Rugby

The massive crowd of 68,000 passionate fans who watched the Springboks beat the All Blacks in Baltimore provided exciting evidence that rugby can catch on quickly among Americans who enjoy watching tough physical sports, Siya Kolisi says.

Though they might sometimes annoy the living daylights of rivals with the way they go about things, the only thing that really matters for the Springboks is winning for South African people from all walks of life, coach Rassie Erasmus said.

Arch-rivals Harlequins and Kruisfontein United will face off in a winner-takes-all duel for the right to be crowned EPRU Grand Challenge Top 12 club rugby champions after they emerged victorious after hotly-contested semifinal duels on Saturday.

The EP Elephants tasted defeat for the first time this season when they were pipped 29-27 by the Boland Kavaliers in a thrilling SA U21 Shield rugby clash in Gqeberha on Saturday.

Border U21 secured their first SA Rugby Shield win by defeating SWD 22-12 but are unable to defend their title due to insufficient points, regardless of upcoming match outcomes.

Beating the Pumas 23-16 in Saturday’s Carling Currie Cup Premier Division final in front of their ecstatic home fans in Kimberley was a dream come come true for Griquas, coach Pieter Bergh said.

South Africa defeated New Zealand 43-28 in Baltimore to clinch a 3-1 Test series victory, dominating the final match with a powerful second-half performance.

South Africa captain Siya Kolisi said the Springboks will be ready to face a much-changed All Blacks side as the world champions look to wrap up a series victory in Baltimore on Saturday.

Griquas will be gunning for back-to-back Carling Currie Cup Premier Division rugby titles on Saturday when they face the Pumas in front of their fanatical home supporters in Kimberley.

Simthembile Zozi, Lukhangele Tshayi, Sipho Hobosch, and Hlumelo Zitha of WSU All Blacks will represent Club Afrique at the Christie Sevens Championship in Nairobi, Kenya.

An unbeaten EP Elephants team will be looking to consolidate their position at the top of the SA Rugby U21 Shield south section log when they face the Boland Kavaliers in Gqeberha on Saturday.

There is a possibility of club rugby fans being treated to a repeat of the thrilling 2025 EPRU Grand Challenge Top 12 final between Harlequins and Gardens when the 2026 edition of the tournament reaches a conclusion on September 19.

The Springboks are banking on creative flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu to carve open the All Blacks during the opening exchanges of what promises to be a brutal battle in the US city of Baltimore on Saturday, coach Rassie Erasmus says.

Top EP rugby teams Gardens and Harlequins will collide with two Bloemfontein juggernauts when the opening round of the Pick n Pay Gold Cup national club championship kicks off at venues throughout SA on September 26.

An enormous collective effort will be required from the Springboks if they are to succeed in burying the All Blacks in the fourth and final Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series in Baltimore on Saturday, loose forward Cameron Hanekom says.