stadium in Welkom for a second win away from home, while the Leopards won 26-17 against the SWD Eagirls

The Junior Springboks will go into Monday evening’s Junior World Championship semi-final against England in Georgia with confidence in their preparation but also with a clear understanding of the improvements required after a demanding pool-stage campaign. SA Under-20 captain Siphosethu Mnebelele said the squad had embraced the build-up to the last-four clash, with the focus firmly on getting themselves ready for a strong English side that has already shown its quality in the

Following the Springboks’ victory over Scotland in Pretoria on Saturday, Ben-Jason Dixon immediately cast his eye to the challenge awaiting the Boks when they host Wales in Durban next week and said they were in for another big game. The versatile Bok forward started on the replacements bench in both Nations Championship victories over England and Scotland. The Springboks overcame a determined Scottish outfit by 42-28 in a grind of a battle in which the teams entered the brea

A new Carling Currie Cup First Division champion will be crowned in just under a fortnight’s time after the Griffons failed to make the semi-finals, where the DotSure SWD Eagles will face the Leopards and Eastern Province will host the Valke in next weekend’s play-offs after the league phase were completed over the weekend. SWD emerged as the top side after five rounds of league action on 22 points despite losing their last home fixture by 52-45 to EP, who finished second on

A much-changed Springbok team came through a see-sawing slugfest with Scotland to produce a 42-28 victory (halftime 14-14) in an inaugural Nations Championship match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. The Boks prevailed by six tries to four after making 10 changes to the starting XV that had beaten England 45-21 seven days ago. It kept South Africa on top of the Southern Hemisphere conference on points difference from New Zealand. Both teams have a maximum of 10 log points. “It’

The President of the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF), Dr Patrice Motsepe, is deeply saddened by the passing of South Africa international and Mamelodi Sundowns player, Jayden Adams. Jayden Adams (25) played for Bafana Bafana during the FIFA World Cup 2026 and was part of the Mamelodi Sundowns that won the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2026 in Rabat. On behalf of CAF and its 54 Member Associations, Dr Motsepe conveys his heartfelt condolences to the South Africa

The Springboks outlasted and eventually outplayed Scotland to win a pulsating Nations Championship match by 42-28 (half-time 14-14) at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, scoring a 10th consecutive Test win on the trot. It was a hard-fought affair though, with the Scots coming to play and taking the top-ranked side in the world to some dark places at times but the Springboks are not double world champions for nothing, twice repelling great comebacks by the visitors to win the game.

Springbok Women head coach Swys de Bruin expressed satisfaction with the progress his team has made in the two-Test against the USA Eagles Women, where a win each squared up the series and said it bodes well for the remaining matches in 2026. Reflecting on their 26-19 defeat at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, the Bok Women coach admitted that although the result hurt, his players deserved praise for their efforts over the last couple of weeks, preparing for and playing the USA E

The USA Eagles Women outplayed the Springbok Women by 26-19 (half-time 14-12) to level the two-Test series at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday afternoon. South Africa won the first Test at Ellis Park last week, but came up against a determined USA side, while they own effort fell short of expectations and a famous series win. The match kicked off in perfect playing conditions with hardly any wind and sunny skies but sadly, the same could not be said of the first 20 min

Western Province scored six tries to beat Western Province XV in the final match of the FNB U18 Craven Week at Grey High School in Gqeberha on Saturday. WP recorded their third-straight victory at the tournament on Saturday, while the Valke, South Western Districts, Griquas, Blue Bulls, Leopards, Boland and the Sharks claimed wins on day five to end their campaigns on a high. Both WP teams progressed to the unofficial final of the FNB U18 Craven Week for the first time, after

Ten players who were part of the two squads last year have been included in the SA Schools teams of the Class of 2026 following another highly successful FNB U18 Craven Week at Grey High School in Gqeberha. The SA Schools and SA Schools ‘A’ squads were finalised on Saturday after five days of superb schoolboy rugby in the Eastern Cape. The selected players will remain in Gqeberha to prepare for the annual clash between the two squads, which is scheduled for 3pm on Thursday at

Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foote has made four personnel changes to his starting team for their Junior World Championship semi-final against England in Tbilisi on Monday evening, as the SA U20s aim to secure a place in the tournament final. There are two changes in the backline and two in the forwards from the side that defeated Wales in their final Pool A encounter earlier this week in the Georgian capital. Foote has also opted for six forwards and two backs on the replace

SOUTH AFRICA v SCOTLAND LOFTUS VERSFELD, PRETORIA – KO 5.40pm (SAST) ON SATURDAY REFEREE Pierre Brousset (France) Test debut: 22 April, 2017 – Malta 39-17 Israel Tests as referee: 19 (including one as replacement referee) Pierre Brousset will referee South Africa for the first time with this fixture. It will be the second time the Frenchman referees Scotland, having overseen their 16-15 loss to England on his Guinness Men’s Six Nations debut in February 2025. This is Brousse

SOUTH AFRICA v USA – LOFTUS VERSFELD, PRETORIA – KO 1.30pm (SAST) ON SATURDAY REFEREE Zoe Naude (South Africa) Test debut: 19 September, 2024 – South Africa 36-19 Spain Tests as referee: 4 Zoe Naude referees this fixture for the second time, after being in the middle for South Africa’s 34-21 victory in Johannesburg last weekend. This will be the third time she referees her own country, having made her Test debut with the Springbok Women’s 36-19 victory over Spain in a WXV 2

Few are better placed than Fabio Celestini to explain the forces that drive Switzerland from within. A former international midfielder and Uefa EURO 2004 squad member, he belonged to a generation that helped turn the Nati into a consistent, respected presence on the global stage. His view is rooted in first-hand experience of a side shaped by discipline, multiculturalism and collective belief. His understanding has since been sharpened in the dugout. Celestini has carved out

Morgan Rogers raised the question on everyone’s lips – and one which captures the conundrum England will have to solve if they are to reach the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026. “Has anyone ever stopped Erling Haaland?” He answered his own question by saying: “I’m not sure they have but we are going to have to try.” The Aston Villa attacker came on as a substitute against Mexico to provide fresh legs and help England over the line in their Round of 16 encounter. While,

Surprise starter Fabian Ruiz and late replacement Mikel Merino slotted home rebounds to secure Spain victory over Belgium in their FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final against Belgium at Los Angeles Stadium. Luis de la Fuente’s side will now face France at Dallas Stadium in one of the biggest semi-finals in World Cup history. Ruiz, who unexpectedly started at the expense of Pedri, broke the deadlock after Thibaut Courtois had repelled Dani Olmo’s shot. The electrifying Lamine Ya

Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick and captain Pieter-Steph du Toit made it clear on Friday that Scotland would provide a stern test when the teams meet in their second Nations Championship encounter on Saturday in Pretoria. They also both hoped to make it a special occasion for Rassie Erasmus, who will break the record as the most capped Springbok head coach of all time in what will mark his 55th Test match at the helm. The match kicks off at 5.40pm and will be broadc

As the likes of Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro aim to inspire Spain to glory in Los Angeles, they need look no further than fellow Spanish athlete Pau Gasol for inspiration ahead of the crunch FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final with Belgium. Gasol has become a legend in LA after winning back-to-back NBA titles alongside Kobe Bryant in 2009 and 2010. The basketball icon also knows a thing or two about leading Spain to global success, with victory at the 2006 FIBA

Western Province scored six tries to beat Eastern Province in the final match of the FNB U18 Girls Week tournament at Grey High School in Gqeberha on Friday. WP – who has the most representation in the historic SA Schools Girls squads announced on Friday – blitzed EP 36-14 on Friday afternoon to claim their third win of the FNB U18 Girls Week. The Blue Bulls, Boland, Border, Eastern Province XV, Golden Lions, Limpopo Blue Bulls and Valke were also victorious across an action-

Three highly competitive matches await spectators in George, Welkom and Polokwane on Saturday when the second round of the Pick n Pay Women's Super League 2 commences. In George, either the SWD Eagirls or the visiting Leopards will lose their undefeated status, while in Polokwane, the return of several students from the USSA tournament will boost the Limpopo Blue Bulls in their match against the Valke, with both sides looking for a first win. The Griffons will play their firs

Six members from last year’s SA U18 Girls squad have been included in the first SA Schools Girls groups named by SA Rugby at the conclusion of yet another very successful FNB U18 Girls Week in Gqeberha. It’s the first time the two SA Schools Girls squads have been named. They will face each other at Grey High School on Thursday, with the 52 selected players remaining in the Eastern Cape to prepare for this historic clash. Isipho Dungelo (WP), Silakhe Masizana (EP), Nokulinda

She will extend her Springbok Women record as most capped prop to 44 Tests but for Yonela Ngxingolo, it makes no difference if she is doing it off the bench or in the starting team when they take on the USA Eagles at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. The 28-year-old made her Test match debut way back in 2018 and apart from the odd injury, Ngxingolo has been part of every squad selected for international duty ever since. She has been a regular starter in the early part of her caree

The Road to Lyon officially begins today as EPCR confirms the full pool stage fixture schedule for the 2026/27 Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup, setting the stage for another thrilling season of elite international club rugby. The 2026/27 campaigns kick off across the weekend of 16/1718 October, with clubs embarking on the journey towards the EPCR Finals Weekend, taking place at Lyon's OL Stadium on 21 and 22 May 2027. Featuring European heavyweights, returning c

The race for the four places in the Carling Currie Cup First Division semi-finals is set for a thrilling conclusion on Saturday, with five of the six teams still in contention for the four available play-off places and crucial log points at stake across the Eastern Cape, Southern Cape and Gauteng. The competition has been remarkably tight throughout the season. With the Dotsure SWD Eagles already through and Border eliminated, the remaining four contenders – Eastern Province,

Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice headed to the FIFA World Cup 2026 riding the crest of a wave. Both were integral figures in Arsenal’s Premier League title win, with the London club crowned champions of England for the first time in 22 years. They came agonisingly close to adding a Uefa Champions League triumph, too, reaching the final where they were beaten on penalties by Paris Saint-Germain. Odegaard and Rice now have their sights on an even bigger prize but, having stood..

Kylian Mbappe stole the headlines once more as France defeated Morocco at Boston Stadium to reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals. Mbappe recovered from a first-half penalty miss to score his eighth goal of the finals, before setting up Ousmane Dembele for his fifth as the two-time champions booked a last-four meeting with either Belgium or Spain. France signalled their intent early, with Dayot Upamecano heading a fifth-minute corner straight at Yassine Bounou. After domi

Brahim Diaz sees passes that others simply cannot. With four assists to his name already at the FIFA World Cup 2026, the Morocco playmaker has shone brightly so far, though his country’s quarter-final meeting with France on Thursday pits him against two players who can say the same and more. Lining up for Les Bleus will be Michael Olise on one flank – the player one ahead of Diaz atop the tournament's assist chart – and Kylian Mbappe, his Real Madrid teammate, on the other. I

Western Province XV overturned a nine-point half-time deficit to beat the Golden Lions on day four of the FNB U18 Craven Week, while the Griffons, Pumas and Blue Bulls were also victorious at Grey High School in Gqeberha on Thursday. WP XV maintained their perfect record at the FNB U18 Craven Week tournament after downing the Lions on Thursday, while the Griffons, Pumas and Bulls bounced back from Tuesday’s defeats. The Lions dominated the early exchanges of their match again

The Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) is proud to announce the contracted Western Province Women's squad for the 2026/27 domestic season, as the Girls in Blue prepare to defend their status as one of South Africa's leading women's teams. Following an outstanding 2025/26 campaign that saw Western Province Women crowned Hollywoodbets Pro50 champions while successfully defending their Hollywoodbets Pro20 title, head coach Claire Terblanche and her squad are determined

The strong rugby bond between South Africa and Georgia was further strengthened on Thursday when the Junior Springbok assistant coaches hosted a highly successful coaching seminar at the team’s hotel in Tbilisi. The seminar, aligned with World Rugby’s legacy initiatives, focused on the fundamentals of forward and set-piece play. The proceedings were opened by SA Rugby Union (SARU) Deputy President, Francois Davids, who set the tone by highlighting the warm relationship and gr

World Rugby has reinforced its commitment to tackling online hate after publishing findings from its Social Media Protection Service, which safeguarded players, match officials and their families throughout Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025. While sports and athletes benefit from brand-building opportunities via social platforms, World Rugby revealed that female players and match officials are almost 70% more likely to experience online abuse, discrimination and hate speech compar

Springbok Women head coach Swys de Bruin selected Eloise Webb at fullback for Saturday’s second Test against the USA Eagles Women at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, in the only change to the starting team that defeated the same opponents at Ellis Park last weekend. Webb, who played off the bench in the 34-21 victory in Johannesburg, comes in for Byrhandré Dolf, who is unavailable for selection because of player welfare rest protocols. Her place on the bench will be filled by Mac

Signing the landmark lighting deal are, from left, Hugo Kemp (Loftus Versfeld stadium and operations manager), Van Rooy van den Berg (Afrison founder and CEO), Edgar Rathbone (Blue Bulls Company CEO) and Johan Klein (Afrison director). Loftus Versfeld, one of the most historic and revered cathedrals in world rugby, is stepping into the future. Fans attending the highly anticipated Springbok vs Scotland Test match on Saturday will be the very first to experience a state-of-the