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The Citizen
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Big schoolboy rugby fixtures at the coast this weekend
Three King Prince School Derby Series games play out while Paarl Boys High and Paul Roos Gim are back in action. It's all happening at the coast this weekend. Picture: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images South Africa's biggest schoolboy rugby teams are at it again this weekend, with some notable fixtures in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape on Saturday. Included are three fixtures in the King Price School Derby Series. These are Northwood against Hilton College, Westville Boys' High taking on Kearsney College, both in KwaZulu-Natal, and Rondebosch Boys' High welcoming Wynberg Boys' High in the Western Cape. Some regular fixtures to be played out in the Western Cape are just as big: Paarl Boys High take on Boland Landbou, and last year's top school, Paul Roos Gim, compete against Stellenberg. Fixtures Gauteng St Stithians v Randpark (Friday) Eastern Cape Cambridge v St Andrew's Queen's v Port Rex Kingswood v Graeme Pearson v Daniel Pienaar KwaZulu-Natal Michaelhouse v Maritzburg College Northwood v Hilton Westville v Kearsney St Charles v Clifton Noordvaal Pretoria Boys High v Jeppe Helpmekaar v KES St David's v St Benedict's St John's v St Alban's Noordvaal Cup Waterkloof v EG Jansen Rustenburg v Garsfontein Monument v Transvalia Nelspruit v Noordheuwel Zwartkop v Wesvalia Ligbron v Oos-Moot HTS Middelburg v Klerksdorp Kempton Park v Middelburg Montana v Piet Retief Ben Vorster v Pietersburg Die Anker v Lichtenburg Heidelburg VS v Hugenote (Springs) Eldoraigne v Potch Volkskool Potch Gim v Merensky Bergsig Academy v Dinamika Ermelo v Randburg Western Cape Outeniqua v Oakdale Bellville v SACS Paarl Boys High v Boland Landbou Rondebosch v Wynberg Bishops v Paarl Gim Paul Roos v Stellenberg Milnerton v Durbanville Brackenfell v Parel Vallei
Wales Online
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Tonight's rugby news as four highly-rated Welsh talents sign deals in England and 'gutted' star hit with ban
Tonight's rugby news as four highly-rated Welsh talents sign deals in England and 'gutted' star hit with ban The latest headlines from Wales and around the world Southworth has been banned for three matches (Image: Ashley Vlotman/Huw Evans Agency ) These are your latest rugby headlines on the evening of Wednesday, May 28. Welsh talents sign deals in England Four highly-rated Welsh teenagers have signed professional deals with Bristol Bears and joined the club's senior academy ahead of next season. Wales U19 full-back Evan Morris has joined the Gallagher Premiership side full-time, while three other Welsh age-grade players - prop George Leyland, lock Osian Williams and scrum-half Cai Gealy - have signed BUCS Super Rugby pathway deals in order to continue their studies alongside their rugby careers. Morris - who has represented Wales at U18 and U19 level and scored for the latter side against Italy last month - is a former Ospreys academy player but moved across the border to study at the prestigious Millfield School Clifton College student Leyland, meanwhile, was included in the England U18 development squads both last year and earlier this season, but featured for Richie Pugh's Wales U18s side at the Six Nations Festival in March. Williams and Gealy - of Clifton and Hartpury College respectively - have also both represented Wales at U18s level. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. They join the Bears' senior academy alongside English age-grade stars Victor Worsnip and Kieran Hill, as well as Jeke Bulanauca, Arthur Guyot and Ollie Harris. 'I'm really pleased to welcome these promising young men from their schools and U18 rugby into our Senior Academy programme, as we build our younger exciting squad for next season," said Bristol's director of rugby Pat Lam. 'I believe with access to our world class facilities, staff and guidance and mentorship from our senior players at the Bears High Performance Centre, these players will have everything they need to achieve their rugby dreams and hopefully will become household names to our fans.' Academy head John Barnes added: 'This is a group of high potential young players who will add to our senior academy next season. They will have the challenge to breakthrough into the senior squad over the coming years, something we believe they have the ability to do. "It's an exciting time for the club with so much local talent coming through our pathway, we are looking forward to watching them thrive in the senior environment. 'The Bears Academy is there to capture, nurture and develop exciting young talent. We are proud of the players that have come through our pathway in recent times, representing the 1st XV and going onto International honours. "This group will only add to that success and reflects the hard work that is done by the coaches and support staff throughout our Performance Programme.' 'Gutted' star hit with ban Cardiff prop Danny Southworth has been handed a three-match ban after being sent off against Stormers in the region's final United Rugby Championship game of the season. The 26-year-old was shown a red card by referee Gianluca Gnecchi shortly before the half hour mark in Cape Town earlier this month, having made a dangerous tackle on Neethling Fouche. It meant that Cardiff were reduced to 14 men for just over 50 minutes of the match, which they ended up losing 34-24. Southworth - who is Welsh-qualified - was visibly upset after being shown the red card by Gnecchi, with BBC commentators noting that he looked "gutted" as he made his way off the field. A fortnight on, a disciplinary panel has now handed him a suspension, with the prop accepting he had committed an act of foul play. In mitigation, Southworth's early acknowledgement of foul play, together with his good disciplinary record, immediate apology and remorse, saw an initial six-week sanction halved to three. He will have his ban reduced by a week if he completes World Rugby's coaching intervention programme, also known as 'tackle school'. But with Cardiff's season having already finished after they failed to reach the URC play-offs, the games that Southworth will miss as a result of his ban will be confirmed at a later date. England international retires Bath wing Ruaridh McConnochie has announced he is retiring from playing and plans to move into coaching. The 33-year-old former 7s star, who won a silver medal with Team GB at the 2016 Olympics, has scored 29 tries in 95 appearances since moving to The Rec in 2018, but will leave the club this summer after hanging up his boots. McConnochie made two appearances for England, both in 2019, and scored his first and only international try against the United States at the Rugby World Cup in Japan. In 2023, he was a surprise inclusion in the Scotland squad for the Six Nations as he qualified through his father. However, he never featured for Gregor Townsend's side. Announcing his retirement and future career plans, McConnochie said: 'Almost 10 years to the day since I walked through the doors at England 7s, I now feel it's the right time to step away from a career that has given me memories and friendships to last a lifetime. 'I appreciate not every player has the ability to retire on their own terms, and so after much thought, I feel very lucky to be able to make the call myself. "I feel incredibly privileged to have experienced all I have done throughout my career, and I know this would not have been possible without the help and support of my family, friends, and coaches. 'Now into the world of coaching and education I go, with some life-changing memories and experiences to look back on. Thank you.' Underhill banned after Cardiff controversy By Andrew Baldock, PA Rugby Union Correspondent England flanker Sam Underhill is set to miss Bath's bid for the Gallagher Premiership title after receiving a four-week ban. Underhill was cited for a dangerous tackle on Lyon full-back Davit Niniashvili during Bath's EPCR Challenge Cup final victory in Cardiff. The Bath forward received a yellow card from Scottish referee Hollie Davidson, but a complaint was then lodged by match citing commisssioner Philippe Lenne. An independent disciplinary committee imposed the period of suspension, with European Professional Club Rugby stating his return to play date will be determined once his future playing schedule is confirmed. Bath's next fixture is a final game of the regular Premiership season against Saracens on Saturday. That is followed by a play-off on June 6, then the Premiership final eight days later if Bath get there. In terms of Underhill's potential England schedule, there is a non-cap match against France on June 21, with the first Test against Argentina two weeks after that. EPCR said: 'Underhill accepted that he had committed an act of foul play, but did not accept that it warranted a red card. 'The independent disciplinary committee upheld the complaint, finding that Underhill had tackled Davit Niniashvili in a dangerous manner that warranted a red card, and it determined that the offending was at the mid-range of World Rugby's sanctions and six weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point. Article continues below 'The committee gave the player credit for his remorse and timely acceptance that he had committed an act of foul play. But because of his prior disciplinary record, the committee were only able to discount the entry point sanction by two weeks. They therefore imposed a four-week suspension.' Underhill received a three-week ban in April after being sent off for a high tackle against Challenge Cup opponents Pau. He is an integral part of the Bath armoury under head of rugby Johann van Graan, and his ban is a major blow for the club. Premiership title success would see them complete an historic trophy treble this season, having already won the Challenge Cup and Premiership Rugby Cup.
The Citizen
28-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Rested Stormers to take advantage of early travel to Glasgow
The Stormers will be well rested and fully prepared for their URC quarterfinal against Glasgow Warriors in Scotland on Friday night. Stormers forwards coach Rito Hlungwani says their early arrival in Scotland will definitely benefit the team ahead of their URC quarterfinal against Glasgow Warriors on Friday night. Picture: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images The Stormers will be looking to take full advantage of an early arrival in Scotland to make sure that they are firing on all cylinders by the time they run on the field for their United Rugby Championship (URC) quarterfinal against Glasgow Warriors on Friday night. The Stormers left for Glasgow on Friday last week, taking advantage of the week break between the final URC pool clash and playoffs, due to the EPCR Challenge and Champions Cup finals which took place over the past weekend. This in contrast to last season when they played a huge local derby against the Lions in their final URC pool match, before hopping on the plane to Glasgow for their quarterfinal a week later. 'It is always nice when you have a week off before you have to travel as it gives you time to train,' explained Stormers forwards coach Rito Hlungwani from Scotland on Monday. 'Obviously last week we had the Springboks going off to an alignment camp at the end of the week. But we were able to get in some good work when our Boks were there on the Monday and Tuesday, and on the Thursday and Friday we got quite a lot of work with the players who were not away at the alignment camp. 'We trained early on Friday and then flew out later in the day. We feel like this will give us enough time to prepare for the game and we do not feel rushed like we did last time.' Business class Another bonus was that the Stormers were able to fly business class this time round, unlike usual when they have to make long haul flights in economy to get to the UK and Europe, while they are also able to have a full regular training week ahead of the match. 'Obviously when you fly business class it is nice and comfortable so you are not nearly as tired when you get to your destination,' said Hlungwani. 'This is perfect as it gives us a full training week and that makes a massive difference. It's also nice to be tackling the initial part of the training since arriving without having high fatigue levels like you have when you fly economy.' Stormers utility forward Marcell Theunissen echoed the thoughts of his coach, adding that the team was feeling good and confident ahead of their massive playoff encounter. 'It was nice to be in business class, and we thank (team) manager Chippy (Solomons) for that. We feel that we have trained well but also rested well. We got here nice and early but last week we were able to work on some good stuff. I'd say it has been a great week,' said Theunissen.
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Can the Stormers ride terrific form into URC semifinals?
The Stormers will head into their URC quarterfinal against defending champs Glasgow with plenty of confidence after a strong end to the pool phase. Stormers wing Leolin Zas on the attack during their URC clash against Cardiff at the Cape Town Stadium over the past weekend. Picture: Ashley Vlotman/It will be a tough ask but the Stormers will be hoping to ride a wave of terrific form into the semifinals of the United Rugby Championship (URC) when they battle it out against Glasgow Warriors in their quarterfinal in Scotland next week. The Stormers have been one of the form teams in the URC down the back straight of the pool phase, after a poor start to their season had threatened to derail their campaign early on. After 11 rounds the Stormers had won just four games, while losing seven, and were languishing at 10th place on the URC log, leaving them in a massive battle to make it into the top eight for a place in the playoffs. But suddenly it seemed like a switch was flipped and the Cape side have gone on to win six of their last seven pool games to power up the log to finish in fifth place, earning them a return trip to Glasgow for another knockout. Last year the Stormers were downed 27-10 in their quarterfinal in Scotland, with Glasgow going on to upset Munster and the Bulls to lift the URC title. The defending champs will likely have to produce a similar run if they want to repeat the trick this season, but they won't be as heavy favourites against the Stormers, as they were last season. Great form Not only are the Stormers in great form, but they also seem to be more confident on the road in Europe, which is something they have struggled with immensely over the past four seasons in the URC. They were initially poor away again this season, losing three of their first four matches overseas, with just a 36-5 win over Zebre in Italy to boast about, while they went down 37-24 to Ospreys in Swansea, 38-7 to Edinburgh in Scotland and 36-12 to Leinster in Dublin. But their last overseas tour will have given them a shot in the arm as they brushed aside Scarlets 29-17 in Llanelli, before being edged 38-34 by Ulster in Belfast, as discipline cost them with yellow and red cards resulting in them playing with 13 men at a stage. But they still could have won the game at the death. The Stormers could also have been boosted by only having to focus on the URC down the back straight, as they were dumped out of the Champions Cup early after winning just one out of four games to finish bottom of their pool, knocking them completely out of the EPCR. Glasgow, however, reached the knockouts and made it to the quarterfinals, where they were unceremoniously hammered 52-0 by Leinster to end their campaign. In all it should be a thoroughly entertaining encounter, with Glasgow probably slight favourites due to them being hosts, but their poor finish to the URC pool phase, losing their last three games, will definitely have given the in-form Stormers confidence of causing an upset.
News24
19-05-2025
- General
- News24
Three in top five: SA's URC showing bodes well for 2021/22 title repeat
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