Latest news with #FransSteyn
The Citizen
01-08-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Currie Cup round two preview: Pressure already on some teams
It's only round two of this year's Currie Cup and already some teams are under pressure to win this weekend. Because all the teams will only play seven regular competition matches over one round and there not being home and away legs the pressure is already on for some teams in this year's Currie Cup competition. And we've only had one round of action. For the teams who lost last weekend – Western Province, the Cheetahs, Griquas and the Sharks – it's just about must-win this weekend when round two is played across the country. No team will want to have two defeats to their name with five to play, so it's all set to be a big weekend of action. Friday night action Kicking things off on Friday night (7pm) are the Cheetahs and Pumas who clash in Bloemfontein. Frans Steyn's Cheetahs will be ruing their missed opportunity in Wellington last weekend when they allowed Boland to snatch the win well after the final hooter, and will look to hit back at home this weekend. The Pumas though have proved to be tough Currie Cup competitors in recent years and go into the game on the back of an impressive win at home against Griquas. Saturday fixtures The first match on Saturday sees the Lions, fresh off picking up a big win against the Sharks at Ellis Park last weekend, going up against Western Province, who looked a well beaten side against the travelling Bulls in Cape Town last weekend. Another win for the Lions will set them up nicely for the remainder of the competition, while for Western Province alarm bells could be ringing on Saturday night if they don't win, as will be the case for the Cheetahs. In the late game on Saturday (5.10pm) the Bulls host the Sharks at Loftus and taking into account how things went for these two teams last weekend, the Bulls be favoured to win this one. They won comfortably against Province away, while the Sharks were hammered in Joburg by the Lions. In the final match of the round, Griquas host Boland in Kimberley at 3pm Sunday. The home team will be desperate to pick up a win after their struggles in Mbombela last week, but a second consecutive win for Boland will give them a lot of hope of making the playoffs this season.
The South African
31-07-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Currie Cup weekend fixtures, kick-off times, results and scores
The Cheetahs, who suffered a narrow defeat in a thrilling Currie Cup Premier Division opening round fixture in Wellington last week, face another stern test on Friday evening when they host the Pumas in Bloemfontein, where the clash will kick off at 19:00. The encounter in the Free State capital will start another exciting round of fixtures. On Saturday, the impressive Lions welcome Western Province to Johannesburg for the early afternoon match at 15:00, followed by the meeting in Pretoria, where the Bulls host the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV at 17:10. The weekend's action wraps up on Sunday in Kimberley, where Griquas host the Boland Kavaliers at 15:00. Frans Steyn's Cheetahs will be ruing their missed opportunity against the Kavaliers, who snatched victory after the final hooter last week in Wellington. On Friday evening, they face the Pumas, who are in third place on the log after the opening round. The Pumas' convincing win over Griquas last weekend has placed them among the early pacesetters on the log, albeit after just one round. Looking ahead to Friday's match in Bloemfontein, the Free Staters will be hoping to maintain their strong record in this fixture, having won three of the last four encounters against their Mpumalanga rivals – including the 2023 Premier Division final in Bloemfontein. However, the Pumas will draw confidence from their recent SA Cup form against the Cheetahs, which includes two victories, one of them a 12-point win in March. In Saturday's first match at Ellis Park, the Lions will be brimming with confidence as they take on WP. The Joburg side made a strong statement in the opening round, dismantling the Sharks by 41 points, while Province fell short against the Bulls in Cape Town. The Joburgers have won the last two meetings between these sides, both home and away, while WP's last victory over their Joburg rivals came in March 2023. The Bulls and Hollywoodbets Sharks XV have produced some memorable clashes in this prestigious competition, including last year's epic semi-final, which ended 40-40 after regular time. Based on last week's dominant performance in Cape Town, the Pretoria outfit will be favourites, while the Durbanites will need a marked improvement to be competitive on Saturday afternoon at Loftus after they lost by a big score against the Lions last week. Sunday's fixture in Kimberley sees Griquas take on the Boland Kavaliers, a side they men from the Northern Cape have traditionally held the upper hand over, with the last two SA Cup meetings between these teams ending in Griquas victories. However, Boland coach Hawies Fourie will point to his side's recent improvement and their gritty home win over the Cheetahs last week as signs of their growing competitiveness. All Currie Cup Premier Division matches will be broadcast live on the SuperSport Rugby channel. Cheetahs vs Pumas Date: Friday, 1 AugustVenue: Toyota Stadium, BloemfonteinKick-off: 19:00 Referee: Hanru van Rooyen
The South African
24-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Frans Steyn or Handre Pollard? You decide, Springboks fans!
Handre Pollard and Frans Steyn have both slotted sublime Rugby World Cup kicks for the Springboks against England. Who did it better, though? Steyn's nerveless kick from distance in the 2007 final put the contest to bed against England. 16 years later, Pollard stuck the knife into England again, this time in the semis. Springboks points machine: Where is Percy Montgomery now? Nelson Mandela, Springbok fan and style guru So, what do Pollard and the legendary François Steyn have in common? Well, they've both slotted massive penalties to help their sides to Rugby World Cup knockout wins against England. Frans Steyn did it in the biggest game of all back in 2007 in France when he was just 20 years old, seemingly unperturbed by the unbearable pressure heaped on his shoulders. He converted from 48 metres in the 62nd minute in the final to give the Springboks a 15-6 lead. England never recovered. Pollard's nerveless penalty in the semi-final against England in 2023 sent the Boks to the final. The rest, as they say, is history. SPRINGBOKS: Kolisi and his daughter share a beautiful moment Springbok star Handre Pollard. Image: David Ramos/World Rugby What do Pollard and the legendary François Steyn have in common? Well, they've both slotted massive penalties to help their sides to Rugby World Cup knockout wins against England. Frans Steyn did it in the biggest game of all back in 2007 in France when he was just 20 years old, seemingly unperturbed by the unbearable pressure heaped on his shoulders. He converted from 48 metres in the 62nd minute in the final to give the Springboks a 15-6 lead. England never recovered. Pollard said the nerveless penalty in last year's semi-final was the best strike of his career. ICYMI: Inspirational comeback story GOLDEN OLDIES: Meet the four RWC winners born in the 80s Who did it better, though? Can these kicks even be compared, given the different contexts and nuances involved? Let us know by leaving a comment below or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Also, subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Wales Online
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Tonight's rugby news as former WRU president dies and Springbok wants teams to exit 'stupid' URC
Tonight's rugby news as former WRU president dies and Springbok wants teams to exit 'stupid' URC The latest rugby news and headlines from Wales and beyond Frans Steyn thinks the Souh African sides should play in Super Rugby, not the URC (Image: Getty Images ) Here are your rugby evening headlines for Friday, June 13. Former WRU president dies aged 91 Former Welsh Rugby Union president Des Barnett has died at the age of 91. Barnett served the Mid District for 20 years as their WRU member before becoming president of the union in 1986. 52 at the time, he was the youngest president in the WRU's history. During his year in charge, Wales played their first international against England in Pontypool, while the first men's Rugby World Cup was held. Born in Treherbert in 1933, he had succeeded Carey Powell as a WRU member for District C at the start of the 1965-66 season, joining Bargoed's Glyn Morgan as the Mid District representatives. Barnett was able to make major contributions to the game in Wales, through his long-standing service on the coaching sub-committee. He was also a member of the general committee during the union's centenary season of 1980-81 and helped with the organisation of the centenary dinner held at the City Hall in Cardiff. At the end of the teachers strike in the 1980s, he pushed for the leading players in Wales to be used to provide coaching clinics to re-engage those youngsters who had become disillusioned and disengaged with the national sport. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Article continues below World Cup winner slams 'stupid' flaw with URC Two-time World Cup winner Frans Steyn has revealed he is not a fan of the United Rugby Championship and wants South African teams to return to Super Rugby. Last year, Cheetahs director of rugby Steyn said he is hopeful his side could make a move to a southern hemisphere competition like Super Rugby. The Cheetahs initially played in the Pro14 tournament, before being replaced by the South African's Super Rugby franchises in 2021 to form the current iteration of the URC. When ex-All Blacks and Crusaders full-back Israel Dagg expressed his displeasure last year at the decision which led to South Africa's departure from Super Rugby , Steyn tweeted a response which said: 'There are other teams in SA that want the opportunity!!' The Cheetahs currently play in the Currie Cup, while also competing in the second tier of European rugby - the Challenge Cup. However, despite having spells in Europe in his playing days, Steyn - who won the World Cup in 2007 and 2019 - said he would rather South African sides played in the southern hemisphere. 'For me personally, I think we should go back to the old Super Rugby," he said on the Behind The Ruck podcast. 'I just think there was something else (with that tournament). It was something different. I think the young guys of today definitely miss out. 'If you think of when we went on tours and four and five-week tours, it was one tour, not every second week on a plane. (It's) A stupid thing, this new calendar that we are in. If you have kids, you never have time off. 'You can't go on holiday. When do you go on holiday? And then December. Normally, we went away in December. Now you have to play. 'I remember when I got to France the first time, I had to play on Sundays and Sundays. My dad was angry because you don't play on a Sunday. 'Now we freaking play over Christmas and all of that.' WRU make announcement The Welsh Rugby Union has confirmed that the cut-off age for youth rugby in Wales will remain at 18 after an extensive consultation process over the last year. Previously, youth rugby in Wales had used a three-year banding - from under-17s to under-19s - but a review process that included "representation from 195 rugby clubs across Wales and key stakeholders of the game" indicated that the move to a two-year bandng had seen a "significant positive impact on retention of players and also created stronger transition figures for those moving into the adult game". The WRU say that 91 per cent of U17 and U18s were having a positive experience when moving into youth rugby, while they added the number of U16s moving into youth rugby had increased. The Union also believe that the two-year banding will help clubs field adult men's teams more consistently, with more players likely to move up from youth rugby. 'I'm delighted the Community Game Board made the decision to retain U18 as the official age banding for boys' youth rugby in Wales which was ratified by the WRU Board last month," said WRU Executive Director of Community Geraint John. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free 'We are incredibly encouraged by the positive impact the revised U18s age banding has had across our community game as it shows that this structure is creating the right environment for young people to thrive. 'The positive effect it's created has seen a significant impact on individual self-confidence as it offers a smoother transition through the age ranges and keeps young people playing for longer.' He added: 'It's also encouraging that over 1,000 U19 players have registered for senior rugby in each of the last two seasons which is a comparative increase of 400+ more players than in 2019. "This is a positive indication that young players are staying engaged with the game after 18. 'We now look forward to building on this progress and continuing to support the development and enjoyment of everyone involved in the game, ensuring there is a clear pathway and playing opportunities into senior rugby.' Scotland captain signs new contract after Lions blow By Gavin McCafferty, PA Rory Darge has followed his appointment as Scotland captain with an extended Glasgow contract. Warriors announced the openside flanker had signed a new three-year deal. The 25-year-old – who earlier this week was named as Scotland captain for the upcoming Pacific Tour after missing out on the Lions tour to Australia – has made 67 appearances for the club and his 2024-25 form saw him impress with and without the ball. Darge recorded 39 tackles in a match at Ulster – a total only bettered by Jonny Gray in Glasgow colours – and equalled a BKT United Rugby Championship record for a forward when he beat 10 defenders against Benetton last month. The former Southern Knights and Edinburgh player described his decision to extend his deal as 'fairly straightforward'. He told 'I love my time in Glasgow and the club is the best place for me to be just now – I'm loving my rugby and this is the best possible place for me to keep developing. 'The competition at Scotstoun is something that's definitely played a role in continuing to develop me, particularly this season with how well the young guys came in and played. 'Everyone that came in took their opportunity really well, which is a testament to this environment and the coaching that we get, and that only bodes well for the future of this club. 'I've really started to enjoy the leadership role over the last season or so, both for Scotland and for Glasgow – I've enjoyed being able to support Steyno (Kyle Steyn) on and off the field, and it's an exciting part of the game for me.' Article continues below Head coach Franco Smith added: 'Rory has developed into one of the best in his position in Europe and we still believe that he is only scratching the surface of his potential. 'His work in both attack and defence makes him an invaluable asset for both club and country; his statistics speak for themselves and only serve to underline his quality. 'He has developed into a leader within our environment over the last few seasons, and being named as Scotland captain is a well-deserved reflection of this development.'
The South African
10-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Springbok pivots: Who did it better, Frans Steyn or Handre Pollard?
Handre Pollard and Frans Steyn have slotted sublime Rugby World Cup kicks for the Springboks against England. Who did it better, though? What do Handrè Pollard and the legendary François Steyn have in common? Well, they've both slotted massive penalties to help their sides to Rugby World Cup knockout wins against England. Frans Steyn did it in the biggest game of all back in 2007 in France when he was just 20 years old, seemingly unperturbed by the unbearable pressure heaped on his shoulders. He converted from 48 metres in the 62nd minute in the final to give the Springboks a 15-6 lead. England never recovered. Pollard said the nerveless penalty in last year's semi-final was the best strike of his career. In a generation of physically brutish robots playing according to a script, Frans Steyn was the maverick that every pack of cards needs. Steyn's legacy includes ludicrously difficult drop-kicks from range or slotted from virtually impossible angles, dressing room jokes and antics, big tackles, clutch moments, natural flair, frightening versatility, supreme in-game intelligence, dazzling improvisation, and so much more. CUTE: Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus' adorable message to his mom 10 elite Springboks started the 2019 AND 2023 Rugby World Cup finals Why Springbok icon Rassie Erasmus has the biggest brain in rugby Springbok star Handre Pollard. Image: David Ramos/World Rugby Who's your favourite goal-kicker in Springboks history? Let us know by leaving a comment below or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Also, subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
