Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2025 i SA RUGBY

The days are shortening and the nip in the air has got you digging at the back of the wardrobe for your favourite slippers. The platoon of Springboks based in Japan have also noticed the change in season, and have responded by turning up the heat in their performances. Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe, Malcolm Marx, Jesse kriel and Kurt-Lee Arendse evaporated from local headlines after South Africa crushed Wales in November last year, returning to Japan Rugby League One (JRLO) duty for their clubs. At the time of writing, De Allende had pushed the Saitama Wild Knights to the top of the table, Marx had scored nine tries for the Kubota Spears, and Kolbe and Arendse had each scored seven tries for Tokyo Sungoliath and the Mitsubishi Dynaboars respectively.…

RASSIE HELPS SPARK CATS' SUPER 12 REVIVAL Having finished 12th and 11th on the Super 12 log in 1998 and 1999 respectiveiy, the Cats (made up of Lions and Cheetahs players) came fourth in 2000 to reach the semi-finals. Cats captain Rassie Erasmus, who had moved from the Cheetahs to the Lions in 1999, played a big part in the team’s revival under former All Blacks coach Laurie Mains. Erasmus told SA Rugby magazine that while his job had been made easier by having the likes of André Vos, André Venter, Chester Williams and Willie Meyer in the team, he wasn’t sure he was captaincy material. 'I get a bit down on myself when we play badly,’ he said. ‘I wear my heart on my sleeve, whereas a good captain…

April and May were exciting months for our Vuka programme, which involves over 30 000 U15 players from non-traditional rugby schools and non-private schools. We also successfully hosted the Western Province Legends Cup at City Park and continued our food drop initiative. We delivered food to a children’s home in Germiston and supported elderly residents in Lavender Hill by distributing 150 food parcels. Coming up, myself, John Smit, Pat Lambie, Joel Stransky, Hanyani Shimange and others will be taking on the KAP sani2c, which we do every year with one of our sponsors, DSV. In June, our Cell C SA Rugby Legends will travel to Portugal to play against their Legends. This year's team includes big names, new faces and recently-retired players.…

Six seasons in Japan have boosted Jesse Kriel's bank balance, but it's also shaped him into the player and person he is today. The Springbok centre had his first stint in the then Top League in 2015-16 with the NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes, while on loan from the Bulls. After the 2019 World Cup, he joined the Canon Eagles on a permanent deal that no South African franchise could match. He's never looked back. There's money involved for every South African who goes overseas and that's one of the motivators,' the 31year-old tells SA Rugby magazine. 'But the main thing for me is that there are a lot less distractions in Japan. You eat, sleep rugby, and get so much time to hone in on your skills and become a…

When Juarno "Trokkie' Augustus packed his bags and headed north in 2021, leaving the familiar confines of Cape Town and the Stormers for Northampton, few South African fans kept close tabs on his progress. Four years later, the powerhouse No 8 has established himself as one of the English Premiership's most devastating ball-carriers, helping power Saints to championship glory. With over 80 appearances for Northampton and a Champions Cup final on his CV, Augustus has become the wrecking ball that opposition defences fear. Now, as he prepares for his next chapter with Ulster in Belfast, the 27-year-old has his sights firmly set on more silverware - and that elusive Springbok call-up. 'Playing for both the Junior Springboks and Stormers helped me a lot because I had to play well, even…

Supplied by RUGBY COACH WEEKLY www.youtube.com/@RugbyCoachWeekly HANDLING The three-player pass race Help your players get used to completing a passing chain - that's more than one pass in a sequence. Plus, encourage them to make quick, short passes under pressure. WHY USE IT A short pass can keep the ball alive and away from tacklers. This competitive activity will improve the players' confidence to make the pass without completely turning around to make the pass. SET-UP A 10m by 5m box and a ball between three players. HOW TO DO IT Start with three players in a line, about 2m apart, just passing the ball between each other. Encourage good technique, using two of the players to show the others best practice. Then put two teams of three at one…

The Northampton Saints came into this season as English Premiership champions after a 25-21 victory over Bath at Twickenham saw them lift the trophy in 2023-24. It was their first league crown in a decade and a fitting reward for a season of growth under director of rugby Phil Dowson. That success followed a strong 2022-23 campaign in which Saints reached the semi-finals. They backed it up in Europe too, making the 2023-24 Champions Cup semi-finals before falling to Leinster. Their form has continued this season with another deep knockout run in Europe. The 2024-25 campaign has also marked a period of change. Former Stormers back-row bruiser Juarno Augustus (left), an ever-present since arriving in 2021, will depart for Ulster at season's end. The club also bid farewell to long-serving…

Brok Harris' 20-year rugby career is over after 435 matches (295 starts), with 23 608 minutes of game time at an average of 54 minutes and 27 seconds, 23 tries and more scrums than anyone. Take the biggest of bows, Mr Harris. Some scripts are written at a greater level than us mortals. Harris was forced from the field in the Stormers' demolition of Benetton on 26 April. He did not want the golf cart. He walked off, but with his knee ligament torn he knew it was over. It is difficult to come back from those knee injuries at 20 years old. At 40 years old any thought of a comeback would come with a straight, and tightly strapped, white jacket. BROK GOT TO DRINK UNCONDITIONALLY IN THE CHANGE…

LOFTUS VERSFELD ‘In 1999, I played for the SA Schools team in a curtain-raiser for a Springboks-All Blacks Test. That was my first experience of Loftus and really great for me. After that, I played a number of matches there for Western Province and the Stormers, which were good and bad experiences, and for the Springboks, which were always amazing experiences at what is a fantastic stadium.’ FREE STATE STADIUM 'In the Test against England in 2007, I scored one of my best tries for the Springboks and we hammered them [58-10]. It was always nice to play the English on those hard, firm grounds at altitude.' ELLIS PARK ‘My first Test match for the Springboks in South Africa was there, against the All Blacks in 2004. We won that…

JESSE KRIEL 'Max points, vibe and experience in Suzuka. What a weekend.' - The Canon Eagles centre attended the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix with Springbok teammate Cheslin Kolbe. ANDRIES BEKKER ‘Great last two weeks on tour.’ - The Bulls assistant coach with Chris Rossouw and technical analyst John-William Meyer after URC victories over Munster and Glasgow. EVAN ROOS 'Memories' - The Stormers No 8 with back-row partners Paul de Villiers and Marcel Theunissen after a dominant victory over Benetton in Cape Town. MZWANDILE STICK ‘First Two Oceans Half Marathon. What a nice challenge with those CT hills by the mountain.’ - The Springbok assistant coach posed with his participation medal. TIAAN JACOBS 'It was first a dream, then it became a goal and now it’s a reality! Blessed.' -…

PICK YOUR BOK NO 8 (IN THE ABSENCE OF JASPER WIESE) PICK YOUR BOK 10!…

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. World Rugby should have kept that in mind when reviewing its Sevens Series format in the wake of the global lockdown that cut the 2019-20 season short. At the time, the popular series had 10 events per season with 16 teams at each. When it was relaunched two years later as the SVNS Series (presumably to appeal to kids who don't see the need for vowels) it had been reduced to eight tournaments with only 12 teams at each. And as part of World Rugby's commitment to "gender parity", the men's and women's series were aligned, with men's and women's matches played at the same tournament often over a bloated three days instead of a fast-paced two. New Zealand (Hamilton). England (London) and…

• The club takes its nickname 'Saints' from its founding name, Northampton St James. • Northampton won the European Cup in the 1999-2000 season, beating Munster 9-8 in the final. • Their first English Premiership title came in the 2013-14 season, • Northampton's biggest rivals are Leicester. The teams contest the intense East Midlands derby. • Saints have had several South African players over the years, including former Springbok captains Corné Krige and Victor Matfield (right), as well as scrumhalf Cobus Reinach and flanker Heinrich Brüssow.…

UCT winger Ntokozo Makhaza scored 32 points as UCT beat Maties 44-21 in front of a packed Danie Craven Stadium to clinch their third Varsity Cup title. Ikeys marked their third consecutive final with their first win since 2014, consigning the five-time champion Maties to their first loss in a home final. The match was also the third decider between Maties and UCT. Having lost the last two finals, it was third time lucky for Ikeys, who delivered a clinical performance to deny Maties a fairy-tale win in their 150th anniversary year. The first half was all about Makhaza, who scored two tries - including a point-of-origin stunner - and added two conversions and a penalty to give UCT a 19-11 lead at the break. Maties responded through outside centre…

• Slogan is ‘Passing on the Passion'. • Biggest rugby development platform in the southern hemisphere. • With the support of key sponsors, Sarla runs the Vuka rugby programme countrywide and stages the national Hollywood Foundation iQhawe Week for U15 development teams. • The Cell C SA Rugby Legends team gives former players a chance to play classic matches in SA and around the world. • Organises charity events, golf days, auctions and national food drops. - Visit sarugbylegends.com…

Rodney Witbooi I could burst out of my skin with pride! Despite everything else happening in and around us there is always something to be proud of as South Africans. Bok bef*k! Jeff Rosenberg Wow! Wow! Wow! It was like the Blitzboks of old, what a pleasure to see. Congratulations Philip Snyman and all coaching staff, and of course the Blitzboks for playing out of your skins. Martin Gouws Congratulations on becoming the world champions! You really played well, Blitzies, despite the curveballs thrown at you. You rock! Wayne van Eyk I am glad they won, but typical supporters … Why can't we stand behind them in every game? I mean, they didn't play well throughout the whole series and people were mad and making bad comments. Now that they…

Which rugby players inspired you the most? Israel Dagg and Israel Folau. I always loved the way Dagg attacked and used his goose step, and there is nothing better than Folau under the high ball. What are your biggest rugby goals? To become a Springbok and earn 100 caps for my franchise. Who would you rather take a last-minute kick to win you a World Cup final, Vincent Koch or Bongi Mbonambi? I've never seen either of them kick, but if I had to choose it would be Vincent Koch. What's been your biggest rugby lesson so far? Getting through injuries. I've had quite a few. It can be a mental and physical challenge to get fit, especially if you pick up a few in a row. With which two…

On-field limit: Teams can field up to three Category C players (players who have represented a foreign national team and are ineligible for Japan) at any one time. There is no limit on Category B players (foreign players eligible for the Japanese national team due to residency or other qualifications), but teams must have at least 11 Category A players (Japanese international or non-international players) on the field at all times. Squad composition: At least 80% Category A players, meaning a minimum of 40 Japanese players in a typical squad of 50. The combined total of Category B and Category C players cannot exceed 20% of the squad, or roughly 10 players. There is a specific cap of nine Category B and C players combined per team, ensuring a balance…

The Springboks entered the 2024 Rugby Championship clash against the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium having won three of four mid-year Tests in South Africa, with the only defeat coming in a thrilling two-match Ireland series. The Wallabies, under new coach Joe Schmidt, had won three straight to suggest a revival, but they were swept aside by a Springbok side that played with power, purpose and precision to win in Brisbane for the first time since 2013. At the heart of it all was flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Starting his first Test, the young playmaker looked completely at home in the No 10 jersey. His kicking from hand was sharp and his game management mature. He laid the perfect attacking platform for the Boks to run in five tries, was successfu with…

There's a reason South African rugby continues to sit comfortably at the top table of world rugby and it's not by chance. While countries like New Zealand rely on their fabled academies (or, as Eddie Jones cheekily put it, the island academies' of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa), here in South Africa, we've built a machine far more powerful. Ours is driven by passion, community, history and yes, massive investment. That machine is schoolboy rugby. Behind every Springbok jersey, there's a story that often starts on the manicured fields of Paul Roos, Grey College, Affies, Paarl Boys', Paarl Gim and many more. Our schools aren't just playing rugby, they're running full-scale rugby businesses. And make no mistake, business is exactly what it has become. Collectively, South Africa's top 200 rugby schools…