All Blacks No 9 extends beyond World Cup

All Blacks No 9 extends beyond World Cup

One of New Zealand’s highly-rated scrumhalves has committed to the All Blacks and the Chiefs until the end of the 2028 season. Last year’s beaten Super Rugby Pacific finalists confirmed on Sunday that Cortez Ratima has signed a new two-year extension. The 24-year-old...

JP: Try blitzes, errors hurting Sharks

Sharks coach JP Pietersen says his side’s 41-12 Vodacom URC defeat to the Bulls at Loftus came down to tries conceded in clusters and a glut of unforced errors. The Bulls struck twice in quick succession on the way to a 22-0 lead at the break – a pattern Pietersen...

Ackers hails Bulls’ composure

Vodacom Bulls coach Johan Ackermann was encouraged by how his side managed momentum swings against the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. The Bulls raced into a 22-0 half-time lead and although the Sharks fought back to narrow the deficit to 10 points in the...

Dejected Dobbo: We want to apologise for this

John Dobson has said sorry to Stormers fans for his team’s recent form, after a hat-trick of Vodacom URC losses. The latest blow for the Cape side was a 24-10 defeat to the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday, which sees them slide down the URC table even further. Dobson...

Cash: Lions have learned to find a way

Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen hailed his side’s mental strength against the Stormers at Ellis Park on Saturday. The Lions’ 24-10 victory, coupled with the Sharks’ 41-12 loss to the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus, saw them win the SA Shield for the first time. It’s quite the...

Lions crowned SA Shield kings

The Lions won the Vodacom URC SA Shield for the first time on Saturday. Ivan van Rooyen’s men beat the Stormers 24-10 at Ellis Park to finish with four wins from six derby matches and 19 log points. That meant the Sharks had to beat the Bulls at Loftus to retain the...