South Africa

Despite pandemic concerns the Six Nations will go ahead as planned. One of the topics that continues to be a point of discussion around the tournament is player eligibility, with a handful of new residency captures taking the field during the Autumn Nations Cup. Players obtain eligibility by meeting Regulation …

World Rugby has officially opened the process to determine hosts for the next four World Cups. Expressions of interest for the hosting of the women’s tournaments in 2025 and 2029, and the men’s tournaments in 2027 and 2031 will be tabled through May of this year. The second phase of …

JP Smith is returning for a third season with the Seattle Seawolves. The 26-year-old scrumhalf follows fellow South African Riekert Hattingh in signing on for the 2021 Major League Rugby campaign. Both players were also part of the Ohio Aviators squad at the World Tens Series event in Bermuda. After …

Riekert Hattingh will play for the Seattle Seawolves in the 2021 Major League Rugby season. Confirmation comes at last of the team captain and star eightman who has been a talismanic figure for the club since the inaugural 2018 campaign. This past season, though brief, was one of frustration for …

Stephan Coetzee will return for a third season with the Seattle Seawolves. The two-time champions have confirmed the South African, who celebrates his 29th birthday in early January, for the 2021 Major League Rugby campaign. He follows fellow hooker Mike Shepherd in extending his stay. Coetzee quickly established himself as …

Ruben de Haas will start for the Cheetahs opposite the Pumas on Friday evening. It’s the first career start in the Currie Cup for the 22-year-old US Eagles scrumhalf. He only recently debuted for the Cheetahs senior side in Super Rugby Unlocked. It’s just rewards for de Haas, who has …

Seattle have retained second row FP Pelser for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. The 25-year-old South African is the 12th returning player confirmed by the Seawolves for next season, and the second lock following Brad Tucker. Pelser started alongside Tucker in three of the five games during his first …

The San Diego Legion have secured Sunwolves prop Hencus van Wyk for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. He fills a gap left by the departure of Eagles tighthead Paul Mullen to the Utah Warriors. van Wyk, 28, is a product of the Blue Bulls in Pretoria, South Africa. He …

The Dallas Jackals have announced the signing of South African loose forward Jo-Hanko ‘Pikkie’ de Villiers for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. Arriving from the Golden Lions, the 24-year-old brings both Varsity Cup with the University of Johannesburg and senior provincial experience. de Villiers was named ‘Player of the …

The LA Giltinis have another brother duo for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. Super Rugby prop twins Ruan and Jean-Pierre (JP) Smith will join from the Queensland Reds, following previously announced Harry and Sean McNulty. Originally from South Africa, the 30-year-olds emigrated to Australia in 2010 and have played …