United Rugby Championship Championship Table 20/02/2024 - URC - DHL Stormers Dominate URC Team Of The Week - Round 10 of the BKT United Rugby Championship delivered some outstanding individual performances. Here, we take a look at the best players by position from the weekend’s matches, with each side afforded a maximum of four representatives in the final XV. 19/02/2024 - URC - The DHL Stormers Can Get Even Better - Although satisfied with a hard-fought win in Durban, DHL Stormers Head Coach John Dobson is adamant that there are still a few areas that his team must sharpen up. The 25-21 victory against the Hollywoodbets Sharks was the 15th consecutive win for the DHL Stormers against South African opposition and puts them at the top of the Vodacom 19/02/2024 - URC - Last Gasp Ospreys Win Lifts SA’s URC Hopes - There were some tight contests in the games that mattered to the fight for Vodacom United Rugby Championship log position during an absorbing round 10 of the competition, but none was more meaningful to the top two South African teams than the game that ended the round. Ulster has been a constant presence at the top 19/02/2024 - "They Don’t Play Rugby In Their Half, They’re Not Dangerous" - Jake White - Vodacom Bulls director of rugby Jake White was a happy man following their 25-10 win at the Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Saturday. It was the Vodacom Bulls' second win in a row with the Vodacom Bulls edging the Emirates Lions 30-28 end of January. According to White the Emirates 18/02/2024 - URC - Double Derby Delight For Vodacom Bulls And DHL Stormers - The Vodacom Bulls and DHL Stormers made it two out of two against the Emirates Lions and Hollywoodbets Sharks respectively in entertaining Vodacom United Rugby Championship derbies in what marked their second outings against one another in as many rounds. Adding to the atmosphere at the matches, the DHL 18/02/2024 - URC - Ospreys Snatch Victory Over Ulster With Last-Minute Drop Goal - Dan Edwards scored a brilliant last-minute drop-goal to earn Ospreys a dramatic 19-17 win over Ulster and give a much-needed boost to the Welsh regions. After weekend defeats for Cardiff, Scarlets and Dragons, a fourth Welsh loss looked likely until Edwards’ late intervention at the Swansea.com 18/02/2024 - URC - "We Aren’t There Yet. We Will Get There” - John Plumtree - Hollywoodbets Sharks' Head Coach John Plumtree said their bench changed the game following their 21-25 defeat to the DHL Stormers on Saturday. The host trailed 15 points early in the second half before returning Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi scored a try and debutant flyhalf Siya Masuku looked electric with 18/02/2024 - URC - "I Did Not See The DHL Stormers' Defensive DNA" - John Dobson - DHL Stormers head coach John Dobson said during a post-match press interview after beating the Hollywoodbets Sharks 25-21 in Durban on Saturday, that he was especially disappointed with their effort on defence. “Well done to the Sharks. Defensively we were off. Strategically and tactically, there 17/02/2024 - URC - Glasgow Warriors Breeze Past Dragons RFC - Scrum-half Ben Afshar scored on his first professional start as Glasgow recorded a 40-7 bonus-point victory over the Dragons. Warriors led from the 30-second mark as both Josh McKay and Stafford McDowall claimed the first of their two tries in the opening four minutes. 17/02/2024 - URC - Red Card Cost Cardiff Win Against Connacht - Cardiff could not overcome an early red card for centre Rey Lee-Lo as Connacht claimed a 16-12 United Rugby Championship victory at the Arms Park. Lee-Lo was dismissed after just 15 minutes by Italian referee Andrea Piardi following a dangerous, high challenge on Connacht wing Shayne Bolton. 17/02/2024 - URC - Impressive Leinster Cruise To Victory Over Benetton - United Rugby Championship leaders Leinster comfortably maintained their place at the top of the table with a 47-18 bonus-point victory over Benetton at the RDS Arena. Benetton started and finished the first half impressively, with Ignacio Mendy touching down in the first minute and Jacob Umaga tagging a 17/02/2024 - URC - DHL Stormers Made To Work Hard For Win Against Hollywoodbets Sharks - The Hollywoodbets Sharks suffered more Vodacom United Rugby Championship misery as the DHL Stormers inflicted a ninth league defeat on them by winning 25-21 in Durban. They continue to prop up the table with a solitary win from 10 starts this season while their South African rivals remain strong 17/02/2024 - URC - Clinical Vodacom Bulls Secure Five Log Points Against Emirates Lions - The Vodacom Bulls secured the top spot on the URC Table, although temporarily with a 25-10 bonus point win against the Emirates Lions. Despite a shaky start by the Vodacom Bulls, conceding two early penalties, they were the dominant side for the first 20 minutes of the match. The Emirates Lions' up- 17/02/2024 - URC - Can Hollywoodbets Sharks Continue EPCR Form Against DHL Stormers? - The Coastal Derby between the Hollywoodbets Sharks and DHL Stormers in Durban on Saturday at 17:15 (SA Time) has all the ingredients for a mouth-watering clash after the Capetonians snuck through by a single point at home in their last match, despite the KwaZulu-Natalians being at the foot 17/02/2024 - URC - Can Emirates Lions Make Up For Heart-breaking Loss In Pretoria? - The Emirates Lions will enter their Gauteng Derby against the Vodacom Bulls at Emirates Airline Park determined to make up for their heart-breaking 30-28 defeat in their last encounter in Pretoria and to alleviate the pressure on themselves to hop into the top eight, especially since every match will count 16/02/2024 - URC - Munster Power Past Scarlets With Bonus-point Win - Clinical Munster ensured Scarlets’ poor run against Irish provinces continued as they suffered a ninth consecutive defeat in going down 42-7 in Llanelli. Scarlets have not won against Irish opposition since beating Connacht 41-36 in March 2021 and they never looked like breaking that unenviable record as Munster 16/02/2024 - URC - Edinburgh Second-half Fightback Safe The Day Against Zebre Parma - Edinburgh produced a second-half fightback to clinch a 24-19 BKT United Rugby Championship victory at Zebre Parma. The visitors were far from their best and made their opponents pay for a lack of discipline at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi. The Scottish side trailed for the majority of the game due to 16/02/2024 - Emirates Lions Made Two Changes For Clash Against Vodacom Bulls - Emirates Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen made two changes to his starting line-up to host the Vodacom Bulls at the Emirates Airline Park on Saturday at 15:00 (SA Time). Both changes were made upfront. Ruan Venter comes in at 7, replacing injured Emmanuel Tshituka while Ettienne Oosthuizen will partner with 16/02/2024 - Vodacom Bulls Welcome Back Two Springboks - Ruan Nortje will lead a Vodacom Bulls side that sees the return of Springbok duo, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie for round 10 of the 2023/24 Vodacom United Rugby Championship. The Tshwane outfit will travel down the N1-M1 to the Emirates Airline Park for what promises to be an enthralling spectacle of Rugby if the last meeting 16/02/2024 - DHL Stormers Welcome Back Several Stars - The DHL Stormers will welcome back Evan Roos, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Salmaan Moerat from injury for the Vodacom United Rugby Championship derby against the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban on Saturday. The two coastal teams square off at 17h05 on Saturday in the first Vodacom United Rugby Championship 16/02/2024 - Hollywoodbets Sharks Welcome Back Springbok Hooker - Saturday’s return leg Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash between the Hollywoodbets Sharks and DHL Stormers at Hollywoodbets Kings Park promises to bring fireworks for the fans. Derby matches always bring out the best in the two coastal teams and this match should be no different. The Stormers have enjoyed a 16/02/2024 - URC Preview - Is Another Fairytale Is Possible? - The narrative of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship in the first two seasons of its existence has been driven by were widely seen as fairytale stories and as the second half of the competition kicks off this weekend the chances are good we could see it happen again. In the inaugural season, we had a shock winner in the form of 16/02/2024 - Upcoming Derbies Are “Non-negotiable” For DHL Stormers - DHL Stormers head coach John Dobson admits that the upcoming derbies against the Hollywoodbets Sharks and Vodacom Bulls are “non-negotiable” as the DHL Stormers look to secure a place in the URC’s top four. The DHL Stormers currently sit in seventh place on the URC table, but are just four points outside the top four. 16/02/2024 - Upcoming Derbies Are “Non-negotiable” For DHL Stormers - DHL Stormers head coach John Dobson admits that the upcoming derbies against the Hollywoodbets Sharks and Vodacom Bulls are “non-negotiable” as the DHL Stormers look to secure a place in the URC’s top four. The DHL Stormers currently sit in seventh place on the URC table but are just four points outside the top four. 16/02/2024 - Jake White Full Of Praise For Sanele Nohamba, However ..... - The Vodacom Bulls' Director of Rugby, Jake White made it clear that they will give special attention to the threat Emirates Lions star Sanele Nohamba holds ahead of their United Rugby Championship Round 10 clash at the Emirates Airline Park. “Well, first of all, we have to force him to make tackles, I read somewhere after 15/02/2024 - Vodacom Bulls Looking To Emirates Lions And DHL Stormers Derbies To Prepare For Knockout Rugby - The Vodacom Bulls are only four points behind log-leaders, Leinster, on the URC standings and will be wary of the fact that victory against the Emirates Lions would keep them at the upper echelons of the table and possibly hosting playoff matches. Vodacom Bulls Director of 15/02/2024 - Vodacom URC Goes “Back To School” With Origins Rounds - Vodacom United Rugby Championship teams will be sporting their school or club colours in a unique start to the second half of the competition this weekend, in the first of two special Origin Rounds rounds where the players’ rugby roots will be remembered and celebrated. Rounds 10 and 11 of the inter-hemisphere showpiece 14/02/2024 - Six Paul Roos Old Boys In Current DHL Stormers Squad - As part of the Vodacom URC’s Origin Rounds we are looking at some of the famous local rugby schools that have produced DHL Stormers over the years. This week we feature Paul Roos Gimnasium. In Rounds 10 and 11, the Vodacom URC has invited teams, players and fans to celebrate the communities and people who 14/02/2024 - Vodacom Bulls Ready To Climb Mount Everest On Saturday - Vodacom Bulls centre Stedman Gans said on Tuesday that the Vodacom Bulls used their two-week break to work on fixing the small mistakes and the bad habits that tend to seep into a long season. “As the season goes on you tend to fall into bad habits, you tend to focus on your opponent and you are going to counter what 13/03/2024 - "I Am Really More A Collision Type Of Guy" - Asenathi Ntlabakanye - The Emirates Lions' 153kg tighthead prop, Asenathi Ntlabakanye said during a media interview that those big hits that he has become famous for really gets him going. “For me to really get going, obviously as a prop, I need to win the collisions to get the guys around me hyped up and myself hyped up as well. I am 13/02/2024 - John Plumtree Frustrated With Injuries To Key Forwards - A visibly frustrated Hollywoodbets Sharks head coach John Plumtree opened up on his frustration with injuries in his camp as they prepare to face the Stormers in their United Rugby Championship clash in Durban. Plumbtree has revealed that Eben Etzebeth has undergone knee surgery, which is expected 13/02/2024 - "There Is Definitely Hope For The Future" - Lukhanyo Am - Lukhanyo Am believes the Hollywoodbets Sharks are ready to kick-start their Vodacom URC campaign as they prepare to host the DHL Stormers in Saturday’s big derby clash. The Durban-based outfit currently lies bottom of the table, with just one win from their opening nine league matches. 13/02/2024 - Jonathan Mokuena Believes FNB UJ Had Enough Time To Bounce Back - After missing the semi-finals of last year’s competition by just two points, FNB UJ head coach Jonathan Mokuena believes that his charges have had enough time to bounce back and prepare for the 2024 FNB Varsity Cup. “[There’s been] a lot of excitement, obviously. It’s been a long, almost 20 weeks of 13/02/2024 - Several DHL Stormers Stars Set To Return In Next Two Weeks - DHL Stormers head coach John Dobson told an online press conference on Tuesday that his squad numbers are looking good as several stars are ready to make their return against the Hollywoodbets Sharks on Saturday. Although the DHL Stormers will be without Springboks Damian Willemse, Deon Fourie and 13/02/2024 - "I Just Want To Make A Positive Impact,” - Andre-Hugo Venter - Hooker Andre-Hugo Venter can’t wait to get going again as the DHL Stormers resume their Vodacom URC campaign after a three-week break. The DHL Stormers are back in action this week, as the Vodacom URC resumes following a short mid-season break. A jam-packed festive and new year’s schedule saw the DHL 13/02/2024 - "I Just Want To Make A Positive Impact,” - Andre-Hugo Venter - Hooker Andre-Hugo Venter can’t wait to get going again as the DHL Stormers resume their Vodacom URC campaign after a three-week break. The DHL Stormers are back in action this week, as the Vodacom URC resumes following a short mid-season break. A jam-packed festive and new year’s schedule saw the DHL 12/02/2024 - URC - Plenty Of Intrigue As Second Half Of URC Season Starts - The Vodacom United Rugby Championship takes centre stage again during this coming weekend’s first break in the Guinness Six Nations season and for most teams, the stakes are high as they kick off the second half of the season. The battles within a battle that make the URC so intriguing are all being closely fought 12/02/2024 - URC Round 10 - Two Big Derbies In South Africa Awaits This Weekend - The United Rugby Championship returns this weekend with two big local derbies set to draw record-breaking crowds to Johannesburg and Durban. The Vodacom Bulls who are currently leading the South African onslaught are placed 4th on the URC Table. They will travel to Emirates Airline Park on Saturday at 28/01/2024 - URC Report: SA Can Re-enact What Happened In Inaugural Season - There are only two South African teams in the top eight as the Vodacom United Rugby Championship reaches its halfway point but a look at what is to come in the second half of the competition does not rule out a re-enactment of what happened in the inaugural season. It will be recalled that in 2021/22, when what 28/01/2024 - "Maybe If Krappie Made The Tackle On The Ref" - Marius Louw - Emirates Lions captain Marius Louw refused to blame decisions by the referee for their 28-30 loss against the Vodacom Bulls on Saturday in Pretoria. Vodacom Bulls' Mpilo Gumede picked up the ball behind a scrum and scored the Bulls' third try while Emirates Lions' scrumhalf Morné van den Berg ran into 28/01/2024 - "A Win Is A Win" - Jake White - A "relieved" Vodacom Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White questioned his team’s game management in their United Rugby Championship 30-28 win against the Lions in Pretoria on Saturday. “I thought our game management at times was poor,” White said. “For all the experience we had in the backline, we looked as though we were pulling the trigger too 27/01/2024 - Vodacom Bulls Made To Work Hard For Close Win Against Emirates Lions - The Vodacom Bulls dominated possession and territory, however they had to work extremely hard to stay in front of a charging Emirates Lions during the last 10 minutes of the match to win 30-28. The Emirates Lions started like a house on fire, earning a penalty from dominating the first scrum, and then, brilliant 26/01/2024 - "Emirates Lions Are Like A Heavyweight Boxer That Grows Up In The Bronx" - Jake White - Vodacom Bulls Director of Rugby, Jake White was not willing to write the Emirates Lions off, who is seen by many as the underdogs. The Emirates Lions did beat their host on their last visit to Pretoria. “I think they have been growing and growing." 26/01/2023 - Emirates Lions Prepared For A Brutal Battle Up Font Against Vodacom Bulls - The Emirates Lions make the trip across the Jukskei this Saturday for Round 9 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship against the Vodacom Bulls. Victory for the men from Johannesburg this weekend could see them shift into the play-off spot zone, something head coach Ivan van Rooyen hopes could 26/01/2024 - Vodacom Bulls Name Line-up To Host Emirates Lions - The Vodacom Bulls welcomed the return of Johan Grobbelaar to match fitness. The front-rower had been side-lined since mid-December after picking up an injury when the herd travelled to Lyon in round 2 of the Champions Cup. Grobbies forms part of the impact squad as the men in blue await the arrival of their noisy 26/01/2025 - Emirates Lions Name Squad For Trip To Pretoria - Emirates Lions head coach, Ivan van Rooyen made three changes to the team that lost to the Ospreys, for their trip to Pretoria where they will face the Vodacom Bulls on Saturday at 15:00 (SA Time). Up front Jaco Visagie replaces PJ Botha as hooker while Hanru Sirgel is back at flank replacing JC Pretorius who drops to the bench. 25/01/2024 - Brutal War Between Vodacom Bulls And Emirates Lions Expected - The Vodacom United Rugby Championship will spring back into action this weekend after two weeks of European rugby with a massive local derby between the Vodacom Bulls and Emirates Lions in Pretoria, where a place in the top eight is at stake. It may be the only match of the weekend (and the last of round nine), 24/01/2024 - "It’s Definitely Going To Be A Tough One" - Marius Louw - The Emirates Lions will cross the Jukskei River on Saturday to play against the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versveld at 15:00 (SA Time) in a Round 9 postponed match of the United Rugby Championship. Captain Marius Louw said he is confident that the Emirates Lions can continue with their good recent record against South African 24/01/2024 - “Local Derbies Are Always Tough And Physical" - Marcell Coetzee - The Vodacom Bulls will host the Emirates Lions in the final United Rugby Championship Round 9 match on Saturday at 15:00 (SA Time). Vodacom Bulls captain, Marcell Coetzee said during a media session that although the win against Union Bordeaux-Bègles a week ago will give them confidence it means little when it 23/01/2024 - Jake White Explained Why And How He Used The Bench Against Bordeaux - Jake White, Director of Rugby of the Vodacom Bulls, says the Champions Cup is club rugby on steroids but navigating the challenges to compete against the best teams out there takes its toll. “I believe we will grow and we will just get better and better. But I’m also a realist. If you see La Rochelle play Leicester 23/01/2024 - "I’ve Got No Doubt That We Will Be Ready" - Ivan van Rooyen - Emirates Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen downplayed their loss to the Ospreys and its potential impact on their confidence levels ahead of their United Rugby Championship encounter against the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday at 15:00 (SA Time). “To be honest, it’s not a wake-up call before the Bulls game because I’ve 09/01/2024 - Aphelele Fassi - The URC Metre Man - We are nine rounds in the 2023/24 season and what a campaign it's been so far. As we get set to take a break for Europe, we'll be looking back at the season so far starting with the metre men. 09/01/2024 - Razor-sharp Andre-Hugo Venter Finds That Cutting Edge - The son of a Springbok great, Andre-Hugo Venter is writing his own story in a breakthrough year for the DHL Stormers. Venter celebrated the festive season with some excellent performances for the DHL Stormers. A last-minute try against defending champions La Rochelle in the Investec Champions Cup, teeing up Manie Libbok to 08/01/2024 - "But Ja, It Could’ve Been Two Points The Other Way” - Ivan van Rooyen - Coach Ivan van Rooyen and captain Marius Louw pinpointed an adjustment in two key areas for the Emirates Lions’ comeback win against the Sharks at Kings Park following them overturning a 15-point first-half deficit through two second-half tries and two penalties and a conversion from Sanele Nohamba to 07/01/2024 - “Like Always, I Look At Myself First" - John Plumtree - A visibly frustrated John Plumtree blamed the decision-making of the leaders of the Hollywoodbets Sharks on the field for the 18-20 loss to the Emirates Lions on Saturday in Durban. The Emirates Lions scored 17 unanswered second-half points to record a famous 20-18 victory over a baffled Hollywoodbets Sharks, who remain 06/01/2024 - United Rugby Championship Sets All-Time High For A Single Round - Another new record has been set by the Vodacom United Rugby Championship today with the league setting an all-time high for single-round attendance. The 19,703 fans who attended the final game of Round 8 in Durban, where the Hollywoodbets Sharks took on the Emirates Lions, pushed the total for the 06/01/2024 - Emirates Lions Brilliant Final 20 Minutes Secure Historic Win In Durban - The Emirates Lions waited until the final minutes of their United Rugby Championship match to secure a 20-18 win against the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban on Saturday, their first win in Durban since 2017. The hosts dominated the first half spending 77% of the time in the Emirates Lions' half, missing 15 06/01/2024 - Hollywoodbets Sharks Expect a Brutal Contest Between The Powerful Front Rows - Hollywoodbets Sharks head coach John Plumtree said he expects a brutal contest between two powerful front rows when the Sharks and Lions lock horns at Kings Park on Saturday at 17:00 (SA Time). Ox Nche will pack down with hooker Fez Mbatha and tighthead Hanro Jacobs. Kerron van