Rugby

The organisers of the Border Brutten Ten have explained the reason behind opting for Police Park for the competition’s final instead of the larger capacity Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane, saying it was more central for travelling spectators.

Several players who caught the eye during the recently completed Grand Challenge club rugby competition are set to be invited to train and go through a conditioning phase alongside the EP Elephants squad, coach Allister Coetzee said.

Andre Esterhuizen’s ability to multitask between the backs and forwards with ease has become a key tactical weapon for the world champions, attack coach Tony Brown said.

Awakening a sleeping giant and triggering a long-awaited EP rugby revival are key priorities for EP’s new-look Elephants team, loose forward CJ Velleman says.

Emotional Springbok captain Siya Kolisi dedicated his 100th Test cap and a momentous win over France to everyone who grew up in circumstances similar to those he experienced on the dusty streets of Zwide township in Gqeberha.

A resilient Gardens side were crowned EP club rugby champions when they pipped Harlequins 11-9 in a nail-biting Score Energy Drink EPRU Grand Challenge Top 12 final on Saturday.

This one had all the ingredients of a blockbuster from the very beginning and what a blockbuster it was. As in all blockbusters, the best came last after a captivating build-up for the first hour.

It will be a proud moment for Zwide township and all South African rugby fans when their favourite son, Siya Kolisi, runs out to play a landmark 100th Test for the Springboks against France in Paris on Saturday night.

Gardens are revving up for their last dance of the season against a formidable Harlequins side in the Score Energy Drink EPRU Grand Challenge Top 12 rugby final on Saturday, coach Julian Daniels says.

Nullifying the lineout strengths of a confrontational French side will be essential if the Springboks want to get the upper hand and come out on top in Paris on Saturday, Lood de Jager says.

Tenacity helped Suburban Rugby Club rise from the anguish of being relegated from the EPRU Grand Challenge Middle 12 division in 2024 to being crowned Bottom 12 champions in 2025, vice-president Tursuis Ruiters says.

In his inimitable and entertaining style, veteran journalist Michael Green has produced another engrossing page-turner which delves into rugby’s hidden underbelly.

Learning and putting in the hard yards on the training pitch will be key to building on his Springbok baptism of fire and winning more precious Test caps, Zachary Porthen says.

EP’s new scrum coach, Matt Proudfoot, is a man on a mission and has set his sights on turning the Elephants’ forward pack into a stampeding powerhouse.

A red-hot pressure cooker environment awaits the Springboks when they go into battle against a passionate French side in Paris on Saturday, coach Rassie Erasmus warned.